Leap Date:

September 4, 1954

Episode adopted by: Carol <aka> C_DEAN n C_AL
Additional info provided by: Mike, Niel, & Brian Greene

Teaser:

Sam has leaped into Charlie "Black Magic" Walters, one of the greatest pool players of all time! Magic also happened to be Al's mentor when Al was growing up. Sam is there to help Magic's daughter buy back the marker for her club from a loan shark.

Audio from this episode:

Al: I ran away from the orphanage...

Song from this episode: Spiritual Song

TV Guide Synopsis
Place
Leap Date
Name of the Person Leaped Into
Broadcast Date
Synopsis & Review
Music
Project Trivia
Sam Trivia
Al Trivia
Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode
Miscellaneous Trivia
Bloopers
Guest Stars
Guest Cast Notes
Guests who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes
Say What?
Quotable Quotes
Best Scenes
Awards

Production Credits
Podcasts

Place:

Broadcast Date:

March 14, 1990 - Wednesday

Synopsis & Review:

Music:

“Stormy Weather” Written by: Harold Arlen / Sung by: Shari Headley

"Baby I Don’t Cry Over You" by Billie Holiday

"Confessin’ the Blues" by Walter Brown with Jay McShann’s Band

"Spiritual Song" played by Scott Bakula. Written by Deborah Pratt.

Project Trivia: 

Al says he saw Magic in the Waiting Room. This appears to be the first episode where some technology has changed, thus allowing Al to see the Leapee instead of Sam's aura in the Waiting Room. However, Bellisario (when questioned) said it must have been because Al saw Magic in a mirror. At this point in the series, they hadn't worked it all out completely.

Al is not seen going into or coming out of the IC in this episode.

You hear the door open and close once.

Scott Trivia: 

Scott liked the shows he would get to sing and play an instrument in.

Al Trivia:
 

Al's Outfits:

1) Olive green, rust & brown printed southwestern shirt, black and green vest w/sm white dots, metallic greeen thin tie, dark colored pants, belt w/silver buckle (matches tie).

2) Gray print shirt, red tie, gray & Wedgwood blue print suspenders, gray pants.

3) Silver metallic jacket, satin turquoise shirt, Silver metallic scarf type tie w/gray diamond design, silver pants w/black belt & silver buckle.

4) White linen suit, orange colored shirt, scarf type tie w/ metallic gold design, brown belt & brown shoes.

Miscellaneous Trivia:

Al popped in and out 4 times.

Al smoked 3 cigars.

Dean does play billiards quite well. Both Dean & Scott have played together.

The alley was built on the stage to save on production costs.

The script was based, in part, on the life of Robert “Rags” Woods, who played Charlie Walters mirror image!

Regular Cast:

Scott Bakula as Dr. Samuel Beckett

Dean Stockwell as Admiral Albert "Al" Calavicci

Deborah Pratt as Narrator

Guest Cast:

Ken Foree as The Brush

Robert Gossett as Charles Griffin
Shari Headley as Violet Walters  

J.W. Smith as Eddie Davies 

Annie Waterman as Miss White 

Teddy Wilson as Jimmy Grady

Alton Blair Carter as Lester Brown
Robert “Rags” Woods as Charlie “Black Magic” Walters (Mirror image)

Guest Cast Notes:

Ken Foree as The Brush: Large, likable, and muscular actor Ken Foree was born as Kentotis Alvin Foree on February 29, 1948, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Foree attended Loyola University in Chicago and studied acting at Michael Shulman's Performing Gallery in New York City. He began his career in off-Broadway theater and worked as an assistant manager at a restaurant in Greenwich Village, in order to keep himself afloat during his salad days. Ken made his film debut in The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976). He has since amassed a substantial array of often strong and commanding characters on either side of the law in both movies and television, alike. Foree gave a fine and impressive performance as tough swat team officer, "Peter Washington", in George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1978). He also had a sizable supporting part in Romero's offbeat follow-up feature, Knightriders (1981). Ken was marvelously engaging as affable cop, Buford "Bubba" Brownlee, in Stuart Gordon's From Beyond (1986) and was, once again, solid as rugged survivalist "Benny" in Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990). Foree portrayed hard-nosed police officers in such pictures as The Dentist (1996), Sleepstalker (1995), True Blood (1989) and Terror Squad (1987). He had a cameo as a stern televangelist in the Dawn of the Dead (2004) remake by Zack Snyder. More recently, Ken had a terrific role as super mack daddy pimp, "Charlie Altamont", in The Devil's Rejects (2005) and made a brief-yet-memorable appearance as rough-n-tumble truck driver, "Big Joe Grizzley", in the remake of Halloween (2007) by Rob Zombie. Foree showed a softer and more sensitive side as "Roger Rockmore" on the hit Nickelodeon TV series, Kenan & Kel (1996). He also played a recurring part on the popular daytime soap opera General Hospital (1963). Among the TV shows on which Ken has done guest spots are Due South (1994), The X-Files (1993), Babylon 5 (1993), Matlock (1986), Dallas (1978), Cheers (1982), Quantum Leap (1989), Hunter (1984), Beauty and the Beast (1987), Moonlighting (1985), Knight Rider (1982), The Fall Guy (1981), Benson (1979), The A-Team (1983), Hill Street Blues (1981), The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) and Kojak (1973). His hobbies include surfing, boxing, weightlifting and watching basketball. In addition, Foree enjoys history and traveling. Ken Foree lives in Los Angeles.

Robert Gossett as Charles Griffin: Robert Gossett is a veteran actor of stage, screen and television. He is known for his work on The Oath, Greenleaf, Chicago Med and the hit TNT drama "The Closer" (2005-2012) and its spin off "Major Crimes (2012-2017). Among his many film credits are "Arlington Road" (1999) , "The Net" (1995) and "White Man's Burden" (1995). He is the father of four wonderful children.

Shari Headley as Violet Walters: Since the day that Shari Headley received a personal call from Eileen Ford, saying that Shari had beat out thousands of hopefuls in the prestigious FORD Modeling Agency’s Supermodel of The World Contest, her star has continued to rise. Soon after, the Queens, New York native got commercial offers to promote such companies as L’Oreal, Burger King, Macy’s, and Avon, to name a few. Network television shows soon began to knock on her agents’ door with guest starring roles in Miami Vice and The Cosby Show. In 1988 Shari won the lead over two thousand actresses to make her film debut starring opposite Eddie Murphy in the blockbuster hit Coming to America. This film has become an internationally known cult classic that has managed to cross all ethnic barriers and remains a favorite with each generation. Roles opposite veteran actors Andy Griffith on Matlock, and Telly Savalas on Kojak would help Shari continue to sharpen her acting skills. She was asked to try her hand at singing when she guest starred alongside Scott Bakula in the classic television series Quantum Leap where she showed off her vocal ability playing the role of Violet Waters-a club owner in the 1950’s. A leading role as the daughter of Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett Jr. in the ABC Television SeriesGideon Oliver was good training for Shari to win future parts; a 3-year contract role on All My Children as well as the lead actress role of Juanita Barnes on the critically acclaimed Fox series 413 Hope Street starring Jesse Martin, Richard Rountree and produced by Damon Wayans. Other roles on New York Undercover, Malcolm and Eddie, The New Love Boat, Walker Texas Ranger, The Wayans Brothers Show, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Castle, would also become additions to Shari’s resume, and the opportunity to work with Academy Award winner Denzel Washington in The Preacher’s Wife, and Will Smith in The Wild Wild West music video would become incredible experiences in an already seasoned career. Shari has had recent appearances on the hit reality show L.A. Hair with Kim Kimble on WeTV, a guest role on the TVOne smash Love That Girl directed by Bentley Kyle Evans, and in addition she landed co-starring roles in two films set for release this year. The first, penned and directed by Troy Beyer, is entitled I Really Hate My Ex and the second entitled The Congregation directed by J.Horton. Tyler Perry’s OWN TV blockbuster The Haves and The Have Nots will showcase Shari playing the role of the D.A. in an explosive storyline for the show’s 2014 season. She says “working with Mr. Perry and being featured on Oprah Winfrey’s network is a dream that I don’t want to end.” With two NAACP Image Award nominations under her belt, Shari continues to follow her dreams as an actress and writer in Hollywood. As a single mom she has continued to parent her teenage son Skyler and cares for her 88-year-old mother Sarah. Shari presently lives in Los Angeles, California. You needn’t go further than a line recited by Shari’s character Lisa McDowell in Coming To America…”The children are our future…” Shari believes the same goes in real life. Her involvement with youth spans decades. She has been to countless public schools volunteering to speak to kids about the importance of education and to encourage them to follow their dreams. It was in the late 90’s that she was exposed to the effects of bullying on students’ self-esteem when visiting a middle school in Brooklyn, New York. Shari single handedly faced two girl gangs and a problem that even school personnel could not work out. In a matter of weeks she extinguished the issues, the gangs were dismantled and a program for self-esteem began. The young women became accountable for their actions and learned to love themselves and to respect one another. Shari has been actively involved with Saving Our Daughters, Inc.’s Oath Project and the YELL Initiative, which were both founded by Curtis Benjamin. She is committed to lending her time, energy and voice to help prevent bullying and domestic abuse by connecting with youth, women, and girls around the country on behalf of Saving Our Daughters, which she embraces as one of the “most powerful organizations of our time and crucial for the lives of our future generations.” In May 2013, Shari received the prestigious 2013 President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama for her ongoing community service as well as her support of the Boys and Girls Club of America.

