Ken put his name on this one which is his ORIGINAL F Troop Script "Jinx and The Lady in Black AKA Wrongo Starr" from November 5,1965.
Synopsis: A natural jinx comes to F Troop and gets involved with a black widow who had four husbands.
Directly from the original TV's F Troop bound Script Master Archive and starring Henry Gibson!
Written by Stan Dreben and Howard Merrill and is around 45 pages.
For all the wonderful F Troop fans out there, here is a shot at owning an original piece of television history.
Please read, and note this listing is for the one script listed in the heading above only.
Wow!!!
What an amazing treat for all of you F Troop fans as I begin to list the ORIGINAL Screen Used/Filmed F Troop Scripts from the Estate of Ken Berry’s personal Master Archive.
Not just any old scripts mind you, but the ONLY ones Ken used while filming each individual episode.
Some are signed by Ken or they have his personal notes scribed in them like meet with “Cher at 10am on the 7th”, or “Stage 6”, “or "James Hampton’s phone number”, etc.
It is pretty amazing, really.
You get to see what was going on in Ken’s life in 1965 when you peruse these.
These original intact scripts themselves are rare and truly priceless.
I don't think these is another master F Troop archive anywhere in the world, and seeing the beautiful condition they are in, knowing Ken used these actual scripts while filming, is just jaw dropping and will leave you in awe as it did me when I became the caretaker years ago.
Ken had each script leather bound in a series of about 11 or 12 volumes, shown in the pictures.
I bought these originally from Jackie Joseph, Ken’s widow, as research for my book on the show that I am finishing up.
I was going to list the volumes intact one at a time, but decided to archive the set which meant, having to get them all out of the leather bound books.
Not an easy task, and when I say each volume takes hours and hours of painstaking care to separate, remove any glue residue, archive them, then return it to its original state is an understatement.
I want fans to be able to have a piece of television history.
The scripts are nearly as pristine as they were when bound many decades ago.
Ken took amazing care of them while filming on set.
The first few pictures show you the original script that is for sale here today and the one that you will receive.
The remaining picture are here to show you the other bound volumes to come over the next few weeks.
You’ll may notice on some along the left side edge you can barley make out where the binding thread had gone through in 3 or 4 points along the holes for where brass clasps go to hold covers.
I had to add a slightly larger back plain thick cover because the back covers were all removed for when they were placed in the original leather book binding.
As with all vintage script book binders back then, they commonly removed a 1/4’ off the front script cover bottom edge to make it fit the leather bound binding perfectly.
(All Warner Bros script covers were abnormally long for some reason, lol)
It is beautiful though, considering its scarcity.
This is the first time this script episode has ever been listed anywhere for sale and it is really cool.
I will try listing in them in the order Ken had them in, so the order of scripts listed here may differ slightly than what you see on your DVD set.
Production of the episodes and broadcast or syndication running order are sometimes two different things.
So to reiterate, it is an Original F TROOP script and in just fantastic condition, sold as shown, let me know if you need to see more pictures.
I am parting with them for a very good reason and one reason only:
Proceeds from the sale of this script will go to fund the first publishing round of the first "F Troop" TV History book:
"F Troop, Revisited" (Working title based on the name of the original script for the planned reunion movie that was in the works, but never completed due to Tuck's passing).
The new F Troop book will be jam packed with interviews, pictures, and the backstory to one of the best comedies (short-lived for sure), of the 1960's.
It will also include both of the TV reunion movie scripts that have never been seen before by the general public.
The first script was written when Tuck was alive and after his passing, it was sent in for a rewrite to include Sgt. O'Rourke's cousin, Patrick, in his place.
TV scripts from any show shot in the 1950's or 1960's are almost impossible to find that belonged to the main actors.
Most have been destroyed or locked up in some collectors private museum, never to be seen by anyone except close family members.
Not this one, I shall keep it locked up no more, forever.
Here is your chance to own a true piece of television history.
Once in a lifetime opportunity for you to add something special to your collection, if you so choose.
Email me with questions, I love talking TV. Yea, yea, I’m rambling now, I know, but:
If you are a true preservationist of TV pop culture from the 1960's, and you want to own a piece of history (have I said that 12 times yet?) and want to help a great cause to get the F Troop book published, step forward and be known.
EXCERPT FROM BACK OF UPCOMING F TROOP TV HISTORY BOOK BELOW:
Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear.........whoops..........wait a minute..........wrong television western.
What we meant to say instead, join us now, for a look back, at the funniest and wackiest western to ever grace network television.
For the first time in nearly 50 years, F-Troop's finest are back in the saddle!
The book in your hands is a bit different than most television history reference books.
Oh sure, the complete T.V. history of F-Troop is here including interviews with the cast, a jam packed episode guide, information on it’s hilarious guest stars, and so much more.
Most importantly though, this book contains the only two known scripts in existence to pick up where the story left off, some 20 years after F-Troop was formally dismissed.
In 1986, the network pitched an idea for an F Troop reunion T.V. movie.
Legend has it, the living cast would reunite for the T.V. film that would bring the western plains ablaze once more.
Arthur Julian, who wrote many of the original episodes, was tasked with bringing Fort Courage back to life again and completed the planned movie script in early April 1986.
Unfortunately, around the same time, Forrest Tucker passed away which required an “adjustment” with a “rewrite” to the original teleplay, bringing in Sgt. O'Rourke's cousin, "Patrick", in his place.
Both versions of the reunion scripts are included here in this book for the first time ever.
So sit back, relax, and return with us now for one last ride out to Fort Courage with Captain Parmenter, Sgt. O’Rourke, Corporal Agarn, Chief Wild Eagle, Wrangle Jane, and the rest of those wacky F Trooper's who always believed in making laughs, not war.
Please see my F Troop scripts I have listed this week as well.
All scripts are bagged and boarded using acid free archive material, then wrapped for protection and sent in a sturdy mailer via USPS Priority with tracking.