tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627820644391259822024-03-14T11:14:56.977-07:00Conjure CinemaConjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.comBlogger446125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-82361912979619338602023-12-24T05:00:00.000-08:002023-12-24T05:00:51.229-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 01 Day ...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09nYXcl-6rzN84EnSOHp0ishT8dYUM1_I1EHt7PmI1msZStIpPbDnT_O3yHay0sV3mrR4ipHrkOZV-rhC7ZE4EhHN4FiqFmGits0lP5KWfQ6Ah0Hc37U0sQqTAMgKdHEKnwpvpVty3BH8X8hTZ-6v_jreRZZKRQ6NvYYv7MeuIvm_RC-u9LS2IwtzFWM/s861/1975Christmas_4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="655" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09nYXcl-6rzN84EnSOHp0ishT8dYUM1_I1EHt7PmI1msZStIpPbDnT_O3yHay0sV3mrR4ipHrkOZV-rhC7ZE4EhHN4FiqFmGits0lP5KWfQ6Ah0Hc37U0sQqTAMgKdHEKnwpvpVty3BH8X8hTZ-6v_jreRZZKRQ6NvYYv7MeuIvm_RC-u9LS2IwtzFWM/w486-h640/1975Christmas_4.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><b>1975 - For our final gifts to you this year, we're going to keep the K.A.C. light and cheery - no bizarre, dark weird stuff! well, OK, not dark anyway - we'll meet you halfway.</b><p></p><p><b> As for the bizarre, let's start with a holiday tale that was thrown into this oversized DC Limited Collectors' Edition holiday comic for '75, Christmas with the Super-Heroes. While I was (and am) more of a Marvel fan, I would have enjoyed a copy of this back in the day. Back to our tale - in addition to the different holiday-themed stories with the regular gang pictured here, there's a forgotten tale from the Angel and the Ape series (hang on). Their comic had already been canceled, but this story was already paid for and served as page filler for this volume. For more on the A & A, click below, then once you have the cast of characters in hand, click on the full story in the second link!</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorqyrrthkCPgU70IDg_cRVUG-Z-6eEi9X9DPyk75vj1H1_hAWE0_8w3J-Go7GrT_NQtCY0WXdZjzBTBlbgnQt2tEuYZ8MdIe30wFaGd7m_s_VkodxJ2urnbt8ujEKtRtwp4P8HYdXVG71N3AXWwUCrw9FMoyWsFNK-S1xX5VJgtaMTF0w5EtlEHNyB88/s1026/1975Christmas_2.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="693" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorqyrrthkCPgU70IDg_cRVUG-Z-6eEi9X9DPyk75vj1H1_hAWE0_8w3J-Go7GrT_NQtCY0WXdZjzBTBlbgnQt2tEuYZ8MdIe30wFaGd7m_s_VkodxJ2urnbt8ujEKtRtwp4P8HYdXVG71N3AXWwUCrw9FMoyWsFNK-S1xX5VJgtaMTF0w5EtlEHNyB88/w270-h400/1975Christmas_2.webp" width="270" /></a></div><b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_and_the_Ape">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_and_the_Ape</a></b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://whosoutthere.ca/">https://whosoutthere.ca/</a></b></p><p><b> <br /></b></p><p><b> <br /> <br /></b></p><p><b> </b><br /> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mVLCqat8AT0S1sJIs4mdCcbsG9FvECQgmezObBrb6ejZGLLLOQW3QfwG6uj4hZmFHYPS1TezjtnscPGYyN2V0tqEOJvmkaPVLTR5phItNlVe_-rx95KgRFxaw6Un4y-Yyms18XtvnsOb8N6t1B12P5NrWy_z2LzcfJK-umo_QVpK6t9XTnrm-De54SM/s1120/1975Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="983" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mVLCqat8AT0S1sJIs4mdCcbsG9FvECQgmezObBrb6ejZGLLLOQW3QfwG6uj4hZmFHYPS1TezjtnscPGYyN2V0tqEOJvmkaPVLTR5phItNlVe_-rx95KgRFxaw6Un4y-Yyms18XtvnsOb8N6t1B12P5NrWy_z2LzcfJK-umo_QVpK6t9XTnrm-De54SM/w351-h400/1975Christmas_1.jpg" width="351" /></a></div> <b>Next: a sweet, innocent throwback - a BEAUTIFUL restoration of the 1933 Walt Disney Silly Symphony, The Night Before Christmas. </b><br /><p></p><p><b><a href="https://vimeo.com/896113078?share=copy">https://vimeo.com/896113078?share=copy</a> </b></p><p><b> Michael Sky Danley has a great blog post on the history and making of this classic cartoon, complete with rare outline art, found below:</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.skydanley.com/walt-disneys-1933-silly-symphony-the-night-before-christmas/">https://www.skydanley.com/walt-disneys-1933-silly-symphony-the-night-before-christmas/</a></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSG3W0z24kngAflPv8pGqOE6OkZruFLAOZjXW1yD3uhCnA1qkTB_TWodWaMP7UGNM4O_pk0KLcM34ugClRk6Idgbbq-pFyZDFI504g0wWNUsa_4b7I3Cdm16E6REJV2kcN2ajcC9nX98a3287Uld7MBjV_fy7W5qbYi6THwe4ifm5zAxwWz1lGGqqw_o/s1920/teaser-sample-landscape-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSG3W0z24kngAflPv8pGqOE6OkZruFLAOZjXW1yD3uhCnA1qkTB_TWodWaMP7UGNM4O_pk0KLcM34ugClRk6Idgbbq-pFyZDFI504g0wWNUsa_4b7I3Cdm16E6REJV2kcN2ajcC9nX98a3287Uld7MBjV_fy7W5qbYi6THwe4ifm5zAxwWz1lGGqqw_o/w400-h225/teaser-sample-landscape-large.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> We end this year with a link to NORAD's Live Santa Tracker. While you may just be getting up for the day, SC and the boys are already on their rounds, passing over the world and dropping toys on the way - and you and any little ones you may be with can put this up on your computer and watch the progression LIVE for the entire trip! Get it here:</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/25152301/norad-santa-tracker-live-christmas-location-updates/">https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/25152301/norad-santa-tracker-live-christmas-location-updates/</a> </b></p><p><b> And with that, we're done. Or, as Santa might say, "Ho, ho, ho, we've got to go!" We've delivered our 24 days of presents, old and new, and hopefully entertained you along the way. Next year we'll pick up where we left off, as we'll return on December 1st, 2024, with the Return of Retro Reindeer Rampage, looking at the years 1976-1999. Until then, have a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.</b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-23155617779730149012023-12-23T04:57:00.000-08:002023-12-23T04:57:18.974-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 02 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi476ptlG7ewCSnBuDPU0gdlZFzlOqRqUZBpM-3jQI5VcR1aiUG_aR9BmeUnsq1xUE3epWz4tBQUlN5tf-sdbMj3PmSbwMyWki5l2Dy8mdjkBOnIHXkhOUCjzwzsy6r-HibcaespC6BqtvVa9dkApa9JYStoblQmpOy4eure3Q1j-upL-Bi1eI9s1HjPW8/s1140/1974Christmas_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1140" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi476ptlG7ewCSnBuDPU0gdlZFzlOqRqUZBpM-3jQI5VcR1aiUG_aR9BmeUnsq1xUE3epWz4tBQUlN5tf-sdbMj3PmSbwMyWki5l2Dy8mdjkBOnIHXkhOUCjzwzsy6r-HibcaespC6BqtvVa9dkApa9JYStoblQmpOy4eure3Q1j-upL-Bi1eI9s1HjPW8/w640-h640/1974Christmas_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlQnPOK90cqQ6MWD1BtkUFbZ78tr6n8GW6igYxKX9F34H-gJ4NTneBaXGCM1a8wgnHFEoXh3x6sex3GYmGDQHan1mecSW2SUU6gHVw-SqqkDVBdBtf4ZQD7fOBXLRzn-lo5hjagHRk1mFl8vY3BrkXDM6nLDIDCTKicaLOzUA5KpuJt9JCVwq8I_LB0w/s678/1974Christmas_2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="614" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlQnPOK90cqQ6MWD1BtkUFbZ78tr6n8GW6igYxKX9F34H-gJ4NTneBaXGCM1a8wgnHFEoXh3x6sex3GYmGDQHan1mecSW2SUU6gHVw-SqqkDVBdBtf4ZQD7fOBXLRzn-lo5hjagHRk1mFl8vY3BrkXDM6nLDIDCTKicaLOzUA5KpuJt9JCVwq8I_LB0w/w363-h400/1974Christmas_2.webp" width="363" /></a></div><b>1974 - Following up yesterday's entry regarding THE EXORCIST, we have the first (but not the last) Christmas 'slasher' film made by a major studio, BLACK CHRISTMAS (aka SILENT NIGHT, EVIL NIGHT). I remember seeing this in its original release with my buddy David and being properly skeeved out by it. For a low budget item, it had an impressive array of actors - just look at that cast list on the poster, featuring Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder and John Saxon. Set at a college sorority house over the holidays between semesters, this is one of the earliest 'killer is in the house' (spoilers) trope movies, when it was new. The genius of the film is that even by the end credits, you're not sure who the killer was. Check that: you THINK you know, but the ambiguous ending and the way director Bob Clark handled 'Billy' was decidedly unique and unsettling. I remember as a teenager standing up and getting my coat, saying to David, "There's no way 'X' was the killer", and when he asked why not (and a few people around us stopped to hear my answer), I said, "because 'X' had brown eyes and the killers' were green" (or whatever color they were). At right is the shot that convinced me. The other folks looked surprised by that detail, while David just shook his head and said, "Only you, Sherlock." đ</b><p></p><p><b> For what it is, and if you're in to this kind of film, BLACK CHRISTMAS is quite inventive. Unlike the passive victims in a number of later films, these ladies put up quite a fight, especially Margot Kidder's Barb. Note: Avoid the remakes like the plague! For more on both the film and the whole 'Billy' mystique, read the articles below - however, if you think you want to see this, watch the film first, as both entries are FILLED with spoilers:</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Christmas_%281974_film%29">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Christmas_%281974_film%29</a></b></p><p><b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_%28Black_Christmas%29">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_%28Black_Christmas%29</a></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1cgy0g0CHqr1QRfQK4bvzftxxHSgZRZywqNBOEprxQCLp8ShvD0bGS8yWxm9T4nih5dpAX7myNpbFlApnMh0Ef43_gF3uK-o8TW_cVxZ8P5mpCX7HnNwyPPRdauZb-gYp-0NIjwi_iV18TOhirlUlpk1HTfaeTb66s6-gBaxhL1YSVrymn3EXOkMSYU/s640/1974Christmas-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="411" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1cgy0g0CHqr1QRfQK4bvzftxxHSgZRZywqNBOEprxQCLp8ShvD0bGS8yWxm9T4nih5dpAX7myNpbFlApnMh0Ef43_gF3uK-o8TW_cVxZ8P5mpCX7HnNwyPPRdauZb-gYp-0NIjwi_iV18TOhirlUlpk1HTfaeTb66s6-gBaxhL1YSVrymn3EXOkMSYU/w258-h400/1974Christmas-3.JPG" width="258" /></a></b></div><b> Now you would think I would have learned my lesson about attending Christmas slasher films, but you'd be DEAD wrong, as ten years later, in '84, I doubled, nay, TRIPLED down on my not-well-thought out choice of viewing and came within a hairsbreadth (or shall we say, a camera's eye) of unexplainable trouble! The new film was called SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT. The whole sordid saga of what Laura likes to call "one of my favorite stories of yours" was an entry I wrote back in 2009 - at the time I wrote it, the Brattle Theater in Boston was showing a double feature of these two films and I said, "</b><b>It's playing with 1974's BLACK CHRISTMAS, which I also saw when it first came out ... but that's another story. ;)". Well, what do you know? It only took 14 years, but here's the 'other story' at last! </b><b>Looking it over, I see 'Billy' is up to his old tricks ... the same one or a different one? We may never know:<br /></b><p></p><p><b> <a href="http://www.conjurecinema.com/2009/11/kac-2009-t-38.html">http://www.conjurecinema.com/2009/11/kac-2009-t-38.html</a> </b></p><p><b> You can read about what I unknowingly walked into under the 'Controversy and Censorship' part of the Wiki entry below:</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night,_Deadly_Night">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night,_Deadly_Night</a></b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkoBkASX-9fj6_jxY8QSFEpi5JGkPhD0loTy0Et-vuk6MSo9zWYUgZ9QH1k5lw8JKdYl8-mz9BRY1h4A-SkfVkgRebkqc6x9zSx0gWvNxdtWcTXP1Xavtz2Nl80TKUfpJs-K7v7ReFEPMAgGUVpxavSSfrwwajfw7P7WybXhVjB74u7Yr3q6kjH_3dDQ/s1376/1974Christmas_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="893" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkoBkASX-9fj6_jxY8QSFEpi5JGkPhD0loTy0Et-vuk6MSo9zWYUgZ9QH1k5lw8JKdYl8-mz9BRY1h4A-SkfVkgRebkqc6x9zSx0gWvNxdtWcTXP1Xavtz2Nl80TKUfpJs-K7v7ReFEPMAgGUVpxavSSfrwwajfw7P7WybXhVjB74u7Yr3q6kjH_3dDQ/w260-h400/1974Christmas_3.jpg" width="260" /></a></b></div><b> The name of our second film triggered a rabbit hole dive for me and my memory did not deceive me ... behold the same-named story of Marvel Two-In-One # 8, also from '74, wherein The Thing and Ghost Rider CRASH THE NATIVITY - I'm going to step aside and let Chris Pearce and his Teachable Moments Comics Blog explain this one!</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://chrispearce.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/christmas-comics-cavalcade-marvel-two-in-one-8-marvel-comics/">https://chrispearce.wordpress.com/2019/12/23/christmas-comics-cavalcade-marvel-two-in-one-8-marvel-comics/</a></b></p><p><b> One more to go, as we wrap up the K.A.C. with a look at 1975! <br /></b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-38323453111213733172023-12-22T07:01:00.000-08:002023-12-22T07:01:41.315-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 03 Days ... <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cw1inMCZxjeLbRwxNHEuzpBemp_ADMrRBS255Faplfqztabi0yCt1AqMaY8SCa3a_4B2JJ0iAefKJWgGRBZnytH0QQkaiEUEkV7uspnscD_MYD-1fUEUOiDzF0z-dMlUXsy-mjARMTDFlXQqiZ1bpIGxotppbSRSNyTlCV7SLRz-QX4ncRpuKNPVlxg/s500/1973Christmas_1.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cw1inMCZxjeLbRwxNHEuzpBemp_ADMrRBS255Faplfqztabi0yCt1AqMaY8SCa3a_4B2JJ0iAefKJWgGRBZnytH0QQkaiEUEkV7uspnscD_MYD-1fUEUOiDzF0z-dMlUXsy-mjARMTDFlXQqiZ1bpIGxotppbSRSNyTlCV7SLRz-QX4ncRpuKNPVlxg/w640-h360/1973Christmas_1.gif" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>1973 - Listen, my children, and you shall hear, a tale of Christmas, a tale of fear ... or shall you? Debate has raged for decades about the biggest boxoffice hit of the year, THE EXORCIST. Is it or is it not a Christmas film? Would it surprise you that is answer is both Yes AND No? Demonic forces at work? Not at all - we went to the message boards and got it hashed out (with my favorite comment about the film, <span style="font-size: medium;">"</span><span style="font-size: medium;">From Tubular Bells to Jingle Bells...")</span>- the answer can be found below (thankfully not THAT far below!):</b></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3Z4HB4tru6Hwf-UE5jIv7kCPtsRwJC2TtH1lmwS4IRgUKxecwb8tg50bdKh700VK8bTFpOm1BRUTKhpy2Aew1RkOsVQuH6jnPDwRuG7EtYl3iQTTOM-k7j0K-wlmXQtrCGhIMewDomsuknvty7CWfN3Nhyd1XukiDJUtABpqg3YBJqsafaC7hyphenhyphenB_89Q/s780/1973Christmas_3.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3Z4HB4tru6Hwf-UE5jIv7kCPtsRwJC2TtH1lmwS4IRgUKxecwb8tg50bdKh700VK8bTFpOm1BRUTKhpy2Aew1RkOsVQuH6jnPDwRuG7EtYl3iQTTOM-k7j0K-wlmXQtrCGhIMewDomsuknvty7CWfN3Nhyd1XukiDJUtABpqg3YBJqsafaC7hyphenhyphenB_89Q/w400-h225/1973Christmas_3.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Is Santa SUPPOSED to sound like that on the roof???"</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b> <a href="https://www.filmboards.com/board/p/1297886/">https://www.filmboards.com/board/p/1297886/</a></b><p></p><p><b> More on the film as director William Friedkin looks back on it:</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-exorcist-unlikely-christmas-smash-1234607040/">https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-exorcist-unlikely-christmas-smash-1234607040/</a> </b></p><p><b> I visited the 'Exorcist Home' exterior when I was a teenager and the end scene is a fine piece of Hollywood trickery. When Father Karras (Jason Miller) (spoilers) takes the demon inside himself and hurls himself out the window and down the long flight of stairs to his death, it looks like the stairs are right below the window. In real life, there's a HUGE yard in between that window and the stairs! Maybe Pazuzu was a long-jumper ...</b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8TKGX_Jeq_P6orLtkrHsmqcafeXEUEj94qhSHYU6K0tanEbpjFZPJDk7spuXUFD1A91dEW-OjTCi60nBkPkLsmgO4f4d0dMeCxzskWyZoYrIr7Aug_Ul79hQkuH45zv-UMvSL0OXzpo2wVUvqTASlgFuzZxhaHXKKPNJJKM1IFOi0ksYJKabmpz-Uag/s527/1973Christmas_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="527" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8TKGX_Jeq_P6orLtkrHsmqcafeXEUEj94qhSHYU6K0tanEbpjFZPJDk7spuXUFD1A91dEW-OjTCi60nBkPkLsmgO4f4d0dMeCxzskWyZoYrIr7Aug_Ul79hQkuH45zv-UMvSL0OXzpo2wVUvqTASlgFuzZxhaHXKKPNJJKM1IFOi0ksYJKabmpz-Uag/w400-h394/1973Christmas_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> Regardless, with shenanigans like that going on in the neighborhood, it's sure to bring the property values down. Want to know what ELSE does during the holiday season? Hop in your car and cruise the neighborhood to see how many of these signs you see:</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/25105457/etiquette-expert-signs-tacky-neighbourhood-christmas/">https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/25105457/etiquette-expert-signs-tacky-neighbourhood-christmas/</a> </b></p><p><b> Only two more to go - cutting this short, 'cause the movers are here!<br /></b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-58316031213737748932023-12-21T06:06:00.000-08:002023-12-21T06:09:46.544-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 04 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWxGlUMX9cjAQBhWNu_vRWaMIkvn_TWQ-uTJaEDlDVbFsnE1YhVkjinY-3O9Pyf9jfsSuG5hHFOkQi237CBcKDz1Q11fUXbP6pYDv3N_YZwrf_vP3Nu_g6XruPrhHkfLJ8qMao-tYr_71JEkGWCtkxdgkqD5rq9KSA0FeiAlLkk303Z_pq3eoNmWgdnc/s957/1972Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="619" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWxGlUMX9cjAQBhWNu_vRWaMIkvn_TWQ-uTJaEDlDVbFsnE1YhVkjinY-3O9Pyf9jfsSuG5hHFOkQi237CBcKDz1Q11fUXbP6pYDv3N_YZwrf_vP3Nu_g6XruPrhHkfLJ8qMao-tYr_71JEkGWCtkxdgkqD5rq9KSA0FeiAlLkk303Z_pq3eoNmWgdnc/w414-h640/1972Christmas_1.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><b>1972 - Merry Solstice! Around and around the globe we go, through the centuries and whizzing past the equator, making ourselves dizzy with all the history flashing on by. For a crash course on what this day entails, check out the 'Solstice and Santa' page below - it's a LOT, so clear your schedule!</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://misfitsandheroes.wordpress.com/tag/winter-solstice/">https://misfitsandheroes.wordpress.com/tag/winter-solstice/</a></b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZvk0FY31Py40u6DzBsWoL9Z7-eZViwx3XYFFQGp-0OsTOmhD9lr_T1oAFNt5N9ii5MZELhXm3JAUDuQUkpC_2tbNn77fgOJ46Oi1JxHsFkC6iBndKffFFyJac-Gv7Tna8kK_baXakoASVEjTxnijiO6VjCBizNLW_DdhvqgpuFYNDwquYm2HxxN1Wgg/s900/1972Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="900" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZvk0FY31Py40u6DzBsWoL9Z7-eZViwx3XYFFQGp-0OsTOmhD9lr_T1oAFNt5N9ii5MZELhXm3JAUDuQUkpC_2tbNn77fgOJ46Oi1JxHsFkC6iBndKffFFyJac-Gv7Tna8kK_baXakoASVEjTxnijiO6VjCBizNLW_DdhvqgpuFYNDwquYm2HxxN1Wgg/w400-h269/1972Christmas_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> You might want to spend a few quiet moments reflecting on the pretty art print above, as it gets SUPREMELY WEIRD from here. Deep breath ... ready? OK, hang on! Remember our '67 entry about the Birmingham Dracula Balloon Parade? Well, imagine if those fine folks were rich, REALLY rich, and money was no object. Now imagine they decided to host a Winter Ball, with the theme of Surrealism ... NOW imagine that maybe, just maybe, there was something a tad more sinister going on ... nothing that could be proved, mind you, but something that made history and was talked about for decades. A few folks through the years have tried to recreate the (black?) magic of this '72 event, with mixed results. When the TAMEST photo is this dinner setting, with the description of <span style="font-size: medium;">'</span></b><span class="caption-body"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The dinner plates were covered in fur, while every guest's litany of forks was accompanied by a dead fish', you know you've turned the corner into the Twilight Zone. This is one of the rare times words fail me in how to describe what follows, so I'm not even going to try. Instead, read on and get YOUR best costume ready for '</b></span></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Black Tie, Long Dresses, And Surrealist Heads: Inside The 1972 Rothschild Ball':</span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://allthatsinteresting.com/rothschild-party">https://allthatsinteresting.com/rothschild-party</a></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTtMAD5R2uyg_gBNrPHByL1J_f6QvNeKo4W8Uj_xupHyNfg-W36tXyjcUJ2-FhQ5EbZ7-LDyC9rqRlrk_jwWBKyiCUHUKS2mGrruJ7ogH4iH6YsLdPLUc93MyKHVXvphEDPq1crlXcb2pDUaYW6qojV7qmBT4yoTfXNEhyphenhyphen0IudWEJ_b8HN4LRD13_eAY/s3840/1972Christmas_3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTtMAD5R2uyg_gBNrPHByL1J_f6QvNeKo4W8Uj_xupHyNfg-W36tXyjcUJ2-FhQ5EbZ7-LDyC9rqRlrk_jwWBKyiCUHUKS2mGrruJ7ogH4iH6YsLdPLUc93MyKHVXvphEDPq1crlXcb2pDUaYW6qojV7qmBT4yoTfXNEhyphenhyphen0IudWEJ_b8HN4LRD13_eAY/w400-h225/1972Christmas_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> I know, right? What the Holy Hell was THAT? Now anyone else would ramp it down from there and call it a day, but hey, we've come this far ... for dessert, how about we revisit one of the all-time WORST 'Christmas' films of all time, also from '72, with a budget in the - wait, is there such a thing as negative money? No? OK, then, with a budget in pennies, used, ratty costumes and a (possibly stolen) fire truck, Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny makes K. Gordon Murray look like Orson Welles - the putrid pastiche of a plot can be found here:</span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_and_the_Ice_Cream_Bunny">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_and_the_Ice_Cream_Bunny</a> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> For a deeper delve into despair, click on the link below: </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/best-of/santa-and-the-ice-cream-bunny-weirdest-christmas-midnight-movie-1234936362/">https://www.indiewire.com/features/best-of/santa-and-the-ice-cream-bunny-weirdest-christmas-midnight-movie-1234936362/</a> <br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> For the brave and/or masochistic, RiffTrax took on this disaster and you can view the ENTIRE mess via this link - trust me, this is the ONLY safe way to watch this Christmas Catastrophe!