J.W. Smith as Eddie Davies: J.W. Smith is a producer and actor with more than 40 years of entertainment experience in motion pictures and television. J.W. grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began his acting career at The Karamu House Community Theater. In the early 1970s, J.W. moved to New York City where he became a student in Uta Hagen's acting class at HB Studio and at The Henry Street Playhouse. During his stint in New York City, J.W. met and became close friends with Morgan Freeman and Bill Duke. More than four decades later, J.W. remains close friends with both Morgan and Bill, often collaborating on scripts and potential projects. J.W. spent several successful years performing on Broadway and Off Broadway in plays including, "We Interrupt This Program," Public Theater's production of "On the Goddam Lock-in," and "So Nice, They Named It Twice." In addition to acting, J.W. produced shows in and around New York City for the Amas Repertory Theater Company. In the early 1980s, J.W. moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career in film and television where he immediately landed his first job in television on "Palmerstown, U.S.A." He was selected to be a part of Paramount Pictures Associate Producers Training Program, working on several ground-breaking series for television including, "The Best of The West," "Taxi," and "Cheers." J.W. has also appeared in numerous television shows including, "L.A. Law," "Cagney and Lacey," "Reno 911," "The X-Files," and "Hill Street Blues." Showing his range and depth of talent, J.W. has appeared in many popular feature films including, "Red Heat" (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger), "Johnny Handsome" (starring Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin, and Morgan Freeman), "Undisputed" (starring Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames), "Beetlejuice" (starring Michael Keaton), "Hoodlum" (starring Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth, and directed by Bill Duke), "The Warriors" (cult classic directed by Walter Hill), to name a few. J.W. is President of 3000 Realms Entertainment, a production company he co-founded with friend and business partner, Bryan Behuniak. J.W.'s project in development with 3000 Realms Entertainment is "Dead Wrong," executive produced by Morgan Freeman, with producers Bryan Behuniak, James Dyer, and writer Matt Benjamin.

Annie Waterman as Miss White: Annie Waterman is known for Say Anything (1989), Chaplin (1992) and Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar (2014).

Teddy Wilson as Jimmy Grady: Teddy Wilson was born on December 10, 1943 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Good Times (1974), Blood In, Blood Out (1993) and Life Stinks (1991). He was married to Joan Pringle. He died on July 21, 1991 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Robert “Rags” Woods as Charlie “Black Magic” Walters (Mirror image): This is Woods only acting credit. The episode was based, in part, on his life.

