Alphabet Matches

Got a quick start this morning with breakfast and the original cast album for Hello Dolly! Yes, that's Charles Nelson Reilly as Cornelius Hackle, introducing "It Only Takes a Moment." He was Tony-nominated for the role, in fact. Carol Channing is Dolly here, and was such a hit in the role, she would appear in all Broadway revivals of the show for over 20 years. Eileen Brennan gets a nice "Ribbons Down My Back," and Channing really goes to town with the famous title song and the hilarious march "Motherhood." 

It was so late by the time I finally finished breakfast and got dressed, there wasn't really time to take the bike to work. Thank heavens the Uber driver only took 4 minutes to arrive in the morning. They took 11 going home at 4. No trouble either way, no traffic anywhere. I got to work on time.

I spent most of the day pushing carts. At least it was a gorgeous day for it. Sunny, breezy, still dry, warm but not overly so, probably in the lower 80's. We were surprisingly quiet for a Sunday. Most people are either out of town for the holiday weekend, waiting for the beginning of the month, or enjoying the nice day. I did get stuck gathering an overflowing outside trash bag that broke and sent debris everywhere. One of the managers ended up coming outside to help me clean up that mess.

Soon as I got home, I changed and went straight into tonight's Match Game marathon. (I'd have dinner a bit later.) In honor of back to school, MGP chose episodes that represented letters of the alphabet again...but this time, he did it in reverse order. They started with Z, for Zoe the camerawoman whom Gene pointed out in an episode. X was for Xmas, which Gene mentioned on a syndicated show. W was for William Shatner, Captain Kirk himself, who appeared on two memorable weeks in 1975. V was for Valerie Bertanelli, who finally let her episodes from 1978 be seen two years ago...and I'm glad she did. For all her discomfort, it was a pretty fun week. T was for comedian Tom Deeson, who did a week in 1978. S was for Sharon Farrell, who appeared during a memorable week in 1978 and during the syndicated run.

There were memorable episodes further up the alphabet, too. R was for a pair of Richards, Paul and Dawson, who appeared together during one of Richard Dawson's last weeks in 1978. P was for soap star Pat Crawley, who did a week in 1976. O was for raconteur and long-time stage star Orson Bean. M was for Marcia Wallace, who was represented by an episode of Match Game '90 where she got to answer the Head-to-Head. 

Some of the best episodes of the night came from the beginning of the alphabet. H was for Henry Morgan, best known as a panelist on I've Got a Secret, who did a week in early in 1978. G was for cowboy Guich Kotch from Hee Haw. F was for two Fannies, Fannie Flagg and Mark Goodson's mother Fannie who was seen in the audience during an episode. E was for glamorous Eva Gabor. D was for Dick Smothers, who did two weeks in 1977. C was for "Mama" Cass Elliott, who appeared on one of the funniest weeks of 1973 before her untimely death. B was for giggly comedienne Betty Kennedy, who was a semi-regular during the syndicated era. A was for Audrey Landers, who appeared on a PM episode featuring a pregnant contestant who closely resembled Patty Duke.

Let's do the alphabet in reverse with these hilarious episodes!

Match Game Sunday Classics - The Reverse Countdown of Alphabet Game (Z-A)

I also worked on Hilary and the Beasts. Maple and Victor are more than happy to turn over Victor's volumes and volumes of paperwork and the records to the FBI and Agent Dawson from Scotland Yard. They've been after Pavla for years, but the moment they would close in on her, either the information on her or the informants would vanish. Pavla tries to seduce the cops, but they're immune to her charms and haul her off screaming. 

Summertime Farm Market

Got a quick start this morning with breakfast and Alice's Wonderland Bakery. Alice is called to Looking Glass Land to help the Silver Queen get her knight pieces into shape, but they're more likely to be wandering and rolling around. Alice has no idea how to deal with them, until she meets Kira, a young lady who wishes to be a knight. She truly is "A Knight to Remember" when she helps her rescue her ingredients. Dandy and Daisy's "Roaring Daisylions" are their adorable new babies. They're hungry, but they want to play and won't sit to eat their golden nectar. Alice and the boys have to find a way to make eating their nectar fun.

Hurried out to the Farm Market after the episode ended. They were less than an hour from finishing when I arrived, and it was still busy with people buying produce for their back to school meals and Labor Day barbecues. The fall produce is just starting to roll out. I saw the first winter squash, squash flowers, and pumpkins of the year along with the piles and piles of tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, corn, zucchini, yellow squash, and potatoes. Pears have emerged with the apples, plums, grapes, and berries. I got small gala apples and raspberries again, along with round Asian pears. 

I also treated myself to another cream bar from the Bubba's Creamery cart; got coconut this time. Oh yum. I think this one was even better. It was just sweet enough, with tons of shredded coconut. 

Since the Kismet Bagels booth was out of almost all their wares, I went down to Haddon Avenue to buy bagels right from their shop. As it turned out, I couldn't get IN their shop. They were so busy, the line was almost out the door. I ended up at Haddon Culinary, which also sells bagels. I did get the bagels and a Coke Zero, but they forgot to put my butterscotch bread slice in the bag.

Rushed back home for a very quick lunch. Started watching Thanks for the Memory as I ate and got ready for work. I go further into this comedy about a writer whose wife goes back to work so he can focus on his novel at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Happy Labor Day! - Thanks for the Memory 

Dashed to work after I ate and just barely made it on time. To be honest, I had to agree with one of my co-workers that we could have been a lot busier on a holiday weekend. Everyone must have taken advantage of the continuing perfect weather and either headed for the Shore, or at least went on outings. I had no trouble sweeping or gathering carts. There was even a Cub Scout and his troop selling popcorn. 

Oh, and I got my schedule. I'm mostly focusing on the school opening next week, so I only work on the weekends. One of those weekend days is an 8 1/2 hour day next Saturday! I'm dreading that. They couldn't have gotten the head bagger or someone else to work with me? I haven't done an 8 1/2 hour day in ages.

Went straight home after that and into the shower. Finished the night with dinner and watching the Match Game marathon on YouTube. Tonight we saw episodes that the channel owner thinks are underrated or not discussed as often. My favorite was the week in 1974 with Robert Morse, where the randy little redheaded contestant kept trying to kiss Fannie and Brett. Charles and Richard did their best to protect the ladies. There was also the episode from late in 1973 when Gene wore the gray and white checked suit with the pink shirt and bow tie that, as Brett and Pat Harrington pointed out, made him look like half of a vaudeville team. Gene was still wearing ugly plaids and checks as late as 1978. Mary Wickes insisted when she saw his latest attempt at sartorial splendor that "somewhere a horse is mighty chilly." Jimmie Walker had a crush on a very pretty lady in 1974 who made her own clothes.

