Ducks Stay At #2 In Both Polls; Beavers Climb Up In Both Rankings

After their Saturday win over Washington State, the Oregon Ducks remained at #2 in both the Associated Press (media) and USA Today/Coaches polls, both released on Sunday.

The Oregon State Beavers, following their road win over Arizona, climbed up in both polls, at #14 in the media poll, #18 in the coaches' poll.

Niners Dismember Jets In Jersey

At East Rutherford, New Jersey:

Carlos Rogers returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown as the San Francisco 49ers (3-1) ran for 245 yards (Colin Kaepernick from seven yards, Frank Gore from two, and Kendall Hunter from a yard out as each scored a touchdown) as they dismantled the New York Jets (2-2) 34-0 on the road in Sunday National Football League action.

Riders Hold Off BC Lions For Emotional Home Victory

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

Quarterback Darian Durant threw for three touchdowns, two to Weston Dressler (who caught nine for 160 yards), and one of 46 yards to Greg Carr, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-6) held off the visiting British Columbia Lions (9-4) 27-21 in Saturday Canadian Football League action.  The victory was the Riders' fourth in their last five games.

Beavers Stay Unbeaten After Wild Win Over Wildcats In Tucson

At Tucson, Arizona:

Quarterback Sean Mannion completed 29 of 43 passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday night, two of them to Markus Wheaton (two and twenty yards) and one of nine yards to Connor Hamlett for the game winner late in the fourth quarter as the Oregon State Beavers (ranked #18 in the Associated Press media poll and #21 in the USA Today/Coaches poll; 3-0 overall, 2-0 in Pac-12 play) defeated the Arizona Wildcats (3-2, 0-2) 38-35 in a game that saw six lead changes.  The victory made head coach Mike Riley, with 75 wins, the winningest coach in OSU football history.

Ducks Break Open Tight Contest, Beat Cougars Going Away In Seattle

At Seattle:

Running back Kenjon Barner carried the ball 20 times for 195 yards and three touchdowns and caught a pass for 30 yards and another score as the #2-ranked Oregon Ducks (both in the AP and USA Today/Coaches polls; 4-0 overall, 2-0 in Pac-12 play) broke open what was four-point game at halftime with a dominating second half (28 unanswered points) to down the Washington State Cougars (2-3, 0-2) 51-26 on the road on Saturday night.

Sydney Swans Knock Off Highly-Regarded Hawthorn For Aussie Rules Title

At Melbourne, Australia:

The Sydney Swans upset the Hawthorn Hawks by 91 points (14 goals and 7 behinds) to 81 (11 and 15) on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to win the Australian Football League Premiership Grand Final.  It was the Swans' second Grand Final crown (2005) since relocating from South Melbourne in 1982. Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy, Nick Malceski, Jarrad MeVeigh, and Mitch Morgan each scored two goals (six points apiece) for Sydney, while Lance Franklin scored three goals to pace Hawthorn.  Here are the Happy Swans with the AFL Premiership trophy.  

Daily Telegraph photo (below)

Time For A Speedy Gonzales Cartoon, Amigos!

From 1964, we present Speedy Gonzales starring in "Pancho's Hideaway," part of Warner Brothers' Looney Tunes series.  This was the first of the 37 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies  cartoons produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.  In this one, Speedy seeks to outfox the Mexican bank robber Pancho Vanilla, who looks and sounds like a Mexicanized version of Yosemite Sam.

With co-direction by layout man Hawley Pratt, story by John Dunn, animation by Bob Matz, Norman McCabe and Don Williams, backgrounds by Tom O'Loughlin, film editing by Lee Gunther, voice characterizations by Mel Blanc and Ralph James, and music by Bill Lava, this cartoon was produced by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng.

Friz directed this cartoon, too.

Technicolor.

Here's One For The Hair And Nails

From Encyclopaedia Britannia Films in 1951, we present "Care of Hair and Nails."

Chris Economaki, Dean Of American Motorsports, R. I. P.

Chris Economaki, regarded for decades as authoritative voice of American motorsports, passed away on Friday morning at the age of 91.

Mr. Economaki worked for ABC, ESPN, and CBS during a span of more than 40 years.

National Speed Sport News, for which Chris served as an editor for more than 60 years, didn't report a cause of his passing when it was reported on Friday.

Herbert Lom, Veteran Actor Best Remembered For Playing Frustrated Boss To Inept Inspector Clouseau In "Pink Panther" Movies, R. I. P.

