Sid The Kid Nets Gold Medal For Team Canada

At Vancouver, British Columbia:

Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal in sudden-death overtime to carry Canada to a 3-2 win over the United States Sunday in the Gold Medal game in the men's ice hockey tournament on the final day of the 2010 Winter Olympic games .

Hey, Where's Euell Gibbons?

Here's a commercial for Post Grape Nuts that aired live during a 1955 CBS telecast of Mama, which during its' original 1949-55 live run, was sponsored by General Foods, mostly for Maxwell House Coffee. 

If Raisin Bran Is More Your Bag

Here's a commercial from what looks like the early 1950s for Post Raisin Bran, starring Maisie the Raisin and Jake the Flake.

Try A Bowl Of Post Grape Nuts Flakes For Breakfast!

From circa 1954, here's an old television commercial for Post Grape Nuts Flakes.

A Farewell To Katnip (And Herman Too)

From 1959, here is the last Herman and Katnip theatrical cartoon, "Katnip's Big Day," which was essentially a takeoff on Truth or Consequences. Made by Paramount Cartoon Studios in New York City and directed by Seymour Kneitel, animation by William B. Pattengill and Jack Ehret, sets by Robert Owen, music by Winston Sharples, and uncredited voice charaterizations by Sid Raymond (his last cartoon as the voice of Katnip), Jackson Beck, and Jack Mercer (who filled in for Arnold Stang as the voice of Herman).

 





This cartoon was loaded with excerpts from previous H&K outings, including:

"A Bicep Built For Two" (1955; director: Seymour Kneitel)

"Drinks On The Mouse" (1953; director: Dave Tendlar)

"Cat-Choo" (1951; director: Seymour Kneitel)

"Mousetro Herman" (1956; director: Isidore Sparber)

It was also the last Paramount Cartoon Studios entry made in Technicolor.

It's Craftsmanship With Flair!

Here's a television commercial for the big new 1956 Studebakers.

More Snapshots From Jacksonville

Here are some more digital photographs from this past Monday's visit to Jacksonville, Oregon.

Christmas Day May Have Been Two Months Ago, BUT.....

I've decided to add this clip from an ABC telecast of the Lawrence Welk Show, which probably aired on Christmas Eve, 1960.  Here are the Champagne Music Makers performing Victor Herbert's "March Of The Toys."

Alright, Just Who The Hell Ran Off With Buddy's Gal

In this clip from the July 2, 1955 ABC premiere telecast of The Lawrence Welk Show, here's bassist Buddy Hayes singing and playing "Somebody Stole My Gal."

Here's Dee Dee

Here's Dianne Lennon, performing "You'll Never Know" in this clip from an ABC telecast of Lawrence Welk's Dodge Dancing Party, dating back to 1958.

Rudy Larriva, R. I. P.

Rudy Larriva, a longtime veteran cartoon animator and director, whose career spanned six decades and who worked at Warner Brothers, UPA, and Format Films, passed away this past Friday at age 94.

Jerry, Larry, and Tiny

In this clip from a 1958 ABC telecast of Lawrence Welk's Saturday night Dodge Dancing Party, we see Larry Hooper, Jerry Burke, and Big Tiny Little, Jr. performing "Jealous" on pianos.

Time For Sam and Tony

Here's a brief video I made this past Sunday featuring the two dogs from my sister who came up recently for a visit from Reno, Nevada, Sam the Chihuahua and Tony the Lhasa Apso.



Aren't they soooooooooooooo cute?

Snapshots From Jacksonville

Here are some digital photographs I took on Monday in historic Jacksonville, Oregon.

Hey Roy, Where's Bill Cosby?

And now, for desert, how about some Jell-O Instant Pudding? Here are Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and their offspring enjoying some Jell-O Instant Pudding----and singing a song----in this 1950s television commercial.

Here's An Idea For Lunch

How 'bout some Sloppy Joes? Here is what looks like a mid-1960s commercial for Libby's Sloppy Joe filling. In a can.



Just heat and eat. And keep your mouths shut!

Just kidding.

Where Are Those Wild Hickory Nuts?

From circa 1964, here are Andy Griffith and Don Knotts in a commercial which originally aired at the end of a telecast of The Andy Griffith Show. Back in the day, the stars of a given television show would appear for the sponsor's product at the end of that week's show. This is commercial for Post Grape Nuts, from General Foods, which sponsored Andy and the gang from Mayberry, Monday nights on CBS.

