Little Ralphie takes aim, just before he shoots his eye out (From Angry Alien Productions) We're right in the middle of the holiday shopping season, and December 1st is the beginning of "Safe Toys and Gifts Month," all of which reminds me that every year about this time, some group of buttinsky do-gooders comes along with a list of "dangerous" toys that parents are supposed to avoid -- just because some kiddie somewhere might swallow something or put an eye out. When I was growing up, we weren't softies like these kids today. Our toys were hazardous. They were rusty. They gave us splinters. They exploded in our faces or stabbed us, and that's just the way we liked it. We played with chemistry sets and ovens that were shaped like goofy-looking heads, with which we concocted all sorts of toxic crap -- which we'd eat without a second thought -- and enjoy! We had "Thingmakers" that would melt "Plastigoop," which could burn the skin right off your arm. Hell, even our Erector sets could cut your fingers clean off! Nowadays, these pantywaists aren't even allowed to play dodgeball or swing on the monkey bars, because some clumsy kid might break an arm. Honestly! You damn kids today. Now pick up your hypoallergenic, flame-resistant, no-small-parts toys with the rounded edges and get the hell off my lawn! Suggested Sites... W.A.T.C.H. List 2009 - a warning guide to the most dangerous toys of the year. Boomer Baby Toys - boomers get nostalgic for the toys of their youth. TV Party: Kids With Guns - ads from the days when it was hard to get away from toy guns. New York Daily News: Most Dangerous Toys - a rogue's gallery of toys so dangerous you'll beg Santa to take them back. Like Television: Toyland - watch vintage toy commercials.

Directory categories: Toy Safety, Toys, Antique and Collectible Toys, Toy Retailers, Child Safety

Archived under: Children, Childrens Health, Christmas, Gifts, Grumpiness, In Character, Kids, Nostalgia, Safety, Toys

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All aboard -- for romance! The year is 1977. It's late September, the weather is warm and inviting, and the conditions are perfect for cruising. Lucky TV audiences are about to be treated to "love, exciting and new," in the form of a madcap romantic sitcom with a nautical twist. "The Love Boat" is set about to set sail and she "promises something for everyone."  Indeed ... That first episode, airing on September 24, perfectly set the tone for the 248 to follow. All the major players were there: the unflappable Captain Stubing; Doc and Gopher, who usually spent more time wooing passengers than actually working; Isaac, the eternally cool bartender; and the constantly pert and perky Julie McCoy, your cruise director. Later, of course, we would meet Vicki, the precocious daughter of Capt. Stubing; Ace, the ship's photographer; and Judy McCoy, Julie's sister and her replacement as cruise director after actress Lauren Tewes was fired for drug use. Scandal and intrigue were always inevitable on board! Toss in a bevy of well-known B-list celebs (not to discount the sporadic and jaw-dropping A-lister), a deliciously catchy theme song, and storylines featuring a ménage a trois of love and romance, soap opera-esque drama, and madcap antics. Throw in the occasional musical number, and you've got an instant classic, with strong sea-legs to boot! Despite an initially lackluster critical reception, the show lasted until 1986 in its original form, with a sequel, a German remake, and a fourth TV movie (the first three were prequels to the initial series) following in later years. It's no wonder, considering "The Love Boat" was the brainchild of television legend Aaron Spelling, whose shows defined television in the '70s, '80s and '90s. Unforgettable classics such as "Starsky and Hutch," "Charlie's Angels," "Magnum P.I.," "Dynasty," "Beverly Hills 90210," and of course, "Fantasy Island" (which was tethered to "The Love Boat" on Saturday nights until 1984) are the epitome of "guilty pleasures." And why not? We all need a dose of frivolity and fluff every now and again. So on this, the anniversary of her maiden voyage, we invite you "to set a course for adventure, your mind on a new romance. Welcome aboard! It's love!" Suggested Sites... CBS.com: The Love Boat - watch complete episodes of "The Love Boat" online. Amazon.com: Love Boats by Jeraldine Saunders - the book that started it all. ABC News: The Love Boat, Where Are They Now? - see what the cast is up to these days. Princess Cruises - official site of the actual "Love Boat" cruise line. Love Boat Episode Guide - lists titles and air dates of all episodes of "The Love Boat."

