Hi guys. I had wanted to do all kinds of blogs before Christmas, but time has been a factor. I have today (Sunday) off, but I'm feeling just a little under the weather. No biggie, just a little cold, but it comes with a headache that makes it a little uncomfortable to sit at the computer for too long, so I'll have to skip the quiz for now.

Anyway, I want to write a little about my favorite Christmas carols, and then some random thought, along with the answers to the last quiz on Christmas movies. I'm not very good at picking favorites, and that goes for Christmas carols, but here is a few, starting with the religious ones, which I prefer. "Silent Night", written about 190 years ago by a parish priest in Austria, as "Heilige Nacht, Stille Nacht". "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", written by Charles Wesley, who, along with his brother, John, was a founder of the Methodist movement. "Adeste Fideles", aka "O Come, All Ye Faithful", a traditional hymn, probably composed by monks, is another favorite. "We Three Kings", too, because I'm fascinated by the story of the Wisemen. "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", "O Holy Night", written by a man who later in life became an atheist, or an agnostic. There is an interesting legend about this song during the Franco-Prussian War, on Christmas Eve, 1870. There's also a similar, better documented story about a temporary ceasefire on Christmas Eve, 1914. You can learn more about them by typing in related keywords on Google, or maybe Wikipedia. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" has always been one of my favorites. I like Bing Crosby's version the best, even though he says "God Rest YOU Merry Gentlemen".

Among my favorites of the secular songs is "White ChristChristmas carmas". Local legend has it that Irving Berlin was staying at the Arizona Biltmore hotel in Phoenix when he got the idea for the song. However, I read one of the more obscure lines says something about Beverly Hills, which would prove otherwise. Anyway, he really did stay at the hotel. Of course, "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" is one of everybody's favorites. I grew up on the Gene Autry version, but I also like Dean Martin's version. "Jingle Bells" is perhaps the quintessential Christmas carol, even though it makes no mention of christmas, only a sleigh ride in the snow, which means little to those of us who live in warmer climates, or those who live south of the Equator, where it's summer.

Well, I wish I could say more, because there are so many great carols, both religious and secular, that would occupy a lot of time and space, but I'm getting a little tired now.

I read that actress Jennifer Jones died a few days ago. Too bad it didn't get more mention in the mainstream media. She was great in The Song of Bernadette, from 1943, about the little French girl in the 19th century who experienced a series of Marian apparitions. Jones won Best Actress for that role, even though it was billed as her film debut. Rest in peace, Jennifer.

I also wanted to write a blog about Santa Claus and how he is depicted in various cultures, but that's iffy. Anyway, here are the answers to the last quiz:

a) The Song of Bernadette

b) Since You Went Away

c) The Bells of St. Mary's

d) The Yearling

George was yelling "Merry Christmas, movie house!"

2. Who played the little girl in Miracle on 34the Street?

a) Natalie Wood

b) Patty Duke

c) Mary Tyler Moore

d) Jane Fonda

3. Also in Miracle on 34th Street, which sitcom star appeared as a judge's advisor?

a) William Demarest

b) William Bendix

c) Jim Backus

d) William Frawley

4. In A Christmas Story, what radio program is Ralphie listening to?

a) Little Orphan Annie

b) The Lone Ranger

c) The Adventures Of Superman

d) Red Ryder

tThe toy he coveted was the offici lRed Ryder BB gun, but Little Orphan Annie is referred to as his favorite show (he got the official LOA decoder rings in the mail, which turned out be "a crummy commercial").

5. Who wrote the score for White Christmas?

a) Rogers and Hammerstein

b) Dmitri Tiomkin

c) Miklos Rosza

d) Irving Berlin

Who else?

Again, I wish I had more time, and energy, to say more, but I'll try and blog something before Christmas. Merry Christms, friends!

Thanks to all who read my blog on It's A Wonderful Life and left comments and tried to answer my quiz questions. No one got all the answers (are some of my questions getting too hard?), but you're all pretty smart. As I said, there's so much to talk about concerning this movie, so much it would take a big book, or an encyclopedia, to cover it all. I'll probably think of some other things later on. Feel free to mention any other tidbits or trivia in the comments.

This time I want to talk about other Christmas classics. One of the all-time classics is Miracle on 34th Street. Unlike IAWL, it has a Christmas theme throughout and was perhaps the quintessential holiday classic before the resurgence of IAWL. It was remade as a TV movie in the early 70s with Sebastian Cabot as Kris Kringle. Also as an episode of a 1950s television anthology series with Thomas Mitchell as Kris Kringle. I have that episode as part of a DVD Christmas compilation. Bing Crosby starred in both The Bells of St. Mary's and White Christmas, two other classics. The Dickens classic A Christmas Carol has been made so many times it's hard to think of a definitive version. Scrooge is probably an inspiration for mean old Mr. Potter in IAWL, except Scrooge is redeemed at the end, unlike Potter. I went see A Christmas Story at a theater in 1984, a year after it's initial release. It's amazing how quickly it became a Christmas favorite. Darren McGavin should have won an Oscar. He was a hoot! I also saw Home Alone, another fast classic, which dominated at the box office for several weeks. When I was a kid, my sisters loved Shirley Temple in Heidi (1937), which took place on Christmas Eve during the climax. One of my mom's favorite movies was Since You Went Away (1944), which is sometimes played around the holidays. Shirley Temple was in that too, in a supporting role. Two other movies that are considered holiday movies are Miracle of the Bells, starring Fred MacMurray and Frank Sinatra, and Beyond Tomorrow. Both are seldom, if ever, shown on television. The latter has fast become a favorite of mine. I first saw it as part of the aforementioned Christmas compilation, and later on a separate colorized DVD, retitled Beyond Christmas. It was made in 1940, and had a few familiar names, but no big stars. Check out those two on imdb.com. Are there any other favorites of yours? I hope you all have time to enjoy your favorite holiday movies.