Time For Soft Lights and Sweet Music

In this clip from a 1958 telecast of Lawrence Welk's ABC Saturday Dodge Dancing Party, here are the Champagne Music Makers performing "Soft Lights and Sweet Music." It'a a blast.

See Your Nash Or Hudson Dealer Today!

Here's a commercial for the 1957 Rambler Cross-Country hardtop station wagon. They were available at Nash and Hudson dealers as well as those dealers that were now starting to sell Ramblers exclusively. Nash and Hudson, both divisions of American Motors, were reduced to the V-8 Ambassadors and Hornets respectively by then and would be phased out shortly before the start of the 1958 model year as AMC concentrated on Ramblers and the British-built subcompact Metropolitans.

How Would You Like To Ride On A Station Wagon With So Many Four-Legged Friends!

Here is a commercial for American Motors from 1967 with Noah and all his animal friends.

We Now Pause For Station Identification

Here is a clip of a local television identification from 1948 for WABD TV, Channel 5 in New York City.







WABD was owned by Allen B. DuMont Laboratories and was the flagship station of the DuMont Television Network. The network collapsed in 1955. In the late 1950s the station's call letters were changed to WNEW. In 1996, after News Corporation bought the old Metromedia TV stations including WNEW, the station's call letters were changed to the current WNYW.

It's Time For Daffy and Speedy

From 1965, here are Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzales in "Go Go Amigo," a Merrie Melodies cartoon produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises for release by Warner Brothers. From 1964 through 1966, DePatie Freleng produced Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes for Warner Brothers release.



This cartoon was produced by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng, and directed by Robert McKimson, with story by David DeTiege, animation by Warren Batchelder, Bob Matz, and Manny Perez, layouts by Dick Ung, backgrounds by George De Lado, editing by Lee Gunther, voice characterizations by Mel Blanc and Pedro Gonzelez-Gonzalez, and music by Bill Lava.

Sortafa Roundabout Way Of Doin' It, Eh?

In this clip from a 1958 ABC telecast of the Saturday night Dodge Dancing Party, here's Lawrence Welk and his Champagne Music Makers performing a concert version of that old chestnut, "The Farmer and the Dell."

Tiger TV

The Tiger Woods Show aired today on all major broadcast networks as well as Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, CNN, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, CNBC, CNBC World, Bloomberg Business Television, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, and The Golf Channel.

I don't think it aired on SoapNet.

I didn't bother watching it.

Where Are The Blowfish?

From 1958, here's a "Herman and Katnip" cartoon, "Owly To Bed," produced at Paramount Cartoon Studios in New York City.



This cartoon, with story by Carl Meyer, animation by Tom Johnson and William B. Pattengill, sets by John Zago, and music by Winston Sharples, was directed by Seymour Kneitel.

Maybe MJ Could End Up Like Al Davis

That is the Al Davis of the last six or seven years.


Keep in mind that the Charlotte Bobcats are the only NBA team (and one of only two among the four major American sports leagues---the NFL's Houston Texans being the other) that has never made the playoffs.

More Off-Field Misadventures With An Oregon Duck

This feller was tossed in the pokey.

Let's Hear It For Sadie!

Sadie, the Scottish Terrier, was named Best In Show at the conclusion Tuesday night of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City.

Here's Dutch

Ronald Reagan, who succeeded Stanley (The Old Ranger) Andrews as host of Death Valley Days, is shown here talking about Boraxo Powdered Hand Soap and Boraxo Waterless Hand Cleaner. This is probably from the mid-1960s.

Before You Stuff Your Mouth With 40% Bran Flakes and 7Up

Be sure to get you dadgummed hands twice as clean with Boraxo.






That's Stanley Andrews, as The Old Ranger, who was the original host of the syndicated Death Valley Days television show, and that's a commercial (from circa 1953) for 20-Mule Team Borax and Boraxo powdered hand soap, which sponsored DVD.

Wash Down Those 40% Bran Flakes..........

With a bottle of refreshing Seven-UP. This commercial comes from the pre-Uncola year of 1964.

Why Take Ex-Lax?.

