TubeMate 2 YouTube Downloader v2.0.9 build 517 Ad-Free

<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" dir=ltr trbidi="on"><br /><DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class=separator><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MwJ3Rnejwz4/UooSfAD_RbI/AAAAAAAAC4c/skNtGMw_GZE/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MwJ3Rnejwz4/UooSfAD_RbI/AAAAAAAAC4c/skNtGMw_GZE/s640/1.png" width="378"></A></DIV><BR><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Requirements:</SPAN> Android v2.2+<SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"></SPAN><BR><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Overview:</SPAN><BR>TubeMate is tool for Enjoying YouTube(m.youtube.com)-search, related videos, favorites and Downloading them to SD in various qualities<BR><BR>[TubeMate - The fastest and most famous YouTube downloader]<BR><B>[WARNING] There are so many virus applications(ad-wares) named "TubeMate" in the market. They are harmful. Please get the real TubeMate at _http://tubemate.net for your safety.</B><BR>* Visit _http://tubemate.net to get the latest TubeMate because TubeMate will disappear from the market.<BR><BR>[The original fast download technology]<BR>* Fast download mode(with multiple connections for a download)<BR>* Multiple download resolution options<BR>* Background, multi-download<BR>* Resume downloading<BR>* Convert to MP3 (powered by MP3 Media Converter)<BR>* Playlist as video/audio(powered by Meridian Player)<BR>* Share your video finds via Google Buzz, Twitter or e-mail at the tap of a button<BR>* YouTube search and related videos suggestions<BR>* Save favorite videos to your YouTube account, create playlists<BR><BR>TubeMate YouTube Downloader enables you to quickly access, search, share, and download YouTube videos.<BR>Because downloading always happens in the background, you can go on watching YouTube, surfing the Internet, tweeting, and listening to your music as you download.<BR><BR>[Available resolutions]<BR>1920x1080(Full-HD): GalaxyTab, Galaxy S2, PC<BR>1280x720(HD): high-end devices<BR>640x360: general devices<BR>320x240: low-end devices<BR>640x360, 854x480(FLV) : Android 2.1 and over<BR>(the available options depend on the quality of the uploaded video and your device)<BR><BR>Special Thanks to Translation volunteers:<BR>HendriX(Italiano), Ainomx(Spanish), Szymon(Polish), s_h(Hebrew), nivp(Hebrew), Tobias(German), Educolnago(Portuguese-Brazil), Jano(Czech, Slovak), Roan67(French), Gadrinium(Japanese), Rob(Dutch), Adigehalil(Turkish), Mobde3(Arabic), Olina(Chinese), Per(Danish), Dennis(Dutch), Marcio(Portuguese), William(Swedish), Fedor(Czech, Slovak) Horvath(Hungarian), Suurmeijer(Dutch), Techiebird(English) f000h<BR><BR>KW: TubeMate, YOUTUBE DOWNLOADER, TUBEX, JetVD, Freedi, YouTube Music Video, TubeMate, YouTube MP3 Converter, YouTube Video Downloader, TubeMate, YOUTUBE DOWNLOADER, TUBEX, JetVD, Freedi, YouTube Music Video, TubeMate, YouTube MP3 Converter, YouTube Video Downloader, TubeMate, YOUTUBE DOWNLOADER, TUBEX, JetVD, Freedi, YouTube Music Video, TubeMate, YouTube MP3 Converter, YouTube Video Downloader, TubeMate, YOUTUBE DOWNLOADER, TUBEX, JetVD, Freedi, YouTube Music Video, TubeMate, YouTube MP3 Converter, YouTube Video Downloader<BR><BR>New features in TubeMate 2.0<BR>English 2013/08/27 04:19 <BR><BR>1) Enhanced Downloading<BR>- supports DailyMotion, Facebook, YouKu, other HTML5 videos<BR>- playlist downloading<BR>- caption (subtitle) downloading<BR>- WiFi only option, resume/pause all, etc<BR>2) Improved Interface<BR>- brand-new Holo based UI<BR>- sliding view changer<BR>- intuitive downloading progress viewer<BR>3) All New Playlist<BR>- full playlist feature by TubeMate<BR>- support local playing and streaming<BR>- easy management (drag and drop) <BR>4) Internal Music and Video Player<BR>- enjoy music while surfing TubeMate<BR>5) Powerful Search<BR>- search local files and YouTube<BR>- voice search and history<BR>6) More features<BR>- proxy support (experimental)<BR>- URL editor support<BR>- forward button support<BR><BR>Whats New:<BR>[1.05.48.309](2013-03-26)<BR>- Pause video play on WebView when TubeMate gets background.<BR>- Thanks for translation<BR>: randompate (Finnish)<BR><BR><br /><DIV class=recent-change><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small"><SPAN><SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red">===============================================================</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small"><SPAN><SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red"></SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red">IF PROBLEM PERSIST IN DOWNLOADING</SPAN> <SPAN style="COLOR: red"></SPAN><BR><SPAN style="COLOR: red">USE STOCK BROWSER TO DOWNLOAD</SPAN></SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN> <br /><DIV class=app-orig-desc><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small"><SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red"></SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: red">REMEMBER TO UNCHECK "DOWNLOAD WITH OUR MANAGER"</SPAN> <SPAN style="COLOR: red">===============================================================</SPAN></SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></DIV><BR><B>******************<BR>Google Play Store</B><BR><B><SPAN style="COLOR: red">Unavailable (http://tubemate.net/)</SPAN><BR><BR>Download Full Version Here:-</B><BR><a href="http://adf.ly/ZVYD2"><img alt="http://adf.ly/ZVYD2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSQisxQ6OkiZFQuUSI2dc0O5mRh3oLHaidbt5bi3EXZIWE4N-kzdz9dUQgUT0wuoaDr8BV9l5rdomhXNtLqih5BGjTNT_huPYWunioEAWHF0WspiuSBgM7Z5oKgOe9nJ2AxHlxEQVrnlB/s320/Download.png"></A><B><BR>File size:-1.3mb</B></DIV><br />

TubeMate 2 YouTube Downloader v2.0.9 build 517 Ad-Free

Requirements: Android v2.2+ Overview: TubeMate is tool for Enjoying YouTube(m.youtube.com)-search, related videos, favorites and Downloadin...

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Frank Pellico - A Spirited Christmas

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QmrU-QgWr_ecbuAFjVnrlNrX9euBOy0oBy02pq3YmDun0OyFnKJfc-jDQZOxSlIG1OoQfVDtla3PdSqZ1tq419s0zCRADvdeMNZRFvFyGNEqaICqaOO12HBbmaW7ht5bB_cgm9idw8JW/s1600-h/pellico,+frank+-+A.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414109292484821266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QmrU-QgWr_ecbuAFjVnrlNrX9euBOy0oBy02pq3YmDun0OyFnKJfc-jDQZOxSlIG1OoQfVDtla3PdSqZ1tq419s0zCRADvdeMNZRFvFyGNEqaICqaOO12HBbmaW7ht5bB_cgm9idw8JW/s400/pellico,+frank+-+A.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 398px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Okay... you're probably saying to yourself "Self, that cover looks awfully familiar. Have I seen that somewhere before or have I just drank too much eggnog???"<br /><br />Before you dial up the EggNog Anonymous hotline, this identical cover was used as an alternate of <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/murk-family-christmas-with.html">The Murk Family's</a> Christmas album. It later appeared as an alternate cover for <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/mickey-rooney-merry-merry-micklemas.html">Mickey Rooney's</a> Christmas album (but if you saw the other cover, you'd understand why this one was used... you've been warned!).<br /><br />When I saw this album at a thrift store in Chicago, I was half tempted to pass it up - who needs yet another Christmas organ album and I don't need a THIRD album with the same cover in my collection. Or did I? I read the back and kept asking myself "Why does the name Frank Pellico ring a bell?"<br /><br />I added the album to the pile and continued on my merry way (you can never beat 25 cents for an LP). Only after I left the city limits of my former hometown and got back to my current hometown of Fort Wayne did I discover the treasure that made the 150+ mile trek east.<br /><br />Frank Pellico grew up in Chicago during a time when roller rinks regularly featured live organists playing skating music. In high school, Frank studied the organ under the tutelage of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Melgard">Al Melgrand</a>, the legendary organist of the massive <a href="http://www.catoe.org/barton.html">Barton organ</a> installed in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10244100@N00/4195335357/">Chicago Stadium</a> during Chicago Blackhawks hockey games.<br /><br />Pellico began playing at roller rinks throughout Chicago and played nightly at the Matterhorn Supper Club in Palos Hills, IL. His reputation as a top-notch organist was secured when in 1970, he was hired by the Chicago Cubs to play the Lowrey organ at all of their home games at Beautiful Wrigley Field.<br /><br />It was around this time that Frank recorded an album entitled "Touching" that featured his amazing organ skills on the Hammond X-66 organ:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcydfBo8U7NYRPrmEEsGDXyk63k0W3l7LN3KlmwiWQzuMCPnnWMJ9-vgPqAtB3yHZZCR0DDBtdeWmKhB-chh9-RnGrYSfr8DccjZ6QCZC0e867fL-VAllBUDSXCg0aaaXrH1AJHxVO4lGI/s1600-h/touching+-+A.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416695747414508162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcydfBo8U7NYRPrmEEsGDXyk63k0W3l7LN3KlmwiWQzuMCPnnWMJ9-vgPqAtB3yHZZCR0DDBtdeWmKhB-chh9-RnGrYSfr8DccjZ6QCZC0e867fL-VAllBUDSXCg0aaaXrH1AJHxVO4lGI/s400/touching+-+A.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 391px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx721WEoVZphoTSaWda4Iri14N-Vf-eMMRvLU4W4JH1gZFYCP5CkYmAdLC__O8hgoh95ut_zOLrhT-ifcq-sbk4t-sQY8mExMHc_zvPa067QK3t0CDOfIiL6ql-pRgEQ-RKTLtT1kKBfHx/s1600-h/touching+-+B.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416695741971435954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx721WEoVZphoTSaWda4Iri14N-Vf-eMMRvLU4W4JH1gZFYCP5CkYmAdLC__O8hgoh95ut_zOLrhT-ifcq-sbk4t-sQY8mExMHc_zvPa067QK3t0CDOfIiL6ql-pRgEQ-RKTLtT1kKBfHx/s400/touching+-+B.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 396px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />In 1976, Pellico and the Cubs parted ways (the new organist was Vance Fothergill - real Cub fans know this stuff). Frank continued to play all over Chicago as well as continue his recording career. That takes us up to 1978 - the year of the Christmas album you're looking at.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wJbAW_NM5gZ3CncpfHZz_Jfzm9USDKBvavOA54usGqFZJppPAqJ-ns7Qvt49HnO22u6tXJywbswHGxMWnZZCBMHf8nKTWv97IBiZrNdo6DAN8XpKJXFm6K-2S1-B5DbGf6XriHt4UfKn/s1600-h/pellico,+frank+-+B.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416697971258118050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wJbAW_NM5gZ3CncpfHZz_Jfzm9USDKBvavOA54usGqFZJppPAqJ-ns7Qvt49HnO22u6tXJywbswHGxMWnZZCBMHf8nKTWv97IBiZrNdo6DAN8XpKJXFm6K-2S1-B5DbGf6XriHt4UfKn/s400/pellico,+frank+-+B.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br /><br />Disco was ruling the airwaves at the time and Frank wanted to stay current. Click on the back album cover to read what you're about to listen to.<br /><br />When you hear the very first notes of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", images of "Hill Street Blues" will immediately come to mind. Then the cool organ kicks in and transforms the experience to a whole new level.<br /><br />It's a unique album - a true testament to its times. Any sports bar in Chicago would be proud to have this album in their collection and would gladly play it on their speakers during happy hour.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://rapidshare.com/files/300334827/Pellico__Frank_-_Spirited_Christmas__A.zip">Frank Pellico - A Spirited Christmas</a><br /><br /><br />As the 1980s began, Frank still recorded his music and played the organ wherever and whenever he could. It was around this time that amazing things were happening for the occupants of Chicago Stadium. <br /><br />The Blackhawks sported a new look with youngsters like Jeremy Roenick, Ed Belfour, and Chris Chelios. The Bulls were putting a nucleus of talent together around a kid from North Carolina... some guy who wore #23... name of Jordan...<br /><br />In the early 1990s, the Blackhawks and Bulls were packing them in at the Stadium as a vacancy opened up for an organist on the old Barton organ. They needed someone who understood the massive organ, someone who had experience, someone who could rile up the crowds.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/36JN5SvpAvU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/36JN5SvpAvU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />One last note: as many sports arenas around the country move toward the school of "ESPN Rock Jams" and phase out organists altogether, Chicago stands alone as one of the few sports towns that openly embrace their organists.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Faust">Nancy Faust</a> has been playing for the White Sox since the mid-1970s and is credited with introducing the "Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye" song to sports. <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/chicago/know/1014167,CST-NWS-this19.article">Gary Pressy</a> has had the Chicago Cubs job since 1987 and played with Harry Caray all those 7th inning stretches. He now plays with tone-deaf celebs during the stretch (GROAN!!)<br /><br />Frank Pellico's been with the Blackhawks since 1991 and the ownership recently tried to cut into his playing time. The fans quickly rallied to his side and he's still a fixture above the home ice. <br /><br />You've got the last word Frank:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BspK91nLDWo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BspK91nLDWo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /><br />Happy listening...<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

