Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts

Sunday, April 9, 2017

JAMES DEAN'S FILM DEBUT WAS IN AN EASTER STORY


I had been wanting to find this and, of course, Youtube came through.  This is from the TV version of the popular radio anthology, Family Theater. The radio series adapted several classic children's books, while the TV series focused on mainly stories from the Bible (It was produced by a Catholic group - the radio show usually began with prayer).

I learned about this in an extra on the DVD of Rebel Without Cause. James Dean's first appearance on film was playing John the Apostle in a 1951 episode of Family Theater. The episode is called "Hill Number One."  It features a wrap around story of a platoon of men fighting in Korea. A chaplain brings the men coffee on Easter Sunday and begins telling them the story of the Resurrection.

Like the radio series, the TV show attracted some major actors. In this episode alone, you will see such well-known actors as Roddy McDowell (Planet of the Apes), William Schallert (Patty Duke Show), Leif Erickson (High Chaparral), Frank Wilcox (The Untouchables & Beverly Hillbillies), and Michael Anasara (Broken Arrow, Law of the Plainsman, Star Trek & I Dream of Jeanie).

When this first aired, James Dean wasn't THE JAMES DEAN. This was just the beginning of his legend.

Feel free to post this on Facebook with a overbearing, guilt trip statement like "I bet you won't share this." Maybe I'll get more hits that way.



     

Sunday, April 20, 2014

BUNNIES AND SUPERHEROES

SUPERMAN (George Reeves) & EASTER BUNNY

HOPPY THE MARVEL BUNNY
DOLLY PARTON AS EASTER BUNNY
ELVIRA, EASTER BUNNY OF THE DARK


I HOPE THIS BUNNY COMES TO MY HOUSE

Saturday, April 19, 2014

I WAS NEVER AFRAID OF THE EASTER BUNNY (or Clowns)

I've seen quite a bit of photos on the Internet of frightened, crying children on the lap of a department store Easter Bunny. Yes, some of the Easter Bunnies range from goofy to slightly scary.

Now, I'm going to upset people (which I like to do): I was never frightened by the Easter Bunny. Either my parents didn't make me feel that the Easter Bunny was threatening or I have no problem with six foot tall rabbits posing for photos with children at department stores. First of all, children are not supposed to be afraid of the Easter Bunny. They are supposed to be fun.


When I was about ten or eleven, I bought this Unexpected comic book. The cover is better than the story inside. In the story, giant Easter Bunny kidnaps a kid at an Easter egg hunt, covers the kid with chocolate and then bites the kid's head off as revenge for all the chocolate bunnies who had their heads bitten off my bratty children. In the passing years, I've seen this issue mentioned on list of the "dumbest comic book stories ever."

Let me also mention something else that I'm proud of: I AM ALSO NOT AFRAID OF CLOWNS. I don't understand the fear of clowns. I have seen whole websites dedicated to the hatred of clowns and I am more frightened by the people created these websites. The vitriol and hatred plastered on these websites are comparable to racism and homophobia. I feel the fear of clowns is so preposterous that I'm working on a giallo-type novel about a "killer clown."

Contrary to what these websites lead you to believe, there have been very few, if any, recorded clown/Easter Bunny child kidnappings.

I've noticed that the people I know on Facebook who seem to fear clowns and Easter Bunnies are the same one who think teenagers are stupid and should pull up their pants, the media gives more attention to celebrities than soldiers and the government is going to take away their freedoms. The bad part, many of these people are former classmates, who felt they were superior to me and called me a dork. At least, I can say I've never been afraid of a person in a Easter Bunny costume or a clown. Who really is the dork?

Of course, my opinions are why I'm considered the Super-Villain of the Ozarks!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!  

Sunday, March 31, 2013

THAT PICTURE OF JESUS YOU ALWAYS SEE

Not sure how readers will take this post. It may seem unusual discussing a religion on this blog, but I feel this is appropriate, because this is Easter Sunday. I feel it will fit in with my general theme on this blog, which is pop culture.

It is a painting we have all seen. As a matter of fact, The New York Times said it was probably the most recognized American paintings of the 20th Century. It has been seen on calenders, bookmarks, hand fans, notebooks and other things given away by funeral homes and churches. It has even been features on greeting cards, T-shirts, lamps, coins, stamps and, oddly enough, a toilet seat cover (Sold through a mail order company).  You probably didn't know it had a name nor did you know the name of the man who painted it, but in the back of your mind it was "That-picture-of-Jesus-you-always-see."

The painting is called The Head of Christ and it was painted by a commercial artist named Warner Sallman in 1940. Sallman originally created a charcoal version in the 1920s which he called Son of Man. He made the first oil version in 1935. He was asked to create another version in 1940, which attracted the attention of the owners of Gospel Trumpet Publishing. They were so impressed, they created a company just to sell Sallman's other paintings of Jesus Christ. The Head of Christ became popular immediately. Smaller versions were sent with American soldiers in World War II. Through this and his other paintings such as Christ At Heart's Door (A very symbolic painting showing Jesus in front of a house, knocking on a door without a knob or latch), Sallman created the modern image of Jesus Christ much the way artist Haddon Sundblom's Coca Cola ads created the modern image of Santa Claus. Sallman's Head of Christ portrait and Da Vinci's The Last Supper are two of the most famous paintings of Jesus Christ.

One theory on the popularity of Sallman's Head of Christ was that it looks like a yearbook photo or a personal portrait from a coin-operated photo booth. From the very beginning, there were critics who felt that Sallman's Jesus was not "manly" enough. One person called Sallman's Jesus "sissified." Later, some noticed that the painting looked like the Breck girl ads.  In the 60s, some conservatives began to despise Sallman's Jesus Christ, because of his shoulder length hair and beard was similar to that of many male members of the counter culture (After all, he is the Prince of Peace). Others have noted that Sallman's Jesus Christ is too white, middle American looking, especially noted is Sallman giving Jesus blue eyes.

As I mentioned before, I saw this picture for years, never giving its origins much thought until I viewed a TV documentary, narrated by Hal Holbrook, about the painting and Sallman a few years ago on TV. Unfortunately, I could not find it on You Tube, but I did find this old film short. It features Warner Sallman creating a charcoal in front of a church while a choir sings (Okay, there may have been some editing). There is also a little inspirational story here, similar to the Union Pacific/Jam Handy productions that turned up on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Look for Hope Summers, who played Aunt Bea's rival Clara on The Andy Griffith Show).     

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Liberace Sings "Easter Parade" To His Mother



I was looking for the clips from the 1962 "shockumentary" Mondo Cane of baby chicks being dipped in dye and run through a large oven for Easter gifts for little spoiled Baby Boomers. I was also looking for another clip from Mondo Cane that shows men in the Philippines on Easter week nailing themselves to crosses to carry and beating themselves with rocks in an attempt to experience the same suffering as Jesus Christ suffered. I could not find those clips separate from the whole film.

However, I found this great clip from the Liberace TV show of him singing "Easter Parade To his mother. I decided this was more family friendly (I can't believe I wrote that - I HATE THAT PHRASE!)

HAVE A SAFE AND PLEASANT EASTER!!!
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