The Legend of Zorro

New Zorro Poll

2011-04-17T09:27:00.002-05:00

Please answer the new poll that appears in the right margin of this page. Thanks!

Queen of Swords #2: Death to the Queen

2011-02-20T01:53:00.000-06:00

Luisa is desperate to find her husband. She tells tells Marta and Tessa about his disappearance. He was arrested and let go, but now he has vanished. Tessa goes to Colonel Montoya to find out what has happened. Montoya does not give a satisfactory response, so Tessa is left wondering what is going on.

Tessa is introduced to Doctor Helm in a rather abrupt fashion.

Doctor Helm grabs Tessa's apple.

Colonel Montoya's gold mine.

Colonel Montoya and Captain Grisham speak about the Colonel's gold mine. Montoya chides Grisham for being behind schedule, but Grisham protests that the men are dying. Montoya needs the money to buy cannons so that he can build his empire. Grisham tells Montoya that if he keeps grabbing more men to work in the mine that the Queen of Swords will find out. Montoya retorts that they will make sure that the Queen investigates.

Colonel Montoya asks the Doctor Helm for advice concerning the men who are falling ill. Later, Señora Hidalgo flirts with Doctor Helm.

The soldiers load men into a wagon.

The Queen watches the soldiers.

The Queen of Swords spies on the pueblo and discovers that the soldiers are taking men away in wagons. The Queen follows the wagon. Partway through the journey, the Queen is ambushed and shot. She flees from the soldiers but is forced to jump off a cliff into the ocean.

The soldiers search for the Queen of Swords.

Señor Hidalgo and Colonel Montoya speak about the mine.

Colonel Montoya tries to get Señor Hidalgo to invest in the gold mine. The men's conversation is interrupted when Captain Grisham arrives with a piece of clothing belonging to the Queen of Swords. Montoya cautiously assumes that the Queen might have escaped. Since she is injured, she will be easy to find. Montoya points out that the Queen's clothing is made from fine silk, so she must be wealthy.

A soldier approaches the Queen of Swords.

Meanwhile, the Queen of Swords manages to escape and return home.

Tessa goes to the party that night. She bleeds through her dress and must cover up with a shawl. She inadvertently leaves blood on the wall, which is noticed by Montoya. Montoya orders his soldiers to make certain that nobody leaves and forces the women to be visually examined by Doctor Helm in an attempt to discover who is injured.

Doctor Helm is told to examine the women.

Tessa approaches Doctor Helm.

As Tessa approaches the doctor, Marta breaks a glass in her hand and cries out in pain. Marta's injury ends the inspection and saves Tessa from detection.

Marta displays her injured hand.

Tessa questions Señor Hidalgo about abandoned mines. Hidalgo warns Tessa about curiosity. While Tessa and Hidalgo are talking, Luisa's husband is brought into the pueblo dead.

The Queen of Swords rides to the mine. Meanwhile, Montoya has Doctor Helm travel to the mine to examine the sick men.

Doctor Helm demands that the men be given water.

While the doctor is at the mine, the Queen of Swords arrives and is captured. Doctor Helm manages to cut the Queen's bonds so that she can free herself. The Queen blows up the mine and escapes.

Doctor Helm assists the Queen.

Later, Montoya bemoans the fact that he was unable to buy the cannons he needed.

Montoya regrets that his scheme failed.

Tessa grabs the apple before Doctor Helm can get it.

Queen of Swords #1: Destiny

2011-02-11T20:39:00.001-06:00

The episode opens with Tessa Alvarado practicing fencing with her sword master, Señor Torres, in Madrid. The scene cuts away to California, where Tessa's father, Don Rafael Alvarado, is pursued by soldiers. He is shot and killed by Captain Marcus Grisham. When Tessa learns of her father's death, she decides to return to California.

Marta prepares to tell Tessa about her father's death.

When Tessa and Marta return, they find that Don Rafael's hacienda is in ruin and his estate bankrupt. A large amount is owed in back taxes.

Tessa is dismayed at the appearance of her father's home.

Captain Grisham speaks to Tessa.

Tessa's carriage rides into the pueblo.

Don Rafael's manservant, Carlos, has been arrested by Captain Grisham. Tessa pleads with Colonel Montoya for Carlos to be released, but instead, Carlos is executed.

Tessa becomes acquainted with Don Gaspar Hildalgo and his wife, Vera. Señora Hidalgo is having an affair with Captain Grisham.


Gaspar Hidalgo enjoys the music while his wife watches another man.

Colonel Montoya suggests that Captain Grisham attempt to win Tessa's heart. Montoya worries that Tessa might have the money to pay the taxes on her father's property.

Captain Grisham has dinner with Tessa on the shore of the ocean.

Tessa begins to wonder whether her father was murdered. All she knows is that her father, who was an expert horseman, fell off his horse. No one will tell Tessa anything. She is warned that she should not be so curious.

Marta reads tarot cards while Tessa dreams of her father. Marta sees Tessa's destiny in the card the Queen of Swords.

Tessa's destiny is revealed.

In Tessa's dream, she sees her father's spirit, who speaks of a certain wine in his cellar.

Don Rafael calls Tessa his "avenging angel."

Don Rafael's spirit tells Tessa that he was murdered, that "one man held the gun, but there were many fingers on the trigger." Tessa wonders what she should do. Her father tells her that Tessa will do nothing, but that his "avenging angel" will seek justice for his death.

When Tessa wakes, she and Marta check out the wine cellar. When Tessa tries to pick up the certain wine mentioned by her father, she pulls open a secret door which leads to a hidden room.

In that room, Tessa and Marta find her father's hidden fortune, as well as a sword and a black lace shawl that belonged to Tessa's mother. Tessa realizes her true destiny as her father's avenging angel.

Tessa makes her first appearance as the Queen of Swords, freeing Carlos' son from jail.

The Queen of Swords rides out of the pueblo.

"Who or what is that?"

Tessa questions Montoya about the Queen of Swords.

Tessa is surprised that the stories about the Queen of Swords are true. She remarks to Montoya, "How could one woman possibly outwit our esteemed military commander?"

Tessa pays the taxes owed on her father's land, much to Montoya's displeasure.

Montoya prepares to execute the young man who was rescued from the jail the previous night. Tessa's feigns that she is dizzy, and Montoya allows for Marta to take care of Tessa in his office while he sees to the execution.

Tessa pretends to be dizzy.

The Queen of Swords makes a second appearance, rescuing the young man.

The people wait as the execution nears.

The Queen of Swords appears on top of the church.

The Queen climbs down the side of the church.

The Queen of Swords is pursued across the rooftops.

The soldiers chase after the Queen.

Marta ministers to Tessa.

Colonel Montoya returns to his office, where Marta is ministering to Tessa. Montoya remarks that Tessa's face seems to be flushed. Tessa explains that she has a slight fever from the excitement. Montoya tells Tessa that the execution has been postponed and wants his office back.

Tessa and Marta react after Montoya leaves.

The episode closes with Tessa standing at her father's grave. She worries that her disguise won't fool Montoya for long, because he is not a stupid man.

Queen of Swords

2011-02-11T00:17:00.002-06:00

Queen of Swords is a television series that aired in syndication during the 2000-2001 season. The series is set in 1817 and tells the story of Tessa Alvarado, whose father was recently murdered. Tessa returns to California from Madrid and decides to become her father's "avenging angel." Tessa dresses in black, wears a lace mask, rides a horse, and carries a sword. Sound familiar? Tessa calls herself the Queen of Swords.

Fans of the series refer to Tessa as a "female Zorro" even though the name Zorro is never mentioned. The second episode does mention "the fox" and "the skin of the fox," which leaves little doubt as to the producers' intentions.