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw1GxIQqp84">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw1GxIQqp84</a></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> There, there, it's all over - dry your eyes, have a drink, get some sleep. We've only got three more entries to go. I'm sure THEY will be better ... ummm, relatively sure ... come back tomorrow and find out!<br /></span></b></p><p> </p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-50607326209153236432023-12-20T05:26:00.000-08:002023-12-20T05:27:48.690-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 05 Days ...<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SzG1zntT0gEIDWDVeHKi8kN49Ky95_7TUv6nLkis2hg1zouUiRGY8BJ-kGutMyBAhIZxWeYW8brHz_CNk-cptpp1kTg5mDKbIDUXeCgsvQmAcJ8ivk-qxN38iO9L644vEn-ahXq6wBlIWg_kIztg2kQL8ilQcxESpnzaNk9ged2t3pJNR2JlK5ZS4lA/s1600/1971Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1184" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SzG1zntT0gEIDWDVeHKi8kN49Ky95_7TUv6nLkis2hg1zouUiRGY8BJ-kGutMyBAhIZxWeYW8brHz_CNk-cptpp1kTg5mDKbIDUXeCgsvQmAcJ8ivk-qxN38iO9L644vEn-ahXq6wBlIWg_kIztg2kQL8ilQcxESpnzaNk9ged2t3pJNR2JlK5ZS4lA/w474-h640/1971Christmas_2.jpg" width="474" /></a></b></div><b>1971 - <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It's time for our annual Christmas Ghost Stories, this year featuring five of the best from the master, M.R. James. Each one was adapted for television by the B.B.C. for their yearly Ghost Stories For Christmas specials, beginning with the '71 adaptation of The Stalls Of Barchester. Turn the lights off and get beneath a warm blanket, watch one each night and you'll end with the last one on Christmas Eve - exactly when these blood-curdlers were usually told! </span><span class="xv78j7m" spellcheck="false" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Justin von Bosau</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> and I are both huge fans of James' tales, and these all do the original stories justice. Click on the link below to begin:</span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://allonesthatgotaway.com/ghost-stories-christmas-review/">https://allonesthatgotaway.com/ghost-stories-christmas-review/</a> </span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KMVlPGZlRU-Cqoz6PMMgjIVBI0Zh6E0HCU-BZhvJ8Z32s9sUwAGNhq2sTxgG4tCacF4Bas8zVStwto6otip2lqWNE7QLwv1LSmf2XtJty17HVfzWfUzl8_LNErmqBAbWDZfu01d6Gm-y2wBlsBf0EXRqmDJFPVITz5ydPIcAdvU-wlRzyNNTriS8sWk/s933/1971Christmas_3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KMVlPGZlRU-Cqoz6PMMgjIVBI0Zh6E0HCU-BZhvJ8Z32s9sUwAGNhq2sTxgG4tCacF4Bas8zVStwto6otip2lqWNE7QLwv1LSmf2XtJty17HVfzWfUzl8_LNErmqBAbWDZfu01d6Gm-y2wBlsBf0EXRqmDJFPVITz5ydPIcAdvU-wlRzyNNTriS8sWk/w300-h400/1971Christmas_3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> For those of you made of stronger stuff, we've got more Holiday Horrors to behold, such as 'Christmas Butt Cheek Art' (at right) and 49 other<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>times 'Trolls Had The Funniest Christmas Gift Ideas Ever':</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <a href="https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-trolling-christmas-gifts/">https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-trolling-christmas-gifts/</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GlO8vEETWsIVACsRksaqeVHm34HBRM9K19SVzhAxXv4qnSwhwrbK3gqRa5SNBiNKuyoUTbV2oaHxxZcoqaV6jHnMFHSAM0t_mAEY8znpSu31Xnba1h__mdZXeaEMooXP-9XCWq4roXD8LdaTa6jXu9Q-zvxI8sSLNZO9G0urlawpBtrHoV-1-mrXsPE/s1772/1971Christmas_4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="1505" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GlO8vEETWsIVACsRksaqeVHm34HBRM9K19SVzhAxXv4qnSwhwrbK3gqRa5SNBiNKuyoUTbV2oaHxxZcoqaV6jHnMFHSAM0t_mAEY8znpSu31Xnba1h__mdZXeaEMooXP-9XCWq4roXD8LdaTa6jXu9Q-zvxI8sSLNZO9G0urlawpBtrHoV-1-mrXsPE/w340-h400/1971Christmas_4.jpg" width="340" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> We've only four entries left, so before we go, a gentle reminder to keep an eye out for Santa's blue coat and staff, accompanied by his granddaughter as they go house to house. He knows if you've been bad or good AND he knows if you've met your factory quota or not ... if you're feeling a tad puzzled and/or nervous at this point, allow us to introduce you via two articles below to Santa's Soviet counterpart - Ded Moroz and Snegurochka!</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <a href="https://www.artlebedev.com/mandership/173/">https://www.artlebedev.com/mandership/173/</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9v1QzK8ApgCt2elqgdV4Blm5G8otPbBtE6HGDXHfuula1ex2A-toCDlnPBWFgPzCgKssHYZaLwVMsVvyBiV6mHJidWMzqVE2LyBzme73Ju-jw8m17vwiXaERl5TtCpdfRpLem2EH6IG1rcjmLhbJArFavBlsQZ9MD20ey4IqNMAUsadbufZYry1Fapw/s855/1971Christmas_5.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="570" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9v1QzK8ApgCt2elqgdV4Blm5G8otPbBtE6HGDXHfuula1ex2A-toCDlnPBWFgPzCgKssHYZaLwVMsVvyBiV6mHJidWMzqVE2LyBzme73Ju-jw8m17vwiXaERl5TtCpdfRpLem2EH6IG1rcjmLhbJArFavBlsQZ9MD20ey4IqNMAUsadbufZYry1Fapw/w266-h400/1971Christmas_5.webp" width="266" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /> <a href="https://www.amazingrussian.com/post/2015/12/16/%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B4-%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE-%D0%B7-%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B3%D1%83-%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%B0-grandfather-frost-and-snow-maiden">https://www.amazingrussian.com/post/2015/12/16/%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B4-%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE-%D0%B7-%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B3%D1%83-%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%B0-grandfather-frost-and-snow-maiden</a> <br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Back tomorrow for a look at 1972. Get back to work, elves!</b></span></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-48472551563699575742023-12-19T05:17:00.000-08:002023-12-19T13:03:25.770-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 06 Days ...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUb1rSHxB6rD8oxeZg1dm7DgVVPCyDWD0E7S2asTKvTaVIdvXj1e4ofRx_40J69H_uoH63cBQJPE6a0_fKuZYvxXhMzJ2Sl3O16OtGThha4VFU-2rDIP7BQH9egmMrlvgsu36rbGMCV_WJif1sXjGf3tiYcEg026c3snImhhdPBM2fnHNztcraVWVQEQc/s900/VintageChristmasMartyr.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="577" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUb1rSHxB6rD8oxeZg1dm7DgVVPCyDWD0E7S2asTKvTaVIdvXj1e4ofRx_40J69H_uoH63cBQJPE6a0_fKuZYvxXhMzJ2Sl3O16OtGThha4VFU-2rDIP7BQH9egmMrlvgsu36rbGMCV_WJif1sXjGf3tiYcEg026c3snImhhdPBM2fnHNztcraVWVQEQc/w410-h640/VintageChristmasMartyr.webp" width="410" /></a></div><br /> <b>1970 - Once again we take a look at Horrible Christmas Foods, this time setting our Timeless Tinsel Tracker back a hundred years - to 1870 - and the most outrageous, eye-opening story we'll report on for this season's K.A.C. </b><p></p><p></p><p><b> What's on the menu? Stuffed Donkey Heads, Roasted Camel (English Style) and (horrifyingly) much, much more. Ripley's Believe It Or Not tells the true tale of the one-of-a-kind holiday Feasts of Beasts in 'Zoo Feast: A Christmas Dinner for the Ages':</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/zoo-feast-a-christmas-dinner-for-the-ages/">https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/zoo-feast-a-christmas-dinner-for-the-ages/</a> </b></p><p><b> Moving back to the present (well, 1970 present), while I know you would like to recreate that royal repast, it's just not practical. Instead, take a look at two articles showing you what would have been on the menu for a '70s Christmas feast, with such taste treats as Peanut Butter Soup and everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) in aspic ... those Stuffed Donkey Heads don't sound so bad now, do they? </b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/christmas-the-food-hostesses-in-1970s-were-expected-to-create-should-make-you-feel-better-about-your-festive-attempts-a6780136.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/christmas-the-food-hostesses-in-1970s-were-expected-to-create-should-make-you-feel-better-about-your-festive-attempts-a6780136.html</a> </b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.bonappetit.com/story/very-70s-christmas-dinner">https://www.bonappetit.com/story/very-70s-christmas-dinner</a> <br /></b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Vb09o24wdTy1nDc4OT0eKZQ17ZuThRMY4v8ama5L1aHcpjER0ZjwzCKBrNr9QBY71IeQQAmmxIDXeltW1vORbrAKQhC1zzXRLmXUBai5wd2gBa9NhNmQCE8SF4n-AohIi-si0npG9gfvZRBXDWoiUD6ZsY8pED9K4F0lrzD-MHey4K7DEIATs3EuxsY/s962/1970Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="962" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Vb09o24wdTy1nDc4OT0eKZQ17ZuThRMY4v8ama5L1aHcpjER0ZjwzCKBrNr9QBY71IeQQAmmxIDXeltW1vORbrAKQhC1zzXRLmXUBai5wd2gBa9NhNmQCE8SF4n-AohIi-si0npG9gfvZRBXDWoiUD6ZsY8pED9K4F0lrzD-MHey4K7DEIATs3EuxsY/w400-h328/1970Christmas_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> But wait, there's MUCH more! Even Salvador Dali got into the Jolly Jellied Jamboree, as can be seen with our next entry, entitled 'Inside The Surreal World Of '70s Food Porn':</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://elephant.art/inside-the-surreal-world-of-70s-food-porn-22122020/">https://elephant.art/inside-the-surreal-world-of-70s-food-porn-22122020/</a></b></p><p><b> While there are SO many more articles on horrible holiday foods from the past (enough to fill all the remaining entries this year), we'll spare you those and instead will dally with Dali a tad longer, as we present a look at his own 'unique' take on Christmas cards below:</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdexnosQ043beUP_A737f8rBMg6KYos0dAi8zdkQvS6Mbo6VoiC1ePmEL0aRUtv8hNQ2H8p7erp6ARdfjPijBCvZWIWtFWiWGD1cgcGDjRz8h2s8gB-Z6LvIYFG_516R5GPNw_wnLpF5HgUD-Is05xwsc1OtG76wDuTiMF4wIpiod3xnxag4YVYbW5UHs/s892/1970Christmas_2.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdexnosQ043beUP_A737f8rBMg6KYos0dAi8zdkQvS6Mbo6VoiC1ePmEL0aRUtv8hNQ2H8p7erp6ARdfjPijBCvZWIWtFWiWGD1cgcGDjRz8h2s8gB-Z6LvIYFG_516R5GPNw_wnLpF5HgUD-Is05xwsc1OtG76wDuTiMF4wIpiod3xnxag4YVYbW5UHs/w314-h400/1970Christmas_2.webp" width="314" /></a></div> <b><a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/salvador-dali-surreal-christmas-cards/">https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/salvador-dali-surreal-christmas-cards/</a></b><p></p><p><b> We've saved the best for last, or maybe all that aspic, jellied food has damaged more than our palates. I was looking for something to encapsulate just HOW strange the '70s were and found it in the most unlikeliest of sources: behold the 1970 edition of 'Archie's Christmas Love-In'. Ooof, where to even begin with this? Well, once you get past the cover where the Claus-meister is embracing his new role as the Riverdale Guru (as an aside, methinks he's holding the wrong kind of plant for where this is going, but I digress), the contents are more than bizarre, as Archie and the Gang decide to deluge their school with the seasonal joys that only Flower Power can bring ... and the hilarity that ensues. Thankfully Alan Stewart over at the Attack Of The 50 Year Old Comic Books website has done the heavy lifting here, breaking it down and adroitly examining the colossal crash of counterculture and total Squares-ville:</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sM2QFjZaglxQ7UdAHp48VwpgapYWujYC2dBL63WbIc_NYA856sg8dWgWR1LHKiD3fAKESaTLN5ycVEmRCdDMlYX8BQ-g5UDPAvosu3jBv2r2zQ1lHc-i-GcVOYvCMbFb-TfuO3pAPD-LhMjo2zUoQbhgD14d70q1IAU2N5TQpWz38SHmQl8TRLASeF0/s587/1970Christmas_3.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sM2QFjZaglxQ7UdAHp48VwpgapYWujYC2dBL63WbIc_NYA856sg8dWgWR1LHKiD3fAKESaTLN5ycVEmRCdDMlYX8BQ-g5UDPAvosu3jBv2r2zQ1lHc-i-GcVOYvCMbFb-TfuO3pAPD-LhMjo2zUoQbhgD14d70q1IAU2N5TQpWz38SHmQl8TRLASeF0/w273-h400/1970Christmas_3.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://50yearoldcomics.com/2019/10/26/archie-giant-series-magazine-169-january-1970/">https://50yearoldcomics.com/2019/10/26/archie-giant-series-magazine-169-january-1970/</a></b></p><p><b> Did I say last? Well, almost - consider this a P.S. As silly as that comic book looks, I'm sure it planted a seed in some impressionable youths who took it to heart and passed down the peaceful vibes to their children and grandchildren. See for yourself in '<span style="font-size: medium;">The Magic of Santa Claus Explained with Yogic Philosophy':</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://saltspringcentre.com/the-magic-of-santa-claus-explained-with-yogic-philosophy/">https://saltspringcentre.com/the-magic-of-santa-claus-explained-with-yogic-philosophy/</a></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> More tomorrow with a look at 1971. Peace, baby!</span> </b><b><br /></b></p><p><b> <br /></b></p><p><b> <br /></b></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-1827113651533760412023-12-18T04:38:00.000-08:002023-12-18T04:38:41.895-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 07 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxfpQbef384F9dwl_wjT3EW14BMnsROnSLHv_WJ3fdsuSnbKTA_bYJ3ooNpsqAbr3BkNe-85Z0XsbWft7hFg43TQPoLlIKjm3u_BPaG_sntGeTtKxGKZ_llBHruNErogSpIdaesHmWbNKBzmXEF23RsccCq61peZ4e_iQE3j_vbgvEhrViusL0kgZho8/s479/1969Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxfpQbef384F9dwl_wjT3EW14BMnsROnSLHv_WJ3fdsuSnbKTA_bYJ3ooNpsqAbr3BkNe-85Z0XsbWft7hFg43TQPoLlIKjm3u_BPaG_sntGeTtKxGKZ_llBHruNErogSpIdaesHmWbNKBzmXEF23RsccCq61peZ4e_iQE3j_vbgvEhrViusL0kgZho8/w634-h640/1969Christmas_1.jpg" width="634" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>1969 - Longtime readers can be forgiven for mistaking this picture as one from Ye Humble Curator's youth. Sadly not, but I admire this lad's dedication to the role and the show! I do actually have both Dark Shadows board games, including the one this young vampire is proudly displaying - maybe he opened his presents at night. And speaking of presents ...</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR2GTuwD3viRnUZogiTCHwRY66lJdINPwgTGMnHNQOs2eaFrFa0W042FoRiAKx2dgUM30juBGrE5BnDXtOQFMnQqPPQPOaWeRJQnwD_PFxDB67e89NwDyN2XvIBl7yj6teOT_1oUMghX_lPrysUpAWdbEPxqJYU-mleNuvNqGW3J60-81BkPPqD-spB4/s1200/1969Christmas_2.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR2GTuwD3viRnUZogiTCHwRY66lJdINPwgTGMnHNQOs2eaFrFa0W042FoRiAKx2dgUM30juBGrE5BnDXtOQFMnQqPPQPOaWeRJQnwD_PFxDB67e89NwDyN2XvIBl7yj6teOT_1oUMghX_lPrysUpAWdbEPxqJYU-mleNuvNqGW3J60-81BkPPqD-spB4/w400-h300/1969Christmas_2.webp" width="400" /></a></div><b> Remember a few days ago when we were relating the tale of the obscure Beatles' Christmas tune? Turns out they weren't the only ones ... read and sample the even MORE forgotten-to-history warblings from Pink Floyd (I know, right?) below!</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/forgotten-christmas-song-pink-floyd/">https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/forgotten-christmas-song-pink-floyd/</a> </b></p><p><b> The lyrics (such as they are) can be found in the comments section below the YouTube video link.</b></p><p><b> <br /></b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngI1eZIiJQ6wetZEhfomPWL0Z4eAvMubXbANiSQj5hbZXH_ycv6L1bsGHkvgL1s0fYQtMdkm7SLhLsi7DnOs94rzrGQyRGqglKtDxsMULXvSATQBDerYRrANWxvzPxGJPFD-luQFhMK__Wb22e7Yse0am2wN0rRODlDzsdk5olZ83rzOuBCOAC_V0ZD0/s1120/1969Christmas_3.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1120" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngI1eZIiJQ6wetZEhfomPWL0Z4eAvMubXbANiSQj5hbZXH_ycv6L1bsGHkvgL1s0fYQtMdkm7SLhLsi7DnOs94rzrGQyRGqglKtDxsMULXvSATQBDerYRrANWxvzPxGJPFD-luQFhMK__Wb22e7Yse0am2wN0rRODlDzsdk5olZ83rzOuBCOAC_V0ZD0/w400-h319/1969Christmas_3.webp" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> Want to take a guess who our 'flower child' is at left? Would you believe The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come (known here as The Ghost Of Christmas Future)? It's true - this is part of the reason it's so hard to describe the '60s if you didn't live through them! đ For a closer look at him and his other interpretations through the years, read our referenced article below, <span style="font-size: medium;">'The Ghosts of Christmas Yet to Come, ranked by freakiness':</span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.polygon.com/23509118/best-christmas-carol-ghost-of-christmas-future-yet-to-come-scariest">https://www.polygon.com/23509118/best-christmas-carol-ghost-of-christmas-future-yet-to-come-scariest</a></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNrmQz4Dl9PMvNIMy6I4wWHid-xvzMGzTzoxOhc4BthHvzxFC5187BNsZHl77fs6Ow9dQk-3P1LHuFvZdIhmtDv_GKJDykwSoD57MB2traav0XyjElMwivLs-THvu8_J86dPSeubUX9960xpRMGmZuMK8b5J6V6MwAeEWPCrJBpquyzSgqY_c0GxlcSo/s640/hardrockcastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="640" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNrmQz4Dl9PMvNIMy6I4wWHid-xvzMGzTzoxOhc4BthHvzxFC5187BNsZHl77fs6Ow9dQk-3P1LHuFvZdIhmtDv_GKJDykwSoD57MB2traav0XyjElMwivLs-THvu8_J86dPSeubUX9960xpRMGmZuMK8b5J6V6MwAeEWPCrJBpquyzSgqY_c0GxlcSo/w400-h201/hardrockcastle.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Pink Floyd, The Beatles and all the rest are fine, but with one week to go before the Big Day, there's only ONE piece of music long time K.A.C. fans want to hear today, and here it is - just like our annual stalwart visit from Krampus and our yearly Kringle's Khristmas Kuties Kwiz, you can ALWAYS count on a visit from Hardrock, Coco and Joe on December 18th in these pages. Why? Because to many, young and old alike, THIS is the official Countdown to Christmas - for the uninitiated, read on, then open yourself to this holiday earwig. You might as well put it on a loop now, 'cause it won't be leaving your brain anytime soon!</span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="http://www.conjurecinema.com/2010/12/kac-t-7-days.html">http://www.conjurecinema.com/2010/12/kac-t-7-days.html</a> <br /> <br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Another decade down - come back tomorrow as we groove through the '70s!</span></b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-17927084177758361362023-12-17T08:19:00.000-08:002023-12-17T08:19:25.265-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 08 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z1YXi7ImuBb4BCFIYn_KPl0MwUPj4GEJzpaJmtgNqzcbNf3RO0Tmrj7oK8Yn5lIEUSdLVg2nBiRp0M-2YiHnkcXStj7siT4od3-DlgZzVOWHqBTT3dNutlJjIBPwrS-U7UKvcsDlOOFPecsmgIkCv24332lm_U1on_gPdX4XQwLDsnVCfl-WHULIOZI/s2919/1968Christmas_1.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2919" data-original-width="1946" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z1YXi7ImuBb4BCFIYn_KPl0MwUPj4GEJzpaJmtgNqzcbNf3RO0Tmrj7oK8Yn5lIEUSdLVg2nBiRp0M-2YiHnkcXStj7siT4od3-DlgZzVOWHqBTT3dNutlJjIBPwrS-U7UKvcsDlOOFPecsmgIkCv24332lm_U1on_gPdX4XQwLDsnVCfl-WHULIOZI/w426-h640/1968Christmas_1.webp" width="426" /></a></div><b>1968 - Santa has Seen Things, delivering toys as long as he has, things that would break a lesser man. He's persevered and kept the faith through decades and decades, and has had various representations made of him, both in print and other materials. The one that truly creeped him out was Blow Molds. Don't know them, you say? Oh, but you DO - maybe not by that name, but everyone has gone through that Christmas phase at some time in their lives. '68 seemed to be a particularly busy year on the Blow Mold front, as the majority of pictures I found were dedicated to them. Here's a brief history and a look at those shining (plastic) beacons in the night - Blow Molds!</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://planetchristmas.com/blowmolds-are-back/">https://planetchristmas.com/blowmolds-are-back/</a> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zCDpf6UuwP_0Z1SyyP2V0Eej9nSORkrTLSehyphenhyphenZX_ueOB7YDn65-v_wpb4O2BqQ5DlQrXs_W8x0mvpqWH5xTz4TKx3PuO1rxHOWjda5H5jReaSWCU0DPT4ws5-u_tS6BLH-qEevH6SQQCvGe-2Pw1HX3y4Blx5QWdGw_fJNBbukF2uN8lnmAy_UWDIUI/s1593/1968Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1593" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zCDpf6UuwP_0Z1SyyP2V0Eej9nSORkrTLSehyphenhyphenZX_ueOB7YDn65-v_wpb4O2BqQ5DlQrXs_W8x0mvpqWH5xTz4TKx3PuO1rxHOWjda5H5jReaSWCU0DPT4ws5-u_tS6BLH-qEevH6SQQCvGe-2Pw1HX3y4Blx5QWdGw_fJNBbukF2uN8lnmAy_UWDIUI/w400-h311/1968Christmas_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><p><b> <span style="font-size: medium;">Our next photo is only for those kiddies who REALLY want to prove to Santa that they've been good all year, by taking the </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Bocca della VeritĂ , or 'Mouth of Truth' dare. The moment I saw this, I had a Roman Holiday flashback. OK, given the blank stares I'm picking up on, in the 1953 film, Audrey Hepburn is a runaway Princess who wants to have some time for herself before having to assume her royal duties, and she is accompanied around Rome by newspaper reporter Gregory Peck. At one point they stop at the Mouth while he tells her the legend, that if you tell a lie and put your hand in the Mouth, it will be bitten off. Watch the famous scene below to see how that turns out:</span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="mw-page-title-main"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6af1dAc9rXo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6af1dAc9rXo</a></span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="mw-page-title-main"> Audrey's shriek is genuine - read the comments below the video to see why! It's a charming, touching, funny film and one that will make you weepy at the end - perfect for Christmas! I would say go into it without knowing any more that that, but if you're the type who loves spoilers, the entire plot is spelled out below:</span></span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74o7_J0ArEGyFrz1rGVF-GT3VF5UFKBDNhiU4hG1AiV804CI31izuNxxGEyIUV-KU26-WaQaNqUK2jejphpl-42chdR7n033LZSsRN44lqZHntYxZ1sZIxv-9P_Lk7Xr_RHtPzGCMJp3yOxmsyYYmn196bi6mU0gY5ESO3h0r6wNmWSdyKHlp6-e2etw/s1430/1968Christmas_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1430" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74o7_J0ArEGyFrz1rGVF-GT3VF5UFKBDNhiU4hG1AiV804CI31izuNxxGEyIUV-KU26-WaQaNqUK2jejphpl-42chdR7n033LZSsRN44lqZHntYxZ1sZIxv-9P_Lk7Xr_RHtPzGCMJp3yOxmsyYYmn196bi6mU0gY5ESO3h0r6wNmWSdyKHlp6-e2etw/w286-h400/1968Christmas_3.