Bundle of Joy

Bundle of Joy publicity shot circa 1956 courtesy http://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/eddie-fisher-and-debbie-reynolds-in-publicity-portrait-for-news-photo/120431135.

Bundle of Joy is a musical remake of the film Bachelor Mother (1939) which starred Ginger Rogers and David Niven.  The remake stars Debbie Reynolds, a salesgirl named Peggy Parish, who is working at a department during the Christmas rush.  During her lunch break, Peggy sees someone abandon her baby on the department store steps.  She decides to bring the baby home and raise the infant as her own.  When a relationship blossoms between Peggy and the department store owner's son, played by real life husband Eddie Fisher, her co-workers start to question if he is the father of the baby.

Note:  Debbie Reynolds was pregnant with real life daughter Carrie Fisher during production of Bundle of Joy.  

Debbie Reynolds' character holds her "bundle of joy" courtesy http://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/debbie-reynolds-holding-baby-in-a-scene-from-the-film-news-photo/120431136.

The Great Rupert

http://stendec8.blogspot.ca/2012/03/great-rupert-stills-with-jimmy-durante.html

Rosalinda Amendola (Terry Moore), the daughter of former acrobats, is in the love with the aspiring composer, Pete Dingle (Tom Drake), who lives next door.  Pete's parents are wealthy, but his miserly father insists on hiding his wealth in a hole in the wall.  A former vaudevillian, Joe Mahoney (Jimmy Conlin), is homeless and must part with his pet squirrel, Rupert.

As Christmas approaches, Rosalinda's parents are destitute.  The former acrobat, played by Jimmy Durante, and his wife (Queenie Smith) pray for a solution to their money problems.  Shortly thereafter, money seemingly falls from heaven through the ceiling.  Unbeknowst to the former acrobat, Joe's pet squirrel, Rupert, has made a home in the wall and the money has gotten in his way.  All of a sudden, the acrobat is able to pay his outstanding debts and even help the needed business owners in town.  The FBI, suspicious of the acrobat's sudden wealth, arrives at his doorstep to investigate.

Jimmy Durante's characgter plays piano with the uninvited guest courtesy http://www.comicbookandmoviereviews.com/2014/12/the-great-rupert-christmas-wish-1950.html.

The Christmas Story

The Cleveland neighbourhood where the movie was filmed courtesy https://www.pinterest.com/dwilliams105/a-christmas-story/.

It is Christmas in Hammond, Indiana in the 1940's.  Nine-year-old boy Ralphie Parker wants a Red Ryder air rifle.  His mother tells him that it's not a good idea; he'll shoot his eye out.  His teacher, Miss Shields, echoes what his mother said.  The department store Santa Claus feels the same way.

On Christmas morning, Ralphie opened all of his presents, but didn't receive the coveted Red Ryder rifle.  However, "the Old Man" pointed out that there was one present left unopened.  Ralphie tore it open to discover the air rifle.

Ralphie couldn't wait to try out his new toy in the backyard.  He placed a target on a metal sign in the backyard and started shooting at it.  However, the BB ricochets back at Ralphie and knocks his glasses off.  Rendered "blind" in the process, Ralphie really thinks the BB has knocked his eye out and accidentally steps on his glasses, crushing them.  Later his mother asks him what happened to his glasses and he makes up a story about an icicle falling off the roof and shattering them.  The film ends with Ralphie lying in bed Christmas night, the Red Ryder rifle by his side.

The Christmas Story is based on Jean Shepherd's 1966 novel In God We Trust:  All Others Pay Cash. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust:_All_Others_Pay_Cash)

Ralphie gets his tongue stuck to a pole in The Christmas Story courtesy http://www.tvguide.com/movies/a-christmas-story/photos/110877/.

Holiday Affair

https://torrentbutler.eu/24863-holiday-affair

Holiday Affair, based on John D. Weaver's story, Christmas Gift, premiered on December 24, 1949. New York City Christmas clerk, Steve Mason, played by Robert Mitchum, waits on a beautiful lady, Connie, played by Janet Leigh, who buys an expensive train set from him, no questions asked.  Steve suspects that Connie is part of a shopping scheme with a rival department store and is about to turn her in.  However, he chooses not to after he finds out that she is a war widow with a young son.  The clerk's supervisor fires him, but he continues to pursue the beautiful woman, getting to know her young son in the process.  

