tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75225369085211879552024-03-13T09:52:01.047-07:00The Haunted ClosetLet's take a look, you and me, in the creaky, creepy collection of forgotten artifacts rotting away in my Haunted Closet...Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.comBlogger284125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-1802962673612809612022-10-01T08:50:00.007-07:002023-03-30T11:54:52.446-07:00The Red Room Riddle: A Ghost Story (Scott Corbett, 1972)<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I first became aware of <b>Scott Corbett</b>'s 1972 ghost story <u>The
Red Room Riddle</u> when the made-for-TV adaptation decided to crash my regularly
scheduled Saturday morning viewing ritual. My fandom for children's horror
stories adapted for television had been established years earlier in my stumbled-upon
viewing of <u>Once Upon A Midnight Scary</u> (1979), the <b>Vincent Price</b>-hosted
anthological trio comprised of <u>The Legend of Sleepy Hollow</u> (<b>Washington Irving</b>),
<u>The Ghost Belonged To Me</u> (<b>Richard Peck</b>) and <u>The House With a Clock In Its Walls</u>
(<b>John Bellairs</b>) (covered previously in a <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/07/once-upon-midnight-scary-1979-was-hour.html" target="_blank">years-old blog post</a> that's not very
well written, but hey, at least the screen caps are... adequate.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For <u>The Red Room Riddle</u>, Price even reprises hosting duties
alongside feline puppet regular O. G. Readmore in this <a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/ABC%20Weekend%20Specials" target="_blank">ABC Weekend Special</a>
presentation which aired just in time for Halloween, 1984.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB9A9WOQa799i7DXQ29CxWA4A7R22GsuoOGdbHMXJ7LQs00Fr9CKZWSsrGlQh4OhrV8jyNF435p_buPtRxi_3JygCErM_aK4xEA6u62IvydXAEn1EgBl-iL9OBghKPJ0AAonCxbUDH4yXD8aOczIsLTVP_CzEVEbpSBth0UcV8vR3ccrJMl4-Y7rEnA/s698/abc%20weekend%20special%20title.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="698" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB9A9WOQa799i7DXQ29CxWA4A7R22GsuoOGdbHMXJ7LQs00Fr9CKZWSsrGlQh4OhrV8jyNF435p_buPtRxi_3JygCErM_aK4xEA6u62IvydXAEn1EgBl-iL9OBghKPJ0AAonCxbUDH4yXD8aOczIsLTVP_CzEVEbpSBth0UcV8vR3ccrJMl4-Y7rEnA/s320/abc%20weekend%20special%20title.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Grade-school
kids exploring an abandoned haunted house with nary an adult chaperone to be
found? On paper, this should have been exactly my cup of arsenic. But even with
my Expectations-Have-Been-Lowered-For-Television mindset, this version was
lacking in atmosphere or scares, and kind of just plods along until it mercifully
ends, with our lead explorers, <b>Scott Jacoby</b> (<u>Bad Ronald</u>) and <b>Nicholas Gilbert</b> ("3rd
bully" in <u>The Never Ending Story</u>) left unscathed and unchanged by their
experience. For me, the most memorable
thing about <u>The Red Room Riddle </u>was its alliterative title in dripping-blood
font. (But don't let my singular pooh-poohing
steer you away from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDusQJdw3gk" target="_blank">checking it out for yourself</a>---there are plenty of
first-hand kindertraumatic testimonies singing its praises by viewers other
than me.)</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRG2GvRLMUWsufXNqBCTJmt0JqfivhcHAvXZn_NnDVzxQghaJMVmeEKjS7VL_nQD9wIpdV4X4PMjbsILNnJxxWfp_ZuyAbNLYEhibu8lntWthCotTpUwOiVK1vk9JwtycoHMk-EzjgifB7lVQVbBSxc2f4OG4Atqkoevc3X9VppeturFl9j8lavO96g/s699/red%20room%20riddle%20tv%20special%20title.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="699" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRG2GvRLMUWsufXNqBCTJmt0JqfivhcHAvXZn_NnDVzxQghaJMVmeEKjS7VL_nQD9wIpdV4X4PMjbsILNnJxxWfp_ZuyAbNLYEhibu8lntWthCotTpUwOiVK1vk9JwtycoHMk-EzjgifB7lVQVbBSxc2f4OG4Atqkoevc3X9VppeturFl9j8lavO96g/s320/red%20room%20riddle%20tv%20special%20title.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>That old Red Room Riddle font gives me the creeps!</i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've said it before: most mysteries are solved <a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-battle-of-billys-pond-1976.html" target="_blank">in the library</a>, and that's exactly where I went to investigate <b>The Case of The Ghost
Story Adaptation That Wasn't All That</b>. If <u>The Red Room Riddle</u>'s premise sounded
good to me on paper, maybe "on paper" was the proper place to
actually experience it, was my thinking.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVfajwxhD7m90rShrH4dzr06mwf4srcP2UJH0hsBhmZ6X10vTUCHubsi5h4eX1G5dFo-m4G1UYmcD39jxNqO_RdkW3CDNUwt8T1LV-GryMYzHFLlvY1DiKf3kunOL0rUvEOrdwqo4Ubxh08pqAUxjvB9SW-_uf4zZJIgJ41-Q24Qc0NVT7JuNS3yNmw/s1645/cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1645" data-original-width="1100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVfajwxhD7m90rShrH4dzr06mwf4srcP2UJH0hsBhmZ6X10vTUCHubsi5h4eX1G5dFo-m4G1UYmcD39jxNqO_RdkW3CDNUwt8T1LV-GryMYzHFLlvY1DiKf3kunOL0rUvEOrdwqo4Ubxh08pqAUxjvB9SW-_uf4zZJIgJ41-Q24Qc0NVT7JuNS3yNmw/s320/cover.jpg" width="214" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Now let's get one thing straight---there is no actual riddle
in <u>The Red Room Riddle</u>. Yes, there are mysterious goings-on that beg
explanation, but anyone hoping for a <i><b>what
gets wetter the more it dries</b></i> type plot-revolving puzzler for the
characters to solve will find no such satisfaction.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-colGQ2xCaQxMDhfs2HyYMjMZJa-4SFvclWNPGYPT68aeLByiIJRcdTPIrpq8tgPQx6px8IeuLCwxmhgNyYQqzFUir1-xyYCMp4KISBH-FwZookoLRcNO_9KGAk08GpaU92ecq5JnyDq2mjh1ui5UniomZTiBexfBimZVYB3fodIQvWGKWn5tdK3BoA/s449/mystery%20j%20library%20tag.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="167" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-colGQ2xCaQxMDhfs2HyYMjMZJa-4SFvclWNPGYPT68aeLByiIJRcdTPIrpq8tgPQx6px8IeuLCwxmhgNyYQqzFUir1-xyYCMp4KISBH-FwZookoLRcNO_9KGAk08GpaU92ecq5JnyDq2mjh1ui5UniomZTiBexfBimZVYB3fodIQvWGKWn5tdK3BoA/s320/mystery%20j%20library%20tag.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Did I mention I love ex-library copies? This book filed under Mystery, because of all those mysterious goings-on that beg explanation, no doubt.</i></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Framed as a first-person childhood reminiscence, <u>The Red
Room Riddle</u> recounts an adventure by our narrator <b>Bruce Cowell </b>and new-to-the-neighborhood
friend <b>Bill Slocum</b> on a drizzly Halloween. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Bruce's love of Halloween is expressed repeatedly, described
here as "the most exciting night of the year." Apparently trick-or-treating was not yet a common practice when and where this story is set, so
Halloween was instead a night of rule-breaking and mischief-making, "...
when we were allowed to run loose in the dark. We looked forward to it for
weeks." </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Regional lore tells of a haunted house in the nearby affluent
neighborhood of Mt. Alban, at which a baby's body was supposedly found years
ago, chopped up and buried in the garden (unsurprisingly, the TV version leaves
this gruesome detail out entirely.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A timely conversation about belief in ghosts inspires the
pair to seek out the house for "research", but really Bruce and Bill
are just looking to add a little spice of the non-pumpkin kind to their
Halloween gallivanting. Guided by
Bruce's fuzzy memory of having once passed by the place years earlier, the pair
venture forth into the labyrinth of lanes, streets and drives that wind their
way up Mt. Alban, eventually stumbling upon the house, three stories of dilapidation
and jungle undergrowth. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Unlike the TV version, where the kids are left unscathed by
their forbidden explorations, Bill gets scathed immediately, brushing against a
thorn as they struggle their way through the unkempt grounds, leaving a bloody
scar on his cheek. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While still navigating the yard, a third member unexpectedly
joins their party: an aloof kid named <b>Jamie Bly</b>, trailed by his menacing
bulldog, <b>Major</b>. Jamie claims familiarity with the house and offers to lead them
on a tour, but there's something off-putting about his too-cool demeanor that
immediately puts Bruce and Bill on edge. After making their way indoors and up
a rickety staircase, they are chased out by yet another new arrival, a
cantankerous old groundskeeper (who, considering the state of the grounds,
should probably find another profession). While fleeing the property, Bruce
thinks he sees Jamie's dog digging at a "small, age-yellowed
bone...leaning sideways in the hole with the tilt of a disturbed
tombstone." Is the legend of the chopped up baby true after all?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sensing their fear while exploring the house, Jamie taunts them
with an offer to experience actual ghosts in person later that evening at his
own home. Despite their skepticism, Bruce and Bill appoint to meet him that
evening at an intersection a few blocks away.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In the interim, they debate allowing their Halloween evening
itinerary to be dictated by this infuriating stranger who obviously won't be
able to produce real live dead ghosts--but may just have some other prank up
his sleeve. Ultimately the pair decide
to call Jamie's bluff (but secretly, they each hope he won't show up.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYORgKutsODYb_2pWyNNHQLR8qaBa-RQRZj5DR9FMJz-B5zBECXsdoTKB0Yzv5mTwzipqIyvDS5IM5XthQ0TCP6jU2XCeI_XQ_2eURHB_NPa2wRRKhlwMwYvytTcNfMdhhthyXO4gHC0vmXi3I3KSZ7yzveqseJKq6Qpx0LM9Kzfv4J1DJ1ER3VQgfUA/s1543/illustration01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYORgKutsODYb_2pWyNNHQLR8qaBa-RQRZj5DR9FMJz-B5zBECXsdoTKB0Yzv5mTwzipqIyvDS5IM5XthQ0TCP6jU2XCeI_XQ_2eURHB_NPa2wRRKhlwMwYvytTcNfMdhhthyXO4gHC0vmXi3I3KSZ7yzveqseJKq6Qpx0LM9Kzfv4J1DJ1ER3VQgfUA/s320/illustration01.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bruce and Bill waiting for that little twerp
Jamie. Illustrations are by Geff Gerlach, working in the <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/09/dont-be-afraid-of-dark-bad-ronald-and.html" target="_blank">I-Could-Draw-That</a>
style.</span></i></div></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When Jamie does indeed appear at the appointed time and
place, Bruce and Bill pivot from dread to bravado and dare him to deliver on
his earlier promise. After leading them on a disorienting pretzel path through
the neighborhood, the trio finally arrive at Jamie's house, which Bruce and
Bill find as uninviting as the abandoned Mt. Alban house. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Mirroring their earlier experience, Bill's cheek is again scratched
as they approach the house, this time accompanied by a mysterious whooshing
sound and a cold burst of air. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And this
is the point where we dive head first into the unique weirdness of Corbett's
story that is sorely missing from the TV adaptation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Once inside, Jamie's house proves legitimately spooky. Lit
only by intermittent gas lamps, it's a confusing, shadowy labyrinth of lonely
corridors and dark corners. Jamie's
parents are supposedly out for the evening, leaving a pair of servants as the
only adults in the house. A mute maid emerges unexpectedly from the shadows
just long enough to blow out the nearest lamp and then disappear again into
darkness. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A huge, horrific tapestry adorns one wall, depicting the
Biblical atrocity of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents" target="_blank">King Herod putting children to the sword</a>. This combined
with the earlier sight of what might very well have been a murdered child's
skeleton casts a foreboding seriousness over what would otherwise seem a
harmless Halloween jaunt. This is another colorful detail omitted from the TV
version, which ditches the whole infanticide theme entirely.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDkee-G3cd-Pg3Ug_p7dlkg9kGykY-qWstl_Pr1V6aDAIy7m7Q651Dob2eJo2QU_Vyr3Je9oyuaMPXOXf_mdhSZPZ-eOpIHC-IHIIWQDZswjL705M0oqjx04an2Wdr10qxbgvdEdmCefeFS-G0VxDMFg2ExcP9863NEXNdXqHCMumQJa1ThfQ20Y7Pg/s1524/illustration02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1050" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDkee-G3cd-Pg3Ug_p7dlkg9kGykY-qWstl_Pr1V6aDAIy7m7Q651Dob2eJo2QU_Vyr3Je9oyuaMPXOXf_mdhSZPZ-eOpIHC-IHIIWQDZswjL705M0oqjx04an2Wdr10qxbgvdEdmCefeFS-G0VxDMFg2ExcP9863NEXNdXqHCMumQJa1ThfQ20Y7Pg/s320/illustration02.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Again evoking their earlier adventure, they find themselves
following Jamie up a staircase, this time to visit (drum-roll) "The Red
Room". What's red and red and red all over? This unsettling upstairs
chamber in which every wall, fixture and piece of furniture is covered in
various shades of crimson that, impossibly, appears to still be dripping wet,
prompting Bill to not so helpfully volunteer that old wooden warships used to
paint their decks red to disguise blood spilt from battle. "That's right." Jamie agrees with a knowing
smirk.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The other shoe--which Bruce and Bill had been anticipating
all evening--finally drops when Jamie springs his prank, locking them in the
Red Room and challenging them through the red door to find a hidden red staircase
somewhere near the red fireplace. As
they fumble around for a secret panel, crashing metallic footsteps can be heard
from outside the room with increasing volume, and Jamie ominously warns they'd
better hurry or "you'll see more than you bargained for." </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpZKXBhaqZIePnNOlfEpBApRjHI7X_7e-RoEnzEk3VwVT9C3jvX0QUNi32xMHn5bltcZwJjQd1ZfIzlsy9vOI9kXrNp-7l9i_WIVKTvHqNHaf76Y34FJzq6aum_RnKSCz1Q4Qq4gJBwVA0l6yj4oJQJg1nQJPc55O4N84vOSsxi2CUyZIAiR-8wdM1g/s702/tv%20red%20room.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="702" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpZKXBhaqZIePnNOlfEpBApRjHI7X_7e-RoEnzEk3VwVT9C3jvX0QUNi32xMHn5bltcZwJjQd1ZfIzlsy9vOI9kXrNp-7l9i_WIVKTvHqNHaf76Y34FJzq6aum_RnKSCz1Q4Qq4gJBwVA0l6yj4oJQJg1nQJPc55O4N84vOSsxi2CUyZIAiR-8wdM1g/s320/tv%20red%20room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Admittedly the depiction of the room itself in
the <b>ABC Weekend Special</b> is kind-a neat looking, even if it eschews the
weirdness of the book for more generic haunted house tropes like floating
candles</span></i></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A tense and prolonged climax finds our heroes fleeing from a
sword-wielding phantom Roman soldier down a claustrophobic spiral staircase,
and a mysterious final flourish has us questioning whether any human being (or
dog) Bruce and Bill have encountered since first stepping foot in the earlier
Mt. Alban house is real, imagined, or something in between. It's even possible
the Mt. Alban house and Jamie's are one and the same.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In a sad coda, Bruce describes trying to relay the incident
to his parents years later, only for it to be dismissed as the result of a
child's overactive imagination.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But Bill's scar, we are told, never healed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>The Red Room Riddle is out of print as of this writing.</i></span></p>Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-35838748304468726592020-07-30T16:22:00.040-07:002020-08-15T06:52:13.796-07:00Evangelizing Disney (Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World and Disneyland's 25th Anniversary)<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was somewhat confusing for me to learn that <b>Walt Disney</b> was, in fact, dead.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How was this possible when the studio bearing his name was still releasing new films (<u>The Rescuers,</u> ['77], <u>Pete's Dragon,</u> ['77], <u>Freaky Friday,</u> ['76]) in theaters, the United States was flanked on either coast by a Disney theme park that was open, operating, and adding new rides (Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain), and the man himself occasionally showed up on my television set, albeit in a slightly old-fashioned suit, to introduce that night's episode of <u>The Wonderful World of Disney</u>?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ULxyFWTLBU/XyNCM2JIZ6I/AAAAAAAAMNM/Nhfh8e7A01QXD7xCIla_QlTyewphDuUugCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/walt.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="594" height="233" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ULxyFWTLBU/XyNCM2JIZ6I/AAAAAAAAMNM/Nhfh8e7A01QXD7xCIla_QlTyewphDuUugCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/walt.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was hard for me to reconcile the fact that Disney--the company--was wielding such a huge influence on my childhood while Disney--the man--had passed on over a decade earlier, before I was even born. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">How exactly was Disney able to sally forth so successfully without the guiding influence of Walt? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unbeknownst to me, industry sentiment at the time was not that the Disney studio was having trouble staying on the path set forth by Walt, but rather was too timid to break away from it. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Young people's tastes were changing, and the Disney product was not changing along with it." writes </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Leonard Maltin</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of Disney's post-Walt decade (</span><u style="font-family: inherit;">The Disney Films</u><span style="font-family: inherit;">, 3rd Edition, 1995, p. 270)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">While the Disney brand still dominated the pop culture I consumed in the 1970s, my tastes were also being informed by the irreverent humor of The Muppets (not a Disney property at that time), PG-rated (and sometimes vulgar) comedies like <u>The Bad News Bears</u> ('76), <u>Meatballs</u> ('79) and <u>Grease</u> ('78), and of course the mega-blockbusters of the decade, <u>Jaws</u> ('75), <u><a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/02/raising-alien-bar-star-wars-cantina.html" target="_blank">Star Wars</a></u> ('77, also not yet a Disney property) and <u>Close Encounters of the Third Kind</u> ('77).</span></div>
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<b><u><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The Cat From Outer Space</span></u><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> ('78) and <u>Unidentified Flying Oddball</u> ('79), two examples of the type of corny sci-fi Disney was still releasing in the years following <u>Star Wars</u> and <u>Close Encounters of the Third Kind</u>.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Disney, for its part, seemed stuck in a 1960s time-loop. Some current theatrical releases hewed too closely to Walt-era hits to be appreciated entirely on their own merit. <u>Bedknobs and Broomsticks</u> ('71) was <u>Mary Poppins</u>, but witches. <u>The Aristocats</u> ('70) was <u>One Hundred and One Dalmatians</u>, but cats. <u>Island at the Top of the World</u> ('74) was <u>20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</u>, but in the air. There were also countless tepid live-action comedies featuring a familiar roster of actors that Disney had been relying on for over a decade, among them a pair of Dean Jones starring sequels no one was clamoring for, <u>The Shaggy D.A.</u> ('76) and <u>Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo</u> ('77).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With a few exceptions, (</span><u style="font-family: inherit;">The Rescuers</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> was both a critical success and, for a while, the highest grossing animated film of all time), it was generally "impossible to distinguish a Disney studio film of the 1970s from one made prior to Walt's death..." (Maltin).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="line-height: 115%;">Attempting to course correct, Disney, under the leadership of Walt's son-in-law, <b>Ron Miller</b>, began developing projects that could be described as experimental for a studio built on wholesome G-rated family entertainment. The films from this era, which lasts from the late 70s through the mid-1980s, included the studio's first PG-rated film, released under the Buena Vista banner to obscure its connection to Disney, <u>Take Down</u> ('79), as well as several attempts to tap into genres unconventional for Disney: horror (<u>Watcher In the Woods</u>, '80), off-world sci-fi (<u>The Black Hole</u>, '79), contemporary teen drama (an adaptation of S.E. Hinton's <u>Tex</u>, '82), a screwball scavenger hunt (<u>Midnight Madness</u>, '80), super heroes (<u>Condorman</u>, '81), and, in an unprecedented partnership with an outside studio (Paramount), medieval fantasy (<u>Dragonslayer</u>, '81) and a live-action adaptation of cartoon character <u>Popeye</u> ('80). </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2v9NG2TPSY/XyNEM3UA2UI/AAAAAAAAMNg/tldhRrBvKJMsjOSh1g5G6a2-w7uBhyhIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/postermontage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="1205" height="161" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2v9NG2TPSY/XyNEM3UA2UI/AAAAAAAAMNg/tldhRrBvKJMsjOSh1g5G6a2-w7uBhyhIACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/postermontage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But despite testing these new waters, Disney hadn't given up on the G-rated family market, they just needed to figure out how to convince Generation X to believe in that good ol' Disney magic their Boomer parents had grown up with, a challenge perfectly encapsulated in a scene from </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Special Edition</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (1979), in which a 30-something Dad (<b>Richard Dreyfuss</b>) is more excited about the prospect of revisiting all the "furry animals and magic" of a revival showing of Disney's 1940 classic </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">Pinocchio</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> than his disinterested 8-year old son, who dismisses the film as "some dumb cartoon rated G for kids."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems it was up to the adults to evangelize Disney magic to the current generation of disbelieving children. And we can see that in two theme-park focused <u>Wonderful World of Disney</u> television specials from that period: <u>The Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World</u> (1977) and <u>Disneyland's 25th Anniversary</u> (1980). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Using the medium of television <a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2015/03/hard-times-at-disneyland.html" target="_blank">to promote the theme parks</a> was nothing new for Disney. The original 1954 incarnation of the weekly series that would eventually become <u>The Wonderful World of Disney</u> was named for the still under-construction park, <u>Disneyland</u>, and branded its anthological content to one of the park's four themed lands. Beginning in the 1970s, Walt Disney World was the subject of several episodes, including <u>The Magic of Walt Disney World</u> (1974, an updated presentation of a 1972 featurette).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But by 1977, much of that "magic" was lost on today's kids... that is, if we are to believe what we see in </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">The Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World</u><span style="font-family: inherit;">, in which the cast of </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">The New Mickey Mouse Club</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> performs at a park they seem to have no interest in actually stepping foot in.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">All screen caps were pulled from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYWREGw1abY" target="_blank">this YouTube upload</a> of the program, although in an odd bit of coincidental timing, while preparing this post it suddenly became available officially on the Disney+ streaming service.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">The New Mickey Mouse Club</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;"> (TNMMC), premiering in January, 1977, was an attempt to reboot the hugely successful 1950s phenomenon, updating it for the modern era with a diversified cast, a disco-fied theme song, and a crayon box explosion of colorful sets and costumes. Remembered today mostly as the launching pad for <u><a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2017/05/please-sign-in-1981-weekly-reader.html" target="_blank">Facts of Life</a></u> actress <b>Lisa Whelchel</b>, TNMMC was yet another example of Disney playing it safe by repeating itself. But lightning didn't strike twice (Maltin called the show a "conspicuous failure"), and it limped along for two years before fading into obscurity.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-2n6TXiHNA/XyNEyNS6WBI/AAAAAAAAMNw/nvBKQsUJcbg4KBCTlKRSCYRk9kW9QqDswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mickey%2Bmouse%2Bclub%2Balbum%2Bcover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-2n6TXiHNA/XyNEyNS6WBI/AAAAAAAAMNw/nvBKQsUJcbg4KBCTlKRSCYRk9kW9QqDswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mickey%2Bmouse%2Bclub%2Balbum%2Bcover.jpg" /></a></div>
<u style="font-family: inherit;">The Mousketeers at Walt Disney World</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> follows TNMMC's multi-day stay at the Orlando resort, chaperoned by a "Mr. Brown" (familiar TV actor </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Ronnie Schell</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">, who had become a Disney film regular of late, appearing in </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">The Strongest Man in the World</u><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">Gus</u><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">The Shaggy D.A.</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">The Cat From Outer Space</u><span style="font-family: inherit;">.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="line-height: 115%;">TNMMC cast arrives via Monorail at the Contemporary Resort, but they don't pause for a moment to marvel at the cavernous Grand Canyon Concourse and its magnificent six-story tall <b>Mary Blair</b> tile mural. Instead, they're excited to try out the not-so-magical tennis courts, an amenity commonly found at non-Disney resorts, sports clubs and parks across the country.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><b>"I can't wait to get to the tennis courts." says Julie Piekarski to Kelly Parsons.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After a musical montage showcasing <b>River Country</b>, a themed water park that opened near <b>Fort Wilderness Campground</b> the year prior, TNMMC kids are seen enjoying rounds of skee-ball and pinball at the <a href="https://www.parkeology.com/2020/02/the-fiesta-fun-center-walt-disney-worlds-lost-arcade.html" target="_blank">Fiesta Fun Center</a> arcade.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;">While the arcade might be worth highlighting as a feature of the resort, there's little Disney "magic" to be found here that couldn't be replicated at any local mall of the day. When Mr. Brown interrupts their play to distribute park tickets, the kids' disinterest is <i>un-mouse-stakeable</i>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v98_Z9RKGgQ/XyNFPlPOR2I/AAAAAAAAMOA/W8J9vfbE9QMkqOpJ4MkDfiB9MFa45I-HACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/wdw03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="719" height="230" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v98_Z9RKGgQ/XyNFPlPOR2I/AAAAAAAAMOA/W8J9vfbE9QMkqOpJ4MkDfiB9MFa45I-HACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/wdw03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><b>Just look at the disappointment on the faces of "Pop" Attmore and Kelly Parsons. This is the look of a child receiving a $10 savings bond from Grandma for his birthday, not tickets to the greatest theme park in the world. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Comedienne <b>Jo Anne Worley</b> arrives as investigative journalist Colleen Osborn, who may as well be channeling audience skepticism (or at least, Disney's presumption of same) that this nostalgic 1950s-era Mickey Mouse Club concept will still fly in the raucous 1970s. "Level with me Mr. Brown, are the Mouseketeers really friendly towards each other?" Assuring viewers that TNMMC aren't the clean-cut and polite squares of yesteryear, but rather modern kids with modern attitudes and modern interpersonal problems, they stampede onto the scene, arguing and tearing at each other's clothes.</span><br />
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<span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Anarchy in the W.D.W!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lest there be any lingering doubt that TNMMC has changed with the times, in a later scene, Lisa Whelchel and <b>Allison Fonte</b> take a break from fighting over a rack of dresses to flirt with an attractive older man, or "fox" as the cool kids say.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1dcCjHSLpig/XyNFrL2DizI/AAAAAAAAMOQ/S6G10_rcNAAD9OOHqaQfNedABfYjQo_vgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/wdw05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="674" height="244" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1dcCjHSLpig/XyNFrL2DizI/AAAAAAAAMOQ/S6G10_rcNAAD9OOHqaQfNedABfYjQo_vgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/wdw05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">This ain't your Dad's Disney vacation--although this "fox" looks old enough to be their Dad. Yikes!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, action moves to inside The Magic Kingdom and, after riding the Tomorrowland Speedway and Space Mountain, the kids actually seem to be enjoying themselves for the first time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But it doesn't take long for the Disney spell to be broken when the group spends a night camping at Fort Wilderness and an innocent mishap results in a tent collapsing. Blame lands on <b>"Nita Dee" DiGiampaolo</b> and the angry insults from her cast mates are piled on mercilessly... </span></div>
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<i>"That's really a dumb thing to do"</i></blockquote>
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<i>"Can't you do anything right, Nita?"</i></blockquote>
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<i>"</i><i>What kind of scramble-brained idiot are you?'</i><i>"</i></blockquote>
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<i>"Stupid!"</i></blockquote>
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<i>"You ruined our camping trip."</i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">...leaving the poor girl in tears.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PqGnHMqKaNM/XyNGQ4zWItI/AAAAAAAAMOc/cNJjgYrxdhkuZfyY1jt9_jaBwmnM_hV1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/wdw07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="738" height="222" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PqGnHMqKaNM/XyNGQ4zWItI/AAAAAAAAMOc/cNJjgYrxdhkuZfyY1jt9_jaBwmnM_hV1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/wdw07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>(Insert some profound comment about idealized Baby Boomer nostalgia being repackaged for a less optimistic generation that can't fully access it.)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So maybe TNMMC kids were more interested in sports, the opposite sex, and arguing with each other than in the unique pleasures afforded by a day at a Disney theme park. But child actor <b>Adam Rich</b> threatens to one-up their ap-athy-doo-dah in <u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0Md8BA2K_k" target="_blank">Disneyland's 25th Anniversary</a></u> (1980).</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4KazQMpa0os/XyNGdIipn3I/AAAAAAAAMOg/Gu4puHAsW20LodgKa0DlQ-a63SHP88PNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/d2501.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="735" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4KazQMpa0os/XyNGdIipn3I/AAAAAAAAMOg/Gu4puHAsW20LodgKa0DlQ-a63SHP88PNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/d2501.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">With his grandfatherly quality and a twinkle in his eye, you might assume that actor <b>Danny Kaye</b> is a Disney film veteran. But despite having appeared in a few non-Disney family friendly productions (Samuel Goldwyn's musical <u>Hans Christian Andersen</u>, ['52], television adaptations of <u>Pinocchio</u> and <u>Peter Pan</u>, both '76) this is actually his first of only two appearances with Disney (the 2nd being 1982's <u>EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration.</u>) In addition to hosting duties, Kaye plays multiple character roles, including some comic-relief ethnic stereotypes that wouldn't fly today, even with the help of a magic carpet.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><b>Different times, folks</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After an opening song explaining Disneyland's origin story, ("Once Upon a Time in Anaheim") Kaye delivers a thesis statement: "I've had people say to me, 'Disneyland? That's not for me.' You are never too old and you are never too young to enjoy the Magic Kingdom." But proving that to the audience, and Adam Rich, will take some extraordinary heavy-lifting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rich was known as the littlest Bradford child on hit television show </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">Eight Is Enough</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (in its fifth season), and would go on to appear in exactly one Disney film, </span><u style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/11/disney-goes-to-hell.html" target="_blank">The Devil and Max Devlin</a></u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ('81) Here, Rich is playing "himself", but he's also playing audience surrogate for those skeptical, modern young people Disney thinks it needs to win over. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-hyVzqChv4/XyNG7qAbOgI/AAAAAAAAMOw/S7P-ngMWDj8qSGQwfNQN05CPOcDZauVkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/d2502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="721" height="229" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-hyVzqChv4/XyNG7qAbOgI/AAAAAAAAMOw/S7P-ngMWDj8qSGQwfNQN05CPOcDZauVkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/d2502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When Kaye, as Rich's grandfather, asks Rich what he'd like to do first in Disneyland, his one-word answer is: "Leave." He'd rather go to "Adamland", a.k.a. "home, where I live" than spend <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-lousy-day-at-disneyland.html" target="_blank">a lousy day at Disneyland</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Later, when Kaye leaves to find Grandma (also Kaye, in staggered appearances) in Frontierland, Rich grumbles, "What's so great about Frontierland?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are then shown exactly what's so great about Frontierland, at least according to a youth-market courting Disney, and it isn't Big Thunder Mountain, the Mark Twain, or any other attraction built by Disney Imagineers... instead it's a live stage performance by hip singing group the <b>Osmond Brothers </b>(intercut with their 1962 debut appearance at the park on the <u>Wonderful World of Color</u> episode <u>Disneyland After Dark</u>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Donny Osmond</b>, who, along with his sister Marie, was by this time an even bigger pop sensation than the older Osmonds, joins them on stage to rock it up a bit. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2lEMt0TT06M/XyNHImWijcI/AAAAAAAAMO4/3UgpvcmjAtg5aZBc0G7nLxMB2uQIcvJDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/d2502a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="729" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2lEMt0TT06M/XyNHImWijcI/AAAAAAAAMO4/3UgpvcmjAtg5aZBc0G7nLxMB2uQIcvJDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/d2502a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Afterword, when Grandma asks Rich to guess where they're going to go next, Rich snaps: "Back to the hotel?" Is it too late to deposit this little grouch at the future site of Disney's California Adventure so the adults can have some fun?</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j3QKFklNemE/XyNHQPdvLMI/AAAAAAAAMPA/pEw7DG0GLDsNwAv_BdtAAUqbwt2PJzpuACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/d2503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="711" height="231" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j3QKFklNemE/XyNHQPdvLMI/AAAAAAAAMPA/pEw7DG0GLDsNwAv_BdtAAUqbwt2PJzpuACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/d2503.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><b>"Back to the hotel?" he quipped. Editors note: slapping children is wrong.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next, we're treated to a great performance by veteran Disney stage performer </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Wally Boag</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (joined by Kaye as a black-hatted gunslinger) at the Golden Horseshoe stage, but Rich misses it all because he'd rather sit by himself on a bench, grumbling, "When are we leaving?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="line-height: 115%;">In fact, the first time Rich cracks a smile at the Happiest Place On Earth is when he bumps into superstar <b>Michael Jackson</b>, who sings "When You Wish Upon a Star" and, referencing his recent appearance in the '78 film <u>The Wiz</u>, "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" and "Ease on Down the Road". Unfortunately Michael Jackson is a seasonal attraction, subject to change, with no guarantee he's going to personally serenade you on your visit. Check the park schedule and plan your trip accordingly.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_cYxhxTdoY/XyNHbxFdEoI/AAAAAAAAMPI/eajSjKCPJ-Q0DagZ0VY7Zb2CpOhAhO3VQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/d2504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="697" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_cYxhxTdoY/XyNHbxFdEoI/AAAAAAAAMPI/eajSjKCPJ-Q0DagZ0VY7Zb2CpOhAhO3VQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/d2504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Six years before Captain EO - it's Michael Jackson at Disneyland in 3-D!</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next is a park-wide sing-a-long of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah", featuring an era-spanning chorus of celebrities that's part 'Who's Who' (</span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Annette Funicello, Buddy Epsen, Kim Richards, Patrick Wayne, Ruth Buzzi</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">) part 'Who's That?' (</span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Bart Braverman, Danielle Brisebois, Quinn Cummings, Sal Viscuso</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">.) Both Jo Anne Worley and Ronnie Schnell from the </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">The Mouseketeers At Walt Disney World</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> make an appearance here as well, this time as themselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, we find Rich alone and sitting on a park bench in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle (Another bench? Septuagenarian Danny Kaye has more energy than this kid!) where he falls asleep, launching a dream sequence in which Kaye appears as the "Wild Witch of Disneyland".</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzQUx2aaJck/XyNHjWmoj6I/AAAAAAAAMPQ/R_t6ZKqawN8T4VDla4OBHYQr4nUMCuNhACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/d2505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="659" height="246" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzQUx2aaJck/XyNHjWmoj6I/AAAAAAAAMPQ/R_t6ZKqawN8T4VDla4OBHYQr4nUMCuNhACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/d2505.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>No, this isn't Rich's report card for Attitude (that would also have a minus symbol on it). </b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Wild Witch presents Rich with a very special "F" ticket. Back then, the park wasn't all-you-can-ride, but used </span><a href="https://duchessofdisneyland.com/park-history/the-original-a-e-ticketing-system/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">a ticket book system</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> with graduated ride categories ranging "A" though "E", "E" being the newest and biggest rides. Awareness by the general public of Disney's ticket book system was so pervasive that the term "E-ticket" entered the lexicon as a metaphor for any exciting experience. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So while there was no actual "F" ticket, we know this must be a very special category of attraction even better than "E", and not available to non-celebrity children who actually enjoy Disneyland. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kaye explains that the "F" ticket "entitles the bearer to one of the most fantastic fantasies of his choice." What follows might best be described as a leveled-up private performance of the Main Street Electrical Parade (still going strong since its 1972 debut) staged entirely around our little curmudgeon and his park bench. For a final<span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">e</span>, Rich is magically saddled onto the back of the Pete's Dragon float, where a cast member playing Pete would normally sit. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3YMiMCRd6U/XyNHyNPJLsI/AAAAAAAAMPY/wa1kDF_Wni07qv0OTzYhHZoOUk6I4ZrdACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/d2507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="677" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3YMiMCRd6U/XyNHyNPJLsI/AAAAAAAAMPY/wa1kDF_Wni07qv0OTzYhHZoOUk6I4ZrdACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/d2507.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rich's "F"-ticket vision is the kiss that breaks the curse, and like Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas morning, he awakens reborn, a soul won to Disney magic.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKK57ISr4kA/XyNH6GkljtI/AAAAAAAAMPc/QCTs_mu1nn4GnrAgsbx_5FcYKNzIIFa1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/d2506.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="672" height="243" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKK57ISr4kA/XyNH6GkljtI/AAAAAAAAMPc/QCTs_mu1nn4GnrAgsbx_5FcYKNzIIFa1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/d2506.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"I haven't missed it! The Spirits have done it all in one night!"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So that's all it takes to entertain a kid these days: have one of the biggest recording artists of all time give him a private concert, then let him ride the tallest float of the parade.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Give me an "F"! </span></div>
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Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-7439020225195362792020-02-24T13:24:00.000-08:002020-02-24T13:24:03.522-08:003-D Comics House of Terror (1953, St. John Publishing)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-prTHrcN6ae4/XlQ7rHUUVII/AAAAAAAAMH8/vkadZ_mRgkgJYzNWbxczFFhLa3Tdn265QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1129" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-prTHrcN6ae4/XlQ7rHUUVII/AAAAAAAAMH8/vkadZ_mRgkgJYzNWbxczFFhLa3Tdn265QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Cover.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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See that magnificent haunted house looming at the end of a crooked path atop a foreboding mountain crag? Get a good look because you won't find it anywhere inside <u><b>3-D Comics House of Terror</b></u> (1953, St. John Publishing).<br />
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Cursed objects are instead the subject of the four stories contained within: <b>Picture of the Devil</b> (a painting depicting souls who sold their soul to The Devil), <b>The Violin of Death</b> (a Stradivarius that causes the player to become blind), <b>The Curse of Khar </b>(a psychic's magic trinket), and <b>The Devil's Chair</b> (a chair-shaped stone altar that resurrects the dead.)<br />