Zorro Productions, Inc., which owns all rights to the fictional character Zorro, has had a contract with Sony since the 1990s in which Sony has had the exclusive rights to produce filmed versions of Zorro. The producers of Queen of Swords did not have permission to produce a Zorro-like series, and the production company was sued by Sony. Sony lost the lawsuit, but the lawsuit still effectively ended Queen of Swords after its first season of 22 episodes.

The series was issued on an official VHS set soon after the series ended. The series is currently available from France on a DVD set, which I have purchased. The set is in PAL, and North Americans must have a DVD player that can play PAL. I have read reports in which some people claim that the French release is region-free, but my regular DVD player will not play the DVDs. I own a region-free DVD player, so I am able to play the discs.

The DVD set can be played in French or in English with French subtitles. There are no English subtitles. The picture quality is excellent.

If a person wishes to purchase Queen of Swords and does not own a region-free DVD player, then bootlegs can be purchased on iOffer. At least some of the episodes are available on YouTube for people who would just like to get an idea of what the show is like.

Primary cast for the series:

Tessie Santiago as Maria Teresa Alvarado and the Queen of Swords
Paulina Galvez as Marta
Valentine Pelka as Colonel Luis Ramirez Montoya
Anothony Lemke as Captain Marcus Grisham
Peter Wingfield as Doctor Robert Helm
Elsa Pataky as Vera Hildalgo
Tacho Gonzalez as Gaspar Hildalgo

The series was filmed in Almeria, Spain.

The theme music, "Behind the Mask," was performed by Jose Feliciano. The complete version is up on YouTube.

I will be reviewing the episodes in this blog in the near future.

Reminder Regarding Questions about Zorro

2011-02-06T13:25:00.001-06:00

The way to contact me is through this blog by posting a comment. However, I keep getting comments that request that I contact that person privately so that person can then let me know what is needed.

Help me out here. I am busy and am juggling multiple interests as well as a full-time job.

State upfront exactly what you want. Very often, I do not know the answer to the question. However, other people read the comments to this blog, and at least one of them has direct contact with Zorro Productions and other important people. It is best to state what you want upfront, because then you have multiple people who can help you out.

I am only one person, not a company. I am just a fan who has some information but far from all of it.

If you desire insider information about the New World Zorro series, then I highly recommend that you join that group.

New World Zorro Group

You are missing out on much information if you are a fan of the New World Zorro series and have not joined the group. We share a lot of information that is not available outside of the group. You will be privy to information that is available only to members. Did that get your attention? Please join our group.

If you want to know everything there is to know about Johnston McCulley, the creator of Zorro, as well as extensive information about all of his stories, you need to join the McCulley Zorro group.

Johnston McCulley Zorro Group

If you are interested in learning more about the Zorro telenovela that aired a few years ago on Telemundo, then you need to join the Zorro Espada Rosa group.

Zorro Espada Rosa Group

If you are an ardent fan of the Disney Zorro television series, then the Guy Williams Friends group is the place for you.

Guy Williams Friends Group

If you join all four of these groups, then you are in immediate contact with a group of people who collectively know absolutely everything there is to know about Zorro.

The Original Pilot for the New World Zorro Series

2011-02-02T10:31:00.000-06:00

This is a message that I wrote earlier and published to the New World Zorro group. Here are my thoughts on the original pilot starring Patrick James that is a bonus feature on the New World Zorro DVD set.

Since I can finally see the pilot for myself, I have to start with the Sandra Curtis Zorro book.

She stated, "The plot involved numerous killings and generally lacked humor... Gertz felt that the music was terrible and that the original casting was by and large a disgrace."

While the killing of Felipe's mother was shocking, I would say that it is important to the plot as far as getting Felipe with Antonio. The soldier was then killed by Antonio, which in a way was necessary since Antonio didn't need witnesses as to how he had behaved. However, Antonio was not thinking ahead in that moment and was killing just to be killing. With that said, I hardly feel that the episode had "numerous killings." To me, it seems typical of what I have seen in the average Zorro film and less than some. The first Banderas film was quite violent, much more so than this pilot.

I agree with Gertz that the music is not good and that the cast seems uninteresting with no personality whatsoever.

Sandra Curtis also wrote, "Antonio played a clumsy scholar with glasses who heroes were da Vinci and Cervantes."

What glasses? This sounds like another inconsistency in that book which was full of mistakes in the New World Zorro section. Perhaps Antonio was going to whip out those glasses in a future episode.

My primary interest in this pilot is in seeing how it is indeed an early version of our show. It is like a rough draft of an essay. Some of the important key aspects of our show are in the pilot. We have the Z that cuts in between the names of the cast. I'd have to watch a few shows again, but I'm pretty sure that a few quotes were used in some of the shows almost word-for-word.

For instance:

"So the pupil outplays the master."

"If this is a dream, I pray God not to let me wake."

"I am not your dear. I am not your anything."

The hair styles seem much more old-fashioned in this pilot. By making the hair styles modern, the series had a much wider appeal to viewers. It also made the series less historically accurate, but a series needs to appeal to modern viewers in order to be successful.

Sandra Curtis calls Maria "spoiled," but I can't tell in this pilot. We'd have to see more of the original concept. She is obviously wealthy and dislikes Antonio, especially since Antonio insults her and she overhears. This could have been interesting with the love interest hating Antonio yet loving Zorro at the same time.

I didn't like the way Antonio spoke to Felipe in the secret cave. While the device is explosive, he seemed a bit harsh. Regehr did a better job with Felipe in that regard.

The lighting inside the hacienda when Antonio greets his father is awful.

Antonio wears the Zorro disguise which has bullet holes so that people can see the bullet holes. I have watched the pilot twice and not seen them. I admit, though, that I did not try very hard to spot them. Has anyone seen them?

The personalities are very undeveloped in this pilot, but this was also true for the first part of the series. It took Regehr and the rest of the cast time to develop their roles fully.

It was not a disaster, but it would not have made for a very memorable version of Zorro. I think the series would have been at least a little better than what we saw in the pilot, but it probably would not have lasted past one season.

One last important point is that in this pilot, Diego dies and Antonio takes on the role of Zorro. All versions of Zorro fit into two categories. They either have the original Zorro, Diego, or they have another person as Zorro.

I have observed that the better versions of Zorro always have Diego in the role and that the versions which change up the plot and make Zorro someone else are never quite as good. That one change from the pilot having Diego die to the series having Diego as Zorro saved it from possible ruination.

International Availability for the New World Zorro DVD Sets

2011-01-05T02:33:00.000-06:00

Many people have asked about whether the New World Zorro DVDs are available internationally. While this is strictly a North American release, nothing should prevent anyone from anywhere in the world from buying the sets. However, be aware that you must have a DVD player that will play the DVDs. The DVDs are region 1, and region 1 discs cannot be played in Europe and elsewhere.

Some people have the misconception that it is not possible to order the DVDs if one is outside the United States. Someone else checked and stated that Amazon did not prevent the DVDs from being placed in the shopping cart. All that Amazon did was warn that the DVDs were region 1 and that the buyer was not located in region 1. If buyers can play region 1 discs, then ordering should not be a problem.

Sellers are now selling the New World Zorro DVDs on eBay at bargain prices. I would be very wary of such listings. You have no guarantee as to whether the sellers are selling the actual DVD release. The sellers could be selling the usual bootlegs but using the photos of the DVD release in order to make buyers believe that what would be received are the actual DVDs.

One auction has an expected arrival date of between January 12 and January 21. How is this possible when the set is not to be released until January 25? I do not suggest bidding, even though $4.99 appears to be a great deal. It appears to be too good of a deal.

I suggest buying from Amazon rather than from eBay, because you are guaranteed good service and are also guaranteed not to receive bootlegs.

