Casting can make or break a series, and I believe that Loretta Swit was perfectly cast as Major Margaret Houlihan in M*A*S*H. Sally Kellerman portrayed Margaret in the Robert Altman film, but on television, it would be hard to imagine someone other than Swit in that role. In 1981, however, the creators of M*A*S*H wereContinue reading “Press Pass 37: Loretta Swit in “Cagney & Lacey” Movie”
Tag Archives: movie
From the M*A*S*H Library 31: “Laughing Matters”
What is it? Gelbart, Larry. Laughing Matters: On Writing M*A*S*H, Tootsie, Oh, God!, and a few Other Things. New York: Random House, 1998. Why should M*A*S*H fans care? Larry Gelbart is the comedic and writing genius behind M*A*S*H. He is widely credited with the success of the series and with its longevity. Even though he left the seriesContinue reading “From the M*A*S*H Library 31: “Laughing Matters””
M*A*S*H-ish 9: MASH Film 30th Anniversary Reunion (2000)
January 25 marks the anniversary of the release of M*A*S*H (1970) in theaters across the United States. When the movie was released, it was not expected to perform well, and its low budget was evidence of that. However, events of the late 1960s and early 1970s, specifically the Vietnam War, led to the dark satireContinue reading “M*A*S*H-ish 9: MASH Film 30th Anniversary Reunion (2000)”
The M*A*S*H Historian 2nd Anniversary
It is hard to believe that I started The M*A*S*H Historian two years ago today (and it is even harder to believe I didn’t acknowledge the first anniversary last year)! In 2021, I wanted to engage with the M*A*S*H community in a new way. Up to that point, I had been enjoying the M*A*S*H MattersContinue reading “The M*A*S*H Historian 2nd Anniversary”
M*A*S*H-ish 8: “On Set” by Arlene Alda
In 1983, Arlene and Alan Alda released a book featuring photos and behind the scenes details from the final days of M*A*S*H. The book, The Last Days of M*A*S*H, is a must own for M*A*S*H fans. However, the book was not the first book release by Arlene to feature photos from the set of oneContinue reading “M*A*S*H-ish 8: “On Set” by Arlene Alda”
M*A*S*H-ish 6: MASH (1970) Scripts
When Richard Hooker published his novel, MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, in 1968, 20th Century Fox bought the rights to produce a film. At the height of the Vietnam War, anti-war sentiment was high and a movie based on wise-cracking surgeons during the Korean War was a risky bet. When the film wasContinue reading “M*A*S*H-ish 6: MASH (1970) Scripts”
MishM*A*S*H 19: Banning M*A*S*H
When the series M*A*S*H debuted in 1972 on CBS, it was the third act in M*A*S*H reaching American audiences following the successful Robert Allan film and the Richard Hooker novel. However, M*A*S*H wasn’t only released in the United States, and it wasn’t an instant classic. In its first season M*A*S*H did poorly in the ratings,Continue reading “MishM*A*S*H 19: Banning M*A*S*H”
M*A*S*H-ish 5: Battle Circus (1953)
“Long before M*A*S*H, there was Battle Circus. Made during the Korean War, this tribute to the indomitable human spirit takes an authentic, almost documentary-like look at the nurses and doctors who operated in the battlefront Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals. Major Jed Webbe (Humphrey Bogart) is a brilliant, hard-bitten Army surgeon with a weakness for womenContinue reading “M*A*S*H-ish 5: Battle Circus (1953)”
MishM*A*S*H 14: “Song from M*A*S*H”
I know what you are probably thinking…”Song from M*A*S*H“?! That isn’t its name! And you’re right, it’s not. But the name of the theme song from M*A*S*H is not known by many people because it was often sold as “Theme from M*A*S*H” or “Song from M*A*S*H” since the full name is “Suicide is Painless.” IContinue reading “MishM*A*S*H 14: “Song from M*A*S*H””
The M*A*S*H Historian 