Franksgiving: A tale of two Thanksgivings
The year 1939 is filled with notable dates in history. World War II was declared in Europe on Sept. 3, 1939. Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians recorded “Auld Lang Syne” for the first time on March...
View ArticleChristmas review: The Gathering (1977)
The holidays are usually thought to be about family. But what if some families no longer get along. The made-for-TV special “The Gathering,” which aired on Dec. 4, 1977, on ABC, takes a look at a man...
View ArticleJackie Cooper’s Halloween Party
While I am no expert chef, fabulous cook or food blogger, I enjoy finding recipes supposedly connected to classic film stars. I love magazines articles and ads touting Richard Dix’s favorite chili...
View ArticleChristmas on Film: Christmas Eve (1947)
CHRISTMAS EVE (1947) is an often forgotten film. But it holds one distinction: it was the first writing job of screenwriter, director Robert Altman. The film is about elderly Matilda Reid, played by...
View ArticleMickey Rooney’s Halloween Party
Mickey Rooney is having a Halloween party and of course all of his friends pitch in to bring snacks for the party. For the occasion his frequent co-stars Ann Rutherford and Judy Garland help Mickey’s...
View ArticleModern Screen sugar-rationed holiday recipes
The holidays are a time for baking and partaking in sugary sweet treats. However during the years of rationing, preparing these goodies was made difficult. Though rationing ended with the close of...
View Article75 years and five versions of Miracle on 34th Street
Released on June 4, 1947, the 20th Century Fox film, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET celebrates 75 years in 2022. Since its release, the film and story have continued to be a holiday favorite. While the 1947...
View ArticleChristmas songs that originated in films
This was originally published on the Inside the Envelope DVD Netflix blog, which was shuttered after the service ended in Sept. 2023. The holiday season isn’t complete without listening to some...
View ArticleStories so nice, they told them twice: Christmas remakes
This article was originally written by me and published on the DVD Netflix blog, Inside the Envelop, in December 2019. DVD Netflix was shuttered in Sept. 2023, so I am republishing my work for DVD...
View ArticlePages to Screen: The Bishop’s Wife
When a novel is turned into a film, several things can happen: The novel source material is often better than the film, as the story on-screen misses nuances or thoughts portrayed in a book. Other...
View Article