AuthorsDen: Reviews at a Glance

Recent Reviews for Stephen Lodge

Nickel-Plated Dream (Book) - 4/15/2006 10:42:07 AM
Stephen Lodge's excerpt from "Nickel Plated Dream" can stand alone as a short story. The writer's homage to western reenactments staged at Corriganville Movie Ranch and Old Tucson Studios captures the atmosphere of the Eisenhower era. Having been to Tombstone and Old Tucson I have an appreciation for the reverence for this material and originality of this storyline.

Nickel-Plated Dream (Book) - 4/7/2006 2:28:00 PM
sounds an interesting read

Charley Sunday's Texas Outfit! (Book) - 6/28/2004 6:18:22 AM
Quality Western in the style of Louis L'Amour A cross-country cattle drive complete with cowboys on horseback would seem an unlikely occurrence in today’s west. Using this idea as the premise for a modern novel would seem equally unlikely, yet author Stephen Lodge crafts a convincing tale in Charley Sunday’s Texas Outfit! When a rich villain prevents Charlie Sunday from transporting his recently acquired 300 head of Texas Longhorn cattle by truck or rail, Charlie organizes an outfit of colorful characters to drive them home – the old-fashioned way. The trip also presents him with an opportunity to provide his 10-year-old grandson, Henry-Ellis, with a character building adventure. Existing “livestock right-away statutes” supply plausibility for what would otherwise seem an unrealistic plot, but the drovers still encounter plenty of other natural and man-made obstacles along the way. Action packed scenes devoid of gratuitous language and violence create an enjoyable read for the entire family, but this doesn’t mean that the story is bland. The author’s flair for witty dialog keeps the reader engaged: “Used to be in Texas a man settled his own problems,” Charley said. “But that was when due process was a bullet.” Reminiscent of a quality western in the style of Louis L’Amour, Charley Sunday’s Texas Outfit! draws a clear distinction between the good guys and bad guys. Readers longing for a family tale where justice prevails will be thrilled with this modern day saga. Dennis Royer Author of STRANGER

King of the Cowboys! (Article) - 1/20/2009 8:48:03 PM
What a neat story. It was cool that Roy Rogers had good morals and wanted to teach that little fella a lesson. A lesson that would not be forgotton! Thanks! Amen to Roy!

Fury (Article) - 1/20/2009 8:38:03 PM
Fury was one of my favorite. What a GREAT experience! Thanks!

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid TV Movie Sequel (Article) - 1/20/2009 8:36:45 PM
A good recollection of the way things were in Hollywood.

Hey, Wild Bill, Wait For Me!!! (Article) - 1/3/2009 5:30:41 PM
Hi Steve, it was fun to read this story about the set of Wild Bill Hickok, which I remember well from my days as a youngster. It was also fun to see you again at the Festival of the West last March in Phoenix. I hope we bump into each other again in the near future. Steve Ulmen, author of the Toby Ryker series.

The Day They Buried The Lone Ranger (Article) - 10/8/2008 2:55:26 PM
Where have all the Cowboys gone?

King of the Cowboys! (Article) - 10/8/2008 2:54:42 PM
Trigger was stuffed and that was freaky to see. I always thought he was a mustang--but he was 1/2 thoroughbred and quarter horse. The things are young minds believe. I did so love Roy Rogers-sounds like you have had a tremendous adventure in your life. Great story!! CarolHawks

Remembering Annie Oakley - The TV Show, That Is (Article) - 4/9/2008 9:58:57 AM
Thank you so much for your account of your wonderful day. I was a schoolgirl when we first had television and Annie Oakley came to England. She was a role model for me. I went to the library and looked up everything about her. No VCRs in those days of course so I've waited 50 years to see the series again on DVD. I am impressed by how high the standard was of the production and the script. Your piece reminded me of how popular the series must have been. Thanks again. Joyce

Gunsmoke's Final Season (Article) - 3/5/2008 7:20:55 PM
I have always loved "GUNSMOKE" and watched it every chance I got while growing up, so naturally I enjoyed reading something writen by someone who was there. You did such a great job on this article, that I was transported backwards in time. Thankyou so much Mr. Lodge. The way you ended it gave me a lump in my throat. Wha! "Gunsmoke" is a classic in my book and always will be. Glad you were able to have some of your dreams come true. -Zach B McClure

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid TV Movie Sequel (Article) - 2/12/2008 8:00:37 AM
I enjoyed reading this article. Continued blessings of enlightenment and creativity! Thank you for sharing, ~Gwendolyn

Pioneertown: Home to Roy, Gene, & The Cisco Kid (Article) - 9/29/2007 5:48:03 PM
Fine informative article. Rand Brooks, rather than Russell "Lucky" Hayden was Hopalong's sidekick. His character was named "Lucky" in the Hoppy movies. He died in Sep 1, 2003 in Santa Ynez, CA.