Frank Pellico - A Spirited Christmas

Okay... you're probably saying to yourself "Self, that cover looks awfully familiar. Have I seen that somewhere before or have I j...

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Dorothy Collins - Won't You Spend Christmas With Me (STEREO)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuChhbtA6hobq35Mi4XBiJJnOg3Rw0Yv1zN_c3v1oRKWBVKV8XrnGtR2L4xwpTILZGlcfHFlHdPHXettAKNLxLeAvbmM1B04fK0j1u4Xijl0L1hcl6FoOBshrvdt0HayjcCFfAuPN8xdFZ/s1600-h/collins,+dorothy+-+A.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412573809859312114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuChhbtA6hobq35Mi4XBiJJnOg3Rw0Yv1zN_c3v1oRKWBVKV8XrnGtR2L4xwpTILZGlcfHFlHdPHXettAKNLxLeAvbmM1B04fK0j1u4Xijl0L1hcl6FoOBshrvdt0HayjcCFfAuPN8xdFZ/s400/collins,+dorothy+-+A.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 399px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">In <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/bobby-breen-songs-at-yuletide.html">yesterday's post</a>, I gave props to Buster over at Big 10-Inch Record for posting some darn good shares this downloading season. Late last month, I <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/three-days-late-and-several-dollars-out.html">posted</a> an entry that mentioned that two albums I originally had planned on sharing out were already posted to Buster's blog.<br /><br />One of those two albums was this gem of a Christmas album. I was ready to file it away for the winter and move on to other shares when our friend <a href="http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/">Ernie (not Bert)</a> pointed out in a comment that Buster had posted a high-fidelity copy of the album whilst mine read STEREO!<br /><br />It's commonplace here for me to miss small things like that. Maybe it's the early stages of Alzheimer's... Thanks for bringing that to my attention Ern!<br /><br />Backstory: Marjorie Chandler was born in 1926 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada - just across the river from Detroit, Michigan. She developed a love for music and began singing on radio stations on BOTH sides of the river in her teens. It was also during this time she adopted a new stage name: Dorothy Collins.<br /><br />On a trip to Chicago in 1940, 14-yr. old Dorothy met bandleader/composer Raymond Scott and was quickly hired into his band. Throughout the 1940s, Scott mentored, tutored, and taught everything Collins needed to know about phrasing, breath control, etc., and became a popular vocalist of the day.<br /><br />In 1949, CBS asked Scott to take over the bandleading duties for one of its popular shows, "Your Hit Parade". Just as they were getting their feet wet in radio, NBC decided to create the television version of "YHP". With her good looks and style, Dorothy quickly became a fan favorite and rose to stardom.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TEgn_5IEzrY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TEgn_5IEzrY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />"Your Hit Parade" was a huge hit on television throughout the 1950s. People tuned in weekly to see and hear the popular songs of the day with male vocalists Snooky Lawson, Russell Arms, and another popular female Canadian vocalist named <a href="http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2005/12/from-great-white-north-eh.html">Gisele MacKenzie</a>!<br /><br />Then came rock-n-roll. With the advent of Elvis, Ricky, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and others climbing the charts, "Your Hit Parade" tried desperately to stay in touch with the times.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kb81NDtbZpI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kb81NDtbZpI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Needless to say, "Your Hit Parade" took a dive in the ratings. Before its run ended, Collins went into the recording studio to create the album you're looking at. With the backing of Nathan Van Cleve & His Orchestra, she recorded twelve straightforward rendtions of Christmas songs.<br /><br />Nothing really jumps out at you, style wise. Except Collins' wonderful voice. <br /><br />After the demise of "YHP" in 1959, Collins appeared on television shows and in musical theater. In 1971, she was one of the original cast members in the Stephen Sondheim landmark musical "Follies" and was nominated for a Tony Award for her role.<br /><br />For five years (1974-1979), she was co-host of a syndicated version of "Candid Camera" with Allen Funt. One such stunt that I remember was Dorothy driving a Volkswagen bug into a gas station and asking the attendant to fill it up. They had replaced the gas tank with a 55-gallon drum inside the car! One guy stood there for 20 minutes in bewilderment!<br /><br />After "Candid Camera" ended, Collins settled into semi-retirement and made occasional public appearances after that. She had suffered with asthma for most of her life and as she got older, the disease took its toll in 1994. She was 67.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://rapidshare.com/files/299732391/Collins__Dorothy_-_Won_t_You_Spend_Christmas_With_Me.zip">Dorothy Collins - Won't You Spend Christmas With Me (STEREO)</a><br /><br /><br />Happy listening...<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

Dorothy Collins - Won't You Spend Christmas With Me (STEREO)

In yesterday's post , I gave props to Buster over at Big 10-Inch Record for posting some darn good shares this downloading season. Late...

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The George Mitchell Minstrels - The Magic of Christmas

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-DrdnJ4XxSb2Mbu5-7z9saXoR5NwOI20nwYp5aaPc4IBOiZZktrdm_5VdtRLsMFzyuf9IRXXbf8b2f_SwZWssXkpAaklmHiTVUQKQxX1eJu1l_70oZSIPyfyhoxCooDUtU1TCr7iuicm/s1600-h/george+mitchell+minstrels,+the+-+A.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414108456351586322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-DrdnJ4XxSb2Mbu5-7z9saXoR5NwOI20nwYp5aaPc4IBOiZZktrdm_5VdtRLsMFzyuf9IRXXbf8b2f_SwZWssXkpAaklmHiTVUQKQxX1eJu1l_70oZSIPyfyhoxCooDUtU1TCr7iuicm/s400/george+mitchell+minstrels,+the+-+A.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">To modify an anonymous quote that has become famous: "Never judge an album by its cover".<br /><br />Earlier this year, I was surfing through the holiday album listings at eBay when I discovered this album. I was shocked two different ways - the first being that I was able to track this album down at a reasonable price, the second was that stupefying cover.<br /><br />Let's start at the beginning to fully understand this.<br /><br />George Mitchell had come from a musical family - his grandfather was a well-known Scottish choir master and both of his parents were singers as well. He learned piano at an early age and during World War II, he organized military choirs and made a name for himself throughout the armed forces.<br /><br />After the war, Mitchell went to work for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and organized radio choirs and shows utilizing his own handpicked glee club entitled "The George Mitchell Choir". As television began its ascent in popularity over radio, Mitchell began working on variety shows and specials for the new medium.<br /><br />In 1957, the BBC decided to run a special entitled "The 1957 Television Minstrels" and called in Mitchell. With female dancers called "The Television Toppers" and a rechristened male choir called "Mitchell's Minstrels", the basis was formed for the show. It was a ratings winner.<br /><br />The following year, the BBC and Mitchell decided to expand the special into a regular weekly series. The newly named "Black And White Minstrel Show" began broadcasting on Saturday nights, featuring a Mitch Miller-type singalong format for the home audiences.<br /><br />In addition to solo and group minstrel numbers (complete with red make-up which looked black on camera), folk, foreign, and country/western songs were featured as well. The show was an instant hit and became a Saturday night tradition in England.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2MCYzb1vENQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2MCYzb1vENQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />It was around this time that the Minstrels began a successful recording career. Their first album, "The Black and White Minstrel Show", was released in 1960. Other top-selling albums were "Another Black and White Minstrel Show" from 1961, and "On Stage with the Black and White Minstrels" in 1962.<br /><br />If this wasn't enough, Mitchell began a stage show in 1960 that featured live performances by the Minstrels. It ran successfully throughout the entire decade and beyond. By 1964, the BBC TV audience had reached a staggering 16.5 million viewers each week - the same year the civil rights movement here in America was reaching its peak.<br /><br />In 1967, the BBC decided that "The Black And White Minstrel Show" would be one of the first shows to shown in colour. Bad mistake.<br /><br />John Lennon described it as "a stupid show". A group called "The Campaign Against Racial Discrimination" regarded the show as "insulting" and delivered a petition to the BBC requesting that it be taken off the air. Mitchell's solution to the problem was inviting actual black performers onto the show to sing with the others in blackface.<br /><br />The controversy never fully went away and the show remained on the air. However, it began a long, slow slide in popularity and its regular viewership was now around eight million every Saturday night.<br /><br />In 1970, Mitchell decided the time was right for a full-blown Christmas album. Rounding up his minstrels and his talented soloists John Boulter, Margaret Savage, and Dai Francis, they recorded the album you see before you.<br /><br />When you drop the needle on this album, all controversies and preconceived notions instantly disappear. This is a remarkable album that grabs you from note one and doesn't let up until the very end. There's not one bad track in the lot.<br /><br />Each side contains two amazing medleys of Christmas songs and each soloist is given plenty of room to shine. Mitchell's exceptional arrangements really come across well in each song. This is, by far, the album I'm most proud of presenting this Christmas.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://rapidshare.com/files/300334822/George_Mitchell_Minstrels__The_-_Magic_Of_Christmas__The.zip">The George Mitchell Minstrels - The Magic of Christmas</a><br /><br /><br />As the show entered the 1970s, the format remained the same and the once-acceptable blackface aspect of the show was dropped in an effort to qualm the controversy. It didn't matter - the ratings still were dropping slowly thanks to raised racial awareness. The fact they were playing music that dated back to the American Civil War undoubtedly hurt as well.<br /><br />The stage show ended its run in 1972 after an amazing 6,477 performances and went onto the road, touring the English countryside with live shows. On one such tour, a young British comedian named <a href="http://www.lennyhenry.com/home/index.aspx">Lenny Henry</a> appeared with the troupe and has regretted the move ever since.<br /><br />In 1975, George Mitchell was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II and continued with "The Black And White Minstrel Show" for three more years on TV. The BBC finally decided to cancel the show in 1978 - an incredible twenty year run for the program.<br /><br />Mitchell handed the reins of the "Minstrel" show empire to his son Rob, and retired to America. The Minstrel show was kept alive on tour for another decade or so. One Internet source claims the final show was in 1987. Another source puts the date around 1992. It might still be running somewhere (who knows?).<br /><br />Never judge an album by its cover... How true, how true.<br /><br />Happy listening...<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

