A collection of 38 scripts from M*A*S*H and 20 from Trapper John, M.D. will go under the hammer on Saturday, November 7th as part of Heritage Auction Galleries‘ 2009 November Signature Music & Entertainment Auction #7011. The auction, which will run two days, includes a total of 1,450 items (714 of which fall into the Movie/TV Memorabilia categories). Here’s the description for the M*A*S*H and Trapper John, M.D. scripts:

M*A*S*H and Trapper John, M.D. Television Script Collection. A set of 38 final and revised final draft scripts for for the long-running sitcom M*A*S*H (mostly from the final two seasons), dated August 13, 1973 to August 25, 1982; plus 20 final and revised final drafts for the 1979-86 spin-off Trapper John, M.D., dated September 27, 1979 to January 24, 1984. In overall Very Fine to Excellent condition, with some duplicate copies. Estimate: $500 – up.

The opening bid is $250. Also up for auction in a separate lot is a copy of a revised final draft script for the M*A*S*H episode “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet” (originally broadcast January 28th, 1973). The script is dated December 4th, 1972 and includes an additional 34 pages of revisions from December 8th. The opening bid is just $1 and the script has an estimated sale price of $500 or more.

Here’s today’s image. Can you name the episode it’s from? Feel free to post guesses in the comments section. As always, the winner gets bragging rights.

And the Winner Is: Eye of the Hawk, who correctly identified “Depressing News.”

Name That Episode

Here’s today’s image. Can you name the episode it’s from? Feel free to post guesses in the comments section. As always, the winner gets bragging rights.

And the Winner Is: Big Daddy O’Reilly, who correctly identified “The M*A*S*H Olympics.”

Name That Episode

Due to the fact that I no longer receive Hallmark Channel or ION, I wasn’t aware of this until a few days ago when Shawn contacted me, but both cable channel Hallmark Channel and broadcast network ION have stopped airing repeats of M*A*S*H. Sitcoms Online reported on September 17th that ION would replace the 4-5PM airings of M*A*S*H with extra airings of Reba beginning Monday, October 5th.

I e-mailed ION and received the following reply:

There has been a schedule change and the program “M*A*S*H” is no longer part of our lineup. This program’s run on the network has ended. Thank you for contacting ION Media Networks.

As for Hallmark Channel, Sitcoms Online reported on September 21st that the weekday block of M*A*S*H (from 5-8PM) would be replaced by I Love Lucy, also beginning Monday, October 5th. Well, today is October 5th and M*A*S*H is gone from both Hallmark Channel and ION. It still airs on TV Land from 5-6AM on Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri, 9PM to 12AM on Wednesdays and 8-11PM on Saturdays (at least that’s the schedule for the next two weeks).

I sent Hallmark Channel an e-mail as well but have not received a reply. It is possible M*A*S*H will return in the future. And there’s always the complete series on DVD.

I’ve updated Anachronisms on M*A*S*H for the first time in years to correct an error involving the Season Two finale, A Smattering of Intelligence.” In the episode, Captain Stone is seen using a small silver camera to take pictures of the Swamp. I was contacted by someone who told me that the camera in question, a “Minaux,” was not invented until the 1960s.

Captain Stone’s Minox Camera

Phil sent me the following e-mail several weeks ago (my apologies for not posting this sooner):

On your anachronism page, the first entry is for the episode “A Smattering Of Intelligence”. You state that the Minox camera wasn’t available until the late 60s. That’s incorrect. The Minox first went into production in 1937 and remained almost unchanged until 1969. The OSS started using them in 1942. The camera used in the episode “A Smattering Of Intelligence” is period-correct.

You can learn all about the Minox camera at the Minox Historical Society.