The Complete Series
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4

New World Zorro DVD Set Product Information

2010-11-09T19:48:00.003-06:00

The product page for the DVD set for all four seasons of the New World Zorro series has finally been updated with information about what is on the set. We knew that the set was supposed to contain the unreleased original pilot and extra scenes that never aired, but the product page finally confirms this information.

Zorro: The Complete Series

This is the editorial information from the product page, and I have added a number of omitted quotation marks so that the text reads better.

Out of the night a hero must rise with courage that even a mask can't disguise! So begins the adventures of Zorro swordsman, scientist and relentless defender of the oppressed.

In early 19th century Spanish California, a corrupt Alcalde (mayor) grows rich by terrorizing the good people of Los Angeles. Young and dashing Don Diego de la Vega (Duncan_Regehr), pretending to care only for science and study, secretly creates a bold alter-ego: Zorro the Fox. Aided by his mute servant Felipe, inspired by the faith of the beautiful tavern-keeper Victoria, and carried into battle by the mighty steed Toronado, Zorro thwarts the Alcalde's plots at every turn.

Filmed entirely in Madrid, Spain, Zorro aired on The Family Channel for four seasons, from 1990-1993. Still a tremendous fan favorite, Zorro is renowned for its swashbuckling family-friendly adventure as well as its top-notch cast of featured characters and guests, including Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Don Alejandro de la Vega, Daniel Craig, Andre the Giant, Philip Michael Thomas, Jesse Ventura and Adam West.

For the first time ever, all 88 episodes have been collected in one DVD set, including a bonus disk with classic Zorro films, an alternate series pilot and much more.

BONUS DISC:
The legend of Zorro truly begins in 1919, with the publication of Johnston McCulley's story, The Curse of Capistrano. A year later, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford produced The Mark of Zorro with Fairbanks as the title character as the inaugural film for their new studio, United Artists. Since then, the character has inspired more than 40 films and nearly a dozen TV series. The Zorro Archives includes some of the masked defender s most influential appearances as well as rare behind-the-scenes material from the 1990 series.

BONUS FEATURES: THE ZORRO ARCHIVES
The Mark of Zorro starring Douglas Fairbanks the original full-length silent film that defined the swashbuckler genre
Chapter 1 of the 1939 theatrical serial Zorro's Fighting Legion
Trailers for the serials Zorro's Fighting Legion, Zorro's Black Whip and Zorro Rides Again
The original, never-before-released pilot for the New World Zorro
A photo gallery from the New World Zorro

Cover Art for New World Zorro DVD Sets

2010-11-03T20:41:00.003-05:00

The official New World Zorro DVD release will be in early 2011. While Amazon.com still shows January 11, 2011, we have been told that the actual date is January 25, 2011 (see comment to this post).

Someone asked in a previous post whether it matters from where we buy the DVDs. The concern was whether the copyright holder would get more profit if the DVDs are purchased from one source over another. It is apparent that purchasing from Amazon.com is fine with Zorro Productions, since Zorro Productions has linked to Amazon from its site.

Amazon.com has just updated the product pages with the cover art.

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

The Complete Series

Buy the Complete Set of New World Zorro DVDs

2010-10-10T08:55:00.001-05:00

For New World Zorro, A&E plans to release individual sets of the four seasons and a complete set including all four of the seasons. I highly recommend that anyone who can afford to do so buy the complete set rather than the individual seasons. The complete set is currently priced at $89.99, and the individual seasons are currently priced at $26.99.

What often happens with DVD releases is that all of the seasons do not get released at once, and the later ones are the ones never released. In this case, all of the seasons are getting released at once. However...

We know that the first season will sell the best, because anyone who decides to buy the individual seasons will buy the first season before the others. It is very possible that the other individual seasons may not sell well enough to be kept on the market. Or even worse, the entire DVD release could get pulled pretty quickly if the sales are too low to keep in production. That could leave many people with nothing except the first season, if they go for the individual seasons one at a time.

New World Zorro is, after all, an obscure television series that most people do not remember. It is not likely going to have very high sales. Therefore, if possible, start getting your money saved up and buy the complete set all at once while it is available!

New World Zorro DVD Release Information

2010-10-09T15:03:00.001-05:00

We do not have a definite date for the release of the New World Zorro DVD set, but we know it will be soon. Amazon has five listings for the DVDs which give a release date of January 11, 2011.

All four seasons
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4

You can also read some information here about the release. Keep in mind that the artwork for the set has not been released yet, and the actual release date is not set in stone. It could still change. What is encouraging is that we know the plans for the release of this series are moving forward quickly, much quicker than is normal for DVD releases of obscure television series. This is going to happen, and soon.

Please continue to be patient and remember that one year ago, we had no chance of this series getting released on DVD. One year ago, we did not know who owned the rights, so nothing was ever going to happen. The series has been in limbo for nearly 20 years. I believe the problems were caused because the Family Channel was sold years ago, and that made it unclear who owned the rights to the series.

Zorro Productions, Inc. now owns the rights, has compiled extras for the set, has created the artwork, and has been working hard to get the series released as soon as possible. This type of release can often take several years from the early plans to the actual release. We are very fortunate that the plans have moved forward so quickly. We are almost there!

The Mark of Zorro Radio Drama

2010-08-18T23:20:00.003-05:00

Here is information from Daryl on two upcoming Zorro radio productions.

The Mark of Zorro is being produced by renowned audio dramatist Yuri Rasovsky and the Hollywood Theater of the Ear for Blackstone Audio will be recorded in August. This will be a full-cast audio dramatization of Johnston McCulley's first Zorro story The Curse of Capistrano (aka The Mark of Zorro).

The cast will feature:

Val Kilmer (Tombstone, Batman Forever, Top Gun, Heat) as Zorro www.valekilmer.com

Ruth Livier (Ylse) as Lolita Pulido www.ruthlivier.com

Elizabeth Pena (Justice League, The Incredibles, Nothing Like The Holidays) as Catalina Pulido

Armin Shimmerman (Quark on Star Trek: DS9) as the Landlord/ Narrator

Meshach Taylor (Anthony Bouvier on Designing Women, Ned's Declassified School Guide) as Sgt Gonzalez.

Keith Szarabajkai as Capitan Ramon.

Also in the cast Scott Brick, Phil Proctor (Firesign Theater), Kristoffer Tabori, Ned Schmidtke, Gorgo Panza, and Stefan Rudnicki

------------------------------
Coming in the early of 2011 "Zorro Rides Again" the full-cast audio drama sequel to “Zorro and the Pirate Raiders” from Colonial Radio Theater. This production will be released through Brilliance Audio Publishing.

New World Zorro DVD Release Update

2010-08-12T22:49:00.001-05:00

A&E Video has a target of December 2010 for the release of the New World Zorro DVD set. Keep in mind that the specific release date has not been determined and that release dates are subject to change.

The original target was Fall 2010 but that was a little too quick, so the new target is December 2010. A lot goes into preparing a DVD release such as this one. We are going to get some great bonus features, including outtakes and the original never-before-seen pilot that did not star Duncan Regehr. It takes time to process these bonus features. In the meantime, we have much to anticipate!

For Information on the New World Zorro...

2010-07-29T22:35:00.002-05:00

Visit my website:

New World Zorro

I no longer am interested in adding new information to the site, except for some recent necessary changes about the official release on DVD. However, during the years that I built the site, I was very meticulous and thorough about my information. It is the place to go for correct information about the series. I am not being arrogant, and I am aware that I could have something wrong somewhere. But I know how much work I put into the site, and I know how carefully I cross-checked information.

I mention this because a point came up recently in this blog. Someone commented that it is wrong to state that the series aired from 1990 to 1993, and I assume this comment was directed at the DVD title suggestion that included those years. I made that title suggestion.

It was stated that the correct years are 1990 to 1992, and that we can look up those dates on various sites. I have no idea who has the years as 1990 to 1992, but that information is wrong.