You never know what wacky panelist will be in the spotlight next in this hilarious look back!

Match Game Saturday Classics - Match Game Rewind 1973 - 1978

Keep an Eye On Summer

Got a late start with breakfast and a double-dose of Hello Kitty Furry Tale Theater on The Roku Channel. "Hello Mother Goose" checks out her nursery rhyme friends one day to discover many of their most famous props are missing and My Melody Bo Peep's sheep have run away. She has to solve the mystery of what happened to those objects and where the sheep ran off to. "Crocodile Penguin" is an Australian wrestler whom Kitty is sent to the Outback to do an article on. Catnip is more interested in having him wrestle Hulk Alligator (Grinder) at Cattison Square Garden.

"The Ugly Quackling" (Chip the Seal) is ridiculed by his oldest sibling (Catnip) and misunderstood by his mother (Fangora). He's clumsy and a little goofy, but in the end, he's the one who saves them from the hungry wolf (Grinder) who spends a year chasing them. "Grinder Genie and the Magic Lamp" grants wishes for poor Middle Eastern kids Kitty and Sam, giving them enough money to pay off Sultana Catnip's taxes. She tries to steal the lamp, only to discover why Grinder's lamp says "make wishes at your own risk."

Switched to Buzzr next. Caught the tail end of one Supermarket Sweep episode, then a full one. Alas, both ended with teams who did wildly well at the Big Sweep, only to just miss figuring out the right answer on the final clue in the Bonus Round.

Press Your Luck and Classic Concentration were a lot more fun. Buzzr continued its Back to School Week with episodes featuring college students as contestants. The one boy in Press Your Luck Whammied out early in the second round. It was one of the two girls who ended up taking home over $12,000 in prizes, including a Windjammer Caribbean cruise. The boy on the Classic Concentration College Week dominated his game, winning, among many other prizes a trip to Paris. He didn't do quite as well on the match-the-car bonus round. 

Hurried out for a quick grocery store run next. I didn't really need a whole lot anyway. Cascadian Farms granola bars were buy one, get one at Sprouts. Poppi soda was buy one, get one half-off. Got both, along with coconut milk, dried mango slices, and more of those cherry shortbread cookies from the bakery that were super-cheap. Mostly needed yogurt and soda at the Acme, both of which were on decent sales with online coupons. Also picked up granola, found a bottle of the Listerine Clinical Solutions Gum Therapy mouthwash with a two-dollar-off coupon and boxes of Watermelon Propel single mixes that were half-price, and dug out two more 20 ounce bottles of Fresca. Neither store was remotely busy, though I did go in the regular line at the Acme so the cashier could handle the coupon.

Cut across Newton Lake Park on the way home. It was certainly a lovely day for it. The weather remains perfect here, breezy, dry, and cool but not cold. I was surprised I didn't run into more people in the park. The Westmont Plaza was inundated with teenagers looking for lattes and something to do. I pushed my bike on the dirt path over the hill by the Environmental Center, enjoying the wind rustling through the dark green leaves. 

When I got home, I put everything away, then had lunch while watching She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Catra is tired of getting mixed "Signals" from Hordak, who is frustrated with her lack of progress. She's even more upset when Entraptra manages to fix the machine he was working on and gains his trust. Meanwhile, Bow, Adora, and Gilmmer investigate a supposedly haunted village that used to be one of the top suppliers of goods for the Rebels. The village is empty when they arrive, and they see ghostly images that make their imaginations run wild and leaves them wondering how the Old Ones' technology managed to conjure ghosts.

Spent the rest of the afternoon working on Hilary and the Beasts. Mrs. Fox may be a full animal, but she still knows to bring along the rest of the household to help her attack Pavla and her monsters. (Except for Mr. Cat, who takes a nap on top of the grand piano in the ballroom.) Hilary is shocked to discover that producer T.J Hunnicut is now a monster, but his new form hasn't dulled his wolfish instincts. It takes Troll clawing his back to get him off Hilary's lap. 

Pavla has Hilary on the ground and is about to attack her when they hear Pavla's voice, repeating the words from her supposed interview with producer Trevor Zanish in "Mr. and Mrs. Singer." Maple reveals that Pavla's confession is on the last, unheard record. Betty reads Newspaper (Gus Kahana), adding that Trevor Zanish had been producing in England for the last two years. Not only that, but Victor Comstock and Mr. Foley let the record run, revealing that Pavla had a drunk Scott kidnapped and used as leverage to force Jeff into marriage and Victor and Foley into silence. 

While Hilary brings Mackie around and gets him and Foley to let the cops and the FBI in, Maple runs to the caged Eagle. Hilary manages to retrieve the keys to the cage from Pavla's bosom and toss them to her waiting middle sister. She releases the affectionate bird, giving him a kiss and telling him that she loves him no matter how many feathers he has. Betty is also able to get the muzzle and ropes off Bear. She holds his paw on the story he wrote her, telling her that she understood he was trying to tell her the truth, and that she too didn't care how smart he was or how much fur he had, she still loved him.

Mr. Rabbit trots up to the silent Miss Organ, lovingly rubbing her and licking her side. Hilary too finally throws herself into Troll's waiting arms, breathlessly telling him as the last bong strikes at midnight that she loves him and wants to marry him, no matter what he looks like.

That does it. No sooner does Hilary tell Troll her feelings than the entire household is engulfed in a bright golden light. When it subsides, Puppy is teen maid Enid Farlleigh, who sits on a normal man rather than a monster. Eugenia, now released from her organ, gives her fiance Mr. Foley a big hug. Gus Kahana, freed from the newspaper, is able to use John McCormick's Irish brogue to explain to the cops that he's willing to state evidence. Mrs. Fox turns into Gertie Reece, who manages to wake up Mr. Eldridge just as the light ends. 

