Slackjaw Dumbstruck: Criswell: 'Someone Walked Over My Grave'

I'm in the mood for above. 

Do tread on me. 

Sole music. 

Laying footsies. 

Criswell: "Someone Walked Over My Grave" via YouTube

---

Thanks to Charlie Flashbacks.

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: The Three Stooges: "We Just Dropped in to Say 'Hello'" from "Gents Without Cents" (1944) via YouTube
Via Shemp Howard on Facebook

Buster Keaton: Rock Wrangler

Image via Wikipedia

The amazing, seemingly fearless physical comedian Buster Keaton was remembered on his birthday, Oct. 4. Some of his admirers, including me, corresponded on the occasion. Me:

Here is one of the most memorable and breathtaking stunt sequences I've seen. So risky as a film-maker's challenge, too. I could not believe the eyes on my first viewing of "Seven Chances."

I'm so glad I wasn't a grip on this picture.

Buster Keaton: "Seven Chances" (1925) Chase Scene via YouTube

Frank Thompson shared this clip ... and says, "Let's celebrate Buster's 116th birthday by showing this brilliant scene from "Seven Chances" in which he's chased by at least 116 rocks."

Thanks for counting.

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: Frank Sinatra: "High Hopes" via YouTube

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: "Beat Girl" (1960) Opening Credits (a k a "Wild for Kicks") - Music by John Barry via YouTube
via Jack Pendarvis

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: The New Hot 5: "Jazz For Cows" via YouTube
Thanks to Ray Tanner.

Separated at Birth: Jerry Lewis and...

Peter Griffin.



Jerry Lewis: "The Errand Boy" (1961) and Peter Griffin: "Family Guy" (2010) via YouTube

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: The Cleverlys: "Walk Like an Egyptian" via YouTube

---

Thanks to Alan Kaye and Charlotte Nixon Taylor, whom I walk like.

Too Nutty: 'My Ding-a-ling' and 'My Toot Toot'

Friend Susan mentioned on Facebook that her teenagers didn't know whether to believe their mother when she said she used to listen to the songs "My Ding-a-ling" and "(Don't Mess With) My Toot Toot" on the radio.

Yeah, kids, it happened, way back in the olden times, between beating clothes on a rock and toting parasols under Pterodactyls.

Here comes the proof.



Chuck Berry: "My Ding-a-ling" (1972) via YouTube
I posted this comment to the discussion:

I was a DJ on WIIN-97 in Atlanta in 1973-74 when MY DING-A-LING was released. We played it every 90 minutes or so, while other radio stations would not. We took some heat for doing it, too, and worried about having our FCC license pulled. I don't recall the toot toot song, although mine can be quite the symphony.

Rockin' Sidney: "My Toot Toot" (1985) via YouTube

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: The Moylan Sisters: "My Little Buckaroo" from "Toyland Casino" (1938) via YouTube

---

Thanks to Frank Thompson

Big Weekend

Oh.

My.

God.

And Ed Sullivan.

Big weekend, overwhelmed by Jackie Evancho, live in concert with The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.



Jackie Evancho: "Nessun Dorma" From "PBS Great Performances" (2011) via YouTube

I turned to my wife and said, "Is this a prank?"

I have never heard or seen anyone like this beautiful child.

Eleven.

She is eleven.

Ten selections. Six prolonged standing ovations. I have witnessed no artist achieve a similar response in such a setting.



Jackie Evancho: "A Time for Us," Atlanta Symphony Hall, Aug. 5, 2011 via YouTube

When I was 11, I was schlepping around, wearing wax buck teeth and impersonating Professor Julius F. Kelp.

Slackjaw Dumbstruck: The Ladybugs: 'I Saw Him Standing There'

The "Petticoat Junction" Girls as The Ladybugs: "I Saw Him Standing There" via "The Ed Sullivan Show" and YouTube
Source annotation:

Airdate March 22, 1964. The Ladybugs were Jeannine Riley, Pat Woodell and Linda Kaye Henning (from "Petticoat Junction") & Sheila James (formerly of "Dobie Gillis").

Zelda?!

---

Thanks to Charlie Flashbacks.

Big Weekend

Big weekend with "Saturday Night at the Morty's." Our beloved puss chose the feature film flick, "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" (2010).

As my mother the movie critic said after nearly every picture she ever saw, "That was cute."

Morty said, "That was meow."

I dig (I put that in for you pups) the main title sequence, produced in the glorious design style of Maurice Binder from the early James Bond movies. Extra bonus: the song is voiced by Dame Shirley "Goldfinger" Bassey.

See the "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" credit sequence video and related materials at Forget the Film, Watch the Titles.

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: "George C. Scott Watches the 'Jack and Jill' Trailer" via YouTube
Thanks to Frank Thompson

Meet The NBC Penguin

Continued From: "101 Things About Me #183: A Boy of Color" | "On Loving Color: The NBC Peacock" | "Cock Tails for Two"

In 1967, at the dawn of the full-color era of television, a problem arose. The Beatles' popular black-and-white movie, "A Hard Day's Night," was slated to make its broadcast debut.