First off, the fourth season was the only season I saw as the shows aired, and I wrote down the dates. The series ended in January 1993. Pam Poland, another fan, wrote down the dates for all four seasons as they aired. She and I agreed on the dates for the fourth season when we compared notes years ago.

As to Pam's dates, I knew she had them right, but I also cross-checked them. At one point, I bought most back issues of TV Guide for 1990 to 1993 and cross-checked dates. I do have the correct dates listed on my site on the episode lists. The Family Channel aired new episodes from January 5, 1990 until January 30, 1993. The run of the series was three years and three weeks.

When the point was brought up that the dates of 1990 to 1993 were wrong, I knew I was the one who stated them and figured that my website must contradict those dates. I have thought very little about the New World Zorro series during the last five years. I thought that I was remembering wrong. Pam pointed out the correct end date, and I checked my site. Sure enough, my site has the correct end date.

When I first built my site, I mentioned that one of the writers for the series, Philip John Taylor, guest starred in the episode "Whereabouts." Someone informed me that I was wrong and pointed out the two different pages on IMDB for a writer, Philip John Taylor, and an actor, Philip Taylor. I was chagrined and removed the information from my site.

A few years later, Robert L. McCullough, producer for the series, answered some fan questions. He mentioned that Philip John Taylor was in the episode "Whereabouts" as a writer as an inside joke. I then added my original information back to my site. What this proves is that IMDB does have incorrect information. I just checked, and writer Philip John Taylor is still not credited as being in that one episode, yet he was.

I also took a lot of criticism for years about the alcalde's name Luis Ramone. I was probably the only person who thought the name was Ramone, and everyone else thought it was Ramon. I used the sign in "It's a Wonderful Zorro" as proof. I was told that the name was misspelled in that sign and that production did not bother to correct it. While this show was slipshod at times (see the electric light bulbs in the hacienda in "Death and Taxes" and remember the show is set in 1820), I thought that it was going a bit too far to suggest they would misspell a primary character's name.

When I finally obtained many of the scripts, I found that the name is Ramone all through the scripts. I shared that information and was told that the name must have been spelled phonetically so that the actors would know how to pronounce it. Who on earth does not know how to pronounce Ramon? It is not an uncommon name. People were grasping at anything in order to prove me wrong about the spelling of the name.

By the way, I do not care how people spell the name in their fan fiction stories. Of course Ramon is correct for Spanish, and I believe that most of the stories use that spelling. It is my duty to bring forth information about the actual television production, so for me, the name is Ramone.

I also have a conviction about a certain extra who appeared in many shows, but I have been unable to prove it. Of course I am the only one who believes what I do, and I hope someday I can prove myself either right or wrong, because it bothers me.

Just know that I am someone who is very thorough, so my site is a good source of information. I have far from all of the information that is available, but what I do have from years ago should be correct.

Template Change

2010-07-27T16:11:00.003-05:00

I am going to see if I can get the poll results more easily viewable by changing templates. The process will likely cause the polls to be even harder to view temporarily until I get everything adjusted.

Update: The polls are now wider, even though you will still have to scroll right to see the results. It is better than it was.

The Two Polls Are Now Live

2010-07-27T14:40:00.000-05:00

I have created two polls with all of the suggested names for the New World Zorro DVD boxed set. The polls are in the right sidebar. I tended to put the more viable names in the first poll, but a few of them are in the second poll. I tried to even out the list so that roughly half of the names are in each poll.

You can vote for more than one title, so select all of the possibilities that appeal to you. Please remember to vote in both polls, unless of course you hate all of the suggestions in one of the polls.

I do not suggest trying to vote after you have already voted, as I have noticed poll numbers drop as the days pass. I believe that trying to vote more than once cancels out both responses.

These polls are set to run through August 15.

NWZ Unfilmed Script: "The Surprise Visit"

2010-07-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

First off, I cannot share scans of the scripts for free. Please do not ask. I am bound by a promise to another person, and the scripts were very expensive. I cannot and will not give them away for free. If we would ever get people who would be willing to pay a fair price for copies, then we could get a return on our investment and more people would be able to read them.

In response to what people wonder about the most, there is nothing about the romance in any of the unfilmed scripts that I have seen and nothing that would further develop any parts of the overall plot of the series. I believe that we did see all of the shows which further advanced things, such as "An Affair to Remember" which was how they chose to wrap up the romance story. Of course, we wanted more than that, but at least they gave us something.

I have one unfilmed script that is from either the first or second season, since Ramone is in it. As an aside, the scripts spell the name as Ramone, which is why I use that spelling. It is the correct spelling of the character's name, even though it is not the correct Spanish spelling. While I don't know which season the script is from, my guess is second season since that season skipped over some production numbers.

The name of the script is "The Surprise Visit." I would rate this one as slightly above average.

Here is a fairly detailed summary:

Governor Maximiano Matorras arrives in Los Angeles, hoping to find evidence that the Alcalde is corrupt. Near the hacienda, Zorro overhears the governor planning to arrive in disguise as a doctor.

During a bean-eating contest in the tavern involving Mendoza and the blacksmith, De Frutos, Matorras arrives in disguise and gives his name as Doctor Frijoles. The governor is appalled at the way the Alcalde is forcing Mendoza to eat beans so that he will beat De Frutos.

Diego points the governor out to his father, and the men laugh at his disguise. According to the De la Vegas, Matorras is the best governor California has had in years. They hope that the governor will see signs of corruption during his visit and remove Ramone from office.

In the plaza, a woman cries out for help and collapses. Victoria has the woman's husband take her to the tavern. Victoria summons Doctor Frijoles because the woman is about to give birth. Frijoles hesitates, beginning to say that he isn't a doctor. Diego interrupts, stating that Frijoles is a Doctor of Mathematics, which is why he cannot help. Don Alejandro offers his services in place of the doctor. The Alcalde questions whether he can do anything. Alejandro comments that he helped bring Diego "into the world in the back of a wagon." He states that it is just common sense.

Mendoza recognizes the doctor from the portrait of the governor that hangs in Ramone's office. He whispers the news to Ramone. Ramone quickly forgets the traveler's tax he was going to impose on the doctor and decides to show him the cuartel. Later, Ramone takes the doctor with him when he repairs a peasant's fence. The peasant is bewildered by Ramone's kind behavior, especially since the soldiers were the ones who destroyed the fence.

Later, Diego and Felipe decide to have Zorro intervene. At sunrise, Zorro rides into the pueblo and forces the Alcalde to confess to several things, such as the traveler's tax and that he bet all of the money on the bean-eating contest. He dunks Ramone and suspends him upside down from a pole jutting out from the tavern's roof. Everybody is happy, since they are certain that the governor heard everything from his room in the tavern.

Later, inside the tavern, Victoria comes downstairs with a note left by the doctor. In it, he confesses that he was the governor and was posing as a doctor. He states that he decided to leave before sunrise because there was no reason to stay. Ramone is an excellent alcalde. Everyone looks dejected. The script ends with Diego stating, "Well, you win some and you lose some."

Note: Many of you are posting as "Anonymous," which I currently have enabled on this blog. I am kindly requesting that you add your initials or some identifier to the end of your comments. When the comments posted are by Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, and Anonymous, it makes it hard to know how many people that represents. I really don't want to squelch the discussion, but I will change to Google ID required within a few days if necessary in order to force people to be counted as separate individuals. This would not affect any polls, but it would require you to create a Google account in order to comment. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

NWZ Unfilmed Script : "Reasonable Doubts"

2010-07-25T13:22:00.004-05:00

I was asked about the unfilmed scripts in a comment to another post. It would be better for me to answer some of these queries in new posts rather than burying the information in the comments to an unrelated post.

First off, I cannot share scans of the scripts for free. Please do not ask. I am bound by a promise to another person, and the scripts were very expensive. I cannot and will not give them away for free. If we would ever get people who would be willing to pay a fair price for copies, then we could get a return on our investment and more people would be able to read them.

