Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Today is Carol Channing's birthday. She's been on Broadway forever and is most commonly associated with Hello Dolly. Though we haven't actually seen Otto Preminger's film Skidoo , we're amused by Carol Channing's performance on the theme song.



Here Carol Channing is presented as an original work of art.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Gene Hackman celebrates his birthday today. When we think of Gene Hackman, we tend to think of "Lex Luthor" from the classic Superman films. When we hear about a film and note that Gene Hackman is in it, we assume it will be good, not just because he will likely be good in the movie, but because he tends to pick good movies to be in. We especially are fond of The Conversation.



Above is the movie poster for our favorite Hackman film, The Conversation.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Today is the 270th birthday of Thomas Paine. It's unfortunate that life expectancy is not up to 280 or so, as it would be nice to have the author of Common Sense and The Age of Reason with us today.



Above is a page from a reprinted edition of Common Sense.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

On this week's Sunday Funnies, we find ourselves thinking about Snoopy's feathered friend Woodstock, from the Peanuts strip.

Our neighbors' dog appears to have a Walter Mitty-esque life not unlike that of Snoopy. Since his owners went away for the weekend, we felt a little sorry for their dog, who was left behind. We briefly considered getting a pet bird so it could play with him. Naturally we decided to look up what kind of bird Woodstock is exactly, which led us to a few minutes of intense research that resulted in the discovery that it was never actually made clear what kind of bird Woodstock is exactly. It's just as well, since it also appears our happy little neighbor dog's owners were only on a day trip. Looks like we're just going to skip the whole pet bird thing altogether.



Here is a swell 1970's friction vehicle toy with Woodstock selling ice cream.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

On this Cartoon Saturday, we note that The Mighty Hercules was a successful cartoon series from the mid-1960's. The show was, as you might expect, loosely based on Greek myth, though more for character names and ideas than for actual plots. This Hercules lived in Ancient Greece and gained access to godly strength with a magic ring given to him by Zeus. His sidekick was a centaur named Newt.

Singer Johnny Nash, of "I Can See Clearly" fame, sang the show's theme song.



Some episodes of the show are compiled on the video depicted above. It promises "an hour of fun."

Friday, January 26, 2007

Brazil was discovered by explorer Vicente Yáñez Pinzón on this day in 1500.



Above is a map of Brazil as printed in 1899.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Today is author Virginia Woolf's birthday. Her life was as fascinating, or perhpas even more fascinating, than her art. Though that could likely be said of many people with less-than-fascinating art, hers was far from underwhelming, and included groundbreaking experimentation with the narrative form.



Above, Virginia Woolf is recreated in a huggable plush toy.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

The Eskimo Pie was patented on this day in 1922. The chocolate covered ice cream was originally dubbed the "I-Scream Bar" by its creator Christian Nelson, but the name was changed at the suggestion of Clara Stover, wife of Nelson's business partner Russell Stover (who went on to become quite successful selling boxed chocolates).



Depicted above is a toy made by Ertl of a young lad selling Eskimo Pies.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Police sitcom "Barney Miller" made it's television debut on this day in 1975. Though the show was a laugh-tracked workplace sitcom with plenty of humor, it also dealt with many very serious issues during its run. Unlike the always depressed police officers of the "gritty, real life" type dramas that would follow in the 80's and onward, the officers of "Barney Miller" dealt with life like most well-adjusted people do: they enjoyed themselves when they could and stepped up when they had to.



Like many television show's from the 70's era, "Barney Miller" was rewarded with a board game all of its own.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Today is the birthday of statesman, philosopher and early scientist Sir Francis Bacon. Among his many contributions to thought in the 17th Century, Bacon was a strong advocate for the more modern approach to scientific reasoning. His inductive approach began with a hypothesis, which was tested through experimentation and observation. It proved a bit more useful than wild unproven speculation (even though that approach still has its followers).



Pictured here are the complete works of Bacon, as compiled and published in the early 19th Century. Some would argue a copy of The Complete Shakespeare would belong in this set as well.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

On this week's Sunday Funnies, we acknowledge the dumb little dog that is the faithful (if tormented) friend of Jon Arbuckle's cat Garfield. Though technically belonging to Jon's roommate Lyman (who hasn't appeared for years), Odie lives with Garfield and Jon and cheerfully falls victim to Garfields pranks on an almost constant basis.



Pictured here is a large plush version of Odie that is just waiting to be knocked off a table.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

On this Cartoon Saturday we recall Voltron. Japanese made Voltron was slipped into early 80's cartoon fare alongside domestic product like G.I. Joe and Transformers, not just on the television, but on toy aisles as well. The appeal of five robot lions combining into one giant robot was huge, and official licensees and knock-off makers alike pushed volumes Voltron onto the shelves and into the happy hands of children everywhere.