Yes, Eagle is Jeff's gentle-voiced, sad-eyed secretary Victor Comstock. He admits to Maple that he can't really fly - Scott's the pilot - but he would still love to take her out on an airplane. Maple grabs him so passionately, she knocks them to the ground. Bear's fur falls away to reveal a battered but grinning Scott Sherwood, who wants nothing more than to keep writing stories with Betty. Troll is, indeed Jeff Singer, who also kisses his soon-to-be-wife passionately before she reminds him they have an audience.

Watched The Singing, Ringing Tree as I worked. This East German fairy tale from 1957 also involves a prince-turned-bear and a haughty lady. In this case, the prince traded his own humanity to a devilish little figure to get the title tree and impress a spoiled princess. The princess wasn't impressed, with him or anything but her own beauty. The nasty little imp turned the Prince into a bear and his horse to stone. He brings the Princess back to his enchanted grotto, where she is turned ugly until she learns to be kind to not only the animals in the grotto, but Bear as well. The copy currently on Tubi has very British narration added.

Headed out around 5:30 on my bike. Not only was today Oaklyn's Final Friday block party, but the newest business in town finally opened. The Score Records replaced the healthy smoothie and milkshake shop in the store on the corner of West Clinton and Manor Ave, across from the Manor Bar. They weren't big and didn't have nearly the selection that Phidelity or Innergroove do, but they also had smattering of CDs, books, and cassettes, along with t-shirts, stickers, and strange boxes covered in recycled objects painted in rainbow colors. They were also extremely busy, but I did manage to pick up two records:

The Beach Boys - Shut Down Volume 2

Oscar Peterson Plays the Irving Berlin Songbook

And two CDs:

Dave Bruebeck - Vocal Encounters and Ballads

Final Friday was busier than ever with people celebrating the last Friday of the summer and the start of  Labor Day Weekend. I strolled around, taking in the food trucks specializing in Mac and cheese, lobster rolls, barbecue, Mexican food, or spring rolls stuffed with cheese steak meat, but couldn't decide what to eat. I eventually ended up at a quiet Common Grounds. The turkey, brie, and honey turnover wasn't bad. I didn't realize the iced hot chocolate was a coffee drink. I was thirsty and did end up drinking it all down, but it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Combated that with a nice, refreshing cream popcickle. I've seen the cart with the organic cream and popsicles here and the Collingwood Farm Market, but I never got the chance to try it until tonight. Oh yum. I went with cherry vanilla. Sweet, cherry - and very cold, which I badly needed after walking around in those crowds.

Put on Match Game Syndicated when I got home. Nighttime soap star Susan Howard joined David Doyle and Marcia Wallace here. Marcia points out that she's sharper than most usually gives her credit for when she's the only one to get an answer right.

Finished the night with three of my new record and CD finds and one I picked up last week. The big hits on Shut Down, Volume II are "Don't Worry, Baby," "Fun, Fun, Fun," and "The Warmth of the Sun." I liked the hilarious tracks that didn't involve music at all. "Denny's Drum" and "Cassius Love Vs. Sonny Wilson" are just presumably banter between the Beach Boys in the studio, and they're hilarious. We also get their admonishment to "Keep an Eye On Summer." 

It's the Girls is Bette Midler's 2014 tribute to girl groups. We mostly get famous girl vocalists from the 50's and 60's, with hits like "Be My Baby," "One Fine Day," and "Too Many Fish In the Sea." TLC's "Waterfalls" turns into an oddly tender ballad here, but the Boswell Sisters' "It's the Girl" remains a rollicking romp.

Vocal Encounters is Dave Brubeck's songs featuring singers and lyrics, including rare lyrics to "Take Five," performed by Carmen MacRae. MacRae also scores with "Travelin' Blues" and "It's a Raggy Waltz," while Tony Bennet gives us "That Old Black Magic" and Peter, Paul, and Mary the folk ballad "Because All Men are Brothers," based on Bach's "Passion" chorale. The lovely Louis Armstrong "Summer Song" also turns up on the Ballads CD collection. Most of these are more traditional instrumentals like "Stardust" and "Lost Waltz," but we also get "Weep No More."

On the Boardwalk In Atlantic City

Started the morning with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Mickey tells "Pluto's Tale." Pluto pulls a golden ball out of a tree. Good Fairy Clarabelle declares him to be the prince who can rescue her beloved puppy Princess Bella from the sneaky Wizard Pete's castle. Pluto has to help King Donald and Queen Daisy in their orchard and get help from Woods-mouse Minnie to find his way to Pete, who wants to trade Bella for the Golden Ball.

Called Uber after that. This time, I came out at around 11 to give myself more time. The driver took 7 minutes to get there. Thankfully, there was also no traffic on the White Horse Pike. We arrived at Lindenwauld with 15-20 minutes, and I still had 15 minutes to buy train tickets. No trouble with the train to Atlantic City this time, either. It was right on time both ways, going to and from Atlantic City. Surprisingly, considering we're coming up on Labor Day Weekend, it wasn't full going there. The train going home was a bit more full, likely with communters on their way home before the holiday weekend.

The moment I got off, I headed straight for the boardwalk and down to the Landshark Bar and Grill (after a brief bathroom break). This blonde wooden structure about a block from Steel Pier is right on the beach. Normally, it offers splendid views of the beach, but today, it was partially blocked by construction workers building some kind of light wooden structures near the boardwalk. From what I could see, I suspected they may have been smaller beach-front bars for Hard Rock Hotel guests or beach-side extensions of the Landshark.

Oh, well, at least my fried cod sandwich was really yummy. I think the chips were house-made, too. Like the ones from Haddon Culinary in Collingswood, they were thick and crunchy, but not too greasy or flimsy like the ones in bags. And actually, it was fascinating to watch the men put together what I presumed to be the wooden deck or patio for the new bars, wooden piece by wooden piece.

Headed a few doors down to Steel Pier after lunch. Steel Pier isn't really the "Showplace of the Nation" anymore, but it is the only major outdoor amusement park in Atlantic City. I debated buying tickets for the rides, then passed. I'll be doing a better amusement park and a huge multi-states fair on vacation next month. My only real interest in Steel Pier was the Observation Wheel. It's a huge Ferris wheel that looms over the Pier and beaches like a massive steering wheel. 

I love the Ferris Wheel. The view from the gondola was spectacular. It was cloudy when I left Oaklyn, but it started clearing up during lunch at the Landshark. By the time I was gazing out the windows of the gondola, it was a perfect, clear, dry afternoon, without a cloud in sight. The bright green Atlantic matched the burnished gold of the Borgota in its shine and sparkle. It was too windy for the beach to be really busy, but there were quite a lot of people around and umbrellas dotting the sand for a day that wasn't even in the 80's. It was like looking down on a Lego version of an amusement park. Everything was so tiny from above, even the people. 