When you can have a big heaping bowl full of Post 40% Bran Flakes. Yum Yum! Here's a 1950s TV commercial for this General Foods cereal product.



We were more of a Kellogg's family as far as 40% bran flakes cereals are concerned.

Holiday Greeting

Here's hoping that you and yours are celebrating this Emperor's-----uuuhhhh----President's Day.

They Sure Do Make Things BIG In Texas

At Arlington, Texas:

Before the largest crowd ever to witness a basketball game----108,713 at Cowboys Stadium----Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat) scored 28 points and earned Most Valuable Player honors as the Eastern Conference All-Stars held off their Western Conference counterparts 141-139 Sunday at the National Basketball Association's All-Star Game.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We hope that you and yours are celebrating a happy Valentine's Day!

Time For Another Cartoon, Boys and Girls!

Produced in 1960 and released in early 1961, here is The Cat starring in "Cool Cat Blues," produced in New York City by Paramount Cartoon Studios.



This cartoon a takeoff on TV personality Ed Sullivan, was directed by Seymour Kneitel.

Story by Irving Spector

Animation by Irving Spector, Jerry Dvorak, Jack Ehret, and William B. Pattengill

Sets by Robert Owen

Music by Winston Sharples

To me, this was one of Paramount's better early 1960s efforts. The Cat, in this cartoon a private eye who doubles as a jazz pianist, is hired to prevent TV star Ed Solvent from being kidnapped by a rival network.

Walter Frederick "Fred" Morrison, Frisbee Inventor, R. I. P.

Fred Morrison, the man credited with inventing the Frisbee, passed away at his Monroe, Utah home this past Tuesday from lung cancer at age 90.

Wanna Keep Your Pizza Hot?

Here's a 1978 commercial for Shakey Pizza's Pizza Keeper, which was supposed to keep your Shakey's Pizza hot.

Time For Jerry and Friends

In this excerpt from a 1956 ABC telecast of The Lawrence Welk Show, here is organist Jerry Burke (on his birthday!) performing "Moonglow." Featured alongside Jerry are Big Tiny Little on piano, Pete Lofthouse, Norman Bailey, and Barney Liddell on trombone, with Bob Lido, Dick Kesner, and Aladdin on violin.



Except for a hitch in the Army during World War II, Jerry was with Lawrence and his orchestra from 1934 until he passed away in 1965.

Hungry For A Pizza?

Try Godfather's Pizza. Here's a commercial that aired on local television in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1978.

How Lucky Are You?

From 1947, here is a Famous Studios Noveltoon, "The Stupidstitious Cat," featuring Buzzy the Crow. This cartoon, with story by Carl Meyer and Jack Ward, animation by Graham Place and John Walworth, sets by Anton Loeb, musical arrangement by Winston Sharples, and uncredited voice characterizations by Jackson Beck, was directed by Seymour Kneitel, made in New York City, and released by Paramount Pictures.

Great Balls of Fire!

In this clip from the February 15, 1958 debut of The Dick Clark Show on ABC from New York City, here's Jerry Lee Lewis' live performance of "Great Balls of Fire!"

How Bout A Bowl....

Of Cheerios. Here are Donald Duck, his nephews, and The Cheerios Kid in a 1950s commercial that probably aired on either Disneyland or The Mickey Mouse Club on ABC.

What A Brain-Dead Numbskull

This concluding excerpt from a 1956 Famous Studios cartoon, "Mouseum," starring Herman and Katnip, directed by Seymour Kneitel and originally distributed theatrically by Paramount Pictures, speaks for itself.

Time For Little Audrey

Here is Little Audrey, starring in a 1950 Famous Studios Noveltoon, "Tarts and Flowers," produced in New York City and released by Paramount Pictures.





This cartoon, with story by Bill Turner and Larry Riley, animation by George Germanetti and Steve Muffatti, sets by Robert Little, music by Winston Sharles, cinematography (uncredited) by Leonard McCormick, voice characterizations (also uncredited) by Mae Questel (who did Little Audrey as well as Olive Oyl and Betty Boop) and Jackson Beck (who also voiced Bluto in the Popeye series), was directed by ex-Disneyite Bill Tytla.

Maybe You Folks In Portland Have Fond Memories Of This

Here's a commercial for The Organ Grinder Pizza Parlor that aired on a local Portland, Oregon television station in the early 1980s.