On Christmas Day, the young son, Timmy discovers the expensive train set under the tree, the one his mother had returned.  It turns out that Steve, even though he couldn't afford it, purchased the set for Timmy.  In turn, Timmy invites him for Christmas dinner.  It's a complicated affair since Timmy's mother's boyfriend is also present along with her former in-laws.  The two men rival for her affection. The following day, Timmy returns the train to give Steve back his money, but his request is refused when the department store owner discovers one of the cars is damaged.

A few days later, Connie prepares to attend a New Year's Eve party alone.  Timmy points out that once he grows up, she will be all alone.  She finally admits that she is in love with Steve and buys a train ticket for California to reunite with him.

Timmy's grandparents play with the train with him on Christmas morning courtesy http://secondsightcinema.com/holiday-affair-1949/.

Christmas Under Fire

'I acquired a hunger for fairy tales in the dark days of the blackout and blitz in the Second World War." (A. S. Byatt)

A link to the film courtesy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGK5EsGzKIg.

Christmas Under Fire was commissioned by the Ministry of Information as propaganda to drum up support in America for the war effort.  As a sequel to "London Can Take It", the film centres around the British capital during Christmas 1940.  "A central message of the film is that life goes on, with Christmas traditions continuing despite disruption caused by bombing." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Under_Fire)  

People celebrate Christmas in the London Underground courtesy https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472315079647882400/.

One window cleaner hangs up a sign which reads:  "Business as Usual:  If You've Got No Windows, We'll Clean Your Chimneys".  Other examples of business as usual under the London Blitz include:

• Christmas trees dug up for air raid shelters
• housewives buy food for Christmas dinner
• theatres stage pantomime productions
• schoolchildren produce handmade Christmas cards
• people celebrate Christmas in the London Underground

After a brief respite for Christmas 1940, London was bombed heavily by the Luftwaffe once again four days later.  A Daily Mail photographer, Herbert Mason, captured that iconic image of St. Paul's Cathedral, surrounded by fire.  News reporter Ed Murrow declared its demise. However, office worker Dorothy Berton, on her way to work the next morning, saw the tower of the magnificent church standing tall:  "I felt a lump in my throat because, like so many people, I felt that while St. Paul's survived, so would we." (http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2016/11/the-london-blitz.html)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1342305/The-Blitzs-iconic-image-On-70th-anniversary-The-Mail-tells-story-picture-St-Pauls.html

A Charlie Brown Christmas: It's Going to Run for a Hundred Years

Every year we watch A Charlie Brown Christmas which premiered in 1965.  Charlie Brown, frustrated with the materialism of Christmas, directs a Christmas pageant.  But he feels like he's failed when the centrepiece for the whole play is a sad little evergreen tree with a bit of tinsel draped over it.

It is Linus who reminds him about the true meaning of Christmas.  A spotlight shines on Linus who, holding his blue "companion" blanket, takes the stage.  His speech opens with the words:  "And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night." A hush falls over the audience as we ponder Linus' message, that a baby, born in a lowly manger, has come into the world to save us.

You would think that given the enduring popularity of the TV show, that it would have been a success from the start.  However, A Charlie Brown Christmas had a bit of a rocky beginning.  Here are ten things you may not know about the Christmas special (http://thefw.com/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-a-charlie-brown-christmas/).

1. Director Bill Melendez wanted to make the TV show as genuine as possible.  Therefore, he cast children from his Southern California neighbourhood in all of the roles except Charlie Brown, Linus and Lucy.

http://peanuts.wikia.com/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas

2.  In pursuit of sincerity, the director had to sacrifice practicality:  some of the children were so young they couldn't even read the script, including Linus, and he had to recite it to them line by line.

Melendez works with child actors courtesy http://www.fsm-blogs.com/peanuts-50-years-tv-interview-lee-mendelson-executive-producer-cbxmas/.

