My Easter Promo: The Littlest Easter Egg

Do they even make television Easter specials anymore?

When I was a child there was always some sort of Rankin/Bass animated network special to look forward to watching. Shows like Here Comes Peter Cottontail which attempted to explain just who the heck this mysterious Easter Bunny was...



It was in the spirit of those holiday specials that I created this late 80's promo for the local community access channel.

Yes it's another blast from my past! Just like my Channel 12 Christmas promo, I share with you now another one of my first video creations - the Channel 12 Easter promo...



People seemed to like this promo a lot more than I expected. Even back in the day I thought it was terribly, terribly crude. I don't know, but maybe people always enjoy an underdog story no matter how crudely it's told.

Intoxica with Howie Pyro

Hey Howie, here's some personally made fan art just for you.

Do you know about LuxuriaMusic?

You should! I've had it listed over on the right ever since I started this blog as a "Cool Thing To Click," but if you don't it's basically a retro music internet radio station.

But more importantly it's the home of a really fun, weird and cool show called Intoxica hosted by Howie Pyro that's on every Tuesday at midnight Eastern (9pm Pacific). But you don't have to wait at all to listen to Intoxica, just click on a show over on the right and give it a listen right now damn it.

Intoxica is a combination of obscure early 60's rock, R&B, jazzy surf music, weird commercials for crazy old movies and stuff, and a lot more. If this moronic blog of mine had a soundtrack it would sound a lot like Intoxica.

If you like holiday music Howie does Halloween and Christmas shows with the strangest holiday music you've heard. It's stuff way, way beyond Monster Mash or Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.

Intoxica is also available on iTunes for free download, so just search for Intoxica in the podcast section. All his shows are super great.

I hope I haven't over sold the Intoxica show. But seriously, you'll be a better person for listening to it, or at least a cooler person (well cooler in my book).

Now in the spirit of Intoxica I present something that's unique, cool and very stupid all at the same time - the Sixfinger! This one is dedicated to you Howie...

What's Your Guy-Q?

Just in time for Valentine's Day here's some valuable dating information for all my teenage girl readers.

(insert chirping crickets sound effect here)

Well let's be honest, I doubt any teenage girls have ever stumbled across this obscure silly blog. So for the rest of you (whoever you may be) I present "What's Your Guy-Q?" by celebrated author and all around groovy happening chick Ellen Peck.

I believe that is Ellen on the bicycle

This yellow pamphlet is some sort of promotion for Ellen's 1969 book How to Get a Teen-Age Boy and What to Do with Him When You Get Him.

Ellen Peck's now out of print book, but you can click the pic to purchase a used copy.

I like that sixties cartoon design on the book cover, but were females gigantic size in 1969, or were the guys just extra small?

Forward! click to embiggin

In the pamphlet's forward Ms. Peck states that she's against rigid rules, and is offering "techniques" for landing that elusive teenage boy.

Guide to Where and When a Pickup is OK

The entire pamphlet is basically easy to read tables like this guide to "Where and When a Pickup is OK." Note that a pickup is OK on an airplane (mile high club hello!) but it's NOT OK in the actual airport. I question why racetracks are listed since that seems like an odd and potentially unsavory place for teens to meet. Also zoos are totally out of the question for a pickup.

Beachcomber's Prop Guide for Better Boy Hunting

I've got to admit that the broken sunglasses ploy on the above table is ingenious.

Male of the Species - Genus High School - Where to Track Him and How

I guess I'm a mix of #7, #8 and #9, but I'd call myself a Daydreamer and not an Escapist.

Let's assume that Danny's your quarry...

Here's a table for tracking down "Danny," you know, that nice boy down the street. Let's cut to the chase: Danny's big sister and his best friends are the best ways to make contact. Forget about trying to go through his dog's vet if you want to meet him.

Danny Maze

Hey it's a maze. Your mileage may very, but it's not too hard to solve.

Conversation Topic for Use with Parents

Last but not least is the conversation topic thermometer. It's obvious that "your sexual activities" are the hottest topic of conversation. It's hilarious the "Swedish movies" are the second hottest (if you don't understand why this would be a hot topic of conversation in 1969 just click here.) It's a little confusing why "Your views on current events" is in the danger zone, "current events" are in the neutral zone, and "your parents' views on current events" are in the safe zone - seems like there could be a fine line between these.

Maybe it's just me, but when has the U.S. Postal System ever been a topic of conversation? Seriously? I guess if you work for the U.S. Postal System possibly, but even then...

Is Movie Up Down?

For my first post of New Year (finally) I'd like to tell you about a show I enjoy, but one you've probably never heard of.

Also I don't believe is on the air anymore either. Sorry about that.

Movie Up on the Reelz Channel was a fun weekly show that covered films debuting on cable and DVD for that week (and if you check out the clips below you'll find that some of these "films" are only films in the very loosest of terms) . Here's how the Reelz Channel site describes the show:

Don't want to leave your couch? We don't want you to either. Sit back and watch Movie Up. It's the only guide show that covers what's new and hot in home entertainment. From DVD's to video-on-demand to movie downloads – we'll show you the best of the big screen coming to a living room near you. Hosted by Tory Shulman.

Tory Shulman is one funny chick too. She's sorta like a female Joel McHale on The Soup.

Enjoy these fun Movie Up clips of some crazy obscure low-budget films while they last...

Movie Up | Movie Trailers

Movie Up | Movie Trailers

Movie Up | Movie Trailers

Movie Up | Movie Trailers

A Regifted Christmas

For the holiday season I've always tried to do something uniquely special to show my love for my fellow humans at this joyous time of year. Nothing store bought will do. Oh no, it has to be something merry and festive that was created personally by me.

In the past I created my own Christmas cards, and in recent years, Christmas animations. I fully intended to carry on the tradition this year, but for various reasons I just never got around to making something.

So not to disappoint, I dug up something from the distant past I made. It's a video created on antiquated 3/4 inch equipment - which is now a completely extinct format. In a dark time when everything was analog, and the idea of digital non-linear editing was the stuff of science fiction.

I bring you the Channel 12 Community Access Christmas promo...



This was probably the first creative thing I ever got paid to do, and I made a channel promo for every major holiday. I thought about enhancing it with some flashy new graphics, or something, but except for the use of the Dr. Frankenstein ID I left this in all its questionable VHS quality glory.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Santa Claus Land 1978

Just when you thought it was safe, Santa Claus Land strikes back!

On the cover of this 1978 brochure the actual photo of Santa used in the 1976 version has been replaced with a cartoon representation of a gigantic Santa overlooking his kingdom. Also free parking is prominently featured.




If you've been wondering what has happened to Santa Claus Land, well you won't find it anymore.

But good news everybody, that's because Santa Claus Land became Holiday World in 1984. Holiday World is a very popular amusement park with various lands themed to a different holiday.

Story Book Fantasy at Deer Acres

My next brochure isn't technically Christmas related, but if you accept it in the vein of Babes in Toyland which is something of a Christmas classic, it sorta fits a Christmas theme.

Hey I'm trying here...


This Story Book Fantasy at Deer Acres brochure is from the late 1970's, but sure looks like it could be from the 1950's.


I'm always suspicious of brochures that don't have actual photography of the attractions. If they're only using illustrations, I think what are they trying to hide?


Actually Deer Acres Storybook Amusement Park (it's current official name) seems like a modest old fashioned park which by all accounts is clean and run well. The park recently celebrated it's 50th season. Although the current owners wish to sell, and if you read this article the 2008 season might have been its last.