<br />The reading experience is enhanced by the included "space goggles", which a noted New York oculist, who wishes to remain anonymous (yes--really! "Name upon request" reads a suspicious footnote...) assures "can do no harm to the vision of children." <br />
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Hopefully the goggles aren't cursed too...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsept_zjmaQ/XlQ7wg7xlAI/AAAAAAAAMIA/ThX1dqagVCU2Qd5miDInQ7_Z_RjPG-uMACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Inside%2BCover%2Bdetail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="458" height="152" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsept_zjmaQ/XlQ7wg7xlAI/AAAAAAAAMIA/ThX1dqagVCU2Qd5miDInQ7_Z_RjPG-uMACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Inside%2BCover%2Bdetail.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is the comic book in its entirety. Dig out a pair of red/blue 3-D glasses--erm, space goggles---and enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rHIXv6OjuI/XlQ8VIIbICI/AAAAAAAAMII/CzubJGuQeRM3zaf7GQC59DgplS-e3PtqACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cover01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1117" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rHIXv6OjuI/XlQ8VIIbICI/AAAAAAAAMII/CzubJGuQeRM3zaf7GQC59DgplS-e3PtqACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/cover01.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<br />Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-40608652100434985002020-01-28T14:57:00.000-08:002020-01-30T17:24:48.385-08:00Ahwatukee House of the Future (1980-1984)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--kXzTRmCMQg/XjC2_J0DC8I/AAAAAAAAMFQ/i7Gl23h_0dczGsa9LEHNI9p5pVBJM5wbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="960" height="178" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--kXzTRmCMQg/XjC2_J0DC8I/AAAAAAAAMFQ/i7Gl23h_0dczGsa9LEHNI9p5pVBJM5wbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It
was envisioned as a "shining home of dreams", an <a href="https://franklloydwright.org/a-showcase-of-ideas-taliesin-associated-architect-charles-schiffners-house-of-the-future/" target="_blank">"experimental living laboratory and testing ground"</a>, a "magnificent prism of Man's
dreams" where the ideas of tomorrow are experienced today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">In practice, it ended up being a three dollar tourist attraction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Completed in 1979 for a cost of $1,200,000, the <b>Ahwatukee House of the Future</b> was the brainchild of real-estate developer and Ahwatukee village founder <a href="https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/the_valley/ahwatukee/randall-presley-ahwatukee-visionary/article_0c689e23-28e2-52ef-8f3b-fada50f848b6.html" target="_blank">Randall Presley</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conceived
as an attraction to generate interest in the relatively new Phoenix, Arizona
suburb, Presley approached the <b>Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation</b> with the vision of an idealized futuristic home that would wow visitors while also maximizing
efficiency in a harsh desert climate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Elevation sketches.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUrLsYWAzm0/XjC3rsfe1xI/AAAAAAAAMFc/f1xIVfVy97kV0XxJ1ByhBKVHBOYMfF4eQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/floorplan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="909" height="173" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUrLsYWAzm0/XjC3rsfe1xI/AAAAAAAAMFc/f1xIVfVy97kV0XxJ1ByhBKVHBOYMfF4eQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/floorplan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Floor plan.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Charles
Robert Schiffner, of Taliesin Associated Architects, served as project
architect for the striking pyramidal edifice, which looks something like the star-child
offspring of a mid-century modern church and an inter-dimensional spacecraft.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1aRzHz1kG8/XjC4BjfCYwI/AAAAAAAAMFs/ztlSrvElUCkl9Af6qdU4kLgSZ-rZeT_cACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/arialphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="960" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1aRzHz1kG8/XjC4BjfCYwI/AAAAAAAAMFs/ztlSrvElUCkl9Af6qdU4kLgSZ-rZeT_cACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/arialphoto.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><i>Solar panels and copper roofing, which has since turned green after years of exposure.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
interior is centered around a spacious atrium with multiple skylights strategically
placed to maximize natural lighting throughout the day. The traditional living
room is replaced with a <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/3/23/15026328/sunken-living-room-conversation-pit" target="_blank">"conversation pit"</a>, a 1950's modernist
innovation intended to facilitate interpersonal communication, that by the
late 70's was still viewed by suburbia as a novelty. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xjSXbFGZ1u8/XjC4tccDs4I/AAAAAAAAMGA/2emAmmSyO3oBKephu1I17JPMLjhlXY65gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/tv%2Broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="982" height="167" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xjSXbFGZ1u8/XjC4tccDs4I/AAAAAAAAMGA/2emAmmSyO3oBKephu1I17JPMLjhlXY65gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/tv%2Broom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><i>Pit shmit--let's watch The Love Boat!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Employing an open design, there are no hallways to sequester adjoining rooms from view,
and sliding glass panels replace traditional interior doors.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-voh9IDLiTWs/XjC5e_CayrI/AAAAAAAAMGU/eYXq6wHE5Bso9g6Oy7RPr14AcBAvRQ7vgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/interior%2Bstudy%2Band%2Bbedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="619" height="253" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-voh9IDLiTWs/XjC5e_CayrI/AAAAAAAAMGU/eYXq6wHE5Bso9g6Oy7RPr14AcBAvRQ7vgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/interior%2Bstudy%2Band%2Bbedroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Study and bedroom under glass.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To
efficiently keep the environment cool in the hot Phoenix desert, living spaces are below ground level, and a bank of solar panels, unusual in private
residences of the day, powers the hot water heater.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now
maybe you're thinking that a conversation pit and solar panels aren't all that
futuristic?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meet <b>Tuke</b>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jjA91MgcMAs/XjC5z_jpRtI/AAAAAAAAMGc/p9xzInM9Lw4wIymGZMukqn5ywhPbrrovgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tuke%2BScreen%2Bshot%2Bfrom%2Bbook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="711" height="189" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jjA91MgcMAs/XjC5z_jpRtI/AAAAAAAAMGc/p9xzInM9Lw4wIymGZMukqn5ywhPbrrovgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Tuke%2BScreen%2Bshot%2Bfrom%2Bbook.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pronounced
tu-kee, (as in Ahwatukee), Tuke is the name of the ten interconnected Motorola
microprocessors that monitor and control all aspects of the house. The system,
which cost approximately $30,000 (although Motorola engineers predicted the price
of a comparable system would drop to only $5,000 in a few years), monitors
windows and doors, adjusts blinds, controls temperature, and logs energy use
for later analysis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Terminals
located in the sitting room, kitchen, and master bedroom allow human beings to
interact with Tuke to store and retrieve messages, recipes, and bank account
information (the system doesn't connect to the Internet or any other external
network.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJ40aQaSLOQ/XjC6Hr4WY4I/AAAAAAAAMGk/oFiLReXJALAGnowexH628YeZOEDPdRBvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/interior%2Bkitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="618" height="254" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJ40aQaSLOQ/XjC6Hr4WY4I/AAAAAAAAMGk/oFiLReXJALAGnowexH628YeZOEDPdRBvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/interior%2Bkitchen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i>"Tuke, look up the recipe for stuffed bell peppers. Then delete it."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Did
I mention Tuke talks and can entertain children with spoken jokes and nursery
rhymes? Tuke's speaking voice is very similar to the voice synthesizer from
1983's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B53Vlje7mcM" target="_blank">War Games</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Of
course, no House of the Future would be complete without a phalanx of robot
security guards patrolling the grounds. But we'll have to settle for
security cameras, motion detector lights, and a keyless entry system that
requires entering a personal code into a calculator-style keypad.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RNjfQ6WqkSs/XjC6hUcG1aI/AAAAAAAAMGs/pkKyCKFCi4IvSi5PZBQTH8I06WOcEhleQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/InfoWorld%2BCalculator%2Bstyle%2Bdoor%2Bkeypad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="371" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RNjfQ6WqkSs/XjC6hUcG1aI/AAAAAAAAMGs/pkKyCKFCi4IvSi5PZBQTH8I06WOcEhleQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/InfoWorld%2BCalculator%2Bstyle%2Bdoor%2Bkeypad.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Can my code be 58008?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, you may be concerned that an intelligent, computer-controlled house might try
to kill you someday after determining you are an inefficiency, or perhaps,
after hours of spying on you in the shower, fall in love with and attempt
to impregnate you.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2gcOvW7TuM/XjC6283NXdI/AAAAAAAAMG0/0jZ-ssMg9h84nu3GtUe-ROIP-V2wYBFWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/scifiscreencaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1600" height="187" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2gcOvW7TuM/XjC6283NXdI/AAAAAAAAMG0/0jZ-ssMg9h84nu3GtUe-ROIP-V2wYBFWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/scifiscreencaps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don't
worry-- Charles E. Thompson, Motorola's VP of World Marketing , has anticipated
your concerns, and assures us, in a somewhat humorous interview ("The
Tenant is in Complete Control", <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=lD4EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PT13&ots=x0mM18FvoL&dq=ahwatukee+%22house+of+the+future%22&pg=PT13&hl=en#v=onepage&q=ahwatukee%20%22house%20of%20the%20future%22&f=false" target="_blank">InfoWorld Magazine, June 1980</a>), that human
beings will remain "in complete control of the environment...making all the
important decisions". Rumors that
Tuke will lock you in the house and slowly cook you over several hours by
aiming its solar panels at you are highly exaggerated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
House, which opened to the public from 1980 to 1984, hosting approximately
250,000 visitors at $3 a pop before being sold as a private residence, was
notable enough to be featured on the television show <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That%27s_Incredible!" target="_blank">That's Incredible</a> and in
<b>Volume 3</b> of its companion book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here
are a few current photos of the house, followed by the <u>That's Incredible</u> book
article in its entirety.</span></div>
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Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-70468733390097358552019-08-08T12:35:00.000-07:002019-08-08T12:43:08.443-07:00Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark with original Stephen Gammell illustrations is back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dzx76o9Cgyo/XUx2vmZJF9I/AAAAAAAAMEQ/lCpl-bKHzn8LflSYa__v3o8hKIwApfZ8gCLcBGAs/s1600/scary%2Bstories.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="287" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dzx76o9Cgyo/XUx2vmZJF9I/AAAAAAAAMEQ/lCpl-bKHzn8LflSYa__v3o8hKIwApfZ8gCLcBGAs/s320/scary%2Bstories.JPG" width="201" /></a></div>
<br />
Hot on the heels of the surprising news that Usborne Publishing's <a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search?q=world+of+the+unknown" target="_blank">World of the Unknown</a>: <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/01/all-about-ghosts-1977-maynard.html" target="_blank">All About Ghosts</a> book was <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2019/08/world-of-unknown-ghosts-is-back-in.html" target="_blank">returning to print in a facsimile edition</a>, I am pleased to discover that Alvin Schwartz's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Scary-Stories-Paperback-Box-Set/dp/006268289X" target="_blank">Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark trilogy</a> has been rereleased with the original <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/05/hounds-of-death-ghosts-eerie-series.html" target="_blank">Stephen Gammell</a> artwork restored!<br />
<br />
You may recall back in 2012 Gammell's soul-scarring black and white illustrations had been <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2012/01/sad-story-for-scary-stories-to-tell-in.html" target="_blank">replaced with new art by Brett Helquist</a> done in a completely different style, which I described in a previous post as "the labor of a competent and perfectly sane artist."<br />
<br />
I'm guessing we can thank the new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlya92LZqZw" target="_blank">Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark</a> feature film, directed by <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004217/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">André Øvredal</a> (<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk1" target="_blank">Troll Hunter</a>, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3289956/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk2" target="_blank">The Autopsy of Jane Doe</a>) and produced by Guillermo Del Toro (<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868219/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">everything cool</a>) for invigorating interest in the title, as the film faithfully adapts Gammell's original designs in three horrifying dimensions.<br />
<br />
Order at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Scary-Stories-Paperback-Box-Set/dp/006268289X" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-42883175958582016572019-08-06T16:11:00.000-07:002019-08-08T12:36:10.498-07:00World of the Unknown: All About Ghosts is back in print----WHAT?One of my favorite treasures from the haunted library is the 1970's <a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search?q=usborne" target="_blank">Usborne</a> <u><a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search?q=world+of+the+unknown+series" target="_blank">World of the Unknown</a></u> series, particularly the tome dedicated to <u>Ghosts,</u> which I covered in a previous post <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/01/all-about-ghosts-1977-maynard.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
In a surprising bit of good news, this long sought after rarity is back in print, apparently after a successful campaign and petition organized by British actors <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reece_Shearsmith" target="_blank">Reece Shearsmith</a> (<a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/05/talons-of-weng-chiang-1977.html" target="_blank">Doctor Who</a>, League of Gentlemen) and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0296545/" target="_blank">Nick Frost</a> (Shaun of the Dead, The World's End). Read all about it at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2019/jun/12/ghosts-shaped-my-life-out-of-print-childrens-classic-to-be-resurrected" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>.<br />
<br />
I don't have the new edition in hand (it doesn't release in the U.S. until October 3, 2019) but it appears to be a facsimile reprint, save for a new forward by Shearsmith. Pre-order now at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/World-Ghosts-Various/dp/1474976689/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=world+of+the+unknown+ghosts&qid=1565131772&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>!<br />
<br />
Seems as good a time as any to remind you that another of my personal favorites, 1976's <a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/09/nightmares-poems-to-disturb-your-sleep.html" target="_blank">Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep</a> (<a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search?q=prelutsky" target="_blank">Jack Prelutsky</a>, with illustrations by Arnold Lobel) has <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nightmares-Poems-Trouble-Your-Sleep/dp/0688840531" target="_blank">been back in print</a> for a few years now and would love to take a ride in your shopping cart, too.<br />
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Hooray, books!<br />
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<br />Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-92054387494287356652019-07-09T14:24:00.000-07:002019-07-09T14:24:04.945-07:00"Danse Macabre" Film-Strip (educational archive visual, inc., 1963)<div class="MsoNormal">
As my third-grade school year (circa late 70s) began to wind
down, my teacher decided to eat up half a school day treating the class to a showing
of the classic 1939 film <b>The Wizard of Oz</b>. Not on VHS (we didn't have that
technology yet.) Not even on 16mm film. No, this presentation was in <i><a href="https://obsoletemedia.org/filmstrip/" target="_blank">film-strip format</a>.</i> </div>
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Imagine a seemingly never-ending store of
stills from the film we'd all seen annually on television, each frame punctuated by an ear-stabbing
alarm-clock <i><b>BEEP!</b> </i>sounding every few
seconds, even during the music segments. "Somewhere, over the
rainbow..." <i><b>BEEP!</b> "...</i>Way
up high...And the dreams that you dream of..." <i><b>BEEP!</b> </i>"...Once
in a lullaby."</div>
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What should have been a welcome reprieve from the regularly scheduled classroom
curriculum had, by hour three, turned into something of an endurance test. A few kids tried to
lay their heads down on their desks, but even sleep was no escape, because <i><b>BEEP!</b></i></div>
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A much more pleasant grade-school film-strip memory was my
music class presentation of this 1963 illustrated interpretation of the Camille
Saint-Saens classical piece <b>Danse Macabre </b>(illustrator is Harold Dexter Hoopes), screen capped below in its entirety from
a transfer posted to YouTube by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPXVlbsyywM" target="_blank">lostmediaarchive</a>. </div>
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I remember breathlessly describing the viewing experience to my Dad
that same night, who suggested (mistakenly, but a good guess) that it may have been the <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/10/happy-walpurgis-night-night-on-bald.html" target="_blank">Night On Bald Mountain</a> segment from Disney's <b>Fantasia</b>. </div>
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Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-67086494342401158442019-05-29T11:05:00.000-07:002019-05-29T20:21:09.786-07:00Rite of Passage: Fast Times at Ridgemont High<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back in fifth grade (1983), I had a wealthy friend I'll call
"Ed." Well, I just assumed he was wealthy. See, he had multiple <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2017/03/hyperspace-used-aka-great-fatherson.html" target="_blank">video game systems</a> (both an Atari 2600 AND a Colecovision!), multiple action-figure
franchise playsets (both a <b>Star Wars Dagobah Action Playset</b> AND a <b>Masters of
the Universe Castle Grayskull</b>!), a waterbed, a swimming pool with hot-tub.... so, you tell me. </span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uC09KFKArVM/XO672f73rHI/AAAAAAAAL_U/Gh_yMJqg3zQm1A32_3m0sIPmPSzhnA_VACLcBGAs/s1600/gameads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="973" height="96" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uC09KFKArVM/XO672f73rHI/AAAAAAAAL_U/Gh_yMJqg3zQm1A32_3m0sIPmPSzhnA_VACLcBGAs/s320/gameads.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Do the math, people.</span></b></div>
<br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Further
affirming his relative affluence was the strange little box that appeared one
day atop his massive, wood-paneled television. A pay-TV box. Pandora's box. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1oXJdHyK_s/XO68NiSGaUI/AAAAAAAAL_c/LBJw4LwCX9ghRuZ2y2vEN4ipb7CVaBEngCLcBGAs/s1600/OnTvsettopbox.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="698" height="116" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1oXJdHyK_s/XO68NiSGaUI/AAAAAAAAL_c/LBJw4LwCX9ghRuZ2y2vEN4ipb7CVaBEngCLcBGAs/s200/OnTvsettopbox.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">For illustrative purposes only. I can't remember what cable system Ed actually had. <a href="https://2warpstoneptune.com/2016/05/09/on-tv-subscription-box-circa-1980/" target="_blank">(image source)</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cable TV was a relatively new phenomenon in my Phoenix
suburb. Who would pay for television when there were already a dozen channels
you can watch for free over the air? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rich folks, that's who.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ONTV_(pay_TV)" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">ON-TV</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a scrambled signal broadcast over a UHF channel,
which you could watch for free if you didn't mind that wide, vertical stripe
wriggling down the middle of the picture like a stretch of bad road. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Baseball, I think?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were also these things called <b>HBO</b> and <b>Showtime</b>, cable
channels that played movies, "uncut and unedited". My parents explained this meant they left in
all the cursing and nudity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>The bad parts.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All the best movies (</span><u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/Star%20Wars" target="_blank">Star Wars</a></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Close Encounters
of the Third Kind</u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raiders of the Lost Ark,</u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://miehana.blogspot.com/2009/05/rescue-me-wise-old-friend-of-mine-has.html" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" target="_blank">The Rescuers</a>, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">etc</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.)
didn't have any </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bad parts </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to cut, so I
still didn't quite get the appeal of this whole pay-TV thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it wasn't long before I began to appreciate the forbidden
fruits of Ed's little set-top genie, the first being this crazy channel called <u>MTV</u>,
where, as Ed explained, you "watch the radio"... against often provocative
imagery.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhAET-7S0gc/XO69SKiXbuI/AAAAAAAAL_w/Qmtq5Rpndm0a2jVQI9V1e7m2cEhLqxf4ACLcBGAs/s1600/MTVmontage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="1600" height="98" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QhAET-7S0gc/XO69SKiXbuI/AAAAAAAAL_w/Qmtq5Rpndm0a2jVQI9V1e7m2cEhLqxf4ACLcBGAs/s400/MTVmontage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>This ain't your grandparents' television! Literally.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Videos by ZZ Top (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae829mFAGGE" target="_blank">"Gimme All Your Lovin'"</a>), Duran
Duran (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCjMZMxNr-0" target="_blank">"Girls On Film"</a>), and even Elton John (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHwVBirqD2s" target="_blank">"I'm Still Standing"</a>) demanded our absolute prurient attention when they popped out
of the video jukebox, their suggestive images so fleeting that we couldn't
quite absorb what we were seeing in real-time, their perceived explicitness magnified
later in our imaginations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One morning, my wealthy friend Ed arrived breathlessly at school
in his tuxedo and top hat with exciting news: </span><u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083929/" target="_blank">Fast Times At Ridgemont High</a></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,
the </span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002132/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Amy Heckerling</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-directed high-school sex comedy whose trailer had caught our eye the year prior, was
going to be on cable that Saturday night. </span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jdXaRVPjkek/XO69lMUztpI/AAAAAAAAL_4/dqx0ntwJDBoiDPsKGsBDQeJoK1WWdsJPACLcBGAs/s1600/FastTimesTVentry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="432" height="205" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jdXaRVPjkek/XO69lMUztpI/AAAAAAAAL_4/dqx0ntwJDBoiDPsKGsBDQeJoK1WWdsJPACLcBGAs/s320/FastTimesTVentry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At this point I had never seen an unedited R-rated movie, the closest thing to a "teen sex comedy" I'd ever seen was, I guess, <u>Grease</u>
(1978), (which doesn't count at all), and the only "full-frontal"
scenes I could reference were shadowy glimpses of that unfortunate "Summer
girl" from the opening scene of <u><a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/Jaws" target="_blank">Jaws</a></u> (1975). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A sleepover at Ed's was immediately scheduled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Complications. The cable was only wired to the living room
television set, and Ed's parents were planning to watch the film. With all the <i>bad parts</i> we were anticipating in <u>Fast Times...</u>
there was no chance we would be allowed to view it with them (besides, that would be kind of... erm, awkward). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instead, we would have to watch
surreptitiously from the neighboring rec-room, two rooms adjacent.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yde59bFogG0/XO696Njjp3I/AAAAAAAAMAA/rRV9rHpni_kK8FGjCx9nk4m_0NRMRi5tACLcBGAs/s1600/livingroomscene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="576" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yde59bFogG0/XO696Njjp3I/AAAAAAAAMAA/rRV9rHpni_kK8FGjCx9nk4m_0NRMRi5tACLcBGAs/s320/livingroomscene.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Simulated
vantage point of the family television for our <u>Fast Times at Ridgemont High</u>
viewing adventure (recreated using a frame from <u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZCI39NWZ5g" target="_blank">Strange Brew</a></u>, 1983.)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We would have to be on high alert throughout the 93-minute
run time. If Ed's parents caught us sneaking a peek, we'd be banished to his
room for the night. This meant ducking out of view whenever Mom or Dad went to
the adjoining kitchen for a snack. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And that's how I first saw <u>Fast Times At Ridgemont High</u>, squinting long distance from around a corner, over two shoulders and between two heads. Achievement unlocked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At fifth grade, my impressions of high-school were informed
entirely by pop culture (<u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj8sZlSUI38" target="_blank">My Bodyguard</a></u> [1980], mostly.) <u>Fast Times...</u>
would end up completely recalibrating those expectations, and it became my
model for what high school would be like. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, reality would later
shatter a lot of these expectations, but that was years away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of the life-lessons learned by <u>Fast Times...</u>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1. Sex is everywhere</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g27GI3DHVE0/XO6-SbbqkkI/AAAAAAAAMAI/13gK2Vazf30twIOLMWOJFba58kGUwpaIACLcBGAs/s1600/fastTimes-LockerPinup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1347" height="177" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g27GI3DHVE0/XO6-SbbqkkI/AAAAAAAAMAI/13gK2Vazf30twIOLMWOJFba58kGUwpaIACLcBGAs/s320/fastTimes-LockerPinup.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The kids are thinking about, talking about it, doing it, talking about doing it, trying to do it, practicing it, and decorating their living spaces with it.
Even the designated "nerd" character, Mark Ratner (Brian Backer) has
sex thrown at him (in an awkward scene with Jennifer Jason Leigh's Stacy
Hamilton). That teenagers are openly, unapologetically preoccupied with sex
should perhaps be filed under "Well, Duh", but this was quite the
revelation to fifth-grade me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2. Parents are nowhere</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsOJCANqemQ/XO6-hO4lXlI/AAAAAAAAMAM/VkXUYIl_k7wjj58R9SksTdZlk7cCgmHFgCLcBGAs/s1600/fastTimes_Mom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1348" height="176" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsOJCANqemQ/XO6-hO4lXlI/AAAAAAAAMAM/VkXUYIl_k7wjj58R9SksTdZlk7cCgmHFgCLcBGAs/s320/fastTimes_Mom.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ridgemont exists in an alternate reality where the only
adults are teachers and fast-food restaurant managers. Parents are nowhere to be found,
and seem to have very little involvement in their children's daily lives. Even in the few scenes where parents are present, they are usually off-screen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For example, Jeff Spicoli's (Sean Penn) tortured younger brother
Curtis shouts for his off-screen Dad, who we never actually see. Stacy (Leigh)
talks briefly with Mike Damone's (Robert Romanus) Mom on the phone, also never
seen. The only parent with any screen-time is Stacy's mom, briefly appearing
for a few seconds to obliviously tuck her fully dressed daughter in to bed,
only for Stacy to immediately sneak out the window for a rendezvous with an older
man (see lesson #1). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even when confronting serious matters like being fired from work, getting in a car accident, or having to deal with an unplanned pregnancy, the parents are never involved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These teenagers were managing their personal lives
completely without adult influence or supervision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3. Work is serious</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sa8ghwMEZU/XO6-u6QAnII/AAAAAAAAMAQ/HBkCrkthHhkKbCrTNnDVH7vvh1FFAIETwCLcBGAs/s1600/fastTimes_fries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1352" height="176" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--sa8ghwMEZU/XO6-u6QAnII/AAAAAAAAMAQ/HBkCrkthHhkKbCrTNnDVH7vvh1FFAIETwCLcBGAs/s320/fastTimes_fries.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>"I will serve no fries before their time."</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we are introduced to Brad Hamilton (Judge Reinhold) working
at All American Burger, the first thing he does is dump a basket of fries into
the garbage. He's decided they were sitting out too long and no longer
acceptable to serve. No manager tells him to do this. He knows his job, takes
pride in his work, and has made the assessment, entirely on his own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This, to me, was remarkable. It's just a crappy fast-food job...
and yet, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he cares.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later while training the new hire, Arnold (Scott Thomson), he
asks about the secret sauce recipe at Arnold's former employer, Bronco Burger, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">because he's actually interested</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. "Ketchup
and mayonnaise. Gotcha". I imagine he files that bit of captured industry
intelligence away in some notebook.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This may just be a short-term, minimum wage fast-food job, but its HIS job, and he treats it with the seriousness of any other professional trying to build a career or master a craft.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhXnCRtklG4/XO6_SM1LqlI/AAAAAAAAMAc/E_H1iB3KKXUyLxKAK38_GBPoAIapTZ7TwCLcBGAs/s1600/fasttimes-PerrysPizza.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1354" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhXnCRtklG4/XO6_SM1LqlI/AAAAAAAAMAc/E_H1iB3KKXUyLxKAK38_GBPoAIapTZ7TwCLcBGAs/s320/fasttimes-PerrysPizza.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stacy (Leigh) and Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates) work at
Perry's Pizza in the mall. Unlike Brad, they don't see their job as a career
and are just hanging in there season to season, but they too take their job
seriously and are never seen goofing around at work or acting unprofessionally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Business, it seems, is serious business. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4. Bullying is apparently no longer a big deal</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My previous high-school pop-culture model being 1980's <u>My
Bodyguard</u>, I was relieved to discover that bullying was so-o-o-o two years ago.
The stoners and geeks and athletes and cheerleaders and skaters of Ridgemont all
seemed to be co-existing without shoving heads in toilets or extorting each
other's lunch money. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are a few brief shots of first-day-of-school hazing (one kid gets toilet-papered like a mummy) but it feels more like a good-natured rule-breaking prank than targeted cruelty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>5. Phoenix is one-up on Ridgemont!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rS_j3oqreI/XO6_oqDY20I/AAAAAAAAMAk/H_kCyxx_b-YWo_StZC_CS8XWvpAp3hfIQCLcBGAs/s1600/fasttimes_Ridgmontcantgetcabletv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1348" height="218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rS_j3oqreI/XO6_oqDY20I/AAAAAAAAMAk/H_kCyxx_b-YWo_StZC_CS8XWvpAp3hfIQCLcBGAs/s400/fasttimes_Ridgmontcantgetcabletv.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We may not have a beach, but at least we have cable! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, the rich* among us do, anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(*Ed, it turns out, was not actually wealthy, he just had a few
different toys than I did.)</span></div>
Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-31903755407692862812019-03-25T17:21:00.000-07:002019-03-26T07:15:28.046-07:00The Little Golden Books of Disneyland (1955-1971)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5l9-rFotJ-s/XJlXAlrFaaI/AAAAAAAAL0k/_OCt3_pQ-a4Cdq3PjiHiBy3aisMvIf66QCLcBGAs/s1600/onair_01detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="643" height="140" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5l9-rFotJ-s/XJlXAlrFaaI/AAAAAAAAL0k/_OCt3_pQ-a4Cdq3PjiHiBy3aisMvIf66QCLcBGAs/s320/onair_01detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's us sample those delights too! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Disneyland has been the
subject of seven Little Golden Books: <b>Little
Man of Disneyland (1955), Donald Duck in Disneyland (1955 and 1960), Disneyland
On the Air (1955), Jiminy Cricket Fire Fighter (1956), Mickey Mouse and the
Missing Mouseketeers (1956), Donald Duck Lost and Found (1960), </b>and <b>Disneyland Parade With Donald Duck (1971). </b>There's a fair amount of artistic license
in how the park geography and architecture is represented in these books, which makes the
already charming illustrations even more interesting to Disneyland fans. (I'm only including pages depicting Disneyland, so if you want to see Mickey talking on his office phone, you'll just have to buy the books!)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Little Man of Disneyland (1955)</u></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2KOe5cm9uY0/XJlXMOGVkPI/AAAAAAAAL0o/M2uvPtw_uDs3NVZWPv0HqUcjM2r5It89QCLcBGAs/s1600/littleman_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1304" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2KOe5cm9uY0/XJlXMOGVkPI/AAAAAAAAL0o/M2uvPtw_uDs3NVZWPv0HqUcjM2r5It89QCLcBGAs/s200/littleman_Cover.jpg" width="166" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reissued in 2015 under the Little Golden Book Classics line
to coincide with Disneyland's 60th anniversary (making it the only book covered
here that is still in print), </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Man...</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
serves as a teaser-trailer of sorts for the still under-construction Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gECG0CMg9YM/XJlXYYFAmOI/AAAAAAAAL0w/ULBx8RtbGqACWFF3v_Ka_b4TneXfAMaIwCLcBGAs/s1600/littleman_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gECG0CMg9YM/XJlXYYFAmOI/AAAAAAAAL0w/ULBx8RtbGqACWFF3v_Ka_b4TneXfAMaIwCLcBGAs/s200/littleman_01.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MvEbXz0RpwI/XJlXYnWlO3I/AAAAAAAAL00/2fFDpVs8RIYkc2QWutSk0i0M2YTVM9vGwCLcBGAs/s1600/littleman_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="1600" height="137" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MvEbXz0RpwI/XJlXYnWlO3I/AAAAAAAAL00/2fFDpVs8RIYkc2QWutSk0i0M2YTVM9vGwCLcBGAs/s200/littleman_02.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As Mickey and company scout the future park site in the same
Anaheim orange groves famously walked by Walt in Disneyland promotional footage,
they encounter Patrick Beggora, the "last Little Person left in
Movieland".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Disney's live-action film <b><a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/03/happy-st-patricks-day.html" target="_blank">Darby O'Gill and The Little People</a></b> wouldn't premier until 1958, but
Walt had expressed interest in leprechauns as possible subject matter as far
back as 1946, and made several trips to Ireland during that film's pre-production.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8XZOQb95b_4/XJlX46EqMvI/AAAAAAAAL1E/QHGpIdV6_gc5rxy0vIeeVRGKEOAeQ7K5wCLcBGAs/s1600/littleman_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8XZOQb95b_4/XJlX46EqMvI/AAAAAAAAL1E/QHGpIdV6_gc5rxy0vIeeVRGKEOAeQ7K5wCLcBGAs/s320/littleman_03.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've
seen illustrations of Disneyland, and concept art of Disneyland, but here's
something unique: illustrations of concept art of Disneyland! The Jungle
Cruise, Sleeping Beauty's Castle, a Main Street storefront and Mr. Toad's Wild
Ride vehicle are visible, as well as a non-descript rollercoaster that doesn't
correspond to any actual attraction.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHf5NbPoI6w/XJlYdcHsrxI/AAAAAAAAL1Q/jNGDB6AMm-Ueih6vk7P4tIXUfWxlsG-cQCLcBGAs/s1600/littleman_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1600" height="136" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHf5NbPoI6w/XJlYdcHsrxI/AAAAAAAAL1Q/jNGDB6AMm-Ueih6vk7P4tIXUfWxlsG-cQCLcBGAs/s200/littleman_04.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1lZes_XmBCU/XJlYdZQC_fI/AAAAAAAAL1U/O8-6frkwaYY2qwCGPCzP2zfFB5_xIPOZACLcBGAs/s1600/littleman_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1600" height="136" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1lZes_XmBCU/XJlYdZQC_fI/AAAAAAAAL1U/O8-6frkwaYY2qwCGPCzP2zfFB5_xIPOZACLcBGAs/s200/littleman_05.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An under-construction Sleeping Beauty's Castle surrounded by
scaffolding, and that mysterious roller-coaster looming in the background behind
a Main Street building.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3AMqkNJICY/XJlY76EKIKI/AAAAAAAAL1g/XDPRcZy6_6cZN5yeeGshVTkf0kMU8Ar7gCLcBGAs/s1600/Little%2BMan%2BHouse%2BPhoto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="527" height="148" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3AMqkNJICY/XJlY76EKIKI/AAAAAAAAL1g/XDPRcZy6_6cZN5yeeGshVTkf0kMU8Ar7gCLcBGAs/s200/Little%2BMan%2BHouse%2BPhoto.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Patrick Beggora's tiny tree house was recreated in Disneyland
in 2015, to coincide with the book's reprinting.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Donald Duck in Disneyland (1955, 1960)</u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kWpFHXfAKXA/XJlZIvvT9HI/AAAAAAAAL1k/n6FwWeDzvYAHJnOFqZq361fomig0uJZkACLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="1318" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kWpFHXfAKXA/XJlZIvvT9HI/AAAAAAAAL1k/n6FwWeDzvYAHJnOFqZq361fomig0uJZkACLcBGAs/s200/dd55_cover.jpg" width="167" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8QsGG1Nnobc/XJlZbuTKN4I/AAAAAAAAL10/9Z_Hrj5PsdUYWe5D9SwfCpdoykU3iCntgCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1171" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8QsGG1Nnobc/XJlZbuTKN4I/AAAAAAAAL10/9Z_Hrj5PsdUYWe5D9SwfCpdoykU3iCntgCLcBGAs/s200/dd55_01.jpg" width="151" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0IJdWWE4cjY/XJlZbkMYUyI/AAAAAAAAL1w/OJTzWY_IVGseqjWtMwFajgag0FAnA8xewCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="1133" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0IJdWWE4cjY/XJlZbkMYUyI/AAAAAAAAL1w/OJTzWY_IVGseqjWtMwFajgag0FAnA8xewCLcBGAs/s200/dd55_02.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZJ8K41jqVM/XJlZbpUyMCI/AAAAAAAAL14/Bfy5gx0bd9EwFz_GB5zavWGBtvmAAmiHwCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="1162" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZJ8K41jqVM/XJlZbpUyMCI/AAAAAAAAL14/Bfy5gx0bd9EwFz_GB5zavWGBtvmAAmiHwCLcBGAs/s200/dd55_03.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="149" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Donald
Duck and nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie visit Disneyland only to get separated
for a few pages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-32MPruk2vEc/XJlZ8C05cZI/AAAAAAAAL2E/nRi92or143UvyWWrrbb46_CyRRe3QnwqwCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-32MPruk2vEc/XJlZ8C05cZI/AAAAAAAAL2E/nRi92or143UvyWWrrbb46_CyRRe3QnwqwCLcBGAs/s320/dd55_04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This depiction of the east side of Main Street, USA, seems
to be a hodge-podge of various storefront styles without much regard for
accuracy, save for the pointed roof and circle window of the "Photo
Supplies" store, recognizable as the #106 Fine Tobacco Shop (currently the
20th Century Music Company.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next door is a building numbered "1873". Main
Street stores do in fact have "street addresses", but with house
numbers in the hundreds. You have to look in Frontierland for house numbers in
the 1870s (the Golden Horseshoe Saloon is 1871).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pictured at its original intended location in the center of
Town Square is the bandstand. By opening day it had been relocated to the
opposite end of Main Street, near Sleeping Beauty Castle. It was later moved to
the Magnolia Park area between Adventureland and Frontierland before finally
being donated to the City of Anaheim in 1962. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQNAddcZZ5w/XJlaR8-UEtI/AAAAAAAAL2Q/6MoSzWHYNEUIPEc94InsRjR7BLBtX-mKgCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQNAddcZZ5w/XJlaR8-UEtI/AAAAAAAAL2Q/6MoSzWHYNEUIPEc94InsRjR7BLBtX-mKgCLcBGAs/s320/dd55_05.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stEVEUMhC8w/XJlaRgoH4JI/AAAAAAAAL2M/f2bPvHpj6wM9vEtsoXqH3fTphwexSQJVwCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1123" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stEVEUMhC8w/XJlaRgoH4JI/AAAAAAAAL2M/f2bPvHpj6wM9vEtsoXqH3fTphwexSQJVwCLcBGAs/s200/dd55_06.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You really did have to buy a ticket for the Santa Fe and
Disneyland Railroad in 1955. It was a C-ticket attraction, costing 30 cents.