3.  Although it was standard practice at the time, Charles Schultz refused to have a laugh track inserted in the show, even walking out of a production meeting at one point.

Charles Schulz circa 1956 courtesy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas#/media/File:Charles_Schulz_NYWTS.jpg.

4.  Charles Schultz, originally, was not a fan of jazz music.  However, it was Vince Guaraldi who had worked on the musical score for A Boy Named Charlie Brown.  Schultz had to admit that it gave the show a "childlike, bubbly tone" and for the sake of continuity, he asked Guaraldi to pen the score for the Christmas special too, a score which has now become its trademark.

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=6221&start=7185

5.  "The life of Jesus remained for Schulz a consuming subject."  Therefore, he wanted the story from St. Luke of Jesus' birth included in the TV show.  However, Melendez realized that Linus' speech took up an entire minute and suggested that it be cut.  However, Schultz insisted that it remain -- a speech that became the centre of the whole story.

https://breadhere.wordpress.com/tag/linus-speech/

6.  The network executives along with the chief sponsor, Coca Cola found the end product to be wry and melancholy rather than funny and upbeat.  They particularly worried about the TV show's religious overtones.  Therefore, they agreed to air it only once, and be done with it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas

7.  Mendelson and Melendez feared that the public would not embrace the Christmas special.  However, "one of the animators -- he had had a couple of drinks -- said, 'It's going to run for a hundred years,' and then fell down.

http://thefw.com/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-a-charlie-brown-christmas/

8.  Snoopy was the easiest to animate and therefore got all of the action scenes.  The Peanuts gang all had large heads which made them difficult to work with.

http://www.clipartkid.com/snoopy-and-charlie-brown-christmas-cliparts/

9.  The original production included a plug for Coca Cola. While Snoopy tosses Charlie Brown and Linus around the ice as they skate, Linus goes flying into a sign advertising the famous soda.  The contract eventually ran out and the Coca Cola sign was replaced with a Danger one.


                                  

                   http://blog.fivecentsplease.org/2012/12/a-charlie-brown-christmas-coca-cola.html


10.  The drunken animator turned out to be right.  A Charlie Brown Christmas is the second longest running Christmas special of all time (next to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer).  The original airing was watched by 15.4 million people.  TV critics gave it rave reviews.  Schulz and Mendelson earned an Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program.  It has aired every year since 1965 and still earns the highest ratings in its time slot.

http://x-entertainment.com/updates/2011/11/28/10-random-things-about-a-charlie-brown-christmas/

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

https://themaindamie.com/2013/12/13/5-for-friday-the-5-most-bad-ass-rankin-bass-characters/

Santa Claus is Coming to Town brings back great memories.  I remember the Burgermeister slipping on a toy and breaking his leg...a baby being left on the doorstep of the Burgermeister who sends the infant to the orphan asylum...Tante Kringle adopting the baby...

http://anybodyspecialtonight.blogspot.ca/2010/12/saying-merry-christmas-with-movie.html

Kris Kringle carrying a sac of "forbidden" toys to the children of Sombertown...the Burgermeister soldiers wearing World War I era helmets...Jessica, with her bright red hair and doe-like eyes, singing in the town square...the Winter Warlock "taking one step in front of the other"...the Burgermeister's heart melting after Kris Kringle brings him a yo-yo.

http://www.georgiadunnstudio.com/2011/12/twelve-days-of-christmas-day-six-great.html

Here are ten facts you may not know about the TV show Santa Claus is Coming to Town:

• the TV show was based on a song first performed by Eddie Cantor on the radio in 1934 (http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2015/12/james-gillespies-santa-claus-is-coming.html)
• when the TV show airs on ABC today it's usually edited to fit into the one hour time slot; the songs "My World is Beginning Today" and "If You Sit on My Lap Today" are cut
• when the TV show airs on Freeform (formerly ABC Family) disturbing scenes for children are cut like the Burgermeister burning the children's toys
• Rudolph is not heavily featured in the story since he is so big, he merits his own TV show
• Alvin & the Chipmunks made a remake of the song "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
• first released in 1970, Santa Claus is Coming to Town stars Fred Astaire as the narrator, Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle and Keenan Wynn as the Winter Warlock
• the TV show was created in Japan using stop motion animation called "Animagic"
• all the characters are made out of wood and plastic
• two of the songs on the TV show are performed by the Westminster Children's Choir (Santa Claus is Coming to Town; If You Sit on My Lap Today)
• Burgermeister's full name is Burgermeister Meisterburger which means Town Mayor Master Citizen in German

https://thedinglehopper.wordpress.com/2014/12/28/movie-review-santa-claus-is-coming-to-town-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/

How to Grow Gratitude

   

Image courtesy www.bible-basics-layers-of-understanding.com.

Today our family watched Mr. Magoo's "A Christmas Carol".  Of course it starts with Scrooge, played by Mr. Magoo, counting his gold coins.  Although his money bag is full, his heart is empty. After having visits from the four ghosts, Scrooge has a rebirth.  He visits his overworked employee's household where he gets down on all fours and plays horsey with Tiny Tim.  Shocked, Bob Cratchit comments that his boss has become like a child again.  It reminded me of the Scripture verse:  "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 3:18)

Image courtesy http://4.bp.blogspot.com. 

It is so easy for us to complain about what we don't have rather than rejoice in what we do have.  However, we know that it is those who count their blessings are the happiest.  We wait and wait for the big events to happen:  the big job offer, the big house, the new job, the new spouse, the new baby.  But we don't take the time to notice the little things:  the warm smile that the cashier gave us; the person that held the door for us; the compliment someone gave us.

A Kansas City minister gave a 21 day challenge to everyone:  try to refrain from complaining.  He handed out wrist bands that said "NO COMPLAINT".  With a physical reminder like a wrist band, he thought they would be more likely to notice when they were complaining and try to reverse the bad habit.  The minister's challenge is something that we all should try.

Image courtesy http://theprojecthitchhiker.com. 

As one blogger points out, gratitude is not the reaction to getting what we want, it is a state of mind.  It is something that we should feel all the time, regardless of our circumstance.  Material things provide us with only fleeting pleasure.  Only God can provide us with eternal joy.

People who notice the simple pleasures, who are aware of their blessings, who realize that life itself is a miracle, are happier more resilient individuals.  They form stronger relationships, they enjoy better health, they experience less stress and they achieve their personal goals more often.

Like Scrooge, we need visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.  We need to have everything we hold near and dear taken away from us.  Only then will we realize how precious our blessings are; how precious life is.  Only then will we get down on all fours and play horsey with our children.  Only then will we live life to the fullest.

Image courtesy http://theseconddisc.com. 

As Meister Eckhart said:  "If the only prayer you say in your life is 'thank you', that would suffice."

The Most Famous Christmas Movie

Last night, we watched the 1947 classic, "Miracle on 34th Street", the most famous New York City Christmas movie.  In the summer of 2012, when Rob and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary, we visited New York City.  I'll never forget our walk to the Empire State Building.  We spotted Macy's and realized we were on 34th Street -- it was a surreal moment for us -- all the memories of the movie came flooding back.  Here are fifteen facts you may not know about the movie.

1.  "Dear Santa" letters were up by 25% in 1947 after movie-goers saw the 21 sacs of mail sent to Santa in the 1946 movie.

2.  Edmund Gwenn, who played Kris Kringle in the movie, also played Santa Claus in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade of 1946.

3.  Edmund Gwenn's character replaced the drunk Santa in the parade.  In 1948, the New York Times magazine reported a "Santa who grabbed a trim young mother, set her on his knee and suggested they both go out and have a drink".

4.  In the opening scene of "Miracle on 34th Street", Edmund Gwenn's character walks down a New York City street and notices Santa's reindeer in a store window.  Rudolph, however, is missing. While Rudolph had already been invented in 1939 in the Gene Autry song, he did not become popular until the 1964 TV special "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".