The George Mitchell Minstrels - The Magic of Christmas

To modify an anonymous quote that has become famous: "Never judge an album by its cover". Earlier this year, I was surfing through...

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The Hipwaders - A Kindie Christmas

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt34T8nSNHdQJUvGIm7hBm_l38FLsRn2QCzfVxGhV_U9YjOm_Y0ulbfnsI0rtYcKmLBpQ-vgv2n4jumAMY7oQrgfTvuldWuGkJzrjZEnlzgrzD7zPtbff3fn0JnQDMdsD3t4scXg_TCYmI/s1600-h/hipwaders,+the+-+A.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397861831342619730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt34T8nSNHdQJUvGIm7hBm_l38FLsRn2QCzfVxGhV_U9YjOm_Y0ulbfnsI0rtYcKmLBpQ-vgv2n4jumAMY7oQrgfTvuldWuGkJzrjZEnlzgrzD7zPtbff3fn0JnQDMdsD3t4scXg_TCYmI/s320/hipwaders,+the+-+A.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 285px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />This is the last of four new Christmas releases that I received at my <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/po-box-13207-fort-wayne-in-46867-3207.html">P.O. Box</a> that I'm reviewing this week. Ironically, this was one of the first of those four that arrived. It's been sitting patiently while I reviewed <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/emmanuel-shall-come-to-thee-noel.html">Emmanuel Shall</a>, <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/kevin-koelbl-this-is-christmas-time.html">Kevin Koelbl</a>, and <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/silvia-fleming-love-for-christmas.html">Silvia Fleming</a>, eyeballing me the entire time, tempting me with its artwork.<br /><br />To quote the press sheet:<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">"Since 2004, The Hipwaders have performed their own original Christmas songs along with their 'wader-ized' versions of Christmas classics. Finally, the band got around to recording their original compositions for the holidays.</span><br style="color: red;" /> <br style="color: red;" /><span style="color: red;"> "Christmas music has traditionally always been "family music" and The Hipwaders carry on this tradition with their songs celebrating all aspects of Christmas with a special admiration for Santa Claus and his exploits. Some say The Hipwaders 'exploit' Santa - but that's for you to decide..."</span><br /><br />Indeed it is... and I must admit, I'm pretty intrigued already...<br /><br />TRACK REVIEWS:<br /><br />1.) Santasploitation<br /><span style="color: red;">Quick, fun 49 second track that opens the CD. Don't take my word for it:</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X048xj8xIcg&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X048xj8xIcg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />2.) There's Too Much Good<br /><span style="color: red;">Not sure if this qualifies as a Christmas song ("Silver Bells" is mentioned) but its sound is great and leads into...</span><br /><br />3.) It's Wintertime<br /><span style="color: red;">Again, not too heavy on Christmas but the winter sounds make up for it. Everybody dance...</span><br /><br />4.) Santa's Train<br /><span style="color: red;">WOW! Great song with a definite country feel to it! Well worth the train trip.</span><br /><br />5.) Goodnight<br /><span style="color: red;">A Christmas lullaby that I wished was sung to me when I was a kid (instead of the usual cries of "SHUDDUP AND GO TO SLEEP!").</span><br /><br />6.) Wake Up<br /><span style="color: red;">Natural follow-up to "Goodnight". I love this track but you decide for yourself:</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZsR3RY3Lm34&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZsR3RY3Lm34&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />7.) Yes, It's Christmas<br /><span style="color: red;">For a brief moment, I thought this was R.E.M. - it has that sound! Standout track.</span><br /><br />8.) Tinsel & Lights<br /><span style="color: red;">There's not many modern songs that detail Christmas decorations, photos, and the small nuances that make up Christmas. Until now... Another standout track.</span><br /><br />9.) Wake Up (reprise)<br /><span style="color: red;">Quick instrumental version of track six (see above) that has a video game feel to it that has me chuckling.</span><br /><br />10.) Christmas Vicuna<br /><span style="color: red;">GREAT JUMPIN' ICEBERGS!!! Latin-flavored tale of a lonely </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicu%C3%B1a" style="color: red;">vicuna</a><span style="color: red;"> in Peru who wants to join Santa's sleigh. Amazing, clever, and a whole lotta fun!</span><br /><br /><br />At their official <a href="http://kindiechristmas.blogspot.com/">blog</a> this past Tuesday (official release date of this album), head Hipwader Tito Uquillas writes "It's the day that's been over 20 years in the making. Really. A couple of tracks from "A Kindie Christmas" date from the late '80's and, like a good fruitcake, have been properly aged to perfection. OK, I can't believe I just wrote that either."<br /><br />I can't believe I cut and pasted that, either.<br /><br />The album is a genuine gem of Christmas tunes - all original, some more Christmas than others, fantastic sounds throughout. It was worth the 20 year wait. Well done, 'Waders, one and all!<br /><br />XM Satellite has been playing The Hipwaders' kiddie CDs for some time now and I suspect their seasonal Christmas stations will be cranking out their holiday fare. I only wish several of the tracks make it onto terrestrial Christmas radio to give us a break from the same 20 - 30 Christmas songs on shuffle mode.<br /><br /><br />Capt<br /></span></span>

The Hipwaders - A Kindie Christmas

This is the last of four new Christmas releases that I received at my P.O. Box that I'm reviewing this week. Ironically, this was one ...

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Anonymous - Two Christmas Songs

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRcBsiLRduSMhyphenhyphenyA4cYgnbFx4elo-wdIgmiAfmWazqU2_b0i6u1ysQCVFiYwo6R0ZFF45n3a7fbDV5mpajkiIpuZSxxA6GleWlcUyqwB54Ibw221hyMsOqvZT-pIEoVD-R7IpqMHMQvsP/s1600-h/grommit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390161214043007202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRcBsiLRduSMhyphenhyphenyA4cYgnbFx4elo-wdIgmiAfmWazqU2_b0i6u1ysQCVFiYwo6R0ZFF45n3a7fbDV5mpajkiIpuZSxxA6GleWlcUyqwB54Ibw221hyMsOqvZT-pIEoVD-R7IpqMHMQvsP/s320/grommit.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My thoughts exactly, Grommit!</span></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />A few weeks ago, I posted an <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-yuleblog-update-really.html">update</a> that got quite a bit of response both online and off. More updates are in the works as well as reviews of several upcoming Christmas releases that arrived at my P.O. Box.<br /><br />However, there was one <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/po-box-13207-fort-wayne-in-46867-3207.html">package</a> that stood apart from the rest. There was no return address and no post office markings anywhere on the envelope. The presumably Pitney-Bowes label had no evidence of its origin. I could post a photo of it but after reading the cover letter, I won't.<br /><br />The cover letter was informative. The Times New Roman font was utilized, printed from MS Word (again presumably), and was left unsigned. I suppose I could go all "CSI" and dust for fingerprints and DNA while doing my best David Caruso impersonation but I won't.<br /><br />The text of the letter:<br /><br />"<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hey Capt! Long time reader here - love the blog!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">You are putting on a Christmas play and I wish you have a great run! I've been involved in theater nearly all my life and wanted to share something with you that I know you'll appreciate.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I was involved with a dinner theater for many years that put on an annual Christmas show. We spent many hours fine tuning the songs, the choreography, and putting on a great show up on its legs.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The owner of the theater <span style="font-weight: bold;">thought</span> he was a great talent. Every year, we had to deal with him inserting himself into the show several weeks after the start of rehearsals.</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">His involvement usually threw the delicate balance of the cast into chaos and slowed the gathering momentum of the rehearsal process.<br /><br />But what could we do? He was the guy who signed our checks. We were forced to tolerate it year after year.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">During the last Christmas show I was involved with, the longtime sound board guy had had enough. He purposely recorded the theater owner's isolated body mike which was always kept low and buried behind the cast - listen and you'll know why. This was shared it out among several of the cast members and has become a cult classic in our theater community.<br /><br />(LAST SENTENCE WITHHELD)!</span>"<br /><br /><br />Shades of Linda McCartney!<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UoH9zP_n_g0&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UoH9zP_n_g0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />I listened to the two songs and they are... hmmm... let's say they rank right up there with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/johnnybowtiebarstow">Johnny "Bowtie" Barstow</a>, <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2006/03/wendy-rose-snowflake.html">Wendy Rose</a>, and the infamous version of "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk4woNRD7NQ">O Holy Night</a>" that's been floating around cyberspace.<br /><br />However, I'm puzzled - I'm not sure what the intentions of the sender of the package. Did he want to share this with me to play in the comfort and privacy of my own home? Did he want to get back at the theater owner in some small way and sent it to me so I could share it online?<br /><br />I am asking the person or persons involved who sent me this package to send me an <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/po-box-13207-fort-wayne-in-46867-3207.html">additional letter</a> to seek out what their intentions are.<br /><br />Please note that I removed the last sentence of the letter in the text above. Supply me with the last sentence word for word and I'll be able to spot the real person and their true intentions.<br /><br />This hopefully should prevent 200 letters coming in saying "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I'm the guy who sent you the package and it's okay to post it!</span>" If you're tempted to try and guess, I ask you to save your postage for something else.<br /><br />Let's hope we get a real response!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE 10/25/09</span>: I received only one response and it was from the person (or persons) who sent it to me. They indeed did provide me with the last correct sentence of the aforementioned letter which was "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Break a leg this Christmas!</span>" <br /><br />This new letter also provided me with an e-mail address that put me in touch with the gentleman who made the serendipitous recordings. The sound man asked me not to share one of the songs since it contained elements within it that would easily identify the source.<br /><br />He gave me permission to share the other song and sent me an excerpt of another that I could use as well. So here is my first offering for the 2009 Christmas downloading season - brace yourself, William Hung. You got competition!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://rapidshare.com/files/297034517/Anonymous_-_Two_Christmas_Songs.zip.html">Anonymous - Two Christmas Songs</a><br /><br /><br />Happy listening...<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

Anonymous - Two Christmas Songs

My thoughts exactly, Grommit! A few weeks ago, I posted an update that got quite a bit of response both online and off. More updates are i...