Here are the answers to the last quiz:

1. Who was originally set to star in a movie version of "The Greatest Gift"?

a) Cary Grant

b) Clark Gable

c) Henry Fonda

d) Gary Cooper

He later got the starring role in The Bishop's Wife.

2. Who was Capra's first choice to play Mary Hatch?

a) Olivia DeHavilland

b) Martha Scott

c) Ann Dvorak

d) Jean Arthur

She co-starred with Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, another Capra film.

3. Which cast member had previously played Jesus in a Cecil B. DeMille silent epic?

a) Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter)

b) H. B. Warner (Mr. Gower)

c) Charles Williams (Eustace, the Building & Loan accountant)

d) Samuel S. Hinds (Peter "Pa" Bailey)

In King Of Kings from 1927, one of the last all-silent films. He was already in his 50s by the time he played Jesus.

4. Ward Bond, who played Bert the Cop, what go on to star in what TV western?

a) High Chaparral

b) The Virginian

c) Wagon Train

d) Rawhide

The only other western besides Gunsmoke and Bonanza to finish a season at #1 in the Nielsens (although I think he died before it reached #1).

5. Frank Faylen (Ernie the Cab Driver) would go on to co-star in what TV sitcom?

a) The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis

b) The Bob Cummings Show (Love That Bob)

c) The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet

d) Life With Father

He played Dobie's dad, Herbert T. Gillis ("I gotta kill that boy! I just gotta!").

Here' another quiz of Christmas movies:

1. In It's a Wonderful Life, George is running through the main street of Bedford Falls after returning from his alternate reality and passes a movie theater. What movie is on the Marquee?

a) The Song of Bernadette

b) Since You Went Away

c) The Bells of St. Mary's

d) The Yearling

2. Who starred as the little girl in Miracle on 34the Street?

a) Natalie Wood

b) Patty Duke

c) Mary Tyler Moore

d) Jane Fonda

3. Also in Miracle on 34th Street, which sitcom star appeared as a judge's advisor?

a) William Demarest

b) William Bendix

c) Jim Backus

d) William Frawley

4. In A Christmas Story, what radio program is Ralphie listening to?

a) Little Orphan Annie

b) The Lone Ranger

c) The Adventures Of Superman

d) Red Ryder

5. Who wrote the score for White Christmas?

a) Rogers and Hammerstein

b) Dmitri Tiomkin

c) Miklos Rosza

d) Irving Berlin

Next time, when I get a chance, I'll blog about Christmas carols. Till then, bye and stay warm.

P.S. Thanks, IndianaMom. I checked, double-checked, and triple-checked my tags the first time, but I guess a quadruple-check was in order. Man, those tags!

There are so, so many great Christmas movies. Some were intended as Christmas movies (Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, White Christmas), some were not (, Beyond Tomorrow). I think It's A Wonderful Life probably falls into the latter category. Its genesis was The Greatest Gift, a pamphlet, something like a Christmas card, by Phillip Van Doren Stern. It was considered by several producers for years before Frank Capra picked it up and turned into the holiday classic it is today. It was not always a classic, though. Released in 1946, it didn't do too well at the box office and got mixed reviews, although it did get a few major Oscar nominations. The big movie that year was The Best Years of Our Lives, which was seen as more sophisticated, and captured the rather cynical mood of the American public at the time. Wonderful Life was dubbed "Capra-corn".

In spite of that, it had several dark moments, perhaps the most disturbing of which was when Old Man Gower slapped young George around. I knew Gower was deeply depressed and grieving, but I couldn't help wishing George's dad, Peter Bailey , had walked in and taught the old man a lesson. Other dark moments were when George gets rough with Uncle Billy, and yells at Mary and the kids, saying at one point, "Why do we have to have all these kids?" Also, he yells over the phone at a well-meaning teacher, making her cry. I have a hard time blaming her husband for slugging George. I don't condone violence, but you have to admire a man for defending his wife. And, of course, the theme of suicide. It's probably the ending, which takes place on Christmas Eve, that earned it the rather dubious moniker "Capra-corn". In any event, in the 70s the copyright ran out,and through a clerical error was not renewed, resulting in more airplay. That's how, after so many years, it became perhaps the quintessential Christmas classic. I wish something similar would happen to Miracle of the Bells and Beyond Tomorrow (more on those in my next blog).

There's so much to say about this movie, far too much to cover in one blog, or even one book. It would take a multi-volume encyclopedia. Here's a few entries: Supposedly, George and Mr. Gower were the only two people who ever knew that Gower accidentally put poison in a sick boy's medicine (which, thankfully, George never delivered). But, Mary was sitting there the whole time and saw everything. She heard Gower slapping George, and so must have heard about the poison. Also, Why was Nick the Bartender, such a nice guy, such a creep in the alternate reality sequence? I don't now, but I've always figured it was because George wasn't there to help Mr. Martini, when it was he who gave Nick direction in life. Legend has it that Bert the Cop and Ernie the Cab Driver inspired the popular Muppets Bert and Ernie, but that has been disputed. And, of course, why did old man Potter escape justice for keeping $8,000 that he knew belonged to George and the Building and Loan? Scrooge and the Grinch were both reformed at the end of their popular stories. Why not Potter? I guess that's just one of those things that we were meant to forever talk about. (It is also worth mentioning that it is the sort of thing that Peter and George Bailey did, loaning money to people who are bad risks, that is responsible for the financial mess we're in today).

The movie also featured future TV personalities, such as Sheldon Leonard (Nick), who, among many other accomplishments, is primarily responsible for the creation of The Andy Griffith Show. Also, Donna Reed, Mary Treen (who played a secretary at the Bailey Building & Loan), who would become a familiar face on TV shows and commercials, and Ward Bond and Frank Faylen (see the quiz below). Any tidbits you'd like to bring up?