The item above was, in our opinion, the best of the dozens of Voltron sets available. This one was made of actual vehicle lions that the action figure line fit into. It was therefore much bigger than almost all of the others and way cooler.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Today is the birthday of actress Jean Stapleton. Though she had a varied career on film and television, she will forever be best known as Edith, the put upon, yet patient, wife of Archie Bunker.



In the item depicted above, Stapleton is shown as Edith (alongside Carroll O'Connor's Archie) singing. Her hilariously off key singing of the show's theme song helped make it one of the most memorable theme songs in television history.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Today is the birthday of author A.A. Milne, chronicler of the exploits of Winnie The Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and the rest of the residents of the 100 Acre Wood. Originally the stories were told for the amusement of Milne's son, Christopher Robin, but soon they were shared with readers around the world who all became fond of the bear of little brain.



In the animation sericel above, the whole 100 Acre Wood gang is shown in a celebratory march.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Quintessential American Benjamin Franklin was born on this day in 1706. Aside from being one of the most influential, prominent and important of the "Founding Fathers," with ideas and writings that hold true to this day, Franklin was everything from an author and printer to the inventor of the lightning rod, the founder of the first public library and fire departments and a musician and composer.



Here, Benjamin Franklin is presented on the head of the half dollar coin. Three of them, to be precise.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

The United States went dry (legally, anyway) as the 18th Amendment went into affect on this day in 1920. Prohibition lasted until 1933, when American citizens once again resumed eating, drinking and merrymaking.



As the item depicted shows, Prohibition did not occur in France.

Monday, January 15, 2007

The legendary queen of Cajun Zydeco music, Queen Ida Guillory, celebrates her birthday today.

Ida Guillory started out in Louisiana, growing up surrounded by the sounds of the homegrown Cajun and Creole music people played after a hard day's work. Upon moving to San Francisco she raised her family and worked as a school bus driver until she started sitting in on her brother's gigs at local French dances. One newspaper nickname later and "Queen Ida" was born.



The item depicted above is a cookbook featuring the food you should be eating before you go out for a night of zydeco dancing.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

On this week's Sunday Funnies, we remember Bat-mite. As we mentioned yesterday on Cartoon Saturday, Bat-mite appeared in animated form in the 1977 cartoon The New Adventures of Batman. By the time he appeared in the cartoon, Bat-Mite had long vanished from the regular pages of Batman's comics, which had gotten far more "serious" in the 60's and 70's (but not as "serious" as they'd get in the ensuing decades).

Bat-Mite was a short, playful imp who had two defining traits: first, he was capable of magic, and second, he was Batman's biggest fan. So donning a comedically ill-fitting replica of Batman's costume, Bat-Mite regularly started popping into Batman's life, usually causing him annoyance more than anything else. While he was a trouble-maker, his goal was more to provide worthy challenges for Batman to beat than to do any real harm.



The item depicted is Detective Comics 289 from 1961, which features a cover appearance by Bat-Mite.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

On this Cartoon Saturday, we pick up from yesterday's remembrance of the classic 1966 Batman television show starring Adam West and Burt Ward. Filmation reunited West and Ward as the voices behind the Dynamic Duo in The New Adventures Of Batman. In addition to Batman, Robin, Batgirl and most (but not all, due to contract issues with the Super Friends cartoon) of the classic villains, The New Adventures of Batman also featured the little imp Batmite, who served as comic relief to the audience and as an annoyance to the show's heroes.



The item depicted is an animation sericel from the series.

Friday, January 12, 2007

"Hi Diddle Riddle," the debut episode of one of the best and most influential shows of the 1960's, Batman starring Adam West as the "Caped Crusader" and Burt Ward as youthful sidekick Robin, The Boy Wonder, aired on ABC on this date in 1966. The colorful, action-packed show's use of elaborately choreographed fight scenes, groovy music and sets, and campy dialog would leave an impact on many other shows of the late 60's and early 70's (and beyond). The show's popularity spawned a "Batmania" that was perhaps second only to "Beatlemania" in it's influence on the decade.



The item depicted here in issue of TV Guide from March of 1966 featuring West as Batman and including one of the show's signature "POW!" effects.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Popular Mechanics, one of the foremost magazines that bring science, technology and, best of all, really cool stuff into the consciousness of the general public was first published on this date on 1902.



The item depicted here is the cover of the October 1946 issue of the magazine. This issue is said to include articles on atomic power, luxury ships and planes and underground fortresses. There is no explanation to be gleaned from the item description to account for the giant man standing in the tiny forest.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Ray Bolger, beloved by many as The Scarecrow in the classic MGM version of The Wizard Of Oz was born on this day. The vaudeville and broadway actor had earned a reputation for being highly talented at physical comedy, which would serve him well in the role that would, as he himself described it, give him immortality.