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="mw-page-title-main"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Holiday">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Holiday</a> </span></span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="mw-page-title-main"> As for the Mouth itself, ITS history can be found here:</span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="mw-page-title-main"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocca_della_Verit%C3%A0">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocca_della_Verit%C3%A0</a> </span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="mw-page-title-main"> My favorite part of all this? There are in select locations modern versions of this, such as the one at left in San Francisco, where its a classical variation on Zoltar - you put your hand in and get your fortune. I know the Very First Purchase I'm making should I ever win Powerball! Ingenious - I gotta hand it ... to ... well, not LITERALLY - Moving on ...</span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="mw-page-title-main"> We'll end today with a current dare - and it won't even cost you a hand, just some grey matter. Every year in the UK, the GCHQ (below), </span></span></b><span class="inline-placeholder" data-editable="metaCaption"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">the United Kingdom's intelligence, cyber and security agency, sends out its annual Christmas card in the form of a series of challenging puzzles and codes for children to crack. Want to give it a try? It's harder than it looks. Here's how!</span></b></span></p><p><span class="inline-placeholder" data-editable="metaCaption"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbCLmNojzcyrlB28trv3FYzjOM11FKldIDfSd3F3fkf7ziP0w_kFXguVGGghimPDvlx7Kd7ghGtc-ySKZgHUW1xZDxSg1ePQb1CVqKcI-FG7pTw-cZQzAzSrYftUCySNBm2oP5hwOOWzGNPaDa1jmxtMC9aGR0lL3MTJMRG37dm63E-fMc5iOAaR4OCM/s1160/1968Christmas_4.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1160" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbCLmNojzcyrlB28trv3FYzjOM11FKldIDfSd3F3fkf7ziP0w_kFXguVGGghimPDvlx7Kd7ghGtc-ySKZgHUW1xZDxSg1ePQb1CVqKcI-FG7pTw-cZQzAzSrYftUCySNBm2oP5hwOOWzGNPaDa1jmxtMC9aGR0lL3MTJMRG37dm63E-fMc5iOAaR4OCM/w400-h225/1968Christmas_4.webp" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/14/uk/gchq-spy-christmas-card-puzzles-2023-intl-scli-gbr/index.html">https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/14/uk/gchq-spy-christmas-card-puzzles-2023-intl-scli-gbr/index.html</a> <br /></span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="mw-page-title-main"> That should keep you occupied until we return tomorrow with a look at 1969. See you then, and keep your hands out of strange mouths! </span></span></b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-42696291130984659652023-12-16T07:09:00.000-08:002023-12-16T07:09:19.077-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 09 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ImnqhMJEBqXSsKYskP8u_3KcfZyfEH-1RIubIwb6dydGojn1mdBmqAxjX-jmBzCCksN2aatLcYSOKjp4VRoUHQSemkIZpgZRqNgB6wgMbLlhkmu86XdPFAzCJmMRlH0KnPzWBkePb2mxAEpokmd9rE-2KljyUd63Clldile7S4IJRVtdkCggqNOjtvI/s1566/1967Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1566" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ImnqhMJEBqXSsKYskP8u_3KcfZyfEH-1RIubIwb6dydGojn1mdBmqAxjX-jmBzCCksN2aatLcYSOKjp4VRoUHQSemkIZpgZRqNgB6wgMbLlhkmu86XdPFAzCJmMRlH0KnPzWBkePb2mxAEpokmd9rE-2KljyUd63Clldile7S4IJRVtdkCggqNOjtvI/w640-h360/1967Christmas_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>1967 - Hang on to your hats and flip your wigs as we jump right into the thick of it today. This was the era of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the Beatles were EVERYWHERE, with merchandise galore and multiple Fan Clubs, which leads us to our first entry today <span style="font-size: medium;">entitled, '</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Did The Beatles record the most irritating Christmas song ever made?' Answer (and song) below!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/beatles/is-this-the-most-irritating-christmas-song-ever-made/">https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/beatles/is-this-the-most-irritating-christmas-song-ever-made/</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVLpbHSMWDeBYascL_ctjAwBIxaz-EZyWc9cP_VjdYGCYDsxz0FsGvsyMYcw4LgdPfWBxT7xsYlnvpsdq6wBmafbJLjig7qf8hbDIXeMSxWwLul80hcAYdK_1AQm45D1ogP_cAu9qIEABsVAclg_yvBhtUG12sdXaYLAgOHSaCk8TTxN8p2hzHwYPdaQ/s360/1967Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="360" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVLpbHSMWDeBYascL_ctjAwBIxaz-EZyWc9cP_VjdYGCYDsxz0FsGvsyMYcw4LgdPfWBxT7xsYlnvpsdq6wBmafbJLjig7qf8hbDIXeMSxWwLul80hcAYdK_1AQm45D1ogP_cAu9qIEABsVAclg_yvBhtUG12sdXaYLAgOHSaCk8TTxN8p2hzHwYPdaQ/w400-h276/1967Christmas_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Our 'way-over-the-top' tale of '67, however, goes to the Birmingham, Alabama, Christmas Parades - this is my favorite story of the year! 'The Magic City' got it in their heads that anything New York City could do, they could do better. Balloons? We'll SHOW you balloons! One problem, though - those pesky low-hanging electrical wires crossing the street, unlike NYC. What the heck - we're STILL having balloons. And not just ANY balloons - TAKE your Rocky The Flying Squirrel, Big Apple - we've got DRACULA (!) and Sea Serpents, Baloo the Bear and possibly Cthulhu, too! There are some HILARIOUS quotes in the articles below, including, </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>'</span>The âpast-their-primeâ balloons delighted children, but puzzled adults, Merrill wrote. âThey have the most horrible expressions on their faces,â one woman told Merrill.' Not surprisingly this tradition only lasted a few years, as the balloons and the entire parade became a dumpster fire, with the flames getting higher and higher, as evidenced here: 'The 1969 parade featured thinly-veiled knockoffs of kidsâ favorite characters. âJust
to be sure no one mistook them for the real things,â Hollis wrote,
âeach monstrosity had a mutilated name painted on each wooden platform.â Imagine
the joy lighting up each childâs face as Charlie Braun, his dog
âSnooperâ and pals Linnus and Licy, rolled through Birmingham.' Check out the whole horrifying, hilarious story in the two articles below - and make SURE you look at the slides! </b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2023/11/birminghams-bizarre-holiday-balloon-parades-were-a-strange-chapter-in-1960s-history.html">https://www.al.com/news/2023/11/birminghams-bizarre-holiday-balloon-parades-were-a-strange-chapter-in-1960s-history.html</a> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <a href="http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/christmas_downtown2.htm">http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/christmas_downtown2.htm</a> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPicJ3iGJpddPvytI3GtlviVFWobd2yws3QXvZQJCVnI7v1hKX3yKLDfFRI_NS-5HhpsSpUGd78Gh5t0JXMJ5oms_8isQoGmb0RJGrr-zS0m0boitAfkqDolt1HFKB51tETTW5-v5FJhl8QJpIZgppB1Rd_5qL6wW3gXRzENxRGCQkyyBNIStZQpQXZy4/s1400/1967Christmas_3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="884" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPicJ3iGJpddPvytI3GtlviVFWobd2yws3QXvZQJCVnI7v1hKX3yKLDfFRI_NS-5HhpsSpUGd78Gh5t0JXMJ5oms_8isQoGmb0RJGrr-zS0m0boitAfkqDolt1HFKB51tETTW5-v5FJhl8QJpIZgppB1Rd_5qL6wW3gXRzENxRGCQkyyBNIStZQpQXZy4/w253-h400/1967Christmas_3.jpg" width="253" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> We'll wrap up today with a report may cause hives in some of our older readers who went through this in their childhoods - the 'Suzy Homemaker' cult, or as the ads say, </b><b>'A busy little motherâs work is never done without modern toys like these that really work.' The big push for these was that they weren't toys, but Working Appliances ... and the resulting havoc that ensued. Take a look back at what passed for fun (and pity your grandmothers) below!</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <a href="https://clickamericana.com/topics/family-parenting/life-for-kids/who-is-suzy-homemaker-1966">https://clickamericana.com/topics/family-parenting/life-for-kids/who-is-suzy-homemaker-1966</a> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Can't top that! Come back tomorrow for a look at 1968</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>.</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-73618953041953781302023-12-15T05:51:00.000-08:002023-12-15T05:51:45.711-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 10 Days ...<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oMsEWL9-J-7nbbCJbd2UMgZ61I4WfQFx5kPi3AL6-nhMNqM3tJXRSjKLO9oXgQWNxVG4EdzmOPyojYs93XVSlWoCIvd9f6cQJ52_iRE1tRzqUMEUAxR7RHmxfKPxTrbUufCgjSxl2UaERKcRdT7pFA2WuKgHY-SFEd2UvELZU1VGIpwBtmLujU_0_EI/s640/1966Christmas_1.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oMsEWL9-J-7nbbCJbd2UMgZ61I4WfQFx5kPi3AL6-nhMNqM3tJXRSjKLO9oXgQWNxVG4EdzmOPyojYs93XVSlWoCIvd9f6cQJ52_iRE1tRzqUMEUAxR7RHmxfKPxTrbUufCgjSxl2UaERKcRdT7pFA2WuKgHY-SFEd2UvELZU1VGIpwBtmLujU_0_EI/w640-h480/1966Christmas_1.png" width="640" /></a></b></div><b>1966 - Overshadowing every other Christmas story this year is the debut of the legendary Dr. Seuss animated holiday special, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Aside from Krampus, The Mean One here has been the K.A.C.'s longest inhabitant - and yet, there's always something new to share about him. Case in point: an excellent overview of the show from The Goods Film Review below:</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://thegoodsreviews.com/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-1966/">https://thegoodsreviews.com/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-1966/</a></b></p><p><b> Want more proof our 'nasty, wasty sort' has been with us a while? Take a look at our 2016 entry that kicked off that season, all about Santa Flasks and the Grinch Drinking Game ... not that you'd NEED that in today's day and age ...</b></p><p><b> <a href="http://www.conjurecinema.com/2016/12/welcome-to-kitschmas-advent-calendar.html">http://www.conjurecinema.com/2016/12/welcome-to-kitschmas-advent-calendar.html</a></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_o-YMdP59HgqQiiaaxmFVSQuBDCUsjVdLB2z33nv6OD2Y5ofZ41r8JmNAHcaRU2MC76vmll9uH4Cm8UrXbIskk4tTkweN7nmfJRFhecySPLgqJJ0_rvIdRCFf5Hfo3680p3HE59e63umYSj6BetDodRHZg4jX_51Ng7K7ziYstZDY9MI1fG48l5uNu8/s2626/1966Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="2626" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_o-YMdP59HgqQiiaaxmFVSQuBDCUsjVdLB2z33nv6OD2Y5ofZ41r8JmNAHcaRU2MC76vmll9uH4Cm8UrXbIskk4tTkweN7nmfJRFhecySPLgqJJ0_rvIdRCFf5Hfo3680p3HE59e63umYSj6BetDodRHZg4jX_51Ng7K7ziYstZDY9MI1fG48l5uNu8/w400-h268/1966Christmas_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b> We're going to concede the year to the Green One here and take this time to catch up on some Poinsettia Potpourri we haven't found room to run until now. Let's shake out the stocking and see what hits the floor:</b><p></p><p><b><span> </span>- We'll start with Odd Ornaments, the 2023 edition, including Bibo here ... please don't ask!!! *Sigh* - OK, here's the link ... but you MUST watch the accompanying video for the Full Effect Of The Cult Of BIBO! Justin von Bosau, YOU in particular! :)</b></p><p><b> - Bibo-Mania commences below:</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://mcphee.com/pages/who-is-bibo">https://mcphee.com/pages/who-is-bibo</a> </b></p><p><b> - Ornaments Link (Bibo, Bibo, Bibo ...):</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/unusual-christmas-ornaments-best-weird-holiday-decorations">https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/unusual-christmas-ornaments-best-weird-holiday-decorations</a> </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9gFdFAWfAGaVVpfi8HOOZl-FmRgmmfxgCt_qe_gZqTBy1gCA_PqIpAfsGyQW0kcrDNNcFdJtRIiHUi1mSnMJMlLvd-5h0ku0mlTvfLrHgBfyChLMgy3x1MKCn7ZZ4HtKT86ARXgTpEYeWAizBQk3_SJthtz5z9L6z06Db5IfxvqtsArOrNwaq8tnjdQ/s487/1966Christmas_3.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="487" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9gFdFAWfAGaVVpfi8HOOZl-FmRgmmfxgCt_qe_gZqTBy1gCA_PqIpAfsGyQW0kcrDNNcFdJtRIiHUi1mSnMJMlLvd-5h0ku0mlTvfLrHgBfyChLMgy3x1MKCn7ZZ4HtKT86ARXgTpEYeWAizBQk3_SJthtz5z9L6z06Db5IfxvqtsArOrNwaq8tnjdQ/w400-h294/1966Christmas_3.webp" width="400" /></a></div><b> - Next, a follow up to yesterday's post with Even MORE Vintage Christmas Food Fails - I'd LIKE to say the 'Noel Glazed Ham' at left is the worst thing you're going to run into here, but that would be a Bald-Faced Lie! CONSUME, Bibo commands it (Bibo, Bibo, Bibo ...):</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelwmiller/truly-horrifying-vintage-holiday-recipes">https://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelwmiller/truly-horrifying-vintage-holiday-recipes</a> </b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3easJUoVs8wKoTB6QNsVr4wrrwmfneMvvAb9DGIhYkKN30oDg2QlN46tP5pQ74hoEMxMxSZbOG6s8aYdqxD3hpQsXwVHSYAIn6QHvnKMRnko0qaNzbxSWmVhlDiVLIeyhXhkbktvUtvhpfn4RiD5iSVWoyOeLUIcWeIHod5hcfwpuq9Sw9Y0othAcS5o/s622/1966Christmas_4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="457" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3easJUoVs8wKoTB6QNsVr4wrrwmfneMvvAb9DGIhYkKN30oDg2QlN46tP5pQ74hoEMxMxSZbOG6s8aYdqxD3hpQsXwVHSYAIn6QHvnKMRnko0qaNzbxSWmVhlDiVLIeyhXhkbktvUtvhpfn4RiD5iSVWoyOeLUIcWeIHod5hcfwpuq9Sw9Y0othAcS5o/w294-h400/1966Christmas_4.jpg" width="294" /></a></b></div><b> - Lastly, we take a look at ... "say, did that ham taste funny to anyone else? I don't know, man, I must be hallucinating - don't laugh, honest to God, I'm seeing TINKERBELL flying in front of my eyes right now! What? Why am I in a dress? Mind your own business!" Well - let's try that again. We end with a look, courtesy of MyHistoryFix, at vintage toys going Way Back - that's right, THIS is what we did for fun! Honestly, though, this ViewMaster pic is where I got my original love of all things 3-D, starting with these toys and comics back in the day to my OBSESSION with 3-D Blu-rays today. Well, at least it's Tinkerbell in front of my eyes, and not ("DON'T SAY IT!!!") BIBO! Oh, no ... <br /></b><p></p><p><b> <a href="http://myhistoryfix.com/holidays/vintage-toys-ghosts-christmas-past/">http://myhistoryfix.com/holidays/vintage-toys-ghosts-christmas-past/</a></b></p><p><b> We may or may NOT be back tomorrow with a look at 1967 - it all depends on the grace of BIBO ...</b></p><p><b> <br /></b></p><p><b> </b><br /></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-33911583672237072812023-12-14T06:39:00.000-08:002023-12-14T12:09:27.223-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 11 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsExZ5RFSvZzKdaZV0KHEX6VZwusF6sqhm7pHTn4FmrmLyXH0_xcRLeXDfXvpDP5PsYqunFICsPrfttb_1_KtMHV2tzi6_qh4SXlkgrzfOqZQuSwtAmCGDh_T5r_rThXOY2S9Lt2VzwlTNngzTikeojeqyorjXFDfz9pUMCCvHPwhaBtQHQE-3xKGOAzQ/s564/1965Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsExZ5RFSvZzKdaZV0KHEX6VZwusF6sqhm7pHTn4FmrmLyXH0_xcRLeXDfXvpDP5PsYqunFICsPrfttb_1_KtMHV2tzi6_qh4SXlkgrzfOqZQuSwtAmCGDh_T5r_rThXOY2S9Lt2VzwlTNngzTikeojeqyorjXFDfz9pUMCCvHPwhaBtQHQE-3xKGOAzQ/w510-h640/1965Christmas_1.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>1965 - I've seen some Scary Santas over the years doing these pages, but this one is Way Up There! From the Secret Santa Society ring on his right hand and NONE on his left (I'm sure Mrs. Claus would like a word with him about THAT) to ... "what, Santa? No, I didn't mean anything by it, just an observa ... umm, you know what? Never mind - I've forgotten it already, really! Yes, they ARE pretty tree lights ... why don't I WEAR them? AHHHHH ..." </b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBWgsfIvc6zgcOgZYUPRI-hgVZ6UpJbRFhjO-4ZqdQQurG6hGSPnbOQYF0Gob2XFu3zfS9cohm00-nj8iZEJw77nwerIAMZpOfw8cLntJbj4mdN3baxDiItTGPgzKLhs9I-gUtSdS3AxvwbKPXAy11PO5bT78C_tMQIvXZKNLDJzz8NEO3_B2PthCMbM/s990/1965Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="990" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBWgsfIvc6zgcOgZYUPRI-hgVZ6UpJbRFhjO-4ZqdQQurG6hGSPnbOQYF0Gob2XFu3zfS9cohm00-nj8iZEJw77nwerIAMZpOfw8cLntJbj4mdN3baxDiItTGPgzKLhs9I-gUtSdS3AxvwbKPXAy11PO5bT78C_tMQIvXZKNLDJzz8NEO3_B2PthCMbM/w400-h250/1965Christmas_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> While Mr. Magoo came in first from '62 with his animated Christmas special, it was completely eclipsed this year (and all the years thereafter) by A Charlie Brown Christmas. As the HobbyLark website tells us: 'On December 9,<i> A Charlie Brown Christmas</i>âa TV special that was based on the comic strip <i>Peanuts</i>âpremiered on CBS. Wikipedia tells us that <i>A Charlie Brown Christmas</i>
âhas been honored with an Emmy and a Peabody Award, and became an
annual presentation in the United States, airing during the Christmas
season every year since its debut.' </b><p></p><p><b> Want to watch this perennial holiday favorite with your kids and grandkids? Good luck! It ran for decades for free on network TV, but not anymore, suckers - the ONLY place to see it now is Apple TV+ - see the full, sad story here:</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.today.com/life/holidays/where-to-watch-charlie-brown-christmas-rcna59865">https://www.today.com/life/holidays/where-to-watch-charlie-brown-christmas-rcna59865</a></b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHnvyDZr2oth7P_SG-ZxVowZXHujg6BhaqAGQLfP_oTSlwKTnnHqnpYHXNTPZLap2QcBvnBRXUZQTZijDZAjd4P_zp5mgVUuMyFv1kjMulTc785OI9dbIgfMLNmsrRNLWgJCRfsJtH4jiF6jEqlf7XR1Mg4aV5lXPNx5GBhRBDlz317FfvV5hF3DWR38/s1024/1965Christmas_3.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHnvyDZr2oth7P_SG-ZxVowZXHujg6BhaqAGQLfP_oTSlwKTnnHqnpYHXNTPZLap2QcBvnBRXUZQTZijDZAjd4P_zp5mgVUuMyFv1kjMulTc785OI9dbIgfMLNmsrRNLWgJCRfsJtH4jiF6jEqlf7XR1Mg4aV5lXPNx5GBhRBDlz317FfvV5hF3DWR38/w400-h225/1965Christmas_3.webp" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> Don't cry - even if you CAN'T watch Chuck and the gang go through their paces, we've got something even stranger (because of course we do!) - Question: when is a Christmas Special NOT a Christmas Special, but also IS a Christmas Special? Question: when can a Christmas Special NOT be watched, but also CAN be watched? Question: WHO else can we be talking about but that jolly old elf, Doctor Who? Behold one of the stranger tales from the early days of the show and watch the only surviving (Very Weird) version of this historic TV moment below:</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who-the-weird-anomaly-of-the-1965-christmas-special/">https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who-the-weird-anomaly-of-the-1965-christmas-special/</a></b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRFlWddgi2Y&list=PLdW3TSXdsrF2x4gSwnLQ7FY0z04KS3YXE&index=5">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRFlWddgi2Y&list=PLdW3TSXdsrF2x4gSwnLQ7FY0z04KS3YXE&index=5</a></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcPrdsz-xLVabjTSMVWPfQJZbLK18TwerQTw53pFQkr-jRW67FbHYeZgjDPHNPnF-yuVWTN80eV9iO1JrdqZtyPN0i7mvfPXe0ks_Vu9PjUBqbcoWr3Vg8oGDUCiwo0G2R7xP4AFL_NoAfPRIWR8ay9fVb_1DtrVo8OtbPONvn6hQi4x8Se4nc-l4DB0/s700/1965Christmas_4.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcPrdsz-xLVabjTSMVWPfQJZbLK18TwerQTw53pFQkr-jRW67FbHYeZgjDPHNPnF-yuVWTN80eV9iO1JrdqZtyPN0i7mvfPXe0ks_Vu9PjUBqbcoWr3Vg8oGDUCiwo0G2R7xP4AFL_NoAfPRIWR8ay9fVb_1DtrVo8OtbPONvn6hQi4x8Se4nc-l4DB0/w400-h300/1965Christmas_4.webp" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> Speaking of food (after Doctor Who's 'Feast Of Steven'), 1965 also was the debut of 'Jonathan Pillsbury', who you know better as Poppin' Fresh, the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Hawker of millions of crescent rolls and the like and a member of the American Advertising Federation Hall Of Fame, I don't think our final entry today would merit one of his trademark giggles, as we<span style="font-size: medium;"> <span>present </span><span>'24 Strange Vintage Christmas Appetizers You Donât See Much Anymore':</span></span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://clickamericana.com/holidays-seasons/christmas/vintage-christmas-party-appetizers-you-dont-see-much-anymore">https://clickamericana.com/holidays-seasons/christmas/vintage-christmas-party-appetizers-you-dont-see-much-anymore</a></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Tune in tomorrow for my favorite year, 1966!</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-85076958099181857632023-12-13T05:58:00.000-08:002023-12-24T04:09:11.168-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 12 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zOOSjkWlS0skiEreMm0xQ6ylme_CKGl6Jo7VKrrZs3N3KBA4LD26dJ5CuVMW_hLX4l6Icw2ICKdYhUSfJcorZNSpovNpz2C4FpLLIJSJSdrV3CugpfOZ2fK_eI77H_5uzCMwX76NFWBYv4GVBHgsF_mMswy9OOuSYX1Nv4XtPEM0yt84-Exm7oOWTh8/s1200/1964_1.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="1200" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zOOSjkWlS0skiEreMm0xQ6ylme_CKGl6Jo7VKrrZs3N3KBA4LD26dJ5CuVMW_hLX4l6Icw2ICKdYhUSfJcorZNSpovNpz2C4FpLLIJSJSdrV3CugpfOZ2fK_eI77H_5uzCMwX76NFWBYv4GVBHgsF_mMswy9OOuSYX1Nv4XtPEM0yt84-Exm7oOWTh8/w400-h311/1964_1.webp" width="400" /></a></div><p> <b>1964 - Make haste, make haste! Only a dozen shopping days left ... does anybody even DO Mall Madness shopping anymore? I think 75% or more of people do all their shopping online now. </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Mah1ChUcR5tFncSavlsMxF_yBpAcz61oyUBmU_4q86IiYoWOAQ4oR7oDQCndo3iAF2KyYGZHkEBy5SrzP8AFr_ZsykaquuxJ5VNeI7HN0pEW7DeXH0ZOREAvFwIyMGOhKmUbTb9rzjHFckuZ0Upth-nqSSEKlj892j-YtXeggusZvmvP3yUNMo7bFbQ/s600/1964Christmas_1.