TIM E. D TV SHOW in Raleigh, NC!

I was on the TIM E. D TV Show last night just after RUDOLPH aired on CBS. The Show will run on TV through January 11th. It can be seen in Raleigh, NC on RTN cable channel 10. Tuesday's 10pm and Saturdays at 11pm. For more info go to www.myspace.com/timed

12-22-2006 NEWS!

Arthur Rankin, Jr. reports that his paper in Bermuda THE MID OCEAN NEWS carried a full page article on RANKIN/BASS and myself. It can be found on the web at www.theroyalgazette.com I was also advised today that our NUDE HIPPO: YOUR CHICAGO SHOW didn't make it onto the air last night BUT will definitely be on the 12-28-2006 show at 7pm on Channel 25 on CHICAGO CABLE. It will also be posted at www.nbc5.com I enjoyed the evening radio interview I did in Columbia, MO with my friend DEREK tonight! He tried to get BILLIE MAE RICHARDS on the air with us BUT she was unavailable. I called PAUL COKER, JR. tonight about the revised book cover for THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS: A PORTFOLIO. I will keep you posted. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Late breaking NEWS!

I just assisted DARCY at the NEW YORK TIMES with some 11th hour photographs! The RANKIN/BASS article will be in the SATURDAY EDITION 12-23-06!!!! They put the paper to bed shortly, so it may hit the stands later tonight! HERMEY wants to be a dentist.

Heart & Warmth! ROMEO MULLER: Father Christmas!

As I did the Dr. Rus radio show this am in Buffalo, NY, I am inevitably asked "Why have these shows lasted so long?" My answer is always the fact that RANKIN/BASS shows have Heart & Warmth that is missing from today's entertainment and alot of that came from NY native and RANKIN/BASS writer ROMEO MULLER! Romeo's brother Gene e-mailed me very late last night and pointed out a few fun facts about his late brother! 1. I don't know if I ever mentioned this to you, but Ken Donnelley his life long friend told me after Rome past
away that he once told Rome how when he was a kid his family would go on vacation in the
Catskill Mountains in N.Y.He' would be in the back seat of the car and imagine a Monster peaking
over the top of the mountains,that was in he fifties.
When Rudolph was was aired in 64 Ken was living in California, he got a call form Rome who said to him"See if something's look formiliar to you in the show.
2.Once when Ken was in the service in the forties he brought his army buddy home along with
his soon to be bride.She was introduced to Rome. Her name was "Clarice" I'm not making this up.
3.We had a cousin that was my brothers age he was a chemical engineer but the two had a lot
in common model trains & British toy soldiers. His name, Herbert.
Now I can't swear to it and can't find it in any of his scripts but I think he ment Herbie not Hermie.
4. I had a god mother that I couldn't stand & either could Rome! They had an only child
and was spoiled to death
His father called him "Skipper",and used the expression "Thats My Buck" when he did something the father
approved of. Rome used to mimic him & sounded just like Donner.
5. I have been asked many times about the Doll in The Misfit Toys & yes it is a mystery.
Last, nothing to do with Rudolph but in his story of NOEL there is a sceen of the gandfather
kneeling under the tree watching an electric train with a gift bow stuck on his forehead.
That was our Dad every Christmas Eve when opening presents he would invariably stick a bow on his forehead.
I'd ask him about these things I'd see in the different stories & his answer would always be,
"Now What do think"!! ROMEO was the BEST! Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass REALLY knew how to pick talent!

RUDOLPH is on CBS again tonight!

Don't forget to watch CBS' encore airing of RUDOLPH tonight! I will do a second book signing for books ordered tonight as well. While the special is on, I will be doing an on-line chat at www.americanroadmagazine.com and our episode of the NUDE HIPPO: YOUR CHICAGOSHOW will be on ch. 25 on CHICAGO CABLE and will eventually be on the web at www.nbc5.com and then I will be on a TV show in North Carolina just after the RUDOLPH showing. BUSY NIGHT! SEASON'S GREETINGS! Don't forget the 12-21-06 NEW YORK TIMES in the AM too!

If you live in Columbia, MO....