Several small food booths hug the entrance to Steel Pier, along with six games. I ignored the games in favor of getting a milkshake. They were out of my first choice, Nutella and Banana, so I went with Mint Chocolate Chip. Ooooh, sooo minty, with lots of big chocolate pieces. Expensive, but very sweet and tasty.

Doubled back down the boardwalk to Central Pier. Not only was the arcade fully operational after their big fire last year, but the go-karts were open, too. I was mainly interest in the arcade. It's smaller than Dave and Buster's downtown, but it does have two long rows of cranes with every type of cool stuffed animal available. Alas, I had no luck with the cranes this time, so I focused on skee ball, catch-the-ball games, and something called Doodle Bug, where you made a little doodle guy jump upwards onto sketched platforms. 

I did even better than in June, earning 629 tickets. That was enough for a really cute Atlantic City metal tray with a red "peace" van on the beach, another paper fan (red with a rose print this time), and red ear buds. I was hoping they would be wireless and fit my new phone, but alas, they weren't. Oh well, I'll donate them the next time I bring a bag to Goodwill.

Made my way further back down the boardwalk to my favorite souvenir store on the boardwalk. Peanut World has every bit of junk you can imagine, and probably a lot you can't. I don't think a lot of their inventory in the back has likely been refreshed since the 90's, maybe earlier. More to the point, they're also the only store in Atlantic City that carries my favorite fruit jel slices. They're really good, too, sweet and thick. I got two slices of each flavor they had, plus a Diet Dr. Pepper and, since I had no luck with the cranes, a cute stuffed brown bear on all fours whom I named Cinnamon.

By that point, it was past 4 PM. Time to start back down Michigan Avenue and head towards the Atlantic City Convention Center. Stopped at the Starbucks about two blocks down from the train station for a quick drink before I left. They were busy with college students taking a break with shopping, but I did get to try a sweet iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte. Even with waiting in a long line for a drink, I still got to the train station next to the convention center with more than 20 minutes to buy tickets and wait for the train. Once again, the train was on time, and there was no problem with either the bus or getting the Uber home.

When I got in, I went straight into dinner and Match Game Syndicated. Came in to see Jon "Bowser" Bauman pull plastic chains and a comb out of a giant high-top sneaker-shaped bag. Arte Johnson had more problems being the smart guy between two decidedly unique blondes, Eva Gabor and Joyce Bulifant. 

Finished the night after a shower with When the Boys Meet the Girls. I go further into this strange MGM attempt to meld the Beach Party series with the Gershwin musical Girl Crazy at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Cult Flops - When the Boys Meet the Girls

Morning In the Sunshine

Overslept this morning and got such a quick start, I barely had time for breakfast! Dashed out and just made it to work on time. Fortunately, that was the worst thing that happened all day. We weren't busy at all. It's the end of the quietest month of the year, and the only one with no holidays in the US. Most people are likely waiting for the beginning of the month and Labor Day Weekend to do their shopping. Besides, it was too nice to be inside a grocery store. It remains gorgeous here, sunny, breezy, and barely in the 80's, with no humidity in sight. 

It was so nice, I took the long way home down Nicholson Road. Most of the lunch hour traffic had cleared out by 1 PM. Nicholson Road wasn't that bad. Oaklyn was even quieter. The only people I saw as I pushed my bike over the hill and rode down to the White Horse Pike were a few dog walkers and kids showing off on their own bikes.

I checked my e-mail the moment I got online, before I even changed. Thankfully, Healthy Kids had approved of my alternate vacation week, September 29th through October 3rd. And actually, I'm going to leave earlier than that. Lauren says if I arrive on the 27th, we'll be able to do the last day of the New England Exposition on the 28th. School isn't open on Saturday, and I doubt the Acme will protest. We're not usually that busy until after Columbus Day. 

After I finally changed, I had lunch while watching PAW Patrol. "Sea Patrol: Pups Save a Shark" has them trying to figure out how a shark got into Adventure Bay. Turns out it's not a shark at all. It's really Mayor Humdinger's attempt to chase people off the beach, so he can have it to himself. "Sea Patrol: Pups Save the Pier" has them repairing the pier where the local art show is to take place after it was chewed by clams and lobsters, then wondering what made them want to chew it at all.

I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening working on Hilary and the Beasts. Hilary and her family get a cryptic call from Mrs. Fox, warning them that they're being invaded, and they're in danger too. She sent help to retrieve them. Shortly after Maple gets off the phone with her, the door is kicked in by goons with guns, whom Pavla hired to keep them there until after midnight.

To Maple's delight, Eagle appears and flies through the front door...or tries to. He gets stuck. After she and C.J help him through the door, he helps them dispatch and tie up the goons. They call the police, and Hilary snares a gun from one of the goons and herds Mackie, C.J, and Betty out the door to Mackie's dilapidated Ford. Maple climbs on Eagle for one last ride...even as he slowly shrinks to the size of an ordinary, non-human bald eagle.

The rest of the family arrives at the mansion, only to discover Pavla and her slimy monsters are already there. They hold Troll back as she muzzles a big black bear and orders her men to bind him. Betty calls out to him in horror. She knows he's Scott Sherwood, now fully under Pavla's spell...without a shred of humanity left. Pavla is about to remove his claws when Eagle and Maple burst through the window. Alas, Eagle too is now fully animal. Maple lets him go and tumbles to the ground, unconscious. Hilary manages to get her up and moving and send her and Betty to retrieve the last record, just as C.J kills the lights.

Listened to records while I worked. I consider all of the Disney live-action musicals to be underrated, and Summer Magic is no exception. This adorable look at a family moving to Maine and adjusting to their new, more rustic circumstances around 1912 has some really lovely songs. In addition to the sweet title number, Burl Ives scores with "On the Front Porch" and "The Ugly Bug Ball," while Hayley Mills and Deborah Walley have fun discussing why "Femininity" is important for landing a beau.