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Mah1ChUcR5tFncSavlsMxF_yBpAcz61oyUBmU_4q86IiYoWOAQ4oR7oDQCndo3iAF2KyYGZHkEBy5SrzP8AFr_ZsykaquuxJ5VNeI7HN0pEW7DeXH0ZOREAvFwIyMGOhKmUbTb9rzjHFckuZ0Upth-nqSSEKlj892j-YtXeggusZvmvP3yUNMo7bFbQ/w400-h225/1964Christmas_1.webp" width="400" /></a></div><b> Snowball War - Man Down! We're about to unleash Hell on those of you who adore this Rankin-Bass classic from '64, as we start today with Alicia Betz's article, 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Is a Terrible Story, and you Can't Convince Me Otherwise' (below) - hey, we just report 'em. Come at me, Claus!<span> </span></b><p></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/why-1964-rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer-is-awful-46908750">https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/why-1964-rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer-is-awful-46908750</a> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>How did you do on yesterday's quiz? Santa's Seven Serfs (ummm) were:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span>1). Patty Duke</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span>2). The Beach Boys (and THAT CAR!)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span>3). Bill Clinton</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span>4). Have no clue, honestly, but they're getting their photo with Sammy The Snowman, beloved by all this time of year. While Sammy had fame and fortune during December and January, bringing smiles to young and old alike, by the end of February, those smiles were turned to icy daggers from their eyes, saying, "Why are YOU still here?" It wasn't Sammy's fault that they wanted Spring and were done with Winter, he was just the one who overstayed his welcome. So Sammy would go off to an island for the other nine months, living in solitude and wondering if it was all worth it and if he would go back next year or not ... but he loved his public and couldn't disappoint them, so he always did. And that's the story of Sammy The Snowman. The End. What? Oh, Sammy says those nice boys were a 'rock group' called 'The Beatles' - huh.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir39FL8-G76cDbIX8T7zns5lBHOdCefvUesjnVwMTK1NYYxZi0Grhtgw0thHNfgCVahwh4EtqVfD1DH8cQHs8f_MOaTKMhsR9lEkq84377WCLB86IeEdmAZ98F-0XKpUlHohzt_Afs9PIZhQ4vwmBQSzVbqAeJU22hGLAOVfDFulb0pXdBRARujVyiC1M/s711/1964Christmas_2.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir39FL8-G76cDbIX8T7zns5lBHOdCefvUesjnVwMTK1NYYxZi0Grhtgw0thHNfgCVahwh4EtqVfD1DH8cQHs8f_MOaTKMhsR9lEkq84377WCLB86IeEdmAZ98F-0XKpUlHohzt_Afs9PIZhQ4vwmBQSzVbqAeJU22hGLAOVfDFulb0pXdBRARujVyiC1M/w318-h400/1964Christmas_2.png" width="318" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br />5). The One, The ONLY - Lee Liberace. Since the Curator keeps popping up more and more in these entries this year, just like Clive Cussler does in the novels ... written by CLIVE CUSSLER, here is his 2010 entry of the time he MET the legend (Liberace, NOT Cussler) - and the autograph that came of it:</b></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <a href="http://www.conjurecinema.com/search?q=liberace">http://www.conjurecinema.com/search?q=liberace</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> A</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><b>s
an aside, here's Lee as Santa from one of legendary Christmas parties
(this photo is from 1969), with Johnny Mathis on the right and The
Fabulous Fay McKay in between them - Fay is all but forgotten now, but
she was a long-featured comedienne and entertainer on the Las Vegas
Strip and was Liberace's opening act (see photo at right). Those of you who are old enough to remember
the humor of Foster Brooks will enjoy her rendition of the '12 Daze Of
Christmas' - be warned: this is NOT for everybody! This was her signature song in Vegas lounges for decades, so I've included a number of versions of it, including one of her doing it live, plus an interview with her on the Mike Douglas show during the week that Liberace was co-hosting from 1970. Fay's segment is at the 42:30 segment of the show - she had obviously done the song on the show, but it's not in this video. Watch her segment - heck, watch the ENTIRE show! Mike Douglas always had the most amazing guests that you would rarely see anywhere else. Part of his charm in getting big stars to co-host for a week was that they got to pick one guest each day - on this day, in addition to Fay, Lee's guest was Little Richard. It makes for a mesmerizing hour. Anyway, give a listen to multiple versions of Fay's famous tune, the '12 Daze Of Christmas' - but first, take a quick stop at A Christmas Yuleblog to give yourself an idea what you're about to hear:<br /></b></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7IJKnnB30Sfi1RJe4cZnaYpXMP2fukyZOVYO9EA0OA__j62bOfJuYmBfl8V0qurjxsOLo1cxjedstx_LQsjpCUMjoEmFgpm-gh46hzasoUmgDamIyQM2irePjc2wM0sfljreKjFvX9fQRV9ypG3MmQgipyq8EpgXNwXA08UUO9XgPa-Zts4bqGStxo8/s1056/1964Christmas_3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="816" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7IJKnnB30Sfi1RJe4cZnaYpXMP2fukyZOVYO9EA0OA__j62bOfJuYmBfl8V0qurjxsOLo1cxjedstx_LQsjpCUMjoEmFgpm-gh46hzasoUmgDamIyQM2irePjc2wM0sfljreKjFvX9fQRV9ypG3MmQgipyq8EpgXNwXA08UUO9XgPa-Zts4bqGStxo8/w309-h400/1964Christmas_3.jpg" width="309" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><b> <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/fabulous-fay-mckay-winter-favorites.html">http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/fabulous-fay-mckay-winter-favorites.html</a></b></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv9brRcMNoI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv9brRcMNoI</a></b></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3KQVSOZWQQ&t=238s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3KQVSOZWQQ&t=238s</a> </b></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6kbP_t_X3g&t=2549s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6kbP_t_X3g&t=2549s</a></b></span></b></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> 6). Catherine Deneuve</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> 7). Laura & Rob Petrie, aka Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke, seen here in their meta-Christmas '63 special episode of The Dick Van Dyke show, a strangely surreal break from their usual fare - quite funny, as well! Watch it in full here:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <a href="https://christmas-specials.fandom.com/wiki/The_Alan_Brady_Show_Presents">https://christmas-specials.fandom.com/wiki/The_Alan_Brady_Show_Presents</a> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Back tomorrow with a look at 1965 - this concludes our broadcasting for today.</b></span></p><p></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-46220438891087501802023-12-12T05:32:00.000-08:002023-12-12T05:32:03.141-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 13 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwy55uSQ8tR7JS5i4_fWUDf6pil2ilIjoodF-XlA7FJ-UY7nD6nJFcwWhVcNZKZk0HbDlwFr3MpY2Pt1azpwI08BSnCX_pf09wfox2ZqNP6eDeGdlL-CD3Aq5_644ZOQFjG4YNuqsisVaSTVtNIOhRNeZyo_sg9QFzIcq0wmIkxt1da9JwZ7Y6j9WyrY/s1200/1963Christmas_2.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwy55uSQ8tR7JS5i4_fWUDf6pil2ilIjoodF-XlA7FJ-UY7nD6nJFcwWhVcNZKZk0HbDlwFr3MpY2Pt1azpwI08BSnCX_pf09wfox2ZqNP6eDeGdlL-CD3Aq5_644ZOQFjG4YNuqsisVaSTVtNIOhRNeZyo_sg9QFzIcq0wmIkxt1da9JwZ7Y6j9WyrY/w640-h336/1963Christmas_2.webp" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG-kSuFGysSXrCTM9fZ-5GUpt9tuwDNpFuXBAm8CourKb2nEWES2gX8RbC0sr8ngwwtZbNhA0mrG7a6O_q7Ut2gU_Iwvp7wrmHIOPOPpxuIBUsg7zLAW3gFvEfx0m4PZmc3aBCei9t737zHwkEQhfb-B8oY_VIDV4F-MHObERLA6nnwExICpthomCPFk/s401/1963Christmas_3.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="295" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG-kSuFGysSXrCTM9fZ-5GUpt9tuwDNpFuXBAm8CourKb2nEWES2gX8RbC0sr8ngwwtZbNhA0mrG7a6O_q7Ut2gU_Iwvp7wrmHIOPOPpxuIBUsg7zLAW3gFvEfx0m4PZmc3aBCei9t737zHwkEQhfb-B8oY_VIDV4F-MHObERLA6nnwExICpthomCPFk/w294-h400/1963Christmas_3.png" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b># 1</b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b>1963 - Rudolph is looking quizzical - why? Because today's the day for our annual Kringle's Khristmas Kuties Kwiz! Long time readers know the drill: below are the Lucky 7 photos of celebrities ready for the holidays - all you have to do is identify them. The twist this year? All seven of their photos come from 1963 - get your thinking caps on. Answers tomorrow!</b><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTA8HY-4rOSTBn56-ypE30iLWzGiicy6K8NYsc9PHeDJT1LUWaoyJt5rKRGrEim_xeXcrdQPwkHrZvWlnsAuGn0s1RFqXAIuI4SZEFAMvws_5wJXFSPcSiyJXYnAZ8T6zE2AtWlkyx4_8b0_67Kq2TwWzmFzmSB7ZCwIX0RV_d-7vb5rSUeDxgSE6pLo/s981/1963Christmas_5.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTA8HY-4rOSTBn56-ypE30iLWzGiicy6K8NYsc9PHeDJT1LUWaoyJt5rKRGrEim_xeXcrdQPwkHrZvWlnsAuGn0s1RFqXAIuI4SZEFAMvws_5wJXFSPcSiyJXYnAZ8T6zE2AtWlkyx4_8b0_67Kq2TwWzmFzmSB7ZCwIX0RV_d-7vb5rSUeDxgSE6pLo/w400-h400/1963Christmas_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b># 2</b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFge3ZH2dOayakKCzB-keSYlXGfwPK6B6Et5ncBiPZebEbCXoX43xGPfqNvKUoR5IzqfNEL5d_lA1HN70o8hEB26N-0zNVskCNhm3SJsw-JrCucCi47TFXU1pb6rLzgmeMJcxlFUUowCK0J5z6xJnymEsYW3QfWkkEUg0Jh48e3DkE-gcNegRaCSvH9k/s517/1963Christmas_6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="275" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFge3ZH2dOayakKCzB-keSYlXGfwPK6B6Et5ncBiPZebEbCXoX43xGPfqNvKUoR5IzqfNEL5d_lA1HN70o8hEB26N-0zNVskCNhm3SJsw-JrCucCi47TFXU1pb6rLzgmeMJcxlFUUowCK0J5z6xJnymEsYW3QfWkkEUg0Jh48e3DkE-gcNegRaCSvH9k/w213-h400/1963Christmas_6.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b># 3</b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcDBX_iFBDFkrG5IhSWIdIN3BCC2wYWxv94ztQYEcg3VVzqgxGBtiHhwYqi-CnOfxIKrQRtmtgxpi5Z7tdE8elLXbuUfGzEu7KrGXnw7LZ7sScml0lMAl3CtwWCqBc0-YnMqneaq8z7ZwK2yssHBaPDH1StWL88fJpY7FGn2Jpd2I1Kz_uPTggTQEUoY/s980/1963Christmas_4.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="980" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcDBX_iFBDFkrG5IhSWIdIN3BCC2wYWxv94ztQYEcg3VVzqgxGBtiHhwYqi-CnOfxIKrQRtmtgxpi5Z7tdE8elLXbuUfGzEu7KrGXnw7LZ7sScml0lMAl3CtwWCqBc0-YnMqneaq8z7ZwK2yssHBaPDH1StWL88fJpY7FGn2Jpd2I1Kz_uPTggTQEUoY/w400-h394/1963Christmas_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>#4</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" 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</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /> </b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b></b><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidC5W1BBzKky9Hqx8AAIoPAFPUDD22OYPicVtdW_c0Rp1AC7jPT2Lq8rHXABpt_m2rIVfjXhkHGHLMjngV_M_SMm3aNo95kedLAU0EdK3zWtdETzSZyrGxq5dYcphw5pRLJRd0hU4Ol7Lv6NGT6Y4B5tr0p1nXjESSnIm9-QkT9_qVMfYF0IRUyQefBA/s1000/1963Christmas_9.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1000" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidC5W1BBzKky9Hqx8AAIoPAFPUDD22OYPicVtdW_c0Rp1AC7jPT2Lq8rHXABpt_m2rIVfjXhkHGHLMjngV_M_SMm3aNo95kedLAU0EdK3zWtdETzSZyrGxq5dYcphw5pRLJRd0hU4Ol7Lv6NGT6Y4B5tr0p1nXjESSnIm9-QkT9_qVMfYF0IRUyQefBA/w400-h309/1963Christmas_9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b># 5</b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjyTfMyEHfZXOQw5NjeGPi78SscI60A-YM_Ft5PzDGSI18r5gmZNR0OQt_q9nXjnEAedrpIxWEc5LPi5bEBcFpToMRiqvQuG2pqe6aUO8CP-_3TNrQHd1z1WQhfUlS02-GhtUrQjD75IhJSIxm_t3M4oSEQdyW66yiu0HgU4bfLD6FNzSZZvwTZOZFuU/s682/1963Christmas_7.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="461" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjyTfMyEHfZXOQw5NjeGPi78SscI60A-YM_Ft5PzDGSI18r5gmZNR0OQt_q9nXjnEAedrpIxWEc5LPi5bEBcFpToMRiqvQuG2pqe6aUO8CP-_3TNrQHd1z1WQhfUlS02-GhtUrQjD75IhJSIxm_t3M4oSEQdyW66yiu0HgU4bfLD6FNzSZZvwTZOZFuU/w270-h400/1963Christmas_7.jpeg" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b># 6</b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b></b><br /><b></b><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikABTRWmiwzX8WlPc24CHW0KSHLmLn1bWfsh7-fGpYEfjTg2xi7uVX5zNKnF74jUn6HtdGCed88bvhWdbfRqXunM0403kXK0ugfziQUB4GkYJc8M7xG_VEeoR9PppBb5jhcuVWPFV4sVSsyqwFnsgj6B1c5sJMqGe7RXEmtXEmFLJV70Zu5wQxmRNbqb8/s672/1963Christmas_8.webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="672" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikABTRWmiwzX8WlPc24CHW0KSHLmLn1bWfsh7-fGpYEfjTg2xi7uVX5zNKnF74jUn6HtdGCed88bvhWdbfRqXunM0403kXK0ugfziQUB4GkYJc8M7xG_VEeoR9PppBb5jhcuVWPFV4sVSsyqwFnsgj6B1c5sJMqGe7RXEmtXEmFLJV70Zu5wQxmRNbqb8/w400-h300/1963Christmas_8.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b># 7</b><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /> </b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-27031160741430042742023-12-11T05:13:00.000-08:002023-12-11T05:48:12.262-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 14 Days ...<p> </p><p> <b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETOXXfBNmREO2cUqtk4Tq6WGGm7ncivYgk-0_kIRO0P8Y6ob8pjuwCC1ajAbKi_404K7hyphenhyphenEc1u3s5C_TdgmhJayJQvwMEoXJ1LAIvr0ktrjgJVQY5wcQToftE-vgeUftvp7mIfQAo0EnPvnZaSkX6iX6iEwO5ZZE4YYvDcpZbi8cShqxUeuh4uw-O6Iw/s3264/1962Christmas_1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETOXXfBNmREO2cUqtk4Tq6WGGm7ncivYgk-0_kIRO0P8Y6ob8pjuwCC1ajAbKi_404K7hyphenhyphenEc1u3s5C_TdgmhJayJQvwMEoXJ1LAIvr0ktrjgJVQY5wcQToftE-vgeUftvp7mIfQAo0EnPvnZaSkX6iX6iEwO5ZZE4YYvDcpZbi8cShqxUeuh4uw-O6Iw/w640-h480/1962Christmas_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></b></div><b>1962 - Along with Nessie and UFOs, sightings of Ye Humble K.A.C. Curator were rare and unforeseen. Photographic proof that he exists (hey, we ALL know SANTA is real!) was caught at Jordan Marsh in downtown Boston. In December of said year, at five years old, he is here seen recounting the HOURS and HOURS he was staring at that tree (see our 1957 entry) and the knowledge Father Tree bestowed upon him: the special alien notes of the 'Christmas Cacophonies', (aka 'Carols') to open the Portals and Paths to track down long-forgotten Christmas Trivia. Rather than be proud of his studies, Santa seems taken aback and admonishes him not to speak of Such Things at a Jordan Marsh! That or the Curator is taking his one shot requesting the 'must have' toy of the year. Naaah, it's definitely the first scenario. And speaking of the Santa of '62, on to today's entry.<br /></b><p></p><p> </p> <b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsJwzWmPYlI_ASqm9zocK7G1HsUKML-cHNQT-tsXoPluB3TbWr_IOs5MzDQTPKlwBiDTb2qyncme4h-tNjawwy1RqJ4Rnznyw-kVaujefinP7qYj8Jn8SSg1droHp3_OcE96nXCyOObT24XrXhucza58n9HQSMf1jt8X7-9WpStbFZyRxCo-m2DNkhsE/s640/1962Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="461" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsJwzWmPYlI_ASqm9zocK7G1HsUKML-cHNQT-tsXoPluB3TbWr_IOs5MzDQTPKlwBiDTb2qyncme4h-tNjawwy1RqJ4Rnznyw-kVaujefinP7qYj8Jn8SSg1droHp3_OcE96nXCyOObT24XrXhucza58n9HQSMf1jt8X7-9WpStbFZyRxCo-m2DNkhsE/w289-h400/1962Christmas_2.jpg" width="289" /></a></div> "So long, suckers, find your OWN way back to the North Pole!" This '62 Hertz Car Rental ad, painted by John Philip Falter (whose name you can see in the snow) has all SORTS of anxiety-inducing moments in it - the longer you look at it, the more agitated it makes you! Their ad slogan back then was, 'Let Hertz put YOU in the driver's seat', and Santa's sanity aside, there's NO WAY he sticks the landing into the seat of that Corvette, which is ALREADY speeding (driverless) down that ice-slicked road, HEADING FOR A CURVE, and this fool is still clutching his SACK OF TOYS! Don't even get me started about how he's looking back at us ... I truly wish artist Falter (that name fits this painting magnificently, I must say) or Mad Magazine had done a follow up painting to this to see how it ended.</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> '62 was also a year of note for this K.A.C. chronicler, as it was the time of the very first animated Christmas special, 'Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol'. Little me thought, "Hey, it's Mister Magoo! He's funny, he makes me laugh, this will be jolly, right ... RIGHT?" Not so much, bucko! It has its moments (and at least one total earwig song), but it doesn't pull any punches by the time it get to the Fourth Stave. By then, Little Me was PETRIFIED! Of course, I always made sure never to miss it each year, knowing what was coming. You can find it easily enough on streaming services, should you want to acquaint (or reacquaint) yourself with it. For those of you already familiar with it, below is a link to the Ghosts Of Earwigs past from the special:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxW7PJZrC9v8AfQdU5kBoHFZbCiKnt304zUjPopMpW6DEjIOy6Vt61IplLZvEkEiWdH31puH5Rh858TkM6yGfwmlqfykoUeA_WZ5d4t1e2jH9RF_fOSvdmRadg9p6RPPE0tS6KtrdiJ-TEfPTviwfIGbSE0sOzTk8ZHy-F_89LPopzMQE7hIhC68HqgQ/s764/1962Christmas_3.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="764" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxW7PJZrC9v8AfQdU5kBoHFZbCiKnt304zUjPopMpW6DEjIOy6Vt61IplLZvEkEiWdH31puH5Rh858TkM6yGfwmlqfykoUeA_WZ5d4t1e2jH9RF_fOSvdmRadg9p6RPPE0tS6KtrdiJ-TEfPTviwfIGbSE0sOzTk8ZHy-F_89LPopzMQE7hIhC68HqgQ/w400-h200/1962Christmas_3.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhtFSzce-uY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhtFSzce-uY</a> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Also of note is this fascinating piece from the Heritage Auction Galleries regarding an animation cell from the show that was sold, wherein they talk about the making of and historical significance of the special:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <a href="https://comics.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/razzleberry-dressing-the-very-first-animated-christmas-special-mister-magoo-s-christmas-carol-rings-in-the-season-at-heritage.s?releaseId=4620">https://comics.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/razzleberry-dressing-the-very-first-animated-christmas-special-mister-magoo-s-christmas-carol-rings-in-the-season-at-heritage.s?releaseId=4620</a> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYKRbHCEavh8Cx37kTiShT3jzF_JKRTUMhwjiS37Hkf4kk1G1YQr29IVnqpSeJR2jJqdfX8_Y-2RX7E6X4OVRJpd5NvHCxw-ZWdGPvXW0LzTLPr37a_X4oy_B1PrSLi4tW3c2fsj_cdqE7VBG2BOwmMp05K2jgAC3zDxGBxwkJQ31WXhDi8n9T361uVo/s1200/1962Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYKRbHCEavh8Cx37kTiShT3jzF_JKRTUMhwjiS37Hkf4kk1G1YQr29IVnqpSeJR2jJqdfX8_Y-2RX7E6X4OVRJpd5NvHCxw-ZWdGPvXW0LzTLPr37a_X4oy_B1PrSLi4tW3c2fsj_cdqE7VBG2BOwmMp05K2jgAC3zDxGBxwkJQ31WXhDi8n9T361uVo/w400-h400/1962Christmas_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Next, a Dickens of a case of the more ursine kind, when (as the History In Pop Culture site relates), 'An intruder climbing the fence at a Minnesota air base set off the
âsabotage alarmâ in all bases in the area. Due to wrong wiring, the
klaxon alarm was sounded in one base, ordering nuclear-armed aircraft to
take off, and the pilots believed WW3 had started. The intruder was a