Okay, here's a quiz:

1. Who was originally set to star in a movie version of "The Greatest Gift"?

a) Cary Grant

b) Clark Gable

c) Henry Fonda

d) Gary Cooper

2. Who was Capra's first choice to play Mary Hatch?

a) Olivia DeHavilland

b) Martha Scott

c) Ann Dvorak

d) Jean Arthur

3. Which cast member had previously played Jesus in a Cecil B. DeMille silent epic?

a) Lionel Barrymore

b) H. B. Warner

c) Charles Williams

d) Samuel S. Hinds

4. Ward Bond, who played Bert the Cop, what go on to star in what TV western?

a) High Chaparral

b) The Virginian

c) Wagon Train

d) Rawhide

5. Frank Faylen (Ernie the Cab Driver) would go on to co-star in what TV sitcom?

a) The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis

b) The Bob Cummings Show (Love That Bob)

c) The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet

d) Life With Father

Yes, Best Years was the big winner in '46, but It's a Wonderful Life would have the last laugh, and is still having it.

I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I have to work until 4:30 PM (then back at 6 the next morning). When I get home I'll eat a Sara Lee pumpkin pie, some turkey breast I bought at the deli, Stove Top instant stuffing, and some walnuts. Then maybe watch a little TV. In spite of the dissatisfaction I sometimes express, Ihave a lot to be thankful for, not the least of which is the fact that I'm still working through the holidays. I think most of us have more to be thankful for than we realize.

Here are the answers (no one got all five correct, but thanks to everyone who participated)) to the Ben-Hur quiz, in bold:

1. What movie won the most Oscars before Ben-Hur?

a) Gone With The Wind

b) All About Eve

c) From Here To Eternity

d) Gigi

From 1958. It won 9 Oscars, a record that lasted all of one year.

2. What 19th Century novelist wrote the novel?

a) Herman Melville

b) Charles Dickens

c) Alexander Dumas

d) Lew Wallace

A Civil War hero from Indiana. Quite an interesting life.

3. What 20th Century novelist was an uncredited contributor to the script?

a) Irving Wallace

b) Gore Vidal

c) Irwin Shaw

d) Pearl S. Buck

He claimed that he inserted subtle homosexuality between Ben-Hur and Messala, without telling Charlton Heston, but that may just be braggadocio on Vidal's part. Who knows the truth, besides Vidal?

4. Who played the lead in the 1926 version?

a) Ramon Navarro

b) Rudolph Valentino

c) Harry Houdini

d) Douglas Fairbanks

Francis X. Bushman, who guest starred in a few classic TV episodes, played Messala.

5. Cathy O'Donnell, who played Ben-Hur's mother, also played Charlton Heston's mother in what other movie?

a) The Greatest Show Show On Earth

b) The Ten Commandments

c) A Touch Of Evil

d) Will Penny

She played Yochabel, Moses' birth mother.

Again, Happy Thanksgiving, and please don't forget those who can't be home, especially those who are abroad defending our rights. Also those who are sick inthe hospital.

Thanks to those of you who kept me and my co-workers in your thoughts and prayers. Now that I no longer have to worry about a strike (not that I like my job, it's just that I'm glad to have it) and the holidays are coming up, I can blog about a subject that's more enjoyable. One of my favorite movies is Ben-Hur, which turns 50 soon. I think at one time I memorized every scene in sequence and much of the dialog, though I'm a little rusty on it now. It won 11 Academy Awards, a record that lasted 38 years before being equaled by Titanic, and later by Return of the King. My mom had told me that she and my dad went to see it in its initial release. My dad wanted to see it largely because of the chariot race scene, which is considered one of the classic action scenes in cinema. I remember when it made its television debut in, I think, 1971 on CBS, though I don't remember much about it at the time and hadn't heard of it before. There have been rumors circulating for years that a stunt man was killed while filming the chariot race scene, but they have been discounted. I have the 4 disc DVD set, which includes as a feature the 1925 or 1926 (depending on the source; it's usually listed as 1926) silent version, one of the biggest blockbusters of the silent era, if not the biggest. Several actors were considered for the title role in the 1959 version before Charlton Heston won it. Among them were Rock Hudson Paul Newman, Marlon Brando, Kirk Douglas, and others. It's a little difficult to imagine Brando in that role, but then it would have been difficult to imagine him as Julius Caesar. It's difficult to imagine anyone giving a better performance than Heston, or even equalling it. My only peeve, if you can call it that, with the movie is that the ending, while glorious, was a little predictable. A movie sequel could be made out of the epilog in the novel upon which it was based. I wish someone would.

Here's a relevant quiz:

1. What movie won the most Oscars before Ben-Hur?

a) Gone With The Wind

b) All About Eve

c) From Here To Eternity

d) Gigi

2. What 19th Century novelist wrote the novel?

a) Herman Melville

b) Charles Dickens

c) Alexander Dumas

d) Lew Wallace

3. What 20th Century novelist was an uncredited contributor to the script?

a) Irving Wallace

b) Gore Vidal

c) Irwin Shaw

d) Pearl S. Buck

4. Who played the lead in the 1926 version?

a) Ramon Navarro

b) Rudolph Valentino

c) Harry Houdini

d) Douglas Fairbanks

5. Cathy O'Donnell, who played Ben-Hur's mother, also played Charlton Heston's mother in what other movie?

a) The Greatest Show Show On Earth

b) The Ten Commandments

c) A Touch Of Evil

d) Will Penny

As always, I look forward to your answers and comments. If my PC permits, I'll try and blog again before Thanksgiving.

http://www.ufcw99.com/negotiations.html

I went to work this morning feeling very upset, thinking today would be my last full day of work for a long time, but moments after I arrived, I was informed that the union and the company had reached an agreement. It was a huge sigh of relief on the part of every employee. Exactly what happened that made them reach this agreement remains to be seen. I tend to believe both sides blinked. The company, which is the Number 1 supermarket chain in Arizona knew their reign would be in severe jeopardy in the event of a strike during the holiday season, and the union knew that many of their members were extremely disenchanted at the prospect of being forced by them to strike at such a time without a vote, and already saw a loss in membership, with many more threatening to quit. This agreement still has to be voted on, but there is little doubt that it will pass overwhelmingly. Life still has its problems, but this was a ton of bricks that has just been lifted from my shoulders. It's been a very tense week, and now it's time to give thanks to God and St. Jude.