Directory categories: The Love Boat, Love Boat: The Next Wave, Aaron Spelling, Cruises, Television Shows

Archived under: 1970s, 1980s, Anniversaries, Boating, Entertainment, History, Nostalgia, Romance, Sitcoms, TV

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Stanwyck in a rare subdued moment in 1943's "Lady of Burlesque" We spend a lot of time here talking about things we hate: cell phones, banished words, NASCAR, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, bad movies, telemarketers, Tim McCarver, Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Keanu Reeves, and the "Batman" TV show. And, given that, you’d think we did nothing but telling kids to get off our lawns. But occasionally, we’re reminded of things we really like (no, not Sally Field), and today is one of those opportunities. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Barbara Stanwyck. Stanwyck was an unlikely movie star. Born in Brooklyn on July 16, 1907, as Ruby Stevens, her mother died when a drunk pushed her off a streetcar. Ruby was only four, and just a couple of weeks later, her father signed up to work on the Panama Canal and was never heard from again. Ruby and her brother were raised by their older sister, who eventually found work as a showgirl in 1920s New York. Ruby ran through a series of jobs (and foster homes), but was self-supporting by the age of 13, and, through her sister, developed a taste for show business. Her first break came in 1923 when she got her own showgirl job at a Broadway night club, followed by jobs in the prestigious Ziegfeld Follies and in nightclubs owned by the notorious Texas Guinan -- all while still in her late teens. Her big break came in 1926, when producer David Belasco (who was known for the realism of his stage plays) thought that the role of a chorus girl in his new show, "The Noose," should be played by an actual chorus girl. The show was a hit -- as was the newly-renamed "Barbara Stanwyck" -- and Hollywood soon beckoned. She made one silent film, followed by two talkies (and a trip back to Broadway). Even though her film reviews weren't great, director Frank Capra cast her as the lead in his 1930 film "Ladies of Leisure," and the rest was history. She became the queen of pre-Code movies; a genre that reveled in sex and sleaze, and in such films as "Night Nurse," "The Miracle Woman," and "Baby Face," she exhibited both easily. But there was more to Stanwyck than that. She could play in comedies, tragedies, melodramas, and even Westerns with equal ease, turning in brilliant performances in such classics as "Union Pacific," "Stella Dallas," "Remember the Night," "The Lady Eve," "Sorry, Wrong Number," and "Double Indemnity" (for our money, her greatest performance). In the '50s and '60s, she moved to television, winning three Emmys for her work on the eponymous "Barbara Stanwyck Show," "The Big Valley" (as a hard-as-nails ranch owner), and "The Thorn Birds." She was equally as popular off-screen as on, taking the time to get to know crew members and their families, and doing extensive charity work after her retirement. She died of various natural causes in 1990, but her film performances, even those from the early 30s, retain their power, honesty, and ability to move audiences. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Barbara Stanwyck - biography of one of Hollywood's greatest actresses. Cinemagraphe: Barbara Stanwyck - overview of Stanwyck's life and career. Classic Movie Favorites: Barbara Stanwyck - biography with photos and video clips. Barbara Stanwyck: With Her Hands on Her Hips ... - appreciation of Stanwyck's career. Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire - watch the TCM biography, loaded with clips from a brilliant career.

Directory categories: Barbara Stanwyck, Classic Hollywood Actors, Actors, Movie History, Movies

Archived under: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, Actors, Biographies, Broadway, Celebrities, Entertainment, Hollywood, Movie History, Movies, Nostalgia, TV, Vintage, Women

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"His Master's Voice" (What you don't see is that Nipper is sitting on the coffin of his dead owner) In company logos and advertisements, animals are a fairly common sight. So common, in fact, that you probably haven't given these mascots a great deal of thought. But those whose job involves selecting an animal representative for an organization or company face no small task. With their choice, they will be aligning themselves with whatever qualities people tend to associate with that animal. Once they’ve found their totem, they may forever be associated with it. A prime example of logo longevity is "His Master’s Voice," a design trademarked by the Victor Record Company on this day in 1900, sealing forever in our minds the image of Nipper the dog listening attentively to a Victrola, and connecting it further with the Gramophone Company (later known as HMV). In the ensuing century, plenty of other corporate critters have made their marks on our cultural consciousness. How many times have you heard Leo, the MGM lion roar? Financial institutions have adopted symbols of strength, including an elk and a lion, though Merrill Lynch was wise to select a bull rather than a bear. Animals in advertising have also provided memorable and humorous moments. Cuteness gives many animal representatives their appeal. The Geico gecko is pretty adorable, as is Snuggle, the Fabric Softener Bear. Some creatures are simply effective because they are cartoons, and appeal to kids, such as the Trix Rabbit and Sugar Bear. Turns out there’s a science behind the success of animals (or "visual identifiers," as the marketing analysts call them). While some wine critics may claim they avoid "labels bearing cute animals," the rest of us are drawn to these images almost against our will, according to researchers. Did you pick up that bottle of Syrah because it had a kangaroo, chameleon, or a cute dog or kitty on it? It’s not your fault -– you're a victim of your own "perceptual fluency." In light of the incredible sway these animals have over us, some mascots may not have been the best selections. Joe Camel, for example, the longtime rep for Camel cigarettes, was no longer depicted in cartoon form due to objections that he appealed to children too effectively, and Budweiser’s Spuds MacKenzie faded into obscurity before anyone noticed that a dog in a Hawaiian shirt was probably not the most appropriate spokes-animal for beer. After all, wouldn’t you rather share a tall one with a creepy penguin? Suggested Sites... TV Acres - Advertising Mascots - take a four-legged walk down memory lane. "Of Frog Wines and Frowning Watches" - academic study on why we select animal-endorsed brands and respond to other visual cues. Live-Animal Mascots Get an "F" - PETA argues that actual animals should not be used as mascots. "Dinner With the Mascots" video on YouTube - amusing reunion of several iconic mascots.