From The Los Angeles Times:

His ‘Soft Hustle’ Is a Living for Rags Woods, 64 : Sweet Stroke Etches Pool Hall Legend

By MILES CORWIN
Feb. 10, 1985

The pool hall regulars gather by the railing, a few gamblers make side bets, the bartender turns down the television and the old man and the Gypsy begin shooting pool. The games are close at first, and the two players seem evenly matched. But their style is decidedly different. The Gypsy, wearing designer jeans, white shirt unbuttoned to the navel and a purple vest, is cocky, effusive and frequently winks to his “stake horse” to let him know the game is under control. The old man is conservatively dressed in slacks, brown loafers, tweed hat and is poker-faced throughout the game. As the match drags on into the second and third hour, the Gypsy, almost imperceptibly, alters his game. He grows slightly impatient and occasionally loses concentration and rushes his shots. But the old man is an inexorable force, growing stronger as the hours pass, knocking in ball after ball, never changing expression or altering his stroke. At midnight, the Gypsy’s stake horse pounds his hand on the bar and yells: “Wake up!” Forty minutes later he runs out of money and the match is over. There are a few pool hustlers in Los Angeles who shoot straighter than Robert (Rags) Woods. There are hustlers who use the rails better or have a stronger break. But Woods, 64, has one distinction that sets him apart from the majority of his younger colleagues--he makes a living with a pool cue. Continue reading his story here!

Say What?

Leap Date:  9/4/54 - Eddie Calls Magic "Minnesota Fats" - Unfortunately, the character of Minnesota Fats was created from the movie "The Hustler" starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason.  The movie was made in 1961.

You can see Scott Bakula's shoulder in the mirror shot alongside Walters.

During the "Stormy Weather" song, the clock doesn't change time (8:50pm).

In another mirror shot, Walters is using a different arm than Sam to practice pool.

Sweat stains in the warm climate move around, disappear, and reappear on various actors (including Sam) throughout the episode.

Quotable Quotes:

Grady says, “Magic … Magic no banks gonna give no ah … no loan to a woman.”

Violet says, “Especially a Negro women.”

Sam says, “All I see is a business person with a going concern who needs a loan.”

Violet says, “Business person! Poppy you been sneaking onions again? You know how they make you crazy!”

(in the bank)

Sam says, “Now that the club is happening.”

Charles Griffin says, “Happening?”

Sam says, “ Working, making money…”

Best Lines:

::Sam and Violet end their duet at the piano and she goes to bed and Sam walks over to Al::

Violet says, “Poppy if I live to be a hundred you’ll never cease to amaze me.” She gives him a kiss on the cheek. “I love you.”

Sam says, “Night, Night.”

Al says, “Ah… Gee that was kinda nice, Sam.”

Sam says, “Yah, it was. Okay now, what do I have to learn next?”

Al says, “Geometry.”

Sam says, “Geometry?”

Al says, “The geometry of the table. You can’t sink a ball until you’ve worked out the angles, epically on the… the bank shots!”

Sam says, “The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection!”

Al says, “Somethin’ like that.”

Sam says, “YAH!”

Al says, “Yah, and once you worked out the angles, then all you have to know where to hit the cue ball and how hard.”

Sam says, “It probably takes a long time to learn?”

Al says, “Takes years! Wish there was some way… I could draw it out for you …” As Al reaches into his pocket and pulls out the hand link. Pushing a couple buttons, you see a laser beam of light from the cue ball to the object ball to the cushion to the pocket. Al chuckles, “Huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh … Now … just hit the dot on the cue ball … nice and smooth … your elbows are hinged … medium strong … go for it … Oh what a pretty sound!”

Sam laughs as he pockets the ball, “Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha … Pythagorus! We are going to shoot some pool!”

Best Scene:

::in the bathroom::

Sam says, “Al! Everybody thinks I’m some kind of a… a pool giant.”