One of the scripts is called "Reasonable Doubts." This script is for an unfilmed episode from the fourth season. The fourth season was cut short due to one of the production companies pulling out, so only part of the season was filmed.

Here is a short summary of the events that occur in this script:

The Monterey stagecoach that is carrying the garrison's payroll is ambushed by bandits. DeSoto and his men arrive just in time to hear the wounded coach driver regain consciousness briefly and accuse a wounded passenger, Domingo Cano, of staging the ambush. The coach driver dies seconds later, leaving DeSoto no chance to question him. DeSoto assumes that Cano is guilty and plans to hang him the next day. After Don Diego hears of the arrest and planned execution, he decides to investigate. As Zorro, he frees Cano and quickly searches for clues at the scene of the ambush while pursued by DeSoto and the soldiers.

That is an incomplete summary that I wrote a long time ago, and I do not wish to pull out the script and try for a more complete one. My general impression after reading this script is that it would have made for an average episode.

Following is a scan of the first page of the script. Click on the image to see a larger version that can be read more easily.

Look for information on another unfilmed script in an upcoming post.

Note: Many of you are posting as "Anonymous," which I currently have enabled on this blog. I am kindly requesting that you add your initials or some identifier to the end of your comments. When the comments posted are by Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, and Anonymous, it makes it hard to know how many people that represents. I really don't want to squelch the discussion, but I will change to Google ID required within a few days if necessary in order to force people to be counted as separate individuals. This would not affect any polls, but it would require you to create a Google account in order to comment. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

List of DVD Name Possibilities

2010-07-24T00:50:00.006-05:00

I have compiled a list of DVD name suggestions. If I have inadvertently left off your suggestion, please let me know. Additionally, if you can think of other possibilities, I will add them to the list.

The Adventures of Zorro
Diego And Victoria: The New Adventures Of Zorro
The Family Channel's New World Zorro
The Family Channel's Zorro
The Family Channel Zorro
His Name Is Zorro
A Man Called Zorro
New World Zorro
The New Zorro
The New Zorro with Duncan Regehr
The New Adventures of Zorro
The New Adventures of Zorro from 1990
The New Adventures of Zorro Starring Duncan Regehr
The Sword of Zorro
The Thrilling Adventures of Zorro
The Wonderful World of Zorro
Zorro
Zorro: Adventures in the New World
Zorro and Victoria: A Love Story
Zorro: A New World
Zorro: The 1990 Family Television Series
Zorro: The 1990 Family Version
Zorro: The 1990 Television Series
Zorro: The 1990 Television Series with Duncan Regehr
Zorro: The 1990 to 1993 Television Series
Zorro: The Complete Collection
ZORRO: For Love and Honor
Zorro: The Family Channel Collection
Zorro: The Family Channel Version
Zorro: The Family Version
Zorro: The Family Version with Duncan Regehr
Zorro: The Legend Begins
Zorro: The Legend Continues
Zorro: Man of Cunning and Steel
Zorro: Man of Science
Zorro: The New Adventures
Zorro: The New World Collection
Zorro: The New World Collection (Family Channel Version)
Zorro The Next Generation

My plan is to create two polls so that you can vote for your favorites. I am going to separate the possibilities into two groups for the polls. One group will contain the possibilities which are the ones that Zorro Productions is more likely to choose. The other group will contain the possibilities that Zorro Productions is less likely to choose.

We need to remember the purpose of our suggestions. Zorro Productions wants a name that will distinguish the DVD set from that of the Disney Zorro series. Zorro Productions appears to want to avoid calling the series simply "New World Zorro." So keep that in mind as you consider the possibilities.

I do not feel that a name that is the same as another version of Zorro will be likely to be chosen. This means that a name that is the same as other filmed versions of Zorro, McCulley's Zorro stories, or the names of the Dell and Gold Key Zorro comic books are likely not viable choices.

The name of the series is simply "Zorro," but Zorro Productions wants a better name for the DVD set. I feel that the name should be something that is easily recognizable and makes people think of this specific version, especially people who have not visited Zorro websites. You might think that all people who would be interested in this series have visited the Zorro websites, but I can tell you from my experience in another area of interest that a large percentage of people interested in any specific topic have never visited informational sites concerning that topic. It is surprising but true.

I also want to admit for the very first time that I have never deep in my heart thought of this series as the New World Zorro version. At the time that I created my site, it was apparent that most people on the internet called it that for some reason that I do not quite understand. Actually, I do know that it is because of New World Television, but the series always was and still is the Family Channel Zorro to me. I did not name my site that since that did not appear to be the trend on the web. It has never sounded quite right to me. For that reason, I can understand why Zorro Productions is concerned about calling the series the New World Zorro.

I will be using these criteria as I separate the names into more likely and less likely to be chosen. If your suggestion ends up in the less likely group, it is for one of the above reasons and is nothing personal. I also believe I am limited in the number of selections to a poll, so I have to do more than one poll anyway. When I create the polls, I will allow you to make more than one choice so that you can indicate which ones you like better.

If you want to begin discussing what you think of the possibilities (some of you already have on the original post), feel free to do so. We have had a surprisingly low response from the New World Zorro group, and the respondents in this blog seem to be more interested. I allow anonymous comments to this blog, but I would appreciate it if you would enter your first name, last name, initials, or at least something so that I can tell how many people are discussing this topic.

New World Zorro DVD Set Bonus Feature

2010-07-21T23:23:00.001-05:00

Daryl has provided us with another scoop.

I wasn't certain that I could release this news yesterday so I had to verify it first. ONE of the special features will be on the DVD release is the never before seen pilot episode for the New World (Family Channel) Zorro tv series.

This is spectacular news. As far as I know, no one has ever seen it. The book Zorro Unmasked: The Original History by Sandra Curtis explains what happened with the pilot to the New World Zorro.

John [John Gertz of Zorro Productions] pitched Nancy's [Nancy Larson, twin sister of John Gertz] treatment to seven production companies in two days...They closed a deal with New World Television....John had insisted on creative consultation rights for the series, but he found himself in conflict with the producers over how much they would be willing to accept him as a creative partner. The problem he confronted with Goodman-Rosen, the line producers, was to be revisited with each new Zorro project....John's concerns regarding the pilot were summarily ignored by Goodman-Rosen. His chief complaint was the violence. The plot involved numerous killings and generally lacked humor, a critical part of the Zorro formula.

Here is a summary of the plot, also from Zorro Unmasked: The Original History.

Antonio de la Cruz, the nephew of Don Diego, takes up the mantle of his boyhood hero when Zorro is killed by the commandant, Monastario. One element of Nancy's treatment was retained: Antonio played a clumsy scholar with glasses whose heroes were da Vinci and Cervantes.

The pilot featured Patrick James as Zorro and Patrice Martinez as the female lead, Dona Maria Constansa Arrillaga, a spoiled, rich girl to whom Antonio was betrothed. Antonio does not endear himself to his arranged marriage partner, harboring memories of Maria as a fat and homely child. Yet she has grown into a feisty, dark-haired beauty. Maria's feelings about Antonio echo his own about her. She is, however, very impressed with Zorro. In the climax, Antonio uses his knowledge of da Vinci's principles of flight to build a hang glider, which he dramatically sails into the plaza to rescue falsely convicted men from execution.

(snip)

Location shooting took place on the southern coast of Spain near Almeria in November 1987....Gertz fumed on the set, watching a nightmare unfold before his eyes....Based on a disastrous pilot, interest in the revival of Zorro as a live-action hero fell short of attracting the required funding partners. The fox once again seemed headed toward a short-lived revival....The producers went back to the drawing board, revamping the concept and addressing some of Gertz's concerns. The story line reverted to a traditional Zorro scenario without the oppressive violence. The fox had partially been rescued.