5.  Edmund Gwenn's character was given a psychological test in which he had to answer a series of questions including "Who was the Vice President of the United States under John Quincy Adams?"  He answered it incorrectly by saying "Daniel D. Tompkins."  The correct response should have been John C. Calhoun.

6.  The headline "'Kris Kringle Krazy!  Kourt Kase Koming Kalamity!' Kry Kiddes" was probably inspired by the absurd headlines run by the Daily Variety in the 1940's and 1950's including "Sticks Nix Hick Pix".

7.  The Santa suit that Edmund Gwenn wore was auctioned for $22,500 in 2011.

8.  A little Dutch girl meets Santa at Macy's and sings the traditional Dutch song "Sinterklaas Kapoentje".  Edmund Gwenn's character, who happens to speak Dutch, sings along with her.

9.  A real life rivalry did exist between the two departments stores, Macy's and Gimbel's, from 1910 until 1987, when the latter when out of the business.

10.  Every year at Christmas time, U.S. courts re-enact the trial of Kris Kringle for children.

11.  Screen writer Valentine Davies was inspired to write "Miracle on 34th Street" after Christmas shopping in 1944.

12.  Edmund Gwenn grew a white beard and gained 30 pounds for the role of Kris Kringle.  He won an Oscar for his performance.

13.  Three hundred thousand children each year sit on Santa Claus's knee at Macy's.

14.  "Miracle on 34th Street" could have been called "It's Only Human", Mr. Kringle of 'The Big Heart;".

15.  Seven-year-old Actress Natalie Wood, who played the little girl who didn't believe in Santa Claus, actually thought Edmund Gwenn was the real McCoy.

Note:  For more information on the movie, read my post "Rickety Wooden Escalators & Cracked Marble Floors" at http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2012/08/august-11.html.

Source:  theboweryboys.blogspot.ca/2014/12/the-real-miracle-on-34th-street-21.html AND
blogs.amctv.com.

Edmund Gwenn in "Miracle on 34th Street" courtesy theboweryboys.blogspot.ca.

Syrian Immigrant James Habjian

"I saw men lined up against the wall and shot point blank." (James Habjian) 

Armenian civilians escorted by Ottoman soldiers to prison circa April 1915 courtesy http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Armenian_Genocide.

James Habjian was born in New York City.  At the age of 3, his parents decided to move to Bulgaria where his dad would make Oriental rugs.  His grandparents, on the other hand, chose to remain in the United States.  After three years of rug making his father tired of the business, and decided to return to America.  However, first he wanted to visit his sister in Turkey.  

Shortly after the family arrived in 1915, the Armenian Massacre occurred.  Turkish policemen came to their door and insisted that everyone get out.  They took James father with them.  James mother dressed him up as little girl so that they wouldn't take him, too.  James saw men lined up against the wall and shot point blank.  He saw women raped before his very eyes, too young to comprehend what was happening.  

James father was killed by the Turkish police.  James found out later that he had saved the lives of 30 Armenians.  His mother met a doctor and remarried.  The family travelled to Beirut where they stayed in an Armenian refugee camp for four months, waiting to secure visas.  From there, they travelled to Le Havre France where they boarded the S. S. Niagara.  

The ship arrived shortly before Christmas and anchored off of Brooklyn.  They took a small boat to Ellis Island.  "I remember they had a big Christmas tree there in the big building.  I didn't know what Christmas was.  I didn't know what a Christmas tree was.  They had a gathering, a lot of people and they sang Christmas songs."

When James told the immigration inspector that he was American, the inspector replied:  "You're crazy.  Get out of here!"  James grandfather, relieved to see his grandson, wrapped his arms around him.  James settled with his parents in a five story apartment building in New York City.  

Little immigrants in front of the Ellis Island Christmas tree circa 1920 courtesy http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-a-christmas-present-deportation-the-twisted-history-of-the-holidays-at-ellis-island.

James Gillespie's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

"If you don't wash behind your ears, Haven, Santa won't come to see you." 

(James "Haven" Gillespie's Mother)

In September of 1934, James "Haven" Gillespie was a New York City vaudevillian turned songwriter who had fallen on hard times financially.  To add to his misery, his brother passed away.  Right after the funeral, he got a call from Edgar Bittner of Leo Feist publishing asking him to write a Christmas song.  Feeling too overcome with grief, Gillespie initially rejected the idea.

