Showing posts with label christmas books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas books. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

The Job of Joseph - Christmas Newspaper Serial - George W. Cornell (1972)

 The Job of Joseph by George W. Cornell

 
Five part AP syndicated series published over Christmas week of 1972
 

 
  
 
 
 



 
 
 

 

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Thursday, December 24, 2020

Festive Tidbits- 'Twas The Nights Before Christmas

Selections from my Pinterest board 'Twas The Nights Before Christmas



















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Thursday, November 21, 2019

Yule Logged: Christmas A La Mode, One Fine Christmas, The Monster’s Christmas, Hollywood Palace, Angel of Pennsylvania Avenue, Christmas at Pemberley Manor , Car 54



Music :
Been sampling a few new things and The Holiday Sounds of Josh Rouse stands out.Also want to give a shout out to Christmas A Go-Go for spotlighting Joli-Bois which set me off on a whole francophone holiday music jag including Laurence Jalbert, Annie Villeneuve and Marie-Elaine Thibert.

Books and Audiobooks:



Returned to the audiobook for The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories, picking up where I left off last year and highly recomend it for fans of vintage mysteries.



Just stared reading the antholgy An Irish Christmas Feast: The Best of John B. Keane. So far so good.


Movies and TV:



Christmas A La Mode (2019)

A Promising premise goes nowhere, says nothing new or interesting and does it poorly.



One Fine Christmas (2019)

Opens with a quick narrated montage that saves us the drudgery of 15 minutes of dull exposition. Thank you.

The dialogue is both more realistic and way snappier than usual. Thank You.

Most of the actors are awake, unlike the typical Hallmark sleepwalkers. Thank You.

Now, it’s not all good news, One Fine Christmas is as tropey and low budget as they come and full of emotional manipulation (which occasionally works). And the Christmas aspect is lower key than I prefer.

Is it Hallmark? Nope, OWN

Any guest stars? Marla Gibbs!

Directed by? Fred Olen Ray? I wasn’t expecting that.

Does it look like Christmas? Warm weather locale doesn’t help.

Does it sound like Christmas? Occasionally

Does it feel like Christmas? It’s okay.

Did it make me cry? I’m not crying, you’re crying.

Did I finish it? Yep

Is it a good movie? Meh

Is it a good Christmas Movie?  Its better than average.




The Monster’s Christmas (1981)

Trippy, cheesy eighties kid’s Christmas fantasy is an acquired taste. I’ve watched it a few times over the years and I still can’t decide if it’s cool or cringe. It’s certainly different, alternately cute and creepy, sweet and slightly disturbing. It occasionally reminded me of Japanese kid’s kaiju tv shows, though with far less spandex-clad fighting.

A monster, basically Sigmund the Sea Monster with a floppy forehead weiner, enlists the help of a young girl to defeat a witch who’s stolen the voices of all monsterkind to stop their singing Christmas carols. I imagine the expanding decriminalization of wacky tobaccy can only help this become a beloved holiday tradition eventually.




Hollywood Palace - Bing Crosby with Glen Campbell (1968)

Classic holiday variety. They don’t make them like this anymore, they can’t, the culture has changed too much.

Not even song or joke is solid gold but I could still watch this over the current crop of holiday hustlers any day.

Youngsters be forewarned, a basic knowledge of mid-century pop culture will be necessary to get all the jokes and references.




Angel of Pennsylvania Avenue (1996)

Decently made, and featuring the great Robert Urich, this depression-era period piece isn’t my cup of tea but I appreciate the effort. Those with a higher tolerance for the maudlin might enjoy it more.





Christmas at Pemberley Manor (2018)

Pride and Prejudice is like meth for a certain type of reader / viewer. I am not that type. That said I would have expected a screenplay based on a piece of classic literature would have made a modicum of effort to be at least a tad higher quality than literally every other movie in the genre. But no. The Austen pandering just exposes the lack of basic creativity. I assume there are sequels.


Is it Hallmark? With bells on

From the director of? Banshee!!!