The engine pictured appears to be the #1 C. K. Holliday (even though its misnumbered
"21").</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The yellow enclosed freight cars are the "Retlaw 1"
combine cars. With their tiny windows and bus-style seating they didn't really
lend themselves to looking at passing scenery, so were retired in 1974, having since
turned up in the hands of various private collectors and at railroad museums.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><img border="0" data-original-height="1577" data-original-width="1176" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BMHCWjK4aQc/XJlazYwyIwI/AAAAAAAAL2g/CvuBAfGAuw0gT9y9jsdOS6kLK3OdVwsFgCLcBGAs/s200/dd55_07.jpg" width="148" /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Fdins5MkSg/XJlazi08IHI/AAAAAAAAL2k/dBRiDSoE21YpVwRAp5CSMHzD4PHo9nhfwCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Fdins5MkSg/XJlazi08IHI/AAAAAAAAL2k/dBRiDSoE21YpVwRAp5CSMHzD4PHo9nhfwCLcBGAs/s320/dd55_08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Jungle
Cruise boat passes behind famous "Schweitzer Falls" for a close-up
view of the back-side of water. For the first few years, skippers treated the excursion like a serious nature
tour rather than a series of gag setups. The shift to a more irreverent spiel
began with the addition of Marc Davis' humorous Elephant Bathing Pool and African
Veldt vignettes in the early 1960's.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1DKdZNj8E9k/XJlbX8ABeEI/AAAAAAAAL2w/yiVFbsXr_5YyCAs2FHNj3YmW0DxvEDZbgCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1DKdZNj8E9k/XJlbX8ABeEI/AAAAAAAAL2w/yiVFbsXr_5YyCAs2FHNj3YmW0DxvEDZbgCLcBGAs/s320/dd55_09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here we find the Mark Twain River Boat after apparently
having made a big wet U-turn (it normally circles the Rivers of America in a clockwise direction). The large white
building is recognizable as the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, home of The Golden
Horseshoe Revue (1955 to 1986.) The blue-roofed, house-like structure might be
the Chicken Plantation Restaurant (1955-1962), based on its proximity to the
dock (or it could just be a piece of generic scenery to fill out the scene).</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzITtXyn4_g/XJlbmtWQJnI/AAAAAAAAL20/ffpjlZboypwXYO3KKE5adNvRH0v_W7bBQCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1600" height="131" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzITtXyn4_g/XJlbmtWQJnI/AAAAAAAAL20/ffpjlZboypwXYO3KKE5adNvRH0v_W7bBQCLcBGAs/s200/dd55_10.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8YtV--eycIQ/XJlbmpYwNcI/AAAAAAAAL24/OZqheXhOvEQwPVIFFxre3RoS8Tj5uK5kwCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="130" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8YtV--eycIQ/XJlbmpYwNcI/AAAAAAAAL24/OZqheXhOvEQwPVIFFxre3RoS8Tj5uK5kwCLcBGAs/s200/dd55_11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Stagecoach (1955-1959), along with the Conestoga Wagons, transported guests
with real horses down a real dirt path to see fake cactus and fake rocks. It was replaced by the Mine Train Through
Nature's Wonderland and Pack Mules in 1959.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rqb6F9G3XvI/XJlcSCyxYOI/AAAAAAAAL3M/z2rxFBwAcScsA4yEjM_BUeRxPGt1taOWwCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="209" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rqb6F9G3XvI/XJlcSCyxYOI/AAAAAAAAL3M/z2rxFBwAcScsA4yEjM_BUeRxPGt1taOWwCLcBGAs/s320/dd55_12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
charming and still operating Casey Jr. Circus Train. You won't see kids peeking
over the top of the animal cage cars in real life, because they are actually fully
enclosed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wEmIH46-X8/XJlcnc5HPdI/AAAAAAAAL3U/NYa9BRUBM4UOhs51RoZX8ZYtbMEM688MwCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8wEmIH46-X8/XJlcnc5HPdI/AAAAAAAAL3U/NYa9BRUBM4UOhs51RoZX8ZYtbMEM688MwCLcBGAs/s320/dd55_13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These fancy red curtains look like they belong to the Lilly
Belle parlor car and not the yellow "Retlaw 1" combine car Donald is
riding.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4LouYEDM7E/XJlc3YUNcMI/AAAAAAAAL3c/JooZWFNVWqgsA_Iw-I70DV_STR3DY5zSwCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4LouYEDM7E/XJlc3YUNcMI/AAAAAAAAL3c/JooZWFNVWqgsA_Iw-I70DV_STR3DY5zSwCLcBGAs/s200/dd55_14.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TOrM0uyjKeY/XJlc3kJSSHI/AAAAAAAAL3g/GxA6xWoa3xMcKHC6TQRgzdnmxaikKQZ0wCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1600" height="129" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TOrM0uyjKeY/XJlc3kJSSHI/AAAAAAAAL3g/GxA6xWoa3xMcKHC6TQRgzdnmxaikKQZ0wCLcBGAs/s200/dd55_15.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Louie has flown his Peter Pan's Flight ride vehicle right
out of the attraction and</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">is now hovering
through the skies over Fantasyland while Capt. Hook threatens from below. With
its endless ocean and rock cliff, it's not clear where this scene is supposed
to be taking place.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Autopia's original cars with the fully-bumpered bodies, and
no center guide rail (those wouldn't be installed until 1965). The 14 mph speed
limit sign is more than double the cars' actual top speed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WDSsnrJ2rRw/XJldaZvu5WI/AAAAAAAAL3s/7We8uV0F0fkva9Edv3hQcUdYCIhZbyx2QCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1600" height="210" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WDSsnrJ2rRw/XJldaZvu5WI/AAAAAAAAL3s/7We8uV0F0fkva9Edv3hQcUdYCIhZbyx2QCLcBGAs/s320/dd55_16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another look at the bandstand as Donald relaxes at the Main
Street train station.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SoLMqBP9P2g/XJldxFFph1I/AAAAAAAAL34/3TK7O52o4n4P8v_aXdyzSQURsOIRZ2NfgCLcBGAs/s1600/dd55_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="1202" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SoLMqBP9P2g/XJldxFFph1I/AAAAAAAAL34/3TK7O52o4n4P8v_aXdyzSQURsOIRZ2NfgCLcBGAs/s200/dd55_17.jpg" width="151" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pa0v-RH3QUs/XJldwr1XgGI/AAAAAAAAL30/3g-dj90TFzAJ8vFtRNvVuTotTDL0SbTAgCLcBGAs/s1600/Man%2BIn%2BSpace%2Bship.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="273" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pa0v-RH3QUs/XJldwr1XgGI/AAAAAAAAL30/3g-dj90TFzAJ8vFtRNvVuTotTDL0SbTAgCLcBGAs/s200/Man%2BIn%2BSpace%2Bship.JPG" width="170" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tomorrowland famously got the short-end of the budget in the
rush to meet opening day, and this illustration looks more like concept
renderings than anything that was actually built. The rocketship pictured resembles the one
from Disney's </span><a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/03/cosmic-soap-opera.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Man In Space (1955) series</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, not the iconic TWA Moonliner that was actually erected at the site.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdo-alove-g/XJleSXzh3JI/AAAAAAAAL4E/wh4ydveYgUAW9JnsxsaxPZqidqg80Eh0ACLcBGAs/s1600/dd60_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1587" data-original-width="1333" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdo-alove-g/XJleSXzh3JI/AAAAAAAAL4E/wh4ydveYgUAW9JnsxsaxPZqidqg80Eh0ACLcBGAs/s200/dd60_cover.jpg" width="167" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Disneyland experienced a major growth spurt in 1959 with the
addition of the Matterhorn Bobsleds, Monorail and Submarine Voyage Thru Liquid
Space (the Skyway buckets were added in '56.) A 1960 updated edition of </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Donald Duck In Disneyland</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> swapped out a
few spreads to highlight these newer attractions.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3YwyTSfZcNs/XJleipJw59I/AAAAAAAAL4Q/NyWhjftTAIQ6Xhom3cuZ7L4wcnpcv72CACLcBGAs/s1600/dd60_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1600" height="129" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3YwyTSfZcNs/XJleipJw59I/AAAAAAAAL4Q/NyWhjftTAIQ6Xhom3cuZ7L4wcnpcv72CACLcBGAs/s200/dd60_01.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-suPEMKFDwWQ/XJleiZO1TUI/AAAAAAAAL4I/LZrPGrs38UUCj9xK71gsZqtV2GCt9x1zgCLcBGAs/s1600/dd60_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1600" height="130" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-suPEMKFDwWQ/XJleiZO1TUI/AAAAAAAAL4I/LZrPGrs38UUCj9xK71gsZqtV2GCt9x1zgCLcBGAs/s200/dd60_02.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OcTGDLNgN7k/XJleisSNmYI/AAAAAAAAL4M/sz_zMngvmeEKmhMS8T76ard7DBw3nu2GQCLcBGAs/s1600/dd60_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1600" height="130" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OcTGDLNgN7k/XJleisSNmYI/AAAAAAAAL4M/sz_zMngvmeEKmhMS8T76ard7DBw3nu2GQCLcBGAs/s200/dd60_03.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_yAI2xZKjg/XJlej9HzM0I/AAAAAAAAL4Y/n8QhL7ON2hEoTA3RgkyzECQEHzq0Hl1FgCLcBGAs/s1600/dd60_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1600" height="130" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_yAI2xZKjg/XJlej9HzM0I/AAAAAAAAL4Y/n8QhL7ON2hEoTA3RgkyzECQEHzq0Hl1FgCLcBGAs/s200/dd60_04.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Disneyland On The Air (1955)</u></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RonL8TfnReI/XJlfGqSy-TI/AAAAAAAAL4s/5nuYy0mQeFwx5iZP4sLF_JcDhx8zpQDNQCLcBGAs/s1600/onair_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1581" data-original-width="1324" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RonL8TfnReI/XJlfGqSy-TI/AAAAAAAAL4s/5nuYy0mQeFwx5iZP4sLF_JcDhx8zpQDNQCLcBGAs/s200/onair_cover.jpg" width="166" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzA7m_IDG64/XJlfG6V-snI/AAAAAAAAL4w/eeNV3w9ffgknOYmQmmuLSceD0d_0vHlngCLcBGAs/s1600/onair_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1600" height="209" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzA7m_IDG64/XJlfG6V-snI/AAAAAAAAL4w/eeNV3w9ffgknOYmQmmuLSceD0d_0vHlngCLcBGAs/s320/onair_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mickey and Donald make a red-carpet arrival to the Main
Street Opera House for filming of a television special. That </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Man In Space</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> version of the
Tomorrowland rocket makes an appearance on the cover, as well as the Mark Twain
River Boat and Disneyland Stagecoach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Opera House is the oldest building in Disneyland park,
originally used as a workshop and lumber mill during construction and for
several years after park opening, before opening to guests in 1961 for a temporary exhibit of props from the film <b>Babes In
Toyland</b>. It then briefly served as the "Mickey Mouse
Headquarters", before finally becoming the permanent home of <b>Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln </b>in 1965. </span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AaypSITF91M/XJlf0lZh7AI/AAAAAAAAL5E/IKyiIrq8YWoYLYHIBOJJ3Ks8mdU7aJIrgCLcBGAs/s1600/onair_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1592" data-original-width="1212" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AaypSITF91M/XJlf0lZh7AI/AAAAAAAAL5E/IKyiIrq8YWoYLYHIBOJJ3Ks8mdU7aJIrgCLcBGAs/s200/onair_02.jpg" width="151" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HYR7fri77Gw/XJlf0WhPaDI/AAAAAAAAL5A/Polvf8AQaocN4epTC_9HJKR0TbZezT3aACLcBGAs/s1600/onair_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="1192" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HYR7fri77Gw/XJlf0WhPaDI/AAAAAAAAL5A/Polvf8AQaocN4epTC_9HJKR0TbZezT3aACLcBGAs/s200/onair_03.jpg" width="151" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J53BOBTK3hU/XJlf010431I/AAAAAAAAL5I/O7T4hxPQYS84ePIynkSqbbIIU6425wIXgCLcBGAs/s1600/onair_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1600" height="136" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J53BOBTK3hU/XJlf010431I/AAAAAAAAL5I/O7T4hxPQYS84ePIynkSqbbIIU6425wIXgCLcBGAs/s200/onair_04.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look at those dapper park guests. They are expecting to be
in the audience of a live television broadcast, so that may explain why they
are so sharp-dressed, but it really wasn't unusual to see guests dressed up for
their day at the park back then.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sp9hNuHwfvA/XJlgQ-RIm1I/AAAAAAAAL5U/4IIMj_MvODol8dC-7LGxC4RxsScvSTICwCLcBGAs/s1600/onair_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sp9hNuHwfvA/XJlgQ-RIm1I/AAAAAAAAL5U/4IIMj_MvODol8dC-7LGxC4RxsScvSTICwCLcBGAs/s320/onair_05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This backlit panorama of the park is just a painted backdrop
used for filming.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Jiminy Cricket Fire Fighter (1956)</u></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yvZgROrdssY/XJlglTh8WmI/AAAAAAAAL5c/O8ugOWtvsx0SbtsCb039kt7Xr4jt-olxgCLcBGAs/s1600/jim_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="1319" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yvZgROrdssY/XJlglTh8WmI/AAAAAAAAL5c/O8ugOWtvsx0SbtsCb039kt7Xr4jt-olxgCLcBGAs/s200/jim_cover.jpg" width="168" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By the mid-1950s, Jiminy Cricket had left his
debut role as Pinocchio's conscious far behind and was firmly ensconced in his
new position as master of ceremonies in several educational films for Disney,
including the safety series </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm No Fool</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,
the </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Encyclopedia</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nature of Things</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> newsreel-style
documentaries, and</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">health and wellness
series, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You And Your</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMefJeuIpPY/XJlhC7svuSI/AAAAAAAAL5w/2u32mzbgMNYtT5nOY8w_lRw3QCTNjia0wCLcBGAs/s1600/jim_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="1197" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMefJeuIpPY/XJlhC7svuSI/AAAAAAAAL5w/2u32mzbgMNYtT5nOY8w_lRw3QCTNjia0wCLcBGAs/s200/jim_01.jpg" width="153" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQmyb0t5sqo/XJlhCy8Tn0I/AAAAAAAAL5s/tmk6ZSt9Yio0BmCaJYHa52RYvr5oVqtPACLcBGAs/s1600/jim_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1206" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQmyb0t5sqo/XJlhCy8Tn0I/AAAAAAAAL5s/tmk6ZSt9Yio0BmCaJYHa52RYvr5oVqtPACLcBGAs/s200/jim_02.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xND3Kxr2oDg/XJlhCwDYLlI/AAAAAAAAL5o/dl7Nia4g9eUAUcDeDAc8nRXnPUTN1O5ggCLcBGAs/s1600/jim_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="1222" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xND3Kxr2oDg/XJlhCwDYLlI/AAAAAAAAL5o/dl7Nia4g9eUAUcDeDAc8nRXnPUTN1O5ggCLcBGAs/s200/jim_03.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jiminy Cricket, Fire
Fighter</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> finds our "chipper little fellow" working in the same
vein, using the Disneyland #105 Fire Department on Main Street as a base of
operations to teach lessons in fire safety.
Unfortunately most of the actual lessons are taught off-property (e.g.
Mickey's fire-trap suburban home), but we at least get a look at the
horse-drawn "Chemical Wagon" fire truck (still on exhibit today),
Sleeping Beauty's Castle, and another concept-art version of Tomorrowland.</span></div>
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<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Mickey Mouse and the Missing Mouseketeers (1956)</u></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8ypa-lASh0/XJlive1IX4I/AAAAAAAAL6E/yO5ZSjvAzyY6WKPanXB7t2iy3Q0zL7vmQCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1551" data-original-width="1274" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8ypa-lASh0/XJlive1IX4I/AAAAAAAAL6E/yO5ZSjvAzyY6WKPanXB7t2iy3Q0zL7vmQCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_cover.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Mickey, Goofy and Donald visit Disneyland to
film a special episode of The Mickey Mouse Club, only to find the Mouseketeers
have disappeared somewhere in the park.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vamZLTc5NGI/XJljGfG5tfI/AAAAAAAAL6Q/tK7kag2vx3U_gVHnzY1NhBUxClLtmC3xgCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1549" data-original-width="1171" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vamZLTc5NGI/XJljGfG5tfI/AAAAAAAAL6Q/tK7kag2vx3U_gVHnzY1NhBUxClLtmC3xgCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_01.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6XAaZ5ygfs/XJljGeP9GtI/AAAAAAAAL6U/b7c7N6UBJ6MbX2DZwFHW9QMrnVmS1eHiwCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="1182" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6XAaZ5ygfs/XJljGeP9GtI/AAAAAAAAL6U/b7c7N6UBJ6MbX2DZwFHW9QMrnVmS1eHiwCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_02.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShoCGDpn1dc/XJljGfgqnKI/AAAAAAAAL6M/RekOUov51JIq4kz6mo0yIgWAT39aquZtACLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="1216" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShoCGDpn1dc/XJljGfgqnKI/AAAAAAAAL6M/RekOUov51JIq4kz6mo0yIgWAT39aquZtACLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_03.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NGpZcvpG5ms/XJljHRNeDDI/AAAAAAAAL6Y/Oxgmlhmw7AcnLlyeEcF0hlnBE2FXFVE9wCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="1201" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NGpZcvpG5ms/XJljHRNeDDI/AAAAAAAAL6Y/Oxgmlhmw7AcnLlyeEcF0hlnBE2FXFVE9wCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_04.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were a couple short-lived Mickey Mouse Club oriented
attractions in 1956: a live circus show that lasted less than a year, and the
Mickey Mouse Club Theater, a movie house located in Fantasyland that featured
both a 30-minute program of animated shorts and air-conditioning. Neither
attractions are mentioned in this book.</span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TLg78f2kTlk/XJlkg82yHsI/AAAAAAAAL6s/kMApg83f4JUG9eOwoWNl2-3FAM5uWAZfACLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1201" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TLg78f2kTlk/XJlkg82yHsI/AAAAAAAAL6s/kMApg83f4JUG9eOwoWNl2-3FAM5uWAZfACLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_05.jpg" width="155" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XQ5ZRzPcca8/XJlkg2lF-aI/AAAAAAAAL6w/5cIexzStnp8VNn2imnQB80l9gLLZ3EZRgCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1201" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XQ5ZRzPcca8/XJlkg2lF-aI/AAAAAAAAL6w/5cIexzStnp8VNn2imnQB80l9gLLZ3EZRgCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_06.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="156" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally an accurate rendering of Tomorrowland's landmark
centerpiece. The TWA Moonliner stood in front of the Rocket To the Moon attraction,
until it was removed for the 1967 Tomorrowland remodel. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pond bordering the Autopia track hosted the short-lived
and problematic Phantom Boats attraction. It closed permanently in 1956. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9HYll6AQXYs/XJlkxP5pBmI/AAAAAAAAL60/eGqepfgYQkIHIVJ3951rT6QZ2F_yJsTmgCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="1211" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9HYll6AQXYs/XJlkxP5pBmI/AAAAAAAAL60/eGqepfgYQkIHIVJ3951rT6QZ2F_yJsTmgCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_08.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JRtgPGEYejI/XJlkxCjsW_I/AAAAAAAAL64/74m-49zcdeUhf_XvMPP_QCY0Vbt1uUbFACLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="1216" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JRtgPGEYejI/XJlkxCjsW_I/AAAAAAAAL64/74m-49zcdeUhf_XvMPP_QCY0Vbt1uUbFACLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_09.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You call this a "dark" ride? What may appear to be
a view over Tom Sawyer Island is actually supposed to be the Indian Village as
seen from inside Peter Pan's Flight ride.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-csOCOxSjuFg/XJllJP1TehI/AAAAAAAAL7Q/RZ2R2NHAybc0P0hnZsN-vkCQDlOL1jdAACLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1549" data-original-width="1186" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-csOCOxSjuFg/XJllJP1TehI/AAAAAAAAL7Q/RZ2R2NHAybc0P0hnZsN-vkCQDlOL1jdAACLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_07.jpg" width="153" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ixYW7hGBuDA/XJllJHOgoqI/AAAAAAAAL7M/Jr2p4LiwCQUGWsSKcNOObMokh3s_7V0IgCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1196" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ixYW7hGBuDA/XJllJHOgoqI/AAAAAAAAL7M/Jr2p4LiwCQUGWsSKcNOObMokh3s_7V0IgCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_10.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mickey and a camera crew in the back of Sleeping Beauty's
Castle. Mickey is riding what looks like a Main Street Surrey carriage (discontinued
in 1971) through Sleeping Beauty's Castle. The Moonliner is visible in the
distance. </span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AZLYBTC2hDM/XJllel8XAQI/AAAAAAAAL7Y/pM7RxiGfwuwauAbd3KGz4Q3wuiqGltN_QCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1206" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AZLYBTC2hDM/XJllel8XAQI/AAAAAAAAL7Y/pM7RxiGfwuwauAbd3KGz4Q3wuiqGltN_QCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_11.jpg" width="154" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GnreDDrhXeI/XJlleqj60DI/AAAAAAAAL7c/8VCX6SkzzKIRO0pRHzKx-B3R6MhEMaYcgCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1201" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GnreDDrhXeI/XJlleqj60DI/AAAAAAAAL7c/8VCX6SkzzKIRO0pRHzKx-B3R6MhEMaYcgCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_12.jpg" width="156" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2kcBNqCalk4/XJllejWTqpI/AAAAAAAAL7g/WaxxVfvF9esGZWxfXyT_fKnNxJyjlloSQCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="1152" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2kcBNqCalk4/XJllejWTqpI/AAAAAAAAL7g/WaxxVfvF9esGZWxfXyT_fKnNxJyjlloSQCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_13.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In these Little Golden Books, the animated characters aren't
mere ride scenery but are actually supposed to be living in the park. Here, the
seven dwarves are caught napping on the job inside their diamond mine while the
Wicked Witch hands out poison apples.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mickey and Minnie, armed with a sword and shield purchased
at the Main Street Magic Shop, rescue a pair of Mouseketeers, who don't appear
to represent any specific kids from the cast (the names on their jerseys are
illegible).</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PMojCfnXb2Q/XJllru_R2jI/AAAAAAAAL7k/XsNNGDotkbcp12rnamcZnyeBd6y4rbIdQCLcBGAs/s1600/MissingMouse_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="1206" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PMojCfnXb2Q/XJllru_R2jI/AAAAAAAAL7k/XsNNGDotkbcp12rnamcZnyeBd6y4rbIdQCLcBGAs/s200/MissingMouse_14.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mickey and Minnie astride a horse on King Arthur's
Carrousel, which originally came in a variety of colors (they were all
painted white in a 1975 refurbishment.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Donald Duck Lost and Found (1960)</u></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vN6iorzK43M/XJll-mZM2VI/AAAAAAAAL70/s9K6BW5TNZQ7OPiIX_AE-kNYDG_oKRAnQCLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="1331" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vN6iorzK43M/XJll-mZM2VI/AAAAAAAAL70/s9K6BW5TNZQ7OPiIX_AE-kNYDG_oKRAnQCLcBGAs/s200/Lost_Cover.jpg" width="168" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm
not sure why Donald gets sole billing in this Disneyland outing that finds
Mickey and what's-his-name exploring Tom Sawyer Island.</span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8dgb7WUy7o/XJlmNO_8G9I/AAAAAAAAL74/C94cGHTWr4w9flPE7aRpJxXHiQ4DHhV8QCLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1600" height="204" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8dgb7WUy7o/XJlmNO_8G9I/AAAAAAAAL74/C94cGHTWr4w9flPE7aRpJxXHiQ4DHhV8QCLcBGAs/s320/Lost_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tom Sawyer Island, along with the motorized rafts that ferry
people across the Rivers of America, opened to the public May '56. The
island itself was there from opening day, but as merely scenery with no guest
access. Disney lore credits Walt himself with designing the island playground,
with its labyrinthine caves, climbing rocks and rope bridges.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H_HSiLvhBTU/XJlmUufzrTI/AAAAAAAAL8A/JCspOD3xBdopcFZxD2SRNfi9zw8RbsEMwCLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="1213" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H_HSiLvhBTU/XJlmUufzrTI/AAAAAAAAL8A/JCspOD3xBdopcFZxD2SRNfi9zw8RbsEMwCLcBGAs/s200/Lost_02.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the first few months after opening, guests could
actually borrow a fishin' pole and catch live fish from Catfish Cove, a stocked
pond located just off the dock. Since most Disneyland visitors don't bring
ice-filled coolers with them to the park, the caught fish frequently ended up
tossed in the garbage (or worse, left behind on a ride vehicle.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kL1V_AyZp3U/XJlmmdhTBrI/AAAAAAAAL8Q/Ix32_6V2uVsvZoxTDJ7_MhB299FRyxDbwCLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1213" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kL1V_AyZp3U/XJlmmdhTBrI/AAAAAAAAL8Q/Ix32_6V2uVsvZoxTDJ7_MhB299FRyxDbwCLcBGAs/s200/Lost_03.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Donald and Mickey ponder the echoing voices from Injun Joe's
Cave, named for the villainous character from Mark Twain's </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom Sawyer</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. The cave was rebranded "Smuggler's Cove" when the island
underwent a </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pirates Of the Caribbean</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-themed makeover in 2007.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XV6RDDoY10k/XJlm-6hzouI/AAAAAAAAL8c/gzVw7v9KZ0M5ktfNkcWiNHGpdbNZefT7wCLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="1600" height="201" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XV6RDDoY10k/XJlm-6hzouI/AAAAAAAAL8c/gzVw7v9KZ0M5ktfNkcWiNHGpdbNZefT7wCLcBGAs/s320/Lost_04.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9YaNUVxXekg/XJlm-Q30LGI/AAAAAAAAL8Y/mY92nxqCb7kp3ewRODLigQsQE5Qn1zEEACLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1569" data-original-width="1213" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9YaNUVxXekg/XJlm-Q30LGI/AAAAAAAAL8Y/mY92nxqCb7kp3ewRODLigQsQE5Qn1zEEACLcBGAs/s200/Lost_05.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Old Mill and Tom & Huck's Treehouse, which guests
could actually climb into for an elevated view of the island. Decades later it
was shuttered, surviving today as a piece of scenery.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5IzuiDrsfwE/XJlnNCvTTLI/AAAAAAAAL8g/ofO6UqFZxWkZsX9ohDbbJCqvVF18a8WNgCLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="1209" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5IzuiDrsfwE/XJlnNCvTTLI/AAAAAAAAL8g/ofO6UqFZxWkZsX9ohDbbJCqvVF18a8WNgCLcBGAs/s200/Lost_06.jpg" width="156" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3SoCmNVb_I/XJlnNg68xKI/AAAAAAAAL8k/Vp_Tx1_VegMgLhb1sXEciDa3_uSdQ8iJACLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1600" height="203" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3SoCmNVb_I/XJlnNg68xKI/AAAAAAAAL8k/Vp_Tx1_VegMgLhb1sXEciDa3_uSdQ8iJACLcBGAs/s320/Lost_07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Suspension Bridge, Pontoon Bridge, and towering Castle
Rock, at the foot of which are Teeter-Totter Rock and Merry-Go-Round Rock,
playground equipment disguised as natural formations. Both became casualties of
increased safety concerns sometime in the early 2000s.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOWkB0pUgCY/XJlnce6krSI/AAAAAAAAL80/HEaUGmOj3uEElHY7sXg-OduMddBf1OVdwCLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1600" height="126" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOWkB0pUgCY/XJlnce6krSI/AAAAAAAAL80/HEaUGmOj3uEElHY7sXg-OduMddBf1OVdwCLcBGAs/s200/Lost_08.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YYwXhv5NeNA/XJlncS3wvlI/AAAAAAAAL8w/-cZoNd7Lo0MV7fSDtLdy0i6o8wzMrrlnQCLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1600" height="126" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YYwXhv5NeNA/XJlncS3wvlI/AAAAAAAAL8w/-cZoNd7Lo0MV7fSDtLdy0i6o8wzMrrlnQCLcBGAs/s200/Lost_09.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fort Wilderness was an opening feature of the island and was
quite an attraction itself, boasting mounted cannon and rifles, Davy Crockett
figures in wax-museum style exhibits, a canteen to buy snacks, and a
"secret escape tunnel" in case the walls are breached. In the early
2000s the Fort had to be torn down due to wood rot, and completely rebuilt, but
this time as a storage and backstage area for employees and equipment.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QhkhaxGxTNA/XJlnoQg7AII/AAAAAAAAL9A/lxlYNf3rVCcLJ6HMnsUITKgWQKkm8_THwCLcBGAs/s1600/Lost_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1600" height="202" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QhkhaxGxTNA/XJlnoQg7AII/AAAAAAAAL9A/lxlYNf3rVCcLJ6HMnsUITKgWQKkm8_THwCLcBGAs/s320/Lost_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Goofy
and Mickey examine a huge map. Much smaller brochure-style maps of the island have
been available to park guests through the decades, including a version updated
in 2007 to highlight changes made for the "Pirates' Lair" makeover. At
the upper right we find Indian Territory and, inaccessible on foot but visible
from the water, Burning Settler's Cabin. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Disneyland Parade with Donald Duck (1971)</u></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9f5djbR3PIU/XJlnzrjfAvI/AAAAAAAAL9M/lazcPZ8a2LosbZxRHagE9TP039Ae_RrawCLcBGAs/s1600/parade_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="1321" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9f5djbR3PIU/XJlnzrjfAvI/AAAAAAAAL9M/lazcPZ8a2LosbZxRHagE9TP039Ae_RrawCLcBGAs/s200/parade_cover.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the most recently published book (only half a
century old!) and the least interesting as far as seeing renderings of the
park, as it's mostly Disney characters preparing for the big parade in a vague
"backstage" area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once again, Donald and nephews visit Disneyland. On the
horizon, between the castle and Matterhorn mountain, we can see the top of Fort
Wilderness, the Skyway buckets, and the thatched roof of the Enchanted Tiki
Room. The pirate ship is Captain Hook's Galley (formerly the Chicken of the
Sea), a ship-shaped snack bar that stood in a Peter Pan themed lagoon in
Fantasyland until a 1982 remodel of the area.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PcW3kQ4P6sU/XJloHHsHlzI/AAAAAAAAL9c/-ouqbpRs6GsfQQ84WUi3xzvLuOEnUEpTwCLcBGAs/s1600/parade_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="1209" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PcW3kQ4P6sU/XJloHHsHlzI/AAAAAAAAL9c/-ouqbpRs6GsfQQ84WUi3xzvLuOEnUEpTwCLcBGAs/s200/parade_02.jpg" width="153" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t9_rjR4Pl6c/XJloHdGW5uI/AAAAAAAAL9g/MPRpabODxdwuRFjnN6chuBFWM1Q4yzOHwCLcBGAs/s1600/parade_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1587" data-original-width="1186" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t9_rjR4Pl6c/XJloHdGW5uI/AAAAAAAAL9g/MPRpabODxdwuRFjnN6chuBFWM1Q4yzOHwCLcBGAs/s200/parade_03.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alice, the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit stand below the
over-sized leaves of their dark-ride attraction. Minnie, Pluto and Goofy prepare for the parade. Goofy has
driven a broken down jalopy in parades as far back as 1965. </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wmEzHx7aOZY/XJloTCyQK9I/AAAAAAAAL9s/DSFVx2F8L2gU5OSi12PZwvO8-sLVfEfjACLcBGAs/s1600/parade_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1569" data-original-width="1190" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wmEzHx7aOZY/XJloTCyQK9I/AAAAAAAAL9s/DSFVx2F8L2gU5OSi12PZwvO8-sLVfEfjACLcBGAs/s200/parade_04.jpg" width="151" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjKeTNDLoJU/XJloTs1En-I/AAAAAAAAL9w/_FVvxZyL-yk4vvolr3shOJrheZtNNKOgwCLcBGAs/s1600/parade_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1600" height="130" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjKeTNDLoJU/XJloTs1En-I/AAAAAAAAL9w/_FVvxZyL-yk4vvolr3shOJrheZtNNKOgwCLcBGAs/s200/parade_05.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRTpkYaeQaw/XJloTLc6FqI/AAAAAAAAL9o/zH3b3EKWclgl4e6kaevb2BZFNg-uvXQQQCLcBGAs/s1600/parade_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="1205" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRTpkYaeQaw/XJloTLc6FqI/AAAAAAAAL9o/zH3b3EKWclgl4e6kaevb2BZFNg-uvXQQQCLcBGAs/s200/parade_06.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Donald purchases some balloons near the Castle, and later,
on Main Street. Check out the groovy "Minnie"-skirt on that park
guest! Donald gets carried away in his balloon buying binge, providing
us another look at Captain Hook's Galley ship.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVXvKxv-OFc/XJlogPkvEMI/AAAAAAAAL98/GJD4gTl__z4rAhCnePoEzc8y2MXXcKRtwCLcBGAs/s1600/parade_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1600" height="209" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVXvKxv-OFc/XJlogPkvEMI/AAAAAAAAL98/GJD4gTl__z4rAhCnePoEzc8y2MXXcKRtwCLcBGAs/s320/parade_07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally the parade is ready to roll as our tour of Disneyland via Little Golden Books comes to a close.</span>Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-14098853337835459132019-02-16T13:53:00.000-08:002019-02-17T05:11:52.355-08:00Suppose You Met A Witch (1973, Ian Serraillier and Ed Emberley)Pick any date landing somewhere in my first year of grade school and chances are I had <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emberleys-Drawing-Animals-Emberley-Books/dp/0316789798" target="_blank">"Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals"</a> (1970) on loan from the school library that day. "...Animals" was just one of many books by<b> Ed Emberley</b> that taught children how to draw cute, cartoonish characters using just a dozen or so simple shapes and lines. <br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ic6samtmuJE/XGiBPqoJrrI/AAAAAAAALxE/r05zfEInt8Uy-5T8zSzkZPcdCCeBPKp5wCLcBGAs/s1600/BookOfanimalsCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ic6samtmuJE/XGiBPqoJrrI/AAAAAAAALxE/r05zfEInt8Uy-5T8zSzkZPcdCCeBPKp5wCLcBGAs/s320/BookOfanimalsCover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The truth is, by first-grade standards I was considered, in
the parlance of the schoolyard, a "pretty good draw-er" and could
scribble a decent illustration without relying on Emberley's sequential
instructions. Rather, it was Emberley's appealing style and whimsical imagination that caused me
to hoard his books like buried treasure. </div>
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Where else was I going to see a turtle roller-skating in the
rain?</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-osB94VxvBeQ/XGiBd7G_oQI/AAAAAAAALxI/aOfX_I-1COEOavS_VqbjnT1KA4ZpXg4pwCLcBGAs/s1600/turtle01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="1600" height="66" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-osB94VxvBeQ/XGiBd7G_oQI/AAAAAAAALxI/aOfX_I-1COEOavS_VqbjnT1KA4ZpXg4pwCLcBGAs/s320/turtle01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VsKZQyCNlSE/XGiBhWAIpjI/AAAAAAAALxQ/IYT5GCwQBhUbS3kAAgf5KtRCfb4kJmk4ACLcBGAs/s1600/turtle02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="1600" height="58" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VsKZQyCNlSE/XGiBhWAIpjI/AAAAAAAALxQ/IYT5GCwQBhUbS3kAAgf5KtRCfb4kJmk4ACLcBGAs/s320/turtle02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"..Animals" focuses exclusively on the animal
kingdom, but also includes a useful facial-expressions sampler, as well as an
example of how his simplistic, shape-based creations could be easily embellished
into something a little fancier.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nc2Oy2A14Fg/XGiBvX9jOUI/AAAAAAAALxY/SlBdrcMiVxIiH9gZ7XdzZ9Z3Jn8k3rENACLcBGAs/s1600/faces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="797" height="195" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nc2Oy2A14Fg/XGiBvX9jOUI/AAAAAAAALxY/SlBdrcMiVxIiH9gZ7XdzZ9Z3Jn8k3rENACLcBGAs/s200/faces.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmcxzT6C0hg/XGiBzEsHhoI/AAAAAAAALxg/5ABrI_xLSIETlSdDhedDbmeZp8Rq_XxagCLcBGAs/s1600/embelishedbirds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="796" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmcxzT6C0hg/XGiBzEsHhoI/AAAAAAAALxg/5ABrI_xLSIETlSdDhedDbmeZp8Rq_XxagCLcBGAs/s320/embelishedbirds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Step aside, Block In Bird, here comes Embellish!</b></span></div>
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Later entries in Emberley's instructional series included <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ed-Emberleys-Drawing-Book-World/dp/0316789720/" target="_blank">"Make A World"</a> (1972) and a string of color-themed books (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emberleys-Purple-Drawing-Emberley-Books/dp/0316789739/" target="_blank">"Purple"</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emberleys-Green-Drawing-Emberley-Books/dp/0316789763/" target="_blank">"Green"</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emberleys-Big-Orange-Drawing-Book/dp/0316234184/" target="_blank">"Orange"</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emberleys-Big-Red-Drawing-Book/dp/0316234354" target="_blank">"Red"</a>) which, collectively, established an alternate Emberl-iverse of characters, vehicles and fantastic creatures. (I previously posted on his monster-themed <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/07/ed-emberleys-drawing-book-of-weirdos.html" target="_blank">"Book of Weirdos"</a>.) Many of these books are still in print.</div>
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Emberley also produced absolutely charming woodcut
