(c)1997

DVD Transfer 109 contains a series of recordings from a VHS tape recorded around December 1997, including an airing of the 1960 movie "The Story of Ruth" from Odyssey Network (whose roots trace back to the old Southern Baptist Convention-owned ACTS and interfaith Vision Interfaith Satellite Network, or VISN; with Odyssey eventually becoming today's Hallmark Channel) and most of a Monday Night Football game between the Carolina Panthers (making their MNF debut) and Dallas Cowboys recorded off Nashville ABC affiliate WKRN-TV 2.

CONTENTS

1. The Story of Ruth (airing of the 1960 film based loosely on the Book of Ruth in the Bible {the first half basically attempting to give Ruth a backstory since the Biblical account doesn't say anything of her background}. The film - directed by Henry Koster and written by Norman Corwin - starred Israeli actress Elena Eden as Ruth {among the others who auditioned or were considered included future "Gilligan's Island" star Tina Louise} along with a cast including Stuart Whitman as Boaz {Whitman was cast after Stephen Boyd - fresh off playing Massala in the previous year's "Ben-Hur" - turned the part down}; Tom Tryon as Mahlon; John Gabriel as Chilion; Peggy Wood as Naomi {a role previously offered to Helen Hayes and Irene Dunne}; Les Tremayne as Elimelech; Ziva Rodann as Orpah {Rodann - like Elena Eden as Israeli native - was the first Israeli actress signed to a major motion picture deal} and John Banner {better known for his later role as Sergeant Hans "I know nothing" Schultz on "Hogan's Heroes"} as the King of Moab)

2. Origins (creation-themed series on Cornerstone Television; a small Christian network based in Wall, PA; just outside of Pittsburgh. Network founder Russ Bixler interviews Dr. Carl Baugh of the Creation Evidence Museum in Glen Rose, TX)

3. Breakthrough with Rod Parsley (first of two broadcasts {missing beginning} where Rod Parsley did a teaching from a replica of the Jewish tabernacle in Eureka Springs, AR. Presumably, the message was taped at least a year earlier {going off Rod's haircut, as Rod began wearing a much closer-cropped haircut by early 1997 which can be seen in the tags}. Going off the Christmas decor on the set; this was taped sometime in either November or December 1997 recorded off INSP)

4. Breakthrough with Rod Parsley (part 2 of "A Walk Through the Tabernacle" series)

5. Bountiful Blessings (intro only; this was the broadcast of G.E. Patterson, pastor of the Memphis, TN Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ since 1975. Patterson - whose uncle, J.O. Patterson, was the presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ; the largest predominantly-black Pentecostal denomination in the country, from 1968 until his death in 1989 - would ascend to the position of COGIC presiding bishop in 2000; holding that position until his death in 2007)

6. Monday Night Football (Week 15; Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys. This game - the Panthers' MNF debut - would see Carolina win 23-13 to effectively eliminate the Cowboys from playoff contention for the first time since 1990 while keeping Carolina's slim hopes alive for at least another week. Partial recording {picks up around the 11:07 mark of the 1st quarter}. Calling the action are Al Michaels, Frank Gifford {nearing the end of his 27-year run on MNF; partly hastened by Frank cheating on wife Kathie Lee with airline pilot Suzen Johnson - who had herself been hired by the Globe tabloid to seduce Frank [the Giffords would remain together until Frank's death in 2015]}, Dan Dierdorf and sideline reporter Lynn Swann. One other notable piece of trivia is that this game marked Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett's return following a year-long drug suspension imposed by the NFL)