I am doing another radio show on Friday 12-22-06 at 6pm Central time on THE EAGLE 93.9 KSSZ-FM with Derek Gilbert. If you don't live in Columbia, MO, their website is www.theeagle939.com or their PODCAST site is www.kssz.libsyn.com This will be a 30 minute chat about the Enchanting world of RANKIN/BASS and he will also have a guest that runs A CHRISTMAS STORY museum in the house that was used for exterior shots in the film.

A SANTA from my friend KIRSTEN ULVE! Check out her site!

www.kirstenulve.com KIRSTEN illustrated the BUMBLE in my book THE MAKING OF THE RANKIN/BASS HOLIDAY CLASSIC: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER!

NATIONAL POST NEWSPAPER (CANADA) 12-19-06 by ROB McKENZIE (part 1)

Here is an excerpt from Rob's article...the rest is at www.nationalpost.com (look under the LIFE & ARTS Stories)
Oddly, in the 32 years since their remarkable run came to an end, no new contender has come along to knock Rankin-Bass off their perch as the masters of Christmas television. Indeed it can be argued that as their shows become more entrenched in family tradition each year, it becomes harder and harder for a newcomer to usurp them.
"To this day it's amazing to me that these programs, which were rather simply made, have lasted in the marketplace," Bass said from his New York loft in a rare interview.
"We cornered the market," observes Rankin. He lives in Bermuda now, in a house of his own design that looks onto the ocean and is shaped like the prow of a boat.
- Tomorrow, Rudolph and the creative prime of Rankin-Bass.
Rmckenzie@nationalpost.com
© National Post 2006

A few more CBS NEWS pics. RUDOLPH airs again 12-21-06..maybe a clip of our appearance as well.

It's possible we may be on your local CBS NEWS 12-21 after the 2nd RUDOLPH appearance. Look for us in the NEW YORK TIMES that same day and if you are in CHICAGO, watch the NUDE HIPPO: YOUR CHICAGO SHOW 7pm ch. 25 on CHICAGO CABLE or check www.nbc5.com . KEVIN KREISS www.timeandspacetoys.com and I have been doing many interviews that will show up this week in print and on air!

JOSEPH BARBERA 1911-2006

I was lucky enough to spend some time with JOE BARBERA in his office some years back. He was still passionate about his animation and excited about a recent mention of THE JETSONS in an article about technology. I gave him a copy of the MAD MONSTER PARTY soundtrack CD and he loved it. He remembered RANKIN/BASS with fondness and in fact, STEVE NAKAGAWA worked for both studios. I will never forget meeting BILL & JOE and their animation will live on forever!

Early cover concept by BOB PLANT at former PLAYING MANTIS!

Today is YUKON's BIRTHDAY! LARRY D. MANN voice actor Extrodinaire!

We would like to wish LARRY D. MANN a very happy Birthday! LARRY voiced many characters for RANKIN/BASS including FOXY Q. FIBBLE in THE NEW ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO, the wicked witch in TALES OF THE WIZARD OF OZ and of course YUKON CORNELIUS in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. Did you know he was the original voice for SAM THE SNOWMAN? He recorded all the parts for SAM BUT was later replaced by BURL IVES. Shortly after his RUDOLPH work, Larry became a character actor in Hollywood and guest starred on shows like MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, BEWITCHED and THE GREEN HORNET. Larry still resides on the West coast and the last I heard from him, he made an appearance at a RUDOLPH screening hosted by my friend Wally Wingert. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Larry!
* Notice in this photo, LARRY is making the cast from RETURN TO OZ (1963) crack up, including JULES BASS at the piano. Larry often made the crew laugh according to sound man BILL GILES.

More press on the CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS RUDOLPH & SANTA appearance!

ARTHUR RANKIN, JR. & JULES BASS: The Men Behind the Magic!

*Artwork by PAUL COKER, JR.