Herbert Lom, the Czech-born veteran actor who appeared in many British and Hollywood motion pictures but is best remembered for playing the role of the frustrated boss to Peter Sellers' inept French Inspector Clouseau in the "Pink Panther" movies in the 1960s and 1970s, passed away on Thursday at his home in London at age 95.

Merle Sure Doesn't Look Haggard Here

London Films in 1938, presents Alexander Korda's production, in technicolor, of "The Divorce of Lady X," starring Merle Oberon and Lawrence Olivier, with Binnie Barnes and Ralph Richardson. 

With adaptation by Lajos Biro and scenario and dialogue by Ian Dalryple and Arthur Wimperis, based on the story "Counsels Opinion" by Gilbert Wakefield, this motion picture was directed by Tim Whelan.

Enjoy!

Farewell, Andy, And Thanks For The Memories

Andy Williams, the affable, handsome crooner best remembered for many hit recordings in the 1950s and 1960s and who starred in his own successful 1960s television variety hour, passed away on Tuesday night at his Branson, Missouri home at age 84.

Mr. Williams had been suffering from bladder cancer.

Andy recorded many pop hits, including his cover of the Charlie Grace hit "Butterfly," which, in 1957,  would turn out to be his only #1 hit.

He's perhaps best remebered, though, for "Moon River," a song written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, and introduced in the movie "Breakfast At Tiffany's" by Audrey Hepburn.

But it was Andy who made the song his own when he sang it at the 1962 Academy Awards ceremony.

The song would be the theme song of his successful NBC Network variety hour, which ran from 1962 to 1971.  He also starred in a long-running series of Christmas TV specials.

Time For Timer!

One of a series of public service announcements that aired over the ABC Network and its' affiliated during the late 1970s

This Makes Me Hungry!

1974 commercial for Shakey's Pizza.

Time Now For Another Old Instructional Film

From Coronet Films in 1950, we present "Developing Self-Reliance."

Riders Back On Winning Track After Beating Visiting Stampeders

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

Quarterback Darian Durant threw for two touchdowns as the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-6) held off the visiting Calgary Stampeders (7-5) 25-20 in Sunday Canadian Football League action as the league season reached the two-thirds mark.

Vikes Knock Off Niners

At Minneapolis:

Quarterback Christian Ponder threw two touchdown passes to tight end Kyle Rudolph and ran 23 yards for another score as the Minnesota Vikings (2-1) knocked off the previously-unbeaten San Francisco 49ers (2-1) 24-13 at home in Sunday National Football League action.

Ducks Climb To #2 In Both Polls; Beavers Make Rankings

After Saturday demolition of Arizona (combined with LSU barely escaping with a road win at Auburn), the Oregon Ducks climbed up one spot in both the Associated Press (media) and USA Today/Coaches polls to #2, trailing only Alabama.

After their upset road win over UCLA, the Oregon State Beavers entered both polls, at #18 in the media poll and #21 in the coaches' rankings.

Ducks Drub Wildcats In Conference Opener

At Eugene, Oregon:

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (54 yards) and Tony Hill (29 yards) ran back interceptions for touchdowns while Marcus Mariota threw for 260 yards and two more scores as the Oregon Ducks (4-0 overall, 1-0 in Pac-12 play; ranked #3 in both the AP and USA Today/Coaches polls) demolished the visiting Arizona Wildcats (3-1, 0-1; ranked #22 in the AP poll) 49-0 on Saturday night in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both schools.

Shocker In Pasadena: Beavers Knock Off Bruins To Start Pac-12 Play

At Pasadena, California:

Quarterback Sean Mannion threw for 379 yards and two touchdowns while Storm Woods ran for 96 yards and another score as the Oregon State Beavers (2-0 overall, 1-0 in Pac-12 play) knocked off previously-unbeaten UCLA (3-1, 0-1; ranked #19 in the AP media poll) 27-20 on Saturday in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both schools.  

The Wonders Of Plastics

Produced in 1945 for General Electric by the Jam Handy Organization, we present "The Kingdom of Plastics."

Learning To Fix Something For Supper?

Maybe this 1949 Young America Films entry, "Cooking Terms And What They Mean" can help.

And Now, For Something Totally Different

From 1943, we present "Eskimo Summer," produced by the National Film Board of Canada in collaboration with Robert Flaherty.  Released in the United States by the International Film Bureau.

Time For A Film, Boys And Girls

Here's a 1947 Coronet Films entry, "Are You Popular?"

Ai Yi Yi Yi!

Late 1960s commercial for Fritos Corn Chips with the legendary Frito Bandito, voiced by Mel Blanc.