Directory categories: Advertising, Commercials, Pop Culture, Graphic Design, Phonographs

Archived under: 19th Century, Advertising, Animals, Anniversaries, Bears, Birds, Brands, Cartoons, Design, Dogs, History, Images, Mascots, Music, Music History, Nostalgia, Records, Society and Culture, TV, Wine

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Come on in! The show's about to start. (Photo by Jon Williams) On June 6, 1933, an American tradition was born in Camden, New Jersey; for it was on this day that the world was treated to the first drive-in movie experience. The brainchild of Richard M. Hollingshead Jr., the "Automobile Movie Theater" was conceived as the ideal entertainment solution for the masses. By allowing patrons their own "private viewing boxes," Hollingshead's drive-in served not only the average moviegoer of the day, but also families with noisy children, smokers, people with disabilities, and even those lacking the proper attire for a social outing. The film shown that evening was a British comedy called "Wives Beware" (later known as "Two White Arms"), and admission was 25 cents a head, plus another quarter for the car -- $1.00 maximum. Though Hollingshead's theater lasted only three years, the idea caught on and soon other establishments began to open across the country. The craze peaked in the late '50s with over 4000 drive-in theaters in operation. The largest of these, the Johnny All-Weather Drive-In in Copiague, NY, had room for 2,500 cars as well as 1,200 guests in the heated and air-cooled indoor seating area. It also boasted a playground, a cafeteria, a full-service restaurant, and even a shuttle to move patrons around the 28-acre property. The inventiveness didn't stop there -- in other cities one could find fly-in theaters accommodating both cars and airplanes, mini drive-ins holding no more than 50 or 60 vehicles, and even venues like the Autoscope in Albuquerque which offered each of the 260 cars in its lot their own individual screen. (The Autoscope advertised that its movies could not "be seen from surrounding areas," which makes us wonder just what kinds of pictures they were showing ...) By the '80s, interest was waning. Most homes had color TVs and VCRs, and most drive-ins were being converted into flea markets, storage facilities, or parking lots. It seemed the end of the drive-in theater, but the turn of the century has brought about a bit of a revival. Modern drive-ins have solved the always-problematic issue of sound, which can now be transmitted through your car's stereo system (a vast improvement over previous methods, which included projecting the sound from large directional speakers flanking the screen, or hanging a crackling monaural speaker from your partially rolled-down window.) The drive-in has also evolved into other permutations -- we're currently seeing the rise of do-it-yourself alternatives and "guerrilla drive-ins," urban areas offering public al fresco movie experiences, and even bike-in movies for the green age. They might not look like your parent's drive-in, but it's still the perfect place to get lucky on a date. Suggested Sites... Drive-Ins.com - includes a drive-in museum, database search, reference library, and more. Drive-In Theater - dedicated to all the people who enjoy the nostalgic feeling of attending drive-in theaters across America. cinespia - organizes outdoor movie screenings at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Drive-In Movie Memories - documentary that explores how the drive-in became an entertainment icon. Drive-Ins Downunder - tribute site taking a look at Australia's drive-in past and future.

Directory categories: Drive-In Movie Theaters, Film History, Roadside Attractions, Car Audio Makers, Documentaries: Drive-In Movie Memories

Archived under: 1930s, 1950s, 1980s, American History, Anniversaries, Autos, Drive-Ins, Entertainment, Inventors, Movie Theatres, Movies, Nostalgia, Outdoors, Roadside Attractions, Society and Culture, Theatres, United States, Widescreen

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