The Cowboy From Utah (Article) - 8/1/2007 10:26:03 AM
well done

The Cowboy From Utah (Article) - 8/1/2007 5:17:47 AM
wonderfully written with so much warmth and humor I couldn't wait to see how the young man was going to over come his fear of learning his lines. Great article Stephen, my hats off to you for writing such a heart warming piece. The part about the calves reminded me of the time I lived with my grandparents and had to give the calves their scour tablets when they were ill.. Melanie D. Calvert

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid TV Movie Sequel (Article) - 7/4/2007 2:09:46 PM
interesting article!!

David Janssen (Article) - 6/18/2007 4:24:39 AM
enjoyed the read

David Janssen (Article) - 5/30/2007 3:09:36 AM
Very nice memoir and tribute to Mr. Janssen. Well done. Malcolm Watts

Robert Mitchum (Article) - 4/19/2007 5:09:13 AM
Hey Stephen.. sounds like you and Robert Mitchum had a great time.. sorry I wasn't there to have taken notes or photos.. bet it would have been a great photo journalism piece... great write up on your part also.. i'll give you 10 stars for writing this piece.. I'd of been nervous too... Melanie Calvert ( W R Bentons' book cover artist for "The Drum Series" )

Robert Mitchum (Article) - 4/17/2007 3:50:37 PM
enjoyed the read always like mitchum too

The 17th Annual Festival of the West (Article) - 3/23/2007 3:44:14 PM
enjoyed the read

The Day They Buried The Lone Ranger (Article) - 3/20/2007 7:06:43 PM
A VERY TOUCHING PIECE, STEPHEN. WHEN I OPENED THE NEWSPAPER, AND SAW THAT HE WAS GONE, I GOT CHOKED UP. CLAYTON MOORE WAS EVERYONE'S HERO, AND WAS A TRUE GENTLMAN EVERYWHERE. HE PERSONIFIED WHAT AMERICA SHOULD ALWAYS BE LIKE.

Meeting My Cowboy Hero: Johnny Mack Brown (Article) - 3/20/2007 6:56:22 PM
DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS! STEPHEN, TO REMEMBER JOHN MACK BROWN IN HIS HEYDAY IS A TREASURE. I UNDERSTAND HE BECAME A GREETER AT A RESTAURANT IN HIS LAST YEARS. WISH I COULD HAVE MET HIM. SO MANY STORIES OF HIM AS A REAL GENTLEMAN.

Hoppy's Forgotten Home In The Desert (Article) - 3/20/2007 6:41:01 PM
WOW! WHAT GRAND MEMORIES OF A GRAND TIME! GREAT READING!

Gunsmoke's Final Season (Article) - 3/20/2007 6:25:54 PM
FINE ARTICLE! "GUNSMOKE" WILL ALWAYS BE LEGEND. GLENN STRANGE, WHO WAS "SAM" THE BARTENDER, WAS A DEAR, GENTLE MAN, AND A FRIEND. I MISS HIM. "GUNSMOKE" REIGNS!

The Last of the Western Cowboy Saloons (Article) - 3/20/2007 6:13:27 PM
SUPER! GREAT WORD PICTURES! I CAN PRACTICALLY SEE INSIDE!

Ken Maynard: One of the Good Guys (Article) - 3/20/2007 6:07:36 PM
KEN WAS A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE THE LAST 10 YEARS OF HIS LIFE. IN MY BOOK, KEN WILL ALWAYS BE "ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS". THIS ARTICLE SURE SOUNDS LIKE KEN IN HIS LATTER YEARS! I APPRECIATED READING IT.

Remembering Annie Oakley - The TV Show, That Is (Article) - 3/20/2007 6:04:05 PM
GREAT PIECE! SURE BRINGS BACK WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF THE FINE OLD AGE OF WESTERNS. GAIL DAVIS WAS SUCH A LADY ALL HER LIFE.