Steve Sabol, Co-Founder, President of NFL Films, Major Cinematic Force In American Sports, R. I. P.

Steve Sabol, a host, narrator, producer, writer, director, and cameraman, who along with his father Ed, founded NFL Films and who was a major force in how American sports highlights were filmed, packaged, and presented, passed away on Tuesday at Moorestown, New York from brain cancer at age 69.

Time For Another Film, Boys And Girls

Here's a 1950 from McGraw-Hill Text Films, "It Takes All Kinds," an Affiliated Film production.  The film was part of a series based on Henry A. Brown's book "Marraige For Moderns." 

Written by Renee Nell, directed by Alexander Hammid, and produced by Irving Jacoby.

Enjoy!

Here's One NOT Produced By Old America Films

From 1955, we present "Why Study Science" from Young America Films.

A Centron production.

Time For Something Totally Different

Time for "Law and Social Controls," a 1949 Coronet Films entry.

Let's Get A Pizza-----------At McDonalds?!?!?

Here's a 1992 commercial for McDonald's Pizza that aired over ATV in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

Ducks Climb Up A Spot In Both Polls; Idle Beavers Still Have Support

After Saturday's easy home win over Tennessee Tech (and helped along by Stanford knocking off Southern California), the Oregon Ducks climbed up a position to #3 in both the Associated Press (media) and USA Today/Coaches polls.

Despite being idle this past weekend, there was still support for the Oregon State Beavers in both polls, with OSU just outside the Top 25 at #26 in the AP poll and #33 in the Coaches rankings.

Niners Defense---And Vernon Davis---Keep Lions At Bay

At San Francisco:

Quarterback Alex Smith completed 20 of 31 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns, both to Vernon Davis (21 and 23 yards), while Frank Gore ran 17 times for 89 yards, scoring a touchdown from a yard out in the second quarter as the San Francisco 49ers (2-0) defeated the visiting Detroit Lions (1-1) for the ninth straight time on Sunday night, 27-19 in National Football League action.

Riders Fall In Montreal

At Montreal:

Quarterback Anthony Calvillo completed 14 of 27 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown (eight yards to Brian Bratton) as the Montreal Alouettes (7-4) ended the Saskatchewan Roughriders' (5-6) two-game Canadian Football League winning streak on Sunday with a 28-17 triumph at home.

Easy Win For Ducks

At Eugene, Oregon:

A 222-yard all-purpose performance from De'Anthony Thomas (who scored three touchdowns) helped propel the #4-ranked (both media and coaches' polls) Oregon Ducks (3-0) to a 63-14 home fist-beating of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles FCS, 2-1) on Saturday in Oregon's final tune-up before beginning Pac-12 Conference play. 

Another Visit From Fresh-Up Freddie!

From 1957, here's a commercial for Seven-Up with Fresh-Up Freddie, who is voiced by Paul Frees.

It's Good For Colds, Too!

Here's a 1950s commercial for Listerine mouthwash, from back in the days in which they used to make claims about the product helping to prevent colds.

Good God, ZaSu, Don't Freak Out

1950s commercial for Kellogg's Corn Flakes with ZaSu Pitts with George Reeves as Superman.

Dorothy McGuire, One-Third Of Hit-Making Sister Vocal Trio, R.I.P.

Dorothy McGuire, one-third of one of the 1950s most popular vocal groups, The McGuire Sisters, passed away this past Friday at Paradise Valley, Arizona of complications from Parkinson's disease at age 84.

Alongside older sister Christine and younger sister Phyllis, Dorothy became a major pop music star at the time that rock 'n' roll was just becoming a worldwide phenomenon.  Such as was the music of Patti Page, Perry Como and others of their generation, the McGuires' music existed in their own parellel universe, with a solid barbershop vocal mentality (like that of the Chordettes and the Lennon Sisters) blending perfectly whether it's songs like "Sincerely" (an ealry 1955 #1 hit,which was a cover of major rhythm and blues hit for the Moonglows) or Sugartime (another chart topper, this one from 1958).

The girls still continued to have records on the pop charts as late as the early 1960s, but split up in 1968 when Phyllis went solo and Christine and Dorothy retired from show business to raise their families.

The sisters reunited in 1985 and continued performing into the 21st century.

Are You Kiddin'?

1985 commercial from Orville Redenbacher Gourmet Popping Corn and Orville Redenbacher Microwavable Popcorn.

Yes, that's Orville playing both roles.

