HOLIDAY Schedule!

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   Wanted to bring everyone up to date with a schedule: 11-24 6:45am CBS MORNING NEWS ch. 2 Chicago 11-24 7:40am WGN MORNING NEWS ch. 9 Chicago (Segment may also appear on METROMIX on CLTV NEWS) 11-24 5:00pm - 7:00pm AMAZING FANTASY BOOKS & COMICS in Tinley Park, IL FREE Exclusive MISER BROS ORNAMENT SET from www.timeandspacetoys.com with the purchase of a signed THE MAKING OF THE RANKIN/BASS HOLIDAY CLASSIC: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (Miser Bros Press) 12-02 & 12-03 RUDOLPH & SANTA will be at THE PITTSBURGH TOYSHOW (AKA STEEL CITY CON) at the EXPO MART in Monroeville at the TIMEANDSPACETOYS.COM booth 12-08 through 01-07-2007 SANTA & RUDOLPH will be at the CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS in Atlanta, GA www.puppet.org at their museum with our friend ALAN LOUIS (Director of Museum & Education Programs) I did an interview for WIRELESS NEWSFLASH with DAVID MOYE. DAVID said it is like an AP NEWSWIRE for the world of POP CULTURE and shows like the LETTERMAN SHOW, LENO SHOW, etc. subscribe. Also, doing an interview with GEORGE HAAS of THE DAILY SOUTHTOWN Newspaper in Chicago, so look for a color article in there soon!

HEAT MISER Cover song out!

My friend TRENT tells me that BATH & BODY WORKS has a new 2-disc Holiday CD set out for $10 that benefits the MAKE-A-WISH charity and it features a cover of the MAURY LAWS & JULES BASS HEATMISER theme by BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY! Let's hope it is better than what I heard from the new NBC live-action special! If you are looking for the original versions of the songs, they are on my CD #1 on EBAY under seller ANIMAGIC1.

BURL LIVES!

This is the time of year that I think of my late friend BURL IVES & his widow DOROTHY IVES! Wonderful people! BURL not only starred in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER as SAM THE SNOWMAN BUT he also played parts in THE DAYDREAMER, THE FIRST EASTER RABBIT & THE BERMUDA DEPTHS for RANKIN/BASS! He also wrote the FOREWORD to my first book THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS: A PORTFOLIO! BURL will live on for generations to come with his music, film, writings, etc. A true Artist! www.burlives.com

RANKIN/BASS THANKSGIVING memories!

With THANKSGIVING coming up...many RANKIN/BASS Fans think about the RANKIN/BASS TV Classic MOUSE ON THE MAYFLOWER (I actually have that special with the McDonald's commercials off the master tapes) BUT I like to remember the 1966 TV Classic THE BALLAD OF SMOKEY THE BEAR shot in wonderful ANIMAGIC with music by JOHNNY MARKS! I love the ANIMAGIC look and I have a perfect NBC GENERAL ELECTRIC FANTASY HOUR print of the special! JAMES CAGNEY did the storytelling and it is a long lost BUT beautifully done special. SMOKEY was even featured in the MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY Parade that year and the special aired on THANKSGIVING DAY (I was one years old, so I don't remember that).

PAUL FREES - RANKIN/BASS Good Luck Charm!

When watching all the RANKIN/BASS shows over the Holiday season...keep in mind that most of them include the late, great voice actor PAUL FREES! Arthur Rankin calls him "My good luck charm!" PAUL can be heard as the BURGERMEISTER, MEISTERBURGER, SANTA CLAUS and the TRAFFIC COP in FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, JACK FROST in FROSTY'S WINTER WONDERLAND, ARRON's father and the KINGS in THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY and so much more!

Which RUDOLPH DVD should I buy? When will THE LIFE & ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS come out on DVD?