In a few days, again if my PC allows it, I'll blog again, and maybe throw in a quiz. Thanks for your comments and prayers (is anyone else having trouble posting comments?).

Here's a link to a press release on the union website:

http://www.ufcw99.com/negotiations.html

Don't believe a word of it! It's all propaganda. I know for a fact that the vast majority of union workers are opposed to this strike, and want to work over the holidays. We at least want a chance to vote on it. The union claims that we voted for it in September, but that's a half-truth. There was a vote, but it was at a rally that was attended by relatively few members, and I'm told by some that it was a stand-up vote, no ballots. Also, negotiations were still going on at the time, and most of those who voted did so to give the union more leverage at the bargaining table, not because they wanted to strike. It was a preliminary vote, but the union stubbornly stands on it as final. At any rate, that's their excuse for not allowing a "revote", even though one co-worker says that he was told by someone who attended a union meeting that the local union president promised there would be no strike without another vote (though I can't verify that he actually said that).

Many of my co-workers are living paycheck to paycheck and don't know how they'll be able to keep their homes. Forget about Christmas presents for their kids. One co-worker, a big, tough-looking guy, was almost in tears when he said that if there's strike, he'll lose everything. All for a contract offer from the company that most of us find acceptable. This union seems intent on being the Grinch who stole Chritmas from its own members.

Thanks to those who left comments. I tried to post a comment, but I was unable to get it posted. I'll keep you posted, as long as my computer lets me. Please keep me and and my co-workers in your thoughts and prayers.

P.S. The above banner is a statue of St. Jude the Apostle, the patron saint of desperate cases. He was reveared by, among others, Danny Thomas, who named a children's hospital in his honor. Jamie Farr, too. Heading into the eleventh hour, I hope he'll listen to me too.

I've been having PC problems again, and to get it to work I have to keep turning it on and off until I can get online without an error message that forces it to shut down. My IE browser is also down, but fortunately I discovered I can surf the web using the browser on my Realplayer.

Like the above title says, there is the likelihood of a strike where I work unless the company meets the union's demands by November 13 (Friday the 13th). That appears unlikely. The company has made it pretty clear that they have made their final proposal, so the union will likely call a strike. They so far refuse to allow a vote on the company's proposal. Their rationale is that we already voted on it at a union meeting in September, one which I and many other members did not attend for a variety of reasons, in which members voted to authorize a strike. That vote, however, was not so much a refusal by members of the new proposal, as a vote to give the union bargaining power. Now it appears they have already gotten the best proposal we can hope for. In my observation, most of my fellow employees, at least at my store, find the new proposal agreeable, and anything better is not worth risking our homes over. Yesterday at work there was a petition calling on the union to allow us to vote on the contract, and the number of signatures was overwhelming. As far as I know, this petition has no binding authority, but we're hoping it will convince the union that there is little support for a strike, and that they should let us vote.

In past comments I have defended being a union member, and I do not regret it. Unions come in handy as a safeguard against companies that try to make a profit with little or no concern for their workers. Years ago at one time this company had such leadership, and that was what provided the welcome mat for this union to come in, whereas before there had been little talk of unionization. I only wish that this union would defend our rights without forcing us out of our homes. This strike isn't necessary.

I have some money in a savings account, already made smaller by giving to relatives in need, and some of which I had hoped to use for a pilgrimage to Italy and the Vatican. If this strike happens, a strike that would likely last for months, I will need every penny just to get by until it runs out in a few months. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and my head bowed in prayer.

Sorry, no quizzes for a while. Perhaps when and if this thing blows over.

P.S. Thanks for your comments and well wishes and prayers, everybody. I'll keep you posted, as long as my computer permits. I'm posting this in an edit of the blog because I can't get get "submit" button tp work when I try to post a comment.

I'm falling behind some of you on TV.com levels because of some inactivity, due to personal problems, which remain unresolved, but here's something that's been on my mind lately. He has been hunted for more than 30 years, like Javert hunting Jean Valjean (Les Miserables) . During these years he has directed several movies, most notably The Pianist, for which he won an Oscar, but couldn't be there to accept because it would have meant his arrest. His surprise arrest by Swiss authorities, apparently at request of the U.S., outraged the arts community, especially in France, though a few American notables signed the petition "demanding" his immediate release. He was there to accept another honor at the Zurich Film Festival, thinking he would have a safe haven, as though such events are international territory. There is a word for this kind of dogged persistence for a respected member of the arts community, The word is: JUSTICE. You can argue about some of the legal technicalities of the case, and you can make excuses for him due to his hard life, such as losing three generations of immediate family members, first his mother in a Nazi death camp, then his wife, Sharon Tate, and unborn son at the hands of Manson family bloodthirsty cutthroat killers. But, what it all boils down to is, he raped a 13-year-old girl, and then skipped the country to avoid the consequences. He had sex with a girl who did not want it, who asked him to stop. Call it rape or call it "rape rape", it is a vicious crime. I am sickened by the arrogance of many in the arts community who actually think he should be excused because of his artistic merits, especially among French artists. Many artists and intellelectuals in France have long thought that. Fortunately, the French public seem to think differently, as well as the public in Poland, where elements in the government have urged his release. Sure, Rosemary's Baby was a great movie, and I'll be sure to catch it this Halloween, but let's bring the film's director back, in chains, and treat him like we would any non-artist who did what he did.

I don't have a quiz for you right now, but maybe in a few days or so, if I feel like it. Here are the answers to The Brady Bunch quiz:

1. Robert Reed, who played Mike Brady, earlier co-starred in the 60s legal drama The Defenders as a young lawyer. Who was the star?

d. E.G. Marshall, though any of the others would have done as well.