illustrations for the 1965 book <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/06/call-it-macaroni.html" target="_blank">"Yankee Doodle"</a> (Dr. Richard Schackburg). </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uu3qROn4d5Y/XGiCSDX1TYI/AAAAAAAALxo/m6nNFwswxzgrHJBRYVeYwvaYmYTJYtbVgCLcBGAs/s1600/yankeedoodlecover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uu3qROn4d5Y/XGiCSDX1TYI/AAAAAAAALxo/m6nNFwswxzgrHJBRYVeYwvaYmYTJYtbVgCLcBGAs/s200/yankeedoodlecover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4DBq6eFDeI/XGiCV3gEMdI/AAAAAAAALxs/PSkqDwWx2lAg7cMw67BSwsZK1Pg9Xsf3gCLcBGAs/s1600/yankee01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1600" height="156" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4DBq6eFDeI/XGiCV3gEMdI/AAAAAAAALxs/PSkqDwWx2lAg7cMw67BSwsZK1Pg9Xsf3gCLcBGAs/s200/yankee01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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But perhaps his most striking work is found in the 1973 book
<b>"Suppose You Met a Witch"</b>. Illustrating a fairy-tale story by English
poet <b>Ian Serraillier</b> (originally published in 1952), Emberley's work here
(sixteen two-page spreads, plus front and back covers) is almost psychedelic. </div>
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Presented below in its entirety.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kMhg7nKw75I/XGiCjyPENmI/AAAAAAAALx0/aLcZUAvKXq4NOTKr9prQpVqA8UHJzuIHwCLcBGAs/s1600/SupposedCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kMhg7nKw75I/XGiCjyPENmI/AAAAAAAALx0/aLcZUAvKXq4NOTKr9prQpVqA8UHJzuIHwCLcBGAs/s400/SupposedCover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The above beautiful illustration of two swans on the water is done in very light, low contrast colors that is hard to appreciate from a scan. Below is the same spread with the contrast cranked up to eleven to reveal the line work.</div>
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<b>"Suppose You Met A Witch"</b> is out of print as of this writing.</div>
Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-434639501614384172018-09-07T16:11:00.001-07:002018-09-11T13:47:46.484-07:00The Battle of Billy’s Pond (1976, Children’s Film Foundation)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--t0ILGtx9VE/W5MA4bL-8_I/AAAAAAAALG0/FLGCBd_744QUyyvlp3pw0B6rTXaFGcPJwCLcBGAs/s1600/screen_Title.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--t0ILGtx9VE/W5MA4bL-8_I/AAAAAAAALG0/FLGCBd_744QUyyvlp3pw0B6rTXaFGcPJwCLcBGAs/s320/screen_Title.JPG" width="320" height="225" data-original-width="715" data-original-height="503" /></a></div><br />
Dead fish are popping up at the local fishing hole and grade schoolers Billy and Gobby are determined to find out why in <b>“The Battle of Billy’s Pond” (1976)</b>, a Children’s Film Foundation (CFF) production I happened upon during “TV time” at my pre-school daycare in 1977.<br />
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The non-profit CFF produced hour-long children’s films for British television that would turn up on American PBS to fill time slots between regularly scheduled programs like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1kkx2m-JSg">Big Blue Marble</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrhKmoDjK2g">Powerhouse</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqJbObHKs2Q">Villa Alegre</a> or <a href="https://youtu.be/FJNw9jQ2Bck">Gettin' To Know Me</a> (how’s that for name-dropping?) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBNcDqnqYyQ/W5MBLctyYJI/AAAAAAAALG8/2aZV2afGUJAVYzK5sylLszFfeHUPEBCDgCLcBGAs/s1600/PBSShows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBNcDqnqYyQ/W5MBLctyYJI/AAAAAAAALG8/2aZV2afGUJAVYzK5sylLszFfeHUPEBCDgCLcBGAs/s320/PBSShows.jpg" width="320" height="222" data-original-width="1434" data-original-height="997" /></a></div><br />
Some of the more fantastic CFF films, such as <a href="https://cultfaction.com/2017/01/29/the-boy-who-turned-yellow-1972/">“The Boy Who Turned Yellow” (1972)</a>, <a href="https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/features/making-cult-childrens-sci-fi-glitterball">“The Glitterball” (1977)</a> and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078200/">“Sammy’s Super T-Shirt” (1978)</a> have gone on to become cult favorites.<br />
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But “The Battle of Billy’s Pond”, based on an original story by Michael Abrams (hey, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/08/1984-adbattlecar-warriors-of-lost.html">Battletruck</a>!) and later adapted for novelization by Howard Thompson, is grounded in reality, presenting a still topical ecological message wrapped in an entertaining children’s mystery-adventure. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MRKY3TjP-oQ/W5gp5z4usOI/AAAAAAAALIo/kdjP-1_AqO4BbuBqtSLnceitSo6oT2LYwCLcBGAs/s1600/bookcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MRKY3TjP-oQ/W5gp5z4usOI/AAAAAAAALIo/kdjP-1_AqO4BbuBqtSLnceitSo6oT2LYwCLcBGAs/s320/bookcover.jpg" width="199" height="320" data-original-width="863" data-original-height="1390" /></a></div><br />
One element that really impressed me upon first viewing was that protagonists Billy and Gobby (a few years older than me at the time) enjoyed a freedom of movement I could only envy, roaming suburbia and its wooded rural surroundings (the film was shot entirely on location in Hertfordshire, England) on their bikes, completely unsupervised. <br />
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They were smart kids too, devising intelligent methods informed by science to solve their mystery, which begins when Billy (Ben Buckton), peering through the periscope of his gadget-loving friend Gobby (Andrew Ashby) discovers one dead fish floating below the surface of the pond he’s named after himself.<br />
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They bring the specimen home for dissection (because science!) but Billy’s cat has other ideas, snatching the fish away in its jaws. The cat is later found sick. Veterinarian’s diagnosis: chemical poisoning (don’t worry, it’s not <i>that</i> kind of movie… kitty makes a full recovery).<br />
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Suspecting someone is dumping chemicals at Billy’s Pond, they set up a network of cameras on trip-wires to capture the polluters at the scene. <br />
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Meanwhile, a mysterious tanker truck has been seen rolling through town, threatening to run the kids off the road on several occasions. The truck is filmed at angles obscuring the driver, emphasizing the size and noise of the mechanical monster in a way that reminds me of Spielberg’s <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2015/03/spielbergs-duel-1971-and-incredible.html">“Duel”</a>. <br />
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When the boys’ tripwire cameras fail to capture anything useful even though the number of dead fish are increasing, they wonder if the chemicals are being dumped somewhere upstream. But where? I’ve<a href="https://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/09/mystery-of-familiar-feathers.html"> mentioned before</a>, most mysteries are solved through diligent research, not <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/09/haunted-house-club-hardy-boysnancy-drew.html">traipsing around haunted houses</a>, and this one is no different. To the library! <br />
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A geologic map of the area leads them to an underground stream passing through a nearby abandoned quarry, where they find the menacing tanker parked and being drained by men in protective biohazard suits. Case closed? Not quite. They still need to connect the quarry to the pond. <br />
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Gobby’s clever solution is to pour colored dye into the underground stream. Searching for the connecting pipeline, the kids explore a spooky maze of decrepit tunnels that evokes a haunted house (okay, so there <i>is</i> a little traipsing!) The scene becomes an action sequence when the chamber they are in suddenly floods with black polluted water and they must scramble to safety.<br />
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Days later, a cloud of Gobby’s green dye appears in the pond, proving connection to the quarry. But until the tanker can be positively identified, the police are reluctant to launch an investigation, especially one that might implicate prominent local chemical factory Con-Chem, manufacturer of “organic” Brezee laundry soap, whose utopian ads of children in white pajamas skipping through green pastures have been playing endlessly on television.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tHgzfS5msek/W5MCxWNPBBI/AAAAAAAALH8/ZeZffZgSnz0y2eDytqKjZnq2vQ7KHOVwQCLcBGAs/s1600/screen07-BreezeAd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tHgzfS5msek/W5MCxWNPBBI/AAAAAAAALH8/ZeZffZgSnz0y2eDytqKjZnq2vQ7KHOVwQCLcBGAs/s320/screen07-BreezeAd.JPG" width="320" height="227" data-original-width="701" data-original-height="497" /></a></div><br />
Armed with the latest in portable video technology (it only takes two people to carry!) and posing as student journalists, they blend in with a Con-Chem tour group. The sight of these kids bluffing entry right into Con-Chem headquarters inspired me to hatch a similar plan to con my way into the nearby movie theater, posing as a newspaper reporter or the like, to sneak a free showing of <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076538/">Pete’s Dragon</a> (that plan, unfortunately, fizzled when I couldn’t find a <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2017/10/lonely-lonely-spooky-stories-1978.html">convincing disguise</a>, and also because I was too chicken to ever actually go through with it.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AI_8sjeXLV4/W5MC_na_P8I/AAAAAAAALII/oYh_R8--GygtFyww7pTW_aC_mvNd_PQQwCLcBGAs/s1600/screen16_SneakingIntoTour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AI_8sjeXLV4/W5MC_na_P8I/AAAAAAAALII/oYh_R8--GygtFyww7pTW_aC_mvNd_PQQwCLcBGAs/s320/screen16_SneakingIntoTour.jpg" width="320" height="222" data-original-width="763" data-original-height="530" /></a></div><br />
On the tour, they spot the tanker-men and capture video of them arguing about money, but nothing incriminating enough to take to the police.<br />
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Determined to get hard evidence once and for all, they follow the tanker back to the quarry, only to be recognized by the men. One attempted kidnapping-turned-nail-biting foot-chase later, the police finally arrive just in time (the 49-minute mark!) to wrap everything up. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LRnBO-wOkAs/W5MDFs1cCZI/AAAAAAAALIQ/K8z500mqcEwfoj6U_R-kPe3spZ6rLXURACLcBGAs/s1600/screen18_footchase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LRnBO-wOkAs/W5MDFs1cCZI/AAAAAAAALIQ/K8z500mqcEwfoj6U_R-kPe3spZ6rLXURACLcBGAs/s320/screen18_footchase.JPG" width="320" height="222" data-original-width="764" data-original-height="530" /></a></div><br />
It’s never made clear just how deep the Con-Chem dumping scheme goes (were the tanker-men acting alone or just following orders?) but we won’t let that spoil our happy ending. A montage over the end credits shows local heroes Billy and Gobby posing for media photographers while the pond is dredged and restocked with healthy fishes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3O3RokLIXDQ/W5MDJ184EEI/AAAAAAAALIU/vQbY9yl9B7skIfro4WEciXTPm2g5ZOXRACLcBGAs/s1600/screen19_endcreditsfish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3O3RokLIXDQ/W5MDJ184EEI/AAAAAAAALIU/vQbY9yl9B7skIfro4WEciXTPm2g5ZOXRACLcBGAs/s320/screen19_endcreditsfish.JPG" width="320" height="221" data-original-width="760" data-original-height="526" /></a></div><br />
I just love “The Battle of Billy’s Pond”. <br />
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Some CFF films from that era have been <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=children%27s+film+foundation">released to DVD</a> (in PAL formatted discs that won’t work in American players), with “...Billy’s Pond” appearing on a <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Childrens-Film-Foundation-Bumper-Box/dp/B07G1VZ1J8/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1536362284&sr=1-1&keywords=Children%27s+Film+Foundation+Bumper+Box+%28DVD%29">9-film, 3-disc set</a>. <br />
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These screen caps came from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUl6ckezCRw">YouTube</a>.Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-8578470762665455102018-02-06T15:58:00.001-08:002018-02-07T15:59:38.372-08:00The Monticello Clown Puppet Murders of 1980 (The Edge of Night)The year I began fourth grade, I found myself unwittingly entangled in the horrific drama of the <b>Monticello Clown Puppet Murders of 1980</b>. This was a side-effect of two big changes happening to me that year.<br />
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The first was my parents deciding I was old enough to stop attending daycare before and after school (Mom and Dad both worked, I'd been in daycare since kindergarten). Now I would carry a house key and walk to and from school on my own, hopefully avoiding <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_danger">Stranger Danger</a> on my way home to an empty house. <br />
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I had officially become a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latchkey_kid">latch-key kid</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy8_HWiysho/Wno5dP5aBVI/AAAAAAAAKmI/SvVV1oYCawgnRTi1jTzurqCm5CEJUEWsgCLcBGAs/s1600/cautiontwinsstill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy8_HWiysho/Wno5dP5aBVI/AAAAAAAAKmI/SvVV1oYCawgnRTi1jTzurqCm5CEJUEWsgCLcBGAs/s320/cautiontwinsstill.jpg" width="320" height="244" data-original-width="685" data-original-height="522" /></a></div><br />
Second, my grade school switched to "double-sessions". The neighborhood was growing and there were too many kids for our one school to handle. So as a temporary measure while a new school was being built, they split the day into two sessions, with half the student body attending 7:00-11:30 and the other half 11:30-3:00.<br />
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I landed the much coveted 2nd session, which meant I got to sleep in every day, rolling into school just in time for lunch. <br />
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It also meant I was home alone for several hours each morning before school started. For the first time, I had unsupervised access to the TV, and a whole new realm of programming became available for me to explore: day-time television!<br />
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It was only a couple months into the school year when my exploratory channel flipping landed me on something I hadn't seen before: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048860/">The Edge of Night</a>. The title caught my attention, sounding vaguely suspenseful, possibly supernatural.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KlQ30dTNM1Y/Wno5tsE8jNI/AAAAAAAAKmM/BKhYyLwcQlsjZltX9L7lo_GRacigG8rmQCLcBGAs/s1600/titleCard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KlQ30dTNM1Y/Wno5tsE8jNI/AAAAAAAAKmM/BKhYyLwcQlsjZltX9L7lo_GRacigG8rmQCLcBGAs/s320/titleCard.JPG" width="320" height="225" data-original-width="712" data-original-height="500" /></a></div><center><b><i>Looks edgy!</i></b></center><br />
The reality is, <b>The Edge of Night</b> was just one of a dozen daily soap-operas with their doctors and lawyers and courtrooms and romances and convoluted plots that seemed to drag on forever without ever actually resolving.<br />
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But that October, 1980, I wandered into the beginning of an unusual, chilling plot-line.... the Monticello Clown Puppet Murders (Monticello is the fictional mid-western town where <b>The Edge of Night</b> is set).<br />
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Jody Travis (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0521753/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Lori Loughlin</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085159/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_74">Amityville 3D</a>, <a href="https://www.kindertrauma.com/80s-beat-featuring-flatliners-1990-and-the-new-kids-1985/">The New Kids</a>) is waitressing at a hip disco, The Unicorn, working for tips while avoiding the fingertips of her grabby, lecherous boss, Eliot Dorn (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0323722/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1">Lee Godart</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0979432/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Boardwalk Empire</a>).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f419dkNS73w/Wno59cPQ5RI/AAAAAAAAKmU/DtNylJHqi1sVfS6KxvAZPaQtp6w-VYKHQCLcBGAs/s1600/episode%2B6358%2BElliot%2Band%2BJodi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f419dkNS73w/Wno59cPQ5RI/AAAAAAAAKmU/DtNylJHqi1sVfS6KxvAZPaQtp6w-VYKHQCLcBGAs/s320/episode%2B6358%2BElliot%2Band%2BJodi.JPG" width="320" height="226" data-original-width="712" data-original-height="503" /></a></div><br />
Also working at the club is Kelly Mcgrath (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0269481/?ref_=nv_sr_3">Allan Fawcett</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346377/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt">Puttin' On The Hits</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1856010/?ref_=nv_sr_1">House of Cards</a>), a puppeteer(!) who performs in a window near the dance floor. Kelly and Jody are friends who bond over mutual dislike for the boss.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5rDUjETDyA/Wno6BPPiSRI/AAAAAAAAKmY/RKIat1jiIuErcwqRX1v_4KzBOTQL5xMbwCLcBGAs/s1600/episode%2B6358%2BKelly%2Band%2BJodi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5rDUjETDyA/Wno6BPPiSRI/AAAAAAAAKmY/RKIat1jiIuErcwqRX1v_4KzBOTQL5xMbwCLcBGAs/s320/episode%2B6358%2BKelly%2Band%2BJodi.JPG" width="320" height="226" data-original-width="718" data-original-height="508" /></a></div><br />
Kelly is a nice enough guy, but there's something about his puppets that is vaguely off-putting in that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley">Uncanny Valley</a>-meets-<a href="http://ichorfalls.chainsawsuit.com/">Candle-Cove</a> kind of way. This piano-player puppet isn't quite the stuff of nightmares, but it lives in the same neighborhood.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUX1KBYt9kw/Wno6IcI2eAI/AAAAAAAAKmc/MsMUwwg7rVYcCONUVM_TDztHb7xhnhEVgCLcBGAs/s1600/episode%2B6358%2Bpiano%2Bplayer%2Bpppet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUX1KBYt9kw/Wno6IcI2eAI/AAAAAAAAKmc/MsMUwwg7rVYcCONUVM_TDztHb7xhnhEVgCLcBGAs/s320/episode%2B6358%2Bpiano%2Bplayer%2Bpppet.JPG" width="320" height="222" data-original-width="719" data-original-height="498" /></a></div><br />
Later, after the club has closed and Jody is alone cleaning tables, a fox puppet appears in the window, seeming to watch her while she works.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CORxZ6RNgp8/Wno6SII6UKI/AAAAAAAAKmg/qgPsn7QnPZwkpAssOIhXln-4cDS-SAejgCLcBGAs/s1600/episide%2B6359%2Bfox%2Bpuppet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CORxZ6RNgp8/Wno6SII6UKI/AAAAAAAAKmg/qgPsn7QnPZwkpAssOIhXln-4cDS-SAejgCLcBGAs/s320/episide%2B6359%2Bfox%2Bpuppet.JPG" width="320" height="219" data-original-width="729" data-original-height="499" /></a></div><br />
Assuming Kelly is operating the puppet, Jody engages in some friendly banter, which takes a sudden lurid turn when the fox inappropriately suggests he'd like to join her in bed, and then offers to share a bottle of champagne in the office. The storybook scenario of a sinister woodland creature trying to lure a young girl into temptation lends a Grimm's fairy tale motif to the scene. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i09ba8XYOJo/Wno6XppuYbI/AAAAAAAAKmk/cFGxBM9yeMsON8szEAiyRwlSkLrMbJJ2ACLcBGAs/s1600/episide%2B6359%2Bfox%2Bpuppet2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i09ba8XYOJo/Wno6XppuYbI/AAAAAAAAKmk/cFGxBM9yeMsON8szEAiyRwlSkLrMbJJ2ACLcBGAs/s320/episide%2B6359%2Bfox%2Bpuppet2.JPG" width="320" height="214" data-original-width="734" data-original-height="490" /></a></div><br />
Offended by the offer, Jody tries to leave, and we discover the puppeteer is actually the loathsome Eliot Dorn, who proceeds to force himself on her.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-voPnX4FFrP0/Wno6cWbiKYI/AAAAAAAAKmo/clwnLNwlv6cc5-288CYX32kdKoevK_gpQCLcBGAs/s1600/episide%2B6359%2Bfox%2Bpuppet4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-voPnX4FFrP0/Wno6cWbiKYI/AAAAAAAAKmo/clwnLNwlv6cc5-288CYX32kdKoevK_gpQCLcBGAs/s320/episide%2B6359%2Bfox%2Bpuppet4.JPG" width="320" height="227" data-original-width="706" data-original-height="501" /></a></div><br />
Later that evening, Eliot is at the bar alone when a small clown doll quietly rises into the stage window, appearing to watch him. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ux7PD4kX1l4/Wno6o1UXCuI/AAAAAAAAKmw/ZltTS_aVRnclGjwIDAU10yTgRhEspMWWgCLcBGAs/s1600/Part%2BXII_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ux7PD4kX1l4/Wno6o1UXCuI/AAAAAAAAKmw/ZltTS_aVRnclGjwIDAU10yTgRhEspMWWgCLcBGAs/s320/Part%2BXII_01.JPG" width="320" height="222" data-original-width="710" data-original-height="493" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4tLEGm-cwo/Wno6slRm3EI/AAAAAAAAKm0/mOcQpZN221szPgioiSM2kQEoNtGM6WtgACLcBGAs/s1600/Part%2BXII_015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4tLEGm-cwo/Wno6slRm3EI/AAAAAAAAKm0/mOcQpZN221szPgioiSM2kQEoNtGM6WtgACLcBGAs/s320/Part%2BXII_015.JPG" width="320" height="226" data-original-width="718" data-original-height="506" /></a></div><br />
The clown then grasps a knife between its little puppet hands, brandishing it in the light while Eliot is completely oblivious.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YTx7BhEcuNk/Wno63VWMQcI/AAAAAAAAKm4/X_oB592w-3U2pIh2YBD_QhCGr2F1nkqlwCLcBGAs/s1600/Part%2BXII_02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YTx7BhEcuNk/Wno63VWMQcI/AAAAAAAAKm4/X_oB592w-3U2pIh2YBD_QhCGr2F1nkqlwCLcBGAs/s320/Part%2BXII_02.JPG" width="320" height="225" data-original-width="706" data-original-height="496" /></a></div><br />
A few skin-crawling moments later, Eliot falls to the ground, a knife protruding from his back.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HvExBBaTHmQ/Wno6-VEUuNI/AAAAAAAAKnA/eBTFYJW41hsQdvlaxaKf3OhJAuPoJNgmACLcBGAs/s1600/Part%2BXII_03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HvExBBaTHmQ/Wno6-VEUuNI/AAAAAAAAKnA/eBTFYJW41hsQdvlaxaKf3OhJAuPoJNgmACLcBGAs/s320/Part%2BXII_03.JPG" width="320" height="229" data-original-width="709" data-original-height="507" /></a></div><br />
Later we'll see the bloodied clown puppet being hidden in a drawer, placed there by unknown hands.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iRVhTRzlH8E/Wno7DSesA6I/AAAAAAAAKnE/F4q9StJYFCwgj0J8m-gpzXdv9gA9LCcawCLcBGAs/s1600/Part5_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iRVhTRzlH8E/Wno7DSesA6I/AAAAAAAAKnE/F4q9StJYFCwgj0J8m-gpzXdv9gA9LCcawCLcBGAs/s320/Part5_01.JPG" width="320" height="222" data-original-width="715" data-original-height="495" /></a></div><br />
To a kid home alone for the first time, this was terrifying stuff!<br />
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There was at least one other victim in the Clown Puppet Murders plot-line, which ran from <a href="http://edgehomepage.com/storylines-1980.html">roughly October 1980 to early January 1981</a>. Of course Kelly, the club puppeteer who hated Eliot, was the most obvious suspect (and equally obvious, he's being framed by the real killer, although I can't recall who this was eventually revealed to be.) <br />
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The puppets were operated by <a href="http://www.pokopuppets.com/Frameset_Biography.htm">Larry Engler</a>, a professional puppeteer who still performs as <b>Poko Puppets</b>, and authored the kids book <a href="http://awfullibrarybooks.net/making-puppets-come-alive/">Making Puppets Come Alive (1973)</a>, which earned mention on the <a href="http://awfullibrarybooks.net/">Awful Library Books site</a> (or should that be... Awfully <i>Cool</i> Library Books?)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T_cA9txymzg/WnpA3xeU-CI/AAAAAAAAKnc/xMvwUMs-NCkQTjJcxZsrdopWVjPayfAPACLcBGAs/s1600/makingpuppetscomealive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T_cA9txymzg/WnpA3xeU-CI/AAAAAAAAKnc/xMvwUMs-NCkQTjJcxZsrdopWVjPayfAPACLcBGAs/s320/makingpuppetscomealive.jpg" width="320" height="266" data-original-width="300" data-original-height="249" /></a></div><br />
Clips from some of the Clown Puppet episodes have found their way to YouTube, and I've queued up a few choice scenes at the links below:<br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/kvJ8oDzWj4g?t=1m0s">(The Piano Player Puppet)</a><br />
<a href="https://youtu.be/_OSfPb3Wr3g?t=4m15s">(The Fox Puppet)</a><br />
<a href="https://youtu.be/gjSZ7oIv-Vc?t=5m6s">(Clown Puppet Murder)</a><br />
Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-6718998641598306612017-10-29T10:31:00.001-07:002017-11-07T04:42:50.057-08:00"Lonely, Lonely" Spooky Stories (1978, Pickwick Records cereal box record)<b><span style="color: red;">UPDATED 11/6/2017: See bottom of post</span><br />
</b><br />
For a few days in the summer between 2nd and 3rd grade, I ran a detective agency with my friend who lived three houses down, Tiffany. We worked out of her backyard playhouse, and our biggest case (in fact, our only case) was <u>The Mystery of the Hidden Treasure at the Empty House That Was For Sale Two Blocks Over</u>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3fJsGa2MjQ/WfZNh9n4kNI/AAAAAAAAKl0/ZkHS2sjtqKogKUQIUjXuh2D7Wil9W9jAACLcBGAs/s1600/MysteryOftheTreasure%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3fJsGa2MjQ/WfZNh9n4kNI/AAAAAAAAKl0/ZkHS2sjtqKogKUQIUjXuh2D7Wil9W9jAACLcBGAs/s320/MysteryOftheTreasure%2Bcopy.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br />
The big twist in the "hidden treasure" case was that there was no treasure. More accurately, we left the case unsolved after a neighbor threatened to call the police if we kept letting ourselves into the backyard (a later attempt to return to the scene disguised as prospective buyers fooled no one.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_y0ZlSySQA1Q/RxLoBLrz_nI/AAAAAAAABzI/4rED7RvnY20/s400/spookyfaceso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_y0ZlSySQA1Q/RxLoBLrz_nI/AAAAAAAABzI/4rED7RvnY20/s320/spookyfaceso.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><a href="http://secretfunspot.blogspot.com/2007/10/dime-store-halloween-2.html">(image source)</a><br />
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So our little detective agency was forced to close its doors, ruining summer for about 5 minutes. <br />
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But Tiffany had more going for her than just a backyard playhouse... like an appreciation for <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search?q=ghost+story">ghost stories</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search?q=halloween+record">spooky Halloween records</a>. <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/02/sounds-to-make-you-shiver-1974-pickwick.html">Sounds to Make You Shiver</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/09/words-every-6-year-old-should-know.html">The Story and Song From The Haunted Mansion</a> were prized albums from my collection that were constantly playing in the background at my house. But one day Tiffany showed up with a record that I could never find a copy of myself, and so naturally coveted: <b>Spooky Stories</b> (1978, Pickwick Records), a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardboard_record">"cereal box" record</a>, meaning it was pressed to a very thin layer of plastic attached to a piece of cardboard (in this case, to the back of a box of Post <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/06/honeycomb-cereal-ghost-stories-record.html">Honeycomb</a> or Alpha-Bits cereal). <br />
<br />
As was the tradition with these types of records, there were multiple stories available, and it was luck of the draw which one you ended up with. Tiffany's copy contained a story I call "Lonely, Lonely" (I don't remember the actual title being credited anywhere on the record), a variation on the <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/01/dark-dark-dark-1973-scary-spooky.html">"Dark, Dark"</a> type spooky story where the listener is lulled into a comforting rhythm by slowly repeated phrases, only to be startled at the end by a suddenly loud climax. <br />
<br />
Transcript of the story below the video embed.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6NjEtGtMyd0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Lonely, Lonely</span></b><br />
Along this lonely, lonely road, <br />
Was this lonely, lonely hill.<br />
Along this lonely, lonely hill<br />
Stood this lonely, lonely house.<br />
And inside that lonely, lonely house,<br />
Was this creaking, squeaking stair.<br />
At the top of the creaking, squeaking stair,<br />
Was this long, long hallway.<br />
And down that long, long hallway,<br />
Was this flapping, clapping trapdoor.<br />
And above that flapping, clapping trapdoor<br />
Was this crying, sighing attic.<br />
And in that crying, sighing attic<br />
Was this shadowy, shadowy corner.<br />
And in that shadowy, shadow corner<br />
Was this big, old chest.<br />
And inside that big, old chest...<br />
<b><i>...WAS A THING!!!</i></b><br />
<br />
UPDATE: The background music used here appears to be "borrowed" from Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" (queued to around the 15:50 mark in the embedded video below). It also sounds awfully similar to the 1977 Star Wars soundtrack by John Williams, cut no. 4, "The Desert and Robot Auction" (retitled "The Dune Sea of Tatooine/Jawa Sandcrawler" on later editions of the soundtrack). Take a listen--what do you think? Credit to reader TheLibrarySound for recognizing the Star Wars track similarity! <br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FFPjFjUonX8?start=956" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/liVSa76Scck" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <br />
Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-68242154665335157542017-09-25T19:59:00.002-07:002017-09-25T20:07:31.673-07:00Introducing the SKULLastic Book Club<b>The Haunted Closet</b> blog started with <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2016/02/for-sale-piece-of-lisabugs-soul.html">a book</a>... <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/06/baleful-beasts-and-eerie-creatures.html">Baleful Beasts and Eerie Creatures</a>, and over the years several of my <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/10/monster-tales-vampires-werewolves.html">favorite</a> <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/11/tales-of-terror-1975-ida-chittum.html">out-of-print</a>-<a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/05/grandpas-ghost-stories-james-flora-1978.html">good-luck-finding</a>-<a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/12/all-about-monsters-miller-1977.html">a-copy-on-Ebay</a> selections have since followed. <br />
<br />
But for some time I've been meaning to do a post on newly published books that have found their way into my library. In fact, I've been "meaning to" for so long, some of these "new" books are several years old already (sad foghorn). But that's only a few minutes in Haunted Closet years. The important thing is these titles are relatively new releases that are still in print, so should be readily available to order.<br />
<br />
And since I can't seem to mention ordering books without flashing back to my elementary school <b>Scholastic Book Club</b>, I'm presenting this month's selections as they might appear in a children's book club catalog.<br />
<br />
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the first installment of... the <b><i>SKULL</i>astic Book Club</b> (ooh boy, am I good or what?) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wa6Fi5mO-JU/WcmzR8-lYCI/AAAAAAAAKjA/7B1xq1-kU3ElaYy5CLBFgVfnx28yxh5bwCLcBGAs/s1600/SkulltasticBookClub%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wa6Fi5mO-JU/WcmzR8-lYCI/AAAAAAAAKjA/7B1xq1-kU3ElaYy5CLBFgVfnx28yxh5bwCLcBGAs/s400/SkulltasticBookClub%2Bcopy.jpg" width="297" height="400" data-original-width="1187" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7-6W0AkJI0s/WcmzkI4JTiI/AAAAAAAAKjI/GABmRU1gJkMA7KmFnvPw-dEYqqYsBvhVgCLcBGAs/s1600/PaperbacksFromHell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7-6W0AkJI0s/WcmzkI4JTiI/AAAAAAAAKjI/GABmRU1gJkMA7KmFnvPw-dEYqqYsBvhVgCLcBGAs/s200/PaperbacksFromHell.JPG" width="200" height="164" data-original-width="240" data-original-height="197" /></a></div><p style="font-size:15px"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paperbacks-Hell-Twisted-History-Fiction/dp/1594749817/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506394140&sr=1-1&keywords=paperbacks+from+hell">Paperbacks from Hell (Grady Hendrix with Will Errickson, 2017)</a></b></p>One category of horror media on which I'm embarrassingly unversed is the "drugstore paperback", those provocatively-titled tomes whose covers used to proposition me, in all their full-color embossed glory, from across the 10-items-or-less checkout line. In fact, outside a few <b>Stephen King</b> titles, only one book of this pedigree every successfully completed the passage from carousel rack to shopping cart: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/NIGHT-STONE-Rick-Hautala/dp/0821718436">Rick Hautala's Night Stone (1986)</a>-- and that was only because the nifty <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/3-D">3-D</a> skull hologram on the cover commanded me to buy it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BfP9UB1C-mM/Wcmz5sDQQ6I/AAAAAAAAKjM/Y6ENuYAMHUYSxdQDWQcV2vOtKL1rh6vtwCLcBGAs/s1600/NightStone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BfP9UB1C-mM/Wcmz5sDQQ6I/AAAAAAAAKjM/Y6ENuYAMHUYSxdQDWQcV2vOtKL1rh6vtwCLcBGAs/s200/NightStone.JPG" width="128" height="200" data-original-width="205" data-original-height="321" /></a></div><br />
That hologram cover gimmick was, it turns out, an industry-first, according to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paperbacks-Hell-Twisted-History-Fiction/dp/1594749817/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391080&sr=1-1&keywords=paperbacks+from+hell">Paperbacks From Hell (Grady Hendrix, 2017)</a>. In fact, there are so many nuggets of information about <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/70s">70s</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/80s">80s</a> horror fiction crammed between its pages that I can confidently fake some level of expertise on the topic the next time it comes up at the office happy hour that I never go to.<br />
<br />
<b>Paperbacks...</b> kicks off with an origin story of the horror fiction phenomenon's humble beginnings as an attempt to capitalize on the lingering popularity of older gothic romance novels, before launching into plot summaries, author and artist profiles, and musings on how political and cultural shifts of the day were reflected in their lurid pages (from haunted-house-as-housing-crisis-metaphor to pagan-cult-as-urban-decay-anxiety). The chapters are divided by plot device, with Satan worship, murderous children, mutant animals and more getting their turn in the spotlight.<br />
<br />
But <b>Paperbacks...</b> also functions as an art book, with full-color illustrated covers reproduced on every page. Will Errickson of <a href="http://toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot.com/">Too Much Horror Fiction</a> provides a recommended reading strategy in the afterword.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qt_Z1UsZky0/Wcm04xt_rpI/AAAAAAAAKjU/ThaoTyaIdfYM2RVo5bwMKC-Xz23xRW6_gCLcBGAs/s1600/AreYouInTheHouseAlone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qt_Z1UsZky0/Wcm04xt_rpI/AAAAAAAAKjU/ThaoTyaIdfYM2RVo5bwMKC-Xz23xRW6_gCLcBGAs/s200/AreYouInTheHouseAlone.JPG" width="200" height="190" data-original-width="215" data-original-height="204" /></a></div><p style="font-size:15px"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Are-You-House-Alone-Compendium/dp/1909394440/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506394177&sr=1-1&keywords=are+you+in+the+house+alone">Are You in the House Alone? (Amanda Reyes, 2017)</a></b></p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Are-You-House-Alone-Compendium/dp/1909394440/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391320&sr=1-1&keywords=are+you+in+the+house+alone">Are You In The House Alone</a> is a love letter to that most unusual hybrid, the television movie. You'll find here essays on the medium from various contributors (editor is Amanda Reyes, of <a href="http://madefortvmayhem.blogspot.com/">Made For TV Mayhem</a>) but the meat of this book is the over 200 pages of micro-reviews, organized by era (the years 1964-1999 are covered), with a separate section reserved for <b>Stephen King</b> adaptations.<br />
<br />