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When Irish Eyes Are Searching ... for Christmas LPs

<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In March of 2007, I travelled to Chicago sans wife & kids to search through the bowels of Chicago thrift stores, flea markets, and rare record stores to search for Christmas LPs for my collection. This past weekend, I travelled again to Chicago sans wife & kids to do the exact same thing.<br /><br />Upon learning the news, the Chicago River turned green with envy (keep reading).<br /><br />My weekend trip began last Friday and I stopped at various flea markets and antique stores along the Lincoln Highway from Fort Wayne to Chicago. I walked away with two Christmas albums (both have been shared out by our friend <a href="http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/">Ernie (Not Bert)</a> - keep reading).<br /><br />After getting to Illinois, I went to a thrift store location that two years ago had just opened, had one entire corner of their store reserved for LPs, and yielded a good portion of the titles I <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/sharity.html">shared out</a> last year. Upon my return this year, their selection was reduced to an eight ft. folding table with about 10 milk crates full of LPs. Sadly, I walked away with nothing.<br /><br />Such was the case at many of the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores that were once my salvation when it came to Christmas LPs. I pressed on to the next location, then then next, and the next only to discover little to nothing for my troubles.<br /><br />These stores used to have teeming vinyl bins, so fully compact that you couldn't slide your fingers inbetween albums. They are now being replaced by two or three milk crates with a smattering of LPs and only when they are empty will the stores accept more donations of albums. One suburban Goodwill store has not only stopped carrying vinyl for resale - VHS and CDs are strictly forbidden as well.<br /><br />I was getting majorly depressed. So I decided right then and there to head to the mecca of all Chicago vinyl stores - <a href="http://www.beverlyrecords.com/">Beverly Records</a> on Western Ave. I spent nearly 45 minutes going through their nine boxes of Christmas 45s then asked entrance to the backroom and its famous wall of Christmas LPs.<br /><br />I wrote about this wall in July of 2007 when I posted "<a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/lil-wally-harmony-boys-polka-christmas.html">A Polka Christmas</a>" by Li'l Wally. Then the wall measured eight feet in height, 12 feet in length. I'm happy to report it's still there and OVERFLOWING onto other temporary shelves. After spending two hours at the wall, I was euphoric and came away with a good pile of albums.<br /><br />I had originally planned on coming to Beverly on Sunday before I left for home but overheard one of the employees talking about the <a href="http://www.southsideirishparade.org/">South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade</a>. This was a March 17th Chicago tradition that I had forgotten about. "You won't even get near the store" was the direct quote.<br /><br />Indeed, Irish eyes were smiling on my decision to head to Beverly Records that day - still the best place in Chicago for vinyl (thank you Dreznes family!).<br /><br />On Saturday, I headed into Chicago to visit even more thrift stores and ran into the phenomenon known as the St. Patrick's Day parade and traditional dying the Chicago River green for the day:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oPuT4vlOZ3s&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oPuT4vlOZ3s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />This made travelling by car through Chicago miserable thanks to the many streets closed for parade prep and the parade itself. Thankfully, I stayed north of the river and searched through thrift stores there. Again, not much luck of the Irish in the way of LPs or Christmas albums.<br /><br />I then headed to <a href="http://lauriesplanetofsound.tripod.com/">Laurie's Planet Of Sound</a> in the Lincoln Square section of town. The owner of the store was a former acquaintance of my brother John and I and it was good reconnecting with him again. He did manage to have a good selection of Christmas LPs (including a mono copy of the Three Suns "A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas!" for $2) and I walked away with a short stack of LPs.<br /><br />By now, I was getting tired of driving the streets of Chicago. I needed a pick me up. So I headed over to <a href="http://www.nutsonclark.com/">Nuts on Clark</a>, several blocks from Wrigley Field, and home to the best caramel & cheese corn on the planet. I picked up some gift bags for the wife & kiddies (and a small taste o' my own), and kept driving south on Clark Street.<br /><br />There are some places in the world that are truly heaven on earth. One such place for me is 1060 W. Addison Street. I have spent many days there with my family and friends. I have encountered joy, heartbreak, misery, anger, hysteria, nausea, and ever-flowing optimism from this corner on the North Side. It's a landmark, it's Valhalla, it's a ballpark. Its name is Wrigley Field:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aVPKPlqi_vs_1HeOHhpPJITpvLm8sPXIqXbDzyRzWfHnqUrBjBwwnZKRJnCgPV2bmQy5utZR3S1sI911nMBHEBQ_p5mOnGqT_XEdJMrMFavZXcgUVanXMDLgmgpueLngZAZaLLnsCkfk/s1600-h/Wrigley_Field.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313832337652491826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aVPKPlqi_vs_1HeOHhpPJITpvLm8sPXIqXbDzyRzWfHnqUrBjBwwnZKRJnCgPV2bmQy5utZR3S1sI911nMBHEBQ_p5mOnGqT_XEdJMrMFavZXcgUVanXMDLgmgpueLngZAZaLLnsCkfk/s320/Wrigley_Field.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" /></a><br />On this day, Wrigleyville was alive thanks to the hoards of returning residents and tourists fresh off the "L" from the parade, wearing leprechaun derbies and green beads, heading to various bars for more alcohol consumption and mating rituals. Wrigley sleeps knowing that more of the same is coming in under a month when the Cubs return for another season.<br /><br />I headed west on Addison to a little curio store 3/4 of a block from the ballpark called <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/yesterday-chicago">Yesterday's</a>. It continues to sell old LIFE magazines, movie stills, film posters, vintage memorabilia, and baseball collectibles - a nod to its famous neighbor up the street. I picked up a few magazines that contain <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Vintage%20Christmas%20Ad">vintage Christmas ads</a> that will continue to be a feature here.<br /><br />After spending a full morning and afternoon in the city, I headed back to my hotel room to nap and get ready for another trip. That night, I spent an evening with Groucho at the Rialto Square Theater in Joliet, Illinois.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KYXIYo2eW94&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KYXIYo2eW94&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.grouchoworld.com/home.htm">Frank Ferrante</a> is perhaps the greatest Groucho Marx interpreter / impersonator this planet has known since the original Groucho was still smoking cigars. His <a href="http://www.grouchoworld.com/whattocome.htm">recent tour</a> brought him to Joliet and I couldn't pass up the chance to take in his wonderful show and laugh again and again at the genius of the one, the only... <br /><br />I got a great front row seat (thanks Frank!) and watched as Jim Furmston, his pianist, played a rickety, badly out of tune grand piano to perfection. Frank hit the stage, transformed into Groucho, and explained that he was sharing the same stage Groucho, Chico, and Harpo used back in 1935 to fine tune their upcoming movie "A Night At The Opera".<br /><br />The audience and I had a great time and it was great catching up with Frank and Jim after the show. We exchanged gifts (two vintage Marx Brothers stills from Yesterday's went to Frank - Jim gave me a copy of a children's book he did the music for), more laughs, and danced until the cows came home.<br /><br />Yesterday morning, I awoke late and went to my final two thrift stores that were on the road to Indiana and home. I came away with nothing thanks to the minuscule selection of LPs both carried.<br /><br />I stopped at one flea market and found a copy of Spike Jones' "<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/SPIKE-JONES-LETS-SING-A-SONG-OF-CHRISTMAS-LP_W0QQitemZ220290555749QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_on_Vinyl?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116">Let's Sing A Song Of Christmas</a>" in fair condition. I asked the elderly vendor for a price and he quoted $15. "Nope, too much money" I thought out loud. The vendor was a wee bit miffed - "That is the book price for that album."<br /><br />Certain flea marketers strictly go by the book - anything Elvis is always $10 to $15 more expensive than anything else on his ship shod table of treasures. My weekend of trying to find Christmas albums was ending in an argument over a Spike Jones record. It was time to call it quits. Later that evening, I arrived home to many hugs from my family.<br /><br />Overall, I came home with about 20 albums in total - half of which have already been posted along the sharity network:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU2Oj8FTOI2k0oRxnx6r8tyCjvs9hqPecU0cdcO2e1aDQYvJOs2RnJ_uv9PqVkfiytuAvbTNt3TLXwOP-87HiD5vo2IxLp4UPRKjktvWiIRxOWP2Ut2vZfjjXPAALWZOLckFVjaJnfcad/s1600-h/new+LPs.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313884064850847170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU2Oj8FTOI2k0oRxnx6r8tyCjvs9hqPecU0cdcO2e1aDQYvJOs2RnJ_uv9PqVkfiytuAvbTNt3TLXwOP-87HiD5vo2IxLp4UPRKjktvWiIRxOWP2Ut2vZfjjXPAALWZOLckFVjaJnfcad/s320/new+LPs.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" /></a>(Click on image to enlarge)</span></span></div><br />Albums pictured from top to bottom (my reviews where applicable):<br /><br /><a href="http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2007/12/three-suns-sunday-part-four.html">The Three Suns - A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas (MONO)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://falalalala.com/?p=12">Eddie Dunstedter - Christmas Candy</a> (<a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/eddie-dunstedter-we-hardly-knew-ye.html">review</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.falalalala.com/fireside/index.php?topic=1052.0">Jan Garber - Christmas Dance Party (STEREO)</a> (<a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/jan-garber-his-orchestra-christmas.html">review</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2008/12/not-from-westminster-or-warner.html">Robert John Carwithen - The Bells On Christmas Morn</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.falalalala.com/fireside/index.php?topic=597.0">Lorne Greene - Have A Happy Holiday</a> (<a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2006/01/lorne-greene-have-happy-holiday.html">review</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2006/12/kings-of-christmas-part-2.html">The King Family - Christmas With</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2006/12/spurr-of-moment.html">Thurlow Spurr & The Spurrlows - Christmas: Time For Song</a> (<a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2006/07/thurlow-spurr-time-for-song.html">review</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://falalalala.com/?p=40">Peter Wood Singers - Jolly Christmas Songs</a> (<a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2006/03/peter-wood-singers-orchestra-jolly_03.html">review</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://falalalala.com/?p=88">Andre Kostelanetz - Wonderland Of Christmas</a> (<a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/andre-kostelanetz-wonderland-of.html">review</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2008/12/more-bells-still-no-cow.html">The Holiday Bells - Ring The Bells On Christmas Day</a><br /><br /><br />One moment - that "Holiday Bells" album of mine is different than the one I just linked. Hmmm... And my King Family album is in stereo while the linked copy is mono... differences, differences.<br /><br />So I have several new albums to add to the share stack - which all depends on my schedule with my family, two special projects that are beginning to see the light of day (details will be released when I'm officially able to), and the production of my annual Christmas CD. Wait and see.<br /><br />I didn't find as many new Christmas LPs like I hoped but the wild Irish ride was well worth it. Thanks you wife and kids for allowing me a few days of R & R - back to the regularly scheduled life already in progress.<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

When Irish Eyes Are Searching ... for Christmas LPs

In March of 2007, I travelled to Chicago sans wife & kids to search through the bowels of Chicago thrift stores, flea markets, and rare ...