However, one subway ride changed everything.  Gillespie started to recollect Christmases spent in Kentucky with his brother, along with seven other siblings, in which his mother would warn them that Santa Claus was watching.  "If you don't wash behind your ears, Haven, Santa won't come to see you," reminded his mother.

Within fifteen minutes, Gillespie had penned the lyrics to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".  He called in composer John Coots to write the music.  On Thanksgiving of 1934, the song was featured on the Eddie Cantor Radio Show.  The song was an instant hit.  An average of 25,000 orders per day were taken for the sheet music.  In the decades since its debut, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" has been recorded by everyone from Alvin and the Chipmunks to Jackie Gleason to Bruce Springsteen to Justin Bieber.  And to think that James Gillespie almost passed up the opportunity to write it.

Note:  To listen to the song, visit http://mentalfloss.com/article/60596/origins-10-popular-christmas-carols.

http://www.thelevisalazer.com/lifestyles/3315-favorite-christmas-song-written-by-james-haven-gillespie.html

Create Your Future

"Where there is no vision, the people will perish." (Proverbs 18:29)

In his book Goals, Brian Tracy highlights a study of 3300 successful leaders.  The number one quality that they all possessed was vision.  Their long term perspective led to financial and personal success.  

Tracy recommends that you envision a five-year plan.   Idealize what your business or family life will be like five years from now.  Practise "blue sky thinking":  just as the sky seems limitless, so too are your plans for the future.  Imagine anything is possible.  Write down what your job situation will look like:  your co-workers, tasks, level of responsibility, goals and status.  Estimate what your finances will look like: your salary, mortgage, bank account, investments, retirement.  Envision your family life:  spouse, children, extended family.  How will your health fare ex. appearance, weight, diet, exercise?  Will you be involved in the community ex. charity, volunteering?  Will you practise self-improvement strategies ex. go back to school, update your skills?  The author maintains that often people overestimate their yearly goals and yet underestimate their five-year plan. 

I remember back  to the Christmas of 1997:  my sister Lisa had us all do a visualization exercise at my parents' house.  She handed out pieces of paper and asked us all to write down ten goals and put them in an envelope to be examined five years hence.  My number one goal was having a child, as was Lisa's, I suspect.  At the time we had both been married for several years and yet remained childless.  Well, we didn't have to wait five years.  The following Christmas, I brought my bundle of joy to my parents' house and my mom snapped a picture of him under the Christmas tree.  Two years after the goal writing session, Lisa brought her bundle of joy to my parents' house and my nephew and son played together by the foot of the Christmas tree.  

Have a long term vision.  Write it down.  The sky's the limit!  Watch how God acts in your life.

Note:  For more information about visualization, read my post "Conceive, Believe, Achieve" at 

http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2015/01/conceive-believe-achieve.html.

bdhls.org

The Most Famous Christmas Movie

Last night, we watched the 1947 classic, "Miracle on 34th Street", the most famous New York City Christmas movie.  In the summer of 2012, when Rob and I walked to the Empire State Building, spotted Macy's and realized we were on 34th Street, it was a surreal moment for us; all the memories of the movie came flooding back.  Here are fifteen facts you may not know about the movie.

1.  "Dear Santa" letters were up by 25% in 1947 after movie goers saw the 21 sacs of mail sent to Santa in the 1946 movie.

2.  Edmund Gwenn, who played Kris Kringle in the movie, also played Santa Claus in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade of 1946.

3.  Edmund Gwenn's character replaced the drunk Santa in the parade.  In 1948, the New York Times magazine reported a "Santa who grabbed a trim young mother, set her on his knee and suggested they both go out and have a drink".

4.  In the opening scene of "Miracle on 34th Street", Edmund Gwenn's character walks down a New York City street and notices Santa's reindeer in a store window.  Rudolph, however, is missing. While Rudolph had already been invented in 1939 in the Gene Autry song, he did not become popular until the 1964 TV special "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".