Being a killjoy, I naturally skipped right to the index first to see if they remembered to include my pet obscure TV movie, 1985's <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/08/final-jeopardy-1985.html">Final Jeopardy</a>. They didn't. But I'm not going to complain about getting <i>only one</i> puppy for <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search?q=christmas">Christmas</a>, because literally all my other favorite TV films get coverage here, including King adaptations <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Salems-Lot-Blu-ray-David-Soul/dp/B01L3TCBLW/ref=sr_1_2_twi_blu_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391495&sr=1-2&keywords=salem%27s+lot">Salem's Lot</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Kings-Blu-ray-Tommy-Wallace/dp/B01L3TCBMQ/ref=sr_1_3_twi_blu_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391511&sr=1-3&keywords=it">It</a>, true crime dramatizations <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Helter-Skelter-George-DiCenzo/dp/B0001AVZM6/ref=ice_ac_b_dpb_twi_dvd_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391530&sr=1-3&keywords=helter+skelter">Helter Skelter</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Lizzie-Borden-Elizabeth-Montgomery/dp/B00HZVX14O/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391548&sr=1-1&keywords=legend+of+lizzie+borden+dvd">The Legend of Lizzie Bordon</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Jim-Jones-Guyana-Tragedy/dp/B0013XZ71K/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391563&sr=1-1&keywords=guyana+tragedy+the+story+of+jim+jones">Guyana Tragedy: The Jim Jones Story</a>, disturbing creepers <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/09/dont-be-afraid-of-dark-bad-ronald-and.html">Bad Ronald</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Born-Innocent-Blair/dp/B004YZ3LNU/ref=sr_1_1_twi_dvd_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391604&sr=1-1&keywords=born+innocent">Born Innocent</a>, supernatural thrillers <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baffled-1973-U-S-Version-UK/dp/B00GOYC3P6/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391637&sr=1-1&keywords=baffled">Baffled!</a>, <a href="http://madefortvmayhem.blogspot.com/2009/08/dont-go-to-sleep-1982.html">Don't Go To Sleep</a>, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/09/dark-night-of-scarecrow-1981.html">Dark Night of the Scarecrow</a> and <a href="http://madefortvmayhem.blogspot.com/search?q=this+house+possessed">This House Possessed</a>, monster movies <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bermuda-Depths-Leigh-McCloskey/dp/B002LV1C0S/ref=ice_ac_b_dpb_twi_dvd_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391752&sr=1-1&keywords=the+bermuda+depths">The Bermuda Depths</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gargoyles-Cornel-Wilde/dp/B004S8UTII/ref=sr_1_6?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391777&sr=1-6&keywords=gargoyles">Gargoyles</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Killdozer-Clint-Walker/dp/B008A1TUW0/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391829&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=killdozedr">Killdozer</a>, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/09/dont-be-afraid-of-dark-bad-ronald-and.html">Don't Be Afraid of the Dark</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Dinosaur-Richard-Boone/dp/B004TPJNAA/ref=ice_ac_b_dpb_twi_dvd_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391850&sr=1-1&keywords=the+last+dinosaur">The Last Dinosaur</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/05/snowbeast-1977.html">Snowbeast</a>, Satanic scare films <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Dog-Hound-Kim-Richards/dp/B000A2XA78/ref=sr_1_3?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391888&sr=1-3&keywords=devil+dog+hound+of+hell">Devil Dog: Hound of Hell</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Scream-Factory-Terrors-Initiation-Sarah/dp/B00ESZZOOK/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391911&sr=1-1&keywords=the+initiation+of+sarah">The Initiation of Sarah</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Horror-At-37-000-Feet/dp/B00H7BJ0C4/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391927&sr=1-1&keywords=horror+at+37000+feet">Horror at 37,000 Feet</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Satans-School-Girls-Lloyd-Bochner/dp/B002I41KSM/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506391947&sr=1-2&keywords=satan%27s+school+for+girls">Satan's School For Girls</a>, early Spielberg works <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069298/">Something Evil</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2015/03/spielbergs-duel-1971-and-incredible.html">Duel</a>, slasheresques <a href="https://www.kindertrauma.com/psa-home-for-the-holidays-1972-on-dvd/">Home For The Holidays</a> and John Carpenter's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Someones-Watching-Me-Lauren-Hutton/dp/B000TUDBFC/ref=sr_1_1_twi_dvd_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506392209&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=someone%27s+watching+me&psc=1&smid=AIRZ6WQ6RO4BW">Someone's Watching Me</a>, the<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kolchak-Night-Stalker-Darren-McGavin/dp/B01IP2X718/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506392249&sr=1-1&keywords=kolchak"> Kolchak series</a> predecessors <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Night-Stalker-Strangler-Double-Feature/dp/B00026L7OU/ref=sr_1_5?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506392261&sr=1-5&keywords=night+stalker">The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler</a>, and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search?q=dan+curtis">Dan Curtis</a> anthologies <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Trilogy-Terror-Special-Karen-Black/dp/B000FFJZO2/ref=sr_1_2_twi_dvd_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506392302&sr=1-2&keywords=trilogy+of+terror">Trilogy of Terror</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Night-Jr-Ed-Begley/dp/B001HPOJ68/ref=sr_1_4?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1506392317&sr=1-4&keywords=dead+of+night">Dead of Night</a>.<br />
<br />
And for every one of those, there are a dozen entries for films that were completely unknown to me and have now been added to my ridiculously ambitious "watch list". This is a book you'll read at least once for pleasure, and then want to keep at hand for reference.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPhT2BwuQbg/Wcm5NfVuIdI/AAAAAAAAKjc/iELHiDT976MzVPyC7Z7mPQW-GWIYcN9WwCLcBGAs/s1600/ArtOfAtari.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPhT2BwuQbg/Wcm5NfVuIdI/AAAAAAAAKjc/iELHiDT976MzVPyC7Z7mPQW-GWIYcN9WwCLcBGAs/s200/ArtOfAtari.JPG" width="200" height="168" data-original-width="241" data-original-height="202" /></a></div><p style="font-size:15px"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Art-Atari-Tim-Lapetino/dp/1524101036/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506392533&sr=1-1&keywords=art+of+atari">Art of Atari (Tim Lapetino, 2016)</a></b></p>This is how art books should be done. A heavy hardback with beautiful full color layouts on every thick glossy page, this magnificent brick of a book showcases the promotional and package art that launched a thousand ROM cartridges in the <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/70s">1970s</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/80s">80s</a>. <br />
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Early home <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/videogames">video game</a> graphics were often simplistic and crude thanks to the hardware limitations of the era, so the packaging art was not merely a marketing tool, but served as an extension of the game playing experience itself, priming the players' imagination with rich renderings of the characters and environments they would encounter as a mere grid of cubes on their TV screens.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HNKZKVioTtY/Wcm5o0sdCBI/AAAAAAAAKjg/R-r_1o7RgKcUeZp25BZL-DrmJfpVn1zuwCLcBGAs/s1600/ArtOfataripage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HNKZKVioTtY/Wcm5o0sdCBI/AAAAAAAAKjg/R-r_1o7RgKcUeZp25BZL-DrmJfpVn1zuwCLcBGAs/s200/ArtOfataripage.JPG" width="160" height="200" data-original-width="385" data-original-height="480" /></a></div>Consoles, peripherals, and unreleased hardware prototypes are also presented here for your aesthetic consideration. But <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Art-Atari-Tim-Lapetino/dp/1524101036/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506392533&sr=1-1&keywords=art+of+atari">Art of Atari</a> is not a mere picture book. The history of the Atari company is told here, one cartridge box at a time, along with artist bios, and peppered throughout with interesting bits of trivia (like the fact that the only reason a chess game was released for the Atari 2600, a system woefully inadequate for such a demanding piece of programming, was due to a threatened lawsuit prompted by the appearance of a chess piece graphic on the original system box art.) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ug9upd066M/Wcm6Ix_hspI/AAAAAAAAKjk/LMMbnTLVuPE8thW2ydxlZFL8ZvVEp-g1gCLcBGAs/s1600/deepDarkFears.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ug9upd066M/Wcm6Ix_hspI/AAAAAAAAKjk/LMMbnTLVuPE8thW2ydxlZFL8ZvVEp-g1gCLcBGAs/s200/deepDarkFears.JPG" width="200" height="193" data-original-width="208" data-original-height="201" /></a></div><p style="font-size:15px"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Dark-Fears-Fran-Krause/dp/1607748150/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506394202&sr=1-3&keywords=deep+dark+fears">Deep Dark Fears (Fran Krause, 2015)</a></b></p>I had not heard of <a href="http://frankrause.tumblr.com/">Fran Krause</a> or the <a href="http://deep-dark-fears.tumblr.com/">website</a> that inspired this kinda cute, kinda creepy book of comic strips depicting various phobias, anxieties and nightmares collected from his readers, but after reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Dark-Fears-Fran-Krause/dp/1607748150/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=914T5MTQD4HFAHZA00WF">Deep Dark Fears</a>, I'm looking forward to the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Creeps-Deep-Dark-Fears-Collection/dp/0399579141/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506392694&sr=1-1&keywords=deep+dark+fears">follow up volume</a>. Some are funny, others resemble ghost stories or urban legends, and many tap into that collective Jungian swamp of shared nightmare tropes that have haunted us all at one time or another (teeth falling out, sudden nudity in public, etc.) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYqfwzwxL-E/Wcm6oN5vjhI/AAAAAAAAKjs/sdkR0wFyfJYMjzI_y7cPwj8JvuW6-Ob6gCLcBGAs/s1600/DeepDarkFearPage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYqfwzwxL-E/Wcm6oN5vjhI/AAAAAAAAKjs/sdkR0wFyfJYMjzI_y7cPwj8JvuW6-Ob6gCLcBGAs/s320/DeepDarkFearPage.jpg" width="224" height="320" data-original-width="944" data-original-height="1346" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCAU88A_a7Y/Wcm60hhPBPI/AAAAAAAAKjw/FPHjKHEWSkQ7OByjBAamyH0Kudqdez3JwCLcBGAs/s1600/MonsterMash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCAU88A_a7Y/Wcm60hhPBPI/AAAAAAAAKjw/FPHjKHEWSkQ7OByjBAamyH0Kudqdez3JwCLcBGAs/s200/MonsterMash.JPG" width="200" height="197" data-original-width="218" data-original-height="215" /></a></div><p style="font-size:15px"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Mash-Creepy-America-1957-1972/dp/1605490644/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506394229&sr=1-2&keywords=monster+mash">Monster Mash (Mark Voger, 2015)</a></b></p>Subtitled "The creepy kooky Monster Craze in America 1957-1972", <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Mash-Creepy-America-1957-1972/dp/1605490644/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506392810&sr=1-2&keywords=monster+mash">Monster Mash</a> opens with a forward by legendary horror host <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Zacherle">Zacherle</a>, before diving head first into all aspects of the monster-kid phenomenon, with page after page of attractive, full-color magazine-style layouts. Topics range from the <b>Universal</b> monster dream team of Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolf-Man, The Mummy, and The Invisible Man, whose package film reissues in the 1950s captivated a new generation of young fans, to horror magazines <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_Monsters_of_Filmland">Famous Monsters of Filmland</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Creepy-Archives-1-Various/dp/1593079737">Creepy</a>, novelty music (the Del-Aires appearance in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKo6jV7kNNk">"Horror at Party Beach"</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Pickett">Bobby "Boris" Pickett's</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNuVifA7DSU">eponymous hit</a>), television shows (The Addams Family, The Munsters, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/04/forms-of-things-unknown-1964-outer.html">The Outer Limits</a>, Dark Shadows), <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/09/moebius-monster-scenes.html">Aurora plastic model kits</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mars-Attacks-Topps-Company/dp/1419704095/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506393063&sr=1-1&keywords=mars+attacks+topps">Mars Attacks</a> trading cards, Ben Cooper Halloween masks, spooky Saturday morning cartoons (Scooby Doo, Milton the Monster, and The Flintstone's new neighbors The Gruesomes), hot-rod culture (Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's Weird-Oh and Rat Fink characters), and more, more, MORE!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34huQpIs1NU/Wcm8L3MWEsI/AAAAAAAAKkA/xSLpGuaW0nU_qHV0vFrG9BxphSKGdRskgCLcBGAs/s1600/MonstrMash%2Bauthor%2Bphoto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34huQpIs1NU/Wcm8L3MWEsI/AAAAAAAAKkA/xSLpGuaW0nU_qHV0vFrG9BxphSKGdRskgCLcBGAs/s200/MonstrMash%2Bauthor%2Bphoto.JPG" width="200" height="146" data-original-width="403" data-original-height="295" /></a></div>I should add that the photo of the author as a child dressed as <b>Dark Shadows</b> vampire <b>Barnabas Collins</b> is adorable.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yqlgTTzjaJs/Wcm8b_y2_rI/AAAAAAAAKkE/5YOcPToAUUYGzFpypcsrQPjICscX31_igCLcBGAs/s1600/DragonsLair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yqlgTTzjaJs/Wcm8b_y2_rI/AAAAAAAAKkE/5YOcPToAUUYGzFpypcsrQPjICscX31_igCLcBGAs/s200/DragonsLair.JPG" width="200" height="184" data-original-width="209" data-original-height="192" /></a></div><p style="font-size:15px"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collecting-Dragons-Lair-Space-Ace/dp/1490383581/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506393340&sr=1-1&keywords=collecting+dragon%27s+lair">Collecting for Dragon's Lair & Space Ace (Syd Bolton, 2013)</a></b></p>I've previously expressed my love for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Bluth">Don Bluth</a> animated laserdisc games <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/04/dragons-lair-1983.html">Dragon's Lair</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/07/space-ace-1984.html">Space Ace</a> (you can add <b>Dragon's Lair 2: Time Warp</b> to that list as well, although having been released years later when video arcades were on the decline, it's the machine I've spent the least amount of time on). <br />
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To me, these games represented a cosmic merging of two great loves, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/videogames">video games</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/disney">Disney</a> animation (Bluth was a former Disney animator who left to form his own studio in the early 80s due to concerns about quality standards at the house of mouse). <br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collecting-Dragons-Lair-Space-Ace/dp/1490383581/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506393340&sr=1-1&keywords=collecting+dragon%27s+lair">Collecting Dragon's Lair & Space Ace</a> catalogs every arcade cabinet variation, home system adaptation, promotional item, magazine cover and toy relating to Dragon's Lair and Space Ace. Save a few very rare items, everything is pictured in full color photographs. Most fascinating to me are the early computer adaptations that employed considerable artistic license in interpreting the unique motion-picture style game play on puny 8-bit and 16-bit systems that still relied on magnetic media (it wasn't until the early 90s, when CD-ROM technology started to become commonplace, that the home versions actually began to resemble their arcade inspiration.)<br />
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There are also sections briefly covering Don Bluth's feature animation work, references to the laserdisc games in pop-culture, and unofficial emulations and fan-made homage.<br />
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This book runs a little pricey but is a must have for any Don Bluth fan. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yF70S2tPw8A/Wcm9Pe5y1iI/AAAAAAAAKkM/OcXBre1WwQUr7qwlfhpNdqEBD4GeS0KOgCLcBGAs/s1600/RackToys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yF70S2tPw8A/Wcm9Pe5y1iI/AAAAAAAAKkM/OcXBre1WwQUr7qwlfhpNdqEBD4GeS0KOgCLcBGAs/s200/RackToys.JPG" width="194" height="200" data-original-width="214" data-original-height="221" /></a></div><p style="font-size:15px"><b><a href="http://www.plaidstallions.com/store/USstore.html">Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings (Brian Heller, 2012)</a></b></p>There are plenty of books out there for toy collectors, but this is the only one focusing on those inexpensive, poorly-made pieces of junk that were found exclusively in what passed for the toy department at your neighborhood grocery store, pharmacy or gas station. <br />
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<a href="http://www.plaidstallions.com/store/USstore.html">Rack Toys</a> (by Brian Heller, of <a href="http://plaidstallions.blogspot.com/">Plaid Stallions</a>) is a celebration of those wonderful blister-packed bits of molded rubber and plastic from the <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/70s">1970s</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/80s">80s</a> that never seemed to turn down a branding opportunity, no matter how outlandish. It's almost as if the head of marketing picked a random licensed property from one hat and a toy from the other and demanded his staff to "make it work."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-proJQcE_aEY/Wcm-WuA1icI/AAAAAAAAKkY/LXvAKuo2_AYKhwlaKQtfB-_Zq7J-8jDFwCLcBGAs/s1600/RackToysSpread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-proJQcE_aEY/Wcm-WuA1icI/AAAAAAAAKkY/LXvAKuo2_AYKhwlaKQtfB-_Zq7J-8jDFwCLcBGAs/s320/RackToysSpread.jpg" width="320" height="210" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="328" /></a></div><br />
But you'll be too charmed by the full color photographs of these toys and their packaging to question the logic of a Popeye grooming kit, Rocky Balboa bubble-blowing set, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/10/bringers-of-wonder-space-1999.html">Space 1999</a> water gun, Star Trek silly putty, Planet of the Apes stunt motorcycle, Spider Man bowling game, or parachuting Incredible Hulk doll. <br />
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There's even a chapter reserved for "knock off" toys that couldn't quite land the licensing agreement so just cranked out generic imitations (e.g. "Astro Ape", a doll clearly modeled after Planet of the Apes, and a "Star Fleet" space communicator that boldly goes where no officially licensed product has gone before.)<br />
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While still in print, I've found this book is sometimes unavailable at Amazon, so you might want to just go straight to the <a href="http://www.plaidstallions.com/store/USstore.html">Plaid Stallions store</a> instead.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bdNsgeolv-Y/Wcm-odjMGGI/AAAAAAAAKkc/2HKGdYCpLnYR0nAs_AccF2uIzupHYLgzwCLcBGAs/s1600/MailOrderMysteries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bdNsgeolv-Y/Wcm-odjMGGI/AAAAAAAAKkc/2HKGdYCpLnYR0nAs_AccF2uIzupHYLgzwCLcBGAs/s200/MailOrderMysteries.JPG" width="182" height="200" data-original-width="198" data-original-height="217" /></a></div><p style="font-size:15px"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/MAIL-ORDER-MYSTERIES-KIRK-DEMARAIS/dp/160887026X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506393773&sr=1-1&keywords=mail+order+mysteries">Mail-Order Mysteries (Kirk Demarais, 2011)</a></b><br />
</p>In third grade, some friends and I conspired to order a set of pellet guns we saw advertised in the pages of a comic book. Really fires! 50 pellets included! Realistic gun action and sound! Convinced our parents wouldn't approve of us receiving dangerous firearms in the mail, we swore an oath of secrecy as we made an on-foot pilgrimage to the corner 7-11 to buy a money order (even at that young age we knew not to send cash in the mail!) and arranged to have the weapons delivered to a drop-house (i.e. a friend whose parents weren't as attentive as ours and less likely to intercept the package.) <br />
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Six to eight weeks later we took delivery of three plastic "old West" looking six-shooters and 150 white pellets that resembled Tic-Tacs. These were not the deadly pump-powered air guns we were hoping for. They were, in fact, rubber-band "powered", and if you took careful aim and held the gun level, the plastic Tic-Tac would skim out the end of the barrel with all the force of a finger flick.<br />
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It wasn't quite <b>Stand By Me</b>, but a little innocence was lost in that amusing episode from childhood, and it taught me to be skeptical of any deal that seemed too good to true.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/MAIL-ORDER-MYSTERIES-KIRK-DEMARAIS/dp/160887026X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506393773&sr=1-1&keywords=mail+order+mysteries">Mail-Order Mysteries</a> (by Kirk Demarais of <a href="http://secretfunspot.blogspot.com/">Secret Fun Spot</a>) compiles all those sensational over-promise, under-deliver <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/07/monster-s-i-z-e-monsters.html">comic book ads</a> I remember from my youth, which walked that razor-thin line between hyperbole and straight-up mail fraud. They are all here: X-Ray specs, hypno-coins, 100 Toy Soldiers footlockers, "Monster-Sized" monsters and remote control ghosts, dollar-bill printers, secret agent spy scopes and Sea Monkeys. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ioqmXj9XCus/Wcm_Z1xzWeI/AAAAAAAAKko/eNyCgOLO0hUPduSWQN-zJZw47UQ_yEiegCLcBGAs/s1600/MailOrderHypnoCoin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ioqmXj9XCus/Wcm_Z1xzWeI/AAAAAAAAKko/eNyCgOLO0hUPduSWQN-zJZw47UQ_yEiegCLcBGAs/s320/MailOrderHypnoCoin.JPG" width="320" height="281" data-original-width="553" data-original-height="486" /></a></div><br />
If that was all there was, the book would warrant purchase. But <a href="https://www.amazon.com/MAIL-ORDER-MYSTERIES-KIRK-DEMARAIS/dp/160887026X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506393773&sr=1-1&keywords=mail+order+mysteries">Mail-Order Mysteries</a> ups its game considerably by also presenting the actual items themselves alongside their respective ads, accompanied by the author's humorous color commentary (on the plastic soldier 'flat' figurines, Demarais observes they "lacked one of the three dimensions we typically look for in a toy.") <br />
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If you've ever wondered what exactly those "X-ray specs" were all about, or how they could possibly ship to your home a working <a href="http://secretfunspot.blogspot.com/2012/07/custom-built-polaris-nuclear-sub.html">nuclear submarine</a> "big enough for two kids" for $6.98, this is a peek behind that curtain. <br />
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<p style="font-size:20px">Special Offer! Order any 3 books and receive <a href="http://brandedinthe80s.com/6392/school-book-club-flyers-from-the-past-part-2-weekly-reader">a free poster</a>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gq5myDEdOXc/Wcm_v7WYsGI/AAAAAAAAKks/aJrXB0FiFPYOR7NAH4vuN662JuvExO3sgCLcBGAs/s1600/puppy%2Bposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gq5myDEdOXc/Wcm_v7WYsGI/AAAAAAAAKks/aJrXB0FiFPYOR7NAH4vuN662JuvExO3sgCLcBGAs/s320/puppy%2Bposter.jpg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="768" data-original-height="1024" /></a></div><br />
(book club order form graphics and poster were found at <a href="http://brandedinthe80s.com/">Branded In the 80s</a>. Set aside a few days and take a look.)Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-34862622210037594452017-07-20T18:16:00.000-07:002017-07-23T08:12:54.240-07:00Waiting for Star Tours (Time Voyager, 1986)1985 was a long, long time ago...<br />
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It was a dark time for Star Wars fandom. The original trilogy had completed two years earlier, with no realistic prospect of new films on the twin-starred horizon. Fans desperate for new Star Wars content had to settle for made-for-TV kiddie fare like the Ewok movies (1984's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087225/">The Ewok Adventure</a>, and its next-year follow up, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089110/">Ewoks: The Battle for Endor</a>), and cutesy Saturday morning cartoon <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ewoks_and_Droids_Adventure_Hour">The Ewoks and Droids Adventure Hour</a>. Print media spin-off material like the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Classic-Newspaper-Comics/dp/1631408720">daily newspaper comic strip</a> had ceased publication in March '84, although the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_comics#Marvel_.281977.E2.80.931987.29">Marvel comic book series</a> trudged along for another year before finally wrapping it up in May 1986 after a 107-issue run. <br />
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There hadn't been a new Star Wars novel since 1983's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Lando_Calrissian">Lando Calrissian adventures</a>, and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TimothyZahn/">Timothy Zahn</a> books that would kick-start a new wave of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrawn_trilogy">Skywalker fiction</a> wouldn't launch until the 1990's. Immersive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_video_games">Star Wars videogames</a> <a href="https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/battlefront/battlefront-2">as we know them today</a> were not yet a thing, and the first <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/06/mazes-and-monsters-1982.html">role-playing game</a> to tap the Star Wars universe was still two years away (<a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/1987-roleplaying-game-brought-star-wars-back-from-the-dead-w457311">West End Games' Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game book</a>, published in Oct. 87.) <br />
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Star Wars, it seemed, was winding down.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A_puzsjHCeA/WXFFr8jBBGI/AAAAAAAAKhc/w4ycrJJ7jHkqIDKvd_5ZNRGK3fkSpSZTACLcBGAs/s1600/starmeh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A_puzsjHCeA/WXFFr8jBBGI/AAAAAAAAKhc/w4ycrJJ7jHkqIDKvd_5ZNRGK3fkSpSZTACLcBGAs/s400/starmeh.jpg" width="400" height="327" data-original-width="1209" data-original-height="987" /></a></div><br />
Geeks had to work a little harder in those dark times before The Internet to stay in the loop with their favorite fantasy franchises. That sometimes meant ponying up real money for dues membership to fan organizations like <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_y0ZlSySQA1Q/SQaYgB7_w0I/AAAAAAAAEpA/fFfLMqxiSdg/s400/optistar+wars+fan.jpg">The Official Star Wars Fan Club</a>, which remained active through the 1980s. The club's printed newsletter, <a href="http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/specialreports/banthatracks/">Bantha Tracks</a>, was still published quarterly, although the focus had turned to other Lucas-related ventures like the Indiana Jones series, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091369/">Labyrinth</a>, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091225/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Howard the Duck</a>, while Star Wars-related content was relegated to the occasional backwards-looking retrospective piece (the club would eventually transform into the more appropriately named <a href="http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?600853">Lucasfilm Fan Club</a> in 1987.)<br />
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So the good news couldn't have come sooner when it was announced in the Winter 1985 issue (<a href="http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/specialreports/banthatracks/archives/banthatracks27.pdf">Bantha Tracks No. 27</a>) that Lucasfilm would be collaborating with Disney Imagineers to develop a Star Wars theme park attraction!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BcbHmDFDIak/WXFGRR9ZimI/AAAAAAAAKhg/8-5-uYlmWSQWMJdO52h-e4u2Wu2D65YfQCLcBGAs/s1600/banthaNo27Winter85.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BcbHmDFDIak/WXFGRR9ZimI/AAAAAAAAKhg/8-5-uYlmWSQWMJdO52h-e4u2Wu2D65YfQCLcBGAs/s320/banthaNo27Winter85.JPG" width="242" height="320" data-original-width="492" data-original-height="650" /></a></div><br />
Turns out Star Wars was alive, and in perfect hibernation!<br />
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The prospect of my two favorite childhood things--<a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-lousy-day-at-disneyland.html">Disneyland</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/02/raising-alien-bar-star-wars-cantina.html">Star Wars</a>--finally coming together, was too good to be true. My imagination was ignited with fantastic visions of Disneyland someday devoting <a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/07/star-wars-galaxys-edge-announced-as-name-for-star-wars-lands-at-disney-parks/">an entire land</a> to Star Wars, or maybe even <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/10/30/disney-star-wars-lucasfilm/1669739/">partnering with Lucasfilm</a> to release a slate of new Star Wars films. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JwDeIvLmvKQ/WXFGbHYrtvI/AAAAAAAAKhk/QD94Pn5yMVUIyBcT4Y9htJcY45fOMcJ0gCLcBGAs/s1600/banthaWinterDetail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JwDeIvLmvKQ/WXFGbHYrtvI/AAAAAAAAKhk/QD94Pn5yMVUIyBcT4Y9htJcY45fOMcJ0gCLcBGAs/s320/banthaWinterDetail.JPG" width="313" height="320" data-original-width="403" data-original-height="412" /></a></div><br />
But those were just pipedreams.<br />
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Naturally, I devoured whatever information I could find about this mysterious new Star Wars ride while it was in development. It was to be called <b>Star Tours</b>, and would use cutting edge flight simulator technology, in which a tilting theater and other interactive elements moved in synchronization with newly photographed special effects footage created by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Light_%26_Magic">ILM</a>, to send riders on a trip around the post-Return of the Jedi galaxy, made safe for tourism thanks to the defeat of the Empire.<br />
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The Bantha Tracks blurb teased a June 1986 opening date, which was later moved to January 1987. This seemed like a huge span of time to wait (much longer than the mere 6-8 weeks it took to receive my considerably less anticipated <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/03/hey-kool-aid.html">mail-in Kool-Aid Man videogame</a> ...and in order to cope with that excruciating wait, I had thrown myself into a strange "Kool-Aid Man phase".)<br />
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How was I expected to bide my time until Star Tours opened?<br />
<br />
Enter Time Voyager. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D_hatRZxKxQ/WXFGwh4hM8I/AAAAAAAAKho/IClxDE7GgGYaMGy3V5ezq4E5h5Z-tQVUQCLcBGAs/s1600/TimeVoyageBrochureCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D_hatRZxKxQ/WXFGwh4hM8I/AAAAAAAAKho/IClxDE7GgGYaMGy3V5ezq4E5h5Z-tQVUQCLcBGAs/s320/TimeVoyageBrochureCover.jpg" width="147" height="320" data-original-width="734" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
Opening Memorial Day, 1986, six months before Star Tours, Time Voyager was an "experience of astonishment and wonder" that took passengers on an "intergalactic time travel experience" that blended "special effects, advanced computer technology, three-dimensional imagery, and Dolby sound and motion in an interactive global theatre setting".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-MXwgjFRWk/WXFG3fCud_I/AAAAAAAAKhs/KRGz4ZzibuQnUgl-s_n2S-IfJWdyLra7QCLcBGAs/s1600/TimeVoyageBrochureSpread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-MXwgjFRWk/WXFG3fCud_I/AAAAAAAAKhs/KRGz4ZzibuQnUgl-s_n2S-IfJWdyLra7QCLcBGAs/s320/TimeVoyageBrochureSpread.jpg" width="289" height="320" data-original-width="1445" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><br />
Time Voyager was commissioned by <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1985-07-14/news/hl-6678_1_queen-mary-and-spruce-goose">Wrather Port Properties, Ltd.</a> as part of a campaign to reinvigorate the <a href="http://www.queenmary.com/">Queen Mary</a> and <a href="http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/the-spruce-goose">Spruce Goose</a> exhibits they managed in Long Beach, California. The attraction itself was designed by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0214039/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm">John F. Decuir, Jr.</a>, a special effects designer for film who had worked on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087332/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2">Ghostbusters</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089175/?ref_=nv_sr_2">Fright Night</a> (his father, <a href="http://www.cinematix.us/decuirbio.htm">John Decuir</a>, had done design work for Disneyland, Disney World, and EPCOT Center.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytey0ilTYOw/WXFG9FkwZgI/AAAAAAAAKhw/6gbnBxHG_u06TV1-k7_l7ZihbmycBHYxACLcBGAs/s1600/guidemapredneringdetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytey0ilTYOw/WXFG9FkwZgI/AAAAAAAAKhw/6gbnBxHG_u06TV1-k7_l7ZihbmycBHYxACLcBGAs/s320/guidemapredneringdetail.jpg" width="320" height="102" data-original-width="929" data-original-height="295" /></a></div><br />
Installed under the geodesic dome that housed Howard Hughes' <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_H-4_Hercules">H4-Hercules plane</a>, Time Voyager consisted of a sixty-foot diameter, 100-seat carousel-style theater that rotated to face a circle-shaped movie screen (or "porthole"). Electronic tilting seats and in-theater laser effects promised an experience of flight through Earth's atmosphere and into space itself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4d2WzYTPGCc/WXFHCNRqQcI/AAAAAAAAKh0/4beO49DeJfQPdEzVwGaXMoNSjOXzJWDngCLcBGAs/s1600/guidemapcolumntext.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4d2WzYTPGCc/WXFHCNRqQcI/AAAAAAAAKh0/4beO49DeJfQPdEzVwGaXMoNSjOXzJWDngCLcBGAs/s320/guidemapcolumntext.jpg" width="132" height="320" data-original-width="349" data-original-height="845" /></a></div><br />
Additionally, riders could expect a "close encounter" with friendly aliens called Orbons, who lived in the colony of Orloxin, "known to Earthlings as Halley's Comet".<br />
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That a reference to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halley%27s_Comet">Halley's Comet</a> was worked into the ride narrative was a timely one in 1986, as the short-period comet was completing another 75-year circuit and was visible not only through astronomer's telescopes but in various pockets of pop-culture as well (the 1985 Claymation film <a href="https://www.kindertrauma.com/official-traumatizer-satan-in-the-adventures-of-mark-twain/">The Adventure of Mark Twain</a> depicted a fantastic attempt to visit Halley's Comet on a spaceship, while software publisher Mindscape had released an educational game, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Halley_Project">The Halley Project</a>, for <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/2017/01/18/double-exposure-computes-guide-to-adventure-games-and-owning-your-home-computer/">home computers</a>.)<br />
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So we have intergalactic travel, aliens, a flight-simulator style motion theater, laser effects, "astonishment and wonder"... on paper, this sounds like it has all the elements of the anticipated Star Tours attraction. Time Voyager may very well offer a sneak preview into what to expect when Star Tours finally opened the following year, was my thinking, as I convinced my family to purchase tickets ($11.95 for adults, $7.95 for children) when we visited on our 1986 Summer vacation. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4qgm-eKFkE/WXFHMvPmLnI/AAAAAAAAKh8/vJtmkOrW8Y0eyuHwXfAxI_AIDPQju7QjQCLcBGAs/s1600/DailyEntertainmentScheduleColumn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4qgm-eKFkE/WXFHMvPmLnI/AAAAAAAAKh8/vJtmkOrW8Y0eyuHwXfAxI_AIDPQju7QjQCLcBGAs/s320/DailyEntertainmentScheduleColumn.jpg" width="140" height="320" data-original-width="321" data-original-height="734" /></a></div><br />
Now, I had a real hard time finding information about Time Voyager on the web, outside of promotional blurbs in archived travel magazines. No personal memories posted by riders or vintage vacation photos. No discussions about the history of the ride on fan sites, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5csCPFQ6iRQ">virtual recreation videos</a>. Even designer John Decuir Jr's on-line bios frequently omit it (the only mention I could find was at the bottom of his Attractions resume at his website, <a href="http://www.cinematix.us/services.htm">here</a>.) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lIYIKoDLY9k/WXS8mWeKA9I/AAAAAAAAKis/WXTMlIwlKSYRjaivPvxFYNzwV6dr6_SSgCLcBGAs/s1600/resumeblurb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lIYIKoDLY9k/WXS8mWeKA9I/AAAAAAAAKis/WXTMlIwlKSYRjaivPvxFYNzwV6dr6_SSgCLcBGAs/s320/resumeblurb.JPG" width="320" height="82" data-original-width="441" data-original-height="113" /></a></div><br />
And I think I know why.<br />
<br />
Time Voyage, it turns out, was very lame. <br />
<br />
More disappointing than <a href="http://www.intellivisionlives.com/bluesky/games/credits/1983c.html">that awful Kool-Aid Man game</a>!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qsxczAe0UJY/WXFKjIUoDsI/AAAAAAAAKiQ/uJe_m2IDHxk9AjYqcN0t-BtF9atOQ0wEACLcBGAs/s1600/koolaidman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qsxczAe0UJY/WXFKjIUoDsI/AAAAAAAAKiQ/uJe_m2IDHxk9AjYqcN0t-BtF9atOQ0wEACLcBGAs/s320/koolaidman.jpg" width="320" height="200" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="313" /></a></div><br />
First of all, the "porthole" screen was just too small. It didn't come anywhere close to filling your field of vision, so the intended immersive effect of a simulator was never achieved. It felt more like you were watching a large television screen than looking out a spaceship window.<br />
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Second, rather than the entire theater tilting to simulate the pitch and roll of flight, the theater remained stationary and only your seats moved, tilting jerkily left or right. This simply didn't work. The screen remained stationary as well, so you felt completely disconnected from the on-screen action while watching it from your uncomfortably tilted seat. <br />
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Finally, we have to talk about these Orbons. These were the friendly extra-terrestrials that we encounter as we pass Halley's Comet. <br />
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<i>Too friendly.</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8jdOew47Fbs/WXFHVO64tHI/AAAAAAAAKiA/V-6SZ5eusDQeR6BQSoR2tSgILBBsS-8iQCLcBGAs/s1600/TimeVoyagerOrbonsDetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8jdOew47Fbs/WXFHVO64tHI/AAAAAAAAKiA/V-6SZ5eusDQeR6BQSoR2tSgILBBsS-8iQCLcBGAs/s320/TimeVoyagerOrbonsDetail.jpg" width="320" height="120" data-original-width="789" data-original-height="297" /></a></div><br />
The aliens looked like little bald gremlins, and appeared in person as a full-head costumed character. At some point in the ride, an Orbon would emerge from hiding and proceed to dance around and wave at the audience from the front of the theater.<br />
