Toys R Us Christmas Commercial

Here we have a Christmas commercial from a very important place this time of year. I remember this commercial from the very early 80s, but most sources date this campaign starting in 1976. Quite a different jingle from the one we're more familiar with (and what follows the Christmas commercial).

Gimbel's Christmas Commercials from 1983

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Now the holiday season has officially begun! This is my absolute favorite time of year, and I've amassed some really cool holiday treats for everyone to enjoy throughout the season, so let's get right to it.

First up: two nostalgic commercials for those who fondly remember Gimbel's department store. Although they were a national chain, as a kid I thought they were a Philadelphia institution. They were the original sponsors of Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the oldest in the nation, and as sponsors, they had plenty of commericals for Gimbel's Black Friday sales, two of which are featured here. 'Tis the season!

A hundred bucks for a Walkman? Ouch!

Thanksgiving Countdown 2007 Finale: A Day of Thanksgiving

Here is the last of the Thanksgiving programs I have to present to you this year. To be honest, I'm not sure of the origins of this short film, which I would date as late 40s/early 50s. Quite frankly, I'm too lazy to do the research :)

The film showcases a sterotypical postwar nuclear family learning and appreciating the true meaning of the holiday. Some may see this as heartwarming, others may see it as cloying, but regardless of personal interpretation, it's an engaging slice of postwar Americana. Enjoy!



I hope everyone has enjoyed my Thanksgiving Countdown; please send me feedback via the comments sections or email so I can prepare for next year. This will be my last post before the big day, but I plan on posting again either Saturday or Sunday. So until then, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

But wait--what's this!



Yes indeed, the holidays are coming, and I have plenty of great holiday stuff on the way. Stay tuned--the fun's just beginning!

Thanksgiving Countdown 2007: Perdue Oven Stuffer Roaster Commercial

Well, this isn't officially a holiday clip, but I think the situation demonstrated is very much a part of Thanksgiving: leftovers. The late Frank Perdue brags about the ability of his poultry to provide a steady supply of goodness for several days. The jingle in this commercial was often sung in my household when I was growing up when dining on leftover chicken. My family is weird.



I'll have one more Thanksgiving post before the big day, probably on Tuesday. See you then!

Thanksgiving Countdown 2007: B.C.: The First Thanksgiving

Next on our countdown (I feel like Casey Kasem) is the third and final cartoon of the series. B.C.: The First Thanksgiving originally aired on NBC in the early 70s, but I didn't see it until the late '80s in syndication. The entire cast of the comic strip goes hunting for a turkey for their Thanksgiving soup, even though they don't know what a turkey is. Thank the Internet gods for YouTube, as it's probably the only place you'll see this obscure special; I don't believe it's in print.

Thanksgiving Countdown 2007: Adam Sandler, "The Turkey Song"

An obvious choice, but an entertaining one nonetheless. Check out the song's debut on Saturday Night Live before Sandler made an official recording of it. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Countdown 2007: Tom and Jerry, "The Little Orphan"

My third installment in the Countdown features another cartoon (and it won't be the last). This classic MGM Tom and Jerry short (an Academy Award winner) was the first to feature the character of Nibbles, who often played sidekick to Jerry. See them attempt to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast despite Tom's best efforts to twart them.

Speaking of Thanksgiving...

As long as this is intended to be a thankful time of year, I'd like to thank some folks you have made my earliest blogging days happy ones.

First I wish to thank Dave at the Mostly Ghostly Music Sharing BLAAAHHHGGG!!! and Rich "Dartman" Dart of Dartman's World of Wonder for including me in the links sections of their respective blogs. I appreciate the support (and traffic that will hopefully come my way).

I also want to thank Kirk at the Secret Fun Blog for his kind words and assistance. He informed me of some useful resources for growing my blog, and I will use those resources to make this a blog you'll return to time and again. He also gave me a mention regarding the Witch's Night Out video I posted on Halloween.

The great blogs these gentlemen have created helped inspire me to do what I'm doing now, and if you enjoy what I've done so far, they deserve your thanks as well. You can find all of their blogs in my favorite links section.

Happy holidays, guys, and thanks again!

Thanksgiving Countdown 2007: WKRP in Cincinnati, "Turkeys Away"

Next up on our Thanksgiving Countdown: the most famous episode of WKRP in Cincinnati, "Turkeys Away." This will make you look up before venturing outside for the next couple of weeks!

Thanksgiving Countdown 2007: Daffy Duck, "Holiday for Drumsticks"

Today begins the first of my Thanksgiving posts to usher in the holiday season.

First up: Daffy Duck in the Warner Bros. cartoon "Holiday for Drumsticks." Daffy tricks a turkey into staying trim to avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner, while Daffy enjoys the turkey's fattening food--with unintended results. A treat for Daffy fans such as myself who prefer the earlier wacky Daffy instead of the curmudgeon he became later. Thanks for watching!

Hey Ya, Charlie Brown!

In keeping with the Peanuts theme, here is, as of this date, the funniest thing I've ever seen! I won't say much else except sit back and invest four minutes in this great clip. I thought about posting this closer to Christmas, as the footage is from the classic Peanuts Christmas special, but it's just too funny to hold onto.
Enjoy!

The Peanuts Gang as manga

I'm a HUGE Peanuts comic strip fan, and I came across a very cool reimagining of the characters in Japanese manga format making their way around the 'Net. What an awesome job!

http://that.animeblogger.net/2007/04/13/what-if-charlie-brown-became-an-anime/