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Mannheim Steamroller - Christmasville

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-uVGvqIr631I0FUyuahfi7kc7jmSviABGYn3f39EiAypKgMA4w253aX6Ga2iuHzAo2tTNMrS2cprslvuQzU1Rt9_YZh_KoSPrZXOTgYglyoK-vOqr5uq_wbBV_uwn0EIt_wzQ1Enc69a/s1600-h/mannheim+steamroller+-+christmasville+-+A.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308767631960761554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-uVGvqIr631I0FUyuahfi7kc7jmSviABGYn3f39EiAypKgMA4w253aX6Ga2iuHzAo2tTNMrS2cprslvuQzU1Rt9_YZh_KoSPrZXOTgYglyoK-vOqr5uq_wbBV_uwn0EIt_wzQ1Enc69a/s320/mannheim+steamroller+-+christmasville+-+A.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 315px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I can explain.<br /><br />I'm reviewing Christmas albums that were given to as presents last year. So if you're thinking that I went to my local music store of choice and plunked down good money for this CD, guess again.<br /><br />This was presented to me by one of my wife's aunts at a family gathering last Christmas Eve. As I unwrapped it knowing full well it was a Christmas CD, I began to wonder what new release it could have been.<br /><br />Harry Connick Jr.? Sheryl Crow? Brian Setzer's umpteenth Christmas album? Aretha Franklin? The Fleshtones? Melissa Etheridge? "Cameo Parkway Holiday Hits"?<br /><br />When I laid eyes on the green and purple cover and the familiar "<a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/american-gramaphone-llc">American Gramaphone</a>" logo at the bottom of the cover, in an instant I knew. I had to fight back the piercing shriek of terror that was building inside me.<br /><br />"Ohhhhhhh... wow!" I exclaimed. My wife's aunt was pleased at my reaction. "Their new Christmas CD!" I politely thanked her for the album. I quickly found an exit and as soon as I was out of listening range, I let out a deep breath and curled into the fetal position for several minutes.<br /><br />On the ride home, my wife looked at me teasingly and asked "well, what Christmas CD did you get?". I stayed silent.<br /><br />"You got the new Mannheim Steamroller CD." Again I stayed silent. After a long pause, my wife delivered the coup de grâce: "Well, at least it's a CD you don't have in your collection!"<br /><br />With this CD, I now own six full Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums. I can explain.<br /><br />Remarkably, every album was given to me as a gift. Their first four albums (Christmas, Fresh Aire Christmas, Christmas In The Aire, and Christmas Live) were promos I received when I worked for <a href="www.suncoast.com">Suncoast Motion Picture Company</a>. The other album (The Christmas Angel) was a present / gag gift from a co-worker who knew how much I "loved" this group.<br /><br />When Steamroller exploded into the Christmas consciousness in the mid-1980s, Christmas radio then was Bing Crosby, the 1950s Christmas hits (Elvis, Brenda Lee, Bobby Helms), kiddie Christmas songs ("Rudolph", "Frosty"), the Phil Spector Christmas album, and the occasional novelty tune (Cheech & Chong, The Singing Dogs).<br /><br />No one had heard a synth version of "Deck The Halls" before and it was a breath of "Fresh Aire" (pun intended). As a high-school teen growing up during this time, I actually thought their music was inventive and a shot in the arm for Christmas music in general.<br /><br />The music buying public took notice and the group began selling Christmas albums at alarming rates. With each new release, the sounds began to meld together, indistinguishable from the last album or even the last song. That didn't stop the record or concert sales and the thirst for more. By the time they released their third album in 1995, the oversaturation had taken its toll on me - I couldn't bear to hear them any further.<br /><br />To date, Mannheim Steamroller has sold in excess of 30 million records in its lifetime. About 25 million of those have been Christmas albums. TWENTY-FIVE MILLION.<br /><br />Spin the radio dial every Christmas and their synthesized renditions of Christmas standards are played incessantly. Their Christmas concerts are always sold out, have become family traditions for many, and have appeared on PBS pledge drives throughout the country every December.<br /><br />"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmasville-Mannheim-Steamroller/dp/B001B8Y0G0">Christmasville</a>" is Mannheim Steamroller's TENTH Christmas album.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pvbAseCN8F8&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pvbAseCN8F8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />My thoughts exactly.<br /><br />I haven't listened to many of the Steamroller albums in my collection and I haven't listened to this new one. Am I being too harsh? Or am I saving myself unnecessary pain and anguish?<br /><br />For example, every year I manage to sit down and objectively try to watch from beginning to end the 1963 three-hour plus epic "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057193/">It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World</a>". Some years, I've been able to get through the first 2 hours of the movie before having to turn it off. Other years I barely make it through the first 1/2 hour.<br /><br />In the case of the Mannheim Steamroller albums, I've tried to listen but can barely get past the first song before ripping it from my boombox. I felt like Superman being exposed to Kryptonite.<br /><br />There's no middle ground with Steamroller - you either love 'em or hate 'em. I happen to fall in the latter of those two categories and I'm not ashamed to admit it. <br /><br />Thanks Aunt Kathy for the gift. You shouldn't have. Really!<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

Mannheim Steamroller - Christmasville

I can explain. I'm reviewing Christmas albums that were given to as presents last year. So if you're thinking that I went to my loc...

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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas DVD