High Button Shoes was one of the major Broadway hits of 1948 and gave Nanette Fabray some of her first exposure as sprightly Mama Longstreet. She's trying to pair her sister Fran (Lois Lee) off with small-time salesman Harrison Floy (Phil Silvers), but she prefers a handsome Rutgers football star (Mark Dawson). While the most famous aspect of this - the Bathing Beauty Ballet, with cops chasing ladies in long bathing suits around Atlantic City - obviously doesn't come across on disc, there's still a lot to enjoy. Fabray's energetic "Papa, Won't You Dance With Me?" was the standard here. We also get Lee insisting "Can't You See Yourself In Love With Me?" to Dawson and Papa Longstreet (Jack Maculey) claiming "I Still Get Jealous." 

Though Judy Garland: Collector's Items 1936-1945 does feature songs from her movies, there's also quite a few numbers from her early career that aren't as associated with her today. She has fun with "Stompin' at the Savoy," wistfully performs "Oceans Apart," and does a surprisingly decent "Blues In the Night." Songs from her films here include "How 'Bout You," "Embraceable You," and "It's a Great Day for the Irish."

Dennis King was the go-to star for operetta on Broadway in the 20's and early 30's. It's a shame The Three Musketeers almost never turns up today. This 1928 version of the famous Dumas novel shows off King to best and most florid advantage with rousing songs like "My Sword and I" and "March of the Musketeers" and ballads like "Ma Belle." He was even better known for "Song of the Vagabonds" in The Vagabond King. He did Rose Marie in London, where he performed "The Mountie" and "Indian Love Call" with popular star Edith Day. 

Leave It to Jane goes even further back. It was one of the famous small-scale Broadway musicals that Jerome Kern wrote songs for back in 1917. This tale of the seductive miss of the title who tries to lure a football star from dear old Atwater is the ancestor of every musical set in academia, from Good News to High School Musical. This recording is from a popular off-Broadway revival in 1959. The title song may be the best known number from this one, though we also have "The Crickets are Calling" and the comic "Cleopatterer." 

Switched to Match Game Syndicated during dinner. Don Galloway, Holly Halstrom, and Bart Braverman returned this week. While Holly complained about her bare shoulders, Bart and Fannie Flagg flirted with a pair of attractive and single contestants. Bart was the one who got the lady he had his eye on up to the Star Wheel twice, though.

Finished the night back at the record player with the soundtrack from Encanto. This wasn't a huge hit when it came out, but it's now one of Disney's bigger success stories of the last few years. Lin Manuel Miranda crafted some lovely melodies here, and Stephanie Beatriz is a delight as Mirabel, the only non-talented sibling in a family full of magical talents. "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is probably the best-known song from this now. I also like Mirabel's "Waiting on a Miracle," her strong older sister explaining why she has to cave to "Surface Pressure," and her seemingly perfect flower-creating sister Isobel wondering "What Else Can I Do?"

The Eyes Don't Have It

Began the morning with breakfast and The Backyardigans. There were a lot of truly unique episodes in this series, but one of the most unusual is definitely "Samurai Pie." Austin learns to make pie the samurai way from Master baker Tyrone. They attempt to make The Great Pie for Empress Tasha while avoiding pie-snitching ninjas Pablo and Uniqua.

Headed out around quarter after 11. I had a few stops to make before my eye exam. Dropped a bag of clothes I no longer wanted in the bins behind Dollar General, then walked into Collingswood. Picked up four bagels at Kismet Bagels to have for lunch or dinner the rest of the week, as they wouldn't be open on my way back from Kresloff Eye Associates.

Had lunch at Cafe Antonio's about two blocks down from Kismet Bagels. They were relatively busy, but I ate up front, near the drink coolers. I had a slice of broccoli and tomato and a slice of chicken tomato basil. The latter was so thick, I couldn't finish it. Washed it down with a Diet Coke.

Kreslof Eye Associates is another two blocks down Haddon Avenue from Cafe Antonio's. For once, I was actually there over 15 minutes early. I had plenty of time to check my e-mail...and got a major disappointment when I did. The after-school program hadn't approved of my request for time off from September 22nd through the 26th for vacation! I figured they'd be ok with it because the school was closed one of those days for Rosh Hashanah, but they apparently want everyone there all month to settle the kids in. I was horrified. Lauren and I planned this for months. I had no idea how to tell her.

My eye exam itself went fairly well after all that. My left eye is slightly worse, but not bad enough to really worry about. My glasses themselves, however, needed to be replaced. The lenses are pretty scratched by now. They didn't have thinner wire frames I liked, so I ended up with thicker frames in a nifty blue-red swirl. With the extra-thick lenses, however, they cost $429...and that was with a heavy discount from my insurance! I paid it, but I wasn't happy.

There's a reason I walked there instead of taking the bike. My eyes were blurry and sensitive to light after being given eye drops to help them with my exam. I did manage to stop at The Candy Shop in Collingswood to try their gelato. Had the coffee chocolate chip. Yum. Crumbly, but cold and sweet, and more coffee than chip. 

The other reason I walked was the weather remains too gorgeous for rushing. It was sunny, bright, and blue, in the mid-80's without a hint of humidity. The shady green leaves in the park were especially nice and cool as I headed for the stone steps that led up to Clinton Avenue.

Put on Summer Holiday as soon as I got home. I go further into this charming 1963 British musical with then-popular rock star Cliff Richard at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Summer Holiday (1963)

Worked on Hilary and the Beasts while the movie was on. Hilary, Mackie, and her siblings gather two hours before midnight on New Year's Eve to make plans. C.J got another record from KDKA to record Pavla, while Maple intends to grab that last record from Eagle's office they hadn't heard yet. Betty comes downstairs, reading the book Bear gave her for Christmas. She knows who Bear is now, and that the stories they wrote were his way of telling her he was still in there. Maple realizes who Eagle is now, too...and Hilary's had a good idea all along who Troll was. She just never wanted to admit it to herself. Mackie insists on going along, even though he's terrified and is still recovering from the flu.

Watched Match Game Syndicated while eating dinner. Fred Travalena and his many (occasionally annoying) voices were spotlighted this week. Also joining in were gruff and deadpan Robert Donner, goofy and slightly ditzy Betty Kennedy (I have no problems believing she did Cheech and Chong movies), and Fannie Flagg.

Finished the night with the cast albums for two musicals that were either set in or played in jolly old England. I have no idea where The Prince and the Pauper came from or where it played, but it does have some nice music. This charming 1963 adaptation of the Mark Twain novel apparently gave John Davidson one of his earliest roles as the roguish Miles Hendon. It's the Prince (Carol Blodgett) and Pauper (Joan Shepherd) who get the most memorable songs, including "Garbage Court Round" in the opening, "Why Don't We Switch?", and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" with Davidson.