THE GENERAL ELECTRIC FANTASY HOUR : GE PRINT AD 1965

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY (1968)

"Go to him!" "I have no gift to bring" Have you ever wondered why the line spoken about AARON just after he plays his drum for the newborn king...the line that says "It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen" is spoken by voice actor PAUL FREES and NOT GREER GARSON on the recent releases of the special on DVD? ANSWER: It was a mistake! One that may be corrected now that CLASSIC MEDIA was bought by a company in the UK named ENTERTAINMENT RIGHTS! Somehow, when THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY was remastered from 16mm B ROLL elements back in 1998, they managed to put in PAUL FREES scratch track for GREER GARSON in, where GARSON's voice should have been. I have the original GAS LP Soundtrack on CD (On EBAY under seller ANIMAGIC1) and it does have the correct GREER GARSON spoken lines. While the audio is improved on the DVD, it is not correct. Hopefully we will be able to correct ALOT of things, if ENTERTAINMENT RIGHTS involves me with the CLASSIC RANKIN/BASS DVD releases!

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

A few years back, I wrote an outline for a traditional RANKIN/BASS treatment for a TV Special called THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! Starring the talents of ANDY WILLIAMS. ANDY loved the idea and was willing to do it. I also wanted to bring back the talents of THE OSMONDS (RANKIN/BASS did their animated cartoon series) and keep them at the age they were when the original OSMONDS series was animated. The treatment is still kicking around and I thought I would post one of the model sheets that PAUL COKER, JR. did for me! ANDY loved it! I hope to get this made at some point...I still think ANDY is the perfect choice to host a RANKIN/BASS special!

THE LEPRECHAUN'S CHRISTMAS GOLD (1981)

Many have been asking about THE LEPRECHAUN'S CHRISTMAS GOLD starring the talents of ART CARNEY & BOB McFADDEN! It has been airing on ABC FAMILY's 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS! I just got in DVD-Rs of the uncut version of the special (ABC FAMILY edits their airings greatly). I also got in DVD-Rs of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS starring BORIS KARLOFF w/ BANK BUMPERS, the 1964 original airing of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER w/ original RANKIN/BASS GENERAL ELECTRIC commercials, bumpers and the original ending and this same DVD has THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY with GAS COMMERCIALS and GREER GARSON bumpers! It will be a HOLLY, JOLLY CHRISTMAS! E-mail me at: Rickgoldsc@aol.com THANKS To Pastor Rodriguez! I still have THE LIFE & ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS and WILLY McBEAN & HIS MAGIC MACHINE too!

PAUL COKER, JR.'s 2006 CHRISTMAS CARD!

Looks Like PAUL is a DEMOCRAT! His last several cards have had a similar theme. I booked some more radio shows: Friday 12-22-06 7:35am 1420 WACK in Newark, New York (Just outside of Rochester) "LIVE LINE" with Dr. Rus D. Jeffrey, 12-28-06 KEZV w/ Rick Crandall at 7:45am Central time in Denver, Colorado. 12-16 WJBC in Bloomington, Illinois at 3:10pm, I will be on the TIM E. D show in Raleigh, North Carolina 12-21-06 at 9pm est. Channel 10 RTN Raleigh Television Network via phone. TIM will be showing my book, TIME & SPACE TOYS' MISER ORNAMENT Set, etc.

www.timeandspacetoys.com

Kevin Kreiss posted some pics from all the RUDOLPH & SANTA Animagic figure appearances this year at his site: http://timespacetoys.store.yahoo.net/reruorrarusa.html Enjoy!

My MY SPACE schedule!

I have been trying to keep my schedule updated at www.myspace.com/rickgoldschmidt and posting appearances and media requests as they come in. Keep an eye on it. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

RANKIN/BASS DVDs!

Some people are asking: Where do I buy RANKIN/BASS DVDs? www.amazon.com has them all. Just search RANKIN/BASS (Even though some companies disguise them by removing the name RANKIN/BASS!?!) . The BEST RANKIN/BASS DVDs are the ones that were made for the collector by ANCHOR BAY. I helped with these and they have EXTRAS! The three I worked on are MAD MONSTER PARTY, THE DAYDREAMER and THE WACKY WORLD OF MOTHER GOOSE. They are all full length features restored from the 35mm negatives. MAD MONSTER PARTY even comes with a booklet! Now for those of you asking to buy an ANIMAGIC figure....those aren't so easy to come by BUT if any become available, YOU will hear about it here on this BLOG! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ARTHUR RANKIN, JR & JULES BASS c. 1965! The guys that did it all!

RUDOLPH & SANTA in Atlanta!

