Rankin/Bass-historian: 3/17/13

Saturday, March 23, 2013

by my pal Mitch O' Connell www.mitchoconnell.com

Rankin Arthur 456 Animation Director Producer Rudolph FrostySnowman i20...

This is their last scene together for PARAMOUNT...

HOLLYWOOD OR BUST

Another one of my favorites! In the Hollywood Bowl scene at top, Dean mentions Elvis Presley as he is reading the paper because Elvis was making LOVING YOU for Paramount in 1956. In another scene, you can see Elvis' name on the FRONTIER HOTEL'S sign because he had a short stint there that didn't go very well and didn't return to Vegas as a performer until 1969..

YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG

My favorite Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis film! The picture on the bottom is an out-take with Tor Johnson that only appears in the trailer. Jerry also has another out-take that they showed a little of on ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT once, of the musical number "Relax-a-voo," which was shot with the barber chair sequence. The song appears instrumentally in the film and Jerry sings the melody at the very end of the film. Dean recorded the song for Capital records with a female vocalist as well.

Friday, March 22, 2013

THE BEATLES

THE BEATLES recorded their first LP 50 years ago today :)

RANKIN/BASS HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL

c. 1971 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES
There is plenty of EASTER in the 15th ANNIVERSARY BOOK www.miserbros.com
Some have asked if I wrote the Easter book...I decided just to include it all in the 15th ANN. book! My friend Tom was just asking me about the R/B Easter CD (which is Excellent)..

THE STARVING ARTISTS "Toxic Box"

SHAG

BATMAN

Box art by my friend SHAG! THANKS to my friend Chris Wolfson for pointing out!

THE STARVING ARTISTS "Strawberry Fields" cover

THE STARVING ARTISTS "In My Life" cover (2nd version)

JOSH at KRUSH SKATEPARK a few years back....

DENNIS & PAUL 03-21-2013

Thursday, March 21, 2013

RANKIN/BASS' HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL

This is the first issue DVD of HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL. The picture is nothing like the HIGH DEFINITION print on the new DVD BUT it did include a RANKIN/BASS' FESTIVAL OF FAMILY CLASSICS: PUSS 'N' BOOTS as a BONUS (the NEW DVD has no BONUS). I hope to one day see the BLU RAYS and DVDs done right with my help :) All of them could have extras, interviews, bonus material, etc.