The Alfred Hitchcock Hour was a popular television series that aired in the 1960s. One of the most memorable episodes of this series was titled "The Magic Shop". This episode was based on a short story written by H.G. Wells. "The Magic Shop" tells the story of a young boy named Oliver and his father, Mr.
A look back at the Bullets’ live dog mascots Alex, Tiny B-B and Tiny Too
As Dan Steinberg discovered while flipping through an old Washington Bullets media guide on Monday, Washington’s NBA franchise used to have a live dog mascot. Mascots, to be exact.
While some longtime Bullets/Wizards fans remember the days of Alex the Bullet, Tiny B-B and Tiny Too, here’s a brief history of the dachshunds for the fans who grew up with the far less interesting and far more terrifying Hoops and G-Wiz.
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It all started in 1963, when Navy veteran John Edwin “Chief” Gentry got a call from the general manager of Baltimore’s new NBA franchise, which had just moved from Chicago and renamed itself the Bullets.
“‘I understand you’ve got a dog that looks like a bullet,’ the man [probably Paul Hoffman] said to me,” Gentry told The Post’s Bob Levey in 1979. “He had seen me with my dog at football games in Annapolis. I’ve been at it with the Bullets ever since.”
AdvertisementGentry’s dachshund, Alex, teamed with another dog named Buckshot as the Bullets’ live mascots for their first five years in Baltimore.
When Abe Pollin broke ground for the Capital Centre, one of the first full-time employees he hired was Gentry. With Gentry taking on added responsibilities as the arena’s operations manager, The Post’s George Solomon lamented what he figured was the end of Alex and Tiny-B-B’s careers in a 1973 column.
Once and for all, Abe Pollin proved his intent to make everything connected with his Capital Centre first class by announcing the purchase of a $1,125,000 scoreboard-entertainment center for the new arena in Largo.
But lost amid the bright lights and speeches at Thursday’s press conference was the revelation that the coming of the four Super Scoreboards will end the distinguished careers of Alex the Bullet and Tiny B-B.
For those who have not kept up with the former Baltimore Bullets (now the Capital Bullets) these past 10 NBA seasons, it should be noted that Alex the Bullet and Tiny B-B are dachshunds that performed cute tricks during time-outs at Bullet home games.
Alex, whose real last name is Von Brauhof and not The Bullet, is owned and trained by John E. (Chief) Gentry. During his first five years in Baltimore, Alex teamed with a dog named Buckshot. When Buckshot died from eating too many acorns, Tiny B-B joined Alex’s act.
For years, the dogs sloughed off taunts from nasty kids and the degradation of sharing the time-out/halftime spotlight with a human exhibitionist named Dancing Harry. Two years ago, Baltimore fans were spared Dancing Harry’s endless and shameless attempts at hexing opponents when he followed Earl Monroe to New York.
Alex the Bullet and Tiny B-B, although regaining their full status upon Dancing Harry’s defection, now appear doomed because of Pollin’s new Conrac giant, with its four Swiss-made Eidophor projectors flashing full-color replays on four large screens.
“It’s quite said, but it looks like Alex the Bullet and Tiny B-B are through,” said Gentry, who has assumed the role of operations manager of the Capital Centre. Gentry says he no longer has the time to handle any canine capers.
Although Gentry and other Bullet officials agree the dogs were fine in their day, it’s apparent the Capital Centre has passed them by.
But Gentry apparently found the time to juggle both jobs, and the show went on. The Post reported that Alex the Bullet died in 1974 at age 19 and was buried in a cinder block crypt behind the Gentry home in Odenton, Md. Pollin paid for the plot and the burial.
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"The Magic Shop" tells the story of a young boy named Oliver and his father, Mr. Cave. One day, while exploring the streets of London, Oliver stumbles upon a unique shop that seems out of place among the more traditional shops in the area.
The Redskins and other teams bashed for their nicknames.
The shop is owned by an eccentric old man who claims to be a magician. Intrigued by what he sees in the shop's window display, Oliver convinces his father to enter. As they enter the shop, they are greeted by a variety of strange and mystical objects. The old man, who goes by the name Mr. Vandeleur, offers to show them some of his magical items. Throughout the episode, it becomes apparent that Mr. Vandeleur's magic is more than just an illusion. Oliver witnesses a series of inexplicable and sometimes terrifying events, including objects floating in mid-air and people disappearing and reappearing. As the episode progresses, Oliver becomes increasingly curious about the source of Mr. Vandeleur's powers. At one point, Oliver's father becomes concerned about the effect that the magic shop is having on his son and decides they should leave. However, Oliver is captivated by the allure of the shop and refuses to go. As the episode nears its climax, Mr. Vandeleur reveals that the true power of his shop lies not in his magical objects, but in the human mind. He explains that by believing in the magic, people can convince themselves that the impossible is possible. Oliver finally realizes that the magic is not real and that Mr. Vandeleur is a fraud. "The Magic Shop" is a thought-provoking episode that explores themes of illusion and the power of belief. It challenges viewers to question the boundaries between reality and fantasy and highlights the dangers of falling prey to deceit and manipulation. Overall, "The Magic Shop" is an excellent example of the kind of suspenseful and engaging storytelling that Alfred Hitchcock was known for. It captivates viewers with its mysterious premise and thought-provoking themes, leaving them questioning what is real and what is not..
Reviews for "The Influence of 'The Magic Shop' Episode on Horror and Suspense Genre"
1. Jane Doe - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Magic Shop." The story was predictable and lacked any real suspense or thrills. The acting felt forced and stiff, with none of the characters being particularly compelling or believable. The dialogue was also filled with clichés and unnatural lines, making it difficult to fully engage with the plot. Overall, I found this episode to be quite underwhelming and not up to the standards I expect from Alfred Hitchcock's work.
2. John Smith - 1 star - I found "Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Magic Shop" to be extremely boring and uninteresting. The plot was slow-paced and dragged on without any real payoff or resolution. The story lacked originality and failed to grab my attention or create any sense of suspense. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fates. In my opinion, this episode was a complete waste of time and did not live up to the quality of Alfred Hitchcock's previous works.
3. Sarah Johnson - 2 stars - "Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Magic Shop" was a letdown for me. I expected a captivating and thrilling mystery, but instead, I found myself bored and unengaged throughout the entire episode. The pacing was off, with too much unnecessary exposition and not enough action or suspense. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, leaving me with more questions than answers. The acting was also quite mediocre, lacking the intensity and charisma I associate with Hitchcock productions. Overall, I was disappointed with this episode and would not recommend it to fellow viewers.