Pickwick, based on The Pickwick Papers, was a far bigger and better-known hit in London that same year. Comedian Harry Secombe became best-known for playing the wealthy businessman Samuel Pickwick who gets into major trouble around Christmas when he inadvertently makes his landlady believe she's married to him. Pickwick's declaration of what he'd do "If I Ruled the World" was the major hit here. Other good songs include the charming ensemble number "That's What I'd Like for Christmas" and lovely "Look Into Your Heart." Too bad this doesn't seem to have done nearly as well on this side of the pond, despite the tour introducing Davy Jones to American audiences. 

Summer Magic

Began the day with breakfast and Alice's Wonderland Bakery. Everything is "Mopsy-Turvy" when a recipe gone awry leaves such a horrible mess in Alice's kitchen, even the kids and the Card Guards can't get it clean. The Silver Queen of Looking Glass Land sends her adorable "mop dog." The kids and the Cheshire Cat think he's just playing, but when he does get things clean, Alice sees that even cleaning can be fun, and that there's more than one way to solve a problem. Fergie is excited about his 50-foot carrot and invites most of Wonderland over to help pull it out of the ground. When it turns out to not be nearly that big, Alice turns it into a "Jambalaya Jamboree" using the many other vegetables from his garden, and reminding him that the important thing is everyone is together, not how big the carrot turned out.

Headed out to run errands after the cartoon ended. I know there's a CVS a few blocks away on the edge of Oaklyn and Collingswood, but it didn't have the electric toothbrush heads I needed. The CVS on the corner of the White Horse Pike and King's Highway is so big, it was the Audubon Acme before that moved to its current location. Yes, I did find it there. Thought of getting a drink there too, but decided I'd wait on that. 

Since I wasn't far from Haddon Heights, I had lunch there. Most small stores and restaurants in Camden County are closed on Mondays. One of the few that remained open was the Local Links Cafe. They were busy, too, maybe because it was past 12:30 at this point. I had three crispy tacos stuffed with yummy grilled chicken, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes and "The Clarity," a smoothie made from apples, oats, cinnamon, honey, and milk. I think they overdid the cinnamon, and the oats do make their smoothies grainy. Otherwise, it was tasty, cold, and wet, which is what I wanted after the long ride.

Made a brief stop at John's Friendly Market next. They're the only other place I've seen 20-ounce bottles of Fresca in Camden County besides the Westmont Acme. Got a Cherry Coke Zero and a bag of locally-made ricotta cookies with icing and sprinkles, too. (I had the cookies for dessert later. They were really yummy, super-soft and just sweet enough.)

Spent the next hour riding back towards Audubon, or trying to. I kept getting lost. I thought I crossed King's Highway, but...somehow, I ended up looping back to Haddon Lake Park. I thought following the path through Haddon Lake Park might be a better idea, but I didn't realize how treacherous that path was. The dirt path at one point was mainly dirt and roots running closely along a stream, with the roots forming steep steps. I carefully manipulated my bike over the roots, eventually ending up behind the stage and amphitheater used for children's shows and local concerts in the summer. 

It also led me back to King's Highway. This time, I followed the concrete path at Haddon Lake Park until I got further down Audubon. Finally made my way back to Market Street, and then over the train bridge and into Oaklyn. Stopped at WaWa for a much-needed frozen chai. (Sweet, but not too bad.) 

At least the weather was perfect for a long bike ride. It was sunny, windy, and probably in the mid-80's. Warmer and slightly more humid than last week, but nowhere near what it's been all summer. No wonder I was far from the only person eating outside at Local Links and I saw tons of families out for walks and kids riding bikes. It was too nice to be doing much of anything else.

Took my laundry downstairs when I got home, then went straight into working on Hilary and the Beasts. Hilary confronts Pavla backstage at the Nixon Theater in Pittsburgh after her last performance of The Rivals. Pavla finally admits that yes, she attacked Jeff, Scott, and Victor because they uncovered her involvement with some unsavory groups in Europe. They'd already found out about her having cursed other men into monsters. Scott didn't believe it...but he became the first one she attacked after she found out that he was the one breaking the codes. Jeff was her ticket to wealth, a beautiful home, and better acting roles in the US...and when he and the others threatened her with taking their discoveries to the authorities, she lashed out.

Pavla manages to corner Hilary and is about to turn her into a kitten when C.J emerges from the wings and reveals he recorded her entire confession on disc. Betty and Doug run over with the two FBI agents, who have been suspicious of her for years, but had no proof. Pavla does manage to escape and vanish, but Hilary is ready for her now. Not only does Betty finally know who Bear is, but Hilary has a pretty good idea of what happened to Jeff and the others. She, Doug, and her siblings convince the FBI agents to come to Troll's mansion at midnight on New Year's Eve to get the information they want...and take down Pavla for good.

Listened to two versions of Disney's Beauty and the Beast and some lesser-known Disney while I worked. I've loved the animated film since my family saw it in the theater when it debuted in November 1991. It received the first standing ovation I ever saw live, and it remains worthy of that today. Rose, Mom, and I were particularly big fans. We've all felt like Belle at one time or another, out of place and too smart and well-read for small communities. I had to have the soundtrack, which I think I might have gotten for Christmas or sometime in 1993. I finally replaced it with the CD version over a decade ago. Most people prefer the title song, but I like the ensemble numbers - "Belle," the hilarious "Gaston," the sweet "Something There."

Mom and my sisters and I were far from the only people who loved Beast. It went over so well, Disney adapted it as its first venture on Broadway in 1994. It was an even bigger hit there, running until 2007 and opening in the West End as well. It uses all of the songs from the original show, with several more written by Tim Rice added. Of the additional songs, a dark ballad for the Beast, "If I Can't Love Her," is my favorite, along with the expanded "Something There" that shows Belle teaching the Beast how to read. 