The item depicted above is photograph of Ray Bolger as The Scarecrow of Oz.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Today is the birthday of actor Bob Denver. First gaining stardom as beatnik sidekick Maynard G. Krebs on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Bob Denver immediately followed that run by taking on his biggest role, Gilligan on Gilligan's Island. This role would stay with him for the rest of his life, but unlike many roles that actors wind up married to, Gilligan kept providing him with work. Following the end of Gilligan's Island, the character was resurrected in two cartoon series and a string of reunion movies. Decades after the classic series ended, Bob Denver was guest starring on various shows playing Gilligan. Many of his other roles tended to be very similar to Gilligan on shows that were essentially variations on the Gilligan's Island theme (Dusty's Trail was Gilligan's Island in the wild west, The Sid & Marty Krofft produced Far Out Space Nuts was essentially Gilligan's Island in space).



In the item selected, Bob Denver's Gilligan is "disguised" as an island native.

Monday, January 8, 2007

The Battle of New Orleans was fought on this day in 1815. It went something like this: We fired our guns and the British kept a coming, but there wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began to running from down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

The War of 1812 actually ended a few weeks earlier, but news spread slower back in those days. Then again, for a war that lasted until 1814 called The War Of 1812, it's worth noting The Battle of New Orleans actually took place in New Orleans and the immediately surrounding areas.



The item depicted is a picture sleeve version of the hit single version of the song immortalizing the battle, sung by Johnny Horton.

Sunday, January 7, 2007

Today we introduce our Sunday Funnies feature, each week spotlighting one the many wonderful characters or titles from the worlds of comic books and comic strips.

Although sometimes this feature could include characters who would also be suitable for our Saturday Cartoons feature, todays is not. In fact, she's one of the few characters from the Harvey Comics group (as mentioned yesterday) who did not have an animated turn. Her name is Little Dot. Despite being overlooked for an animated series, Dot was one of the most popular and durable characters in the Harvey stable. Indeed it was as a backup feature in her comic that Richie Rich make his debut.

Little Dot had a fascination with dots (and spots and other round things). This fascination drew her into many misadventures over the decades, as did her large family of Aunts and Uncles (who even earned their own comic book spin-off) and her friendship (and frequent cross-overs) with fellow Harvey character Little Lotta.



The item above is from Little Dot issue 58 from 1960. Focusing on the "dot" part of music notes was a recurring cover gag.

Saturday, January 6, 2007

Thoughts of Baby New Year give way to thoughts of Baby Huey here on the first Cartoon Saturday of 2007.

Baby Huey ("The Baby Giant") was a giant baby duckling (of the Daffy/Donald species of walking, talking duck). Part of the Paramount/Famous line of cartoons of the 1950s, Baby Huey was the typical misfit outcast who didn't fit in with the other ducklings, but whose good heart usually won out in the end.

In addition to a run of theatrical shorts (under the "Harvey Noveltoons" brand, which featured characters from the Harvey Comics group like Casper, The Friendly Ghost) and several comic book series, Baby Huey cartoons would pop up over the following decades on various programs starring other Harvey Comics characters like Casper and Richie Rich.



The item pictured above is the first issue of Baby Huey's Harvey Comics series from 1956.

Friday, January 5, 2007

The Wiz, a broadway adaptation of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz featuring an all African-American cast, opened at the Majestic Theatre in New York City on this day in 1975.



Depicted above is the cover of a coloring book, presumably produced to capitalize on the 1978 film version of the musical.

Thursday, January 4, 2006

Sorrell Booke, easily recognized on sight and from his distinctive voice as his most famous character, The Dukes Of Hazzard's Boss Hogg, was born on this date. Though appearing on television and in film for over forty years, the Duke family's nemesis, corrupt city commissioner J.D. Hogg, a role he got after two decades of steady work as a character actor, guest starring on shows as diverse as The Patty Duke Show, Mission: Impossible and soap opera The Guiding Light was the character that made him a household name.



In the item we've chosen, Sorrell Booke is depicted as Boss Hogg's "good twin" Abraham Lincoln Hogg.

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Apple Computer incorporated 30 years ago today. Though far more successful now as the makers of iPods and the proprietors of the iTunes store, Apple's early product line of personal computers featured some of the most successful models of the Golden Age of home computing. The Apple II line was a staple in schools for most of the 1980's.



The item depicted is a vintage Apple IIe. This model was the most popular of the Apple II line and remained in production a surprising ten years, remaining part of Apple's product line until 1993.

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Today is the birthday of author and scientist Isaac Asimov. His many science fiction novels are regarded as some of the finest of the genre and have been influential on many of his contemporaries and followers. Especially popular are his many robot novels.



The item depicted is an issue of Astounding Science Fiction with a story by Asimov presented on the cover.

Monday, January 1, 2007

Happy New Year. This is the first day of 2007.