"Oh, no! We're the "Living Color" network! The picture is in black-and-white!"

Solution: The NBC Peacock was given the night off and the film was proceeded by The NBC Penguin.

I am not making this up. Here's the video.



"The NBC Penguin" via YouTube

Cock Tails for Two

Continued From: "101 Things About Me #183: A Boy of Color" | "On Loving Color: The NBC Peacock"

With the blessings of the National Broadcasting Company, color television's NBC Peacock logo was turned over to a pair of irreverent animators, John Kricfalusi, creator of "The Ren and Stimpy Show," and Nathan Love, inspired by the aforementioned Mr. K.

Watch the birdies.



Spümcø - NBC "Peacock 1" (1993) by John K. via YouTube


Spümcø - NBC "Peacock 2" (1993) by John K. via YouTube


The Origins of The 'NBC Peacock" (2010) by Nathan Love and NBC Artworks via YouTube


"NBC Peacock Thanksgiving" (2010) by Nathan Love and NBC Artworks via YouTube

On Loving Color: The NBC Peacock

Continued From: "100 Things About Me #183: A Boy of Color"



"NBC Peacock" (1957) via YouTube
Color television broadcasts eventually transmitted on an irregular basis in America during the 1950s, increasing until full-color production morphed onto all channels, circa 1966-67. NBC positioned itself as the "in living color" network, branded with incessant appearances of an iconic peacock, fanning vibrant tailfeathers at our faces before each program.

While color television may not seem like a huge deal generations later, NBC continues to trot out the trusty rainbow fowl on occasion. It's nice to see the bird getting work, considering parent company RCA has plucked a few dollars from color TV manufacturing since 1954, with, I hope, infinite gratitude to its dandy corporate spokesbottom.

Here's a batch of The NBC Peacock appearance videos, starting with a late '50s incarnation (above), followed by a 1968 surprise from "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" and a 2010 salute by the motion picture stars of "Despicable Me."



"The Sneezing NBC Peacock" via YouTube


"'Despicable Me' Peacock" via YouTube
More to come...

100 Things About Me #183

A Boy of Color 

I made a conscious decision as a teenager that I would not grow up to be The Old Man. You know, the coot who spews on about how life was much better when he was a lad. Cats' pajamas, poodle skirts, salt water taffy, muskets, Buddy Ebsen, and all that junk.

So, I'm not doing it here. I'm being delightfully informational in a happ'nin' gnarly bebop sort of Fizzies Party.

Kids today don't have any idea of what hell is.

Hell is watching "color presentation" logos, like the NBC Peacock below, in front of every television show on a black-and-white set for years and years until Mom sees a need to upgrade to the new technology.

"Michael, color TV? Reds and blues and yellows? You don't need reds and blues and yellows. Have you done your homework? Take out the garbage. Have you done your homework? Eat this orange. It's orange...."

NBC Peacock Logo (1960s) via YouTube
I was monochrome 'til age 16, when we got color and I had begun to gray.

I am scarred.

I'm mooning the peacock and these kids today....


100 Things: #1 | Previous | Next

---

Thanks to Yowp

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: Joe Dante's "MANT!" Part 1 (1993) via YouTube

Joe Dante's "MANT!" Part 2 via YouTube

Daughter of Blob

Continued From: "Movies in the Movies: 'The Blob' (1958)" and "Son of Movies in the Movies: 'The Blob' (1958)"

The annual Blobfest is underway and I can't make it to the festivities. A gargantuan prehistoric stinkbug is terrorizing my 1993 Saturn without foreplay or a proper introduction.

Special guest star Rutger Hauer is in my kitchen terrorizing our Honey Nut Cheerios® and the box of Popsicles®. Fortunately, he's just here for the day. My poor Craisins®.

The Blobfest, for you latecomers, is nicely summarized by the lazy writer's favorite source, Wikipedia:

Since 2000, the town of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania — one of the filming locations — has held an annual "Blobfest". Activities include a re-enactment of the scene in which moviegoers run screaming from the town's Colonial Theatre, which has recently been restored. Chef's Diner in Downingtown is also restored, and is open for business or photographs of the basement on weekday mornings only.

Now, that's kinda tingly, "photographs of the basement." I hope it's still damp down there with Moist Mop Blob Goo® (which I in no way mention to infringe on any pending Lady Gaga signature fragrances).

Reading more about "The Blob," Wikipedia caught my piercing, introspective, kindly, 20/14 eyes with a rundown of all of the film's follow-ups.

A comedy sequel was made in 1972, entitled "Beware! The Blob," directed by Larry Hagman. In 1988, a remake of the same name was made. In August 2009, it was revealed that musician turned director Rob Zombie was working another remake, but is no longer working on this project.

All well and, um, probably crummy, but I haven't seen them. I have viewed what must be the definitive sequel to "The Blob," a sequence from Woody Allen's 1972 hit, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, but Were Afraid to Ask."

Here is a portion of the footage I call "The Boob" with Woody (no, no, that's not Steve McQueen!), Heather MacRae, and Dort Clark.

(Adult themes, language, milk products)



The Boob From "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, but Were Afraid to Ask" (1972) via eBaum's World