So far, the BIG questions for me this Holiday season have been: Which RUDOLPH DVD should I buy? Answer: The 2000 release of the TV Special by GOLDEN BOOKS/SONY WONDER. Why? It has the correct credit on the front cover "RANKIN/BASS PRESENTS," They graciously and properly credited me for the image I lent them for the cover AND it has content that is not included on recent releases. The NEW version has DESTINY'S CHILD? This 2000 version was actually the 2nd time the special was issued on DVD, the first version had a poorly designed, illustrated cover and no extras at all. When will THE LIFE & ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS come out on DVD? Many RANKIN/BASS fans want to see this released on DVD! I was talking with the company that Produces the extras for WARNER BROTHERS DVD box sets. There was some talk of doing a proper RANKIN/BASS box set with interviews with both ARTHUR RANKIN, JR. and JULES BASS plus others. I offered to help and that was the last I heard. Obviously, WARNER BROTHERS could be selling these sets like hot cakes with all the interest....I literally get hundreds of e-mails requesting this special and all the others WB is sitting on. Let's keep our fingers crossed for 2007!

CBS MORNING NEWS 11-24 6:45am...

Looks like we will be on CBS MORNING NEWS Channel 2 in Chicago 11-24 at 6:45am, so you may want to set your DVR. Then it is still on to WGN MORNING NEWS but it may be a little earlier on there...possibly around 7:40am. We think we will still be on CBS NEWS the evening before (THANKSGIVING) too. It is possible now that we may be doing a book signing at BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC earlier in the day 11-24 and then late in the day at AMAZING FANTASY BOOKS & COMICS in Tinley Park, IL at 5pm. More NEWS to come!

MIRACLE ON 34th STREET!

With the November 21st DVD release of a 2-disc expanded MIRACLE ON 34th STREET coming....I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the CD soundtrack from www.percepto.com ! It has all the store and parade songs complete and uncut! It has the wonderful score and even the music from the trailer and it is paired with another GREAT soundtrack to COME TO THE STABLE! TAYLOR WHITE released the MAD MONSTER PARTY soundtrack that I worked on and we have a few more RANKIN/BASS soundtracks planned. Check out his VIC MIZZY CD releases too!

CBS NEWS Channel 2 in CHICAGO!

I heard from HARVEY MOSHMAN Senior Producer at CBS NEWS in Chicago and it looks like we will be on CBS NEWS THANKSGIVING DAY with SANTA & RUDOLPH! Harvey was the former Producer of WILD CHICAGO on WTTW Ch. 11. I was lucky enough to be featured as a guest on one of the last episodes that aired on PBS! Harvey Produced that HIGHLY ACCLAIMED show for many years! It is possible that other CBS Affiliates may show something on their broadcasts the night of the annual RUDOLPH airing on CBS 11-30-06!

SHAG Pirate at DISNEYLAND!

I am going to DISNEYLAND a week from this weekend to pick up my friend SHAG's new PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN figure! SHAG has done alot of work for DISNEYLAND over the past few years! All of it good! Check out www.shagmart.com for some SHAG goodies!

NEW David Sheldon art on CHRONICLE BOOKS card game set!

It is FUN for the whole family! A new CARD GAME from CHRONICLE BOOKS Illustrated by my pal DAVID SHELDON! David did the wonderful cover for my CD RICK GOLDSCHMIDT SINGS and is a gifted artist! Check out his website at www.dksheldon.com for more of his sensational art! If you like card games, this box set is for you with 11 classic games and many variations on old favorites! Also, look for another book he illustrated called PIG GIGGLES & RABBIT RHYMES!

EXCLUSIVE MISER BROS ornament set with a book purchase at AMAZING FANTASY BOOKS & COMICS!

This is the EXCLUSIVE www.timeandspacetoys.com MISER BROS ornament set you will get FREE (A $15.99 value) with a signed book purchase of THE MAKING OF THE RANKIN/BASS HOLIDAY CLASSIC: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (MISER BROS PRESS) 11-24 at AMAZING FANTASY BOOKS & COMICS 15948 S. Harlem Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477 708-633-0837 between 5-7pm! ENJOY! You can also take your picture near the original on-screen RANKIN/BASS RUDOLPH & SANTA ANIMAGIC figures just before it airs on CBS! Hope to see you there!!!

NOVEMBER!

NOVEMBER is here and busier than ever for me! Lots of planning going into the CHICAGO appearances of RUDOLPH & SANTA! I heard from RICH KOZ (Chicago's SVENGOOLIE) and he let me know that on SATURDAY, November 25th on WCIU ch. 26 The U and ME-TV he will be showing the film DRACULA'S DAUGHTER. He will be showing a clip at the end of the show that will feature our SANTA CLAUS (Tom Frederick) and our www.timeandspacetoys.com booth from this past August at the WIZARD WORLD CON! We did do some interviews at the booth and there were cameras rolling BUT we had no idea what shows they would be on. We had alot of fun at the CON! THANKS Rich!

ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER 'Around Hear' REVIEW of RICK GOLDSCHMIDT SINGS!

Cleverly designed to look like an old 7-inch, Rick Goldschmidt’s debut, Rick Goldschmidt Sings (Miser Bros.), is a slick, modern rock album similar to Gin Blossoms’ (a band he lists in the liner notes) debut. If anything, Goldschmidt displays greater guitar acumen, paying tribute to ’70s classic rock with melodic leads (”The Last Time (Tennis Song)”) and showing a knack for pop sweetness (”Brand New Love”). “Baby Song” finds him strumming a winsome, lilting folk tune with equal verve. (www.myspace.com/rickgoldschmidt)– Patrick Conlan

RUDOLPH on CBS November 30th!

The CBS website states RUDOLPH will air Wednesday November 30th (BUT November 30th is a Thursday). I am pretty sure it will air ON the 30th! Hopefully more NEWS shows will pick up the original ANIMAGIC figures' visit to CHICAGO on the 24th! Then it is on to PITTSBURGH the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd. December 8th will see the opening of their visit to the CENTER OF PUPPETRY ARTS in Atlanta, Georgia. You may also be interested in reading my updates at www.tvparty.com .

RANKIN/BASS NEWS!

The NEWS at www.rankinbass.com is getting caught up THANKS to MARK SYKORA! AND no...looks like THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS is not coming out on DVD...WARNER BROTHERS dropped the ball on a box set. I talked with FOX MORNING NEWS and they are interested in having us on the day after THANKSGIVING as well! We need to work the timing out. My book THE MAKING OF THE RANKIN/BASS CLASSIC: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (MISER BROS PRESS) is still available at www.amazon.com and www.rankinbass.com and will soon be available at BARNES & NOBLE. I am trying hard to get my first book THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS: A PORTFOLIO into a 3rd printing! I listed some more RANKIN/BASS archive CDs on EBAY under seller ANIMAGIC1 the other day. More NEWS to come! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

RUDOLPH is guiding Santa's way to CHICAGO for THANKSGIVING!

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER is having THANKSGIVING Dinner with me this year and the following day we are sharing him and SANTA with CHICAGO! Then he is off to PITTSBURGH for a collector's show the following weekend (Check www.timeandspacetoys.com for details) and he will spend CHRISTMAS at the CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS in Atlanta, GA with out friend ALAN LOUIS! For a reindeer who has been on ice for years...he is really getting around! This is his second trip to CHICAGO this year!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I am on VACATION this week (I always take the week of HALLOWEEN off)! It started out with alot of work. I am getting ready for the original RUDOLPH & SANTA ANIMAGIC figures visiting for THANKSGIVING! Here is what I know for sure so far: We will be on WGN MORNING NEWS 11-24 at 7:50AM! We will be meeting RANKIN/BASS Musical composer MAURY LAWS for lunch! Then KEVIN KREISS www.timeandspacetoys.com and I will be with RUDOLPH & SANTA at AMAZING FANTASY BOOKS & COMICS 15948 S. Harlem Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477 from 5-7pm at a book signing! With every book purchase you get a TIME & SPACE TOYS exclusive ornament set of the HEAT & SNOW MISER!!! We may also be on METROMIX, CLTV NEWS, FOX MORNING NEWS, WTTW'S CHICAGO TONIGHT, etc. I will keep you posted! I will also be on the radio circuit again this Holiday season and will keep you posted here as bookings happen.

NBC in 3-D!