The result was the New World Zorro television series that aired on the Family Channel. It will be a special treat to see the original pilot.

Name the NWZ Official DVD Boxed Set

2010-07-20T21:52:00.004-05:00

Your suggestions are needed by August 6, 2010. If you have a suggestion, please leave a comment on this blog post.

Daryl has provided us with this important information:

Zorro Productions Inc is working toward releasing the NW Zorro for Christmas. The bonus material is currently being processed and I'm told fans are going to love it.

****** ZPI is offering the fans a very special opportunity. ZPI is going to allow you to name the DVD box set. Since both series were simply called "ZORRO" a title that will clearly distinguishes it from the Disney Zorro Box set is needed. ZPI feels that simply calling it New World Zorro may not mean much to most buyers. So NWZ fans your input is critical. It's up to you to name your Zorro series. *******

Please think about a title and get back to me ASAP. I will pass all of your suggestions on to ZPI.

Daryl

What we need to think of is a name that will cause people who see the packaging to immediately think of THAT version of Zorro. We want people who have never been to this blog to know instantly which version of Zorro it is. We want people who have not thought of the show since 1993 to want to buy the set because they remember the show from the Family Channel. We need a name that is not the name of another version of Zorro. Think of when you saw the series on television. How did you think of it? What do you recall?

My suggestion was to use something with the word "family" in it, since the show aired on the Family Channel. I always thought of it as the "Family Channel Zorro." Unfortunately, "Family Channel" is probably trademarked and cannot be used. I suggested "Zorro: The Family Version" or "Zorro: The Family Version with Duncan Regehr" in addition to some other ideas.

EDITED TO ADD: Make sure you read my latest post on this topic.

New World Zorro to Be Released on DVD Fall 2010

2010-06-25T19:08:00.001-05:00

This just in from Daryl:

The deal for the distribution of New World Zorro on DVD was only officially completed on Wednesday so I don't have all of the details. I will pass them on as I get them. The distributor will be A&E Video. They are set to release in the fall. Right now they are working with ZPI to put together the bonus material. A&E will decide how they wish to release the series so ZPI doesn't know at this time if it will be one season at a time, seasons 1 & 2 together then seasons 3 & 4 together or a complete box set.

and also:

ZPI has a cable deal in the works for NWZ. They will provide details when they come available. I'll pass them along. Also it appears the DVDs will include a Spanish language option.

If you are one of the people who has been waiting for years for this series to be released on DVD, your wish is about to come true. If you are just now wanting to see the shows, please do not buy bootlegs from anybody. They are of inferior quality, and you are better off waiting for the official release, which is just months away.

Important: New World Zorro Survey

2010-06-07T16:04:00.003-05:00

There is a possibility of having some type of New World Zorro finale, probably a radio drama, created. I do not know the specific details, but there is an issue which could be resolved depending upon the results of a survey. Please answer the survey by responding to this post. Below, I quote Daryl with his request.

In what feels like the never ending quest to bring about a NWZ finale I need to put together one more piece of information for the powers that be. To keep this short and to the point I NEED everyone to list the characters/actors in the order of favorite to least favorite. I'm asking everyone to please participate.

And please don't just say I love them all or list just one or two. Please list everyone starting with your absolute favorite then your next favorite, then your next favorite, etc. To make things quicker I'll post an example with each person numbered. You could just list the numbers of each corresponding person if you like.

Thanks for your help.

Daryl

Example:

1. Diego-Zorro/Duncan Regehr

2. Victoria/Patrice Martinez

3. Alejandro/Henry Darrow

4. Sgt. Mendoza/James Victor

5. Alcalde Ramon/Michael Tylo

6. Alcalde de Soto/John Hertzler

7. Felipe/Juan Diego Botto

8. Alejando/Efram Zimbalist Jr.

9. Toronado

Zorro Items for Sale

2010-06-01T14:32:00.000-05:00

I have a few Zorro items for sale.

Zorro's Fighting Legion DVD

Zorro Rides Again DVD

New World Zorro Sticker Album Complete Set #1-216

76 New World Zorro Slides

Teresa Gutierrez The Marquesa

2010-03-22T23:34:00.004-05:00

Viewers of La espada y la rosa will remember La Marquesa, Carmen Santillana de la Roquette, as a powerful ally of the de la Vegas.

The actress who played The Marquesa passed away earlier this month in Colombia. She was born on October 28, 1928 and died on March 10, 2010. She was a major Colombian television star.

All-Story Weekly August 9, 1919

2010-03-15T01:20:00.000-05:00

The pulp magazine in which Zorro made his first appearance is a highly desired piece of Zorro memorabilia. In my opinion, it is the Holy Grail of Zorro memorabilia.

Zorro debuted in the August 9, 1919 issue of All-Story Weekly in a story called "The Curse of Capistrano."

An excellent condition copy of this pulp magazine recently sold on eBay.

All Story Pulp August 9, 1919

Here is the seller's picture:

The issue sold for a staggering $1,525.00.

Telemundo Zorro Update #2

2010-03-06T22:25:00.002-06:00

In the original airing of the telenovela in 2007, the show had English captions on CC1 and Spanish captions on CC3. When the re-airing of the show began last month, Telemundo was displaying the Spanish captions on CC1 and had no English captions.

I have not verified this, but I have been told that Telemundo has now added the English captions to CC3. Apparently enough people requested the English captions that Telemundo decided to add them to this airing of the show.

New World Zorro DVD Release Information

2010-03-02T01:05:00.004-06:00

I sent out this information on two lists, and I am also placing this here in order to reach a wider audience.

Daryl reports that John Gertz is in the final stages of acquiring a distributor for the series. This means that the New World Zorro series will soon be on DVD in an official release in the United States and elsewhere.

John Gertz has requested that fans let him know of their preferences for a DVD release. Daryl is passing on the responses. Reply to this message if you would like to have input. Here are the questions:

Do you want the DVD set released one season at a time or all at once?

Would you like to see a bloopers reel?

Would you like to see a cast reunion? In what format: Interview, concluding episode TV show (keep in mind the cast is now 17 years older), concluding episode radio drama

Would you like to see writers, directors, producers, etc, reunion interview?

A release of some special memorabilia, or maybe cast autographed special edition DVD series?

Zorro on Telemundo Update

2010-03-02T00:57:00.003-06:00

The Zorro telenovela form 2007 is currently airing in reruns daily on Telemundo. Several people who missed the show the first time it aired are recording it. Most people missed the beginning of the reruns and are not sure how to label their DVDs.

I recorded the show on Monday to see how far along the reruns are. On Monday, episodes 26 and 27 from the original run aired.

The current run does not match up with the original run because the original run aired in 112 episodes and the current run is airing as 120 episodes. The telenovela was filmed in 120 episodes. When the show first aired, quite a few episodes aired as 90 minute episodes. Each of those episodes was comprised of 1 1/2 of the original episodes.

#16-25 in the original run aired as 90 minute episodes. Using this as reference:

http://www.zorrolegend.com/zorro2007/episodes26-30.html

#16 on the above website is #16 with 1/2 of #17 in the current run
#17 is 1/2 of #17 with #18
#18 is #19 with 1/2 of #20
#19 is 1/2 of #20 with #21
#20 is #22 with 1/2 of #23
#21 is 1/2 of #23 with #24
#22 is #25 with 1/2 of #26
#23 is 1/2 of #26 with #27
#24 is #28 with 1/2 of #29
#25 is 1/2 of #29 with #30
#26 aired as one hour so is #31
#27 aired as one hour so is #32

If anyone sees anything wrong with this, please let me know. I have looked over it a few times, but I could have made a mistake.

If I have this right, then what aired on Monday is #31 and #32 as originally filmed. For those of you recording this, Monday's should be labeled as #31 and #32.