The pizza parlor closed its' doors in 1996.

Hey, Isn't That Dr. Johnny Fever's Boss?

Here, for your approval, is a 1970 television commercial of Shakey's Pizza.



Yes, that is the late Gordon Jump, best remembered for his role as station general manager Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson on the old (1978-82) television sitcom WKRP In Cincinnati. Yes, the Shakey's Pizza chain still exists with some 400 outlets worldwide, including some 60 here in the States.

We Treat You Right

Here is a 1971 commercial for the now-defunct Burger Chef fast-food restaurant chain.



There was a time when only McDonald's had more outlets than Burger Chef. In 1970 there were 2400 such establishments. But in 1982, General Foods, which owned BC, gradually sold the business to a Canadian outfit that owned Hardee's. Many Burger Chefs were converted into Hardee's restaraunts. The last Burger Chef closed its' doors in 1996.

Here's The Colonel Himself

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that IS Colonel Harlan Sanders appearing in this 1969 Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial.






Makes me want to dig into those eleven herbs and spices.

If Pancakes Are Your Bag.....

Here's a commercial for International House of Pancakes (IHOP) which aired back in 1969.






Sounds a little like Alvin the chipmunk on Quaaludes.

Let's Eat At Sambo's

Let's go back to 1980 for this commercial for the Sambo's restaurant chain.








Some three decades ago, there were 1200 Sambo's outlets in 47 states. Only the original location at Santa Barbara, California remains today.

Time For A Burger?

Here is the mid-1980s Wendy's commercial depicting a Russian fashion show.

Be Sure To Wash Down That Tootsie Roll

With a great big bottle of Pepsi Cola. Here are two 1950 Pepsi commercials with Faye Emerson.

When At The Movies

Be sure to buy a Tootsie Roll. Here's a commercial from the early-mid 1960s.

Time For Dion and the Belmonts

Here are Dion Di Mucci and The Belmonts, lip-synching to their hit recording of "Teenager In Love" in this clip from a 1959 ABC telecast of The Dick Clark Show.

That was actually a really good recording that Dion and the boys put out on Laurie Records back in 1959.

That was Dick Clark's Saturday night show which originated from New York City and was by this time sponsored by the makers of Beech Nut Gum.

Dirty Rotten Emeffing Rings!

Famous early-1970s commercial for Wisk liquid laundry detergent.

How 'Bout A Triggerburger?

Here's another Roy Rogers restaurant ad, this one from 1978.

And Now For Some Trigger McNuggets

Just joking, folks. This is an old television commercial for the Roy Rogers restaurant chain.

Time For Bo

Here's Bo Diddley with a live performance of his legendary "Bo Diddley" in this excerpt from a 1955 CBS telecast of The Ed Sullivan Show.

Big Audience For SB XLIV

Looks like Hawkeye and company have finally been topped.

SB XLIV: Post Mortems

Sean Payton's coaching moves Sunday night seemed to have come from someone with ice water in his veins. Perhaps, most notoriously, the onside kickoff attempt to start the second half, brilliantly executed by rookie kickoff man and punter Thomas Mooreshead.

As far as the Saints' defense was concerned, I thought they would have to come after Peyton Manning again and again, doing to him what they had done earlier in the postseason to Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. It really didn't happen, and it proved not to be all that necessary.

Tracy Porter, the defensive back whose interception of The Old Gunslinger two weeks ago in the NFC title game that set up the overtime period in which Garrett Hartley kicked the game-winning field goal, struck again late in the fourth quarter Sunday with his 74-yard interception of a Peyton Manning pass for the Saints' insurance touchdown. That was the game's only turnover.

Dwight Freeney, the Colts' defensive back, bad ankle and all, did start the game and actually registered the game's only sack during the second quarter. But after the extended intermission, he wound up with that gassed out feeling.

Drew Brees ended up playing a brilliant game at quarterback for New Orleans, tying Tom Brady's Super Bowl record for most completions in one game. He certainly earned that MVP award.

The halftime show with The Who was fairly decent.

As for the commercials, that Snickers ad with Betty White and Abe Vigoda was pretty hard to top.