Here are some very nice pictures of the ANIMAGIC figures at the MUSEUM FOR PUPPETRY ARTS! THANKS to Clay at www.planbproductions.com for sharing them! Also, THANKS to KEVIN KREISS at www.timeandspacetoys.com for loaning them to the museum! Get your orders in soon to meet the CHRISTMAS dealine at www.timeandspacetoys.com !

Willy McBean & His Magic Machine (1965)

WILLY McBEAN & HIS MAGIC MACHINE is one of the RANKIN/BASS lost gems. It was released to the theaters in 1965 in wonderful ANIMAGIC! It was the first RANKIN/BASS full length feature film. It was shot at the same time RANKIN/BASS were in Production with RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER and features the same voice cast including BILLIE MAE RICHARDS and LARRY D. MANN. I still have a few copies left of the re-mastered version on DVD-R.

Some have asked where they can get original RANKIN/BASS artwork OR signed memorabillia... www.thedeeparchives.com is the place. My friend DAVID SCHEVE has even made his way to CANADA to get all of the voice actors to sign things for his gallery! He has some wonderful color PAUL COKER, JR. art there too! I was asked to be on a TV Show via the phone in North Carolina today! It will air on 12-21-06 and I will post more info later.

12-18-06 Deadline for CHRISTMAS Delivery!

In order to try to get book orders shipped to you by CHRISTMAS...I would need you to order by 12-18-06 through www.rankinbass.com or my EBAY accounts ANIMAGIC1 or MISER BROS. We have been swamped this year BUT I have managed to stay caught up even with some set backs. The book is also available at www.amazon.com and new to www.barnesandnoble.com this year! My NEW cd RICK GOLDSCHMIDT SINGS is available at I TUNES, www.amazon.com www.cdbaby.com and also at www.rankinbass.com THANKS for shopping with us! I will dedicate all book orders and draw the BUMBLE or whatever character you like.

NEW YORK TIMES 12-21-06

I did my part of an interview for an article that will be in the NEW YORK TIMES written by Brenda Goodman. She is in the Atlanta branch of the NY TIMES. She said the article may run 12-21-06 to coincide with the 2nd airing of RANKIN/BASS' RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER on CBS TV.

HAPPY the Baby New Year!

Here are a few pics from my first book THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS: A PORTFOLIO, which very may well be in a 3rd printing in 2007! You may see one of these in TV GUIDE soon! Look for RUDOLPH'S SHINY NEW YEAR on ABC FAMILY and it is on DVD on THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS DVD along with NESTOR, THE LONG-EARED DONKEY!

BEAUTIFUL DAY!

The NEW YORK TIMES is doing an article on the restoration of the RANKIN/BASS ANIMAGIC RUDOLPH & SANTA puppets! They interviewed KEVIN KREISS www.timeandspacetoys.com, ALAN LOUIS from the CENTER OF PUPPETRY ARTS www.puppet.org and they will be interviewing me tomorrow. I am also assisting TV GUIDE with a BABY 'HAPPY' NEW YEAR picture! I heard from the JIMMY KIMMELL SHOW yesterday..they were doing a RUDOLPH & SANTA stop-motion fight for their show. I talked to BILLIE MAE RICHARDS (voice of RUDOLPH) today! She sounds GREAT and she is glad to be back home! She sends her love to all the fans! My day started out with a GREAT radio show on NPR (Local Grand Rapids, MI) and then another good one in Valparaiso, Indiana. We talked alot about my CD in INDIANA...BIG GIN BLOSSOMS fans! I was asked to do a DENVER, CO radio show tooday! We firmed up my Friday 12-15 interview on Wellsville, New York radio on WJQZ at 7:45am Central time. We also rescheduled my syndicated radio interview for METRO METWORKS-WESTWOOD ONE RADIO in Philadelphia for Monday am 8am. It may air at various times across the country. BEAUTIFUL DAY in Chicago!

A RANKIN/BASS Day!