One of my favorite finds from Innergroove Records is a British collection of songs from Disney movies. Not just the animated ones, either. The 1977 vintage means more than half the songs on 40 Walt Disney Originals are from live-action movies released in the 50's and 60's. There's "Eglantine," "The Old Home Guard," and "Portobello Road" from Bedknobs and Broomsticks, the title song and "The Ugly Bug Ball" from Summer Magic, "Feed the Birds" and "Step In Time" from Mary Poppins, "Are We Dancing" and "Fortuosity" from Happiest Millionaire, "For Now, For Always (Maggie's Theme)" from the original The Parent Trap, and a sweet uptempo ballad from Annette Funicello, "Dream Boy." Songs from animated and hybrid films included "Rescue Aid Society" and "Tomorrow Is Another Day" from The Rescuers, "Love Is a Song" from Bambi, and "Stick-It-Tivity," "County Fair," and "It's Whatcha Do With Whatcha Got" from So Dear to My Heart. 

Watched Match Game Syndicated during dinner and while I finally brought my laundry upstairs. Jamie Lee Curtis and Richard Paul joined in for this week. Gene got so into his lectures to the contestants, most of the panelists walked off-stage. Richard took a nap, and Jamie looked close to doing the same. Charles joked twice about throwing away any other attempts by Gene to play professor.

Finished the night with game shows hosted by Dennis James, whose birthday would have been last week. James goes back so far with game shows and television, he hosted the very first network game show, the shopping-themed Cash and Carry on DuMont, in 1946. Unfortunately, that means that the vast majority of his work is lost to time. I did manage to dig up episodes of the 1955 talent show Chance of a Lifetime where he was the host and primary judge and the hit Stop the Music from 1956, where he shared hosting duties with Bert Parks. He also briefly took over The Name's the Same in 1954 when Robert Q. Lewis left and they revamped the show.  

He had more luck in the 60's with the syndicated PDQ. Two contestants rearrange letters for a celebrity, who has to guess what the word or phrase is from the letters used. The fewer letters used, the more points you got. The bonus round had the winner guessing a series of words from three letters. Sammy Kaye and Giselle MacKenzie were the celebrities. This later got a brief revival as Baffle, and I'm surprised no one has tried this format again. This is a lot of fun to play along with, even if watching those poor contestants running around, forming words and trying to get people to guess, can be exhausting. 

James' last network hosting gig was the daytime Name That Tune in 1974. This one was played a bit differently from the more popular nighttime Tom Kennedy show. The contestants came from the audience, and it started with one contestant grabbing money from a metal "tree." The longer a contestant took to name songs, the more the other contestant could grab. It also meant that the contestant had to grab the same amount, or lose the round. The other rounds proceeded pretty much as the nighttime version did. Ok, the money tree thing is just weird, but otherwise, this doesn't seem to be that bad. I'm guessing the market was just saturated by 1974-1975. It would run until 1981 in syndication, but couldn't make a year on NBC.

He'd been the original choice for the host of The New Price Is Right before that gig went to Bob Barker. He did end up hosting its nighttime version for five years, from 1972 through 1977. This basically plays the same as the original half-hour Price from 1972 through 1975. Three contestants play pricing games. The two biggest winners come back for the Showcases in the end. Once again, this isn't bad, but James, who frequently sounds like a racetrack tout at the best of times, can be grating. (It's also said that this version doesn't turn up as often because fur coats were frequently offered as prizes. Indeed, one is a major prize in the early 1972 episode I have here.)

Travel far back into game show history and explore the varied career of the very first TV game show host ever with these rare episodes!

The Name's the Same (1955)

Chance of a Lifetime (1955)

Stop the Music (1955)

PDQ Pilot (1965)

The New Price Is Right Nighttime (1972)

Name That Tune (1974)

Schools and Matches

Got a quick start this morning with breakfast and one of my Classic Disney collection CDs. I had a cassette version of this in the early 2000's. There's a lot of songs here that you certainly wouldn't expect to turn up in a Disney music collection today, like the comic numbers "One Last Hope" from Hercules and "A Guy Like You" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, "Femininity" and "Enjoy It!" from the live-action Haley Mills vehicles Summer Magic and In Search of the Castaways, and even the 30's Depression cheer-up ditty parody "Although I Dropped a $100,000 In the Market" from the half-hour special A Symposium On Popular Songs. I love the hilarious chorus number "On the Open Road" from A Goofy Movie and three lovely ballads from animal-themed films, "Love" from Robin Hood, "Looking for Romance (I Bring You a Song)" from Bambi, and "Baby Mine" from Dumbo. 

Hurried off to work before the CD even ended. I just barely made it in time. That was the worst thing that happened all day. I did have to sweep once around 1 when the morning bagger left and before the afternoon bagger arrived. Other than that, I was outside all day, pushing carts. We weren't really that busy for a Sunday, either. The weather wasn't great, but it wasn't bad, either, windy, humid, warmer, and a bit cloudy. Most people are probably at the Shore or waiting for next weekend to go shopping.

After I got home, I took a shower, grabbed dinner, and spent the rest of the night watching the Match Game marathon on YouTube. Teachers turned up fairly frequently as contestants on Match Game. Ron Valenti, the handsome fellow who turned Fannie Flagg's head, was a phys-ed teacher. So was Greg, the poor guy whose innocent "school" answer sparked the infamous School Riot in 1977. Jimmie Walker eyed a pretty, round school teacher during his debut in 1974. 

Other times, "school" came up as part of an Audience Match or an answer. The School Riot was the most infamous instance of this. "School ___" was on an Audience Match at least once. Other times, there would be references to schools, students, or resources. Charles Nelson Reilly, himself a noted acting teacher, frequently mentioned teachers and once defended how underpaid they were. (Two of his former students, Gary Burghoff and Robert Walden, were even semi-regulars.)

Go back to school with Match Game in this marathon that's a riot of hilarity!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Back to School Marathon

Fast Times at the Farm Market

Began the day with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. "Prince Pete's Catnap" is a take on "The Princess and the Pea." Prince Pete can't sleep, no matter how much he tries. Mickey and the others do everything they can think of to send him off to dream land, from singing lullabies to giving him 15 pillows to make his chair more comfortable. Turns out there's something more than fluff in Pete's chair, and Pete won't sleep until Mickey and his friends find a better place for it.

I just barely had enough time to rush out and head to the Collingswood Farm Market. They were starting to close as I arrived. The summer produce is at its zenith now. Blueberries are gone, but I saw eggplant, summer squash, melons, Chinese beans, grapes, apples, and every variation on tomatoes you could possibly imagine. I had just enough time to grab plums, small Gala apples, grapes, and raspberries before rushing home.