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QgeK5tg0NRsLsM3OBLl5JhWGq3kzc5sGEkmkdJyC2KBitwWtLOho92ZJ85IsfnylHxs1UIhNYiX4sTt1X-AMZwiW-1Af9b5v9c8No0xjVU4OXbvwKHLv7u7QCvukhoP3x_b5GKTDEoqF/s1600-h/johnny+carson+christmas+DVD.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289043147267188834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QgeK5tg0NRsLsM3OBLl5JhWGq3kzc5sGEkmkdJyC2KBitwWtLOho92ZJ85IsfnylHxs1UIhNYiX4sTt1X-AMZwiW-1Af9b5v9c8No0xjVU4OXbvwKHLv7u7QCvukhoP3x_b5GKTDEoqF/s320/johnny+carson+christmas+DVD.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />This was a Christmas present given to me by my son Alex. In the past, Alex chose several Christmas albums (<a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/oh-santa-new-used-holiday-classics-yep.html">Oh Santa (Yep Roc)</a>, <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/gene-autry-complete-columbia-christmas.html">Gene Autry</a>) to give to my on December 25th but instead chose a DVD on my Santa list.<br /><br />My Santa list contained several DVD titles and several that I asked for were under the Christmas tree. I'm attempting to lose weight as a New Year's resolution (40 lbs. by my 40th birthday in June) and these will be used while exercising on the stationary bike or treadmill.<br /><br />Back in September, I discovered this DVD would be hitting shelves in October. At first, I was pretty psyched. A full DVD full of vintage Christmas clips from the Mighty Carson Art Players and Johnny himself, I thought.<br /><br />Last December, I posted a <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/its-youtube-christmas-pt-9.html">YouTube video</a> that had a clip from his 15th Anniversary show that contained a pretty hilarious Christmas clip. My friend Stubbyfears informed in the comments that he had seen the DVD and wished there were more clips like the one I had posted.<br /><br />Now I was full of trepidations - my wife said "too late" and on Christmas morning, the DVD was in my hands. The back of the DVD states "three classic shows" = good. The running time says "72 minutes" = not good.<br /><br />The menu tells another tale - each three shows came from the decade of the 1980s (1984, 1987, 1989). Why nothing earlier? Two likely reasons:<br /><br />1.) Nearly all of Johnny's work from 1962 to 1973 was never saved. TV network practices had engineers reusing early videotape for other programs.<br /><br />2.) During his legendary battle with then-head of NBC Fred Silverman, Carson gained ownership of his show away from NBC in 1980. Any clips from 1973 and 1980 would be the property of the Peacock and cost a fortune to license.<br /><br />With a roster of guest stars including Garry Shandling, Tony Bennett, Robin Williams, and the one and only Mr. Bob Hope stacked in its favor, how bad could this be?<br /><br />TRACK REVIEW:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/search.do?singleDateMonth=12&singleDateDay=21&singleDateYear=1984">Show 1 - 12/21/1984 - Guests: (NOT SHOWN), Garry Shandling, Manualist John Twomey</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWXXj0jfm4JC-QXfbyldpTH1Ns6MxG9WSoe2lv6qd5tkxWA9cXstoQnznE1vgMuf5BoWXHtB9hL9DaU6BuXLZVGBDNRyeZEwmY0TSKh9OsxP8mb_6BP71uSSMW6o7PWcfwaWU2WiLxq2Z/s1600-h/title+card.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290774282737547154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWXXj0jfm4JC-QXfbyldpTH1Ns6MxG9WSoe2lv6qd5tkxWA9cXstoQnznE1vgMuf5BoWXHtB9hL9DaU6BuXLZVGBDNRyeZEwmY0TSKh9OsxP8mb_6BP71uSSMW6o7PWcfwaWU2WiLxq2Z/s320/title+card.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" /></a><br />As the familiar strains of "Johnny's Theme" begins, we get a patch job for the introduction - a title card from the late 70s / early 80s, no Ed McMahon voice over, and random full frame clips of Carson as various characters.<br /><br />This is totally different from the floating images intro of "The Tonight Show" that were used throughout the 1980s. Ed yells "Here's Johnny!" and we settle in for a Carson monologue. <br /><br />After hearing several quick jokes tinged with Christmas, the editing fairies arrive, cutting out non-Christmas jokes from the monologue (the Highway Patrol, Californians, Mike Wallace, Prince Harry, and Hong Kong.). This happens not once nor twice - try four times! Sacrilege.<br /><br />The original first guest on this show was Tony Bennett who sang three non-Christmas songs (even more money for licensing needed) and went to panel with Carson. Their talk wasn't too heavy on Christmas so his appearance was excised out - the reason for the edits in the monologue.<br /><br />After Johnny's golf swing, we get our first skit - Carson as then-President Ronald Reagan reading "The Night Before Christmas"; "From out on the Rose Garden, there came such a din - I thought it was Mondale trying to break in". Very topical, very 1980s, very Christmas, pretty funny.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaKXcdb8l7Vo8OD1Fm5o_c0jiHbLKicVssvIYoyTEETROhyphenhyphengXL94s8W4DTBXCC_5v5FJL56Utw7ai7KdLY-FiVLHDgq9ZljYYxQYmLVmYHVPSyu4id6rEQzpQxrB-fuobUICbfZye66MB/s1600-h/carson+as+reagan.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290776777853953746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaKXcdb8l7Vo8OD1Fm5o_c0jiHbLKicVssvIYoyTEETROhyphenhyphengXL94s8W4DTBXCC_5v5FJL56Utw7ai7KdLY-FiVLHDgq9ZljYYxQYmLVmYHVPSyu4id6rEQzpQxrB-fuobUICbfZye66MB/s320/carson+as+reagan.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" /></a><br />We skip ahead to Carson introducing the second guest Garry Shandling with actual hand claps from Tony Bennett - wonder if they paid extra for those. Shandling's routine and panel appearance is slightly flavored with Christmas but it remains intact - no edits.<br /><br />What gives? Why slice Johnny's monologue and leave Garry's intact? Who made those decisions?<br /><br />The final guest is manualist John Twomey who made several appearances with Carson over the years:<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/f26qMlN742w&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f26qMlN742w&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Twomey gives us priceless renditions of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "White Christmas", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", and "Jingle Bells" using his hands. This is a study in reactions: Twomey's deadpan facial reaction, the audience reacting to the hilarious sounds, the occasional Carson reaction to both.<br /><br />By far, the best thing from this particular show. This was Twomey's second to last appearance with Johnny and why he never recorded albums (especially Christmas) is beyond me.<br /><br />Johnny comes back to wish everyone a Merry Christmas at the end (no goodbyes to the panel), we cut immediately to black and the main menu appears.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/search.do?singleDateMonth=12&singleDateDay=18&singleDateYear=1987"><br />Show 2 - 12/18/87 - Guests: Robin Williams, Bob Hope, Tony Bennett</a><br /><br />We get the same made-for-DVD open as described above but surprise! We actually get a full, unedited monologue from Carson chock full of 1980s references (Jim & Tammy, Jessica Hahn, Madonna & Sean Penn's divorce) sprinkled with just enough Christmas.<br /><br />According to the link above, Carson followed this monologue with some material read from his desk - a master pre-Christmas checklist to help you as a public service. Sadly, it isn't included on the DVD (perhaps to avoid paying the writers who came up with the gags).<br /><br />Johnny introduces Robin Williams who comes out to plug "Good Morning, Vietnam" and takes over the stage like only he can. This appearance / rant remains intact as well and is excruciatingly funny or painful depending on who you talk to. I was surprised they left it untouched (including showing the clip from "GM, V").<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAdFMSuCTMUcTG1G-ctFoaA1Rc-FxKdhO6KzMfJZAdTomWJpw5gEfXLaKP1TE0mDNqxUBOy8YrtV0Yjb2gxhxIQjA30GNCvkv-tbGHQoNmdaDAwuK1LEDUUZP-lOBBWtVVWOsNi33ry-S/s1600-h/robin+williams.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290777143562918994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAdFMSuCTMUcTG1G-ctFoaA1Rc-FxKdhO6KzMfJZAdTomWJpw5gEfXLaKP1TE0mDNqxUBOy8YrtV0Yjb2gxhxIQjA30GNCvkv-tbGHQoNmdaDAwuK1LEDUUZP-lOBBWtVVWOsNi33ry-S/s320/robin+williams.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" /></a><br />After the commercial break, Johnny introduces the next guest who's on the show to plug "Bob Hope's Christmas Show: A Snow Job In Florida". <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bob Hope 2</span>nd<span style="font-weight: bold;"> billed</span>?<br /><br />As "Thanks For The Memories" starts, Bob saunters out with a mild look of disgust. But as the audience rises to its feet (presumably) and yells its approval, Bob's get the wickedest grin on his face as if to say "Second slot or not, I still can win the hearts and minds of the audience".<br /><br />Hope thanks Johnny for the spot (Hope on Robin Williams: "He's wild, isn't he?") and gives a series of one word answers to questions put to him by Johnny - punishment for the second spot. Hope comes to life now and then (especially when Robin butts in with a joke) but it's an amazing display of body language - fiddling with his coat, squirming in his chair, occasionally looking at Johnny.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuo-kl_SeYF_8wrDd1l6P9SNuM3pZIUQMcl-36US4WpBcguqj4AFgXC-EdFabGyEU8FAN0NYTEn0YTBRQBExGIZirkmiz1gzLjht1muKV5hGlcVd4ditbM8kgpnws_Z76lCXSRBrXHsdD-/s1600-h/bob+hope.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290777428328207906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuo-kl_SeYF_8wrDd1l6P9SNuM3pZIUQMcl-36US4WpBcguqj4AFgXC-EdFabGyEU8FAN0NYTEn0YTBRQBExGIZirkmiz1gzLjht1muKV5hGlcVd4ditbM8kgpnws_Z76lCXSRBrXHsdD-/s320/bob+hope.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" /></a><br />Apparently, the DVD compilers decided to cut out Hope's clip from his special (if you hear a noise, that's Bob rolling over in his mausoleum) and we go directly into Johnny introducing Tony Bennett. Carson holds up an actual LP of "Bennett: Berlin" and we're treated with a great slow version of "White Christmas" backed by the Ralph Sharon Trio.<br /><br />Tony gets over to Johnny at the desk but we fade to black for commercial. Upon returning, Johnny thanks Tony, Bob (who awakens to make sure Johnny gets the time right for his special), and Robin snaps off several more jokes.<br /><br />The show ends with Doc Severinsen & The Tonight Show Band playing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". With Doc on lead trumpet a la Harry James, it's a great rendition as the credits roll. But like the rest of the show, it's abbreviated - time ran out and the song goes to black as well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHGz2jw9mh04GEM9vNl56ap4tIZsqglZDdxjfhKCusxmP31UU9nVZFlyoJjtVXl1rKutb_OBTEJNo8m5gGkUpJCKFugNN8iOy6IfUsHLXAC6p_LjjrLB2bHy5Dg2pQTFer27LZxJYUKpO/s1600-h/doc+%26+band.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290777862258928610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHGz2jw9mh04GEM9vNl56ap4tIZsqglZDdxjfhKCusxmP31UU9nVZFlyoJjtVXl1rKutb_OBTEJNo8m5gGkUpJCKFugNN8iOy6IfUsHLXAC6p_LjjrLB2bHy5Dg2pQTFer27LZxJYUKpO/s320/doc+%26+band.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" /></a><br />It's far better than show one and the most complete show on the DVD.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/search.do?singleDateMonth=12&singleDateDay=15&singleDateYear=1989">Show 3 - 12/15/1989 - Guests: (NOT SHOWN), Kevin Meaney, (NOT SHOWN)</a><br /><br />Another edited monologue to start. Considering it's length, should it even be called a monologue? One discussion with Doc over the pronunciation of "poinsettia", and three jokes. Why the jokes about getting into the spirit of Christmas in California were edited, who knows. <br /><br />If you click on the link above, you'll see the entire rundown of this particular show from Carson's own website. Upon learning that a segment with Johnny at the desk involving celebrity Christmas albums was removed irritates me to no end.<br /><br />Instead, we are serenaded by the Mighty Carson Art Players aka The NBC Yuletide Carolers (Johnny, Ed, Doc). Dressed in Victorian costumes, they sing a specially written version "The Twelve Days Of Christmas":<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictf7Ii9O_WyiV5wUlA4gLVb6JR-9Q3DMTH7vmMNGFSGFYZ33DOoAtshH1LXbSAkflqvOUUma8CNlhyphenhyphen-EuIxyQmSjWLz3ZUzVy7Bol3oNLGMkrxuYhmAQ7E8YHdnATpYHgNvVbAgTJjDpT/s1600-h/NBC+yuletide+carolers.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290778205889421138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictf7Ii9O_WyiV5wUlA4gLVb6JR-9Q3DMTH7vmMNGFSGFYZ33DOoAtshH1LXbSAkflqvOUUma8CNlhyphenhyphen-EuIxyQmSjWLz3ZUzVy7Bol3oNLGMkrxuYhmAQ7E8YHdnATpYHgNvVbAgTJjDpT/s320/NBC+yuletide+carolers.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" /></a><br />"On the second day of Christmas, my true love TOOK from me, two swimming pools, and the house in the hills of Beverly". Considering there were six divorces between the three (Johnny 3, Ed 2, Doc 1), this topic was always a good source of humor over the years on "The Tonight Show" - it's still funny.<br /><br />The first guest of the night was Bob Hope, who was there plugging his 1989 Christmas special entitled "Bob Hope's Christmas Special from Waikoloa, Hawaii" ("Hey, how 'bout those hula dancers, aren't they somethin'?). However, his entire appearance disappears from the DVD. Retribution?<br /><br />We get comedian Kevin Meaney's complete comedy routine (lightly flavored with Christmas) that is painfully unfunny until he imitates Johnny Mathis & Ethel Merman dueting on "Winter Wonderland". After all, this IS a Christmas DVD and there should be some of that here, huh?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNbDLVh3AQbkwENNQ4p3E0VkSs7kFwn3Gchlowc6oJVJpSUpd-7yftYoWwafu_ub_Dt7xBnoAtdj6T-FXltoU3E0USdfFFC9fOYX6_PD6w2ZaOFT3Fpdh8xwyLpyM4Rb5rqWKrVu-dVgS/s1600-h/kevin+meaney.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290778533559250818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNbDLVh3AQbkwENNQ4p3E0VkSs7kFwn3Gchlowc6oJVJpSUpd-7yftYoWwafu_ub_Dt7xBnoAtdj6T-FXltoU3E0USdfFFC9fOYX6_PD6w2ZaOFT3Fpdh8xwyLpyM4Rb5rqWKrVu-dVgS/s320/kevin+meaney.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" /></a><br />Johnny's final guest of the night was actress Liv Ullman. Appearing on the show to plug her latest film "The Rose Garden", apparently nothing of her time spent on the couch next to Johnny was Christmas related. She was left off the DVD as well.<br /><br />What's left is the worst hacked show on the DVD and a sad way to end the whole thing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIf8U1uKETc5FvzlH8ddIYS1_PPiU0tQ-izYPXCBn_87uWpXiF2nR1t9ZBscGCBaJkkeM9DD25_v0G4qS2_VqogUegw8t6pbl-7uH7VnXNH9WcSKWRiLNRBftBxyq3tdXPZVufjrjq6zRf/s1600-h/johnny+-+goodbye.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290779135364323170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIf8U1uKETc5FvzlH8ddIYS1_PPiU0tQ-izYPXCBn_87uWpXiF2nR1t9ZBscGCBaJkkeM9DD25_v0G4qS2_VqogUegw8t6pbl-7uH7VnXNH9WcSKWRiLNRBftBxyq3tdXPZVufjrjq6zRf/s320/johnny+-+goodbye.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" /></a><br /><br />Overall, a major disappointment. I wonder if Johnny would have been happy with this finished product or to even have his name associated with it. Looking at some of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B001CO3280/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?_encoding=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending">reviews</a> at Amazon.com, apparently quite a few people agree with me.<br /><br />Granted, on a DVD like this, not every clearance could be gotten. Was Liv Ullman even contacted about this? Figure in licensing the footage itself from Carson, royalties for performers and now writers, music licensing, and production / distribution costs and you can see why the editing fairies did what they did.<br /><br />What makes this worst is the amount of material that should have been included and left out. Thanks to YouTube, we may see some of it (like the aforementioned clip I posted in December). I'm not asking for every monologue joke that contains Christmas, but if there is something related to it (the missing skits I pointed out above), it certainly merits consideration.<br /><br />The end result only hurts us - the people paying money to see it. Do yourself a favor - don't buy this. Don't consider downloading this. Don't rent this from Netflix. Wait until it comes to your local library and check it out for free. If you pay anything more than that, you're going to get ripped off.<br /><br />This was a gift from my son and the major hug we shared after I opened it will be treasured for years to come. The DVD will gather some major dust.<br /><br />Even the allure of seeing Johnny again at Christmas and the comedy contained in this DVD in future years will be tarnished because of the "snow job" (to borrow a phrase from Mr. Hope) they gave us on this digital cookie. Make that cookie crumb.<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas DVD

This was a Christmas present given to me by my son Alex. In the past, Alex chose several Christmas albums ( Oh Santa (Yep Roc) , Gene Autry...