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The handicapped seating was also located towards the very front, putting any wheelchair-seated rider in uncomfortably close proximity to the Orbon's performance area. On my visit, the Orbon, perhaps conscious that a wheelchair rider was practically sharing the stage with him, kept hugging him, patting him on the head, and otherwise making the poor guy part of the show, whether he wanted to be or not. It was all a little cringey, even to this obnoxious teenager.<br />
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I have no idea how long Time Voyager lasted, but I did not find it mentioned in a <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=82AEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA8&dq=spruce+goose+1988&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwip5omKl5nVAhUExWMKHXl-DQYQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=spruce%20goose%201988&f=false">Dec. 1988 blurb</a> for the Queen Mary/Spruce Goose attraction, and it wouldn't surprise me if had closed sooner than that. <br />
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Later that day, while roaming around the Spruce Goose exhibit, I passed a mom and dad with a young boy of maybe six or seven, who was cheerfully singing to himself.<br />
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The words his sing-song voice was reciting were, "I hate Time Voyager." Ouch!<br />
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Anyone have memories of this short-lived, definitely-not-to-be-confused-with-Star-Tours attraction?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KnpOuhOXd40/WXFHbsSy9_I/AAAAAAAAKiE/eTjPpUr709M-8axL2MCppAD7P1PUP-wmgCLcBGAs/s1600/BrochureBackNowIncludingBlurb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KnpOuhOXd40/WXFHbsSy9_I/AAAAAAAAKiE/eTjPpUr709M-8axL2MCppAD7P1PUP-wmgCLcBGAs/s320/BrochureBackNowIncludingBlurb.jpg" width="239" height="320" data-original-width="404" data-original-height="540" /></a></div>Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-41165597641176152992017-07-11T19:33:00.003-07:002021-08-07T11:53:00.031-07:00The Dynamite 3-D Poster Book (1979, Neal Adams, Scholastic Book Services)In grade school, I was a regular patron of the Scholastic Book Club, the children's reading program that let kids order books and records from a catalog once a month and have them delivered right to their classroom.<br />
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If receiving a copy of <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-care-for-your-monster-1970.html">Norman Bridwell's How To Care for Your Monster</a>, or <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/07/strangely-enough-cb-colby-scholastic.html">C.B. Colby's Strangely Enough</a> in front of all your envious classmates wasn't incentive enough to place an order, there was sometimes a special offer for a free poster as a bonus. Admittedly these were usually lame "cute animal" posters... kittens clustered in tall grass or a droopy bloodhound wearing reading glasses, the kind of thing you might glimpse on the wall of one of the Bradford children on an episode of <b>Eight is Enough</b>. <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERZSHVF6H_w/WWV9Kmr6leI/AAAAAAAAKgc/uZCrO1yEhKkBxmj5dvTD0KecJIQavJnjgCLcBGAs/s1600/8isEnoughKitties.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1014" height="238" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERZSHVF6H_w/WWV9Kmr6leI/AAAAAAAAKgc/uZCrO1yEhKkBxmj5dvTD0KecJIQavJnjgCLcBGAs/s320/8isEnoughKitties.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But on one occasion there was a truly magnificent piece of art offered with your book order... a huge illustration of <b>Dracula</b>, standing in a graveyard against a full moon and a sky swarming with bats. And better still... it was in <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/3-D">3-D</a>! <br />
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Now, the item below IS NOT the same image. I've yet to track down the exact poster that loomed over my bed throughout my formative years only to mysteriously disappear in the wormhole connected to my parent's garage. <b>(<span style="color: red;">UPDATE:</span> FOUND! See bottom of post) </b>But after laying eyes on this beauty, I'm convinced they were both by the same artist. <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-guiCN5mUQYM/WWV9ZA1vBVI/AAAAAAAAKgg/C2Kg9Htg47MebcFe9T3v6jVpBnHtNQs8QCLcBGAs/s1600/Vampire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1193" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-guiCN5mUQYM/WWV9ZA1vBVI/AAAAAAAAKgg/C2Kg9Htg47MebcFe9T3v6jVpBnHtNQs8QCLcBGAs/s320/Vampire.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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This specimen comes from the 1979 <b>Dynamite 3-D Poster Book</b> (which would place it <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/70s">around the same time</a> I remember acquiring my poster), and wouldn't you know it, this is a Scholastic Book Services offering too! (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamite_(magazine)">Dynamite</a> was a celebrity-focused kids magazine, published by Scholastic, Inc. beginning in 1974. Like <b>People Magazine</b> for the swing-set set.) <br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJ6tx8GSU-4/WWV-jBoU5VI/AAAAAAAAKgo/hEEcymGV3rUzg7y3lHL-ykdbvUKmJ6x8QCLcBGAs/s1600/cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1257" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJ6tx8GSU-4/WWV-jBoU5VI/AAAAAAAAKgo/hEEcymGV3rUzg7y3lHL-ykdbvUKmJ6x8QCLcBGAs/s320/cover.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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The artist is <a href="http://nealadams.com/">Neal Adams</a>, who has wielded a pen for both Marvel and DC at various points throughout his comic drawing career, which began in the so-called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Age_of_Comic_Books">Silver Age</a> and continues today, drawing both superheroes (Batman, X-Men, Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash, et al) and monsters, sometimes for illustrated children's records like <a href="http://powerrecord.blogspot.com/2008/05/story-of-dracula-wolfman-and.html">A Story of Dracula, The Wolfman and Frankenstein</a> (Power Records, 1975). <br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m-qzZK0cvaE/WWWBP20W35I/AAAAAAAAKhI/pOwXCDmFupE7RmM8_vQm48ppx3ewIpPgACLcBGAs/s1600/power%2Brecords.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="406" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m-qzZK0cvaE/WWWBP20W35I/AAAAAAAAKhI/pOwXCDmFupE7RmM8_vQm48ppx3ewIpPgACLcBGAs/s320/power%2Brecords.JPG" width="316" /></a></div>
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<b>The Dynamite 3-D Poster Book</b> contains six posters by Adams (The Werewolf, The Horse aka "Run Free", The Vampire, Skateboard!, Clown aka "Look Out!", and The Sorcerer), which fold out to a size of approximately 16" x 22", a pair of cardboard red and blue anaglyph glasses, and a brief article about the history of 3-D (emphasizing its success as a 1950's movie fad, although the 1960 non-3-D <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/William%20Castle">William Castle</a> film <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/09/13-ghosts-1960-and-illusion-o.html">13 Ghosts</a> gets an honorable mention.)<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KBhhqyLPSp4/WWV-3NCmugI/AAAAAAAAKgw/2u0JgpeTWv8RdoiTVYcZlOltnZEqGi76ACLcBGAs/s1600/backcover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1254" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KBhhqyLPSp4/WWV-3NCmugI/AAAAAAAAKgw/2u0JgpeTWv8RdoiTVYcZlOltnZEqGi76ACLcBGAs/s320/backcover.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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These posters are really gorgeous... break out the 3D glasses and enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQiVc06_0-s/WWWAvVHkTcI/AAAAAAAAKhE/GwXRhD0vHtQUhSpzSjiaBM2Bjq8dFIuegCLcBGAs/s1600/Sorcerer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1189" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQiVc06_0-s/WWWAvVHkTcI/AAAAAAAAKhE/GwXRhD0vHtQUhSpzSjiaBM2Bjq8dFIuegCLcBGAs/s320/Sorcerer.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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On a related note... does anyone happen to have a copy of this little poster visible on the wall of Nicholas Bradford's bedroom? I recognize it as one of a series of funny-caption posters that were about half-page in size and printed on cardstock, this one a baby orangutan caught in mid-screech, with the cartoon bubble reading "How Come I Always Have to Take Out the Garbage?" (or comparable hilarious sentiment.) The one directly above that is another in the same series, a baby with the caption "Bald is Beautiful". <b><span style="color: red;">UPDATE:</span></b> Found! See bottom of post.<br />
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Oh dear, I have to sit down before I collapse in a heap of mirth. Anyone have images of these things? <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhxHPmRi2dw/WWWBl8375aI/AAAAAAAAKhM/o5uemeh9kmYwJCl0YDeCk21sH3FHKffrgCLcBGAs/s1600/8isEnoughMonkey%2BWith%2BCallout.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1008" height="238" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhxHPmRi2dw/WWWBl8375aI/AAAAAAAAKhM/o5uemeh9kmYwJCl0YDeCk21sH3FHKffrgCLcBGAs/s320/8isEnoughMonkey%2BWith%2BCallout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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UPDATE: I finally found my stupid monkey sign! Turns out its from the Wallace Berrie Company of Van Nuys, California, maker of hilarious signs (most suitable for children, but a few with slightly risque' drug or sex references clearly targeted at older teens and adults), novelty knick-knacks, and cutesy figurines, including, in the early 1980s, Smurf characters. </div>
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Dated 1976 (the year prior to <b>Eight Is Enough</b>'s first season), here's sign #7719:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qv2Py19AzxA/XwP2kCDkmmI/AAAAAAAAMM4/CT_izM--o5YNhxoXNXSGkktFQNyWnyCiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/How%2BCome%2BI%2BAlways%2BGotta%2BTake%2BOut%2Bthe%2BGarbage%2Bmonkey%2Bsign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="1600" height="249" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qv2Py19AzxA/XwP2kCDkmmI/AAAAAAAAMM4/CT_izM--o5YNhxoXNXSGkktFQNyWnyCiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/How%2BCome%2BI%2BAlways%2BGotta%2BTake%2BOut%2Bthe%2BGarbage%2Bmonkey%2Bsign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">UPDATE (8/2021) The original elusive "3-D Count Dracula" poster turned up in an Ebay auction. It is indeed a Weekly Reader Book Club poster, #6486. Although the artist is not credited, it SURE looks like "The Vampire", above. Here is a picture from the auction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FiADGluTokA/YQ7WLW4JkyI/AAAAAAAAMVI/887c31YHl34hFkEcYjSIFk8cNncge1f7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1270/Dracula%2B3D%2BPoster1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="1186" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FiADGluTokA/YQ7WLW4JkyI/AAAAAAAAMVI/887c31YHl34hFkEcYjSIFk8cNncge1f7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Dracula%2B3D%2BPoster1.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
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Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-2516866958835571552017-07-04T00:30:00.002-07:002021-11-18T06:00:30.468-08:00Fourth of July, 1972Read about Fourth of July, 1963 <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/07/fourth-of-july-1963.html">here</a>.<br />
Read about Fourth of July, 1976 <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/07/fourth-of-july-1976.html">here</a>.<br />
Read about Fourth of July in classic animated specials and cartoons <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2012/06/red-white-and-blue-toon-revue.html">here</a>.<br />
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It's July 4th, 1972, and Jason Crockett (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001537/">Ray Milland</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057693/">X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072951/">Escape To Witch Mountain</a>) is throwing his annual family celebration on his private island estate in the swamplands of <a href="https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/eden-gardens">Eden Gardens, Florida</a>. But it's not just America's birthday, as Jason and several of his family members have birthdays in July as well. So this is a combined celebration!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-awWFsj6Dc5E/WVr22mf5B3I/AAAAAAAAKf0/8vtYpCmslv8I545xkWG7wdmVYJNi68GdACLcBGAs/s1600/plantation.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1338" height="177" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-awWFsj6Dc5E/WVr22mf5B3I/AAAAAAAAKf0/8vtYpCmslv8I545xkWG7wdmVYJNi68GdACLcBGAs/s320/plantation.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There will be fireworks, games, water sports and cake. <br />
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But something is different this year. There are frogs everywhere. You can't take a step on Crockett's carefully manicured lawn without scattering a few. Of course, being located in a Florida swamp, that's not terribly unexpected. But there seems to be more than usual this year, and they are... <a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7e/43/3a/7e433a8b6905310b5ca46c100d51a4f5.jpg">hopping mad</a>! <br />
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The movie is <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068615/">Frogs</a> (<a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/70s">1972</a>, AIP). Despite sensational promises made on the one-sheet and trailer, these are not giant-sized frogs that can swallow an entire human being. They are just normal-sized, the biggest ones not much larger than a man's fist.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUegQ8dArdI/WVr2RRLkbkI/AAAAAAAAKfo/7lAzegTzwP4w_Xp6QN3KWtK96f7Zxs4zwCLcBGAs/s1600/Frogs_withHandInFrogMouth.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1005" height="237" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUegQ8dArdI/WVr2RRLkbkI/AAAAAAAAKfo/7lAzegTzwP4w_Xp6QN3KWtK96f7Zxs4zwCLcBGAs/s320/Frogs_withHandInFrogMouth.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
They aren't mutant frogs, either. There's a clear conservation theme running through the film (the tag line from the trailer is "Suppose nature gave a war...") right from the opening titles, in which Pickett Smith (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000385/">Sam Elliott</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079450/">The Legacy</a>), a photographer for an ecology magazine, is documenting the effects of pollution on the lake. Later we'll hear about environmental issues with Mr. Crockett's paper mill, and see him contaminating his own estate with the overzealous use of pesticides. But there's never any indication these chemicals have triggered scary genetic changes in the frogs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fxstdbTmqk4/WVr2eDbYHGI/AAAAAAAAKfs/zu4J_Or-4eA4CkuiAJ51XeEAY5v02XMAgCLcBGAs/s1600/pollution.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1356" height="171" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fxstdbTmqk4/WVr2eDbYHGI/AAAAAAAAKfs/zu4J_Or-4eA4CkuiAJ51XeEAY5v02XMAgCLcBGAs/s320/pollution.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The frogs don't bite. In the real world, some species of frog are known to bite humans when handled aggressively. But these frogs are picked up repeatedly, sometimes by children, and never curl a lip.<br />
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There are several deaths, but none caused by the frogs. One partygoer is mangled by an alligator while wading through swampland. Another surrenders to a dozen web-spraying tarantulas after injuring his leg. In one horrifying death scene (an outtake found only in the trailer and not the film itself) an elderly women sinks in quicksand. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HioltAzGI8/WVr2jtfewPI/AAAAAAAAKfw/9kEbIyqsvXoGfL9sJM-UiWxHJBc6L_8nQCLcBGAs/s1600/quicksandfromtrailer.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1007" height="238" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HioltAzGI8/WVr2jtfewPI/AAAAAAAAKfw/9kEbIyqsvXoGfL9sJM-UiWxHJBc6L_8nQCLcBGAs/s320/quicksandfromtrailer.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Snapping turtles, snakes, centipedes, leeches, crabs, birds, and reptiles of every stripe and scale join the assault at some point. The only animal that doesn't directly cause a single death are... the frogs!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy3Z8XFHakY/WVr3AwK_BqI/AAAAAAAAKf4/oI-i024B_00PPOXxiQ2sFv0tpUIh9sN0gCLcBGAs/s1600/snakeOnChandalier.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1358" height="174" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy3Z8XFHakY/WVr3AwK_BqI/AAAAAAAAKf4/oI-i024B_00PPOXxiQ2sFv0tpUIh9sN0gCLcBGAs/s320/snakeOnChandalier.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So what do these frogs do, exactly?<br />
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They teem.<br />
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That's right. Teem. Swarm. Swell. Amass.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LCu5SYaaXIk/WVr3aCYXH0I/AAAAAAAAKgE/-zlg7B9STTMvddmCkcLfB_ypm1DmTJEiACLcBGAs/s1600/frogsAtTheWindow.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1339" height="176" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LCu5SYaaXIk/WVr3aCYXH0I/AAAAAAAAKgE/-zlg7B9STTMvddmCkcLfB_ypm1DmTJEiACLcBGAs/s320/frogsAtTheWindow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
They are not a physical threat, really. Their presence is, instead, a harbinger... a warning that if you are arrogant enough to build a palatial house in the middle of the wild, the wild is not going to respect your "no trespassing" sign. That the border of your estate is not going to be recognized, no matter how many adorable cherub statues are delineating it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VGXsld-fIls/WVr3LTi5HWI/AAAAAAAAKf8/EQXTvua8yJYsYIutbuHeHGG3054PyI3lwCLcBGAs/s1600/rowOfCherubs.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1340" height="176" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VGXsld-fIls/WVr3LTi5HWI/AAAAAAAAKf8/EQXTvua8yJYsYIutbuHeHGG3054PyI3lwCLcBGAs/s320/rowOfCherubs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The frogs massing at your doorstep are a reminder that no matter how geographically isolated you are from the rest of the world, you can't pretend you are living on a 19th-century plantation, complete with black servants (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0851916/">Lance Taylor Sr.</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068284/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">Blacula</a>; and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0580284/?ref_=tt_cl_t7">Mae Mercer</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066819/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_17">The Beguiled</a>) in uniforms that wouldn't look out of place a hundred years ago. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H6BKsgnDCsQ/WVr3RPY60tI/AAAAAAAAKgA/LsPWUhZKdE4MZ-AmqWkMYuvOWZoZMs3awCLcBGAs/s1600/servants.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1342" height="175" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H6BKsgnDCsQ/WVr3RPY60tI/AAAAAAAAKgA/LsPWUhZKdE4MZ-AmqWkMYuvOWZoZMs3awCLcBGAs/s320/servants.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This is 1972, and if the march of time doesn't make your once stately living room unlivable... the march of amphibians will. <br />
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Happy Fourth of July!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1MNAYFyU9s/WVr3fnIKWbI/AAAAAAAAKgI/T4NODrhvr2wQmabT3eMPtdD8ZpkEtXLdgCLcBGAs/s1600/FrogsMultipleOnCake.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1351" height="176" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1MNAYFyU9s/WVr3fnIKWbI/AAAAAAAAKgI/T4NODrhvr2wQmabT3eMPtdD8ZpkEtXLdgCLcBGAs/s320/FrogsMultipleOnCake.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-91885342874897222492017-05-27T18:50:00.000-07:002017-05-28T06:26:52.476-07:00The Unsettling Simpsons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wv2e2XLdzB4/WSohCNNtsjI/AAAAAAAAKdw/pENdask_xgM4_SUYf3SiVWp9l8F-HTRWwCLcB/s1600/titlecard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wv2e2XLdzB4/WSohCNNtsjI/AAAAAAAAKdw/pENdask_xgM4_SUYf3SiVWp9l8F-HTRWwCLcB/s320/titlecard.jpg" width="320" height="267" data-original-width="294" data-original-height="245" /></a></div>My name is Brother Bill and I am a Simpsons fan. <br />
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I can spout Simpsons quotes off the top of my head the way a revival tent minister can quote the Good Book (and with comparable fervor!) Sure, the show has had its ups and downs--its salad days and dry patches--and the occasional unwatchable episode, but I just can't stay mad at <b>The Simpsons</b>. It gives so much and asks so little in return.<br />
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<b>The Simpsons</b> is one of the rare (maybe only? <a href="http://www.geeklegacy.com/ranking-roseanne-halloween-episodes/">Roesanne</a> is perhaps another) television series to truly embrace the concept of the <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/10/fat-alberts-halloween-special-1977.html">Halloween special</a>. And while there have been several <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-with-pippi-longstocking.html">Christmas</a>-themed episodes, and the occasional story set around <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/11/first-thanksgiving-1962-lou-rogers.html">Thanksgiving</a>, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2012/06/red-white-and-blue-toon-revue.html">Fourth of July</a>, or Valentine's Day, only Halloween gets the blood-red carpet rolled out for it every year, consistently and thoroughly. <br />
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Titled "Treehouse of Horror" (the debut Halloween episode, first broadcast Oct. 25, 1990, was framed as a trilogy of ghost stories being told in Bart's treehouse, and the name stuck) these non-canon episodes reimagine the first family of Springfield in a wide variety of fantastic scenarios, evoking horror films (<b>I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Amityville Horror, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Nightmare on Elm Street</b>), science fiction (<b>Fantastic Voyage, Demon Seed, The Omega Man, The Fly</b>) classic anthology television (<a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/02/raising-alien-bar-star-wars-cantina.html">The Twilight Zone</a>, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/04/forms-of-things-unknown-1964-outer.html">The Outer Limits</a>, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2012/01/man-from-south-1960-alfred-hitchcock.html">Alfred Hitchcock Presents</a>), fantasy fiction (Stephen King, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/06/black-ferris-1953-ray-bradbury.html">Ray Bradbury</a>, H.G. Wells, Mary Shelley, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/04/most-adorable-edgar-allan-poe-ever.html">Edgar Allan Poe</a>), and even Grimm's Fairy Tales. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-raGExyqEm_g/WSojlhQP8gI/AAAAAAAAKd8/0vbsXSUFKSoT9lWsc4gio29TaXXUPjW3wCLcB/s1600/simpsons-mist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-raGExyqEm_g/WSojlhQP8gI/AAAAAAAAKd8/0vbsXSUFKSoT9lWsc4gio29TaXXUPjW3wCLcB/s320/simpsons-mist.jpg" width="320" height="248" data-original-width="484" data-original-height="375" /></a></div><i>Even relatively obscure horror radio drama <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/10/the-chicken-heart-that-ate-up-new-york.html">Lights Out</a> is referenced in one episode depicting a mist that turns people inside out.</i><br />
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Sometimes these episodes were actually set on Halloween, with The Simpsons telling <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-haunted-house-and-other-spooky.html">ghost stories</a>, throwing <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/09/lets-go-halloween-costume-shopping.html">costume</a> parties, or going <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/07/chick-or-treat.html">trick-or-treating</a>. The best "Treehouse" episodes captured the spirit of the season with macabre imagery and situations while still retaining the classic Simpsons humor.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VGU8fUIZyT8/WSokgmHNthI/AAAAAAAAKeE/cMM3-cQxJnQrIqeOMmEUu0RIMww5sSvCwCLcB/s1600/S4%2BHalloween%2BTreehouse3%2B-party.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VGU8fUIZyT8/WSokgmHNthI/AAAAAAAAKeE/cMM3-cQxJnQrIqeOMmEUu0RIMww5sSvCwCLcB/s320/S4%2BHalloween%2BTreehouse3%2B-party.JPG" width="320" height="245" data-original-width="992" data-original-height="759" /></a></div><br />
But the series did not save all its "scary" content for the Treehouse episodes. Several non-Halloween episodes dealt with spooky subject matter (relatively speaking--it is a sit-com, after all). <br />
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<b>"The Springfield Files" (S8,E10)</b>, an <b>X-Files</b> themed episode, follows Homer's nightly close encounter with a glowing, supernatural presence lurking in the woods. Contributing to the suspenseful atmosphere is the spine-tingling staccato of Bernard Herrmann-esque strings that, in a truly surreal spectacle, are coming from live symphony musicians riding together on a bus. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jCE-ksoYA0A/WSolEllSDDI/AAAAAAAAKeM/bVpxw3Pj1-k9PqngQ04HTS7CeNlasjvEgCLcB/s1600/S8E10%2BSpringfield%2BFiles%2Bbusload.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jCE-ksoYA0A/WSolEllSDDI/AAAAAAAAKeM/bVpxw3Pj1-k9PqngQ04HTS7CeNlasjvEgCLcB/s320/S8E10%2BSpringfield%2BFiles%2Bbusload.JPG" width="320" height="242" data-original-width="1000" data-original-height="757" /></a></div><br />
Bart carelessly sells his soul (symbolically represented by his autograph on church stationary) to Milhouse, and soon regrets it, in <b>"Bart Sells His Soul" (S7,E4)</b>, a genuinely uneasy episode that manages to tap into real anxiety about loss of agency and regret. You can feel the existential desperation as Bart first begs for, then tries to take by force, a replacement soul from a frightened Ralph.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KAkwBkWLIz8/WSolSmzfBmI/AAAAAAAAKeQ/T4neIJ1nbbgyZx3-6rXGDtBhb6uBD0g2wCLcB/s1600/S7%2BE4%2BBart%2BSells%2BHis%2BSoul.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KAkwBkWLIz8/WSolSmzfBmI/AAAAAAAAKeQ/T4neIJ1nbbgyZx3-6rXGDtBhb6uBD0g2wCLcB/s320/S7%2BE4%2BBart%2BSells%2BHis%2BSoul.JPG" width="320" height="244" data-original-width="991" data-original-height="755" /></a></div><br />
A stage hypnotist using Homer as his subject accidentally unlocks repressed childhood horrors in <b>"The Blunder Years" (S13,E5)</b>, sending him into a days-long seizure of non-stop shrieking that manages to be both hilarious and horrifying at the same time. Peer counseling (and some "Yaqui memory tea") eventually help Homer come to terms with a long forgotten incident involving a drowned corpse in a canal.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1rNobPBWHA/WSolvdkGeAI/AAAAAAAAKeU/EMXF3wceMDcYV8EQ7O9q3Oe91c2I098BgCLcB/s1600/S13%2BE5%2BBlunder%2BYears%2BHomer%2BScreaming.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1rNobPBWHA/WSolvdkGeAI/AAAAAAAAKeU/EMXF3wceMDcYV8EQ7O9q3Oe91c2I098BgCLcB/s320/S13%2BE5%2BBlunder%2BYears%2BHomer%2BScreaming.JPG" width="320" height="242" data-original-width="999" data-original-height="754" /></a></div><br />
Sometimes isolated spooky elements would creep their way into otherwise non-scary storylines. <b>"Lisa's First Word" (S4,E10)</b>, for example, is a funny flashback episode in which a toddler-aged Bart adjusts to the arrival of his new baby sister, Lisa. But when Homer tries to entice Bart to vacate the crib by building a homemade clown bed, the results are accidentally horrifying... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CZOdJdKERrI/WSol8pZ-eOI/AAAAAAAAKeY/sMNRFajSpq8Gvf79aZPuA1IUmue96Xf8ACLcB/s1600/S4%2BE10%2BLisas%2BFirst%2BWord%2BKrusty%2BBed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CZOdJdKERrI/WSol8pZ-eOI/AAAAAAAAKeY/sMNRFajSpq8Gvf79aZPuA1IUmue96Xf8ACLcB/s320/S4%2BE10%2BLisas%2BFirst%2BWord%2BKrusty%2BBed.JPG" width="320" height="243" data-original-width="998" data-original-height="759" /></a></div><br />
...even at a distance!<br />
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It's Lisa who is afraid to go to bed in <b>"The Girl Who Slept Too Little" (S17,E2)</b>, after a cemetery is built next to the Simpson house, casting nightmarish shadows through her bedroom window.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NgWplMdOJBg/WSomWxrQ9LI/AAAAAAAAKeg/tzJFdwYhS9MmEE6rcaQeDdwQGH2gpbPgwCLcB/s1600/S17%2BE2%2BThe%2BGirl%2BWho%2BSlept%2BToo%2BLittle%2B-%2Bgraveyard%2Bwindow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NgWplMdOJBg/WSomWxrQ9LI/AAAAAAAAKeg/tzJFdwYhS9MmEE6rcaQeDdwQGH2gpbPgwCLcB/s320/S17%2BE2%2BThe%2BGirl%2BWho%2BSlept%2BToo%2BLittle%2B-%2Bgraveyard%2Bwindow.JPG" width="320" height="241" data-original-width="1009" data-original-height="760" /></a></div><br />
In <b>"The Ziff Who Came To Dinner" (S15,E14)</b>, Homer thoughtlessly takes the kids to R-rated horror film <b>The Redeadening</b> when the family-friendly cartoon they hoped to see is sold out. The children cower in their theater seats as the story of murderous possessed doll 'Baby Button Eyes' unfolds.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6gF-1hflZ4g/WSomm_3NUsI/AAAAAAAAKek/ZWG0D4gvB6sASZ2w_GZKqKy31oIIyGJnQCLcB/s1600/S15%2BE14%2BZiff%2BWho%2BCame%2BBaby%2BButton%2BEyes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6gF-1hflZ4g/WSomm_3NUsI/AAAAAAAAKek/ZWG0D4gvB6sASZ2w_GZKqKy31oIIyGJnQCLcB/s320/S15%2BE14%2BZiff%2BWho%2BCame%2BBaby%2BButton%2BEyes.JPG" width="320" height="238" data-original-width="1012" data-original-height="754" /></a></div><br />
Sometimes these moments were not scary in a traditional sense, but were funny or weird or strange in vaguely unsettling ways. <br />
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Like this uncomfortable moment when the barber, who Bart has been working for part-time, tries to pay him with an envelope of hair, grinning vacantly as a frightened Bart backs out of the store (<b>"Lisa the Tree Hugger", S12,E4</b>).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Tf5R2JXFxw/WSom5MjkqLI/AAAAAAAAKeo/25Z9PNmVXS4uX3LND7YORt-31GXbrOtlgCLcB/s1600/S12%2BE4%2BLisa%2BTree%2BHugger%2BBarber%2BHair%2BSPREAD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Tf5R2JXFxw/WSom5MjkqLI/AAAAAAAAKeo/25Z9PNmVXS4uX3LND7YORt-31GXbrOtlgCLcB/s320/S12%2BE4%2BLisa%2BTree%2BHugger%2BBarber%2BHair%2BSPREAD.JPG" width="320" height="121" data-original-width="1079" data-original-height="407" /></a></div><br />
In <b>"Secrets of a Successful Marriage" (S5,E22)</b>, a fight with Marge finds Homer evicted from the house and forced to live in Bart's treehouse. Lisa pays him a visit only to find her disheveled father fashioning a substitute Marge out of a shrub. "You will respect your new mother. Now kiss her!" he insists, while shoving the effigy in Lisa's face.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPYHEb5NWfI/WSonJzUbETI/AAAAAAAAKes/K0rHMzo1k0gtVut8GCTP5TavU9Ooql2hACLcB/s1600/S5%2BE22%2BSecrets%2Bof%2Ba%2BSuccessful%2BMarriage%2BPlant%2BMarge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPYHEb5NWfI/WSonJzUbETI/AAAAAAAAKes/K0rHMzo1k0gtVut8GCTP5TavU9Ooql2hACLcB/s320/S5%2BE22%2BSecrets%2Bof%2Ba%2BSuccessful%2BMarriage%2BPlant%2BMarge.JPG" width="320" height="242" data-original-width="1000" data-original-height="756" /></a></div><br />
Homer and Mr. Burns get a severe case of cabin-fever after becoming snowed in during a team building exercise in <b>"Mountain of Madness" (S8,E12)</b>. Hungry and freezing, they build snowmen to pass the time. But their complete disconnection from reality comes to the fore when they decide to dress the snowmen in their own clothes, a portrait of madness as they stand shivering before their creation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uR5auAgpeLo/WSonfb1hV4I/AAAAAAAAKew/irBaQ0zitGcxy51xDKnPO35OvrCxT2KXQCLcB/s1600/S8%2BE12%2BMountain%2Bof%2BMadness%2B-%2BReal%2BSnowmen%2B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uR5auAgpeLo/WSonfb1hV4I/AAAAAAAAKew/irBaQ0zitGcxy51xDKnPO35OvrCxT2KXQCLcB/s320/S8%2BE12%2BMountain%2Bof%2BMadness%2B-%2BReal%2BSnowmen%2B.JPG" width="320" height="241" data-original-width="991" data-original-height="746" /></a></div><br />
In <b>"Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade" (S14,E3)</b>, Bart becomes so addicted to their new satellite TV that he can't concentrate at school. He hallucinates a giant TV remote while his schoolmates turn into various TV characters, including a clown (not Krusty, ironically) who informs him in a matter of fact voice that will send chills down your spine, "It's finally happened, Bart. You've lost your mind."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LxP4PgDmpec/WSon4eVjksI/AAAAAAAAKe0/BM4Feeis0q0-ZruB8KlMjMlPu7xtJnVOQCLcB/s1600/S14%2BE3%2BBart%2Bvs%2BLisa%2Bvs%2B3rd%2BGrade%2B-%2Bclown%2Bhallucination.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LxP4PgDmpec/WSon4eVjksI/AAAAAAAAKe0/BM4Feeis0q0-ZruB8KlMjMlPu7xtJnVOQCLcB/s320/S14%2BE3%2BBart%2Bvs%2BLisa%2Bvs%2B3rd%2BGrade%2B-%2Bclown%2Bhallucination.JPG" width="320" height="241" data-original-width="1007" data-original-height="758" /></a></div><br />
In another example of disturbing hallucinations, Homer imagines himself becoming wealthy through pearl diving (<b>"Saddlesore Galactica", S11,E13</b>), waking up in a pearl-encrusted house from a pearl-encrusted bed, being served by a pearl butler who pours him a bowl of pearls for breakfast. But even in this fairy-tale fantasy, the spoonful of pearls shatters all his teeth, causing Homer to laugh like a mad man while staring at his gaping mouth in a pearl-encrusted mirror.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WlfxDJaKb_A/WSooKERtpgI/AAAAAAAAKe4/m4XF-lBR2rM2SJmPF3MVgo9rfcfDZcNtQCLcB/s1600/S11%2BE13%2BSaddlesore%2BGalactica%2BPearl%2Bdream.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WlfxDJaKb_A/WSooKERtpgI/AAAAAAAAKe4/m4XF-lBR2rM2SJmPF3MVgo9rfcfDZcNtQCLcB/s320/S11%2BE13%2BSaddlesore%2BGalactica%2BPearl%2Bdream.JPG" width="320" height="242" data-original-width="1009" data-original-height="762" /></a></div><br />
In <b>"I'm Going To Praiseland" (S12,E19)</b>, Ned Flanders builds a Bible-themed amusement park to honor the memory of his recently passed wife, Maude. The tribute takes a turn for the creepy when Ned dons a souvenir Maude mask and mimics her voice.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tWnsgic9HRU/WSooRruItQI/AAAAAAAAKe8/6qVGvcHoEmA9ShnCe3M4pVi_Afa8K1vVgCLcB/s1600/S12%2BE19%2BI%2527m%2BGoing%2BTo%2BPraiseland%2B-%2BMaude%2BMask%2B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tWnsgic9HRU/WSooRruItQI/AAAAAAAAKe8/6qVGvcHoEmA9ShnCe3M4pVi_Afa8K1vVgCLcB/s320/S12%2BE19%2BI%2527m%2BGoing%2BTo%2BPraiseland%2B-%2BMaude%2BMask%2B.JPG" width="320" height="241" data-original-width="1004" data-original-height="756" /></a></div><br />
In that same episode, we find out Ned has been preserving the indentation of Maude's body in the bed sheets. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6aCLK701TM/WSoogiDYltI/AAAAAAAAKfA/gouQrqCRhhUhLyOZm0OtFLp2WYa7Ag3UQCLcB/s1600/S12%2BE19%2BI%2527m%2BGoing%2BTo%2BPraiseland%2B-%2BMaudes%2BIndentation%2B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6aCLK701TM/WSoogiDYltI/AAAAAAAAKfA/gouQrqCRhhUhLyOZm0OtFLp2WYa7Ag3UQCLcB/s320/S12%2BE19%2BI%2527m%2BGoing%2BTo%2BPraiseland%2B-%2BMaudes%2BIndentation%2B.JPG" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1008" data-original-height="757" /></a></div><br />
In <b>"Homer vs. Dignity" (S12,E5)</b>, Mr. Burns declares war on the town of Springfield, enlisting Homer in a series of cruel and disgusting pranks, which culminate in Burns posing as Santa Claus for the Christmas parade so he can throw buckets of fish guts on the unsuspecting children gathered to see him. The deliberate spoiling with liquid viscera of what should have been a beautiful moment had me flashbacking to <b>Carrie White</b>'s prom.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0UMbHEkyL00/WSoo065V8dI/AAAAAAAAKfE/hN3UK6iW5DsM6NayQJpu91wI1maP5Hm_ACLcB/s1600/S12%2BE5%2BHomer%2Bvs%2BDignity%2Bfish%2Bguts%2BSPREAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0UMbHEkyL00/WSoo065V8dI/AAAAAAAAKfE/hN3UK6iW5DsM6NayQJpu91wI1maP5Hm_ACLcB/s320/S12%2BE5%2BHomer%2Bvs%2BDignity%2Bfish%2Bguts%2BSPREAD.jpg" width="320" height="121" data-original-width="1047" data-original-height="395" /></a></div><br />
Finally, this vignette from <b>"Colonel Homer" (S3,E20)</b> plays like a ghost story of sorts. Homer is on a long road trip and passes a restaurant sign, "Flaming Pete's; 75 Miles". The sign entices him and he clearly looks forward to arriving there.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-neZNCv2yVnY/WSopEJf9nOI/AAAAAAAAKfI/ggT7j2UEo44nXb5jqjcWtDcfsXsuvM0QACLcB/s1600/S3%2BE20%2BCol%2BHomer%2B01%2BSPREAD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-neZNCv2yVnY/WSopEJf9nOI/AAAAAAAAKfI/ggT7j2UEo44nXb5jqjcWtDcfsXsuvM0QACLcB/s400/S3%2BE20%2BCol%2BHomer%2B01%2BSPREAD.JPG" width="400" height="153" data-original-width="1017" data-original-height="390" /></a></div><br />
A while later, a second road sign, "Flaming Pete's; 30 Miles". Homer is too tired from driving to react this time.<br />
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A third sign: "Flaming Pete's; Next Exit!" Homer perks up with excitement. Flaming Pete has been beckoning to him all night and they are finally going to rendezvous. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_-g60fN9e7o/WSopef31BfI/AAAAAAAAKfQ/LPArNxosf90tJMPm1iY8M64mkRW4Q6rSACLcB/s1600/S3%2BE20%2BCol%2BHomer%2B03%2BSPREAD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_-g60fN9e7o/WSopef31BfI/AAAAAAAAKfQ/LPArNxosf90tJMPm1iY8M64mkRW4Q6rSACLcB/s400/S3%2BE20%2BCol%2BHomer%2B03%2BSPREAD.JPG" width="400" height="151" data-original-width="1163" data-original-height="440" /></a></div><br />
But there is no Flaming Pete's. Flaming Pete burned down years ago, on a night just like this one. Not sure who you think you saw waving to you out there on the road, but it couldn't have been Flaming Pete. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MxMOeOQLaw/WSoqAzwF1-I/AAAAAAAAKfY/0LvTH2KrnUMdoIwDfXpLUJm7LJFFqJ-YgCLcB/s1600/S3%2BE20%2BCol%2BHomer%2B04%2BSPREAD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MxMOeOQLaw/WSoqAzwF1-I/AAAAAAAAKfY/0LvTH2KrnUMdoIwDfXpLUJm7LJFFqJ-YgCLcB/s400/S3%2BE20%2BCol%2BHomer%2B04%2BSPREAD.JPG" width="400" height="151" data-original-width="1165" data-original-height="439" /></a></div><br />