2. Reed also had a recurring role in what crime drama just prior to The Brady Bunch?

a. Mannix, as Lieutenant Adam Tobias. According to the TV.com entry, it was during the show's second season, 1968-69.

3. Ann B. Davis, who played lovable maid and nanny Alice ("Oh, Alice"), earlier co-starred in what sitcom?

c. The Bob Cummings Show, aka Love That Bob, 1955-59. She played Bob's assistant, Shultzy, who had a crush on him, but he had his eye on on more glamorous girls. Poor Shultzy!

4. Which female cast member was replaced by a different actress in the weird 70s variety show The Brady Bunch Hour?

c. Eve Plumb (Jan). I don't remember ever watching that show, though I might have. TV Land showed it for a while during the 90s.

5. Who was the show's producer and creator?

b. Sherwood Schwartz, actually the executive producer. He also created and produced another childhood favorite, Gilligan's Island.

No one got all the answers, but thanks to those who participated and commented.

Well, here it is, my 1000th post. It took a year and a half after getting 500, though I'm wondering if some of them might still be lost after the glitch a couple of months ago. Is there an emblem for it, or is it only after 500? Anyway, this blog is in honor of the 40th anniversary of the debut of an American icon, The Brady Bunch. As a child it was one of my favorite shows, and I looked forward to it every Friday night on ABC, along with The Partridge Family and Nanny and the Professor. I think the first episode I saw was a few episodes after its debut in 1969, the one where Cindy's doll Kitty Karry-All is missing, and Bobby gets blamed. It soon became a favorite of mine and my family, and we saw each character as ourselves, since we're from a family with three of each (though with the same parents, and not quite in the same order). I was Peter. Another bit of trivia: it is said that Louisiana's current governor and possible future presidential candidate Bobby Jindal, the son of immigrants from India, liked the show so much he named himself after the youngest Brady boy. That should be an interesting campaign issue! Before the Brady quiz, here are the answers to the Bonanza quiz (congratulations to Jokipper for getting them all):

1.Which cast member had a #1 song on the pop charts in the 1960s?

a, Lorne Green. The cast members actually recorded a couple of albums in the early 60s, and Lorne Green had a song (I think it was actually a poem read to music) called "Ringo" in 1964 that made it to #1.

2. Which cast member was a native of Canada?

a, Lorne Green again. He was a well known radio and TV personality in Canada before Bonanza.

3. Which cast member did not have a regular role in another television series?

c, Dan Blocker, although he did have a couple of fairly regular roles before. I remember when he died in 1972. My dad was pretty upset, probably because he knew it spelled the end for the show. After it was cancelled in 1973, Lorne went on to star in the popular Battlestar Galactica and the less popular Code Red. Pernell Roberts was the title character in Trapper John M.D., and, of course, Michael Landon starred in Little House on the Prarie and Highway to Heaven.

4. Which cast member starred with Frank Sinatra in a theatrical movie?

c, Dan Blocker again, in Lady in Cement, in 1968. He was considered a protagonist in it, but not at all the teddy bear that he was as Hoss.

5. Who played Michael Landon in a TV biopic?

b, John Schneider, though any one of the others would have done well. It aired in 1999 and I haven't seen it since, though I'd like to. It was pretty good. Now, here's a Very Brady quiz:

1. Robert Reed, who played Mike Brady, earlier co-starred in the 60s legal drama The Defenders as a young lawyer. Who was the star?

a. Mason Adams

b. John Houseman

c. Martin Balsam

d. E.G. Marshall

2. Reed also had a recurring role in what crime drama just prior to The Brady Bunch?

a. Mannix

b. Dragnet (the 1960s version)

c. Hawaii Five-O

d. Felony Squad

3. Ann B. Davis, who played lovable maid and nanny Alice ("Oh, Alice"), earlier co-starred in what sitcom?

a. The Donna Reed Show

b. Mr. Ed

c. The Bob Cummings Show (aka Love That Bob)

d. Hazel

4. Which female cast member was replaced by a different actress in the weird 70s variety show The Brady Bunch Hour?

a. Florence Henderson (Carol Brady)

b. Maureen McCormick (Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!)

c. Eve Plumb (Jan)

d. Susan Olson (Cindy)

5. Who was the show's producer and creator?

a. Paul Henning

b. Sherwood Schwartz

c. Jess Oppenheimer

d. Don Fedderson

Again, leave your answers in a comment below or in a PM, and share any memories or tidbits about the show.

Well, it was fun while it lasted, but it looks like the Cardinals got a rude awakening yesterday at the hands of the 49ers. It looks like, as I feared, last year's Super Bowl appearance was a fluke after all, their last chance to bring home the trophy to Phoenix.. Ironically, it's the newest team, the Diamondbacks, that won a championship, by beating the three-time defending champs Yankees in the 2001 World Series. The Suns had a season in 1976 similar to the Cards last year, beating the defending champs Golden State Warriors in the NBA Western Conference Finals, then taking the mighty Celtics to six games before reality set in. All we can do for now is hold on to memories of the 2001 D-Backs.

Enough of the sad stuff. Two days ago (9/12) was the 50th anniversary of the premier of one of the most popular television shows ever, Bonanza. It was the #1 show on TV for three straight seasons during the 60s, replacing the wildly popular The Beverly Hillbillies. Ben, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe Cartwright were adopted by millions of American, and others, as their own family. They were an ornery bunch in the first few episodes, more like the kinds of villains you'd see on Gunsmoke, but soon mellowed and became the helpful clan we know and love to this day. It was cancelled in 1973.

Before doing a Bonanza quiz, here are the answers to last blog's Charles Bronson quiz:

1. b, The Travels ofJamie McPheeters. This western series also starred a young Kurt Russell in the title role, with a closing theme sung by the very young Osmond Brothers, who also appeared in a few episodes (minus Donny).