Al says, “Well you are. You’re Charlie Black Magic Walters.”

Sam says, “I never heard of him.”

Al says, “Man, when I walked into that waiting room and saw him sitting there I couldn’t believe it! I never I’d thought see Magic again. It’s been over forty years since I last saw him.”

Sam says, “You know him?”

Al says, “Know him! I’ve held Alberta. There’s maybe 5 people in the world that can say that. I’ve even used her to sink a ball!”

Sam says, “Al, I’ve never seen you so excited about anything. I mean this is just a pool cue. It’s not like it’s a woman.”

Al says, “Ok, when I was ten years old I ran away from the orphanage. After a couple of days I was cold, I was scared, I was lonely. I got so desperate I even tried to pick a guys pocket.”

Sam says, “Black Magic’s?”

Al says, “Right! Now he didn’t turn me into the cops. He fed me, he bought me a jacket. He said to me er… that kids shouldn’t be in orphanages. That a kid should be raised by a family and I should travel with him until we could find one. Well I did! We drifted around together… we went to Chi, went to St Loui, went to the Big Easy. Where… he got busted for shooting pool in a “whites only” pool hall.”

Sam says, “And you ended up back in the orphanage.”

Al says, “It wasn’t his fault.”

Sam says, “I wasn’t implying that it was.”

Al says, “I… I’m sorry Sam it’s just that those few months were real important in my life. He turned me around, that old guy, showed me that there were people in the world that really care. And that’s why you gotta help him Sam!”

Sam says, “Al! I’m gonna help him!”

Al says, “But the only problem is… Eddie Davis… a slime ball pool shark that… magic has never played… because, well he doesn’t shoot pool with trash.”

Sam says, “Eddie implied that I… that Magic has a game with him.”

Al says, “Well… Violet borrowed some money from a loan shark… she was going to change this old pool hall into a blues club, and Eddie bought her marker and that’s what he’s putting up to make this match with magic.”

Sam says, “That’s an expensive way to get a pool game.”

Al says, “Well it is if you loose, but Eddie doesn’t figure to loose. See he knows that Magic’s eyesight is gone. But what he doesn’t know… is your eyesight is twenty-twenty!”

Sam says, “Al look, my eyes may be fine, but I… I couldn’t shoot a game of pool with a shotgun!”

Al says, “Well you’re gonna have to learn! Or else Violets dream is lost and Magic won’t ever forgive himself for not coming through for his granddaughter, and I’ll never forgive myself for not coming through for magic!”

Awards:

Winner: Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series in 1990: Michael Watkins

Nomination: American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding
Achievement in Cinematography in a Regular Series in 1990: Michael Watkins

Production Credits:

Music by: Mike Post
Supervising Producer: Deborah Pratt
Co-producers: Paul Brown, Jeff Gourson, Chris Ruppenthal
Produced by: Harker Wade
Created by: Donald P. Bellisario
Written By: Randy Holland
Directed by: Joe Napolitano

Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario
Associate Producers: David Bellisario
Story Editor: Randy Holland
Story Editor: Tommy Thompson
Director of Photography: Michael Watkins
Production Designer: Cameron Birnie
Edited by: Alan Shefland
Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow
First Assistant Director: Ryan Gordon
Second Assistant Director: Rob Mendel
Casting by: Ellen Lubin Sanitsky
Set Director: Robert L. Zilliox
Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac
Costume Supervisors: David Rawley & Donna Roberts-Orme
Sound Mixer: Mark Hopkins McNabb
Stunt Coordinator: Diamond Farnsworth
Contributing Musical Composers: Velton Ray Bunch and Jerry Grant
Supervising Sound Editor: Paul Clay
Music Editor: Tom Gleason

Panaflex ® Camera and Lenses by: Panavision ®

This motion picture is protected under laws of the United States and other countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution.

Copyright © 1990 by Universal City Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The characters and events depicted in this photoplay are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Bellisarius Productions and Universal, an MCA Company

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