Does it look like Christmas? A bit

Does it sound like Christmas? Meh

Does it feel like Christmas? A cynical public domain exploiting Christmas.

Did I finish it? No.

Is it a good movie?  No.

Is it a good Christmas Movie?  Just another clone.





Car 54 Where Are You? Christmas at the 53rd (1961)

Christmas party episode, essentially a showcase for the cast’s various talents from operetta to magic to stand up comedy to crooning.There’s not a lot of Christmas here beyond the framing device but it’s still a great episode.


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Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Yule Logged: Picture a Perfect Christmas, Christmas in Evergreen, Christmas Town, Santa’s Magic Toy Bag, Gumby



Audiobooks:



 Yule Log Murder by Leslie Meier

Dull. Would fit in perfectly as a Hallmark Mystery movie, if fact it would be better as one.



The Christmas Stories of Charles Dickens read by Michael Page

Pleasent, well narrared collection of some of Dicken’s lesser known Christmas writing.

Music:

Occasional forays into Sirius XM Holiday Traditions and some George Winston, Kate Rusby and Manheim Steamroller. Nothing new has really caught my ear yet, though the Magne Furuholmen album shows promise.

Movies and TV:
Picture a Perfect Christmas (2019)

I don’t know which is worse, movies that are Hopeless from the jump due to low budgets or under experienced artists, or flicks like this that, by all rights, should have been a pleasant momentary diversion, but was just more bleh. It wasn’t bad it just wasn’t present. Two or three of these a year is one thing, three or four a week just puts me to sleep.

Is it Hallmark? Yes.

Does it look like Christmas? Yes

Does it feel like Christmas? I guess

Did I finish it? No, and it bothers me ‘cause I usually only bail on bad movies. But boring and predictable is becoming the new bad for me.

Is it a good movie? It’s okay.

Is it a good Christmas Movie? Anybody else would probably like it a lot. I’m just becoming more like Grinchy.




Christmas in Evergreen (2017)

Is this is as good as it gets with the Hallmark Christmas romance genre? I mean, they made two sequels so it must have been popular. The script is so blah. I get that these flicks are a comfort thing, simple, predictable, but why can’t they be funny? Why can’t the supporting players be experienced character actors instead of bland day-players? These movies make bank, they can afford a few grand more for better actors. Can’t even blame Canadian location shooting since some of the very best character actors are from the great white north.

Is it Hallmark? To the point of parody, just not funny.

From the director of? Inspector Gadget 2, Beverly Chihuahua 2, Tooth Fairy 2, Jingle All the Way 2 and Dr. Dolittle 5. Ironically he did not direct the sequel to Evergreen - either or them.

Does it look like Christmas? Sure

Does it sound like Christmas? Enough

Does it feel like Christmas?  Like a fake Hallmark Christmas.

Did it make me cry? Nope

Laugh? Nope

Did I finish it? Yes, but it didn’t hold my attention.

Is it a good movie? For a basic cable TV movie

Is it a good Christmas Movie? Some would say so.





Christmas Town (2008)

Diven real estate agent, and crappy mom, visits estranged father in Magical Christmas town. Romance and redemption ensue.

Is it Hallmark? Idk

From the director of? Seduced by Lies, Stranger in my Bed, Aliens in the Wild, Wild West, Text to Kill and multiple Snake Eater films (starring Lorenzo Lamas!)

Does it look like Christmas? I guess

Does it feel like Christmas? Meh

Did I finish it? Yep

Is it a good movie?  Nope

Is it a good Christmas Movie?  Not so much.




Santa’s Magic Toy Bag (1983)

From the creator of ALF. comes the story of an ELF.suffering from a crisis of Christmas confidence. Some nice puppetry and a pleasant enough tale, though whenever I hear Santa talk I still hear ALF.

Deserves to less obscure.




Gumby’s Christmas Capers

From puppets to claymation with some vintage Gumby action. I grew up watching Gumby re-runs on Sunday mornings but they were never a huge favorite of mine.

The combined Christmas Carol  / Sherlock Holmes / Santa Claus pastiche isn’t great but it is the highlight.

