RIP Michael Parks

YamadudeXS650C

YamadudeXS650C

Central New York XS650
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So, its Michael Parks' turn to leave this world.

We discussed his acting, singing and reputation last month within the Robert Pirsig thread, so I've said pretty much all that I have to say. However, I was hoping to catch one more cameo role of his in a future R. Rodrigues or Tarantino film.

In Memoriam, tonight I will re-watch my favorite Then Came Bronson film, the pilot movie.

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Here is a link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/movies/michael-parks-dead-actor-in-kill-bill.html?_r=0
 
That was such an iconic show. There are even clubs dedicated to building exact replicas of his sportster. They have get togethers and ride highway one , where the opening credits were filmed.
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Several years ago, I bought some copies of the TVseries (and the movie) Then came Bronson. They are sooooooooooooo poor in quality! Been thinking of buying better ones. That TV series likely sculpted some of my desire to ride cross country. Man, I still want to! RIP Michael Parks...
 
Interesting to hear others expressing just my thoughts, that the TCB TV show was so formative in my motorcycling images and inspiration to travel on the bike.
 
Dam. That sucks. Iconic is indeed the exact description for the movie and the series. A group of us from my work did a TCB tour last year to the bridge. To get in the proper mindset I re-purchased the move and the entire series off eBay. Some guy apparently taped the series when it was being aired, then transferred to DVD. Wifey and I spent over month watching the 20 or so episodes after work. Fun shows, with a lot of actors/actresses first roles before they later became a lot more famous. Wifey actually purchased a 2" x 2" All Seeing Eye (the decal on the tank) for the back of my helmet. Stangely enough, no one has ever asked me what it is.
Dam again.
 
pago cruiser said:
Dam. That sucks. Iconic is indeed the exact description for the movie and the series. A group of us from my work did a TCB tour last year to the bridge. To get in the proper mindset I re-purchased the move and the entire series off eBay. Some guy apparently taped the series when it was being aired, then transferred to DVD. Wifey and I spent over month watching the 20 or so episodes after work. Fun shows, with a lot of actors/actresses first roles before they later became a lot more famous. Wifey actually purchased a 2" x 2" All Seeing Eye (the decal on the tank) for the back of my helmet. Stangely enough, no one has ever asked me what it is.
Dam again.
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I bought that DVD package, too.

Favorite episodes:
> Bronson runs off a dirt rode, and crashes down an embankment. Has to struggle through the woods to get back to the road, in the process getting in touch with feelings that he has not wanted to deal with.
> Bronson stops at an old lady's home in the boonies, and she invites him in to stay. The next day, he finds her passed away; apparently, she drew him in so that someone would bury her.

A couple hours ago I purchased a couple of those "eyes" for my helmets :)
 
YamadudeXS650C said:
> Bronson stops at an old lady's home in the boonies, and she invites him in to stay. The next day, he finds her passed away; apparently, she drew him in so that someone would bury her.

A couple hours ago I purchased a couple of those "eyes" for my helmets :)
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The old lady was Elsa Lanchester, best known as the Bride of Frankenstein. She had several other great roles.

Beware of the all-seeing eye. It's been usurped by street gangs and probably worse as a symbol. I remember one episode Bronson encounters satanists and one of them starts talking to him about the occult symbol on his tank. Bronson responds er, no, uh, nothing like that...it's on a dollar bill.
 
Hi all: I've been back on that consulting job and am just catching up. This is sad news indeed - some great memories.

Pete
 
xjwmx said:
The old lady was Elsa Lanchester, best known as the Bride of Frankenstein. She had several other great roles.

Beware of the all-seeing eye. It's been usurped by street gangs and probably worse as a symbol. I remember one episode Bronson encounters satanists and one of them starts talking to him about the occult symbol on his tank. Bronson responds er, no, uh, nothing like that...it's on a dollar bill.
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! ! ! So, it was Elsa Lanchester ! What a revelation, thank you. Brilliant actress.

yes, "The Eye" has had broad use. I am looking forward to getting my decals, applying them to the helmets, and seeing what sort of responses I get on my travels.
 
Grew up watching the show. Probably formed my young mind. I should watch some episodes to see how much effect it has had on me. When he rode in the dirt didn't they change the sound track to a two stroke?
 
Not sure if it was a two-stroke, but they did use a differnt bike for some of those dirt scenes, and Bud Ekins, stuntman and motocross/endurance/desert legend, was at the helm. He jumped that fence in The Great Escape and drove the Mustang GT in some of the car chase scenes in Bullitt.
 
Like the rest of you, I really identified with the "Then Came Bronson" series. I'm sure it affected the way I lived the late seventies and the early eighties. I didn't follow his later work but that series made a life long impression on me. It spoke to me.

roy
 
YamadudeXS650C said:
Not sure if it was a two-stroke, but they did use a differnt bike for some of those dirt scenes
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I'm pretty sure it was a disguised H-D Sprint. Imported from Italy. My brother bought one to restore and kept it in his barn for a year but sold it before he got around to it. Could be a fun bike to ride around town. College student commuter bike or something -- the only one I've seen running was exactly that :)
https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/harley-davidson-sprint-5.jpg
 
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