in RANKIN/BASS' SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWNc. 1970 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES
Saturday, December 05, 2009
BILL JACKSON: Chicago TV Legend
Bill Jackson as FRECKLES THE CLOWN from his first visit to Chicago!
BILL with Josh on his last visit to Chicago!
I brought him some RANKIN/BASS Drummer Boy figures and he said they have sentimental value to him because that character was one of the first he drew on the air.
RICH KOZ (SVENGOOLIE/STOOGAPALOOZA) from ME TV (one of our favorites channels...ME TOO too!) Rich has been a friend and very kind over the years with plugs for my books, etc.
Jim Engel's collage from the program and event poster!
Santa leaves Dean Richards (WGN TV/Radio) a surprise!
BJ signed my DVD cover!
Bill says something amusing to George Pappas and Dean. He enjoyed his appearance on WGN MORNING NEWS!
My friend David Plier (MUSEUM OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS) has a bloody mary. David and I were on the MANCOW Radio show together last Christmas.
I wrote a chapter on BILL JACKSON that was featured in this book! I think it is still available at http://www.amazon.com/ and at http://www.tvparty.com/ I also have several articles on Chicago Kid's TV at http://www.tvparty.com/ 
Bill with his lovely wife Jo
Santa visits David and his son Josh
Bill visits with my son Josh
Two of my favorites together!
Leonard Kohl talks to Santa. I haven't seen him since our days at COLUMBIA COLLEGE in Gordon Sheehan's Animation class. Gordon worked on all the classic Fleischer cartoons and I believe Leonard wrote a book on the POPEYE cartoons. 
One of Bill's dear friends and puppeteers!
Did you say "No Mail?"
Jim's art from the event Program. THANKS to George Pappas for giving me one! 
Jim Engel says hello! Jim was kind enough to contribute to both of my RANKIN/BASS books!
HO! HO! HO!
Posted by Thomas Frederick
MERRY CHRISTMAS from BOZO'S CIRCUS!
Getting nostalgic and going through my CHICAGO KIDS TV book stuff! Found this cool shot! 
This came in the mail from my dear friend Phyllis Diller!
She does her own Christmas cards every year and never forgets me :) Besides being a very funny lady, she is a wonderful artist and musician!CBS goofs again!
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This time the network uses the classic RANKIN/BASS FROSTY THE SNOWMAN and pairs him up with a voice that is inappropriate, distasteful and off color for a promo/commercial....and apparently, thinks it is funny. I am hearing many complaints from people that are fans of the classic RANKIN/BASS TV Special, that grew up with FROSTY. Who is minding the store there? Who thinks this is funny? What is the world coming to?
OCTAVIA from RANKIN/BASS' THE FIRST CHRISTMAS as she appears today!
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Those are her mouths and eyes in the container on the base.c. 2008 RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES
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KYOKO KITA makes ANIMAGIC for RANKIN/BASS' RUDOLPH & FROSTY'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY (1979)
c. 1979 RANKIN/BASS' PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVESRANKIN/BASS' SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN
c. 1970 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES
Thursday, December 03, 2009
I get asked this each Holiday season...
What is the BEST commercially released DVD of RANKIN/BASS' RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER?...this is it! It came out around the time it was re-mastered 2000-2001. It also correctly credits me for the cover photo and has the name RANKIN/BASS on the front cover. It also has a nice introduction by ARTHUR RANKIN on it with behind the scenes photos that I provided for the doc. All of this stuff was inexplicably removed and all the DVD releases since have been missing class and quality content. I prefer to watch the 1964 version with commercials and original ending, etc.
posted by Thomas Frederick
RANKIN/BASS' THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
Pick up those LITTLE DRUMMER BOY figures! They may not be around for long! RANKIN/BASS' THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY, BOOK 2 was up for an Emmy when it was released. Always enjoy watching that one on our collector's DVD!