bear.'</b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b> Read the full story of how close we came to Near Christmas Bruin Ruin below:</b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b> <a href="https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/black-bear-nearly-set-off-wwiii.html">https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/black-bear-nearly-set-off-wwiii.html</a></b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfr4J3UvD8DYErcYwQdtTUj5uxrf6JBYvIX85BpPMfKLFYnqa1ih0_NDQeMuuc76UrxcIIUpltl6gNp33lZZ3zQOPcokLgULdMqDYyqwTFGuwqVR6mimgS8s6j9xpdZMQm41U63phg7B-zI7ZiDREpqL8KJOOsxNEA4hLndi30lMd5WXDT6gOx7Xk1fg/s600/1962Christmas_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="600" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfr4J3UvD8DYErcYwQdtTUj5uxrf6JBYvIX85BpPMfKLFYnqa1ih0_NDQeMuuc76UrxcIIUpltl6gNp33lZZ3zQOPcokLgULdMqDYyqwTFGuwqVR6mimgS8s6j9xpdZMQm41U63phg7B-zI7ZiDREpqL8KJOOsxNEA4hLndi30lMd5WXDT6gOx7Xk1fg/w400-h391/1962Christmas_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Finally, a fascinating article form Collector's Weekly on how Christmas Commercialism changed everything in post-war America, and the origin of vintage ornaments - all to be found in the link below:</b></div><div><b></b></div><div><b></b></div><div><b></b></div><div><b></b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b> <a href="https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/postwar-christmas/">https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/postwar-christmas/</a><br /> <br /></b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b> More Christmas Glee from '63 tomorrow!</b></div>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-18099392736290315642023-12-10T07:05:00.000-08:002023-12-10T07:05:04.354-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 15 Days ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrYklGqWW3nVDzRQq9Dpujk39hDKl6JqBuolFPQmEbWngqVT5r2dO_1-hFwUH7gWektALtm6MYtZTG5A3gMTC8alk8eixRZo63shPuxxfDo-EuqDHQ1yqvjHHIxLaDiF2vQLyHgFvKfGQSEgUihh1Zk4niLQ1KlWd6o2L2Qw-QZ8O5KeC-vcDvxfR4Zw/s1600/1961Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrYklGqWW3nVDzRQq9Dpujk39hDKl6JqBuolFPQmEbWngqVT5r2dO_1-hFwUH7gWektALtm6MYtZTG5A3gMTC8alk8eixRZo63shPuxxfDo-EuqDHQ1yqvjHHIxLaDiF2vQLyHgFvKfGQSEgUihh1Zk4niLQ1KlWd6o2L2Qw-QZ8O5KeC-vcDvxfR4Zw/w640-h640/1961Christmas_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><b>1961 - Hope you're hungry! Today we look back at Vintage Holiday Food, like Frosty The Slaw Man here. We not only show you these Culinary Catastrophes, we've also included the recipes so you can make it yourself and be the Hit Of The Party! Or maybe that's supposed to read, "Be hit AT the party" - one of those; my eyes aren't what they used to be.</b></p><p><b> In addition to Frosty, there's the Christmas Snow Salad and the Very Merry Party Loaf (I can GUARANTEE you it is NOT - just look at the ingredients!) - take a few Tums and head on over for your Christmas catering ideas:</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.mashed.com/1454845/worst-christmas-food-trends/">https://www.mashed.com/1454845/worst-christmas-food-trends/</a></b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjijszL5bUNu0yTkK0JnYhQOvQMOfDUUWClmkBi-Oax9K6cHLx9X5PLEMeWzu22rqbgGHiVMoEt7P0iP_Ja8lusNGhMiOdn3dYtnNq-QZ7UijYfpzLJv9Lqs6fvVa1TngTvXMsqtJwYjv5KG36RFcelssO8goLfEXwaw9cbXdZvgA5zFe2gMfqYgCg2B4/s6000/1961Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjijszL5bUNu0yTkK0JnYhQOvQMOfDUUWClmkBi-Oax9K6cHLx9X5PLEMeWzu22rqbgGHiVMoEt7P0iP_Ja8lusNGhMiOdn3dYtnNq-QZ7UijYfpzLJv9Lqs6fvVa1TngTvXMsqtJwYjv5KG36RFcelssO8goLfEXwaw9cbXdZvgA5zFe2gMfqYgCg2B4/w400-h266/1961Christmas_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> And where are you going to host this bash? Why, where else but your brand-spanking new 1961 HOME FALLOUT SHELTER! Every homeowner was looking how to finance one of these bad boys, in case the Russians decided to pull the trigger in the midst of the Cold War. JFK even sent a message out to the people of America in LIFE magazine saying it wasn't just a good idea, it was a patriotic and civic duty. But no pressure ... below are a number of articles and photos of how we all THOUGHT we were going to survive Doomsday - be Very Glad none of this came to pass! </b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.ultraswank.net/kitsch/the-nuclear-family-goes-underground/">https://www.ultraswank.net/kitsch/the-nuclear-family-goes-underground/</a></b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/modern-american-history/article/struggle-to-sell-survival-family-fallout-shelters-and-the-limits-of-consumer-citizenship/81B814807B7983412D859946BEEBB966#">https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/modern-american-history/article/struggle-to-sell-survival-family-fallout-shelters-and-the-limits-of-consumer-citizenship/81B814807B7983412D859946BEEBB966#</a> </b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/fallout-shelter-food">https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/fallout-shelter-food</a> </b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/wary-finland-santas-grotto-is-also-bomb-shelter-2022-05-31/">https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/wary-finland-santas-grotto-is-also-bomb-shelter-2022-05-31/</a> </b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mgOzK8qC1F7vZFjS9FvUZdnnil7TKARG7lI6UfZxHFQwQt8KXFh7bTggwxVtFqGa228FgzdbYmYfumdhYCJDHlDsTC_ssQMN7qi0BLcoQDCaaGBgVyglKOFr4Ej2FVV4fsnbNSFrXEUVdZcvWdDk8s5SQaMea8149VvkHpFYtfPu31lU53NoI84rhy4/s700/1961Christmas_3.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="700" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mgOzK8qC1F7vZFjS9FvUZdnnil7TKARG7lI6UfZxHFQwQt8KXFh7bTggwxVtFqGa228FgzdbYmYfumdhYCJDHlDsTC_ssQMN7qi0BLcoQDCaaGBgVyglKOFr4Ej2FVV4fsnbNSFrXEUVdZcvWdDk8s5SQaMea8149VvkHpFYtfPu31lU53NoI84rhy4/w400-h305/1961Christmas_3.webp" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> Should you want something cheerful to watch while you're sweating Armageddon out, what could be more appropriate than Moose & Squirrel & Boris & Natasha? In '61's 'Topsy Turvy World', Boris decides to become the new Santa Claus because ... oof, you know what, this is too convoluted even for us! We'll let the folks over at the Hub Pages take it from here: "âTopsy Turvy Worldâ is a 14 part serial adventure from the end of the
Bullwinkle Showâs third season. It starts off with Professor Werner Von
Beige discovering that the North Pole has become so top-heavy with ice
that the world is about to dramatically tilt, putting the new North Pole
somewhere in the equator. Boris hatches a plot to take the island of
Riki Tiki, which set to become the Earthâs New North Pole, and make
himself the new Santa Claus, stealing rather than giving. However, after saving the Professor, as well as Captain Peachfuzz, from
the natives of Riki Tiki, Rocky and Bullwinkle come up with an idea to
fix the situation. Rocky and Bullwinkle do a telethon from the island,
asking everyone in the world to send their ice. They succeed and the
world is tilted back into place, putting the North Pole at the north
again (and ending the real Santaâs tropical vacation)." Whew - well, THAT made perfect sense! I forgot how crazed these shows were - reacquaint yourself with this pun-filed wonder from your youth, or you young pups can see for the first time why we oldsters loved this show so much!<br /></b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6q9UQ8d2q0&list=PLoPZ11NBT31RJJxYPVKZ2s-fQzr7fyFaC&index=9">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6q9UQ8d2q0&list=PLoPZ11NBT31RJJxYPVKZ2s-fQzr7fyFaC&index=9</a></b></p><p><b> Back tomorrow this a look at 1962.</b><b><br /></b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-69434737162910906482023-12-09T05:09:00.000-08:002023-12-10T07:04:21.292-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 16 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMk192ffnt4g43Q_b4R0_IndTCqvlH1F0QBx4JwSdG1ZsnhDOtHWHigEX04w8pMzSiwRcuigd6nRH_hT_t5DCbfhZ1pZj1UXxXfjwl5cSCuqcCt_burgkpqzPJvRNzT-cJbU1OKRLUgyPEeBMBaoLddrTqx467QqtaJrENLzYdhDvOp0boGLUGLbtEadk/s1096/1960Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1096" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMk192ffnt4g43Q_b4R0_IndTCqvlH1F0QBx4JwSdG1ZsnhDOtHWHigEX04w8pMzSiwRcuigd6nRH_hT_t5DCbfhZ1pZj1UXxXfjwl5cSCuqcCt_burgkpqzPJvRNzT-cJbU1OKRLUgyPEeBMBaoLddrTqx467QqtaJrENLzYdhDvOp0boGLUGLbtEadk/w640-h484/1960Christmas_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <b>1960 - Well, THAT'S unsettling! Is that a jolly, stretched-out smile? Is he bloated? Is he MOUNTED? What in the name of Christmas Eve is going on here? All will be answered when you watch the holiday Popeye cartoon below entitled 'Spinach Greetings'. Tell me Tim Burton didn't see this sometime in his youth and filed it away for decades, until it came time to make The Nightmare Before Christmas - 'Kidnap the Santy Claws' is a direct successor to this beauty. First up is the cartoon itself, then The Nostalgia Spot breaks it all down for you:</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuF7C01fUI0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuF7C01fUI0</a> </b></p><p><b> <a href="https://thenostalgiaspot.com/2021/12/17/dec-17-popeye-the-sailor-spinach-greetings/">https://thenostalgiaspot.com/2021/12/17/dec-17-popeye-the-sailor-spinach-greetings/</a> </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazp5vXhMw1iqgDss_EqjzyspHs_HmBn7p5NzfzNEjr2cvqKsqvfXbMhvUI6Cn64-lROkb5RIle7FQibl5GGaHKzxQOqygYSH7CWo9Y2yvJjboTeSh4kr8Jk6jy98JBGrpjR388OLPTlE0dh44q-YDe_4XxOJhrn919GKrfXGjHVZQfbCk7qdqU3uQ8JY/s464/1960Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="464" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazp5vXhMw1iqgDss_EqjzyspHs_HmBn7p5NzfzNEjr2cvqKsqvfXbMhvUI6Cn64-lROkb5RIle7FQibl5GGaHKzxQOqygYSH7CWo9Y2yvJjboTeSh4kr8Jk6jy98JBGrpjR388OLPTlE0dh44q-YDe_4XxOJhrn919GKrfXGjHVZQfbCk7qdqU3uQ8JY/w400-h400/1960Christmas_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b> Next up is a joyous holiday surprise that landed quick as a flash from Santa's Reindeer Jet - a note and video from my former work-study student and longtime friend Justin Rivers. He had seen how we started off this year with the Mabel Beaton Marionettes, and being a puppeteer himself, shared his thoughts on them. He's also a talented musician and co-wrote a Christmas Carol to his local mall, the Colonie Center, in beautiful Albany, New York - <a href="https://shopatcoloniecenter.com/">https://shopatcoloniecenter.com/</a> - as he related to me: "</b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
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</xml><![endif]--><b>We wrote a song about the Santa at Colonie Center,
our local mall, and then when we wanted a music video we were running out of
money so I hired a guy on Fiverr from the Philippines to do some simple
animation, but he didn't really speak English or understand Christmas at all. I
had to send him photos from Google that corresponded to what I roughly wanted
him to depict. A few things still didn't translate but it was
on-budget. </b>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> Later, I performed the song live myself at a songwriters
night at a local brewery, and in the spirit of the Bad Santa vibe I went in
character, dressed up in a dirty t-shirt, a Santa hat, and a pair of green wool
overalls. I played a beat up old guitar that I had glued back together.
The strap was made of a woman's belt, fished out of the trash. As I was
singing, a friend from my hometown, who I hadn't seen in ten years, leaned
over to another friend and said "wow...Justin really hit rock
bottom." </b></p> <b>*Sniff* - I'm just so happy! Revel in the joy of 'Shopping Mall Santa' (from the album A New Noel) below and sing along!<br /></b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7j8S1g8zHM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7j8S1g8zHM</a> </b></p><p><b> You can find the whole album over at Spotify below:</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2IxL5HdZMJycDCQSqppKZo?si=sfHkCZWQR0-2RLpbhcVP3A&nd=1&dlsi=3dc2098388c44890">https://open.spotify.com/album/2IxL5HdZMJycDCQSqppKZo?si=sfHkCZWQR0-2RLpbhcVP3A&nd=1&dlsi=3dc2098388c44890</a> </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22S86IDFxY-fcIvkf1DQuO5iMwN8Rhyphenhyphen36vVDPpqZaLY_iB95av5GOTasEypjHfeEMuSVL7GKqGLJaUp568PCi4Xo54U6ybCtoKKrnrUIZg6nuimW-TKVMCR-j_tiR2JhmPs4_TW6VcDPviiFpjJk9X0xJvzrDwlrjKnBlRJCFmXDKgen0cptbvfwLi5U/s1200/1960Christmas_3.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22S86IDFxY-fcIvkf1DQuO5iMwN8Rhyphenhyphen36vVDPpqZaLY_iB95av5GOTasEypjHfeEMuSVL7GKqGLJaUp568PCi4Xo54U6ybCtoKKrnrUIZg6nuimW-TKVMCR-j_tiR2JhmPs4_TW6VcDPviiFpjJk9X0xJvzrDwlrjKnBlRJCFmXDKgen0cptbvfwLi5U/w400-h225/1960Christmas_3.webp" width="400" /></a></div><b> What better way to lead into our last entry for the day, '<span style="font-size: small;">10 Weird Christmas Songs You Probably Havenât Heard':<br /><br /></span></b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.billboard.com/lists/weird-christmas-songs-holiday-music/">https://www.billboard.com/lists/weird-christmas-songs-holiday-music/</a> <br /></b></p><p><b> Come back tomorrow as we explore 1961.</b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-13995684461924143912023-12-08T05:26:00.000-08:002023-12-08T05:27:27.653-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 17 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWclE8SyfiwggeA7tpI5v_A87-DbhxQF5B6W-ilkd5q1l7KNiEboKrmzsAuQbfNhuGL1vP7SqVMtbiq2NxrAofFuRIvW144R20lmMDJ5m8LqZOrcWvVLnFSfVtCOEtPVtMfFbF1giyiXjzFJti1rGLqETOQBEk-3oFzmHSZFkXYGI3cKRGuywyMxgb8Q/s1200/1959_Christmas_1.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWclE8SyfiwggeA7tpI5v_A87-DbhxQF5B6W-ilkd5q1l7KNiEboKrmzsAuQbfNhuGL1vP7SqVMtbiq2NxrAofFuRIvW144R20lmMDJ5m8LqZOrcWvVLnFSfVtCOEtPVtMfFbF1giyiXjzFJti1rGLqETOQBEk-3oFzmHSZFkXYGI3cKRGuywyMxgb8Q/w300-h400/1959_Christmas_1.webp" width="300" /></a></div> <b>1959 - Bang the drums! Blow the horns! Santa's gonna have to wait for his Christmas Eve Chimney Drop <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(TM)</span>, 'cause it's time for a brand-new old tradition to take place: the annual viewing of "<i>Kalle Anka och hans vĂ€nner önskar God Jul" - </i>a yearly tradition in Sweden that EVERYONE observes (and one that I think One Particular Household SHOULD be observing, if they aren't already!) - want to know more, and how this all got started? Click below!</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2009/12/sweden-s-bizarre-tradition-of-watching-donald-duck-kalle-anka-cartoons-on-christmas-eve.html">https://slate.com/culture/2009/12/sweden-s-bizarre-tradition-of-watching-donald-duck-kalle-anka-cartoons-on-christmas-eve.html</a> </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-WjC4xASylKiLaNa50PdITtKAJ8_B75NrVhWJvwMxcrsNW061_s0h4FEa8QmxZSQCTrg61oSa_K2FQdDTfUSw6GePbX7zIeFTzE9SoK4BM5g0NoQGQBbxfd-qzHjsW3fpRHZCRiHmVs5E71eX2guxutfIIdV0znbI4rKI5KDbwsg2ah5-5huEda2-Mg/s1200/1959Christmas_1.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-WjC4xASylKiLaNa50PdITtKAJ8_B75NrVhWJvwMxcrsNW061_s0h4FEa8QmxZSQCTrg61oSa_K2FQdDTfUSw6GePbX7zIeFTzE9SoK4BM5g0NoQGQBbxfd-qzHjsW3fpRHZCRiHmVs5E71eX2guxutfIIdV0znbI4rKI5KDbwsg2ah5-5huEda2-Mg/w400-h225/1959Christmas_1.webp" width="400" /></a></div><b> All that noise may seem like a curse to some (read: most) parents on Christmas morning, but we can top that - ever hear the story of the UK 'Christmas Caravans'? Fast forward to 2010. They started all thanks to a series of viral ads and a marketing idea (with the special effects help of Industrial Light and Magic). They were originally hailed as a wonderful holiday brightener and a new tradition to look forward to each December. NOW? Not so much - today they're a dreaded part of the holiday, causing near-riots when they appear, with enough tears and lamentations going around for all. Crying for NOT seeing them, crying FOR seeing them, crying for WAITING to see them and them not showing up, crying for being stuck in a parking garage for FOUR HOURS while waiting for them to go by, the list goes on and on. Oh, and did I mention the INFERNO? Yep, that's here, too - you all need to upgrade your Christmas Disaster Bingo cards if you're gonna play with the Big Boys. And wait 'till you see what all the hoopla is about! Two articles below - first, a brief history of how this mess all started, then a report on this year's disaster. Drink it ALL in ...</b><p></p><p> <a href="https://www.coca-cola.com/ie/en/media-center/the-tale-of-the-christmas-trucks">https://www.coca-cola.com/ie/en/media-center/the-tale-of-the-christmas-trucks</a> </p><p> <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/24892889/coca-cola-christmas-truck-curse/">https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/24892889/coca-cola-christmas-truck-curse/</a> </p><p> <b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MRRgy3BuvxLpc_v6NdwYXF7Y-5qfn5UyRiT6uRe1cKT6mmGbU7bfIDTE946oOxXfLz6MiOgrtyI6-71K7nm_2J-dNpX2C1shryMkWVDccb7bx1tsl9oJuMNXqqmxob8RCthrEsY68fshT3mWcRDQSYpjjoDD2wU4BC98RozELpO6PIUyFQGm16_rP7g/s891/1959Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="891" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MRRgy3BuvxLpc_v6NdwYXF7Y-5qfn5UyRiT6uRe1cKT6mmGbU7bfIDTE946oOxXfLz6MiOgrtyI6-71K7nm_2J-dNpX2C1shryMkWVDccb7bx1tsl9oJuMNXqqmxob8RCthrEsY68fshT3mWcRDQSYpjjoDD2wU4BC98RozELpO6PIUyFQGm16_rP7g/w400-h171/1959Christmas_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b> '59 was also the inaugural year of a long-standing staple in many a living room when I was a young lad - Aluminum Christmas Trees! Below are a number of (aluminum) links - turns out a LOT of people have some pretty strong thoughts on these ersatz Christmas Conifers. Turn your rotating color wheel on and get blinded by all the info:</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://historicalmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org/explore/ever-gleaming/">https://historicalmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org/explore/ever-gleaming/</a> </b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.davehoekstra.com/2018/12/05/imy-first-evergleam-christmas-tree/">https://www.davehoekstra.com/2018/12/05/imy-first-evergleam-christmas-tree/</a> </b></p><p><b> <a href="https://blog.360modern.com/the-fabulous-aluminum-christmas-tree-revisted/2020/12/">https://blog.360modern.com/the-fabulous-aluminum-christmas-tree-revisted/2020/12/</a></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bHgxEnLBD0IqEwrhOsdZNdDHlVuR6QAU5m96J2QV1c7axXxLdpJLEKagtTfqsfPNMbU8qgoswbAoizQAYG9TU0WsedROX8O0StnpemRtE_smy50s92ylQTXcN9GHuS_TZLggq1SpOD3QWGHNU9XiW5ZjuAdGYPQbdu0C30ADd6IdINfpP57y2xS979M/s599/1959Christmas_3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="599" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bHgxEnLBD0IqEwrhOsdZNdDHlVuR6QAU5m96J2QV1c7axXxLdpJLEKagtTfqsfPNMbU8qgoswbAoizQAYG9TU0WsedROX8O0StnpemRtE_smy50s92ylQTXcN9GHuS_TZLggq1SpOD3QWGHNU9XiW5ZjuAdGYPQbdu0C30ADd6IdINfpP57y2xS979M/w400-h396/1959Christmas_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b> Retro Aluminum Tree, check. Revolving Color Wheel, check. What's missing? Just the right jazzy holiday vinyl LP to set the perfect background. An aside: ye olde K.A.C. Curator starts researching these Tinsel Tidbits for the year in October, finding and going down many a rabbit hole for the obscure Peppermint Paraphernalia that peppers these pages. To get in the mood, I have Christmas LPs playing in the background (thankfully I work alone behind a locked door, so that's not a problem). Thanks to the Christmas Records channel on YouTube, I can listen to these year round (and many do). The curator there is as passionate about these LPs as I am about the weird items that abound in these entries. Currently about to hit the 400 mark (!) of albums to listen to, you can imagine they run the gamut: from sweet to saccharine, from delightful to godawful and from sacred to silly. Occasionally one will come down the Pike that is a keeper. Such is the case with our featured album from this year, Holiday Inn, by big band leader, pianist and composer Ralph Flanagan (below). The composition of the cover is perfect, as this LP sounds exactly like what you would hear in a jazzy ski resort's bar/lounge. Since there are so many albums to listen to, I usually have a 'next man up' approach, listening to each once and on to the next one. This is a rare exception, a delightfully fun mood lifting LP that I've had on loop for the day. Recommended - I know, weird, right? A straightforward, non-snarky entry for a change - a Christmas Miracle! Give it a listen below (and for those interested, I've thrown in the Wikipedia entry on Ralph): </b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfsuDsWErnXu5ONc8zJKgSYh2DaFLEMoTo3SHOVgev6RAtb6aVv6hm49uitvkjf5GADB0stbTAA-j4dO0ivXoftpZ-oGhajQaUv9OxT7DiWCX3Cp4VXhL-qRTsj7HLm7dgjAyx1Hp4Tw74OzK7BWowv-nwc_E4lzgTk_KrgHaJ6nGHCGlIW-_8MR_2iY/s799/1959Christmas_4.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="725" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfsuDsWErnXu5ONc8zJKgSYh2DaFLEMoTo3SHOVgev6RAtb6aVv6hm49uitvkjf5GADB0stbTAA-j4dO0ivXoftpZ-oGhajQaUv9OxT7DiWCX3Cp4VXhL-qRTsj7HLm7dgjAyx1Hp4Tw74OzK7BWowv-nwc_E4lzgTk_KrgHaJ6nGHCGlIW-_8MR_2iY/w363-h400/1959Christmas_4.JPG" width="363" /></a></div><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZrGHAKHe5U&list=UULFBNFelmYdgushkZYhu-QDcw&index=31">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZrGHAKHe5U&list=UULFBNFelmYdgushkZYhu-QDcw&index=31</a></b></p><p><b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Flanagan">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Flanagan</a> </b></p><p><b> Join us tomorrow for a look at what a 1960 Christmas looked like. Bye!</b><br /></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-15832962658895793772023-12-07T06:35:00.000-08:002023-12-07T06:35:51.128-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 18 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUY0ZX82U-4tQWaNNunabc74o3p7FjgskBCsYqAWtu2b9yhIzPmocyL8LCQGsx0HUPtm4Skv61dCl3n4lzcuBeM6syY-9OKim5TCh6FSuUQFIAQFW79vFsR8jWuTxcR7HJvlJNgkb-HIbTK0TiBp-S7h8IaRfivZ0-qjGaYvkdhw2VuZD2A_MQCM5oZg/s800/1958Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="800" height="605" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUY0ZX82U-4tQWaNNunabc74o3p7FjgskBCsYqAWtu2b9yhIzPmocyL8LCQGsx0HUPtm4Skv61dCl3n4lzcuBeM6syY-9OKim5TCh6FSuUQFIAQFW79vFsR8jWuTxcR7HJvlJNgkb-HIbTK0TiBp-S7h8IaRfivZ0-qjGaYvkdhw2VuZD2A_MQCM5oZg/w640-h605/1958Christmas_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <b>1958 - HEY! MOM! ROBOT HANDS! Years before he was invented, kids could dress up as Iron Man thanks to the Sears annual Wish List Christmas catalog. Young me would have loved them, terrorizing Mom's poodle, knocking over stuff left and right while laughing maniacally in a twisted 'robot' voice ... what do you mean, "that's probably why you didn't get them"? Well, that and I was only 1 at the time, but still ... SNAZZY! </b><p></p><p><b> Want to see more? Of COURSE you do! Take a gander below at what the other 'must have' '58 items were below: </b></p><p><b> <a href="https://metv.com/stories/25-holiday-gifts-from-1958-that-you-just-dont-see-these-days">https://metv.com/stories/25-holiday-gifts-from-1958-that-you-just-dont-see-these-days</a> </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zUjTdZP1HV1VCejgnCrPDEz7ETlwTPmCwiylWEP0GmE4xYtKSW7QnTrl2ycMe0aMkUnv2bA361Avi8cp0W4vzzqJsIpK6QpFQxUUcJPbTbK_LYVQ9tXBsKTbD6hMrnf07mTH6ez2t_coIuLRgi9r4EpxZLN8bhwAfPuIxofYw2HIGcItXkGItsrAxys/s600/1958Christmas_2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zUjTdZP1HV1VCejgnCrPDEz7ETlwTPmCwiylWEP0GmE4xYtKSW7QnTrl2ycMe0aMkUnv2bA361Avi8cp0W4vzzqJsIpK6QpFQxUUcJPbTbK_LYVQ9tXBsKTbD6hMrnf07mTH6ez2t_coIuLRgi9r4EpxZLN8bhwAfPuIxofYw2HIGcItXkGItsrAxys/w400-h291/1958Christmas_2.png" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b> Surprisingly, the one toy that WASN'T featured was the one that became the craze of the year. It was first seen in the wilds of Australia in '57, then mass marketed by WHAM-O to American kids in '58. The Strong National Museum Of Play website has the whole story. My favorite line from the report? 