Could have been so much better!....

About a month ago, I talked about this wonderful documentary SPARKHILL was doing for WARNER BROTHERS for the special edition of THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS DVD....well, it isn't so wonderful anymore. The brilliant WB legal department decided that all of the RARE photos I provided for the piece, shouldn't be used. They said, "no pictures of the puppets and no pictures of the people that made ANIMAGIC happen?" They are so fearful of a lawsuit these days, that they are willing to sacrifice the quality of the product they are putting out there for the fans???? I have supplied similar photographs to GOLDEN BOOKS ENTERTAINMENT and ANCHOR BAY and they were used on several DVDs in the extras, without any problem what so ever.

HAPPY 4th from THE STARVING ARTISTS!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! I made this recent purchase for my RANKIN/BASS collection of DOROTHY from RANKIN/BASS' TALES OF THE WIZARD OF OZ. ARTISTIC TOYS made these dolls back in 1961 and they are pretty scarce. I also have SOCRATES THE SCARECROW.

Small world...

My son JOSHUA and I ran into our pal MITCH O' CONNELL and his son LEO at U.S. CELLULAR FIELD at a WHITE SOX game the other night and he took this picture of us at the game. Check out his art at www.mitchoconnell.com He did the original cover for my ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS book back in 1996!

PIXAR is 8 for 8!

We saw RATATOUILLE yesterday and it is a very different kind of film than the usual animated film. Again, it is a well written film and does not rely on farting and throw up jokes like the usual bunch of CGI films. In other words, it is special. We also saw the most unfunny trailer for a film called UNDERDOG. If you want to see how a classic cartoon can be totally ruined, check this one out!

EBAY link

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZAnimagic1

GIN BLOSSOMS in Downers Grove & Crystal Lake, IL

We had a GREAT time at some GIN BLOSSOMS shows over the weekend with our friend ROBIN WILSON and the rest of the guys. A GREAT way to kick off the summer and SCOTTY JOHNSON'S new solo CD was just released. ROBIN and SCOTTY played and sang on both of my CDs. We will be seeing them again in AUGUST!

Original RANKIN/BASS 'Animagic' figure on EBAY!

To start out my birthday, I listed an original 'ANIMAGIC' figure from THE FIRST CHRISTMAS (1975) on EBAY under seller ANIMAGIC1. These puppets are extremely scarce and I put a fair RESERVE on the auction. This is one of the jewels of my RANKIN/BASS collection BUT it is time to find her a new home. She comes with all of her original eyes, mouths and a few eye lids too. She got plenty of screen time in the RANKIN/BASS classic TV special. It will definitely be a CHRISTMAS IN JULY for some lucky winner! Hopefully she will wind up in a museum for all to enjoy.

SUMMER is here and we are getting all wishy washy...

Getting around much better these days....

I am on vacation this week and it is rolling right along! Saw a couple of GREAT GIN BLOSSOMS shows over the weekend and will post a few pics soon. Also, working on a few exciting projects I will post more info on later. Hope everyone is having a GREAT Summer!

Another place to download my music....

My first CD is now available at http://payplay.fm/goldschmidt You can also check out http://cdbaby.com/cd/goldschmidt too. I recently took down my MY SPACE pages. They were a bit too much to keep up with and I want to focus my attention here, since http://www.rankinbass.com/ is now plugged in here too! If you have my CD or download a song, PLEASE review them on these pages. THANKS!

Calling out for THUNDERCATS HO!

As a feature film is now in the works on Rankin/Bass' THUNDERCATS, JULES BASS is looking for a contact for TED WOLF's daughter. If anyone has a contact for her, PLEASE e-mail me at : Rickgoldsc@aol.com Also, PETER BAKALIAN is looking for the early concept art that TED WOLF did for THUNDERCATS. If anyone has copies of that, PLEASE e-mail me also. THANKS!

possible cover design from TONY AMATO!

What do you think? E-mail: Rickgoldsc@aol.com

On this very HOT day in CHICAGO, I thought I would post a cool R/B photo!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! The suits at WARNER BROTHERS are doing their BEST to ruin the RANKIN/BASS Documentary that will be on THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS DVD....I will keep you posted.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

It has a great, big, fancy stamp on it!

The KRINGLES!

Still posting some things on EBAY under seller ANIMAGIC1 and MISER BROS. I am considering selling my ANIMAGIC figure of OCTAVIA from THE FIRST CHRISTMAS with all of her eyes and mouths. Will try to post pictures soon. She has two outfits on and cost nearly $5,000.00 to make in 1975 for the MOM studios (RANKIN/BASS). OCTAVIA is actually in the segment I did for THE NUDE HIPPO show that is on www.youtube.com (Just search RANKIN/BASS there) or go to the DECEMBER NEWS at www.rankinbass.com for the link!

DICK SHAWN : voice of the SNOW MISER!

The late DICK SHAWN was the cool voice of the SNOW MISER (Often incorrectly referred to as the COLD MISER). My interview I did the other day is now available at www.timetravelispossible.com (or click their link to the right in LINKS) and you may also want to check out my friend CRAIG MARIN's puppet commercials at www.flexitoon.com/comm.php3 COOL STUFF!!!

THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS

Spent the better part of the day working on the new cover for the third printing of my first book THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS: A PORTFOLIO! Tony Amato www.amatoimagedesign.com is designing it. He is a wonderful designer and friend and he designed my two CD covers. I also assisted some more with the SPARKHILL RANKIN/BASS documentary.

I'll be on the radio this FRIDAY June 8th on the East coast and on the net...

For more info...check www.timetravelispossible.com We'll be talking about the latest in the enchanted world of RANKIN/BASS for about an hour! I asked ARTHUR RANKIN, JR. to join us but he will be on the road and asked me to keep the R/B colors flying high!