First of all, I talked to ARTHUR RANKIN, JR. over the weekend and he sends HAPPY HOLIDAY GREETINGS to all the RANKIN/BASS fans! My Tuesday started out with a radio show in Lubbock, Texas (Home of BUDDY HOLLY) and it flowed very well! I did it as I was driving North on LAKE SHORE DRIVE. I mailed tons of packages from my EBAY accounts (ANIMAGIC1 and MISER BROS), so if you ordered something...it is on the way! I was asked to be on a RADIO show in Williamsburg, Virginia later this week on WXVA. I was also asked to do an on-line chat on 12-21-06 7pm at www.americanroad.com They will have my podcast interview up there in a few days! www.timeandspacetoys.com is also getting tons of RANKIN/BASS orders! If you want RANKIN/BASS items...they have them all! I have been informed by many that the LIVE-ACTION special of THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS laid a HUGE egg last night (I guess that is why they offered the DVD right away...before people saw it). All of the e-mails I got were negative (Not one positive). My friend PATRICK OWSLEY could only make it through about 20 minutes before turning it off. At least the focus will be on the classic RANKIN/BASS special!

BILLIE MAE RICHARDS is BACK!

Billie Mae Richards is the wonderful voice behind RUDOLPH! She worked on many RANKIN/BASS Projects over the years. We were all saddened to hear she had suffered a stroke in November of 2006! Billie and I had done many radio interviews together in 2004-05 and she was GREAT fun! I heard from her daughter Cyndi Richards-Jamieson and am happy to report that Billie is on the road to recovery! She is back in her apartment and getting around. She is not 100% BUT is definitely getting better. We couldn't be happier to hear this, especially this time of year. Cyndi said that a month before Billie's stroke, PAUL SOLES (HERMEY) and BILLIE performed "We're a couple of Misfits" for friends and sounded sensational! Our thoughts and prayers have been with Billie and her family and am very happy to report all of this!

'Rick Goldschmidt Sings' in COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO'S Slick DEMO4 Magazine! Fall/Winter 2006/2007

Click images to enlarge to read! Songs now available at ITUNES!

EDITORIAL #2

Another reason the companies that own the CLASSIC RANKIN/BASS TV Specials have decided to just call them "Christmas Classics" is so they can package the GREAT RANKIN/BASS specials with these lousy, inferior re-make specials like FROSTY RETURNS (Which was panned in the NEW YORK TIMES), THE LEGENDS OF FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL (In bad CGI), RUDOLPH & THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS, etc. These badly mis-guided specials are packaged together with the RANKIN/BASS specials that have built a following as a way to sell them for more $ as an extra value BUT fans hate them! I did an interview this AM on New York Radio and the DJ said he turned FROSTY RETURNS off in the first 3 minutes. ARTHUR RANKIN told me that his suggestions for the FROSTY re-makes, like hire PAUL COKER (Who designed the original look) fell on deaf ears. The only FROSTY sequel is FROSTY'S WINTER WONDERLAND by RANKIN/BASS!

ARTHUR RANKIN, JR. & JULES BASS "In Charge Of Production"

Apparently after the airing of the ABC-TV Broadcast of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN last week, it carried the credit of a name that had nothing to do with the actual Production of the RANKIN/BASS classic. This has become a serious problem over the last few years. While RANKIN/BASS no longer own the actual TV specials and series they Produced, this does not mean that they did not create them. Box sets of their series THUNDERCATS have been issued without the name of RANKIN/BASS on the front covers? Their Christmas specials are being called "Christmas Classics." Why? RANKIN/BASS is a recognized leader in Holiday entertainment and bringing these titles together under that title would only help sales! It is basic, common sense. It is ridiculous for an individual who runs the company that acquired the "Properties" to take a credit like "In Charge Of Production." ARTHUR RANKIN, JR. and JULES BASS deserve their proper credit and that is what I am here for. Perhaps the companies that own these shows need to hear from the fans of these classic RANKIN/BASS specials. They think we would rather see a badly animated video of a pop star singing a Christmas song, than to see a documentary about the MAKING OF the classic?

RUDOLPH & SANTA are in Atlanta, GA!

RUDOLPH & SANTA arrived in the CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS on December 8th Thanks to KEVIN KREISS & www.timeandspacetoys.com I want to THANK Alan Louis from the museum for keeping me updated on all the press and the events at the museum www.puppet.org That is ALAN installing RUDOLPH & SANTA for the exhibit! This is a RARE opportunity for the public to see two TELEVISION ICONS! TIME & SPACE TOYS' Christmas present to you!