Zorro Is Back on Telemundo!

2010-02-10T18:15:00.006-06:00

Check your television listings. Telemundo is now re-airing La espada y la rosa each weekday on Telemundo. Many people have wished that they had not missed out on seeing this great telenovela, and this is the first time the series has aired since its finale in July 2007.

La espada y la rosa tells the epic story of Diego de la Vega and his love, Esmeralda, who fight to be together against all odds.

From ZorroLegend.com:

This version of Zorro bends history and places Zorro in a setting that at times is almost like an alternate reality. The telenovela was filmed in Colombia, and the essence of Colombia and South America is very much a part of every episode. The setting is supposed to be Los Angeles, California, but it is as though Los Angeles is a part of Colombia, South America.

The novela contains every outrageous plot device that a person could want from slave traders to cannibals, mystical Indians, Amazon warrior women, witches, gypsies, piranhas, pirates, lepers, an exorcist, victims of demon possession, and even a dwarf and a hunchback. The amazing range of bizarre characters and plot elements combine to create a version of Zorro that is quite unlike any of the previous versions.

It is one of my three favorite versions of Zorro alongside the New Word Zorro and Walt Disney's Zorro. Purists might not like it, but I feel that this version incorporates all that is fun about Zorro into an intriguing romantic story. The fun is in the journey, and the telenovela is a very fun journey.

Advice Concerning New World Zorro DVDs

2010-01-24T21:54:00.001-06:00

The people who have been selling bootlegs of the New World Zorro shows for years are still selling them. Since it now looks like we have a very good chance of seeing the New World Zorro series on DVD this year, please do not give the bootleggers your money. If you have waited nearly 20 years to see the shows again, you can wait a few more months.

Over the years, I have ignored the bootleggers and in some ways was glad that they made copies of the shows. By other people making and selling copies, it kept me from being harassed quite so much by people wanting DVDs. Of course people still harassed me, so I had to place a message near the top of my New World Zorro page. I also placed that message there because someone thought I was the one selling copies on eBay because an early bootlegger used my collage image on the sets and later bootleggers continued to use that image. I didn't want people to think I was the one selling copies. Some people do not understand that anybody can swipe an image off a website and use it however they want.

As I stated, I have not cared what the bootleggers did. My opinion has now changed. It would be a shame for someone to pay a lot of money for a bootleg set now when we have a good shot of seeing a legitimate release.

The bootleg sets are not the quality of an official release. There are three known sources of the bootleg DVDs. The first source is from tapes recorded from the Family Channel that have good picture quality and no missing parts, but the sound quality is not so good.

A second source of the bootlegs is from someone who recorded the shows from the Family Channel in a very sloppy fashion, cutting off much of the beginning and ending credits. The picture quality also has problems aside from the missing parts.

A third source of the bootlegs, which I have only heard about and never seen, is from tapes recorded from a station in Canada during the last ten years. I do not know the quality of this source, but it may be better than the other two. Even so, it cannot be the quality of an official release.

A prospective buyer has no way of knowing which source a set of DVDs has, so it would be unwise to buy one of the DVD sets at this point in time. Wait for the official release.

New World Zorro on TV and DVD

2010-01-22T20:38:00.002-06:00

Zorro Productions announced via its Facebook account that it has acquired the rights to the New World Zorro television series. Here is the announcement:

[ZPI] is excited to spread the news - Zorro Productions (ZPI) announces that it has acquired the rights in the eighty-eight (88) half-hour live-action episodes of "Zorro" television series created by New World Television. Most recently, the series was controlled by Fox Home Entertainment for most markets in the world. ZPI’s rights cover most of the world but not Spain, France, or Germany.

Here is an additional update:

We just acquired the rights, and now we are looking for a distributor. The company CEO is going to NAPTE next week, so keep your fingers crossed.

ZPI also has added a page to its site that mentions its acquirement of the rights.

http://www.zorro.com/new_world.html

ZPI is looking to get the series out on DVD and back on television.

First and foremost, I would love to see the series back on television. This series has been absent from the airwaves since either late 1993 or early 1994... nearly two decades. A return to television would bring new fans to the series and to Zorro.

Second, it would be great to finally be able to purchase quality copies of the episodes. I have been very negative over the years about the prospects of NWZ getting released on DVD because nobody seemed to know who had the rights to the series. With the rights in question, there was never a chance of getting the series released. Now that ZPI controls the United States rights and is looking to pursue a DVD release, I feel much more positive. I feel like we now have a fighting chance to see the series on DVD.

The Rights to the New World Zorro

2010-01-19T19:42:00.003-06:00

Apparently Zorro Productions, Inc. has purchased the rights to the New World Zorro. Keep your fingers crossed...

Zorro and Pirate Raiders Radio Drama

2009-08-27T18:02:00.000-05:00

I have this information, posted by Daryl to the New World Zorro group, to share:

My initial efforts to bring Zorro to the world of full-cast audio drama are now complete. This particular quest began almost 3 years ago. But now… It's official!

Zorro and the Pirate Raiders, the full-cast audio drama produced by Colonial Radio Theatre on the Air has been released. It is available for download on Lulu.com. It has a running time of 163 minutes and is priced at $10.00.

A trailer of the show can be heard by going to

http://www.colonialradio.com/index.html

Just go into the blog and click on the new Zorro website link.

Show Description:

The Pirate Raiders, with the villainous Captain Bardoso in command, are employed by the vicious Captain Ramon to kidnap the daughter of a wealthy caballero, hoping to use her to trap Zorro. Battles on land and sea, flashing swords and booming cannon explode before your very ears in this exciting audio production.

Based on the book by D.J. Arneson, as adapted from a story by Johnston McCulley.

Featuring:

KEVIN CIRONE as Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro
SHONNA McEACHERN as Senorita Lolita Polido
J. T. TURNER as Captain Ramone
HUGH METZLER as Captain Bardoso
SAM DONATO as Sgt. Garcia
JOSEPH ZAMPARELLI, JR. as Friar Felipe
DAN POWELL as Sanchez / Don Audre
JERRY ROBBINS as the narrator

The show will eventually be available on CD's and also on Audible.Com, but this is where CRT likes to launch new titles as special "sneak previews" before they are released on a larger scale.

But STAY TUNED ~ Coming soon to radio drama (from another production company) will be `The Mark of Zorro'. Though cast information for this production cannot be released at this time; I can say, Zorro fans: Be ready for the biggest shock and thrill of your life!

Daryl

P.S. Also in the works: A Disney style Zorro and a New World Zorro concluding episode both as full-cast audio dramas featuring a Hollywood cast.

Would you be interested in a Zorro radio drama?

2009-06-05T14:29:00.004-05:00

Would you be interested in a radio drama based on the New World Zorro and possibly featuring actors from the New World Zorro? Please indicate your interest in the poll at the left just under the Zorro image.

Zorro Site Stats

2009-06-04T17:19:00.003-05:00

This list of site stats for zorrolegend.com gives an idea of which versions of Zorro are the most popular. These stats give the number of hits to the main page for each section of Zorro from the summer of 2007 through June 4, 2009:

La espada y la rosa (Telemundo telenovela) - 55,026
Disney Zorro - 18,712
Mask of Zorro - 11,500
Mark of Zorro (1974) - 8,474
New World Zorro - 8,076
Legend of Zorro - 7,789
Zorro with Alain Delon - 6,138
Zorro the Gay Blade - 4,352
Zorro's Fighting Legion - 3,292
Zorro and Son - 3,216
The Bold Caballero - 2,534
Mark of Zorro (1920) - 2,320
Ghost of Zorro - 2,317
Zorro's Black Whip - 2,247
Zorro Rides Again - 1,890
Mark of Zorro (1940) - 1,815
Son of Zorro - 1,283
Don Q Son of Zorro - 1,102

Henry Darrow's Biography

2009-05-25T12:18:00.003-05:00

This page has information about Henry Darrow's biography:

Henry Darrow Lightning in a Bottle

Jan Pippins has stated that the book will contain quotes from some of the New World Zorro cast members. For me, this means that the book is a "must have" purchase. While I have not heard anything with regards to the Zorro and Son series, I assume that the book will also make some mention of Darrow's experiences in filming that short series.

