Card of the Day - 2023-01-06

CWS Western Stars
Co-Operative Wholesale Tobacco / C.W.S. [tobacco : UK] "Western Stars" (1957) - C792-680

Here we have Ray Milland in later life, and the text mentions the film "Lisbon", which was actually shot on location in Portugal, and released in 1956. He directed and produced it as well as starring. It seems to be regarded as being lovely to look at but not much in the way of content.

This set seems to cash in on the TV Western craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s, and it was the final set of the C.W.S. Tobacco company. It was also issued in 1957, just months after our original World Index, so it does not appear there and we only have one code, from our more modern World Tobacco Issues Index. 

Now there was a special album issued, for this set alone. And you can see it online, thanks to Moviecard.com/CWS-West  - I am not entirely certain but it looks like the intention was to stick the cards in place but the thoughtful owner of that one has cut slits in to make it a corner slot. I base this on the fact that they appear to be slightly rougher cut than machine slits would be. But I would be interested to hear from you if you have any opinions. 

As the decades passed Ray Milland made several horror pictures and appeared on the Broadway stage. He continued to be involved with television westerns, and he was also in the pilot film/episode of the original version of Battlestar Galactica. I have not been able to track him down on any of the sets, but if you have one please send us a scan and I will be most excited to either replace this cowboy card or tack it on below!  

Ray Milland died in 1986 aged 78.