Our Friend, The Mosquito

From Encyclopaedia Britannia Films in 1947, we present "The Mosquito."  There are some interesting scenes on the metamorphis of this insect.

Ducks Hold Steady At #4 In Both Polls; Beavers Garner Support After Knocking Off Wisconsin

After coasting to another home win over the weekend, this time against Fresno State, the Oregon Ducks remained at #4 in both the Associated Press (media) and USA Today/Coaches (in which they received one first-place vote) polls that were released on Sunday. 

Following their upset win at home over Wisconsin this past Saturday, the Oregon State Beavers received support in both polls.  OSU would be ranked #29 in the AP poll while the Beavers would be ranked #34 in the Coaches poll.

Niners Knock Off Pack In Green Bay To Open Season

At Green Bay, Wisconsin:

Quarterback Alex Smith completed 20 of 26 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns (14 yards to Randy Moss and 4 yards to Vernon Davis), Frank Gore carried the ball 16 times for 112 yards (23 yards for another score), and David Akers connected on three field goals, including an NFL record-tying 63-yarder as the first half ended as the San Francisco 49ers opened their National Football League regular-season campaign on Sunday with a 30-22 road victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Riders Knock Off Blue Bombers In Winnipeg

At Winnipeg, Manitoba:



Backup quarterback Drew Willy completed 17 of 23 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown coming off the bench and Sandro DeAngelis kick the game-winning 40-yard field goal as the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-5) knocked off the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-8) 25-24 in Sunday Canadian Football League action on the road.

Ducks Coast To Home Win After Big First Half

At Eugene, Oregon:

Kenjon Barber ran for a career best 201 yards on 34 carries and scored three touchdowns as the Oregon Ducks (2-0; ranked #4 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls) built up a 35-6 halftime lead, then coasted to a 42-25 home win over the Fresno State Bulldogs (1-1).

Beavers Shock Visiting Badgers To Open Season

At Corvallis, Oregon:

Quarterback Sean Mannion completed 29 of 47 passes for 276 and a touchdown (20 yards to Brandin Cooks) while the defense held running back Montee Ball to 61 yards and no touchdowns (ending his streak of 21 straight games with at least one) as the Oregon State Beavers (1-0) stunned the #13 ranked (in both the media and coaches polls) Wisconsin Badgers (1-1) 10-7 at home on Saturday in the Beavers' regular-season opener, avenging their one-sided defeat from last season at Madison.

Switch To DirecTV!

An early commercial for DirecTV, from 1995.

Switch To Dish Network Today!

One of the ealriest commercials for Dish Network, dating back to 1996.

So Good, It's ReDQulous!

Theatrical commercial from some sixty or so years ago for Dairy Queen.

Those Were The Days

Classic mid-1980s commercial for Wendy's restaurants.

Enjoy!

Time For An Anna Neagle Movie

From RKO Radio Pictures in 1941, we bring you Anna Neagle starring in  "Sunny," which was adapted from the same-named Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II musical play.  In this one, the star of a small, upscale circus meets by accident, the handsome scion of a wealthy family and falls in love.  However, Sunny has to deal with the conflicts between the man's snooty family and her down-to-earth circus pals.

Anna is joined in the cast by Ray Bolger, John Carroll, and Edward Everett Horton.

Screenplay by Sig Herzig from the musical comedy "Sunny" with book and lyrics Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Jerome Kern.

Produced and directed by Herbert Wilcox.



This was one of a handful of films that Anna, a major star in British cinema, worked on in Hollywood during the late 1930s and early 1940s.  She collaborated with producer/director Herbert Wilcox on numerous films from the 1930s through the 1950s.

The twosome returned to England in the early 1940s and in 1943 were married (the marriage lasted  nearly 34 years before his passing in 1977).

Art Modell, Influential NFL Owner Who Owned Cleveland Browns Then Moved Them To Baltimore, R. I. P.

Art Modell, the longtime owner of the NFL's Cleveland Browns, who moved that franchise in Baltimore in 1996 and was transformed from a hero to a villain in the Ohio city while becoming a hero in the Maryland metropolis (and won Super Bowl XXXV as Ravens' owner), passed away early on Thursday in Baltimore from natural causes at age 87.

Besides owning the Browns, beginning in 1962 when he bought the club, Mr. Modell became influential in the National Football League acquisations of its first lucrative television contracts and was actually for a couple of years in the late 1960s the league president.