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Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Pregaming Christmas (A Christmas Mystery, Christmas Road Trip, We Wish You a Merry Christmas +)




* TV Movies



A Christmas Mystery (2014 Amazon Prime)

Tepid holiday mystery / romance. Emphasis on the romance. I don't know if Secret Past was the original title and they re branded to make it seasonal ,where the bar for such things is so much lower, or if they re-christened it so folks wouldn't be put off the other eleven months of the year.




Holiday Road Trip (2013 Amazon Prime)

The name Fred Olen Ray in a film's credits fills me with the same brand of dread as David DeCoteau (Santas Summer House) . So imagine my shock when I sorta liked Holiday Road Trip.

A pair of feuding pet supply company execs take a last minute road trip with the firm's canine mascot. It's sitcom level stuff but that's better than a lot of these things. Perhaps not surprisingly the supporting cast is festooned with sentimental favorites like Shelly Long, Susan Olsen, Donna Pescow, Mindy Cohn and George Hamilton, among others.

Yeah, it's a bit long and, despite the plethora of decorations and non stop mediocre Christmas tunes in the soundtrack it never really felt all that Christmassy.


* Kid's Stuff



We Wish You a Merry Christmas  (1999 )

The town of harmony is too busy to have music… but they do love Christmas… and there’s an orphanage run by a clean freak… and the kids are so used to being given presents by the townsfolk that giving something back is an alien concept to them… and this leads to the invention of Christmas carols?

A human couldn't have written this nonsense, had to be some alpha version of a cheap holiday cartoon algorithm. Not absolutely terrible but totally unnecessary.


* Christmas Books


 Christmas with Jinny Beyer (1996)

A terrific resource for a crafty Christmas, but as the only thing I’m remotely crafty about is hiding Christmas presents that I’ve bought for myself (and others),this will be thumbed through by my wife far more than me. I can look at all the pretty pictures though.

Thrift store find. Not a bad deal for a buck.


 The Spirit of Christmas Four

Another thrift.

Before lifestyle blogs, Pinterest boards and socially media food and style influencers annual book series like this, from Leisure Arts in this case, was where, in concert with seasonal issues of your favorite magazines, where one might find all sorts of holiday inspiration back in the day. Crafts, projects recipes, it’s all here.





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Sunday, September 1, 2019

Pre-Gaming Christmas Day One


It's too early in the season to watch my holiday favorites but I'm determined to get blogging and there is a ton of Christmas stuff out there I haven't seen. So, I'm Pre-Gaming Christmas (and my cousin's doing Halloween elsewhere) and taking a random ramble through streaming services and my own collection to hopefully find some new favorites. For the next couple of months I'll be logging all the Christmas related stuff I watch, read and listen to, making brief notes along the way. 


* TV Movies


Summertime Christmas (2010 Tubi)

Nearly switched off during the opening credits, perhaps the worst opening credits I’ve ever seen. Thankfully my wife, whose a big fan of cheesy Christmas movies, shot me a dirty look and so we persevered. And it was sorta terrible but also sort of charming at times. My wife lasted longer than I did and said it was OK and I have to work on my negativity and cynicism.

Miss Me This Christmas (2017 Netflix)

Another low budget Christmas Soap Opera. Not terrible but not magical either.



You Can't Fight Christmas (2017 Netflix)

A companion to Miss Me This Christmas and set in the same small town hotel it's another familiar tale done competently enough.


* Christmas? Movies


Anomaly (2014 Amazon Prime)

There’s a lot going on in this rather extraordinary short film. Despite what one must assume was a shoestring budget it’s gorgeous and expertly, and lovingly, crafted.

A moving thought provoking soul searching alternate timeline period science fiction mystery melodrama Christmas film.



* Christmas TV

Here's the thing: I'm committed to a certain amount of randomness in my selection process but that sometimes leads to complications. Dropping into a Christmas episode / special of a TV series I've never seen means I'm not only unfamiliar with the characters and and story lines but it's hard to tell if the holiday outing is an outlier in style, mood or structure. So...


 Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir Christmas Special (2016 Netflix)

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg meets magical super hero anime at Christmas. Is this show, now in it'a third series always half sung? Idk, and I'm not interested in finding out. Maybe it works better in the original French . Maybe. "The Christmas of Revenge" indeed.

Naturally if you, or more likely your kids, are fans then have at it.



 Free Rein: The 12 Neighs of Christmas (2018 Netflix)

Next verse, same as the first. A kid's show I know nothing about. Basically a teen soap from the UK about some girls and their horses. Lots of familiar territory is trod. Production values are good and I imagine my daughter would have loved this when she was younger. And it's pretty Christmassy so a thumbs up I guess.



Angela's Christmas (2018 Netflix)

An animated adaptation of Frank McCourt's children's tale of early 20th century Ireland. Would this have been done in a more traditional animation style it might have been a bit more satisfying, not that the script or voice actors are exactly killing it either. First real disappointment of the day, hoped for much better given the source material.





* Christmas Books


The Countdown to a Cozy Christmas Cookbook: An Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Hallmark Movies (2019)

So, a handful of very familiar recipes repeated in dozens of slightly different variations using the same rotating group of ingredients that were somewhat popular twenty years ago but can now be got on the cheap?

Just kidding, I'm sure the book will be lovely.




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Tuesday, October 17, 2017

ICYMI: Twitter Recap October 7-9 (2017)














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ICYMI: Twitter Highlights Oct 5 & 6















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Saturday, October 7, 2017

ICYMI: Holiday Tweet Recap Oct 1 & 2













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Friday, October 6, 2017

ICYMI: SWO Twitter Highlights Sept. 20/21 2017

Here are some of my fave tweets (and retweets) from the SWO Twitterverse on 9/20 & 9/21 














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Friday, September 8, 2017

ICYMI - August Tweet Highlights (Part 2)








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Friday, November 6, 2015

My Favorite Things: A Child's Christmas in Wales


Dylan Thomas, 1952: A Child's Christmas in Wales, A Story - Recorded at Steinway Hall, NY 
 
 

Dylan Thomas Reading Vol. 1: A Child's Christmas in Wales & Five Poems 
Listen on Spotify, iTunes


A Child's Christmas in Wales - Winter Harp

Listen on Spotify, iTunes


And finally a couple of songs I love that were inspired by Thomas's masterpiece... 

A Child's Christmas in Wales - John Cale

 
Listen on Spotify,  iTunes

A Child's Christmas in Wales - Al Lewis
Listen on Spotify, iTunes
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Thursday, August 8, 2013

Kickstarter: Holidazed: A Cocktail Cookbook for Getting Lit on Christmas


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Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Christmas Update for 7.12.11

 

Aardman's "Arthur Christmas" Teaser Trailers @ Yahoo via SOCMusic

Christmas In July 2011-Day 12 @ Ernie (not Bert)

Free classic Christmas e-books:

 

Christmas Kickstarter Project of the Day


Brendan Sliger and James Rushin Christmas Album

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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

A Little Book of Christmas by John Kendrick Bangs (SWO Christmas Library)



A Little Book of Christmas
by John Kendrick Bangs

    Whene'er I find a man who don't
      Believe in Santa Claus,
    And spite of all remonstrance won't
      Yield up to logic's laws,
    And see in things that lie about
      The proof by no means dim,
    I straightway cut that fellow out,
      And don't believe in him.

    The good old Saint is everywhere
      Along life's busy way.
    We find him in the very air
      We breathe day after day--
    Where courtesy and kindliness
      And love are joined together,
    To give to sorrow and distress
      A touch of sunny weather...
from A Toast To Santa Claus by John Kendrick Bangs


A Little Book of Christmas features four short stories and three poems extolling the holiday spirit from turn of the last century American humorist John Kendrick Bangs accompanied by a quartet of illustrations by Arthur E. Becher (who is currently the focus of an exhibition at The Delaware Art Museum)
Available for free from Project Gutenberg (Web Version) and ManyBooks (various e-book formats)



Santas Working Overtime's Christmas Library is a new feature here at SWO featuring my favorite free yuletide themed books. 










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