2. a, The Dirty Dozen

3. d, Once Upon a Time in the West, a slightly offbeat "spaghetti western" directed by Sergio Leone. Fonda played a ruthless killer, and Bronson played a gunfighter out to avenge his father's death at Fonda's hands.

4. d, Jill Ireland. Sadly, she died of cancer in, I think, 1991, shortly before he starred in a TV movie version of the Christmas classic, Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus.

5. d, Lee Marvin his Dirty Dozen co-star.

6. Buchinsky. It's Lithuanian.

Congratulations to AprilFox for getting all the answers. Incidentally, the answer to the question I posed in a comment is The Great Escape. Now, here's a Bonanza quiz:

Which cast member had a #1 song on the pop charts in the 1960s?

a. Lorne Green

b. Pernell Roberts.

c. Dan Blocker

d. Michael Landon

2. Which cast member was a native of Canada?

a. Lorne Green

b. Pernell Roberts

c. Dan Blocker

d. Michael Landon.

3. Which cast member did not have a starring role in another television series?

a. Lorne Green

b. Pernell Roberts

c. Dan Blocker

d. Michael Landon

4. Which cast member starred with Frank Sinatra in a theatrical movie during the 60s?

a. Lorne Green

b. Pernell Roberts

c. Dan Blocker

d. Michael Landon

5. Who played Michael Landon in a TV biopic?

a. Mel Gibson

b. John Schneider

c. Bruce Boxleitner

d. Richard Dean Anderson

As you can see, all the questions pertain to cast members. If I were a real aficionado, I could think of others pertaining to the series itself. There's a very good and informative book on the series that I would like to purchase, but it's rather pricey. In the comments, you can talk about the series and share memories, such as favorite episodes.

1. Which of these TV westerns began on radio?:

Answer: d. Gunsmoke. It starred William Conrad as a somewhat more volatile Matt Dillon, not the easy going type as portrayed by James Arness. It also featured Parley Baer as Chester and Howard McNear as Doc (I don't remember who played Kitty). Also, I put the word "began" in italics because Have Gun, Will Travel debuted on radio two years after the TV series began, which was rather unusual. The radio show starred John Dehner as Paladin. He was in fact the first choice as Paladin in the TV series, but was under contract elsewhere.

2. Which of these crime shows did not start on radio?:

Answer: b. Peter Gunn. Dragnet was great on both radio and TV, and the two were very similar, both starring the great Jack Webb.

3. Which of these sitcoms was not based on a radio show?:

Answer: c. Leave it to Beaver. I Love Lucy was based on radio's My Favorite Husband, in which she played a similar character, but Richard Denning was her husband. Many early Lucy episodes were based on radio episodes and some are included as bonuses on the official DVD releases. Yes, Father Knows Best really was a radio show, with Robert Young.

4. Which medical drama started on radio?:

Answer: a. Dr. Kildare. It starred Lew Aires and Lionel Barrymore (yes, mean old Henry F. Potter). The other medical shows were excellent, but only Dr. Kildare (I guess there's no "i" in Kildare) was on radio.

5. This one's a little different. Which of these radio personalities got a bad reputation (unfairly and inaccurately) by Kermit Schafer's Blooper albums of the 70s?:

Answer: c. Uncle Don. Some of us are old enough to remember the blooper commercials of the 70s, and one of the features was a recording on the album of Uncle Don supposedly saying after he thought the mike was off, "We're off? Good, well that oughta hold the little (children of unwed parents)!" Only thing is, the recording was a fake, as were many of the recordings on Kermit Shafer's albums. Where there was no recording available for a blooper that supposedly occurred, he hired actors to recreate them. It turns out, Uncle Don never said anything like that. It was based on an urban legend of an unidentified children's radio host saying something similar, and Shafer assumed it was Uncle Don. He was villainized after that, even though he was innocent. They done him wrong! Also on that album, there's a recording of Harry Von Zell supposedly introducing president Herbert Hoover as "Hoobert Heever". In fact, Von Zell did once say that, but Hoover was no where around. Listen to the audio quality of that recording. It obviously does not date back to the Hoover era (1929-33).

Now, here's a quiz on Charles Bronson:

1. In what 60s TV western did he have a regular role?

a. High Chaparral

b. The Travels of Jamie McPheeters

c. The Virginian

d. Lancer

2. In what movie did he co-star with Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine?

a. The Dirty Dozen

b. The Valachi Papers

c. Death Wish

d. Telefon

3. In what movie did he co-star with Henry Fonda and Jason Robards?

a. Twelve Angry Men

b. Telefon

c. The Guns Of San Sebastian

d. Once Upon A Time In The West

4. Who was his later wife and occasional co-star?

a. Sondra Locke

b. Shirley MacLaine

c. Ava Gardner

d. Jill Ireland

5. In You're In The Navy Now (1951), he and what other actor made their film debuts together?

a. Ernest Borgnine

b. Clint Eastwood

c. Michael Landon

d. Lee Marvin

6. What was his real last name (no multiple choice here)?

Good luck! By the way, I've had this new icon of Charlton Heston as Moses parting the Red Sea in The Ten Commandments for about a month or so. I got it from another site. Like it?

A couple of years ago I did a blog on radio (Radio Days). Gulielmo Marconi is credited with its invention, but as he conceived it it was nothing like the home entertainment device it later evolved into. It was wireless telegraphy, using Morse code signals, rather than distinct sounds, like the human voice. Many ships of the early 20th century, including Titanic, were equipped with it, which was its main contribution to society at the time. Then, after it was accompanied by voices, thanks mainly to Lee de Forest, it became the household medium we use today. First, besides music, news, and sporting events, it had real programs, like we have on television today. They aired generally once a week, on NBC, CBS, NBC Blue (which later became ABC), and Mutual. Some of the more popular shows were Amos & Andy, The Jack Benny Program, Fibber McGee and Molly, The Lone Ranger, and so many others. Shows such as these began to die out in the late 50s as television became more popular, and today it's pretty much music, news, sports, weather, etc. I'm still nostalgic for those old days, though, and enjoy listening to them on MP3, and over the internet. In a moment, a quiz on Old Time Radio. First, Millerem99 and Jokipper (did I leave anybody out?) knew the answers to the Elvis quiz:

1. What was his last movie (not counting concert documentaries and such)?

Answer: Change Of Habit (1969), co-starring Mary Tyler Moore as a nun.