'Factoyd: Japanese officials banned public Hula Hooping in the 1950s, believing it incited impropriety.' Read on about the (Tasmanian) Devil's Hip Hurler below:</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.museumofplay.org/toys/hula-hoop/">https://www.museumofplay.org/toys/hula-hoop/</a> </b></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7wJTqrRx1HWGa_Ekq4p8KeG5kHlp6pvw8T9XfsMN2-2g1iseoNE0CFF1JRXiGZAA4XKVJUo9oKanmX0G95qXYJDFx6sGOTOhS6EDguR5DhfdErp6Moy1rQThSX5W7LmCJzJjRGR4KNVrZ8uyxm4kvHtBxeuxGRFu0RqetIFNWGU3OLXxK2-TGpsBh1g/s1157/1958Christmas_3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1142" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7wJTqrRx1HWGa_Ekq4p8KeG5kHlp6pvw8T9XfsMN2-2g1iseoNE0CFF1JRXiGZAA4XKVJUo9oKanmX0G95qXYJDFx6sGOTOhS6EDguR5DhfdErp6Moy1rQThSX5W7LmCJzJjRGR4KNVrZ8uyxm4kvHtBxeuxGRFu0RqetIFNWGU3OLXxK2-TGpsBh1g/w395-h400/1958Christmas_3.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><br /> <b> Don't believe me what a juggernaut hula hoops were? No other toy up to this time had such an avalanche of competitions, TV appearances and records galore. For the whole story of these spinning platters (the records, not the hoops), check out the Music Weird link here:</b><p></p><p> <a href="http://musicweird.blogspot.com/2014/10/hula-hoop-songs-of-1958-59.html">http://musicweird.blogspot.com/2014/10/hula-hoop-songs-of-1958-59.html</a> </p><p> <b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> We'll end today's entry with a look at the first (AND BEST) of this years' UK holiday ads. Back in 2019, John Lewis won that contest with Excitable Edgar - for a refresher on him, click here:</b></p><p><b> <a href="http://www.conjurecinema.com/search?q=edgar">http://www.conjurecinema.com/search?q=edgar</a> </b></p><p><b> </b> <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamDUrde95Fq-hraF1Z77hE1WwZFP2Jt6ygAg7SG9_mZwVTclLYNMuOeVD-RgcD8WxwdLp6vEfVCNpdG7mTxOP5M3jIeZkj3z8sBLfCRXKfp4RtuvxeJUH2tzC5i6Gr4fNOhu7_9P85ZeeGSRR0h7v4tpx4cVQwcjb8xWHhat_7SLIccdXamH4k-cCNFo/s1200/JohnLewisSnapper2023.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1200" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamDUrde95Fq-hraF1Z77hE1WwZFP2Jt6ygAg7SG9_mZwVTclLYNMuOeVD-RgcD8WxwdLp6vEfVCNpdG7mTxOP5M3jIeZkj3z8sBLfCRXKfp4RtuvxeJUH2tzC5i6Gr4fNOhu7_9P85ZeeGSRR0h7v4tpx4cVQwcjb8xWHhat_7SLIccdXamH4k-cCNFo/w400-h364/JohnLewisSnapper2023.png" width="400" /></a></div> <b>Wouldn't you know it? John Lewis wins AGAIN with an even more outlandish (and touching) ad. Introducing for 2023, Snapper, the Christmas Venus Fly Trap, who's also a perfect Christmas Tree! Watch the ad below, followed by an article about the ad, then one about the growing fanaticism for the Real Thing! And if you don't think crowds in the UK aren't already going crazy for the Snapper plush, you're new here. Don't worry: the link to get yours is below, as well - all part of the services we provide at the K.A.C. - no, no don't thank us, you're welcome! Aww, now we're blushing (and secretly ordering one for ourselves).</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsMgQXchaWs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsMgQXchaWs</a> </b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1832913/John-Lewis-Christmas-advert-2023">https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1832913/John-Lewis-Christmas-advert-2023</a> <br /></b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.adweek.com/creativity/john-lewis-christmas-ad-venus-flytrap/#">https://www.adweek.com/creativity/john-lewis-christmas-ad-venus-flytrap/#</a> </b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-christmas-advert-2023-snapper-character-plush-soft-toy/p110743615">https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-christmas-advert-2023-snapper-character-plush-soft-toy/p110743615</a> </b></p><p><b> We wrap up the '50s tomorrow with a look at 1959 - don't miss it!</b></p><p><br /> </p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-82759001498214893702023-12-06T06:29:00.000-08:002023-12-06T06:29:35.924-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 19 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh341A4PR3cFOLWD6GVoUff1EK3EzcDUyDjB7JGFh1LWXPIPgf8lV08_z7HmYX7tnzKbYSm5ono3mW0Zs2FwhLkxp3h4sfWIW468AvxE3FCJUcNnscRmzGx-y3Q-YodTPvdt-siIsnbv4maJZl_w34qfrU-odSAQXbten9en48pXJYNMy5dNBM8NO9HG0I/s800/1957Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="601" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh341A4PR3cFOLWD6GVoUff1EK3EzcDUyDjB7JGFh1LWXPIPgf8lV08_z7HmYX7tnzKbYSm5ono3mW0Zs2FwhLkxp3h4sfWIW468AvxE3FCJUcNnscRmzGx-y3Q-YodTPvdt-siIsnbv4maJZl_w34qfrU-odSAQXbten9en48pXJYNMy5dNBM8NO9HG0I/w480-h640/1957Christmas_1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div> <b>1957 - Bypassing the 'dung twig' and Christmas Island, we turn our attentions to Chandler, Arizona, and their annual 30 foot tall Christmas Tumbleweed Tree. It's a decades-long tradition that began this year and you can read all about it below:</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.chandleraz.gov/explore/special-events/tumbleweed-tree-lighting-ceremony/history-of-the-tumbleweed-tree">https://www.chandleraz.gov/explore/special-events/tumbleweed-tree-lighting-ceremony/history-of-the-tumbleweed-tree</a> </b></p><p><br /></p><p></p> <b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cvM_PwxkHEpWsSAN6aRTjVcwz5Jc5PWqHRl5HsY9vrgo6qeUcN6pZJ9-Y8EeObJDC021YzmntVoJWqUvxuwAqQL8Q3Z3k6hXH5b19dfoi7a5qgiDIj_vQsR3TSjoOPNcQ7gES3OLcxKToSSmwCnMo198xcotmqnVD4y_30585R6fWVfnwTKWbIt231Q/s3264/1957Christmas_1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cvM_PwxkHEpWsSAN6aRTjVcwz5Jc5PWqHRl5HsY9vrgo6qeUcN6pZJ9-Y8EeObJDC021YzmntVoJWqUvxuwAqQL8Q3Z3k6hXH5b19dfoi7a5qgiDIj_vQsR3TSjoOPNcQ7gES3OLcxKToSSmwCnMo198xcotmqnVD4y_30585R6fWVfnwTKWbIt231Q/w400-h300/1957Christmas_1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> This year was of special note in the history of the K.A.C. as it heralded the arrival of a certain towhead at right, whose job it was to search the world over for ridiculous Christmas stories and articles, to mount a one-man crusade of spreading Christmas Cheer in an increasingly unhappy world. Heaven only knows how long he was left there alone (it was a different time), mesmerized by the twinkling (hot) lights, watching the tinsel and ornaments, hearing the soothing voice of Father Tree quietly tell him his mission in life. He looks thrilled, right? Well, somebody's gotta do it - and speaking of cheer, check this out!</b><p></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOs7-vbNcZloSQZ3qRP4McMjj22D9wM3kyzkKzNrWyEPLglCNjElBBcpBbBY3czZqx1yNTpWhqO-t7x78Fze7BtCp81f8hFs-0pChESLbmRnXOD0EDvHmDomqf8-VXxKgr7zqoRSbA5uVmZ9OBtJSNpsHFh8w0QHuK-Mm8ifYHPT5-Qdvt_kjcdGbkvg/s1656/1957Christmas_3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1656" data-original-width="1050" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOs7-vbNcZloSQZ3qRP4McMjj22D9wM3kyzkKzNrWyEPLglCNjElBBcpBbBY3czZqx1yNTpWhqO-t7x78Fze7BtCp81f8hFs-0pChESLbmRnXOD0EDvHmDomqf8-VXxKgr7zqoRSbA5uVmZ9OBtJSNpsHFh8w0QHuK-Mm8ifYHPT5-Qdvt_kjcdGbkvg/w254-h400/1957Christmas_3.jpg" width="254" /></a></div> <b>As Wikipedia states, "The December 1957 <i>News and Views</i> published by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_League_of_America" title="Church League of America">Church League of America</a>, a conservative organization founded in 1937,<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"> </span>attacked the use of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas" title="Xmas">Xmas</a> in an article titled "X=The Unknown Quantity". This is just one of DOZENS of Christmas Controversies in history around the globe. From The War On Christmas to everything from dates to 'Family Trees' to alternative greetings (we're looking at YOU, Happy Holidays!), there's a lot to unpack below. Grab some eggnog and settle in - let the fights begin!</b><p></p><p> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_controversies">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_controversies</a></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCmaFKYMgIjeNgORteJfWtkSEbmgfICSV3TmcHfidcOpmirHfMVD09tdn2-AvNKtGLHMjzg5Z4GAyTldEmQRwx475HHRPrULFUy7lsZ3NTfRn5rUZsPwJKVnm_r_eImdWnS27dhnxg2Kde1Clkmpqx3mGau_f23zR5P0lE8YpJiIEH0RnBPu8z5ARvM0/s1040/1957Christmas_4.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="1040" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCmaFKYMgIjeNgORteJfWtkSEbmgfICSV3TmcHfidcOpmirHfMVD09tdn2-AvNKtGLHMjzg5Z4GAyTldEmQRwx475HHRPrULFUy7lsZ3NTfRn5rUZsPwJKVnm_r_eImdWnS27dhnxg2Kde1Clkmpqx3mGau_f23zR5P0lE8YpJiIEH0RnBPu8z5ARvM0/w400-h200/1957Christmas_4.webp" width="400" /></a></div> <b>We end today's entry with a look back at Whoville, which debuted this year AND in 1954! How is that even possible, you ask? Time travel - it's right in the NAME, man! Is there a TARDIS involved in the wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey answer below, or is it because of a different Doctor? Click to find out:</b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whoville">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whoville</a> </b></p><p><br /></p><p> <b>Back tomorrow with a trip through 1958. See ya!</b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-10716776878897977722023-12-05T05:45:00.000-08:002023-12-05T05:46:28.656-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 20 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGeVPlCE9GF3psKz4wFeQzsUNmJxPV_rih4jsoINAaZ04OmmityzHXMHYbmxgfQoaYuKfyHuk1nLDW7E1Vl9a11BWLSkRfnhY31nACCpEgrFpzFXROqCvSd-CVVO9okOQzqEa_to7Q-GHi9NHG9iBZKh0AnweD91VILwQHoJYQ7uDRK9zNBYxTesI0ew/s991/1956_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGeVPlCE9GF3psKz4wFeQzsUNmJxPV_rih4jsoINAaZ04OmmityzHXMHYbmxgfQoaYuKfyHuk1nLDW7E1Vl9a11BWLSkRfnhY31nACCpEgrFpzFXROqCvSd-CVVO9okOQzqEa_to7Q-GHi9NHG9iBZKh0AnweD91VILwQHoJYQ7uDRK9zNBYxTesI0ew/w298-h400/1956_1.jpg" width="298" /></a></div> <b>1956 - Now THIS is more like it! There's plenty of Icicle Intrigue going on here for the December issue of Cosmo from '56, including 'What Is Elvis Presley?', and 'The Three Kings' novel, with a painting and a fascinating come-on line that makes this a Must Read - TAKE MY 35 CENTS ALREADY! :P The best part of the mag? GORGEOUS redhead cover model Janet Blair (star of 1962's Conjure Cinema fave film BURN, WITCH, BURN). And before you ask, yes, I HAVE tried to track down the issue - it's not around, either on eBay or the vintage old issues sites, plus the last time it WAS available, it went for $149 - a nice markup from the original 35 cents. Sigh ... now I'll NEVER know how Herod tempted the Wise Men! :( </b><p></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMlMUeVWeHXH0PYHxx53jW9vLKGFXPo5jQtEBCEcZtUm4MT4luwEDjTNjaePN0FbKllJnGlibVXgY8asERQbZY7hawfvq52HLyQILQr6O5_hKhGoGjwZSuz3GyHXmAGfOZrF25lmAAIEPKvxhneqf6hR_yv9y5I8JB9oaShyphenhyphenB1-yvN3srKlB8B0QMBVQ/s1077/Krampusgentleman.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMlMUeVWeHXH0PYHxx53jW9vLKGFXPo5jQtEBCEcZtUm4MT4luwEDjTNjaePN0FbKllJnGlibVXgY8asERQbZY7hawfvq52HLyQILQr6O5_hKhGoGjwZSuz3GyHXmAGfOZrF25lmAAIEPKvxhneqf6hR_yv9y5I8JB9oaShyphenhyphenB1-yvN3srKlB8B0QMBVQ/w260-h400/Krampusgentleman.jpg" width="260" /></a></b></div><b> Know who else is tempted by the the beautiful Ms. Blair? THIS GUY! The soul of temptation itself, our mascot, Krampus! Mr. Smooth here, while whispering sweet nothings into this dangerously foolish lasses' ear, is also adorning her with a necklace of chains, the better to drag her to ruin. He's dedicated, that one - whatever it takes. And since this is his night to shine, we have an article below (with some GREAT pictures) to bring those who haven't made his acquaintance up to speed. </b><p></p><p></p><b> <a href="https://www.history.com/news/krampus-christmas-legend-origin">https://www.history.com/news/krampus-christmas-legend-origin</a> </b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> The K-Man should try CANDY to soften her up - it's readily available, earlier and earlier each year (try the day after Halloween in stores here - SEE YA, THANKSGIVING!) The BBC is on this hot-button topic - just follow the Army of Chocolate Santas to the link:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrC7ip9H6StLAtD8xeKyzbu3Zn4ceTC2qt1JhYdIgg_-PsQdr2GLmuj1yyzwMHGaLn-5RhR9SdACAefSVUy4v0MSmDidNOx40mNLQMqMnU2k1ZSWHsFah2Tmrqugpsu_2q0zpaUOguiWfKOQahv0Nk3HEsYS8gK4FYxx74d1b59fAWX9atjPNwGmehAKU/s976/1954Christmas_2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrC7ip9H6StLAtD8xeKyzbu3Zn4ceTC2qt1JhYdIgg_-PsQdr2GLmuj1yyzwMHGaLn-5RhR9SdACAefSVUy4v0MSmDidNOx40mNLQMqMnU2k1ZSWHsFah2Tmrqugpsu_2q0zpaUOguiWfKOQahv0Nk3HEsYS8gK4FYxx74d1b59fAWX9atjPNwGmehAKU/w400-h225/1954Christmas_2.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /></b></div><div><b> <a href="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20231030-christmas-creep-why-holiday-candy-hits-shelves-so-early">https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20231030-christmas-creep-why-holiday-candy-hits-shelves-so-early</a></b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Back tomorrow with a look at 1957, the year your humble K.A.C. Curator decided to check in! See you then.<br /></b><div><br /><p></p><p><b> </b></p></div></div></div>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-37655852732591994912023-12-04T06:50:00.000-08:002023-12-04T06:50:08.400-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 21 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJ4I5UCHE8zmnoR8QA398_Ocz8M4b6B70GBcCdJK4mt5nW-iGUlNy0rqyKfnt7ok3m_X_94QNQUS7b2glI_B_rxPZd7JCOYH5Js2VGGlFEcvVIqSORDe0qEz0y3_tQlhcZfwD_6r7k1TsStaLdL_mjOcDGfiZDQwSLtLXgx0ggdPX2N7QoB-9wShX89U/s2560/1950HotpointAd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2560" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJ4I5UCHE8zmnoR8QA398_Ocz8M4b6B70GBcCdJK4mt5nW-iGUlNy0rqyKfnt7ok3m_X_94QNQUS7b2glI_B_rxPZd7JCOYH5Js2VGGlFEcvVIqSORDe0qEz0y3_tQlhcZfwD_6r7k1TsStaLdL_mjOcDGfiZDQwSLtLXgx0ggdPX2N7QoB-9wShX89U/w640-h414/1950HotpointAd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqF3NkeUKpniGksRw-FXaglG76rQeJHyScABlrY8qj7q-TeckjktkzkgJQJY5hUKXN5iI0RdEUW7sQsPjTuYr9p1240NIF8VoRHnw9WAqFzN77PGbcVzeS1OlXvAQmYS8NjCQ_8Ln3Glonx-4ueySHUMBQvyVnaGnQRDbnezU_IPQ9G9b2mtfjTUTMG4/s2560/1931_Electrolux.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1983" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqF3NkeUKpniGksRw-FXaglG76rQeJHyScABlrY8qj7q-TeckjktkzkgJQJY5hUKXN5iI0RdEUW7sQsPjTuYr9p1240NIF8VoRHnw9WAqFzN77PGbcVzeS1OlXvAQmYS8NjCQ_8Ln3Glonx-4ueySHUMBQvyVnaGnQRDbnezU_IPQ9G9b2mtfjTUTMG4/w310-h400/1931_Electrolux.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>1955 - Something tells me that wall of dishes isn't the ONLY wall going up in this house between Mom and Dad. The Hotpoint ad is actually from 1950, but it's our theme for the day - Vintage Christmas ads. Always headshaking and horrible, this is a never-ending bottom of the barrel where Christmas Cheer is concerned, as Mom always gets some damn houseware appliance or another while Dad and the kids get all the good stuff. Like what, you say? Just this once, we'll open our Christmas presents early - it'll give Mom more time to think up an alibi for the justifiable homicide charges to follow:</b><p></p><p> <b>1931 - Indoctrinate them early with a toy fridge by Electrolux. The ad copy is particularly heinous here (click on any photo for a larger look): "What's a woman at Christmas time but a little girl grown up? Tickled to pieces with a toy refrigerator when she's little. Even more thrilled with an Electrolux when she's big." Uh huh ... name one. I can't think of any, then or now.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThEWmJa2307kwZHMBlKbsIn6qoo3PAksvYZkFVhdxuWvSGf0uNNmw94SCGOYu-XK_RCXX-O1A7TUWWPQtDBHbCWcjhgf1aE8Wrzvi7n1rnWiAwId3Ftbiz4yeTA-1px3NnnehcHKQeEDyF1k2mR5T_LZWhknYAeIi-8sxBJAOrla9PmovG6D0IakFAac/s1381/1936_Frigidaire.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="1091" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThEWmJa2307kwZHMBlKbsIn6qoo3PAksvYZkFVhdxuWvSGf0uNNmw94SCGOYu-XK_RCXX-O1A7TUWWPQtDBHbCWcjhgf1aE8Wrzvi7n1rnWiAwId3Ftbiz4yeTA-1px3NnnehcHKQeEDyF1k2mR5T_LZWhknYAeIi-8sxBJAOrla9PmovG6D0IakFAac/w316-h400/1936_Frigidaire.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><b> 1936 - Fast forward five years and AGAIN with the refrigerator! Meet the '36 Frigidaire (with the "Meter-Miser", no less). As the ad says, "You will be sure it will delight Mother beyond words." OH, TRUST ME, Mom's got words, all right, especially for that smug bastard Santa, but she can't SAY them with the kids in the room! And the Iago Award goes to Frigidaire for this extra fillip seen directly under Suzie on her trike: "This handsome medallion, engraved with any inscription you desire, will be affixed to your Christmas Frigidaire free of charge ...", to make sure you remember this wretched, etch-ed Christmas for years to come. Can you fit 'RIP, TED, 1936' on that tiny thing? </b><p></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7ZWbbWveL7vfkqCXLHx4XfWswtx-FrUrtIjyEoSaqFB2AmFL9ASx9fLx1pHFsdLc85K8tpazvtAQ1itwu7DAe6mF9Ws1JQtujF_erpWe77FbKkPV9CBbZIE1vFoKFtzjuOkXNzbHLZpa_AR0moThfwcysxCPV_EPpbLGFpAM-6noH77sCMmM_-9_MC0/s2560/1939_Christmas.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2140" data-original-width="2560" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7ZWbbWveL7vfkqCXLHx4XfWswtx-FrUrtIjyEoSaqFB2AmFL9ASx9fLx1pHFsdLc85K8tpazvtAQ1itwu7DAe6mF9Ws1JQtujF_erpWe77FbKkPV9CBbZIE1vFoKFtzjuOkXNzbHLZpa_AR0moThfwcysxCPV_EPpbLGFpAM-6noH77sCMmM_-9_MC0/w400-h335/1939_Christmas.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /> 1939 - By the end of the decade, we've moved on from refrigerators (and the disappearance of both 'Santa Ted' and the Frigidaire, which I'm sure was just a coincidence) to ... vacuums! The 'little lady' is thinking of a NUMBER of ways to use all those attachments, I'm sure (cleaning the blood out of the carpet, etc. What were YOU thinking of?) Yikes ...</b><p></p><p> <b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj425-dQXq_HCweQC_lfLG323YsInEccJjPoDQtHVn9t_ti2-6ESg_Nzl3QME-uCBGTzKn4yFAwoWGjaiO-Sbm0RCA_yxdcUPR9AoRMLaG8iB7YDo7SkOMKGYNwTffa5FpCw0i-gfSFSHIb6XMt7AlPIjw3ifqiGuKYUgM0km4FsCo9eDe39Wj1qdgpZc0/s2560/1946_Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1951" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj425-dQXq_HCweQC_lfLG323YsInEccJjPoDQtHVn9t_ti2-6ESg_Nzl3QME-uCBGTzKn4yFAwoWGjaiO-Sbm0RCA_yxdcUPR9AoRMLaG8iB7YDo7SkOMKGYNwTffa5FpCw0i-gfSFSHIb6XMt7AlPIjw3ifqiGuKYUgM0km4FsCo9eDe39Wj1qdgpZc0/w305-h400/1946_Christmas_1.jpg" width="305" /></a></b></div><b>1946 - Prosperity is in the air, World War II has ended and Johnny has come marching home. While he was away, women everywhere MORE than picked up the slack, becoming 'Rosie The Riveteers', among other jobs, did the jobs exceedingly well AND liked the new-found freedom that working (and their own paycheck) provided. So it was a culture clash when the boys came back, not only for them trying to get their jobs back that were now being done (and better, in almost all cases) by the 'girls', but also trying to fit these ladies back into the now-broken 'housewife and mother' mold. How does Madison Avenue respond? By giving women a certifiable sharped-edge RED-HOT IRON as a murder weap ... 'desirable Christmas gift'. Some people never learn.<br /></b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAiOj8ADugcT99DIao0NXKHIHQSCO3mG8b71m9rOHjxRloyMC8w2cyQiEX8sYGw76bUNe6xClNO4wecemV7Y_W2GsCnu3vH4r-2BBf68raFlBgBOP6q8E3K9Wi7k_D6yp1cUddM742eLVBvQMKdXJ2Qx9N1dr0LV_snB2X8ZItxxGwD7XvPjLKSD9X_w/s800/1959_Christmas_black-angus.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAiOj8ADugcT99DIao0NXKHIHQSCO3mG8b71m9rOHjxRloyMC8w2cyQiEX8sYGw76bUNe6xClNO4wecemV7Y_W2GsCnu3vH4r-2BBf68raFlBgBOP6q8E3K9Wi7k_D6yp1cUddM742eLVBvQMKdXJ2Qx9N1dr0LV_snB2X8ZItxxGwD7XvPjLKSD9X_w/w400-h400/1959_Christmas_black-angus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b> 1959 - But what about the rich, you ask? Surely they won't be satisfied with just some janky refrigerator or self-killing, self-cleaning iron? Won't somebody think of them? Not to worry: somebody DID, way back in 1926 and continuing to this day. Their name was Neiman Marcus and their 'fantasy books' began then and got more and more extravagant and crazed with the passage of time, continuing to this day. This picture of the 'do-it-yourself-Arbys' is from the 1959 edition, featuring "NMâs first âfantasy giftâ ... a prize Black Angus steer served on the hoof, paired with a mahogany and silver roast beef cart." And this is one of the more demure gifts. We've featured them annually in the K.A.C., and this year is no exception. First up is a historical look at their unique gifts over the years, followed by this year's selections. Operators are standing by ...<br /></b><p></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2016/december/the-weird-wonderful-world-of-the-neiman-marcus-christmas-book/?hero_slideshow_show=true&hero_slideshow_index=0">https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2016/december/the-weird-wonderful-world-of-the-neiman-marcus-christmas-book/?hero_slideshow_show=true&hero_slideshow_index=0</a></b></p><p> <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/05/business/extravagant-holiday-gifts-neiman-marcus-2023/index.html"><b>https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/05/business/extravagant-holiday-gifts-neiman-marcus-2023/index.html</b></a></p><p> <b>Some of us know when to stop while they're ahead, plus we're exhausted from all the shopping choices, so we'll end it here. Come back tomorrow for our 1956 entry.</b></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-8524924473828631692023-12-03T04:30:00.000-08:002023-12-24T03:52:46.378-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 22 Days ...