However, because of failed negotiations with the city of Cleveland on either making major improvements in Municipal Stadium or building a new stadium for his team, Art packed up his gridiron club and moved it to Baltimore in 1996, thus becoming a hero in Baltimore (where the team was renamed the Ravens) while becoming a villain in Clevleland (in which a new Browns team came into existance as well as a new stadium in 1999, with the original club's records and heritage).  The Ravens won Super Bowl XXV, manhandling the New York Giants in January 2001.

Art Modell sold the club in 2004.

Joe South, Composer Of "Games People Play," R. I. P.

Joe South, a singer and songwriter who wrote confrontional lyrics into bouncy hit late 1960s and early 1970s songs such as "Games People Play," "Walk A Mile In My Shoes," and "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden,"  passed away on Wednesday from an apparent heart attack at his Flowery Branch, Georgia home at the age of 72.

Mr. South, who had written a modeslty successul song "The Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor" in 1958, went on to write the three ealirer-mentioned songs and had hit recordings with two of them.

"Rose Garden," Joe's best-known composition, became a huge country-and-western and crossover pop hit in 1971 for Lynn Anderson.

Time Now For Something Completely Different

From Young America Films, we present a 1955 film, "Cindy Goes To A Party."

A Centron Corporation Production.

Enjoy!

Trust Me

"Am I Trustworthy" is the title of this 1950 Coronet Films entry.

Let's Go Exploring With Ol' Meriweather and Bill!

Let's go back to 1950 for an Encyclopaedia Britannia film entitled "Lewis and Clark," produced in affiliation with Emerson Film Corporation and in collaboration Dan E. Clark, PhD from the University of Oregon.

Ducks Climb Up A Spot In Media And Coaches Polls

Following their 57-37 season-opening home win over Arkasas State, the Oregon Ducks climbed up a spot to #4 in both the Associated Press (media) and USA Today/Coaches polls.

Time For Music From Whoopee John!

From 1957, here's music by "Whoopee" John Wilfahrt and his orchestra, "St. Paul Waltz."

Riders Take Out Frustration On Winnipeg, Annihilate Bombers, End Losing Streak

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

The Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-5) ended their five-game Canadian Football League losing streak with a 52-0 demolition of the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-7) on Sunday.  Quarterback Darian Durant completed 13 of 19 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns (both to Weston Dressler) to pace the Riders.  The loss ruined the debut of new Bombers head coach Tim Burke, who replace Paul LaPolice, who was dismissed on August 25.

Hal David, Oscar and Grammy-Winning Lyricist Who Collaborated With Burt Bacharach, R. I. P.

Hal David, the Oscar and Grammy Award-winning lyricist who wrote the words to such memorable songs as "What's New Pussycat?" ( a hit for Tom Jones), numerous hits for Dionne Warwick ("Don't Make Me Over," "I Say A Little Prayer," "Do You Know The Way To San Jose?," "Walk On By," amongst others), "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" (from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), all in collaboration with composer Burt Bacharach, passed away on Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles following a stroke at age 91.

Steve Franken, Comic Actor Who Played Snob On "Dobie Gillis," R.I.P.

Steve Franken, a veteran character actor who specialized in comedy and appeared in motion pictures with, amongst others, Jerry Lewis and Peter Sellers, but who is best remebered for portraying the wealthy, snobbish Chatsworth Osborne, Jr. on the classic 1959-63 television sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, passed away on Friday, August 24 from cancer in Los Angeles at age 80.

I Wanna Tell You A Story: Max Bygraves OBE, British Entertainer, TV Game-Show Host, R. I. P.

Max Bygraves, the English singer, actor, and comic who went on to host the British version of Family Feud, and also known for the catchphrase "I wanna tell you a story," passed away this past Friday at his daughter's home in Hope Island, Queensland, Australia at age 89.

Mr. Bygraves, who emigrated in 2005 to Australia along with his wife Blossom (who passed away last year), was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Born Walter William Bygraves in Rotherhithe, London, England in 1922, Max, who made his first appearance on stage at the Roxy Theatre in Falkirk, Scotland, made 20 Royal Variety Performance appearances.

For two years (1983-85), after replacing Bob Monkhouse, Max hosted a British TV game show entitled Family Fortunes, which was based on the American game show Family Feud.

Ducks Have Big Opening Quarter, Coast To Opening Night Victory

At Eugene, Oregon:

Ranked #5 in both the Associated Press (media) and USA Today/Coaches polls, The Oregon Ducks raced to a 29-0 first-quarter lead, en route to a 57-37 season-opening home win over the Arkansas State Red Wolves.  Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 18 of 22 passes for three touchdowns, two (12 yards each) to De'Anthony Thomas (who also ran 33 yards for a score).