2. What movie remake was he considered for before being dropped because of demands made by his eccentric manager, Colonel Tom Parker? Answer:

A Star Is Born (1976). The role went to Kris Kristofferson, and starred Barbara Streisand. I don't know, but I doubt that the King and Babs would have gotten along very well.

3. What was his last #1 song, his only since the "British Invasion" began?

Answer: Suspicious Minds (1969). He had other fine songs of the era, like "In The Ghetto", "Burnin' Love", "That Old Kentucky Rain", but only SM went to #1.

Now, for the old radio quiz:

1. Which of these TV westerns began on radio?:

a. Bonanza

b. Wagon Train

c.Have Gun, Will Travel

d. Gunsmoke

2. Which of these crime shows did not start on radio?:

a. Richard Diamond, Private Detective

b. Peter Gunn

c. Dragnet

d. Dangerous Assignment

3. Which of these sitcoms was not based on a radio show?:

a. Our Miss Brooks

b. I Love Lucy

c. Leave it to Beaver

d. Father Knows Best

4. Which medical drama started on radio?:

a. Dr. Kildaire

b. Ben Casey

c. Marcus Welby, M.D.

d. Medical Center

5. This one's a little diferent. Which of these radio personalities got a bad reputation (unfairly and inaccurately) by Kermit Schafer's Blooper albums of the 70s?:

a. Ed Sullivan

b. Jack Benny

c. Uncle Don

d. Alan Young

I look forward to your answers, and your comments about Old Time Radio

Today, 8/16/09, is the 32nd anniversary of the untimely death of the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis. Here is a blog I did two years ago on the 30th anniversary of his death:

"I was in my room reading something, I don't remember what, with the radio in thebackground, set on an all news station. Then the Mutual news came on and the announcer went right to it: "Elvis Presley-is dead!" At first it didn't seem to resonate, but then he repeated: "Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll, is dead at the age of 42." That woke me up. I ran out of my room, radio in hand,and found my mom and told her the news, and then the announcer repeated it: "Again, repeating the hour's top story: Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll, is dead at the age of 42." Someone, my sister I think, was watching TV, probably a soap opera, when the network broke in with the bulletin. It was a dark day all across the nation, and to some extent around the world. 42 is too young, and 30 years is too long. We still miss you, Elvis."

That was also my very first blog on TV.com, so today is my 2nd blogging anniversary.

Woolsey got questions 1 and 2 right on my Rod Serling quiz, and there were no other guesses. Here are the answers:

1. He co-wrote the screenplay for what hit 1960s Sci Fi movie?

b. Planet of the Apes

2. Who was his first choice to host The Twilight Zone, before taking the job himself?

c. Richard Egan

3. He was the creator of what short-lived 60s TV Western, and, as a bonus, who starred in it?

d. The Loner, starring Lloyd Bridges

This is a good time for a short Elvis quiz:

1. What was his last movie (not counting concert documentaries and such)?

2. What movie remake was he considered for before being dropped because of demands made by his eccentric manager, Colonel Tom Parker?

3. What was his last #1 song, his only since the "British Invasion" began?

If these are too hard, check back in a few days and I'll add some multiple choices. Otherwise, add your guesses below or in a PM.

Just as America and the world were settling down from the excitement over the first Lunar landing, a strange cult in California began a murderous rampage that caused panic in the L.A. area and sent shockwaves throughout the world. A crazed lunatic named Charles Manson and his band of not-so-merry men and women waged a campaign to bring about what they called Helter Skelter, an apocalyptic race war. Their prime targets were those that they deemed to be establishment types, "pigs", or "piggies". One of those was Sharon Tate, a fairly successful actress, notably of the film Valley of the Dolls, (she also had had a recurring role in the early episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies as a brunette) and wife of director Roman Polanski. Forty years ago today (Ausust 9), the Manson "family" killed her mercilessly, along with several house companions while Polanski was overseas. It is ironic that her greatest fame is in her death. They also murdered supermarket owner Leno La Bianca and his family. The first to die was a terrified 18-year-old named Steve Parent. Before their hate campaign was officially underway, they killed an associate named Gary Hinman. Manson, who had some dealings with Dennis Wilson of Beach Boys before beginning his rampage, took much of his inspiration from the Beatles, particularly the so-called White Album. The Beatles, I'm sure, were less than flattered when hearing this. It's frightening how one nut can command otherwise bright people into doing such evil. Less than ten years later, in November 1978, a similar personality named Jim Jones led almost a thousand people to their deaths. At any rate, the sixties, the decade of peace and free love and Woodstock, was coming to a violent climax.

I didn't pay much attention to it at the time, and I can't say I even remember it, but I read lead prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi's best-selling account "Helter Skelter", stranger and more terrifying than any horror novel. It was the Summer of Evil.

On another quite different topic, today is also the 10th anniversary of the beginning of my one and only trip overseas, a trip tp Ireland. I went as part of an entourage, essentially a Catholic pilgrimage. We toured pretty much the entire country, including a stay by the Irish Sea in Northern Ireland. I also met a lady who was also part of the entourage, and I thought we hit it off, but, unfortunately, she never answered any of my cards and letters, all perfectly innocent. C'est la vie! Someday, hopefully in the near future, I'll learn how to tranfer the pictures to my PC and post them. I've had a computer for over nine years and I still can't perform a fairly basic task!