WHO DAT? SAINTS WIN SUPER BOWL

At Miami:

Drew Brees, the game's Most Valuable Player, threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns (16 yards to Pierre Thomas in the third quarter and 2 yards to tight end Jeremy Shockey in the fourth), Garrett Hartley kicked a Super Bowl-record three field goals of forty or more yards (46 and 44 yards in the second quarter and 47 yards in the third), and Tracy Porter intercepted a Peyton Manning pass and returned it 74 yards for the final touchdown with 3:12 remaining in regulation time as the New Orleans Saints won the first Super Bowl championship in their 43-year history, defeating the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 on Sunday night.

Halftime: Colts, 10-6

Payton Manning threw a touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon and Matt Stover added a field goal, all in the first quarter to Indianapolis up 10-0, but New Orleans, with two Garrett Hartley second-quarter field goals, closed to gap to 10-6, which is where the Super Bowl stood at the intermission. The Saints, in the second quarter, tried twice to score a touchdown from a yard out but failed late in the second quarter.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is America's biggest unofficial holiday. Hope y'all have fun watching the ball game whether you are a Colts or Saints fan.

Jerry and Emmitt Head 2010 Hall of Fame Class

Wide Receiver Jerry Rice, who played 20 seasons in the National Football League, who made 1549 catches for 22, 895 yards and scored 208 touchdowns , and who starred on three Super Bowl championship teams with the San Francisco 49ers, and running back Emmitt Smith, who ran for 18,355 and scored 164, and who starred on three Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl titlists, were among seven men elected Saturday to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

I Did Not Know

This phrase was said some thirty years before the New Orleans Saints played their first game.



This was an excerpt from a 1937 cartoon entitled "Swing Wedding," produced and directed by Hugh Harman and Rudolph Ising and distributed by MGM.

From The WTF File

Here, from 1969, is the last cartoon from Warner Brothers' reactivated cartoon studio, with Cool Cat starring in the Merrie Melodies cartoon "Injun Trouble," a cartoon filled with bad jokes and silly puns. This cartoon, with story by Cal Howard, animation by Ted Bonnicksen, La Verne Harding, Jim Davis (NOT the creator of Garfield), and Ed Solomon, layouts by Bob Givens and Jaime Diaz, backgrounds by Bob McIntosh, editing by Hal Geer and Don Douglas, music by William Lava, and voice characterizations by Larry Storch (F Troop), was produced by Bill Hendricks and directed by longtime studio veteran Robert McKimson.



Warner Brothers, which had closed its' original cartoon studio in 1963, had released Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons from 1964 through 1966 produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises. Those cartoons starred the Road Runner (with Wile E. Coyote) and Daffy Duck, who in his case, was teamed up with Speedy Gonzales. By 1967, Warner Brothers reactivated its' cartoon studio. That same year, the movie studio merged with the Seven Arts conglomerate. During this two-year period, new Daffy-Speedy cartoons were produced, but new characters such as Merlin the Magic Mouse and Cool Cat were also introduced. Longtime animation veteran Alex Lovy was called upon to direct these cartoons, but he was replaced in 1968 by studio veteran McKimson. On Bob's watch, Daffy and Speedy were finally retired, and still more, but short-lived, new characters, such as Bunny and Claude and Rapid Rabbit and Quick Brown Fox were added, but they appeared in only one or two shorts before WB-7A ceased production of short subjects, including cartoons.

And Now, A Visit From Dr. Betty

For your approval, we head back to 1932 for "Betty Boop, M.D." This Max Fleischer cartoon, directed by Dave Fleischer with animation by Willard Bowsky and Thomas Goodson, was released theatrically by Paramount Pictures.

This ranks as one of the weirdest cartoons ever made.

Skilled Craftsman At Work

In this filmed Snader Telescription from 1951, here is Myron Floren playing "Lady of Spain," along with Lawrence Welk's Champagne Music Makers.







These Snader films were like Soundies, only that in this case, these films were syndicated to local television stations.

You might say they were the first music videos made for television.

Hey, It's Mr. Six Fat Dutchmen Himself

In this clip from a 1957 ABC telecast of Lawrence Welk's Saturday night Dodge Dancing Party, here is Harold Loeffelmacher, founder and long-time leader of the Six Fat Dutchmen from New Ulm, Minnesota (and Dick Dale's one-time boss) playing the "Clarinet Polka" on the Tuba. Myron Floren joins Harold on his Pancordion while Lawrence and Janet Lennon dance the polka.