5.  Edmund Gwenn's character was given a psychological test in which he had to answer a series of questions including "Who was the Vice President of the united states under John Quincy Adams?"  He answered it incorrectly by saying "Daniel D. Tompkins."  The correct response should have been John C. Calhoun.

6.  The headline "'Kris Kringle Krazy!  Kourt Kase Koming Kalamity!"'  Kry Kiddes" was probably inspired by the absurd headlines run by the Daily Variety in the 1930's and 1950's including "Sticks Nix Hick Pix".

7.  The Santa suit that Edmund Gwenn wore was auction for $22,500 in 2011.

8.  A little Dutch girl meets Santa at Macy's and sings the traditional Dutch song "Sinterklaas Kapoentje".  Edmund Gwenn's character, who happens to speak Dutch, sings along with her.

9.  A real life rivalry did exist between the two departments stores, Macy's and Gimbel's, from 1910 until 1987, when the latter when out of the business.

10.  Every year at Christmas time, U.S. courts re-enact the trail of Kris Kringle for children.

11.  Screen writer Valentine Davies was inspired to write "Miracle on 34th Street" after Christmas shopping in 1944.

12.  Edmund Gwenn grew a white beard and gained 30 pounds for the role of Kris Kringle.  He won an Oscar for his performance.

13.  Three hundred children each year sit on Santa Claus's knee at Macy's.

14.  "Miracle on 34th Street" could have been called "It's Only Human", Mr. Kringle of "The Big Heart".

15.  Seven-year-old Actress Natalie Wood, who played the little girl who didn't believe in Santa Claus, actually thought Edmund Gwenn was the real McCoy.

Note:  For more information on the movie, read my post "Rickety Wooden Escalators & Cracked Marble Floors" at http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2012/08/august-11.html.

Source:  theboweryboys.blogspot.ca/2014/12/the-real-miracle-on-34th-street-21.html AND
blogs.amctv.com.

Edmund Gwenn in "Miracle on 34th Street" courtesy theboweryboys.blogspot.ca.

Frozen Facts

After seeing the Frozen production at Hollywood Studios in Disney World, Rob and I decided it was high time we watched the movie.  We loved the story and the music, especially the song "Let it Go", which was written in only one day.  Here are ten facts you may not know about the runaway hit from last Christmas.

1.  Elsa, the queen of Arondale, was originally supposed to be a villain.

2.  The names Hans, Kristoff, Anna and Sven are a tribute to The Snow Queen author Hans Christian Andersen.

3.  Walt Disney wanted to make a movie based on the short  The Snow Queen, which inspired Frozen, since the 1940's.

4.  Since the movie frozen was released, Elsa and Anna have become popular baby names for girls.

5.  Fifty different animators worked on the scene in which the ice palace is built.  The production team visited a hotel made of ice for inspiration.

6.  In March of 2014, two Boston firemen sang "Let it Go" to a little girl trapped in an elevator to calm her down.

7.  The painting in the palace gallery is a representation of Jean Honore Fragonard's The Swing.

8.  Limited edition Frozen Anna and Elsa dolls have been selling for $10,000 on eBay.

9.  Olaf references Bert's penguin dance from Mary Poppins when he performs "The Summer Song".

10.  Online searches for flights to Norway have increased by 153% and tourism in Norway has drastically increased since Frozen premiered.

11.  Frozen is the highest grossing animated film of all time.

12.  Because of her braid, Elsa has 420,000 CGI strands of hair, 10 times the amount of Rapunzel.

13.  An actual reindeer visited the studio to serve as inspiration for the character of Sven.

14.  The longest single frame in the movie took 132 hours to complete.

15.  The animation team created a snowflake generator program to build 2,000 different snowflake designs.

Source:  "54 Things You Never Knew About Frozen"
at http://www.buzzfeed.com/javiermoreno/frozen-is-awesome#.xpKQDjJqw.