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEgpSFzdkLcp91_GpLr9zrABvjmhhF8yJZd9k9mhf8VqvvYWg3gLpKuCgokos2rRidNRjY1NZGjH3kFRzS-QufF6sih8P11YkB4rD8umDZrWnk0waFBPgO2tmcy6TSb-F-Y-3qffHt2IoATKnIbzzmFc9xdqE8A9YwrRjplHp3dLfTbIE3_08py25X1s/s980/1953_4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="980" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEgpSFzdkLcp91_GpLr9zrABvjmhhF8yJZd9k9mhf8VqvvYWg3gLpKuCgokos2rRidNRjY1NZGjH3kFRzS-QufF6sih8P11YkB4rD8umDZrWnk0waFBPgO2tmcy6TSb-F-Y-3qffHt2IoATKnIbzzmFc9xdqE8A9YwrRjplHp3dLfTbIE3_08py25X1s/w400-h266/1953_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <b>"I get it, Prancer, you hate that show-off Rudolph, but we're all supposed to be One Happy Family on these pages - Christmas Cheer, remember? OK, places, everyone!" </b><p></p><p> <b>Sorry you had to see those behind-the-scenes tantrums, they're really the best of friends. Well (ahem), let's see what today's stocking has brought us, shall we?</b></p><p> <b>Let's begin with 'Have Yourself A Cognitive Dissonance Christmas', the true tale of a Saucer Pickup on Christmas Eve ... and how Belief is put to the test. The line that struck me the most in this article was, âA man with a conviction is a hard man to change.â I think most of us can relate to that in the world we're living in now. Article below: </b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPWEymUUXrDALfdydoVs4zteEGHC6oVn9rfy1-jNLuyWPvbSCditqpZ-XsUmD1NII_6xsO5i7d7oCPKs5MWTE233toOE7028bKxgCFBUVME1dp1IP_LX3Czzz8gz6W9z1p4Z63rzL77EiUajqwk1vs7dZbR6pI8gQqwQ5dHmHxhu-fV7vKydgmW2Ozu4/s470/1954_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="420" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPWEymUUXrDALfdydoVs4zteEGHC6oVn9rfy1-jNLuyWPvbSCditqpZ-XsUmD1NII_6xsO5i7d7oCPKs5MWTE233toOE7028bKxgCFBUVME1dp1IP_LX3Czzz8gz6W9z1p4Z63rzL77EiUajqwk1vs7dZbR6pI8gQqwQ5dHmHxhu-fV7vKydgmW2Ozu4/w358-h400/1954_2.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><b> <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/12/the-christmas-the-aliens-didnt-come/421122/">https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/12/the-christmas-the-aliens-didnt-come/421122/</a></b><p></p><p> <b>Next up, the first of our Timeless Time-Outs (meaning an article not specifically set in this year, although 1954 is mentioned). Are you familiar with 'brag rags'? Oh, yes, you are - you may just not know them by that name - find out what they are more traditionally known as and who's responsible for them below:</b></p><p><b> <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-love-hate-relationship-christmas-letter-180970725/">https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-love-hate-relationship-christmas-letter-180970725/</a> </b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn58wMhQegRXUmyAkbHsK_mWNbaXRjE2eU7diW_KK_BOTfZx0k_l2uzNroC0Ch0Fn3WP3tOYYsJHh59EZDtz80CGlnD0rwEsGZGHJaiIHot2WqhdRT1jYZOCLQ_d8fNI477xAHTxDQlO7oL8n2dGDXaTG6Mm1DOEG9mjpaHSejWtk_mC_O8Bim47gE1E/s720/1954Christmas_1.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn58wMhQegRXUmyAkbHsK_mWNbaXRjE2eU7diW_KK_BOTfZx0k_l2uzNroC0Ch0Fn3WP3tOYYsJHh59EZDtz80CGlnD0rwEsGZGHJaiIHot2WqhdRT1jYZOCLQ_d8fNI477xAHTxDQlO7oL8n2dGDXaTG6Mm1DOEG9mjpaHSejWtk_mC_O8Bim47gE1E/w266-h400/1954Christmas_1.webp" width="266" /></a></div> <b>From saucers to letters to ... GODZILLA! 'Santy Claws' debuts on November 3rd, 1954, in Tokyo and goes on to become an international sensation and one of the longest running film series in history. A number of families, especially in the New York City area, have an annual tradition of having a King Kong and Godzilla Movie Festival every year (Kong on Thanksgiving, Zilla on Black Friday), hoping to recreate their happy childhood memories (and continue the tradition for their kids!) when WOR-TV 9 held these each year from 1976 - '85. THIS was what signaled the beginning of the Holiday Season for so many kids back then - three links below explain the phenomenon:</b><div><b> </b></div><div><b> <a href="https://www.dvddrive-in.com/holidayfilmfest.htm">https://www.dvddrive-in.com/holidayfilmfest.htm</a></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <a href="https://ericrobertnolan.com/2016/11/17/throwback-thursday-the-wor-9-thanksgiving-monster-movie-marathon/">https://ericrobertnolan.com/2016/11/17/throwback-thursday-the-wor-9-thanksgiving-monster-movie-marathon/</a> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <a href="https://ericrobertnolan.com/2017/11/23/throwback-thursday-more-of-the-wor-9-thanksgiving-monster-movie-marathon/">https://ericrobertnolan.com/2017/11/23/throwback-thursday-more-of-the-wor-9-thanksgiving-monster-movie-marathon/</a> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b> Join us tomorrow for a look at 1955 and Really Poor Shopping Choices through the years!</b></div>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-41623468509141019052023-12-02T05:20:00.000-08:002023-12-02T05:22:53.233-08:00K.A.C. 2023 - T - 23 Days ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO-eTEQDrWOkbY5ThAmLBkGrR9mRG0x80rPkOPWtaZ8t2_Gbx2l-8Nxh9eUbEpC5nRa7wnMIdIsxnzg8gFBLVlvp_T2lv1dVJkXBSVlfCI2SaBINu2XrlJE25E3rTSnxduK1AJrBcPPJZor8HXwfgJxrVGlJKNOV7i1T3uvQAIUXTDlhyW1Ft73kytzM/s941/1953_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="941" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO-eTEQDrWOkbY5ThAmLBkGrR9mRG0x80rPkOPWtaZ8t2_Gbx2l-8Nxh9eUbEpC5nRa7wnMIdIsxnzg8gFBLVlvp_T2lv1dVJkXBSVlfCI2SaBINu2XrlJE25E3rTSnxduK1AJrBcPPJZor8HXwfgJxrVGlJKNOV7i1T3uvQAIUXTDlhyW1Ft73kytzM/w640-h430/1953_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <b>1953 - the year Santa scrapped the sleigh and reindeers and rode the sky on a glowing, engorged .... ummm, set of Christmas lights! NO MORE NOG, SANTA! No, no, don't pay any attention to him - he's just embarrassing himself. Instead, why don't you have a look at today's offerings.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVX8B1Oq-aUvODJq0-jvOYmRAi6Dh0zEq4l_5pIAQubFd8jLkNJQtTLnnPYADfHXxCrR8o3WZ1-ZeAsZodlG-kJNoOD8rDTM_3pYyt1IUKQnu0jgS36Rw12XX_kXQwDGmH1HsGtnlAdGfj4Yoaddbmgbvo8O_8ItcvEyq86r8ohQRHn5gSRfd4R6a-UfM/s1080/1953_3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVX8B1Oq-aUvODJq0-jvOYmRAi6Dh0zEq4l_5pIAQubFd8jLkNJQtTLnnPYADfHXxCrR8o3WZ1-ZeAsZodlG-kJNoOD8rDTM_3pYyt1IUKQnu0jgS36Rw12XX_kXQwDGmH1HsGtnlAdGfj4Yoaddbmgbvo8O_8ItcvEyq86r8ohQRHn5gSRfd4R6a-UfM/w300-h400/1953_3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> <b>Item # 1: In our ever-widening search for Forgotten Christmas Mascots, we've come across a brand-new one. Long-time readers of the K.A.C. will remember our telling of how Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer came about, as a promotional item in 1939 for the Montgomery Wards department stores - those who need a refresher can find my post here: <a href="http://www.conjurecinema.com/2013/12/kac-2013-t-22.html">http://www.conjurecinema.com/2013/12/kac-2013-t-22.html</a> - it became a national treasure with a hit song that got trooped out year after year ... other stores took note and tried with various degrees of success to come up with their own mascots to bring the kids in (along with Mom & Dad, of course, to PAY for all the sparkly toys!) - fast forward to the 1940s, as Chicago area kids are introduced to 'Uncle Mistletoe', Christmas mascot for the Marshall Fields stores. Listed as (courtesy of the Christmas Every Day website) "</b><b>a black-browed, winged sprite,
wearing a cape and top hat, he lived with his wife Aunt Holly in Cozy
Cloud Cottage (the creation of store designer Homer Sharp) on the eighth
floor. Uncle Mistletoe attracted a loyal following of children who
joined his âHappiness Clubsâ and he even made television appearances in
cartoon form during the holiday season. In 1951 the Three Suns issued a
45 rpm recording entitled âUncle Mistletoeâ and he was the subject of a
childrenâs book. Collectibles of Uncle Mistletoe and Aunt Holly are
still a hot item." He was described as 'Santa's office manager', the one who put together that list of who's been naughty or nice - so now who know who to vent your spleen to as to why you didn't get that much-wished-for toy from long ago! </b><div><b> </b></div><div><b> Ol' Unc had a total earwig of a theme song, too - you can hear it at the YouTube link below, along with a festive montage of photos ... I'm not quite sure how Bettie Page got in there, but I'm sure Unc's not complaining!</b></div><div><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> <b> </b></span><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BjiwJvCuDU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BjiwJvCuDU</a> </b></div><div><br /></div><div> <b>Where does the 1953 part of his story come in? From his Little Golden Book from '53 - I was trying to find the whole thing online to show you the pages, but no dice. Instead I found something better - from 2016: 'Aunt Rachel reads Uncle Mistletoe to Zachary' (and YOU!):</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> </b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4www7y66kWU"><b>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4www7y66kWU</b></a> </div><div><br /></div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xbGI9ftwvdb5GhsKADXfKuiIRYYCeWwOB9QUNptQn9AJX7666AdTjGhi_r5BMq4ZQ1P-j9f9pxUEbO55XLhlluRWVofGhxw02aEMgFVZGci_PqVMN9fkjA4zoxUXklVfiFA6Jn2_gcbCcK0kv-BY2sS9NueNV9Kl8D2YZkFOArrlcy99SyeyejmojkM/s1421/1953_5.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1421" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xbGI9ftwvdb5GhsKADXfKuiIRYYCeWwOB9QUNptQn9AJX7666AdTjGhi_r5BMq4ZQ1P-j9f9pxUEbO55XLhlluRWVofGhxw02aEMgFVZGci_PqVMN9fkjA4zoxUXklVfiFA6Jn2_gcbCcK0kv-BY2sS9NueNV9Kl8D2YZkFOArrlcy99SyeyejmojkM/w400-h288/1953_5.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xbGI9ftwvdb5GhsKADXfKuiIRYYCeWwOB9QUNptQn9AJX7666AdTjGhi_r5BMq4ZQ1P-j9f9pxUEbO55XLhlluRWVofGhxw02aEMgFVZGci_PqVMN9fkjA4zoxUXklVfiFA6Jn2_gcbCcK0kv-BY2sS9NueNV9Kl8D2YZkFOArrlcy99SyeyejmojkM/s1421/1953_5.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></div><div> <b>Item # 2: 1953 was also the year of 'The Worldâs Largest Santa & The Christmas Tragedy' in Dallas, Texas. Urban myth, you say? Oh, no, it's quite real - with photos and videos to boot. Paula Bosse tells you all about it in this Flashback: Dallas article below:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <a href="https://flashbackdallas.com/2014/12/24/worlds-largest-santa-christmas-tragedy-1953/">https://flashbackdallas.com/2014/12/24/worlds-largest-santa-christmas-tragedy-1953/</a> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCtGJWHUs3_6pU_1U083UwhTT1hIRVvoEuNs2V4lWxzetTumMvvsCG75vpYYbWiHuM-5kxOQItcUZgN9Ff6sKD3PhPKegOBLHlcPhE_2RV_vg9j8i0a_qzdaKsmGYPJowCad6dwRQLhuCVFhYVh1_TEmQO4XeUAn5s8NJ6a6cT5XBJViGF28FP3XIDJ4/s1200/1953_6.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1200" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCtGJWHUs3_6pU_1U083UwhTT1hIRVvoEuNs2V4lWxzetTumMvvsCG75vpYYbWiHuM-5kxOQItcUZgN9Ff6sKD3PhPKegOBLHlcPhE_2RV_vg9j8i0a_qzdaKsmGYPJowCad6dwRQLhuCVFhYVh1_TEmQO4XeUAn5s8NJ6a6cT5XBJViGF28FP3XIDJ4/w400-h289/1953_6.webp" width="400" /></a></div><b> Yikes - umm, how about we look at a nice Christmas catalog cover instead, to end this on a more cheery note? The 1953 Western Auto Xmas book has something for everyone in the family - Susie's got a new doll, Billy's got a trike, Mom's got a ... toaster and ... mixing - bowl ... and Dad's got ... ummm - (Note to self: Stick with the SEARS catalog for the rest of this year!!!) <br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Back tomorrow with a look at 1954!</b></div>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-61437790431686692132023-12-01T05:20:00.000-08:002023-12-01T05:20:47.488-08:00Welcome to the Kitschmas Advent Calendar 2023 !!! T - 24 Days ... and Counting !!! <div class="separator"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsRTEOwkkWHNANgXKK7_p800BWRtCfvmBLpjHxGRqLjYhwj1_NLSR-11z_thxTLvi9aI29LzvlwA253D35fJ7hyphenhyphen2E1u4GTzYmyVbVT9OkI_YFFQTPScG9wBrLM5pNZdUkmOphhNfuKpaYNbxEdBkDI6MSH8wd2omHhQQNBY4AvwRYVg84wm4B3AumwW8/s800/AMerryChristmas.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="800" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsRTEOwkkWHNANgXKK7_p800BWRtCfvmBLpjHxGRqLjYhwj1_NLSR-11z_thxTLvi9aI29LzvlwA253D35fJ7hyphenhyphen2E1u4GTzYmyVbVT9OkI_YFFQTPScG9wBrLM5pNZdUkmOphhNfuKpaYNbxEdBkDI6MSH8wd2omHhQQNBY4AvwRYVg84wm4B3AumwW8/w400-h258/AMerryChristmas.webp" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b></div></div><p></p><b> Good morning and WELCOME to the 2023 edition of the K.A.C.!</b> <b>This is our 15th year of Holiday Hilarity, as we count down the days 'till Christmas. Last year in addition to our regular oddities, Justin von Bosau was giving us a blow-by-blow look at all the various versions of A Christmas Carol, right up to the year 1951. He's rather overwhelmed this year with his different jobs, so we'll pause his chronicles for now (but he's always welcome to take another shot at them when he's ready). Instead, we'll continue with a look at what were the strangest stories to come out of the following years, one a day, as I was doing with this year's Halloween Tidbits, beginning with the year 1952. Not to worry, though, as we'll keep you updated on all the NEW Santa Shenanigans taking place, as well as other timely treats sure to amuse (well, SOMEWHAT sure). But back to '52. SURELY there can't be anything strange to come out of that quiet, halcyon time, can there? To paraphrase Santa at left, "Hold my punch".<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpO2GtAdTfwAWO_xJq5r_GJMevFWmNwVigDhWJbF8L4Km5Txe3Pl8PyxFvGEZwHzsqPiuECdYhwHe4EUilcwycEZBH1UH2uFcmyw8fcJCvaZIwYHIPEfoArRTAS-UcYbTX7GLIPBpVsXS-wL60P3PMU4_yLvKbAzaH0KbufTtewVvKBTVAwWh36yn0YTs/s993/The%20Spirit%20of%20Christmas_1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="993" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpO2GtAdTfwAWO_xJq5r_GJMevFWmNwVigDhWJbF8L4Km5Txe3Pl8PyxFvGEZwHzsqPiuECdYhwHe4EUilcwycEZBH1UH2uFcmyw8fcJCvaZIwYHIPEfoArRTAS-UcYbTX7GLIPBpVsXS-wL60P3PMU4_yLvKbAzaH0KbufTtewVvKBTVAwWh36yn0YTs/w400-h300/The%20Spirit%20of%20Christmas_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> </b><div><b> Meet Mom, one of the Mabel Beaton Marionettes - Mom knows what Living Hell looks like, trapped as she is eternally in the Bell Telephone Systems' annual retelling of 'The Night Before Christmas', the first half of their puppet parade, THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS. Covering ALL the bases, Ma Bell starts with this tale, then rather deftly glides into a 'strings-and-all' retelling of 'The Nativity Story'. That half is very reverently well-done (except for the part where I can't get it out of my head that Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's THUNDERBIRDS aren't going to come swooping in at any moment to save Mary, Joseph and their Donkey --- "no room in the inn, my eye!").</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAPnvNT4zxA3SO2ExjRY5tbzVicXknaTPGIo5XK6cTdZHVCQtjdRBiyIWr6O4RTgZaU2GKhcPaMRszEW-TzbmN1Ul1y7f0dP3X0njTTiEfqy6JQ8aFr8BsMlQwxyQz6Ox-dLDam8YZfs4XGnLqOtPMxfvSeaTZHzef3E06gJjyd_ehfUImbajKutWSL0/s990/The%20Spirit%20of%20Christmas_2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="990" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAPnvNT4zxA3SO2ExjRY5tbzVicXknaTPGIo5XK6cTdZHVCQtjdRBiyIWr6O4RTgZaU2GKhcPaMRszEW-TzbmN1Ul1y7f0dP3X0njTTiEfqy6JQ8aFr8BsMlQwxyQz6Ox-dLDam8YZfs4XGnLqOtPMxfvSeaTZHzef3E06gJjyd_ehfUImbajKutWSL0/w400-h299/The%20Spirit%20of%20Christmas_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> The first story, however, is the REAL reason to watch this. It makes Hardrock, Coco and Joe look like a sedate PBS special - it's magnificently unhinged right out of the gate from Frame 1 to the end. Where to start? Well, Santa's a maniac, he can't drive worth beans and should have been dead or in traction from the whiplash in that sleigh before he ever REACHES the house ... Mom here at least looks cheery, the rest of the family (especially the kids) look CREEPY AS F*** ! As the classic poem unfolds, the leap out of their beds and hovering, Linda Blair-style, to get downstairs is unsettling enough, but when Santa espys them peeking around the door, the look he gives them sends chills down the spine ... maybe it's the lighting. Judge for yourself as you watch the film below.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OB0Lf5CKDM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OB0Lf5CKDM</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div> <b>Just to confuse things even further, the film is listed as being made in 1950, 1952, 1953 AND 1966! Tinsel Terror Through Time! Since the K.A.C. is starting this year with '52, we're embracing it for that year, so there. For more on the show, click here:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <a href="http://polyvinylman.blogspot.com/2008/12/bell-telephone-company-presents-spirit.html">http://polyvinylman.blogspot.com/2008/12/bell-telephone-company-presents-spirit.html</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt665G9vaWqvP93liljc-u3Wq4rTMYB0aQMQE6TwXNLc5QPvLeXzNF2tCoxB3UAqAOt8_zG7_E1r-wTsQfzWlguGOrwLS4n4MTGLCBgZ3Tj7ZPuyIcjdsYWfGaVZjBV1oqaQzn-XfVF93wADllgSFZ2soGPVpx0laDZFIlNRidyDuF38rsG8-gEaR_8M/s488/1952Woolworths_1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="488" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt665G9vaWqvP93liljc-u3Wq4rTMYB0aQMQE6TwXNLc5QPvLeXzNF2tCoxB3UAqAOt8_zG7_E1r-wTsQfzWlguGOrwLS4n4MTGLCBgZ3Tj7ZPuyIcjdsYWfGaVZjBV1oqaQzn-XfVF93wADllgSFZ2soGPVpx0laDZFIlNRidyDuF38rsG8-gEaR_8M/w400-h303/1952Woolworths_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <b>Just in case you thought the terror was over for this year, heck, no ... it's just beginning! After reeling from all THAT Marionette Mayhem, maybe some light reading will calm your nerves. How about a ride in Santa's 'Ribbon Candy Rocket' with Betty, Billy and Caboose, and a whole ARK of animals from around the globe? It's all from Woolworth's annual Happy Time Christmas Book for 1952, their "No, really, it's a holiday comic book, NOT a shameless ploy to sell Woolworth toys and tchotchkes!" As you can see from the pictures here, the book has not aged well at all ... but you'll have to read the book , reproduced in full at the link below, to find out what 'Gems Of Glee' and other pleasures await!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9SLXZD04E4_SgRW2eUTzIIqedd6ZNdkEQAcTzIVpwx5rcxLtYAFZl5QqrgnpaR_O6ZB7vLD3tLarNjIqpH4lunLJ8gd5nkWpOFpyv7OibmhWE32NXJygXgSm3zMIdkKwoVQZL_PELwQXjOb0pbCN-GI6qkeWvC6EmaZRT5cVmzTHHZ9rMJM8-3bBKgo/s359/1952Woolworths_2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="359" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9SLXZD04E4_SgRW2eUTzIIqedd6ZNdkEQAcTzIVpwx5rcxLtYAFZl5QqrgnpaR_O6ZB7vLD3tLarNjIqpH4lunLJ8gd5nkWpOFpyv7OibmhWE32NXJygXgSm3zMIdkKwoVQZL_PELwQXjOb0pbCN-GI6qkeWvC6EmaZRT5cVmzTHHZ9rMJM8-3bBKgo/w400-h191/1952Woolworths_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b> <a href="https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=76056">https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=76056</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div> ********************</div><div> </div><div> <b>Finally, just so you don't think it's ALL hilarity here (wellll ......),</b></div><div><b>we'll end on a high note with a bit of history. 1952 was the inaugural year of Queen Elizabeth II's annual Christmas Broadcast to the nation and the world, after the death of King George IV in February. You can hear it below, along with the complete transcript of her speech, followed by a look at her speeches through her reign. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4xclPiyos4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4xclPiyos4</a></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08jtjVwGmf9Ckcn1kInTg9CmrJMMn_eC06D-6n31CW23LBjcMUBuhvoeWuU_OjqyuQvDM8r9nbpB7VFYrXFBWzQxZi175gz3EGyox9XJbi_O7csNUHbRLu8Yj29uf3IMJhiWe-4ArLupvtLDw84x3Pr3zXu6qQrDqOEnwrPlCkaYyXGts5LntFj0RRhE/s1396/1952_FirstQueensBroadcast.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1010" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08jtjVwGmf9Ckcn1kInTg9CmrJMMn_eC06D-6n31CW23LBjcMUBuhvoeWuU_OjqyuQvDM8r9nbpB7VFYrXFBWzQxZi175gz3EGyox9XJbi_O7csNUHbRLu8Yj29uf3IMJhiWe-4ArLupvtLDw84x3Pr3zXu6qQrDqOEnwrPlCkaYyXGts5LntFj0RRhE/w290-h400/1952_FirstQueensBroadcast.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="https://www.royal.uk/history-christmas-broadcast">https://www.royal.uk/history-christmas-broadcast</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <b>********************************</b><br /></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b> And with that, we'll end for the day. Like what you see? Then join us every day between now and Christmas to see what NEW Old Wonders are in store (or stores, as the case may be). Next up, a look at 1953 - see you then.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b><br /> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <br /><br /></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <br /></b> <p></p></div></div>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262782064439125982.post-24924697208860605792022-12-24T07:26:00.001-08:002022-12-24T12:10:50.338-08:00K.A.C. 2022 - T - 01 Day ...<p> <b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbTzmymSTGN7Fc4oOXTb1Ir-D2l9TzstkrXDjDouSVEa2-n2srsM_7a0Rzj8u_TvitGMxQffTIYGuIS145piFl6uXXbXjHTdiomqOQ2xi8dgZJiXHOoFgZKP-4ZEype9aS56kma4HvdI6xkv2g5dqjZD_1Ea2Dd7Vq6pVGGwAjei-lBFddk_Xvacu/s720/ChristmasBrideOfF.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="720" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbTzmymSTGN7Fc4oOXTb1Ir-D2l9TzstkrXDjDouSVEa2-n2srsM_7a0Rzj8u_TvitGMxQffTIYGuIS145piFl6uXXbXjHTdiomqOQ2xi8dgZJiXHOoFgZKP-4ZEype9aS56kma4HvdI6xkv2g5dqjZD_1Ea2Dd7Vq6pVGGwAjei-lBFddk_Xvacu/w400-h245/ChristmasBrideOfF.jpg" width="400" /></a>Welcome back to our final entry of the year, and a HUGE Thank You to Kara and Chrissy for this WONDERFUL piece, of Elsa Lanchester's Bride all stunningly styled up for the Holidays! As an original Monster Kid of the '60s, I absolutely adore this and would love to see a print of this as a poster.