Hmm, I guess my quiz questions about Rod Serling were a little hard. Jokipper got the initials for #4, so I'll scratch that one. It was Night Gallery. Instead of giving the rest of the answers just yet, I'll repost them and this time make them multiple choice. Here they are again:

1. He co-wrote the screenplay for what hit 1960s Sci Fi movie?

a) The Time Machine

b) Planet of the Apes

c) 2001: A Space Oddysey

d) The Three Stooges in Orbit

2. Who was his first choice to host The Twilight Zone, before taking the job himself?

a) William Shatner

b)Leslie Nielsen

c) Richard Egan

d) Dick Powell

3. He was the creator of what short-lived 60s TV Western, and, as a bonus, who starred in it?

a) A Man Called Shenandoah

b) The Legend of Jesse James

c) Dundee and the Culhane

d) The Loner

Again, leave guesses in a PM, or in a comment if you want.

47 years ago today one of the most legendary stars of the silver screen, Marilyn Monroe, died from an apparent accidental overdose of drugs. There have been numerous conspiracy theories surrounding her death, like some suggesting that the Kennedy family killed her to keep her quiet about her rumored affair with JFK (and RFK), and some that the Mafia was behind it. I'm not one to endorse outlandish theories, preferring Occam's Razor, summed up as that the easiest explanation is probably the correct one, at least barring any irrefutable evidence to the contrary. I was never a big fan, and I never thought she was as beautiful as others say, but her place in American pop culture is undeniable. If I'm not mistaken, Elton's John's hit song Goodbye, English Rose, written in the wake of Former Princess Diana's tragic death (like Monroe, at 36), was originally written for Monroe, with some different lyrics.

On another topic, I recently re-watched The Time Machine (1960), and I think it's one of my favorite movies. The turn of the century (1899-1900) London setting looks very authentic (but, does London really get that much snow?). Rod Taylor was excellent as H. George Wells, as was Alan Young as Filby (a year later he began his most memorable role, as Wilbur Post in Mr. Ed). Unfortunately, I can't post pictures, except in the banner. Anyway, I doubt that time travel is theoretically possible, but it's a fascinating concept. There was a guy who started leaving internet messages around 1999-2000, who called himself John Titor, and claimed to be from 2036 A.D. He developed quite a following and was talked about on A.M. Coast To Coast, a popular radio show. He talked about what it "was" (or will be) like in his time, including catastrophic wars. Funny, though, he never mentioned 9/11. If I could go back in time shortly before such an event, you bet I'd mention it!

No one knew that Rod Serling was first considered to host In Search Of , until his untimely death precluded that. Robert Vaughn was also considered, and hosted a version of it, but ultimately the job went to Leonard Nimoy. Not a bad choice certainly. Actually, I don't remember where I got this information, and I'm beginning to wonder about its authenticity. Anyway, while I'm on the subject, here's a few trivia questions about Mr. Serling:

1. He co-wrote the screenplay for what hit 1960s Sci Fi movie?

2. Who was his first choice to host The Twilight Zone, before taking the job himself?

3. He was the creator of what short-lived 60s TV Western, and who starred in it?

4. He hosted what 70s anthology series that somewhat resembled The Twilight Zone?

Number 4 should be fairly easy. PM your answers, or say them below. Till next blog time, bye!

(Well, I see there's a fresh new glitch on TV.com, even as the old one appears to have been fixed, I think. Now it's blogs that were posted during the first glitch that have disappeared, and what's more they're not on Movietome either. So, until this glitch gets fixed, and until I write a new blog, here's a copy of my blog commemorating the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing, which I first posted July 20. I first typed in an e-mail to myself and saved it before posting it. Unfortunately, I can't repost the comments.)

Today is the 40th anniversary of one of the most monumental events in human history: men walking on the moon. Ever since the dawn of life on earth, animals have reacted to the moon in various ways, for example, wolves howling. Man has since the caveman era gazed at it in wonderment. The earth has reacted to it, with tidal waves and other natural phenomena. Lovers have gathered in its presence. It has been an indispensable source of light at night, especially at sea. Then, 40 years ago, men like you and me, exceptionally trained, but every bit as human, journeyed there and walked on it. The same moon that has been a source of wonderment for thousands of years. Man conquered it! The Guinness Book of World Records has called it the greatest human achievement in history. No argument here.

I was in the second grade and while I remember the Apollo 8 mission, I didn't see it at the time as that big a deal, having been exposed to various sci-fi shows and movies which left me with the impression that we'd already been there, and beyond. Of course I know better now. It was also television's finest hour. According to his widow, Philo Farnsworth, who has been credited with the invention of electronic television and was reportedly dissatisfied with the quality of programming, saw Neil Armstrong on TV set foot on the moon and said, "Pem, this has made it all worthwhile."

I don't want to get into the conspiracy theories about the Apollo missions being faked. For those who want to, google "moon hoax" and you will find any number of sites on both sides of that issue. But I'll say this: it really happened!

There had been a few more moon missions (including the failed Apollo 13 mission, immortalized in Ron Howard's best movie), but after 37 years since the last landing, I think it's high time we went back. It would be a springboard for a mission to Mars, which would be a huge undertaking, and would make a moon mission look like a walk to the corner drugstore in comparison. Of course, we've had unmanned missions that have been to the outer reaches of the solar system, and that too is exciting, but still, people actually going to these places (Mars, at least) is something else.

Congratulations to AprilFox, who knew that the quote (again, by different characters and with minor variations), When are you gonna get married? You oughtta be ashamed of yourself!, is from the 1955 Oscar-winning movie Marty. I empathize somewhat! Again, I haven't had time to fish around for a good quote quiz from TV, but here's a TV trivia question: who was the first choice to host the late 70s-early 80s quasi-documentary series In Search Of, before Leonard Nimoy was chosen? I used to enjoy that series in its original run, and when it aired in reruns, even if it did "entertain" (though stopping short of espousing) bizarre theories.

I look forward to your comments. Happy 40th moon landing anniversary!