Remembering my dear friend...BILLIE MAE RICHARDS

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As we enter the Holiday season, I remember my friend Billie Mae Richards and her many contributions to the history of RANKIN/BASS! I really enjoyed doing our many radio appearances together, both in the states and Canada. She was a one of a kind and I was so delighted to assist with Diane Sawyer's piece on ABC WORLD NEWS.

I love everything about Dr. Suess' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS....Boris Karloff, Thurl ravenscroft, Chuck Jones, Albert Hague, Maurice Noble, etc. etc.

The late, great Chuck Jones signed these cards for me some years back...

UNCLE MISTLETOE

Jim Engel's display of UNCLE MISTLETOE from the MUSEUM OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS in Chicago (Which is being relocated at the moment). UNCLE MISTLETOE was a huge part of Christmas in Chicago at MARSHALL FIELDS and also on Chicago television.

Hiroshi Tabata and Tad Mochinaga work on WILLY McBEAN & HIS MAGIC MACHINE (1965)
c. 1965 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES
from the book THE MAKING OF THE RANKIN/BASS HOLIDAY CLASSIC: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (MISER BROS PRESS)

RANKIN/BASS' THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS is available on BLU RAY and DVD with a RANKIN/BASS Bonus Documentary! We have seen it at most stores for the holidays!

THE REAL STORY OF CHRISTMAS airs twice this Tuesday night (Nov. 30th)! Once at 7pm Central, opposite RANKIN/BASS' RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER on CBS and HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS on ABC...and then again at 11pm Central time. I am sure I am a small part of the documentary.

My sisters Stacey, Lindsey and my brother Chris

My Mom on the right and her sister Joyce visit Santa many years ago at WIEBOLDT'S

Baby Ruby!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY from THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS!

30 days until Christmas!

Photograph by Rick Goldschmidt

photograph by Rick Goldschmidt

www.timeandspacetoys.com

NEW EJ DIGI-PACK cd/dvd!

NEW Eric Johnson CD 12-07-2010

www.powsley.blogspot.com

Do you remember when this guy flew in the MACY'S THANKSGIVING PARADE?

I want to THANK my pal Mitch for his well wishes and wonderful Thanksgiving gift!

www.mitchoconnell.com

www.flexitoon.blogspot.com

c. 1970 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES

from THE MAKING OF THE RANKIN/BASS HOLIDAY CLASSIC: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (MISER BROS PRESS)

Father Time as he appears today
(David Scheve collection)

from my Chicago Kid's TV Book project

posted by Davey P.

Kyoko Kita working on RUDOLPH & FROSTY'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY
c. 1979 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES

Arthur and Masaki today!

Photograph by Rick Goldschmidt

Masaki Iizuka and the dynamic duo!

Arthur Rankin, Jr. at the Multiplane

c. 1966 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES

I am doing a phone interview with Mike Thomas on his show "Livewire" on KWRE-AM in St. Louis Tuesday December 14th from 9am to 9:30am. A great time to talk about RANKIN/BASS' impact on the holidays!

I did a nice phone interview today on my lunch with Kev Castle at the KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS! Kevin wrote a great RANKIN/BASS article on us a few years ago for the GO TRICITIES publication. The new article will focus on Tennessee Ernie Ford and RANKIN/BASS' MOUSE ON THE MAYFLOWER. Ford's hometown was Bristol, TN. The article will appear in the paper on Thanksgiving day!

www.timeandspacetoys.com