</b></p><p><b> Let's up end the old stocking one last time and see what tumbles out. Ah, we begin with some final thoughts from our Writer In Residence this year, Justin von Bosau:</b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christmas Eve</span></span></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following was written as my, âOh, I should introduce my articles!â hastily, around the time I did the 1935 article! I forgot to ask for it to be included, so here it is now!</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I may not be paid by the word, but I hate for them to go to waste:</span></b></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, here we are again!</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I guess youâre wondering how Justin got around to writing more for the blog, and to explain and introduce whatâs going on, and to stall for time while I finish more articles (and cackle at Walt texting me âHey, smart-ass!â, about a comment in a later article about his tapes), hereâs a brief summary :D</span></b></span></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I foolishly offered to review âThe Magusâ which was the equivalent of that shock image online of finding a spider in your eggnog.</span></b></span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was tempted by money into reviewing âUnarius 2: Caveman Boogalooâ and got around to it once the nice men in white coats calmed me down.</span></b></span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://tenor.com/view/zelda-wand-of-gamelon-gamelon-laughter-cursed-gif-14618793" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everythingâs fine!</span></a></b></span></span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since Dadâs been doing the K.A.C. for something like 13 years now, weâll be blunt and polite and say that the well to draw from for new Christmas lore / traditions / articles is running a bit dry, minus the ever-lasting car crash that is The Sunâs articles on weirdness. Nonetheless, my mom actually had the idea to do our theme this year, and I agreed, and I offered to do it myself because heck! Iâve got some steam! I think I can, I think I can.</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To back up a little, and give context:</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Lm9J-SmjumHnoA_1xafG6Jk5seVJ951tWQZzx6NUFG72tLcyG4TRajWs_jBLSy64K0prtpUn2yM0iq-PPiEPG_3hhf8Kth7rlk6KQ6pcQLceCdYpq3qIEPczkDXBTyEFpjbOCobTBJttV_kpI275Sx0naH5aiM_rQM7j8jEaBtHHOAK8K3QGU-Zr/s500/ChristmasCarolClassicsIllustratedNotes.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="344" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Lm9J-SmjumHnoA_1xafG6Jk5seVJ951tWQZzx6NUFG72tLcyG4TRajWs_jBLSy64K0prtpUn2yM0iq-PPiEPG_3hhf8Kth7rlk6KQ6pcQLceCdYpq3qIEPczkDXBTyEFpjbOCobTBJttV_kpI275Sx0naH5aiM_rQM7j8jEaBtHHOAK8K3QGU-Zr/w275-h400/ChristmasCarolClassicsIllustratedNotes.jpg" width="275" /></a></span></span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every year, my dad used to read âA Christmas Carolâ to me, and then when those darn kids and their attention spans and their electronic doohickeys took over, we switched to watching a version of the film every Dec. 24th as a family!</span></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are, in fact, quite a few versions.</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Usually we watched the 1984 version with George C. Scott, but branched out to the 1951 quintessential with Alastair Sim; Simon Callowâs stage reading; the Thomas Edison version; the 1935 version with Seymour Hicks; the 2019 âyou definitely made </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">something</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â version; the Muppets darling version; the Mischief Theatre version. Recently, we watched the 1999 version, which my mother said might be her new favorite, and which touches on so many little unseen bits and baubles that it was now brought up which versions </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">did</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> show what? And how many are there?</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(36! Counted âem myself-- no, sorry, thereâs a lot more than that.)</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I took to finding articles on âwhatâs the best version; whatâs the worst version; whatâs the ranking of--â, and found that a lot of people cover a lot of the basics, but nobody really covers them </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Which is understandable, because itâd be nigh impossible to do THAT. But then I started thinking, which is at best a recipe for an interesting day, and at worst, the thought that âhey, maybe </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> could do an article on all of themâŠâ</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was mostly brought about by an excellent article linked </span><a href="https://www.dickenslondontours.co.uk/a-christmas-carol-films.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Richard Jones, who covered a lot of versions I had watched and many more I hadnât. I liked his writing style, and, being American, thought, âWell, Iâm going to copy the Brits, but do it EXCESSIVELY MORE.â Mr. Jones, if you someday read this, Iâm curious to hear your thoughts on the 1914 silent film.</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With all that preamble, I hope Iâve raised the Ghost of an Idea of whatâs to come: this year, and probably a good few more to come, Iâm going to go through as many adaptations of âA Christmas Carolâ as I possible can--including book sequels, radio and audio readings, stage-plays, and even some of the films here and there! Please enjoy!!!</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6mvAAQE42zpYraboqRzHu1GksUF1KGd3C8IjUFJ3nQqUkhhQtxaDBUE69o1UAf67NtbMRi_51kZw51VZVXOJJ3DSWSHgbxAtQu0Z6jag8aRlB4XTSC0nfqOJaacn4htQ1I22_zk_rjvq5VVIIbkLbF9zHJSTnyBz7YDsUXj05mjNAPljDTi4C000/s800/3StoogesChristmasCarol.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6mvAAQE42zpYraboqRzHu1GksUF1KGd3C8IjUFJ3nQqUkhhQtxaDBUE69o1UAf67NtbMRi_51kZw51VZVXOJJ3DSWSHgbxAtQu0Z6jag8aRlB4XTSC0nfqOJaacn4htQ1I22_zk_rjvq5VVIIbkLbF9zHJSTnyBz7YDsUXj05mjNAPljDTi4C000/w400-h300/3StoogesChristmasCarol.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Iâve been on this for a few months now, and am past the silent era into the greater sound films. Dad and I were so loopy discussing these that we started hypothesizing who the worst Scrooge would be, and how much weâd want to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">watch</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> those train-wreck versions. Dadâs initial pick was Shemp Howard as Scrooge, and the Three Stooges as the three ghosts. I for one would absolutely LOVE a version with Larry and his fiddle as Christmas Past, Curly whoop-whooping through the Present, and Moe angrily yelling "SHADDUP!", and pointing through the Future. My pick was initially an Elvis Presley musical as Scrooge, blue-blue-blue Chrisssmuussssing through, but when we landed on:</span></b></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">âPRESENTING: JOHN WAYNE AS SCROOGE!â</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">âYou keep Christmas in your own way-- and let me keep it in mine, pilgrim!â</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We both burst out laughing so hard we had to stop or weâd run out of air.)</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The point is, Iâm slightly loopy, made worse by getting over a back issue that I needed pain meds for, and itâll show in the writing. Maybe getting more and more unhinged will make for a fun read? Either way, enjoy, and if it gets too hectic send those men in white coats my way again; tell them âyeah itâs the âUnariusâ kid again; yes the one going on about the maskâŠâ</span></b></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So! Like the US itself, this is to blame from me scoffing and looking at something British (in this case, an article very much worth your time!) and going, â</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> could do better!â</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okay, it didnât go like that, but for the sake of metaphor, it did.</span></b></span><b> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Lora, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Truthfully, I was very inspired by Richard Jonesâ article, because I was yearning to hear about, "</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what about this version or that version??â which wasnât covered, and excited to see for myself some of the later 2000s versions which he did mention. Thereâs a ton I havenât seen, and a ton more neither of us seem to have seen, and the longer my list of âto watchâ became, the more flustered I got.</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had to keep amending; okay Iâll cover films only--okay films and TV films--okay films and TV films and TV knock-offs--okay that and radio, okay--</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Itâs been pleasant and very informative! Iâm glad I covered radio along with everything else: I wouldâve truly missed the history of Lionel Barrymoreâs Scrooge-ing and all the ins and outs.</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That said, today, itâs Christmas Eve itself. Bob Cratchitâs stuck at work, and hopefully you arenât--at least not too late! If you are, Iâll provide you with a few little tidbits of info, along with some fun videos that I hope make âA Christmas Carolâ reviews and adaptations enjoyable in the broader scope:</span></b></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1RAzd9cCwJBF3r6SZ4MqqPBpm7zsCv5dWQfp11vK-L1Je4IIe8ZLynTmayhZnftai_T7sYWl72p-gUNu6hXFnea6teJbdOaQGf69aNzQYQhRmCcdRy5eoIUCKgSnSP95fiRmqY-uwEUYNyPO3dlHy-IaI2YufdcTpdQuzW3Mu_w1-QMlS-_HcC-H/s500/ChristmasCarolNintendoDS.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="500" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1RAzd9cCwJBF3r6SZ4MqqPBpm7zsCv5dWQfp11vK-L1Je4IIe8ZLynTmayhZnftai_T7sYWl72p-gUNu6hXFnea6teJbdOaQGf69aNzQYQhRmCcdRy5eoIUCKgSnSP95fiRmqY-uwEUYNyPO3dlHy-IaI2YufdcTpdQuzW3Mu_w1-QMlS-_HcC-H/w400-h359/ChristmasCarolNintendoDS.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did You Know? There are FOUR video games I can find based on ACC! The first two are listed on Wikipedia as fan-made âMega Man: A Christmas Carolâ games. Of the other two, one of them is a Nintendo DS game (which may have other versions for other consoles) thatâs a tie-in of the 2009 Disney Jim Carrey movie! The last one, truly an oddity, is a point-and-click Hidden Object game where you play as Scroogeâs nephew (I think?) and all the footage Iâve seen from it is the beginning where some Christmas faerie / spirit has summoned you because Scrooge is trapped(?) in his redemption, and you have to assemble a locket of him and Belle. It goes from there. A full playthrough of the DS game can be found </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Jlb1_MRzA&t=32s" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and the Hidden Object </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_OHegCqibU&t=12s" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, though fair warning: I havenât had time to watch through them, so I canât say if theyâre SFW if thereâs commentary.<br /></span></b></span><p></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_RE8NjCpEGMLbVdQm594wF32tCIyhqoAyO13vzkanFnvGDiuwsFysCWWstUAaZBP1j1sFDnLRLBUwvLLzzDuv7KE3O310LbMQqTbMmA451Nfg48M-1E-tL9k3g_8UNspi1Vr1cy5JZVIZZoDYgDVV2NsKk1979MPIX_wQp7_i98u84Jwztg1wbmI/s616/ChristmasCarolHidddenObjectGame.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="616" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_RE8NjCpEGMLbVdQm594wF32tCIyhqoAyO13vzkanFnvGDiuwsFysCWWstUAaZBP1j1sFDnLRLBUwvLLzzDuv7KE3O310LbMQqTbMmA451Nfg48M-1E-tL9k3g_8UNspi1Vr1cy5JZVIZZoDYgDVV2NsKk1979MPIX_wQp7_i98u84Jwztg1wbmI/w400-h229/ChristmasCarolHidddenObjectGame.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did You Know? In keeping with the SFW or otherwise for a brief moment, as mentioned in the 1949 review (I think it was that one), there is in fact a 1975 Blue Film version of âA Christmas Carol,â which was, at least when it came out, I believe the only Dickens adaptation to get such a treatment! Entitled âThe Passions of Carol,â the plot description is effectively exactly what youâre thinking, and yes, upsettingly, in looking it up there is actually someone selling DVDs of it. Iâm making Walter procure that particular hard copy. Read the IMDb </span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0127090/reviews" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">trivia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at your own risk--I appreciate the last comment of, âWatch this and the Alastair Sim one back to back.â</span></b></span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7NHBvv5lRRCOYTU21oqWD88q7FTYEDhva6oxqLGL5ZVLeTWL2jfFSRVr6lxC-2Dax8vMuYRMZzoFRP668I3yFOV3nS-BBIUeOj-uEO9nQq-4Dn-Gakpm0FK2O7Wr0JkPqXF4XTkxJn6MxBTIGO9sCIUo74wbLlM5lTWd_TVGOsFYSsRkZQCgTWaO/s1023/ThePassionsOfCarol.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="730" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7NHBvv5lRRCOYTU21oqWD88q7FTYEDhva6oxqLGL5ZVLeTWL2jfFSRVr6lxC-2Dax8vMuYRMZzoFRP668I3yFOV3nS-BBIUeOj-uEO9nQq-4Dn-Gakpm0FK2O7Wr0JkPqXF4XTkxJn6MxBTIGO9sCIUo74wbLlM5lTWd_TVGOsFYSsRkZQCgTWaO/w285-h400/ThePassionsOfCarol.png" width="285" /></a></span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Did You Know? There are quite a few books that are spin-offs of âA Christmas Carol!â Usually they fall into two camps: sequels with Timothy Cratchit repeating some Scrooge-like journey, or Marley earning his own redemption arc--specifically, 19 for a sequel and 8 for a Marley-book, if I counted right! Timâs been everything from a miser to a homicide detective to a ninja. Thereâs also a sequel of Fred, determined to hunt down the person who murdered his wife and Scroogeâs ghost trying to lead him away from a dark path. That oneâs in fact a comic strip, called âOf Christmas Pastâ by Johnny Low and Seaward Tuthill. There is also a prequel book, four or five celebrated illustrated editions (of the NUMEROUS more out there, Wikipedia recognized 4 or 5), </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TWO DIFFERENT ZOMBIE CHRISTMAS CAROLS</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a modern version, an Amish version, a Jewish version, a vegan version that omits all instances of meat mentioned, and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">two Batman Comics versions, the more famous of which is 2011âs âBatman NoĂ«lâ! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thereâs even a delightful âFoxTrotâ strip </span><a href="https://foxtrot.com/jasonezer-scrooge/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from 1998: âJasonezer Scroogeâ!</span></b></span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a few final fun videos, there is a very neat little comparison </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3tWgDzcBmU&t=1s" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the Marley doorknocker, from 1901 all the way to 2019! Itâs crazy that we have a full 118 years of Marley-knockers.</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thereâs also a newer video on âVillain Therapy: Ebenezer Scroogeâ, on the wonderful channel Cinema Therapy. Itâs a great mix of a filmmaker and a therapist looking at films and analyzing them based on their respective professions--and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNFiQIxWP4" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, they break down âThe Muppetsâ Christmas Carolâ, specifically to see just what makes Michael Caine tick! Maybe a holdover from being in âThe Magusâ?</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyT8oOi63Yd7gviiyYDwwcGgBthPaRBt-H3rTaoQATBVExsa9jqdf6MKOBxQjfaucbtlqrFE0_9fJGywRp9EKDlAgkDSnAnu5OuWfe32YbaCoZVZMMPsi8CJkF0PvmgMi3IwwuRfce0Ra9HkkhHUjOOJnmx5gqd41GKS-QSE1mAmUTzMQ9GcAknUyU/s1280/TheGhostlyThree.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1280" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyT8oOi63Yd7gviiyYDwwcGgBthPaRBt-H3rTaoQATBVExsa9jqdf6MKOBxQjfaucbtlqrFE0_9fJGywRp9EKDlAgkDSnAnu5OuWfe32YbaCoZVZMMPsi8CJkF0PvmgMi3IwwuRfce0Ra9HkkhHUjOOJnmx5gqd41GKS-QSE1mAmUTzMQ9GcAknUyU/w400-h258/TheGhostlyThree.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />I guess to wrap up, amidst multitudes of âstraight adaptationsâ or âreimaginings,â I start to look at lists about âwhich one is the closest to the book?â For that purpose, I quite like âLost In Adaptationâ by Dominic Noble (formerly The Dom) on YouTube. I like his videos quite a bit, both as humor and especially as trivia! I especially like, too, that he does his best to be fair to films that are terrible, still listing things that are good about them, even if theyâre few and far between. Itâs also always fun to me to just go, âWait, that was a book?â He did a two-parter on âA Christmas Carolâ </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb_Fcw5nJME" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78IfCwKXTWQ" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which I hope you enjoy! (There are, I should warn you, rather a lot of swears, but nothing thatâd drop a high-schoolerâs jaw at least.)</span></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With that, please forgive me, but Iâm a tired old man. Itâs been a long day of BUSINESS! and I just got home. There was something weird about my door-knocker, but Iâm overlooking that--I already took my melancholy dinner at my melancholy tavern, and I think a nice bowl of gruel is looking delightfully yummy! So Iâll bid you farewell until next yearâs reviews--provided you want them to return, of course--and go on upstairs to my dark chambers where surely no Christmas ghosts are lurkingâŠ</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for reading, and God Bless Us, Every One!</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ****************************************************************************** </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvMADLLl4wqDDNrrp2uwDp3D7kEZ7MVOi8ienjZXl5azbp1dtw61JGH5AshfA50caj7iXmiH9yeO-EJ5GBTqXJXzJI-Tif4gqCCZBmBhjXu6lHtaxA2378sWFpi5p_dl6yTWs9GZ5rHPJBXJyxxatP7HQCdddZbkzQOYK64GCuX4OEpkE5j78rzU4/s768/SantasStoned.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvMADLLl4wqDDNrrp2uwDp3D7kEZ7MVOi8ienjZXl5azbp1dtw61JGH5AshfA50caj7iXmiH9yeO-EJ5GBTqXJXzJI-Tif4gqCCZBmBhjXu6lHtaxA2378sWFpi5p_dl6yTWs9GZ5rHPJBXJyxxatP7HQCdddZbkzQOYK64GCuX4OEpkE5j78rzU4/w225-h400/SantasStoned.webp" width="225" /></a></span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We would be remiss to end the year without at least ONE 'Sketchy Santa' article, so may we present Buzzfeed's '17 Poorly Designed Things That Make Santa Look Like Kind Of A Weirdo' - we've featured at least THREE of these in K.A.C. articles of years past, but this new batch has to be seen to be believed!</span></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/christopherhudspeth/crappy-design-santa-christmas">https://www.buzzfeed.com/christopherhudspeth/crappy-design-santa-christmas</a> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ************************************************</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Finally, we end as we do every year with our traditional Christmas ghost story. You would think that after so many days of A Christmas Carol, we would be surfeited on ghosts, but not so! Our featured author this year is Oliver Onions (1973-1961), who wrote in many different genres, but is best remembered now for his ghost stories and supernatural fiction. We leave you with a novella he wrote in 1911, one I consider his best piece of work, that like the best ghost stories is a psychological tale that takes its time to get under your skin, but once it's there, it gets its claws in you and rides you to the hair-raising end. Settle in to a comfy chair, turn off all but your reading lights, wrap a blanket around you and have your favorite hot beverage close by as you read the tale of 'The Beckoning Fair One':</span></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWWMHQWGTZqOsSDplWAWbCBtmvXtRptuM7ZXstM-l_GnWGXnXR05TZtbj1zH2bX5EKfMuUcj9Vlr8rPiMOqSv_f1Db90zFqM3xXL6GP_vch3VlDeE0Fm6IWFpXWvpT6wCb-vSLkM9kHzLIGJHDoyduMOSdDlq3c88nnd7XAgK3ki3nL2GHtr0rJnD/s1175/Oliver_Onions.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWWMHQWGTZqOsSDplWAWbCBtmvXtRptuM7ZXstM-l_GnWGXnXR05TZtbj1zH2bX5EKfMuUcj9Vlr8rPiMOqSv_f1Db90zFqM3xXL6GP_vch3VlDeE0Fm6IWFpXWvpT6wCb-vSLkM9kHzLIGJHDoyduMOSdDlq3c88nnd7XAgK3ki3nL2GHtr0rJnD/w273-h400/Oliver_Onions.jpg" width="273" /></a></span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://web.english.upenn.edu/~nauerbac/onions.html">https://web.english.upenn.edu/~nauerbac/onions.html</a> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Since I'm SURE I can't top that, this is a good place to wrap things up. My thanks again to Justin for his fine series of articles, for you for stopping by to read these daily doses of delirium, and to all the people our there who inadvertently give us fodder for the K.A.C. each and every year - we love ya!</span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Until next year, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and we'll do it all over again next year at the same time, when the calendar turns to December 1st once again. Be safe!</span></b></span></span></p><p></p>Conjure Cinema Curatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097107908068470896noreply@blogger.com0