I went to see the new 3-D edition of TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS last night and enjoyed it even more than I did during it's first release in 1993. Even though the film was not shot in 3-D, some nice effects were added in...such as snowflakes, etc. It is definitely not the screen popping animation that can be achieved filming in 3-D BUT it did enhance the picture. The glasses were nice and it doesn't matter where you sit in the theatre. PIXAR's KNICK KNACK was the short before the film and looked GREAT,but it was the newer 'small breasts' version that I am not a big fan of. They should have left the original version of the film alone...it aired in theatres many times before with the 'big breasts' and was even issued on video that way. NBC is a must see for HALLOWEEN! The new double disc soundtrack is also well worth the $! It has a 3-D linticular cover and some good covers and demos on the 2nd disc. It's on sale at BEST BUY for $11.99. I also helped with a book that is available now called THE ART OF STOP-MOTION by Ken A. Priebe, which features a NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS cover. There is a small section on RANKIN/BASS in this HOW TO book!

Here is some HALLOWEEN fun! Courtesy of my friend RON MURPHY!

AFTER PARTY in JOLIET w/ the GBs!

What a GREAT way to wrap up these dates in Chicago..with FRIENDS/LOYAL fans! The Blossoms are probably the nicest band on the road and continue to prove it time and time again. Their fans are the BEST as well and many travel a GREAT distance to see and support them!

On to the RIALTO SQUARE THEATRE in JOLIET 10-20!

Everyone enjoyed the RIALTO in JOLIET! It is a beautiful theatre known for top acts, Dance recitals (My daughter's were there) and the wedding reception of PETER BRADY (Chris Knight). GIN BLOSSOMS rocked the joint! ROBIN stepped out into the audience more than once and the acoustics were GREAT!

JOSH plays XBOX 360 with the expert ROBIN WILSON on the tour bus!

My son JOSH and ROBIN WILSON share a passion for gaming. In fact, ROBIN wrote a column for PLAYSTATION MAGAZINE until just recently. The tour bus is a haven for ROBIN's new XBOX 360 and JOSH thought it was cool too! ROBIN has turned JOSH onto many different games including GUITAR HERO. ROBIN is a GREAT Dad for his own son GRAY! ROBIN told us that he made sure he timed his flight just before this tour began, so that he could pick up his new XBOX 360 at the mall and hook it all up before the others arrived. The BUS TVs also have the latest HD technology. Their guitar tech Sam is also a gamer.

WGN MORNING NEWS welcomed the GIN BLOSSOMS 10-20!

It was an early FRIDAY morning for all of us! ROBIN sported his White sunglasses. GIN BLOSSOMS played 5 songs "Hey Jealousy," "Allison Road," "Follow You Down," "Until I hear it from you," and "Learning the Hard Way"! DEAN RICHARDS interviewed ROBIN and said they have something in common, their optomitrist and he pulled out a pair of big white SUN GLASSES and got the boys to laugh. I had a chance to pop in on my friend LARRY POTASH and the rest of the NEWS crew (ROBIN BAUMGARTEN and PAUL CONRAD) and we discussed myself coming on the show in DECEMBER with the RUDOLPH & SANTA ANIMAGIC figures. They hadn't seen me since last Christmas and liked my new "Rock n' Roll look.

A GIN BLOSSOMS weekend started out at the PARK WEST in CHICAGO!

I had the pleasure of hooking up with my brothers ROBIN, SCOTTY, JESSIE, BILL and SCOTT once again this weekend! In support of their NEW cd MAJOR LODGE VICTORY, they played the PARK WEST in Lincoln Park, Chicago to a very excited crowd! A GREAT time was had by all! They opened the show with "Come On Hard" and closed it with the ERNIE BANKS song "Let's Play Two!" The LOU MALNOTTI's pizza was GREAT too!

RARE RANKIN/BASS postcard on EBAY!

Found a few more of THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY postcards I had printed years ago to promote my first book THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS: A PORTFOLIO! I am posting them on EBAY under ANIMAGIC1. Enjoy! It is a GREAT shot right off the 3 x 5" transparency.

My good friend DAVE DIPPLE at www.maxheads.com delivered the goods with my music banner this week! EXCELLENT printing job Dave! Dave also did our Bass Drum head and band T-Shirts!

A GREAT New book!

There is a GREAT New book out called ONE TRAIN LATER ANDY SUMMERS (St. Martin's Press) It is a BEAUTIFUL hardcover book by one of my favorite guitarists of all time! It also has a FOREWORD from another of my favorites...THE EDGE! It sells for $24.95 and it is a MUST HAVE! ANDY was at the Chicago BORDERS tonight and is touring the country on a book signing tour.