If you want to contact me . . .

2009-04-19T15:10:00.003-05:00

Please post a comment in this blog. I will respond by posting a comment. If you post a comment asking me to email you, I will ignore it. I use my personal email primarily for business purposes, and I do not use it to respond to unknown people about unknown matters. When I had my email posted publicly years ago, I received dozens of spam messages per day. I like to keep my personal email uncluttered for important correspondence.

This blog is the way to contact me. If you want to tell me something, then please state it in your comment. You will also be more credible if you provide your name. When you post anonymously, I automatically discount the content.

Whenever a comment is posted, it is sent to my personal email, so I definitely read it. As already stated, I will respond by coming here and posting a comment. It is really quite simple.

Zorro: Generation Z to air on Telemundo

2008-12-28T21:54:00.004-06:00

Zorro: Generation Z will air on Telemundo in the United States beginning in Spring 2009. This animated version of Zorro is set 10 years in the future and has Zorro riding a motorcycle. The first season of 26 episodes was released on DVD in 2007. The second season of 26 episodes is currently in production.

Zorro: Generation Z is in English, but it is quite possible that Telemundo will have it dubbed into Spanish. It will be fun to have a chance to watch Zorro on Telemundo again, even if it is just an animated version. I have always preferred the live-action versions.

Information about Zorro

2008-12-28T00:55:00.003-06:00

Sometimes comments get put in my spam box, but you can be sure that if you post a comment to this blog, I will get around to answering it within a week or so. When I had my email listed on my sites, it was a secondary account that I checked only infrequently. This setup is much better.

When you ask a question, please make sure I know which version of Zorro you mean. I have a question that was posted recently, but I have no idea about which version this person is asking. I know it is a television series, but there have been four of them. I cannot answer questions when I do not have enough information. Thanks!

Zorro by Isabel Allende

2008-07-25T14:02:00.005-05:00

I did not purchase this book until last year, and I began reading it sometime during late summer or early fall. I had trouble getting through it and did not pick it up again until this week. I finally finished the book yesterday.

I have heard so much about this book and how it is the ultimate biography about Zorro. I give it three out of five stars. There is much good about the book, but it suffers from an excessive amount of verbosity. Take this passage from page 246 as an example:

This woman had very little to give, and she was weary of having beggars stop in, but she did not want to leave them without shelter. Because Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary could not find a place in the inn, the child Jesus was born in a manger, she said. She believed that refusing a pilgrim was repaid with many centuries of suffering in purgatory.

The first sentence would have sufficed. It was not necessary to go on and on about why. The entire book is like this. The above passage particularly annoyed me as it was near the end of a humongous paragraph—more on this below.

The background information from the beginning of the book about Don Alejandro and Toypurnia is interesting, but it lasts for far too long. Diego's childhood is far too long. Diego's time in Spain is far too long. It was during Diego's time in Spain that the book lost my interest, and so I put it away for many months.

The first half of this book reminds me of the first half of the fifth Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The first half of Order of the Phoenix drags along at a snail's pace, and it is not until Harry and his friends finally arrive at Hogwarts that anything interesting happens. About half of the first half of the book could have been removed, and this is how I feel about the Allende book.

While the first half of Zorro is slow and tedious, the second half is pretty good. The last 100 or so pages is quite interesting, and personally, I would have preferred for the last part to have been longer than the first part of the book. I felt like there were things that should have been expanded upon near the end of the book that were barely mentioned. There would have been more time for those things if the beginning of the book had not been so long.

The main characteristic of this book that I did not like is the lack of paragraphs. A majority of the paragraphs run on for one and sometimes to nearly two pages. I am someone who will read small portions of a book at a time, and I like to be able to find easy stopping points. This is hard when every paragraph goes on forever. I have no idea if the lack of paragraphs is how Allende writes in Spanish, or if the lack of paragraphs was caused by the translation to English. Whichever it is, it is a serious flaw in this book.

Other Versions of Zorro

2008-07-19T23:21:00.002-05:00

Another question that frequently comes up is when people wonder why most of the foreign Zorro movies are not covered on the Zorro: The Legend Through the Years site. I have never seen most of those movies. They are not readily available in the United States. Even when they come up for sale on the internet, it can be hard to find English language versions.

I have seen a few of them, but I did not like them enough to want to put a page together for any of them.

Even though it doesn't say so, the purpose of the Zorro: The Legend Through the Years site is to cover versions of Zorro that were released in the United States. Plain and simple, this is why the foreign films are missing. The Alain Delon film has been readily available in the United States, and this is why it is covered.

The Purpose of This Blog

2008-07-10T20:27:00.004-05:00

I have created this blog for people who wish to reach me through my Zorro websites. I am not that involved with Zorro at this time, but I am happy to answer your questions. By doing it in this fashion, you should get a prompt response. Keep in mind that I am usually asked these questions the most often:

Q. Do you have the rights to Zorro?

A. No, that would be Zorro Productions, Inc. I am just a fan.

Q. Is the New World Zorro series available on DVD?

A. No, and Zorro Productions doesn't even know who owns the United States rights. Nobody does. My prediction is that the series will NEVER go to DVD. Sorry.

Q. Do you know how we can get the New World Zorro series released on DVD?

A. Find the rights owner, except nobody knows who that is. There is a listing for the series on TVShowsOnDVD.com, so you might want to vote for it. It's not likely to help since nobody knows who owns the series.

Q. Do you have the contact information for Duncan Regehr or other cast members of the New World Zorro?

A. No. Even if I did, I wouldn't give it to anybody who asked. However, I don't. Really, I don't! However, people still think I do. No!

If you want to ask a question (preferably not one of the above questions which have been asked dozens of times), then post a comment. The link is available at the end of this post.

The Legend of Zorro

New Zorro Poll

Queen of Swords #2: Death to the Queen

Queen of Swords #1: Destiny

Queen of Swords

Reminder Regarding Questions about Zorro

The Original Pilot for the New World Zorro Series

International Availability for the New World Zorro DVD Sets

New World Zorro DVD Set Product Information

Cover Art for New World Zorro DVD Sets

Buy the Complete Set of New World Zorro DVDs

New World Zorro DVD Release Information

The Mark of Zorro Radio Drama

New World Zorro DVD Release Update

For Information on the New World Zorro...

Template Change

The Two Polls Are Now Live

NWZ Unfilmed Script: "The Surprise Visit"

NWZ Unfilmed Script : "Reasonable Doubts"

List of DVD Name Possibilities

New World Zorro DVD Set Bonus Feature

Name the NWZ Official DVD Boxed Set

New World Zorro to Be Released on DVD Fall 2010

Important: New World Zorro Survey

Zorro Items for Sale

Teresa Gutierrez  The Marquesa

All-Story Weekly August 9, 1919

Telemundo Zorro Update #2

New World Zorro DVD Release Information

Zorro on Telemundo Update

Zorro Is Back on Telemundo!

Advice Concerning New World Zorro DVDs

New World Zorro on TV and DVD

The Rights to the New World Zorro

Zorro and Pirate Raiders Radio Drama

Would you be interested in a Zorro radio drama?

Zorro Site Stats

Henry Darrow's Biography

If you want to contact me . . .

Zorro: Generation Z to air on Telemundo

Information about Zorro

Zorro by Isabel Allende

Other Versions of Zorro

The Purpose of This Blog

Teresa Gutierrez The Marquesa