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Showing posts from January, 2009

Vintage Christmas Ads Pt. 15 - Hertz, 1962

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In addition to collecting Christmas music, I have collected nearly 1000 vintage Christmas ads over the years. Many of these include celebrities, radio, television, cigarettes, liquor, modern appliances, and the like. Every Friday from here until I run out, I will feature an ad from my collection. I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it. When I posted the last edition of this feature two weeks ago, we were in the midst of searching for a new car. I'm happy to report we got an excellent deal on a 2008 Chrysler Sebring (demonstrator model with all the bells & whistles) to replace our dear departed 1997 Saturn. Since then, we've had a few more days of bad weather, several school closings, Boy Scout meetings and a pinewood derby (Alex placed 6th!), basketball games, cheerleading, practices to shut

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas DVD

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This was a Christmas present given to me by my son Alex. In the past, Alex chose several Christmas albums ( Oh Santa (Yep Roc) , Gene Autry ) to give to my on December 25th but instead chose a DVD on my Santa list. My Santa list contained several DVD titles and several that I asked for were under the Christmas tree. I'm attempting to lose weight as a New Year's resolution (40 lbs. by my 40th birthday in June) and these will be used while exercising on the stationary bike or treadmill. Back in September, I discovered this DVD would be hitting shelves in October. At first, I was pretty psyched. A full DVD full of vintage Christmas clips from the Mighty Carson Art Players and Johnny himself, I thought. Last December, I posted a YouTube video that had a clip from his 15th Anniversary show that contained a pretty hilarious Christmas clip. My friend Stubbyfears informed in the comments that he had seen the DVD and wished there were more clips like the one I had posted.

Vintage Christmas Ads Pt. 14 - Cadillac, 1955

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In addition to collecting Christmas music, I have collected nearly 1000 vintage Christmas ads over the years. Many of these include celebrities, radio, television, cigarettes, liquor, modern appliances, and the like. Every Friday from here until I run out, I will feature an ad from my collection. I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it. Several weeks ago when it was still 2008, we experienced an ice storm here in Indiana the likes they haven't seen in many decades. They're still clearing the downed branches and trees and expect to do so for several more weeks. Since then, we've had more icy than snowy days here. Earlier this week, conditions were right for black ice to form more than once. The streets have been pretty clear but in my subdivision, a car takes on the characteristics of a hockey

The Hollyridge Strings - Christmas Favorites

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This was another Christmas CD that was labelled "To Daddy". This one was chosen by my daughter Maggie whose track record in picking Christmas CDs is pretty impressive. In 2008, she gave me a reissue of Lena Horne's phenomenal 1966 album that followed her 2007 gift of the most recent Christmas collection of from Miss Peggy Lee . There was a little bit of drama over the decision for this CD - her younger sister Josie had the number one pick of CDs this year and chose the Christmas CD that Maggie had her heart on. Unlike the various professional sports drafts, Maggie couldn't trade up. After some pouting and a mild fit (wonder if that ever happens in sports?), she selected the album you're looking at now. Back in 1990, I was still living in Illinois and desperately trying to find Christmas music for my annual tapes. In years past, I was content with Crosby singing "Do You Hear What I Hear?" but now I was looking for novelty and Christmas tunes

The Singing Saw At Christmastime

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I received quite a few 2008 releases for Christmas from assorted family and friends. This was a Christmas present from my daughter Josie (with some help from Amazon.com ). Up until a month ago, I never knew this CD existed. Usually I would head over to Randy's Rodeo (now Hip Christmas) and download their list of new releases before the 2008 shopping season began. Due to my hectic schedule, I wasn't able to do that this year and learned about this CD from my friend Stubbyfears at FaLaLaLaLa.com . Many places online credit this album to Julian Koster , the indie pop leader of the group The Music Tapes. Koster has been a major player with the Elephant 6 Recording Co., which spawned many indie bands in the 1990s. In addition to the singing saw, Julian plays banjo, mandolin, Wandering Genie, the Moog synthesizer, and the accordian. To quote Koster from the liner notes: "Singing Saws sing all by themselves. The idea that a Human Being could play one, as one might

Happy New Year!

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January 1, 2009 - 1:45 AM 1/2 bottle of Canadian Club in me and feeling no pain The kids went back to school today which means I can finally get to the computer - WAHOOO!!! I want to thank everyone for the gracious comments you've left me over the past 1 1/2 weeks about my contributions to the 2008 downloading season. To read comments about rediscovering lost Christmas music and the precious memories it brings back makes it all the worth while. If you left a comment here during this time, some time today or tomorrow I'll try to answer all of them. Things you should know: All the following posts after today and throughout nearly all of 2009 will be reviews only . New reviews of Christmas CDs received as gifts under the tree will begin later this week. Others to follow will included three DVD reviews (two Christmas, one regular), a look at several dozen Christmas comps made my fellow Christmas music enthusiasts, and then back to Christmas albums from 2006 I'

Sharity

Here's is a complete list of what I have shared in the past three years - click on a link to explore: 1983 Air Force Public Service Spots - Disc V The Alcoa Singers - An Olde-Fashioned Christmas Marian Anderson - Christmas Carols Anonymous - Two Christmas Songs Around The Christmas Tree - A Special Christmas Day Program Jan August - Christmas Favorites The Banjo Barons - Selections from "Play Music For Happy Times" Ben Best - Happy Christmas Party Bielefelder Kinderchor - Christmas In Germany Pat Boone - White Christmas Bowen & Csehy - Christmas Steepletime Owen Bradley & His Quintet - Joyous Bells Of Christmas The Bravo Singers & Instrumentalists - Christmas Sing-Along Anita Bryant - The Miracle Of Christmas Al Caiola & Riz Ortolani - The Sound Of Christmas The Canterbury Choir - Christmas Hymns And Carols Sung By Capitol Production Music Christmas 1953 Veteran's Administration Hospital Program Christmas 1954 Vet

In Memoriam - 2008

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