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It's A YouTube Christmas - Pt. 17

<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From time to time this Christmas season, I'll be posting some amazing videos that have been rescued by people like us and posted at the mecca of all things wonderful and obscure - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a>.<br /><br />I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it.<br /><br />For those who lived through the year 1968 and survived, they received a Christmas present 40 years ago today.<br /><br />The year started off with the Tet Offensive that changed the whole outlook on the Vietnam War. The USS Pueblo was captured off North Korean waters and its crew was held and beaten for most of the year.<br /><br />Across the sea, Paris students threw riots that stopped the country cold. In Czechoslovakia, reforms are attempted during the "Prague Spring" only to be crushed swiftly and cruelly by Soviet tanks and troops.<br /><br />LBJ decides not to seek another term as President, setting off the most explosive election year that culminates with the Chicago police reeking mayhem on protesters at the Democratic National Convention.<br /><br />Martin Luther King was assassinated on 4/6/68. Robert Kennedy was assassinated on 6/5/68. Tommie Smith and John Carlos give a Black Power salute atop the Olympic podium in Mexico City and are promptly thrown off the team and vilified for their silent protest.<br /><br />Richard Nixon stages a political comeback for the ages and narrowly beats out Hubert Humphrey to win the presidency. The divides between old and young, rich and poor, and black and white are chasms.<br /><br />By Christmas, 1968, the U.S. and the world was 99% scar tissue. So when Apollo 8 lifted off on December 21st, the world needed something... <span style="font-weight: bold;">ANYTHING </span>that was remotely positive and uplifting.<br /><br />They got it - at the conclusion of their Christmas Eve broadcast:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TfhpIoXYMWk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TfhpIoXYMWk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />My mother said she fought back the tears when watched this live in 1968. But when Frank Borman closed with "all of you on the good Earth", she lost it completely.<br /><br />If you watched this live, I would love to read your thoughts and comments about what happened to you 40 years ago today. If you watching this for the first time or the 10,478th time, I would love to know what you think of it as well.<br /><br /><br />Capt<br /><br /><br />P.S. Remember to leave a few carrots for the reindeer with your milk and cookies for Santa!</span></span>

It's A YouTube Christmas - Pt. 17

From time to time this Christmas season, I'll be posting some amazing videos that have been rescued by people like us and posted at the ...

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It's A YouTube Christmas - Pt. 16

<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">From time to time this Christmas season, I'll be posting some amazing videos that have been rescued by people like us and posted at the mecca of all things wonderful and obscure - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a>.<br /><br />I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it.<br /><br />When I began searching for YouTube Christmas videos a while back, these next three were among the first ones on the list. They are a series of theater ads that movie houses and drive-ins would show inbetween their showings and trailers to their audiences:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aMOpAe2eDoQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aMOpAe2eDoQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ou6rWuqYKis?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ou6rWuqYKis?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e3ORoX0_iXs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e3ORoX0_iXs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Some of these came from the excellent compilations entitled "<a href="http://www.somethingweird.com/cart.php?target=search&substring=hey+folks+it%27s+intermission+time&x=0&y=0">Hey Folks! It's Intermission Time</a>" from Something Weird Video - there are some amazing ads on here if you like these sort of nostalgia.<br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

It's A YouTube Christmas - Pt. 16

From time to time this Christmas season, I'll be posting some amazing videos that have been rescued by people like us and posted at the ...

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It's A YouTube Christmas - Pt. 15

<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From time to time this Christmas season, I'll be posting some amazing videos that have been rescued by people like us and posted at the mecca of all things wonderful and obscure - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a>.<br /><br />I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it.<br /><br />Earlier today, I posted two albums with connection to my hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Continuing with that theme, I scanned the YouTube dial to find any videos with a similar connection to the Summit City and came up with quite a few vids.<br /><br />The first is of a well known and loved three-story tall Santa Claus that's been hanging in downtown Fort Wayne for decades:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EyF6ulU3a2w&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EyF6ulU3a2w&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />This mammoth display used to hang off the <a href="http://christmaslights.wikispaces.com/Wolf+&+Dessauer+-+History+of+the+Christmas+Lights">Wolf & Dessauer</a> department store in downtown Fort Wayne eons ago and was <a href="http://palmeter.com/Christmas2004.htm">rescued</a> from the trash bin two decades ago - click on the links for more info.<br /><br />Our next clip is from The Chorus of Fort Wayne, a gay men's chorus that puts a unique spin into their Christmas show. Anyone got a white polyester suit?:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kXxrcUxmd7k&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kXxrcUxmd7k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />What can I say? If it's Christmas disco, I'm there. The Chorus of Fort Wayne has a <a href="http://thechorusoffortwayne.org/">website</a> so if you enjoyed the video, drop them a line!<br /><br />And now, a word from our sponsor:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nqfz12gfLMM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nqfz12gfLMM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.russmoore.com/">Russ Moore Transmissions</a> have been rebuilding Fort Wayne's motors since 1955 and have provided many amusing TV commercials over those many long years.<br /><br />Amazingly, a good majority of these commercials have been <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/russmooreinc">posted</a> online for your viewing enjoyment. FYI - the bumbling mechanic in many of these videos (and in Russ Moore's avatar) is my friend Thom Hofrichter, the head of First Presbyterian Theater where I volunteer my time to help them (and my best pal Joel).<br /><br />This final clip I was thrilled to find on YouTube. If I were to grab my trusty Boy Scout compass, walk out my front door, and start heading directly northwest for about 1/2 mile, I would run directly into this house:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LOIZm1_wu8M&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LOIZm1_wu8M&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />The Mazocks have been dazzling their neighborhood for several years. Six weeks before Thanksgiving every year, these folks hang an estimated 24,000 lights on their house, bushes, trees, basketball court, and driveway. Even the trees 200 feet away from their home in the backyard don't escape decoration.<br /><br />By the time they flip the switch, they have a state-of-the-art, 200-amp outdoor power board with 32 plug-ins and an electric bill at Christmas time $250 higher than average.<br /><br />And they don't stop there. As the cars drive by slowly, you'll notice one of the family members sitting on the driveway as Santa Claus welcoming well-wishers and posing for pictures. You can have your "Wizards of Winter" homes and flashy light-shows... the Mazocks celebrate Christmas, period.<br /><br />We drove by the house a week ago and I noticed that the house directly next door is on the market. Can you imagine the amount of Christmas energy that would flow from that subdivision if I decided to purchase that home?<br /><br />Honey??? A Happy Fort Wayne Christmas to one and all...<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

It's A YouTube Christmas - Pt. 15

From time to time this Christmas season, I'll be posting some amazing videos that have been rescued by people like us and posted at the ...

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Heino - A Festive German Christmas

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORMYw1uccxUBlCTamLnDMjZMfbAQmEG789GN4lnhR8DaPpsoWc4CkCXS50Xt9WI6EVNoxmp_bjjc4_71sJttq_1HL4AmAFUCMvRV21Q1wZf_We1shjvkQJwT05anLf5_8XmkXmGA5eab0/s1600-h/heino+-+A.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278391656206114114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORMYw1uccxUBlCTamLnDMjZMfbAQmEG789GN4lnhR8DaPpsoWc4CkCXS50Xt9WI6EVNoxmp_bjjc4_71sJttq_1HL4AmAFUCMvRV21Q1wZf_We1shjvkQJwT05anLf5_8XmkXmGA5eab0/s320/heino+-+A.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 319px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Heino is the most successful German folk (Volksmusik) singer of all times. His characteristics are the blond hair, the omnipresent dark shades and the clear, baritone singing voice.<br /><br />He has sold more than 30 million records in the last 30 years and has become one of the most beloved and famous persons in the German speaking part of the world (98% of all Germans know him - only surpassed by Chancellor Helmut Kohl - 99%).<br /><br />This album was released in 1969 and it's an epic. Side one is one gigantic Christmas medley (nineteen songs - nineteen minutes in length, all in German!). Side two is a collection of religious Christmas songs (all in German again).<br /><br /><a href="http://rapidshare.com/files/321670191/Heino_-_Ein_festliches_deutsches_Weihnachten.zip"><br />Heino - A Festive German Christmas</a><br /><br /><br />If you're not a big fan of Christmas carols, religious Christmas songs, but still want your Heino for Christmas, then this video is for you - all 23 minutes of it! Thanks to <a href="http://juligen.blogspot.com/">Anna-Lena Lodenius</a> for finding this:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fg4Ju7vT0GI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fg4Ju7vT0GI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />The Blonde One reportedly went on a farewell tour recently so who knows if we've seen or heard the last from him.<br /><br />Glückliches Hören… (aka Happy listening...)<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

Heino - A Festive German Christmas

Heino is the most successful German folk (Volksmusik) singer of all times. His characteristics are the blond hair, the omnipresent dark shad...

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It's A YouTube Christmas - Pt. 14

<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From time to time this Christmas season, I'll be posting some amazing videos that have been rescued by people like us and posted at the mecca of all things wonderful and obscure - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a>.<br /><br />I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it.<br /><br />Earlier this week, my family and I sat down to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on VHS (some things I refuse to upgrade). We all laughed, we all grooved to the Vince Guaraldi music, and we had a great time. Thank you, Charles M. Schulz and <a href="http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/bill-melndez-1916-2008.html">Bill Melendez</a>!<br /><br />This leads me to YouTube. There was a famous video that made the rounds a few years back that had Charlie Brown and company rocking out to "Hey Ya" by Outkast. Clever.<br /><br />I wondered what else YouTube had in the ways of Charlie Brown parodies and found these three. First is a take on the Outkast mashup:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4AC3sZB-v7Q&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4AC3sZB-v7Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Jimmy Kimmel gave us this parody a few years back. Scientology, anyone?:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fxZNQNZt9L0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fxZNQNZt9L0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />The cast of "Scrubs" originally did this parody for their year-end cast Christmas party. It was so well received that it made it to YouTube:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/20Of_mna-Rs&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/20Of_mna-Rs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />This final parody came from the mind of Denis Leary. You've been warned...<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wuPDm5fYFT8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wuPDm5fYFT8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Good grief...<br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

It's A YouTube Christmas - Pt. 14

From time to time this Christmas season, I'll be posting some amazing videos that have been rescued by people like us and posted at the ...