(Yea, yea yea---I understand the actual punch-line is that a restaurant with "flaming" in its name literally went up in smoke. But I tell you, there's a ghost story buried in there!)Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-3042347363319529182017-05-17T21:20:00.000-07:002017-05-18T05:30:14.859-07:00Please, Sign In! (1981, Weekly Reader)Back in the olden days before Internet social media profiles and emoji voting buttons, if kids wanted to document and share their likes and dislikes within their circle of friends, they had to get a little creative.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uROOYENWK4M/WR0duA1LjpI/AAAAAAAAKbc/5tUEEJEw7UkftdTpH49s3gaiMml4J25AQCLcB/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uROOYENWK4M/WR0duA1LjpI/AAAAAAAAKbc/5tUEEJEw7UkftdTpH49s3gaiMml4J25AQCLcB/s320/cover.jpg" width="213" height="320" /></a></div><br />
Enter "Please, Sign In!", a Weekly Reader entry that I ordered through my grade school <b>Scholastic Book Club</b> sometime in the early <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/80s">80s</a> (the publishing date is 1981). It's "compiled" by <b>Edward J. Zagorski</b> and <b>Robert F. Gaynor</b>, although that's really nothing to brag about since it's little more than a list of bland survey questions printed on a ruled notepad. <br />
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Unless TV sitcoms have lied to me, this type of friend-friendly questionnaire is called a "slam book", (the idea being the respondents write in their answers anonymously, allowing them to "slam" their peers with brutally honest opinions). Questions are supposed to be personal, embarrassing and salacious. <br />
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I first heard the term "slam book" in a 1982 <b>Facts of Life</b> episode, "Kids Can Be Cruel", where the book is circulating campus and the gals of Eastland Boarding School snicker over some of the cruel nicknames written in for an acne-scarred boy at neighboring Bates Academy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TNz1JYdVZ-g/WR0eWZnoj8I/AAAAAAAAKbk/SRwziZALGa8NlBiDHoEIZpTm-7xusPLtQCLcB/s1600/factsoflife.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TNz1JYdVZ-g/WR0eWZnoj8I/AAAAAAAAKbk/SRwziZALGa8NlBiDHoEIZpTm-7xusPLtQCLcB/s320/factsoflife.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div><br />
The emotional consequences of such unhindered opinion-posting were also dramatized in a 1987 young-adult novel "Slam Book" by Baby-Sitters Club author <b>Ann M. Martin</b>.<br />
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Mid-90s magazine <b>Ben Is Dead</b> deemed slam books to be a significant paper artifact of Generation-X history, featuring them alongside cootie-detectors and M.A.S.H. fortune-tellers in the first of what would become a three-issue long retro-nostalgia deep dive (Retro Hell! Issue #25, 1995).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8VAMURxkxA0/WR0ejBiAuxI/AAAAAAAAKbs/pskA2DCPg5wStvrUsV_iGeF17KKd0OA2gCLcB/s1600/BenIsDead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8VAMURxkxA0/WR0ejBiAuxI/AAAAAAAAKbs/pskA2DCPg5wStvrUsV_iGeF17KKd0OA2gCLcB/s320/BenIsDead.jpg" width="320" height="250" /></a></div><br />
But "Please, Sign In!" is just a kiddified and commodified version of this DIY phenomenon, so the term "slam book" is never used within its pages, and the questions are of the non-controversial variety (with some cute illustrations by <b>Richard Maccabe</b>.) <br />
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Unfortunately this is not the actual specimen from my youth, but a recently acquired unused copy, so I don't have the pleasure of presenting my grade-school classmates hand-written answers, just the original dull questions. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sVDdJM3ftw/WR0ewPGOwiI/AAAAAAAAKbw/xwNEGdDConklLJl0AS3uwnWlYx3CQ2NjACLcB/s1600/howtousethisbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sVDdJM3ftw/WR0ewPGOwiI/AAAAAAAAKbw/xwNEGdDConklLJl0AS3uwnWlYx3CQ2NjACLcB/s320/howtousethisbook.jpg" width="228" height="320" /></a></div><br />
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text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ck7keUw7Oc/WR0fFaUkQ0I/AAAAAAAAKdY/OMvxFStnxRspkPBzJlQtOuE0_0daF9kjgCLcB/s1600/26-Character.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ck7keUw7Oc/WR0fFaUkQ0I/AAAAAAAAKdY/OMvxFStnxRspkPBzJlQtOuE0_0daF9kjgCLcB/s320/26-Character.jpg" width="220" height="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2dXmBpgsfdo/WR0fFv00C7I/AAAAAAAAKdc/yoSXU7FoxAoyh4HdYwzjJr69qvFWH8aRACLcB/s1600/27-saying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2dXmBpgsfdo/WR0fFv00C7I/AAAAAAAAKdc/yoSXU7FoxAoyh4HdYwzjJr69qvFWH8aRACLcB/s320/27-saying.jpg" width="219" height="320" /></a></div>Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-38112381017973240112017-04-25T20:54:00.000-07:002017-04-26T13:36:27.004-07:00Beautiful Ruins: Sifting Through the Wreckage of Thundarr the Barbarian (1980)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAQdU9eV-AM/WQAJJXw2D4I/AAAAAAAAKWs/YMN6LmeEabU5LN26bv-SvDIP-NSFlVI1ACLcB/s1600/00_Title.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAQdU9eV-AM/WQAJJXw2D4I/AAAAAAAAKWs/YMN6LmeEabU5LN26bv-SvDIP-NSFlVI1ACLcB/s320/00_Title.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div><br />
When <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thundarr_the_Barbarian">Thundarr the Barbarian</a> finally made landfall on the shores of the 1980 Saturday morning cartoon lineup, the accompanying shockwave upturned the nation's cereal bowls.<br />
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<b>Thundarr the Barbarian</b> was the glorious mash-up of <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/08/pigeons-from-hell-1961-thriller.html">Robert E. Howard</a>'s <b>Conan</b> (hey, the word "Barbarian" is right in the title!), classic 60's <b>Hanna-Barbara</b> sci-fi adventure fare (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Ghost_(TV_series)">Space Ghost</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Herculoids">The Herculoids</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdman_and_the_Galaxy_Trio">Birdman</a>, etc.), <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/02/raising-alien-bar-star-wars-cantina.html">Star Wars</a> (don't dare call Thundarr's "fabulous Sun-sword" a light-saber) and Planet of the Apes/Damnation Alley (or whatever scorched-Earth <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2011/08/1984-adbattlecar-warriors-of-lost.html">post-apocalypse</a> title works for you) that I didn't realize I was waiting all my life for.<br />
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A <b>Ruby-Spears</b> production, Thundarr the Barbarian was the fortunate son of three Dads who could definitely beat up your Dad: writer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Gerber">Steve Gerber</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_the_Duck">Howard the Duck</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-Thing">Man-Thing</a>), and legendary comic book/animation artists <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kirby">Jack Kirby</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Toth">Alex Toth</a> (a collective legacy too rich to enumerate here).<br />
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Thundarr's back-story, told in the quickly edited opening sequence, is merely the destruction of modern civilization as we know it, a global catastrophe of massive tidal waves, volcanoes, and earthquakes caused by a close call with a runaway planet in the too-far-away-to-fathom year of 1994. Fast-forward two-thousand years later, and life on Earth has become an anachronistic hodgepodge of Medieval barbarity, futuristic technology, and mutated life forms resembling mythic monsters, extra-terrestrial aliens, and everything in between.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5UjBPn0vRHA/WQAYPuIDyeI/AAAAAAAAKa8/aHmgsZoXWCoe_1-AZ7cpa6dF_y_FaQA1ACLcB/s1600/00_tidalWave.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5UjBPn0vRHA/WQAYPuIDyeI/AAAAAAAAKa8/aHmgsZoXWCoe_1-AZ7cpa6dF_y_FaQA1ACLcB/s320/00_tidalWave.JPG" width="320" height="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B-eWgy1je6k/WQAKvwYVoLI/AAAAAAAAKW4/a3-bC5fItuc8W9dF_Eed92VCIFFfYAf-QCLcB/s1600/00_CastInRuin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B-eWgy1je6k/WQAKvwYVoLI/AAAAAAAAKW4/a3-bC5fItuc8W9dF_Eed92VCIFFfYAf-QCLcB/s320/00_CastInRuin.JPG" width="320" height="245" /></a></div>Episodes would often start <i>in media res</i>, right in the middle of an action sequence whose beginning we never saw, and could feature anything from pirates to robots, wizards, werewolves, giant insects, helicopters or hover boards.<br />
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Thundarr was an unapologetic fighter, eager to slice first, ask questions later (...or never). After one particularly impressive demonstration of swordplay protecting a village from flying monsters, a gawking villager asks, "What kind of man are you?"<br />
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"Free!" Thundarr barks in reply.<br />
<br />
Is it okay to swoon now? <br />
<br />
His traveling companions are Ariel, a self-sufficient magic-wielding Princess (princess of what, we're never really sure) who acts as Thundarr's guide (she's learned about the ways of "old Earth" from her father's library) and Ookla the Mok, a tall, growling lion-man, clearly modeled after Chewbacca, who provides both muscle and the occasional comic relief. <br />
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But these were dramatic adventure stories, not comedies, a refreshing dose of seriousness when so many cartoons of the day relied on gags and canned laughter.<br />
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That these adventures of "savagery, super-science and sorcery" play out across the wreckage of "old Earth", often in the shadow of real-world landmarks, adds a layer of poignancy, a constant, bitter reminder that the world we know has ended in tragedy. <br />
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Below are selected images of the beautiful ruin that is old Earth. <br />
<br />
New York ("the ruin of Man-Hat") from S1E1, Secret of the Black Pearl.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5RHM36f8TaI/WQALZSJ8osI/AAAAAAAAKXI/D180-jK3ZRwDgA0gYEc7rDU1eyKexN0PQCLcB/s1600/01_RuinsOfManHatt_EmpireStatebldg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5RHM36f8TaI/WQALZSJ8osI/AAAAAAAAKXI/D180-jK3ZRwDgA0gYEc7rDU1eyKexN0PQCLcB/s320/01_RuinsOfManHatt_EmpireStatebldg.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qycb5rvoLGs/WQALZdfuNOI/AAAAAAAAKXE/5OhkSNAHLY8XhDmuGUO97DGRPom0oGRJwCLcB/s1600/01_RuinsOfManHatt_StatueOfLiberty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qycb5rvoLGs/WQALZdfuNOI/AAAAAAAAKXE/5OhkSNAHLY8XhDmuGUO97DGRPom0oGRJwCLcB/s320/01_RuinsOfManHatt_StatueOfLiberty.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iC6UYTJrucY/WQALZWj5jjI/AAAAAAAAKXA/dx8xlkWFN6g73HqiMMVX9DAR6J_XzGBMgCLcB/s1600/01_RuinsOfManHatt_SubwayAndCokeBillboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iC6UYTJrucY/WQALZWj5jjI/AAAAAAAAKXA/dx8xlkWFN6g73HqiMMVX9DAR6J_XzGBMgCLcB/s320/01_RuinsOfManHatt_SubwayAndCokeBillboard.JPG" width="320" height="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G7mIoSTB_2w/WQALZsdwKfI/AAAAAAAAKXM/POJGDITAmtEpdw4DbuPj4j8COPCHV7GcACLcB/s1600/01_RuinsOfManHatt_TwinTowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G7mIoSTB_2w/WQALZsdwKfI/AAAAAAAAKXM/POJGDITAmtEpdw4DbuPj4j8COPCHV7GcACLcB/s320/01_RuinsOfManHatt_TwinTowers.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>Space shuttle carcass at a ruined NASA Space Center, S1E3 Mindok the Mind Menace. This episode predates the first space shuttle launch by almost six months.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_o_Wh1Cq80/WQAL9fgjMMI/AAAAAAAAKXQ/chb4oR2kNyQqhGSG4jP7pKJaC3PwM501ACLcB/s1600/03_MindNock_SpaceShuttleAtNASASpaceCenter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_o_Wh1Cq80/WQAL9fgjMMI/AAAAAAAAKXQ/chb4oR2kNyQqhGSG4jP7pKJaC3PwM501ACLcB/s320/03_MindNock_SpaceShuttleAtNASASpaceCenter.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>Empty streets and a crashed ocean liner from S1E4 Raiders of the Abyss.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fjcg_6-3hcA/WQAMoh1zK1I/AAAAAAAAKXU/p28-3BdLeyEDoJSL4r-PVXX-_JeqiZ6OACLcB/s1600/04_Raiders_CollapsedBldgsAndFreewaySign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fjcg_6-3hcA/WQAMoh1zK1I/AAAAAAAAKXU/p28-3BdLeyEDoJSL4r-PVXX-_JeqiZ6OACLcB/s320/04_Raiders_CollapsedBldgsAndFreewaySign.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qypywunw5lE/WQAMogYdIWI/AAAAAAAAKXY/xn_vjC0t7rUSWh0ZNO61ga3Q-f2wrRouwCLcB/s1600/04_Raiders_OceanLienr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qypywunw5lE/WQAMogYdIWI/AAAAAAAAKXY/xn_vjC0t7rUSWh0ZNO61ga3Q-f2wrRouwCLcB/s320/04_Raiders_OceanLienr.JPG" width="320" height="242" /></a></div>WWII-era plane and hangar, S1E5 Treasure of the Moks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gTHz4BtpB3o/WQANJPMaGBI/AAAAAAAAKXg/B8VBgxEg7VA95UFDe4Lg-1Faiyce-rIkACLcB/s1600/05_Treasure_WWIIplane.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gTHz4BtpB3o/WQANJPMaGBI/AAAAAAAAKXg/B8VBgxEg7VA95UFDe4Lg-1Faiyce-rIkACLcB/s320/05_Treasure_WWIIplane.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>The remnants of Mt. Rushmore, S1E6 Attack of the Amazon Women.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1S3mEkpLouo/WQANhkDzyII/AAAAAAAAKXk/8doE2FDRL5YX8LySab9qTJqp2cZoCauSgCLcB/s1600/06_Amazons_MtRushmore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1S3mEkpLouo/WQANhkDzyII/AAAAAAAAKXk/8doE2FDRL5YX8LySab9qTJqp2cZoCauSgCLcB/s320/06_Amazons_MtRushmore.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>The Capitol Building, a fallen Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian Institute, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and the White House. From S1E7 The Brotherhood of Night.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viEhP5pYGMw/WQAN26aj8mI/AAAAAAAAKXo/3fM8PnyWZfwtt0drAWv_WthJdt-as8lAACLcB/s1600/07_Brotherhood_Capitol.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viEhP5pYGMw/WQAN26aj8mI/AAAAAAAAKXo/3fM8PnyWZfwtt0drAWv_WthJdt-as8lAACLcB/s320/07_Brotherhood_Capitol.JPG" width="320" height="246" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xOPR-nuqNfc/WQAN21eL19I/AAAAAAAAKXs/n1D9kN7Q4yg9DKGgEC1NYzYgUUuVXMJbQCLcB/s1600/07_Brotherhood_FallenWashingtonMonument.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xOPR-nuqNfc/WQAN21eL19I/AAAAAAAAKXs/n1D9kN7Q4yg9DKGgEC1NYzYgUUuVXMJbQCLcB/s320/07_Brotherhood_FallenWashingtonMonument.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2Sqh8QKW90/WQAN3GzXflI/AAAAAAAAKXw/Wa0XbXfBbQAgGSFtX0io3MtaLmER0M0nwCLcB/s1600/07_Brotherhood_LincolnMemorial.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2Sqh8QKW90/WQAN3GzXflI/AAAAAAAAKXw/Wa0XbXfBbQAgGSFtX0io3MtaLmER0M0nwCLcB/s320/07_Brotherhood_LincolnMemorial.JPG" width="320" height="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ARvL5ghd-xw/WQAN3VFTxPI/AAAAAAAAKX4/nqR6djwColEDKjAb9ia9RE5nX-ptG9nKACLcB/s1600/07_Brotherhood_Smithsonian.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ARvL5ghd-xw/WQAN3VFTxPI/AAAAAAAAKX4/nqR6djwColEDKjAb9ia9RE5nX-ptG9nKACLcB/s320/07_Brotherhood_Smithsonian.JPG" width="320" height="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XSuxYEagYqg/WQAN3fmao4I/AAAAAAAAKX8/bKlZYOq0Ly0DtIkd5D6zbwk_Qs9H2sSXwCLcB/s1600/07_Brotherhood_SupremeCourtBldg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XSuxYEagYqg/WQAN3fmao4I/AAAAAAAAKX8/bKlZYOq0Ly0DtIkd5D6zbwk_Qs9H2sSXwCLcB/s320/07_Brotherhood_SupremeCourtBldg.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aqqEO5zJS9I/WQAN3bKPuuI/AAAAAAAAKX0/w4wDKZ7yNrQlG8IwfO4KMorsuS3L9DRCQCLcB/s1600/07_Brotherhood_WhiteHouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aqqEO5zJS9I/WQAN3bKPuuI/AAAAAAAAKX0/w4wDKZ7yNrQlG8IwfO4KMorsuS3L9DRCQCLcB/s320/07_Brotherhood_WhiteHouse.JPG" width="320" height="242" /></a></div>Fremont Street, downtown Las Vegas. S1E8 Challenge of the Wizards.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rUv3X2_4eaw/WQAO3mbFFgI/AAAAAAAAKYI/p-WpPDbfLy8AnC6VdDCi9W4W5qbMHxQawCLcB/s1600/08_Challenge_LasVegasFremont.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rUv3X2_4eaw/WQAO3mbFFgI/AAAAAAAAKYI/p-WpPDbfLy8AnC6VdDCi9W4W5qbMHxQawCLcB/s320/08_Challenge_LasVegasFremont.JPG" width="320" height="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s6o9FstOt20/WQAO3qTpTkI/AAAAAAAAKYE/lA8aKcIyVmUdzwEokdRyhC3JuW5BU1YegCLcB/s1600/08_Challenge_LasVegasShoeAndDice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s6o9FstOt20/WQAO3qTpTkI/AAAAAAAAKYE/lA8aKcIyVmUdzwEokdRyhC3JuW5BU1YegCLcB/s320/08_Challenge_LasVegasShoeAndDice.JPG" width="320" height="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qK-9iNlf_QI/WQAO73nb_pI/AAAAAAAAKYM/36LuaSNTf6Ifp86Rgj9f0SSQ0x1FI-tCwCLcB/s1600/08_Challenge_LasVegasFremontPANORAMACOMPLETE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qK-9iNlf_QI/WQAO73nb_pI/AAAAAAAAKYM/36LuaSNTf6Ifp86Rgj9f0SSQ0x1FI-tCwCLcB/s320/08_Challenge_LasVegasFremontPANORAMACOMPLETE.jpg" width="320" height="100" /></a></div>This is not an actual castle, but a crumbling movie set on a studio backlot in Hollywood. S1E9 Valley of the Man-Apes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bGCndcksA9M/WQAPVvPK-MI/AAAAAAAAKYQ/3v7X54PDgl0KR65wAp5H6gr4UkEpZzSPACLcB/s1600/09_ValleyManApes_MonarchStudioCastleSet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bGCndcksA9M/WQAPVvPK-MI/AAAAAAAAKYQ/3v7X54PDgl0KR65wAp5H6gr4UkEpZzSPACLcB/s320/09_ValleyManApes_MonarchStudioCastleSet.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>An old church covered in snow. S1E10 Stalker from the Stars.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Br1c5xJcujM/WQAPyvFVSeI/AAAAAAAAKYY/0Y4uQ98mPOoN0AkqGi8Vc0IhaA45M4w8gCLcB/s1600/10_Stalker_Church.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Br1c5xJcujM/WQAPyvFVSeI/AAAAAAAAKYY/0Y4uQ98mPOoN0AkqGi8Vc0IhaA45M4w8gCLcB/s320/10_Stalker_Church.JPG" width="320" height="245" /></a></div>An amusement park from the same episode.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tOG-qH52hbQ/WQAPysYyRTI/AAAAAAAAKYU/ksH12HfveQc4NEo44q-rrm5EURHy2LDYACLcB/s1600/10_Stalker_OldEarthAmusementPark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tOG-qH52hbQ/WQAPysYyRTI/AAAAAAAAKYU/ksH12HfveQc4NEo44q-rrm5EURHy2LDYACLcB/s320/10_Stalker_OldEarthAmusementPark.JPG" width="320" height="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-km0UfPDcZGs/WQAPy79868I/AAAAAAAAKYc/iISzeGNqdXERnEkISEKWWiTjkt4jA7eWACLcB/s1600/10_Stalker_OldEarthAmusementParkFunHouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-km0UfPDcZGs/WQAPy79868I/AAAAAAAAKYc/iISzeGNqdXERnEkISEKWWiTjkt4jA7eWACLcB/s320/10_Stalker_OldEarthAmusementParkFunHouse.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UUb4wlFcC2U/WQAPy1D3ZqI/AAAAAAAAKYg/2i7Mn5tnPK4N01p8ieCFeq7ae_nfyD1XgCLcB/s1600/10_Stalker_OldEarthAmusementParkTipTop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UUb4wlFcC2U/WQAPy1D3ZqI/AAAAAAAAKYg/2i7Mn5tnPK4N01p8ieCFeq7ae_nfyD1XgCLcB/s320/10_Stalker_OldEarthAmusementParkTipTop.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dAFsMxIgyeI/WQAQD7BDf-I/AAAAAAAAKYk/kiAFyHgNEWUXxBtPtkPjRisKIzc3p_2TgCLcB/s1600/10_Stalker_OldEarthAmusementParkPANORAMAFINAL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dAFsMxIgyeI/WQAQD7BDf-I/AAAAAAAAKYk/kiAFyHgNEWUXxBtPtkPjRisKIzc3p_2TgCLcB/s320/10_Stalker_OldEarthAmusementParkPANORAMAFINAL.JPG" width="320" height="76" /></a></div>The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas. S1E11 Portal Into Time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPYJ8WAiyGI/WQAQb9CxZ5I/AAAAAAAAKYo/sdDhMn3lcUAS5ER3Zkv_MQYgWcpRVgbOACLcB/s1600/11_Portal_TheAlamo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPYJ8WAiyGI/WQAQb9CxZ5I/AAAAAAAAKYo/sdDhMn3lcUAS5ER3Zkv_MQYgWcpRVgbOACLcB/s320/11_Portal_TheAlamo.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>Chinatown, San Francisco. S1E12 Battle of the Barbarians.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-di27C-J7Ibs/WQAQ_xAqKNI/AAAAAAAAKY0/qqM4UlVoNWkqMR2d97UGoNTSSeSm72XjACLcB/s1600/12_Battle_Chinatown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-di27C-J7Ibs/WQAQ_xAqKNI/AAAAAAAAKY0/qqM4UlVoNWkqMR2d97UGoNTSSeSm72XjACLcB/s320/12_Battle_Chinatown.JPG" width="320" height="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LJ3g6Rv3sAU/WQAQ_5o27CI/AAAAAAAAKY4/mFxqFGMYugUqE6-rAoWW0FqZCyFsCD2zACLcB/s1600/12_Battle_Restaurant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LJ3g6Rv3sAU/WQAQ_5o27CI/AAAAAAAAKY4/mFxqFGMYugUqE6-rAoWW0FqZCyFsCD2zACLcB/s320/12_Battle_Restaurant.JPG" width="320" height="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DNfxE566udI/WQAQ_3w5OlI/AAAAAAAAKYw/_Ql0Tw5soPIJOLa0iJArdxtxTAOSir9CQCLcB/s1600/12_Battle_Trolley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DNfxE566udI/WQAQ_3w5OlI/AAAAAAAAKYw/_Ql0Tw5soPIJOLa0iJArdxtxTAOSir9CQCLcB/s320/12_Battle_Trolley.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div>Artifacts from the old world, embedded in rock. S1E13 Den of the Sleeping Demon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQ0DxNEU2Z0/WQARfzjGVrI/AAAAAAAAKZA/sPytyswBONcARREY5cf_h8XDytFDVg1gwCLcB/s1600/13_DenSleepingDEmon_FurnitureInRock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQ0DxNEU2Z0/WQARfzjGVrI/AAAAAAAAKZA/sPytyswBONcARREY5cf_h8XDytFDVg1gwCLcB/s320/13_DenSleepingDEmon_FurnitureInRock.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div>Abandoned hospital and operating theater, from the same episode<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8cTAplI9iY/WQARgKRwGII/AAAAAAAAKZM/0VsO89jkV9kyYVmYRCuBAfO0JZoN_GZIQCLcB/s1600/13_DenSleepingDEmon_WestValleyHospital.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8cTAplI9iY/WQARgKRwGII/AAAAAAAAKZM/0VsO89jkV9kyYVmYRCuBAfO0JZoN_GZIQCLcB/s320/13_DenSleepingDEmon_WestValleyHospital.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WkJFlyoGE_Q/WQARfyxwrvI/AAAAAAAAKZE/M_oor6F-HC44gm7splE5QZ9OffLGhkaIQCLcB/s1600/13_DenSleepingDEmon_OperatingTheater.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WkJFlyoGE_Q/WQARfyxwrvI/AAAAAAAAKZE/M_oor6F-HC44gm7splE5QZ9OffLGhkaIQCLcB/s320/13_DenSleepingDEmon_OperatingTheater.JPG" width="320" height="246" /></a></div>Skeleton of a swingset.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-46ZI5lreVN8/WQARf_KlEEI/AAAAAAAAKZI/QpNU6d3vaZQbtyaUf4I9XHr70fVqRGMwACLcB/s1600/13_DenSleepingDEmon_Swingset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-46ZI5lreVN8/WQARf_KlEEI/AAAAAAAAKZI/QpNU6d3vaZQbtyaUf4I9XHr70fVqRGMwACLcB/s320/13_DenSleepingDEmon_Swingset.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>The remnants of the St. Louis Arch, Missouri, from S2E1 Wizard War.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fAtJLC69Kfg/WQASR2szQkI/AAAAAAAAKZU/ahHkd_Rgys8Kp9NVQzVKgFw4kH9-br6KQCLcB/s1600/S2_01%2BWizardWar_StLouisArch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fAtJLC69Kfg/WQASR2szQkI/AAAAAAAAKZU/ahHkd_Rgys8Kp9NVQzVKgFw4kH9-br6KQCLcB/s320/S2_01%2BWizardWar_StLouisArch.JPG" width="320" height="247" /></a></div>Corpse of a Hyundai. S2E2 Fortress of Fear.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H5bbuzqKKNI/WQASi2xvg5I/AAAAAAAAKZY/BLjhtkRWBLk0rpj8zDYryUWqjiJDCKpGQCLcB/s1600/S2_02%2BFortress_Hyundai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H5bbuzqKKNI/WQASi2xvg5I/AAAAAAAAKZY/BLjhtkRWBLk0rpj8zDYryUWqjiJDCKpGQCLcB/s320/S2_02%2BFortress_Hyundai.JPG" width="320" height="245" /></a></div>All the time in the world. Big Ben, London. S2E3 Island of the Body Snatchers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ugWEoGxLePo/WQATCgpA9PI/AAAAAAAAKZk/NFw1ifQTFc8LX0zRY0kzAxiBf4WpTsTUwCLcB/s1600/S2_03_Body%2BSnatchers_BigBen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ugWEoGxLePo/WQATCgpA9PI/AAAAAAAAKZk/NFw1ifQTFc8LX0zRY0kzAxiBf4WpTsTUwCLcB/s320/S2_03_Body%2BSnatchers_BigBen.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZmso65LKVU/WQATCkvP_SI/AAAAAAAAKZg/ORBED6qlPz0kOJEjpL9PaUPT3dEEmsTzACLcB/s1600/S2_03_Body%2BSnatchers_BigBenCloser.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZmso65LKVU/WQATCkvP_SI/AAAAAAAAKZg/ORBED6qlPz0kOJEjpL9PaUPT3dEEmsTzACLcB/s320/S2_03_Body%2BSnatchers_BigBenCloser.JPG" width="320" height="241" /></a></div>Two freeway exits and Logan Airport, Boston. S2E4 City of Evil.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M9cyBfdFWH4/WQATgcdzbZI/AAAAAAAAKZo/_85zyiW_svYwC1CMgAN9kfzXDpwsNe0ngCLcB/s1600/S2_04_City_SwampScottExit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M9cyBfdFWH4/WQATgcdzbZI/AAAAAAAAKZo/_85zyiW_svYwC1CMgAN9kfzXDpwsNe0ngCLcB/s320/S2_04_City_SwampScottExit.JPG" width="320" height="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2nScKQ4II70/WQATgTk7CaI/AAAAAAAAKZs/4E5pY01RXqYKVH1S4Q2imiYE8gSGsqwmwCLcB/s1600/S2_04_City_FreewayRampWithSign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2nScKQ4II70/WQATgTk7CaI/AAAAAAAAKZs/4E5pY01RXqYKVH1S4Q2imiYE8gSGsqwmwCLcB/s320/S2_04_City_FreewayRampWithSign.JPG" width="320" height="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YAVu9NAMa5E/WQATgmOgAoI/AAAAAAAAKZw/g9R7HheRS94XKpBU3Nxh4KGApAjlreqYACLcB/s1600/S2_04_LoganPANORAMA_FINAL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YAVu9NAMa5E/WQATgmOgAoI/AAAAAAAAKZw/g9R7HheRS94XKpBU3Nxh4KGApAjlreqYACLcB/s320/S2_04_LoganPANORAMA_FINAL.JPG" width="320" height="73" /></a></div>Abandoned zoo. S205 Last Train to Doomsday.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oTeFAyoyCYU/WQAUAYiVSLI/AAAAAAAAKZ4/WXD7scGOig48t0e0FlkpoRXJ7BF0sSR7wCLcB/s1600/S2_05%2BLastTrain_Zoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oTeFAyoyCYU/WQAUAYiVSLI/AAAAAAAAKZ4/WXD7scGOig48t0e0FlkpoRXJ7BF0sSR7wCLcB/s320/S2_05%2BLastTrain_Zoo.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>Beverly Hills, California. S2E6 Master of the Stolen Sunsword.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBa2vo-RbbA/WQAUe4LIhSI/AAAAAAAAKZ8/gbdbtM_JoUwL9iSHJZ33dNLlSL0dCI4NgCLcB/s1600/S2_06%2BMaster_BeverlyHillsHatShop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBa2vo-RbbA/WQAUe4LIhSI/AAAAAAAAKZ8/gbdbtM_JoUwL9iSHJZ33dNLlSL0dCI4NgCLcB/s320/S2_06%2BMaster_BeverlyHillsHatShop.JPG" width="320" height="242" /></a></div>Eternal Pasture Cemetery, Hollywood, CA. S2E6.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QtiUAWUOTeI/WQAUw4vzJ5I/AAAAAAAAKaI/uDWxZ3lhY3scRKnUfvSCibqx-jqxYlVBwCLcB/s1600/S2_06%2BMaster_EternalPastureGraveyard2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QtiUAWUOTeI/WQAUw4vzJ5I/AAAAAAAAKaI/uDWxZ3lhY3scRKnUfvSCibqx-jqxYlVBwCLcB/s320/S2_06%2BMaster_EternalPastureGraveyard2.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UpUoQO5N4aA/WQAUw1Ixd7I/AAAAAAAAKaE/oi9vUKkaIjoDINQujGHgAjhxCbqMiaapwCLcB/s1600/S2_06%2BMaster_EternalPastureGraveyard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UpUoQO5N4aA/WQAUw1Ixd7I/AAAAAAAAKaE/oi9vUKkaIjoDINQujGHgAjhxCbqMiaapwCLcB/s320/S2_06%2BMaster_EternalPastureGraveyard.JPG" width="320" height="242" /></a></div>Hollywood sign. S2E6.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vUW3-7fv1cM/WQAU5yD4YmI/AAAAAAAAKaM/hSlB2Ldoyeg4Kj5nLMv0xEr0uDsXSmCoQCLcB/s1600/S2_06%2BMaster_HollywoodSign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vUW3-7fv1cM/WQAU5yD4YmI/AAAAAAAAKaM/hSlB2Ldoyeg4Kj5nLMv0xEr0uDsXSmCoQCLcB/s320/S2_06%2BMaster_HollywoodSign.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>Hollywood Magic Palace, S2E6.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ejd2J_e3XHQ/WQAVAD3XU0I/AAAAAAAAKaQ/B8SGyHale_0lVLwtZGuoi6CKW6_zWG3ZACLcB/s1600/S2_06%2BMaster_HollywoodsMagicPalace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ejd2J_e3XHQ/WQAVAD3XU0I/AAAAAAAAKaQ/B8SGyHale_0lVLwtZGuoi6CKW6_zWG3ZACLcB/s320/S2_06%2BMaster_HollywoodsMagicPalace.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div>Los Angeles parking garage and poolside wreck. S2E6.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W6bqpsqPHdc/WQAVP7xrFuI/AAAAAAAAKaY/d6pUXsZYtigw4KxyTmu3ia7zrCrLxr1IACLcB/s1600/S2_06%2BMaster_ParkingGarage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W6bqpsqPHdc/WQAVP7xrFuI/AAAAAAAAKaY/d6pUXsZYtigw4KxyTmu3ia7zrCrLxr1IACLcB/s320/S2_06%2BMaster_ParkingGarage.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLXm2xytEoY/WQAVP9UObqI/AAAAAAAAKaU/5e87LwNMZtkbaj9c2gaVYVPfFnEQmoRjACLcB/s1600/S2_06%2BMaster_PoolsideCarWreck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLXm2xytEoY/WQAVP9UObqI/AAAAAAAAKaU/5e87LwNMZtkbaj9c2gaVYVPfFnEQmoRjACLcB/s320/S2_06%2BMaster_PoolsideCarWreck.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div>Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles. S2E6.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ2IN-SYOkc/WQAVe-A6uMI/AAAAAAAAKac/HJ6CRs0Abf4RcxdS0AGHmDtZ4nU1hwVAgCLcB/s1600/S2_06Master_GriffithObservatory.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ2IN-SYOkc/WQAVe-A6uMI/AAAAAAAAKac/HJ6CRs0Abf4RcxdS0AGHmDtZ4nU1hwVAgCLcB/s320/S2_06Master_GriffithObservatory.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>Welcome to Atlanta, Georgia. S2E7 Trial by Terror.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FuoP6Z5l5_E/WQAVqWw2GBI/AAAAAAAAKag/GxA6eeiYn5EqvamD5TyqOLR_b1Rhk2KdACLcB/s1600/S2_07%2BTrial_WelcomeToAtlanta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FuoP6Z5l5_E/WQAVqWw2GBI/AAAAAAAAKag/GxA6eeiYn5EqvamD5TyqOLR_b1Rhk2KdACLcB/s320/S2_07%2BTrial_WelcomeToAtlanta.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div><br />
<br />
...<br />
The backgrounds weren't all doom and gloom. Sometimes the animators would slip in pop-culture references or in-jokes (in one episode you can just make out a sign for "Westwind Steak House Restaurant"... Westwind was the name of the studio that handled production layout for the show).<br />
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Here's a Jaws sequel reference (S1E1) that predates the one in Back to the Future II by almost a decade:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lehU3BhYT6c/WQAWjgBTi1I/AAAAAAAAKao/l50eJYLXTXQANrjcvuZU4_23kVo0ljPaQCLcB/s1600/01_RuinsOfManHatt_Jaws9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lehU3BhYT6c/WQAWjgBTi1I/AAAAAAAAKao/l50eJYLXTXQANrjcvuZU4_23kVo0ljPaQCLcB/s320/01_RuinsOfManHatt_Jaws9.JPG" width="320" height="272" /></a></div><br />
A reference to the forthcoming Star Wars sequel, still titled "Revenge of the Jedi" when this episode aired in November 1980, and another Jaws reference, from S1E5:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb07rO2aRr8/WQAXEI2jdjI/AAAAAAAAKaw/EWfNizXmzS80ink-JiIeqYzLojauVTncACLcB/s1600/05_Treasure_ROTJ%2Band%2BJaws%2BPosters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb07rO2aRr8/WQAXEI2jdjI/AAAAAAAAKaw/EWfNizXmzS80ink-JiIeqYzLojauVTncACLcB/s320/05_Treasure_ROTJ%2Band%2BJaws%2BPosters.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.wbshop.com/product/thundarr+the+barbarian+%28dvd%29+1000180186.do">Thundarr the Barbarian</a> can be purchased on a 4-DVD set as a <a href="http://www.wbshop.com/category/code/wac.do?ref=GGLWAC&gclid=CJLD4tiawdMCFZNgfgodVl8GOQ">Warner Archives Collection</a> MOD release.Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-19973456725363485502017-03-26T15:52:00.001-07:002017-03-27T08:25:13.439-07:00*Hyperspace Used, a.k.a. The Great Father/Son Vectrex Minestorm Rivalry of 1985Videogames were an important facet of my life back in the early 1980s (I was in grade school), and between my network of friends, I had access to all the major home systems of the day. Friend #1 had the <b>Atari 2600 (1977)</b>, the old, reliable workhorse, a system so popular and ubiquitous that its joystick controller became a de facto symbol of the gaming industry itself. <br />
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Friend #2 had the <b>Odyssey 2 (Magnavox, 1978)</b>, an oddball system with full-Qwerty membrane keyboard that made it superficially resemble a personal computer. Considered a lesser system due to its inferior graphics and sound (every game seemed to emit the exact same set of bleeps and bloops), it had a few notable system-specific titles such as <b>K.C. Munchkin</b>, a Pac-Man knock-off that was more fun than any other dot-eating maze game available on cart at the time, and <b>Quest For The Rings</b>, a board-game/videogame hybrid that required two players to cooperate as a team in a multi-level dungeon crawl.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gsl_7NDE-KY/WNg7jIzRJvI/AAAAAAAAKVI/A9AOs22Qgmkyx-XPotNBk-GD4w_x4p4ZACLcB/s1600/KCMunchkin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gsl_7NDE-KY/WNg7jIzRJvI/AAAAAAAAKVI/A9AOs22Qgmkyx-XPotNBk-GD4w_x4p4ZACLcB/s320/KCMunchkin.JPG" width="300" height="196" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVM0haDZH0A/WNg7rJSpzeI/AAAAAAAAKVM/9f8M_joITIEhpafzWpUw7yYxq4yPgB_lQCLcB/s1600/ad%2Bfor%2BOdyssey%2B2The%2BQuest%2Bfor%2Bthe%2BRings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVM0haDZH0A/WNg7rJSpzeI/AAAAAAAAKVM/9f8M_joITIEhpafzWpUw7yYxq4yPgB_lQCLcB/s200/ad%2Bfor%2BOdyssey%2B2The%2BQuest%2Bfor%2Bthe%2BRings.jpg" width="214" height="260" /></a></div>Friend #3 had the newish <b>Colecovision (1982)</b>, which had superior graphics and licensed arcade hits like <b>Zaxxon</b> and <b>Donkey Kong</b>, as well as titles built around popular pop-culture characters like Rocky Balboa, Buck Rogers and The Smurfs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uxWK-oZzIfU/WNg8nPRH50I/AAAAAAAAKVU/acKImgaJACoPDHhhJWGTK8hWLOwvsUxxQCLcB/s1600/colecoSmurfs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uxWK-oZzIfU/WNg8nPRH50I/AAAAAAAAKVU/acKImgaJACoPDHhhJWGTK8hWLOwvsUxxQCLcB/s200/colecoSmurfs.JPG" width="200" height="148" /></a></div>And finally, I had the <b>Intellivision (Mattel, 1979)</b>, viewed as the more sophisticated machine, since its name was a portmanteau of "Intelligent" and "Television". Apparently, your time spent mindlessly zapping flying saucers on the Intellivision was actually an enriching intellectual exercise. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DRy7Pa5hlrU/WNg9ADfqj0I/AAAAAAAAKVY/AXKoB2TOV7YoADeasie3LW-mW3AnDOnHQCLcB/s1600/intellivisioncatalog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DRy7Pa5hlrU/WNg9ADfqj0I/AAAAAAAAKVY/AXKoB2TOV7YoADeasie3LW-mW3AnDOnHQCLcB/s320/intellivisioncatalog.JPG" width="212" height="320" /></a></div>One glaring omission from my circle-of-friends system-collective was dark horse <b>Vectrex</b>, by Milton Bradley. Introduced in 1982 and retailing at $199,Vectrex stood unique from the other systems because it was a portable machine, and rather than hook it up to your television, had its own built-in vector-scan display. <br />
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Vector graphics were composed of rays of light that traced lines between points, rather than a bit-mapped grid of blocks. Some vector-graphics arcade games of note were <b>Asteroids</b>, <b>Tempest</b>, <b>Battlezone</b> and the original arcade <b>Star Wars</b>. The bright, clear lines of the display, similar in brilliance to those you might see on an oscilloscope screen, were very striking and had a definite futuristic science-fiction aesthetic. No other system before or since offered this unique display type (and modern arcade emulations can't quite capture the effect). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-km6ZNyZJiuk/WNg9XP36XPI/AAAAAAAAKVc/EtbuxzWXlWI0IDlCMcS16o9N7IL_wMxdQCLcB/s1600/starwarsscreencap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-km6ZNyZJiuk/WNg9XP36XPI/AAAAAAAAKVc/EtbuxzWXlWI0IDlCMcS16o9N7IL_wMxdQCLcB/s320/starwarsscreencap.JPG" width="320" height="243" /></a></div>I spent enough hands-on time with the Vectrex at in-store kiosks to decide I definitely would welcome this little machine to my home, if not for the two-hundred dollar price tag (as well as the disapproval from my parents, who felt it was something akin to betrayal to add a new cartridge-slot to feed when we already had a perfectly good system at home.) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOijuiZVAWw/WNg9mQsOLkI/AAAAAAAAKVg/SPJuOXskEXcwzTZDPcG1Szi-oU9WfN8SACLcB/s1600/storedisplay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOijuiZVAWw/WNg9mQsOLkI/AAAAAAAAKVg/SPJuOXskEXcwzTZDPcG1Szi-oU9WfN8SACLcB/s320/storedisplay.JPG" width="195" height="320" /></a></div>Unfortunately the Vectrex may have been too unique for its own good, as the system floundered commercially and was discontinued in 1984, with less than 30 games ever released (Atari 2600, by comparison, had hundreds of titles.) Even unique add-on peripherals like active-shutter 3D goggles and a light-pen were not enough to save the system from consumer disinterest. Vectrex systems were soon sitting on toy store clearance racks, priced at $49. This was my chance to finally grab one!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IEWSbc6i6-w/WNg-Ejrl4jI/AAAAAAAAKVk/j309672k754UGRnSNBC7JHfp-20kcRWSwCLcB/s1600/Ad%2BHighPerformanceMachine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IEWSbc6i6-w/WNg-Ejrl4jI/AAAAAAAAKVk/j309672k754UGRnSNBC7JHfp-20kcRWSwCLcB/s320/Ad%2BHighPerformanceMachine.JPG" width="320" height="209" /></a></div><font size="1"><center><i><b>Even these genuinely cool hardware peripherals couldn't save the system.</b></i></center></font><br />
After several months of saving every penny I could get my hands on (fifty bucks was a lot of money to a grade-schooler in 1984) I finally scrounged together enough to buy the discounted system, but with no money left over for cartridges. <br />
<br />
That's okay, though, because Vectrex came with one built-in game, and it was, as the kids say today, a <i>killer app</i>. <b>Minestorm</b> was basically Asteroids on steroids (<i>A-Steroids?</i>) You piloted a space ship using rotate-left/right, thrust and "hyperspace" controls, shooting floating space "mines", which sometimes shot back or followed you around the screen. <br />
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So it was Asteroids, leveled-up.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KgQ-qdW0V24/WNg-gdC4jzI/AAAAAAAAKVo/zXbEglanmSswUMSnuUeBgIyc0EkBmRsmQCLcB/s1600/Vectrex%2Bmagazine%2BAd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KgQ-qdW0V24/WNg-gdC4jzI/AAAAAAAAKVo/zXbEglanmSswUMSnuUeBgIyc0EkBmRsmQCLcB/s320/Vectrex%2Bmagazine%2BAd.jpg" width="241" height="320" /></a></div><font size="1"><center><i><b>Magazine ad for Vectrex highlighted the free pack-in game Minestorm <br />
and a very, very excited family.</b></i></center></font><br />
The Minestorm instruction manual included a few pages to document high scores, and I started logging my steadily increasing achievements (although I never bothered recording the date when the scores were achieved.) <br />
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Today, the score record stands as an amusing account of father/son one-upmanship.<br />