blackberryempire.com

Nobody Does Christmas like Disney

Nobody does Christmas like Disney.  This past week we travelled to Florida for a vacation.  When we arrived at our Mayan-themed resort Coronado Springs, it was decorated with giant poinsettias, native to Mexico.  Garland hung from the ceiling as we walked down the hallway.  A giant Christmas tree laden with ornaments and topped with an angel, stood proudly in the front entrance.  The Mayan-themed hotel had a profound effect on my husband Rob who transformed from a boisterous German into a quiet Mexican who couldn't stop saying the word "Casitas".  

tripadvisor.com

On our first full day in Florida, we travelled to EPCOT.  At the entrance to the pavilions was another large Christmas tree, this one with messages like JOYEUX NOEL, FELIZ NAVIDAD and FROHE WEIHNACHTEN hanging from it.  Poinsettia trees stood in front of the giant golf ball at the front entrance.  

photos.burnsland.com

Hollywood Studios didn't disappoint.  We celebrated Thomas' 16th birthday there.  I had seen a girl with a birthday pin on her shirt the day before so I asked at Coronado Springs about one for Thomas. We stopped at the ABC Commissary for lunch.  While Jacqueline and I were in the washroom, an employee spotted Thomas' pin.  He shouted into the microphone:  "Attention ABC Commissary!  We have a birthday in the house.  Everyone sing Happy Birthday to Thomas!"  The whole cafeteria erupted in song.  That night we were dazzled by the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights.  We were happy to get back to the Casitas that night after a busy day.  

cheapskateprincess.com

Our third park was Animal Kingdom where we dared to ride on the Rapids.  Thomas stayed dry, but I got wet and Jacqueline was drenched from head to toe.  We tried drying off with the hand dryer in the washroom, but it didn't work.  Jacqueline said her shoes felt like sponges.  Normally, when we go on a trip I buy a couple of outfits ahead of time, but this year I didn't.  So, it was the perfect opportunity to shop.  Jacqueline and I got Minnie Mouse outfits.  Jacqueline's favourite item was the sparkly Minnie ears.  What a relief to be in dry clothes again!   

Mickey, Minnie & Goofy in front of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom courtesy www.diszine.com.

Last but not least, we feasted our eyes on yet another giant Christmas tree when we arrived at the Magic Kingdom, our fourth and final park.  Thomas was thrilled to meet Ariel and get a picture taken with her.  Jacqueline enjoyed the carousel, even though she is getting older now.  And my quiet Mexican husband turned back into a boisterous German during a traffic jam at the "It's a Small World Ride".  We all enjoyed a sing along performance of the movie "Frozen".  I didn't understand all of the jokes, but the kids did because they have seen the movie.  The piece de resistance was the Cinderella castle brilliantly lit up for Christmas.  That night Rob took Jacqueline to the Coronado Springs gift shop while I worked out at the hotel gym.  When I returned, Jacqueline was hiding something under her blanket -- a forbidden stuffy!  It was Olaf the Snowman from "Frozen".   

dailydisneyphoto.com

We spent our final day at the Casitas playing volleyball, ping pong and swimming in the pool. Jacqueline loved the water slide built inside a giant Mayan pyramid.  Thomas tried to beat Rob at ping pong.  Later in the afternoon we headed to Downtown Disney for supper at the Rainforest Cafe and shopping.  The Christmas store had so many beautiful ornaments.  Rob purchased a DVD about the Disney Parks.

Downtown Disney courtesy wdwfanzone.com.

We were sad to say goodbye to the Casitas.  Merry Christmas, Disney World!

  

Christmas in Chicago

1.  Christmas in Chicago courtesy upchicago.com.

2.  Bloomingdale's Christmas tree courtesy blogspot.com.

3.  Logan Square courtesy wordpress.com.

4.  The Art Institute courtesy blogspot.com.

5.  The Water Tower courtesy huffpost.com.

Christmas in Boston

1.  Christmas in Boston courtesy saskbiz.com.

2.  Boston Blue Christmas courtesy fineartamerica.com.

3,  Quincy Market courtesy wikimedia.org.

4.  Faneuil Hall courtesy www.thechristiangift.com.

5.  Boston Christmas Tree in Boston Common courtesy www.kensingtonboston.com.