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The Nightmare Before Christmas - GUEST REVIEW

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGfkcYOlnhnduz25I905diQ-Hm2WXH59Ue9efHmIaK-XOzcNuYBrqSK0GqDcuVc0CCE4yITmP1rqImm3Yil6ERRajuhGw2zzSq005Jg1GoIscTS23rw43IZMWEBvVsaO19sIb1Ehbv-Jd/s1600-h/nightmare_before_christmas_ver1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280726474036558754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGfkcYOlnhnduz25I905diQ-Hm2WXH59Ue9efHmIaK-XOzcNuYBrqSK0GqDcuVc0CCE4yITmP1rqImm3Yil6ERRajuhGw2zzSq005Jg1GoIscTS23rw43IZMWEBvVsaO19sIb1Ehbv-Jd/s320/nightmare_before_christmas_ver1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My friend <a href="http://www.emulsioncompulsion.com/about">Scott Marks</a> has been gracious to lend me several of his Christmas movie reviews from his amazing website <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.emulsioncompulsion.com">Emulsion Compulsion</a>.<br /><br />If you haven't visited his site for some thoroughly honest movie reviews, commentary, and <a href="http://www.emulsioncompulsion.com/gallery2/main.php">image vaults</a> to die for (including a bunch of Christmas related stuff), take a moment to head over this his site and surf - you'll be there for at least 20 minutes max.<br /><br />For his final review, Scott chose a movie that was being shown in 3-D at the time and is one of my personal... umm... let me just post the review and let my opinion fall by the wayside:<br /><br />The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Directed by</span>: Henry Selick<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Written by</span>: Tim Burton & Michael McDowell<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast</span>: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page, Edward Ivory, Susan McBride, Debi Durst, Greg Proops, Kerry Katz, Randy Crenshaw, Sherwood Ball, Carmen Twillie<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aspect Ratio</span>: 1.66 : 1<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Running Time</span>: 76 min.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rating</span>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__5udDWXWvHO5ZeVjohghr1NC3Ibi1coCf2PJ_3STnHBcwvjvtFFUJ6Y6xzlFaCiTgaD5QPwD-sDojGTEbSfoqp4H1pK1v4uI5dotQCzsZhfeqpzJ5yYTxEA4NSIZjvNjmbtBLMLfRhy3/s1600-h/star.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277548938518811554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__5udDWXWvHO5ZeVjohghr1NC3Ibi1coCf2PJ_3STnHBcwvjvtFFUJ6Y6xzlFaCiTgaD5QPwD-sDojGTEbSfoqp4H1pK1v4uI5dotQCzsZhfeqpzJ5yYTxEA4NSIZjvNjmbtBLMLfRhy3/s320/star.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 16px; height: 16px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__5udDWXWvHO5ZeVjohghr1NC3Ibi1coCf2PJ_3STnHBcwvjvtFFUJ6Y6xzlFaCiTgaD5QPwD-sDojGTEbSfoqp4H1pK1v4uI5dotQCzsZhfeqpzJ5yYTxEA4NSIZjvNjmbtBLMLfRhy3/s1600-h/star.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277548938518811554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__5udDWXWvHO5ZeVjohghr1NC3Ibi1coCf2PJ_3STnHBcwvjvtFFUJ6Y6xzlFaCiTgaD5QPwD-sDojGTEbSfoqp4H1pK1v4uI5dotQCzsZhfeqpzJ5yYTxEA4NSIZjvNjmbtBLMLfRhy3/s320/star.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 16px; height: 16px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__5udDWXWvHO5ZeVjohghr1NC3Ibi1coCf2PJ_3STnHBcwvjvtFFUJ6Y6xzlFaCiTgaD5QPwD-sDojGTEbSfoqp4H1pK1v4uI5dotQCzsZhfeqpzJ5yYTxEA4NSIZjvNjmbtBLMLfRhy3/s1600-h/star.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277548938518811554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__5udDWXWvHO5ZeVjohghr1NC3Ibi1coCf2PJ_3STnHBcwvjvtFFUJ6Y6xzlFaCiTgaD5QPwD-sDojGTEbSfoqp4H1pK1v4uI5dotQCzsZhfeqpzJ5yYTxEA4NSIZjvNjmbtBLMLfRhy3/s320/star.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 16px; height: 16px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__5udDWXWvHO5ZeVjohghr1NC3Ibi1coCf2PJ_3STnHBcwvjvtFFUJ6Y6xzlFaCiTgaD5QPwD-sDojGTEbSfoqp4H1pK1v4uI5dotQCzsZhfeqpzJ5yYTxEA4NSIZjvNjmbtBLMLfRhy3/s1600-h/star.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277548938518811554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__5udDWXWvHO5ZeVjohghr1NC3Ibi1coCf2PJ_3STnHBcwvjvtFFUJ6Y6xzlFaCiTgaD5QPwD-sDojGTEbSfoqp4H1pK1v4uI5dotQCzsZhfeqpzJ5yYTxEA4NSIZjvNjmbtBLMLfRhy3/s320/star.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 16px; height: 16px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oA5A_Du_U139ZVZKzyEkW5bwWhsNEQl8LB_3GW7nMyvpYoWB1LT8aNMPJGOBNJgv07N4-Uq3SbUjCN-6Es3ZIWPsBReNUpUzBs0jXG2ERRUbr6GboddtUVbuuliZ1Ct2Bn6pRRYm_mlo/s1600-h/blankstar.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277549248717266786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oA5A_Du_U139ZVZKzyEkW5bwWhsNEQl8LB_3GW7nMyvpYoWB1LT8aNMPJGOBNJgv07N4-Uq3SbUjCN-6Es3ZIWPsBReNUpUzBs0jXG2ERRUbr6GboddtUVbuuliZ1Ct2Bn6pRRYm_mlo/s320/blankstar.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 16px; height: 16px;" /></a><br /><br />Rod Serling didn't known it at the time, but when he spoke about finding another dimension by turning a key and unlocking the door of imagination he was directly addressing the current state of film exhibition.<br /><br />I have seen the future of movies and it is 3-D... I hope.<br /><br />The depth expanding novelty process, which has been around since the twenties, saw it's greatest rise in popularity during the Fifties when it was dusted off as a means to combat the onslaught of television. With the exception of Hitchcock's "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046912/">Dial 'M' for Murder</a>", no other stereoscopic film bothered to utilize depth as a means of storytelling. Everybody just wanted to test the limits of those uncomfortable cardboard glasses.<br /><br />Arguably, the single greatest exponents of 3-D gimmickry were the Three Stooges. With all the pies and fingers aimed at the lenses there was little time left to stop and savor narrative and textural nuance.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b_mtKQdsWCA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b_mtKQdsWCA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Cost and public indifference brought a quick end to the vogue. Originally it took two interlocked projectors rigged with polarized lenses that were offset by approximately three-inches to bring 3-D to the screen. Theaters had to be refitted with expensive silver screens and doubling the prints meant doubling the shipping costs.<br /><br />Barely on life support in the Sixties, 3-D experienced a minor revival over the next two decades. By now polarized lenses had all but vanquished their blue and red predecessors. The new single-strip process looked better than ever and, positioned at the dawn of sequelitis, found steady employment in third-part installments of horror films. ("<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085750/">Jaws 3-D</a>", "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083972/">Friday the 13th Part III</a>" and "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085159/">Amityville 3-D</a>".)<br /><br />(<span style="font-weight: bold;">CAPT'S NOTE</span>: Don't forget "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082193/">Comin' At Ya!</a>" from 1981 - first 3-D movie I ever saw)<br /><br />Ultimately, 70mm killed 3-D as well as Cinerama. Audiences didn't have to endure tri-panel seams, nose-creasing glasses or higher ticket prices. Oddly enough, the sharper image resolution wasn't what gave the film stock its celebrity, but the fuller range of stereophonic sound.<br /><br />Too costly to shoot in the wide-gauge process, for a period Hollywood was ordering 70mm blow-ups on every fifth picture slated for release. As much as I adore "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099700/">Gremlins 2</a>", even I was stunned to see it in the grandeur of 70mm. With the advent of digital sound, 70mm was put on the disabled list.<br /><br />Not until IMAX combined 70mm and stereoscopic cinematography had the potential for worldwide acceptance shown such promise. Glasses were now replaced by helmets equipped with polarized visors and tiny speakers that sat behind your ears assuring optimum stereophonic separation.<br /><br />Attempts to incorporate narrative into the otherwise flaccid Disney-esque nature documentaries proved fruitless. The domed dinosaur that sits in Balboa Park is a far cry from what came to be known as the IMAX Experience. The closest San Diego comes to true IMAX exhibition is up the road a piece in Irvine.<br /><br />The IMAX thrill quickly came and went, until now. The brainiacs at Industrial Light and Magic devised a way in which any 2-D film can be digitally catapulted into the third-dimension. It is expensive and time consuming, but the results are staggering.<br /><br />The original 2-D negative is scanned into a computer and digitally spruced up. Coming up with the second strip was a laborious process as Nightmare producer Don Hahn explained in an interview with animationartist.com: "If you want to see the original version, you just look with your left eye. But then we have to create a whole right eye version... and that's done by rebuilding the whole movie as a digital picture. In other words, if you have a shot of Jack Skellington, you have to build Jack, and you have to build the background behind him, his house and the snow, or whatever is behind him in a digital world. And then we project a movie on to that digital geometry and then move the digital camera over to the right and re-photograph that for the right eye version."<br /><br />You still have to wear glasses, but Disney has thankfully devised lightweight and comfortable, if not aggressively unfashionable, lenses.<br /><br />With its surplus of musical numbers and paucity of plot, I confess to not being a fan of the original Goth-approved Nightmare. In 3-D it's a revelation. The studio promises at least one film a year will be converted to 3-D. I vote for a deep-focus enhancement of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034492/">"Bambi's"</a> Multiplane Camera pyrotechnics. If not a Disney feature, why not one that influenced Uncle Walt like "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025913/">Triumph of the Will</a>"?<br /><br />- - Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy Hannukah to all my Jewish friends. Scott Marks<br /><br /><br />Thanks Scott for this fantastic review! <span style="font-size:48%;">I hate this film and I think Tim Burton is a totally overrated director who can't tell a good story because the dark themes or special effects backing him up get in the way ("Ed Wood" was the lone exception).</span><br /><br /><br />Capt</span></span>

The Nightmare Before Christmas - GUEST REVIEW

My friend Scott Marks has been gracious to lend me several of his Christmas movie reviews from his amazing website Emulsion Compulsion . If...

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