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Dad, you see, was a bit of a videogamer too, and he gravitated towards the games with a simple controller layout (the joystick-only <b>Frogger</b> was his arcade favorite.) Initially against the Vectrex purchase (our loyal Intellivision may get jealous, was perhaps his thinking) he soon warmed up to this latest addition to the family and was adding his own personal-best Minestorm scores to the list, although with his scores barely halving mine, I was in no immediate danger of being overtaken.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sulTX-_HfGE/WNhAHLWXagI/AAAAAAAAKV0/XT_Jf9y2tSMq2vyrqL8XRMBuiyFrItZGQCLcB/s1600/scores_block01_SlowBuildUpforBillDadJustForRecordOnly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sulTX-_HfGE/WNhAHLWXagI/AAAAAAAAKV0/XT_Jf9y2tSMq2vyrqL8XRMBuiyFrItZGQCLcB/s320/scores_block01_SlowBuildUpforBillDadJustForRecordOnly.jpg" width="320" height="195" /></a></div>I mentioned my Dad's preference for uncomplicated controls... he could handle the ship rotation (joystick controlled), fire and thrust buttons that Minestorm required, but lacked the dexterity to include the third "hyperspace" button (the manual calls it "Escape") in his repertoire. The rare occasions he tried using the feature always ended in disaster, since he had to divert his eyes from the screen to visually locate the evasive third button on the controller before finally navigating his finger to it, always seconds too late. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RR2lyKCdqs8/WNhAPBuuk4I/AAAAAAAAKV4/AqHlyzx45gMMuMRiPG2q9SGTjqK-J8ubwCLcB/s1600/manual_controlpanel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RR2lyKCdqs8/WNhAPBuuk4I/AAAAAAAAKV4/AqHlyzx45gMMuMRiPG2q9SGTjqK-J8ubwCLcB/s320/manual_controlpanel.jpg" width="320" height="295" /></a></div>Consequently, my Dad made it a point of pride that HIS scores were achieved without using the hyperspace feature, as if this was some kind of lesser, unsportsmanlike tactic. Much like professional athletes who hold records qualified with an asterisk to denote some questionable circumstance associated with the achievement, to my Dad, my scores all bore the scarlet H... "*Hyperspace Used."<br />
<br />
On one particularly good run, I managed to nearly triple my previous high score, achieving a then-impressive 166,958 points. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJcgtM_0Gwc/WNhAYzAv2qI/AAAAAAAAKV8/OX4Qjb0LURY7WhsYc8LZufx1oasregnsACLcB/s1600/scores_block02_wCalloutBillSetsNewRecordandHangsItUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJcgtM_0Gwc/WNhAYzAv2qI/AAAAAAAAKV8/OX4Qjb0LURY7WhsYc8LZufx1oasregnsACLcB/s320/scores_block02_wCalloutBillSetsNewRecordandHangsItUp.jpg" width="320" height="81" /></a></div>This must have lit a fire in Dad's belly, because what follows is a streak of steadily increasing scores as he chased my new record, finally topping it on 5/15/1985 (at least three months after my entry), with a score of 171,105. And Dad did not rest on his laurels, either, pushing himself harder and higher, eventually landing an unprecedented score of 218,090 two months later (7/11/1985)! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3EuDxzlRxXk/WNhA5ETOIXI/AAAAAAAAKWA/ap3dRVl5_RcxWDckcVe3MCKq8DLmQCGOACLcB/s1600/scores_block03_BillRetiredDadStartsCreepignUpthenBeatsREcord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3EuDxzlRxXk/WNhA5ETOIXI/AAAAAAAAKWA/ap3dRVl5_RcxWDckcVe3MCKq8DLmQCGOACLcB/s320/scores_block03_BillRetiredDadStartsCreepignUpthenBeatsREcord.jpg" width="320" height="179" /></a></div>Dad, basking in high-score glory, was simply too much for my pre-teen ego to bear. Enough was, decidedly, enough. <br />
<br />
After having semi-retired from the Minestorm scene, I quietly returned to the playfield for the sole purpose of reasserting my superior skills, and in a move worthy of videogame record-holding villain Billy Mitchell (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/">King of Kong:A Fistful of Quarters</a>), proceeded to rack up a previously unheard of score of 681,070, tripling-and-then-some my Dad's once proud record, and noting the achievement in the official record book with a little triple-underlined, exclamation-pointed self-aggrandizing smugness ("Bill Super Star!")<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Weoq4WsKxbI/WNhBtqSv8AI/AAAAAAAAKWI/HnqwR3oRRZsbgwOp5rjk00O5nxNp8x9zwCLcB/s1600/scores_block04_BillPullsABillyMitchellComesBackHard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Weoq4WsKxbI/WNhBtqSv8AI/AAAAAAAAKWI/HnqwR3oRRZsbgwOp5rjk00O5nxNp8x9zwCLcB/s320/scores_block04_BillPullsABillyMitchellComesBackHard.jpg" width="320" height="88" /></a></div><font size="1"><center><i><b>Lest there be any doubt who was currently on top...</b></i></center></font><br />
<br />
"But you used Hyperspace!" father despaired, as his hard-won scores were dumped into the ash-bin of history...<br />
<br />
Don't feel too bad for Dad, though. As the years rolled along and my interest in Minestorm waned (this ended up being my last recorded score), he perfected his game, eventually besting my historic achievement with an impressive 954,819 ("11/8/85 Dad New Champ!"), then nearly doubling that years later (5/4/1987, 1,906,735).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYarICrj2Hs/WNhCvHidmMI/AAAAAAAAKWQ/ywY33yADyZoFkY06dKqbHfAD9dL_P8mvwCLcB/s1600/scoresheet_Page02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYarICrj2Hs/WNhCvHidmMI/AAAAAAAAKWQ/ywY33yADyZoFkY06dKqbHfAD9dL_P8mvwCLcB/s320/scoresheet_Page02.jpg" width="320" height="262" /></a></div>At this point, Dad was no longer competing against me--but against himself. He was on a long, personal journey of discovery.<br />
<br />
...a journey made longer, perhaps, by not using hyperspace. <br />
Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-948504634431388242017-02-23T13:53:00.000-08:002017-02-23T13:53:34.428-08:00Go to the Head of The Class (Amazing Stories, 1986)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dh-E6vWpZho/WK9QCR95UxI/AAAAAAAAKTg/ewXWX0vNx0IkNZCaySarbPLzahEzv4K-gCLcB/s1600/amazingStoriesTitleCard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dh-E6vWpZho/WK9QCR95UxI/AAAAAAAAKTg/ewXWX0vNx0IkNZCaySarbPLzahEzv4K-gCLcB/s320/amazingStoriesTitleCard.JPG" width="320" height="239" /></a></div><br />
There are two words that distinguished NBC's <b>Amazing Stories</b> from the other sci-fi/fantasy anthology TV series that arrived in the mid-<a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/80s">1980s</a> (titles like <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/07/shadow-man-new-twilight-zone-1985.html">The (New) Twilight Zone</a>, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2012/01/man-from-south-1960-alfred-hitchcock.html">Alfred Hitchcock Presents</a> and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/03/town-where-no-on-got-off-1986-ray.html">The Ray Bradbury Theater</a>), and those two words are:<br />
<br />
<center><b>Steven Spielberg</b></center><br />
Of course, Spielberg got his humble start in <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/TV">television</a>, directing memorable episodes of <b>Rod Serling</b>'s <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/Night%20Gallery">Night Gallery</a> (1969) and one of the best <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/search/label/made-for-TV">made-for-TV movies</a> of all time, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2015/03/spielbergs-duel-1971-and-incredible.html">Duel</a>. But this was 1985, not 1971, and Spielberg now had <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2013/08/national-geographic-vol-133-no2.html">Jaws</a>, <b>Close Encounters of the Third Kind</b>, <b>Raiders of the Lost Ark</b>, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/07/ive-got-something-in-my-eye.html">E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial</a>, <b>Twilight Zone: The Movie</b> and <b>Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</b> on his director's resume, not to mention a producer credit on <b>Poltergeist</b>, <b>The Goonies</b>, <b>Gremlins</b>, and <b>Back To the Future</b>. <br />
<br />
So the prospect of this Hollywood-conquering hero returning triumphant to the unworthy boob-tube was kinda sorta unbelievable.<br />
<br />
And he wasn't doing it alone. A who's who of talent, both on-screen (<b>Kevin Costner</b>, <b>John Lithgow</b>, <b>Patrick Swayze</b>, <b>Charlie Sheen</b>, <b>Harvey Keitel</b>, <b>Mark Hamill</b>, <b>Keifer Sutherland</b>, <b>Christina Applegate</b>, <b>Drew Barrymore</b>, and <b>Forest Whitaker</b>, for starters), and behind the camera (<b>Robert Zemeckis</b>, <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/05/mant-and-mosquito.html">Joe Dante</a>, <b>Clint Eastwood</b>, <b>Irvin Kershner</b>, <b>Martin Scorsese</b>, <b>Brad Bird</b>, and <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/06/funhouse-1981.html">Tobe Hooper</a>) would be pitching in to make sure <b>Amazing Stories</b> was the greatest thing to grace your television screen. Ever.<br />
<br />
Unrealistic expectations aside, <b>Amazing Stories</b>, it turned out, was not exactly what I was looking for in an anthology show. While technically impressive (every episode looked like a big-budget feature film), the stories were often of the treacly variety, eschewing irony for sentimentality, and straining to emulate those moments of wonder that Spielberg's films seemed to deliver effortlessly. (A July '86 TV Guide blurb suggested the show was poorly titled, since the stories were so often "banal and juvenile.")<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-75CSvwqypA4/WK9QVQWJEaI/AAAAAAAAKTk/cQrNdUoNBlQo1X-qDc5xlnWIQtK6WR4tQCLcB/s1600/TVGuideBlurb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-75CSvwqypA4/WK9QVQWJEaI/AAAAAAAAKTk/cQrNdUoNBlQo1X-qDc5xlnWIQtK6WR4tQCLcB/s320/TVGuideBlurb.jpg" width="320" height="157" /></a></div><br />
The worst <b>Amazing Stories</b> episodes frequently reminded me of my least favorite segment from <b>Twilight Zone: The Movie</b>, which happened to be Spielberg's "Kick the Can", a saccharine fairy tale about a group of geriatrics magically transformed into children for one last romp on the playground before settling back into their comfortable aged bodies. <b>George Miller</b>'s terrifying "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" remake and <b>Joe Dante</b>'s fever-dream funhouse take on "It's A Good Life" were much more my cup of <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/03/hey-kool-aid.html">Kool-Aid</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9h_GDYC-cFI/WK9Ro2PBH1I/AAAAAAAAKT0/ahZJ7jjaaUoiiug9qT40dPxLOjG6LfXmgCLcB/s1600/openingtitles2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9h_GDYC-cFI/WK9Ro2PBH1I/AAAAAAAAKT0/ahZJ7jjaaUoiiug9qT40dPxLOjG6LfXmgCLcB/s320/openingtitles2.JPG" width="320" height="237" /></a></div><i><b>We were promised at least one haunted house and green ghost. (A still from the opening title sequence.)</b><br />
</i><br />
<br />
I stuck it out with <b>Amazing Stories</b> anyway (it was 1985, after all... what else was I going to watch, <b>Scarecrow and Mrs. King</b>?) but definitely favored <b>The New Twilight Zone</b> and <b>Alfred Hitchcock Presents</b>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OG2Uus9ZVdk/WK9RCKpG68I/AAAAAAAAKTs/Rz3ioCO8caEs2lcFQRTe_B_NrV8Dm79BACLcB/s1600/scarecrowandmrsking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OG2Uus9ZVdk/WK9RCKpG68I/AAAAAAAAKTs/Rz3ioCO8caEs2lcFQRTe_B_NrV8Dm79BACLcB/s320/scarecrowandmrsking.JPG" width="320" height="244" /></a></div><br />
My persistence paid off halfway through the second season, when <b>Amazing Stories</b> delivered a genuinely frightening and unsentimental episode, <b>Go To the Head of The Class</b> (S2E8), that could have leapt right out of the pages of an <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/06/black-ferris-1953-ray-bradbury.html">E.C. fright comic</a>. This special hour-long installment (episodes were normally half-hour) was directed by <b>Robert Zemeckis</b>, hot off the success of the original <b>Back to the Future</b>, and who would go on to produce a revamped <b>Tales From the Crypt</b> series for HBO a few years later, so it's not totally surprising that <b>Go To the Head of The Class</b> plays like a mash-up of those two properties. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K1DDHVIOEHg/WK9Rh1suB7I/AAAAAAAAKTw/HxE8pK5cv7MkoVI_Bt4_z2bicoPhpb2UwCLcB/s1600/EpisodeTitleCard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K1DDHVIOEHg/WK9Rh1suB7I/AAAAAAAAKTw/HxE8pK5cv7MkoVI_Bt4_z2bicoPhpb2UwCLcB/s320/EpisodeTitleCard.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></div><br />
High schooler Peter Brand (<b>Scott Coffey</b>) has a thing for monsters (his bedroom is decorated with horror posters and toys) and for classmate Cynthia Simpson (<b>Mary Stuart Masterson</b>. The pair would appear on screen together again in 1987's <b>Some Kind of Wonderful</b>.)<br />
<br />
But he also has a problem getting to class on time. In an opening scene reminiscent of BTTF, Peter realizes he's late for school while talking on the phone, and has to sneak into first period.<br />
<br />
Professor B.O. Beanes (BTTF alum <b>Christopher Lloyd</b>) is delivering a lecture about Shakespeare, specifically MacBeth (more specifically, about how Lady MacBeth "... used sex, the promise of it, the implied threatened denial of it, to control and dominate her husband...") as Peter slips undetected into his desk across from Cynthia, who goes by the nick-name "Cyn" (get it?) and will soon be tempting Brand with the promise of forbidden fruit. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WF0hvBiR3Ts/WK9SUkwmZvI/AAAAAAAAKUA/Er1uXMFQw0sDy-J00cC9l6d7zL9fSKigwCLcB/s1600/05_SEX%2BSpelled%2Bout.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WF0hvBiR3Ts/WK9SUkwmZvI/AAAAAAAAKUA/Er1uXMFQw0sDy-J00cC9l6d7zL9fSKigwCLcB/s320/05_SEX%2BSpelled%2Bout.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></div><br />
While Peter sneaks glances at the object of his desire, Beanes continues, "Men, perhaps even some in this very room, continue to say things, do things and participate in behavior they wouldn't normally dream of for the promise of sexual favor."<br />
<br />
When Beanes reveals that Peter and Cynthia both submitted identical papers, it's Peter who takes the blame even though it's obvious Cynthia plagiarized his work without his knowledge. We are then introduced to the cruel and unusual punishment Beanes favors in the confines of his classroom, forcing Peter to stand in a stress position with a stack of heavy books in each hand, a torture he calls "Meet The Misters" (Mr. Funk, Mr. Wagnall, etc.) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H8S1w_uW8AQ/WK9SONFbh2I/AAAAAAAAKT8/-Z2h1inThUo633GLbDePi_I7TUlqvtO5ACLcB/s1600/06_Meet%2BThe%2BMisters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H8S1w_uW8AQ/WK9SONFbh2I/AAAAAAAAKT8/-Z2h1inThUo633GLbDePi_I7TUlqvtO5ACLcB/s320/06_Meet%2BThe%2BMisters.JPG" width="320" height="241" /></a></div><br />
After school, Cynthia cooks up a plan with Peter to get revenge using a black magic spell that can be heard by playing the album <b>The Last Supper</b> by <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/03/b-17-heavy-metal-1981.html">heavy metal</a> group <b>Blood Sausage</b> backward (a modern alternative to the old witch's spell book, which seemed relevant, if not entirely plausible, in the era of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic_ritual_abuse#As_a_moral_panic">Satanic Panic</a>, when backwards masking and subliminal messages were believed to be hidden in rock records. The gimmick was also used in 1987's <b>The Gate</b>.)<br />
<br />
The spell is said to give the victim an extreme case of hiccups that lasts several days, and has to be cast exactly at midnight. The prospect of a late night rendezvous with Cyn is too good to pass up, even if it will be in a spooky old graveyard.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4G21E1dBspA/WK9TTFkZbqI/AAAAAAAAKUI/nDP4ZrcL_6AIusfui1YnfWxf3MWtUYvKQCLcB/s1600/07_Record%2BBackwards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4G21E1dBspA/WK9TTFkZbqI/AAAAAAAAKUI/nDP4ZrcL_6AIusfui1YnfWxf3MWtUYvKQCLcB/s320/07_Record%2BBackwards.JPG" width="320" height="270" /></a></div><blockquote><i>Add dirt from a grave that is freshly dug, <br />
And the fingertip of a dead relation by blood. <br />
This mixture ignite at the stroke of midnight, <br />
By the united hand of woman and man.</i></blockquote><br />
The idea of kids trying to wield supernatural power using whatever pop-culture resources were available to them really spoke to me (I previously posted about my <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/07/voodoo-magic.html">childhood dabbling with the dark arts</a> trying to perform a spell depicted in the adaptation of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bellairs">John Bellairs</a>' <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_with_a_Clock_in_Its_Walls">The House With A Clock In Its Walls</a> from the TV special <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/07/once-upon-midnight-scary-1979-was-hour.html">Once Upon a Midnight Scary</a>). But although I fancied myself capable of casting black magic spells on my enemies and perhaps raising the dead, I never quite had the courage to sneak out my bedroom window at night.<br />
<br />
The action moves to a wonderfully atmospheric cemetery (gnarled trees and ankle-deep mist), and after some spooky business with the pair hiding in an open grave to avoid a drunken caretaker, they break into the Beanes family crypt to prepare the potion ingredients, which include a severed bat's wing (supplied by Cyn, no questions asked), dead katydids, a graven image (a picture of Beanes from the school yearbook), rose water, the dirt from a freshly dug grave, and finally, a finger tip from a blood relative, which they procure from a reposing corpse (Ebenezer Beanes, 1854-1936) using a pair of garden shears. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8-I_2xUpK08/WK9ViFFElbI/AAAAAAAAKUY/idJQmsPbNj0vhB5skcvgBoxROjQm7cXtwCLcB/s1600/10_Fingertip%2BSnip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8-I_2xUpK08/WK9ViFFElbI/AAAAAAAAKUY/idJQmsPbNj0vhB5skcvgBoxROjQm7cXtwCLcB/s320/10_Fingertip%2BSnip.JPG" width="320" height="239" /></a></div><br />
In another similarity to BTTF, this scene turns into a nail-biting race against time, punctuated by the loud clanging of a clock bell, to assemble all the elements of the spell at the precisely prescribed moment (BTTF's "weather experiment" to power a time machine with a lightning bolt was, after all, little more than magic dressed up in a scientist's lab coat.).<br />
<br />
The spell cast, the kids check up on Mr. Beanes at his spooky mansion home, only to find him laying dead on the floor!<br />
<br />
Luckily, the <b>Blood Sausage</b> album contains an anecdote spell on a track titled "The Dead Shall Rise" which promises to set things right. But in their hurry to perform the ritual, which, like the first spell, requires a yearbook photo, the couple accidentally tear the image of Beanes at the neck while adding it to the mix. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sHAhmCkOUgk/WK9WBXu6e0I/AAAAAAAAKUc/WxZbu-rKU9wkb0-HXlD83cRXwHvHQHKTACLcB/s1600/13_HeadTorn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sHAhmCkOUgk/WK9WBXu6e0I/AAAAAAAAKUc/WxZbu-rKU9wkb0-HXlD83cRXwHvHQHKTACLcB/s320/13_HeadTorn.JPG" width="320" height="241" /></a></div><br />
The unexpected result is that Beanes returns to life, sound in mind and body, but with the former no longer physically attached to the later. A lengthy chase scene follows that is both frightening and funny and plays like a modern take on <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/10/headless-horseman-of-sleepy-hollow-1970.html">Ichabod Crane's</a> final flight in <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2009/10/legend-of-sleepy-hollow-disneyland.html">The Legend of Sleepy Hollow</a>. The humor never undermines the horror of the situation, though, but adds a layer of surrealism, especially a nightmarish moment when Beanes's severed head bites onto Peter's pants leg and refuses to let go no matter how vigorously he kicks.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ogR2wPAMbLk/WK9WHwxTNOI/AAAAAAAAKUg/V0_tYSmpvWgYanad8Lrh11_6tc8yOgZmwCLcB/s1600/14_BeanesIsBack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ogR2wPAMbLk/WK9WHwxTNOI/AAAAAAAAKUg/V0_tYSmpvWgYanad8Lrh11_6tc8yOgZmwCLcB/s320/14_BeanesIsBack.JPG" width="320" height="242" /></a></div><br />
The special effects in this segment, a combination of in-camera trickery, animatronic figures (courtesy of effects guru <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Winston">Stan Winston</a>) and opticals, were state of the art at the time and hold up very well today.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhJrEjCQTck/WK9ZaIRnNwI/AAAAAAAAKU0/ZxbLDQmeX7k0J5SmOLLDkfr7zzwYAhrbQCLcB/s1600/15_HeadOnTheFloor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhJrEjCQTck/WK9ZaIRnNwI/AAAAAAAAKU0/ZxbLDQmeX7k0J5SmOLLDkfr7zzwYAhrbQCLcB/s320/15_HeadOnTheFloor.JPG" width="320" height="242" /></a></div><br />
Like BTTF, the episode was filmed on the Universal Studios back lot, and as the chase spills outdoors onto the streets, the neighborhood sure looks similar to BTTF's Hill Valley (in some shots you can even see that the streets are still dressed with 1950s era automobiles, an incongruity as <b>Go To The Head of The Class</b> is set in present day 1986.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q0X4j7CjIxA/WK9WNdbkxhI/AAAAAAAAKUk/WfXPMbWIq3sHpRWIxmBtsEvwOMT9rqgVwCLcB/s1600/18_1950s%2BCarswith%2BCallouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q0X4j7CjIxA/WK9WNdbkxhI/AAAAAAAAKUk/WfXPMbWIq3sHpRWIxmBtsEvwOMT9rqgVwCLcB/s320/18_1950s%2BCarswith%2BCallouts.jpg" width="320" height="241" /></a></div><br />
<b>Go To the Head of The Class</b> is available on the <b>Amazing Stories The Complete Second Season</b> DVD set <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KHUXO64/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">here</a> (it's an import release from <b>Umbrella Entertainment</b>, but is all-region and plays fine on U.S. equipment. All screen caps were taken from the DVD.)<br />
<br />
While researching this article I happened upon <a href="https://theentertainmentnut.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/retro-recaps-amazing-stories-go-to-the-head-of-the-class/">this blog post</a> that covers the episode thoroughly and even documents additional similarities to BTTF which I was planning to include here, so I'm just going to encourage you to read that original post instead. <br />
Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-22609732350136071122017-01-10T18:06:00.001-08:002017-01-10T18:16:46.396-08:00Hypno-Horror! What started out as a little retro-review of obscure 80s horror film "Anguish" turned into a longish piece on the history of subliminal messaging as horror film gimmick. Read all about it at <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/2017/01/09/death-spirals-a-history-of-the-hypnotic-horror-film/">We Are The Mutants...<br />
</a> <br />
I assure you there are no hypnotic suggestions hidden in the article, so if you should find your eyelids getting heavy while reading, there's probably some other explanation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90-4XWGgrCU/WHWT12XYHDI/AAAAAAAAKTM/s4uGdW76rlsBVisclooxU-rhm3Vi2H8SQCLcB/s1600/HynoVista_EmileFranchelSPiral.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90-4XWGgrCU/WHWT12XYHDI/AAAAAAAAKTM/s4uGdW76rlsBVisclooxU-rhm3Vi2H8SQCLcB/s400/HynoVista_EmileFranchelSPiral.JPG" width="400" height="174" /></a></div>Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-79479036910987286682016-10-22T15:35:00.000-07:002016-10-26T05:57:33.767-07:00Monsters: Fiendish Facts, Quivery Quizzes and Other Grisly Goings-on (A Golden Family Funtime Book, 1977)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qwA-wfwWih8/WAvfvkWmOUI/AAAAAAAAKQg/U7r2uLeKDvsDBN8rvKT8F0JSQoslpARCwCLcB/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qwA-wfwWih8/WAvfvkWmOUI/AAAAAAAAKQg/U7r2uLeKDvsDBN8rvKT8F0JSQoslpARCwCLcB/s400/cover.jpg" width="287" height="400" /></a></div>This entry in the "Golden Family Funtime" series is called (take a breath...) "Monsters: Fiendish Facts, Quivery Quizzes and Other Grisly Goings-on", a collection of essays, puzzles, games and trivia revolving around all things monster. Written by <b>Donald F. Glut</b> (he also wrote, interestingly, the novelization of <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, among other comic and horror titles for kids) and illustrated by <b>Dennis Hockerman</b> (cover only) and <b>Carole Jean Bourke</b> (interiors), "Monsters" offers a fairly comprehensive overview of the monster genre with an emphasis on their presentation in books and films, padded out with a little cryptozoology for good measure.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vIgpKfkB46o/WAviIu-AGuI/AAAAAAAAKRI/Ib31WwcnR68-WTAWM-2UI7lR9sO4f0RNgCLcB/s1600/titlepage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vIgpKfkB46o/WAviIu-AGuI/AAAAAAAAKRI/Ib31WwcnR68-WTAWM-2UI7lR9sO4f0RNgCLcB/s400/titlepage.jpg" width="258" height="400" /></a></div><br />
Categories of monster reviewed here include the literary (Frankenstein's Monster, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde)... <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HkSDJzDhUs/WAvhYfQ7jCI/AAAAAAAAKQo/YKZ7QZIEvjsmu7yk8L5rT6XafGA9oZgOgCLcB/s1600/frankensteinsmonster_header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HkSDJzDhUs/WAvhYfQ7jCI/AAAAAAAAKQo/YKZ7QZIEvjsmu7yk8L5rT6XafGA9oZgOgCLcB/s400/frankensteinsmonster_header.jpg" width="400" height="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ADhKEXXdRvE/WAvhhkeOQHI/AAAAAAAAKQs/yek9oQ5LaokbxfqimkKRlAVUFwr_IiwxACLcB/s1600/jeckyllandHyde_Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ADhKEXXdRvE/WAvhhkeOQHI/AAAAAAAAKQs/yek9oQ5LaokbxfqimkKRlAVUFwr_IiwxACLcB/s400/jeckyllandHyde_Header.jpg" width="400" height="346" /></a></div><br />
...traditional/folklore (Werewolves, Vampires, Mummies, Voodoo Terrors)... <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iE5dg9EMB-g/WAvhsWjXckI/AAAAAAAAKQw/EMsG1rNEvYEnUBxa7guSWjDxpEcr73uiQCLcB/s1600/werewolves_Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iE5dg9EMB-g/WAvhsWjXckI/AAAAAAAAKQw/EMsG1rNEvYEnUBxa7guSWjDxpEcr73uiQCLcB/s400/werewolves_Header.jpg" width="400" height="222" /></a></div><center>Werewolf indicators. Keep the tweezers handy if you want to pass for normal.</center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_yVssX2zqyA/WAvhsxfpOAI/AAAAAAAAKQ0/ae70Qpe3il0U-YX0yhDLyVxj8_qk1Q34wCLcB/s1600/werewolves_illustration01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_yVssX2zqyA/WAvhsxfpOAI/AAAAAAAAKQ0/ae70Qpe3il0U-YX0yhDLyVxj8_qk1Q34wCLcB/s400/werewolves_illustration01.jpg" width="397" height="400" /></a></div><center>A depiction of the burning at the stake of accused werewolf Stubbe Peter, Germany, March 31, 1590.</center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E8fh1c9GLto/WAvhtodZ_0I/AAAAAAAAKQ4/ei3b49BNDOY55UsrchGFPpetGaYQQt6fwCLcB/s1600/werewolves_burnedatstake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E8fh1c9GLto/WAvhtodZ_0I/AAAAAAAAKQ4/ei3b49BNDOY55UsrchGFPpetGaYQQt6fwCLcB/s400/werewolves_burnedatstake.jpg" width="169" height="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TMa6vh98PW4/WAvh_YhIGDI/AAAAAAAAKQ8/RSS0YAcTtDEJgqKdbXf16-BefxyrWy05QCLcB/s1600/vampires_Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TMa6vh98PW4/WAvh_YhIGDI/AAAAAAAAKQ8/RSS0YAcTtDEJgqKdbXf16-BefxyrWy05QCLcB/s400/vampires_Header.jpg" width="400" height="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Da-E_-aewYY/WAviA0ENkuI/AAAAAAAAKRA/udsUKIykXXY-oWt8PQJMBINTK3HjEJd9QCLcB/s1600/vampires_illustration01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Da-E_-aewYY/WAviA0ENkuI/AAAAAAAAKRA/udsUKIykXXY-oWt8PQJMBINTK3HjEJd9QCLcB/s400/vampires_illustration01.jpg" width="154" height="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNsIDpJIAl0/WAviB9S2K_I/AAAAAAAAKRE/Vw0pl0pzR0UWkxLCatHCeDo-3j1VW_ucwCLcB/s1600/vampire_illustration02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNsIDpJIAl0/WAviB9S2K_I/AAAAAAAAKRE/Vw0pl0pzR0UWkxLCatHCeDo-3j1VW_ucwCLcB/s400/vampire_illustration02.jpg" width="400" height="365" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfXeebWJKI0/WAvjHXV70oI/AAAAAAAAKRQ/eBX35K-R7gUayPZ6PHrUY6sgYlsMR1CsgCLcB/s1600/mummies_header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfXeebWJKI0/WAvjHXV70oI/AAAAAAAAKRQ/eBX35K-R7gUayPZ6PHrUY6sgYlsMR1CsgCLcB/s400/mummies_header.jpg" width="400" height="273" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KW2ANeAwK0U/WAvjK60r-zI/AAAAAAAAKRU/H76Me-JmbrE_mMGszEGo4z4aWRFlRjICQCLcB/s1600/voodoo_Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KW2ANeAwK0U/WAvjK60r-zI/AAAAAAAAKRU/H76Me-JmbrE_mMGszEGo4z4aWRFlRjICQCLcB/s400/voodoo_Header.jpg" width="400" height="198" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Gp3psQ9_Og/WAvjNaX4lGI/AAAAAAAAKRY/bp-z_oyZEl0uGsZ968woI5PLB73KyeYpQCLcB/s1600/voodoo_illustration01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Gp3psQ9_Og/WAvjNaX4lGI/AAAAAAAAKRY/bp-z_oyZEl0uGsZ968woI5PLB73KyeYpQCLcB/s400/voodoo_illustration01.jpg" width="400" height="184" /></a></div><br />
<br />
...and cryptozoological/extra-terrestrial "real world" monsters (Prehistoric Monsters, Monsters From Outer Space, and Abominable Beasts). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbi1XydyZDA/WAvjfxjXoaI/AAAAAAAAKRc/t6Aqx659FF0rjdvz3C_baMivWqZElUvWQCLcB/s1600/PrehistoricMOnsters_Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbi1XydyZDA/WAvjfxjXoaI/AAAAAAAAKRc/t6Aqx659FF0rjdvz3C_baMivWqZElUvWQCLcB/s400/PrehistoricMOnsters_Header.jpg" width="400" height="339" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMIPPY9QG6M/WAvjk1SNebI/AAAAAAAAKRg/t7xccYo22FwvxOW3weZl8Njo5P4UG7Z_ACLcB/s1600/OuterSpace_Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMIPPY9QG6M/WAvjk1SNebI/AAAAAAAAKRg/t7xccYo22FwvxOW3weZl8Njo5P4UG7Z_ACLcB/s400/OuterSpace_Header.jpg" width="382" height="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Unn1RmrWICo/WAvjmMPnzcI/AAAAAAAAKRk/VNOpp8_QR3YgEL4CxVFrzSMdFDHNq-5rQCLcB/s1600/outerspace_Illustration01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Unn1RmrWICo/WAvjmMPnzcI/AAAAAAAAKRk/VNOpp8_QR3YgEL4CxVFrzSMdFDHNq-5rQCLcB/s400/outerspace_Illustration01.jpg" width="321" height="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LDEYBV_u9FI/WAvjnYz1B9I/AAAAAAAAKRo/ibzj1aALnv8yAvL8VZ5a7Fec7fnHNzm7gCLcB/s1600/outerspace_illustration02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LDEYBV_u9FI/WAvjnYz1B9I/AAAAAAAAKRo/ibzj1aALnv8yAvL8VZ5a7Fec7fnHNzm7gCLcB/s400/outerspace_illustration02.jpg" width="400" height="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpNTXiZLeEA/WAvj-TbOV9I/AAAAAAAAKRs/uImJnYVmtMoseVfheWLD4Qr_L8fe0cldQCLcB/s1600/abominableBeasts_Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpNTXiZLeEA/WAvj-TbOV9I/AAAAAAAAKRs/uImJnYVmtMoseVfheWLD4Qr_L8fe0cldQCLcB/s400/abominableBeasts_Header.jpg" width="400" height="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hqB62ucnYw/WAvj_Iv7bAI/AAAAAAAAKRw/rRDQcr6NWTsUEJWCxQ_lsRpMIZNit3szwCLcB/s1600/abominableBeasts_illustration01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hqB62ucnYw/WAvj_Iv7bAI/AAAAAAAAKRw/rRDQcr6NWTsUEJWCxQ_lsRpMIZNit3szwCLcB/s400/abominableBeasts_illustration01.jpg" width="400" height="197" /></a></div><br />
The quizzes revolve around monster movies and are actually kind of fun and require some knowledge of the genre. "Creature Color Contest" asks you to complete the movie title with the correct color name.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4GfFq0Mp-7w/WAvkQY2RA9I/AAAAAAAAKR0/o6skX_uehj8DaNhnObqaYDGIabVIkoggACLcB/s1600/creature_color_contest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4GfFq0Mp-7w/WAvkQY2RA9I/AAAAAAAAKR0/o6skX_uehj8DaNhnObqaYDGIabVIkoggACLcB/s400/creature_color_contest.jpg" width="288" height="400" /></a></div><br />
"Dracula's Countdown" is the same concept, but using numbers selected from a list. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jgZw_-07_Cc/WAvkt1tc5KI/AAAAAAAAKR4/gnjFfIj26VcbB-3hMxgS8kU9gMpM1zc9gCLcB/s1600/DraculaCountdownGame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jgZw_-07_Cc/WAvkt1tc5KI/AAAAAAAAKR4/gnjFfIj26VcbB-3hMxgS8kU9gMpM1zc9gCLcB/s400/DraculaCountdownGame.jpg" width="350" height="400" /></a></div><br />
Simbar the Werelion (a character from the comic book "The Occult Files of Dr. Spektor") challenges you to match the actor to the monster they portrayed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x8N09BVsSGo/WAvlEBdxLjI/AAAAAAAAKR8/kUOvWNNE9YAGyJo-gr03KCOgyy3H5nWhQCLcB/s1600/SimbarTheWerelionQuiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x8N09BVsSGo/WAvlEBdxLjI/AAAAAAAAKR8/kUOvWNNE9YAGyJo-gr03KCOgyy3H5nWhQCLcB/s400/SimbarTheWerelionQuiz.jpg" width="324" height="400" /></a></div><br />
There are a few visual puzzles as well, challenging you to find hidden animals in a drawing (The 13 Black Cats and Find the Missing Werewolves)...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jmfKjizYpf0/WAvl4J6NjoI/AAAAAAAAKSE/lyNJrS6DqB0XVhSSfZqv_AVc9oANYdQ-gCLcB/s1600/BlackCatsPuzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jmfKjizYpf0/WAvl4J6NjoI/AAAAAAAAKSE/lyNJrS6DqB0XVhSSfZqv_AVc9oANYdQ-gCLcB/s400/BlackCatsPuzzle.jpg" width="275" height="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A5YIaKwG0Zo/WAvl5HjAMCI/AAAAAAAAKSI/d6d-ZmIoAM4QXmgJwbqGUZiEOK_8KDofgCLcB/s1600/werewolves_puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A5YIaKwG0Zo/WAvl5HjAMCI/AAAAAAAAKSI/d6d-ZmIoAM4QXmgJwbqGUZiEOK_8KDofgCLcB/s400/werewolves_puzzle.jpg" width="269" height="400" /></a></div><br />
...plus the party game where you stare at a picture for a period of time and then are expected to answer questions about details of the picture from memory (No Hyde-Ing Place).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QUWAIV9vjHI/WAvmcWjSkpI/AAAAAAAAKSM/UmuFIs6CVV8Gi-hufKXuf08QUt_rOz0nACLcB/s1600/Hyde_puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QUWAIV9vjHI/WAvmcWjSkpI/AAAAAAAAKSM/UmuFIs6CVV8Gi-hufKXuf08QUt_rOz0nACLcB/s400/Hyde_puzzle.jpg" width="256" height="400" /></a></div><br />
Optical illusions and magic tricks are found here as well, including the severed-finger gag I remember from <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2008/07/mummys-finger.html">Spooky Tricks</a> (presented here as Frankenstein's Finger).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWGknzp8-VY/WAvm3CtSZeI/AAAAAAAAKSQ/9SD3CSa8oxcrRQU7dgvbx1CLDdz3k5RFgCLcB/s1600/finger_trick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWGknzp8-VY/WAvm3CtSZeI/AAAAAAAAKSQ/9SD3CSa8oxcrRQU7dgvbx1CLDdz3k5RFgCLcB/s400/finger_trick.jpg" width="168" height="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1Ebb_T36YQ/WAvm4NCgWzI/AAAAAAAAKSU/s6PkAAOy7VIZudMQJIYw6VDBR6GGnIGDACLcB/s1600/svengal01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1Ebb_T36YQ/WAvm4NCgWzI/AAAAAAAAKSU/s6PkAAOy7VIZudMQJIYw6VDBR6GGnIGDACLcB/s400/svengal01.jpg" width="400" height="159" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jg9ZY5N9T2c/WAvm42jqAlI/AAAAAAAAKSY/Rv5b-JjGg_88c2TDzGLGbGkxUFlgrEuygCLcB/s1600/svengal02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jg9ZY5N9T2c/WAvm42jqAlI/AAAAAAAAKSY/Rv5b-JjGg_88c2TDzGLGbGkxUFlgrEuygCLcB/s400/svengal02.jpg" width="400" height="376" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uQ-VS387Io4/WAvm5Yd8vfI/AAAAAAAAKSc/5EBTsxVaz0w_PrKp3iKHVJxZKY-dSd_1ACLcB/s1600/svengal03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uQ-VS387Io4/WAvm5Yd8vfI/AAAAAAAAKSc/5EBTsxVaz0w_PrKp3iKHVJxZKY-dSd_1ACLcB/s400/svengal03.jpg" width="400" height="136" /></a></div><br />
There's a board game "Escape To the Castle" that takes up a two-page spread...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PWJzPil5F8s/WAvnkeI8aUI/AAAAAAAAKSk/A6ZrWp2LhCkD58kt9bXQsFDJThg5Z0UcgCLcB/s1600/boardgamespread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PWJzPil5F8s/WAvnkeI8aUI/AAAAAAAAKSk/A6ZrWp2LhCkD58kt9bXQsFDJThg5Z0UcgCLcB/s400/boardgamespread.jpg" width="400" height="279" /></a></div><br />
...and finally, Sinister Shadows demonstrates how to make Godzilla, a werewolf, vampire bat, and other monsters with your hands. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LPYZapzHvOc/WAvoAIpXXUI/AAAAAAAAKSo/JHc2qRxfyqUggcITdpm57sbjXKzAH-4IgCLcB/s1600/sinistersShadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LPYZapzHvOc/WAvoAIpXXUI/AAAAAAAAKSo/JHc2qRxfyqUggcITdpm57sbjXKzAH-4IgCLcB/s400/sinistersShadows.jpg" width="263" height="400" /></a></div><br />
Other entries in the Golden Family Funtime Books series focused on crafts, games, magic, and riddles. Take a look at that funtime family! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LclcAjufj4Y/WAvop-IKdVI/AAAAAAAAKSs/_oBzIu6t_mUrBk3_VW5pE_bdUC2YJUvGgCLcB/s1600/back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LclcAjufj4Y/WAvop-IKdVI/AAAAAAAAKSs/_oBzIu6t_mUrBk3_VW5pE_bdUC2YJUvGgCLcB/s400/back.jpg" width="286" height="400" /></a></div>Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522536908521187955.post-55864609807887833682016-10-01T07:33:00.001-07:002017-11-08T17:02:14.235-08:00Land of the Lost Illustrated Timeline at We Are The Mutants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lR2azrBnSXA/V-_GT71LD1I/AAAAAAAAKQQ/nBiTQd-XpmwoAKVXxkUPJY6YB9c-aVLnwCLcB/s1600/timeline_detail01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lR2azrBnSXA/V-_GT71LD1I/AAAAAAAAKQQ/nBiTQd-XpmwoAKVXxkUPJY6YB9c-aVLnwCLcB/s320/timeline_detail01.JPG" width="320" height="185" /></a></div><br />
As a life-long <a href="http://the-haunted-closet.blogspot.com/2010/04/medusa-land-of-lost-1976.html">Land of the Lost fan</a>, I'd been toying with the idea of putting together a timeline chronicling the arrival and exit of all the characters, and tracing the various temporal manipulations and paradoxes created by the matrix tables and pylons. Well, I finally found an "excuse" to stop toying and start timelining when the creative mind behind one of my favorite blogs <a href="https://2warpstoneptune.com/">2 Warps To Neptune</a> invited me to contribute content to his newest venture, <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/">We Are The Mutants</a>.<br />
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I actually rewatched the series in its entirety in order to put this timeline together, and <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/2016/09/27/land-of-the-lost-an-illustrated-timeline/">it's BIG</a>. Too big to print. But hopefully you'll find it fun to examine and explore through the viewscreen of whatever inter-dimensional machine you use to view The Internet. I also wrote a rather longish piece on the series itself that delves into some of the shows headier concepts and plotlines (masochists can read it <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/2016/09/26/not-a-routine-expedition/">here</a>).<br />
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You'd do well to bookmark <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/">We Are The Mutants</a>, too, especially if you are a fan of Gen-X era <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/2016/09/20/a-little-human-compassion/">sci-fi</a>, <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/2016/09/13/necronomicon-advertisement-1980/">fantasy</a>, <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/2016/09/22/biotronic-man-stickers-1977/">toys</a> and <a href="https://wearethemutants.com/2016/09/26/stonehenge-stereo-speakers-circa-1975/">tech</a>. Brother Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13176233134588988372noreply@blogger.com2