Had a quick lunch while watching What's New, Scooby Doo? The gang ends up at a "Fright House of a Lighthouse" in Wisconsin when local ships can't get through and Fred's uncle has to close his cheese store. Velma is more concerned about obnoxious Verona Dempsey, another store owner who keeps finding clues about the ghosts of a haunted lighthouse keeper and the lost ship The Dauntless before Velma does.

Ran to work shortly after the cartoon ended. Got there just in time...which was a moot point. We weren't really that busy. It was too nice for anyone to be shopping! The weather remains perfect, sunny, windy, dry, and in the lower 80's. Couldn't be nicer for late August. I swept floors, pushed carts, and put cold items away. I did have a hard time keeping up with the carts early on, but it was easier as the night went on. 

When I got home, I changed, had dinner, and went straight into tonight's Match Game marathon. This time, we jumped back a year to explore some of the most famous winners in 1974. The year kicked off with the almost frighteningly energetic Dorothy Zinni. Though she never attacked Gene the way some other overly excited contestants did, she did jump around in her seat so much, she accidentally hit the laid-back contestant next to her. Even Richard Dawson was afraid to get near her.

Marlena was another excitable contestant who turned up the week after Dorothy. This time, it was her screams and her baby voice that really scared people. She got so excited when Morey Amsterdam won her the Head-to-Head, she lost her shoe when she went to thank him.

CB Farnsworth was a long, lean police officer who won big money mid-way through the year. He was a sweet and charming fellow with a big, hearty handshake...a little too hearty for Richard, who shook his hand out every time he helped him with the Head-to-Head. Charles and Richard even performed their own song for him, basically trying to avoid getting tickets from the tall gentleman.

The year's biggest winner was sweet, adorable Janet Finn. She won for almost two weeks and would go home with over 18,000. She started out on the week with Dr. Joyce Brothers and Greg Morris, but she really picked up steam when Donald Ross appeared with his wife Patti Deusch. She mostly kept going to Charles for her Head-to-Head, which worked well almost all of the time (but one). The others were more concerned about Donald's matching psychedelic ties and shirts and the violently plaid coats worn by another contestant.

Get to know the big winners of '74 in this hilarious and energetic marathon!

Match Game Saturday Classics - Match Game '74: Best All Time Winners and Contestants

Finished the night with The Emperor's New Clothes from 1967 at YouTube. I go further into the funniest Prince Street Players musical yet at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Family Fun Saturday - The Emperor's New Clothes (1967)

And speaking of The Emperor's New Clothes, that's the basis behind my newest Remember WENN fairy tale idea. The wrap-around is set shortly after "Some Time, Some Station." Scott and Victor may not always agree on how to run a station, but they do wish Pruitt had caused a heck of a lot less trouble. They imagine themselves as the con-men with the invisible cloth who pull the non-existent wool over the eyes of extravagant emperor Pruitt. 

He's not only taxed his own kingdom into near-poverty to pay for his lavish wardrobe, but has annexed several local kingdoms and taxed them as well. Mackie was the ruler of one of those kingdoms, but after Pruitt took over his land and reduced them to poverty. He and his daughters Betty and Maple are so poor, they end up working in Pruitt's kitchens. They and Hilary and Jeff, nobles who have also been reduced in circumstances by Pruitt's taxes, are more than willing to help show this emperor the truth - that there's more to life than money and dressing the part. 

Adventures In Old City

Began the morning with breakfast and Alice's Wonderland Bakery. "Hats and Hares" brings in the Mad Hatter and March Hare to design a hat for the Hearts Family portrait. Hattie worries that their design might be too over-the-top, but in Wonderland, over-the-top is more than enough. After Alice hears a flower sing a "Forget-Me-Now" song, she can't remember her recipes! The other kids, and eventually, everyone in Wonderland, do their best to help her remember.

Hurried out around 11:20. I thought that would be more than enough time to catch the 11:46 to Atlantic City, especially since the Uber driver took less than a minute to arrive. I forgot today is Friday, and everyone would be going to the Shore. Traffic was terrible on the White Horse Pike. It was 11:45 when he let me out at Lindenwauld...and just as I dashed for the train platform, a very disgruntled older woman told me the train had been canceled.

Well, that changed things. Now I didn't have to rush quite so much. I'd originally planned on going to Atlantic City this week and going into Philly next week. Since I was at Lindenwauld and the PATCO was also there, I'd just reverse the plan and do Philly today. Besides, it was too nice of a day to go right home. It was sunny, breezy, and blue, lower 80's without the slightest hint of humidity. It would have been a crime not to do something special in such glorious weather!

I originally wanted to check out some record stores in the northern Philly suburbs, but I came to the conclusion the trip would have been too long for the time I had. Got off at the new, very clean Franklin Square station. I've been gazing into the tiled hole that is the Franklin Square station since I moved here and wondered what it was like. Well, it's...cool, really. Maybe they should install tiles on all the underground train stations. It gives Franklin Square a retro vibe that's really neat. The entrance is glassed-in and huge, a far cry from the red wrought-iron entrances or 8th Street being buried under the Fashion District Mall.

Since the entrance was less than a block from the station, I decided to check out Franklin Square itself. It was awesome. The sparkling, merrily leaping fountain and gorgeous old carousel more than made up for not getting to Atlantic City. Everything was surrounded by enormous Technicolor Chinese lantern-statues in brilliant sky blue, vibrant grass green, and sun yellow. The Square's website says you need a ticket to get in at night, but apparently during the day, you can just walk right in. I felt like I'd climbed into the Kingdom of the Clouds in C.J and the Beanstalk. Passed by a mini-golf course, a stage, and a full playground.

The carousel is really cool. In addition to the usual horses trimmed with flowers, there's two racehorses named for famous race horses from Philly and all sorts of animals. I saw a little boy near me riding a dragon, and inspecting the carousel later revealed a cat holding a fish in its mouth, a seal, a zebra, a lion, and a bald eagle. I could only get on a horse, but the ride was still really fun. There were even pictures of Philly's skyline painted on the tent.

Considered eating lunch there, but ultimately decided to move on. Followed Race Street into the heart of Old City, past the offices and studios for the Philly PBS station WHYY and the African American Museum. Stopped and had lunch at the Race Street Cafe. They're actually more of a local bar, with brick walls and windows opening to the sidewalk and street. I had a delicious, if spicy, fried tilapia wrap with ketchup, Chipolte mayo, and guacamole, along with long, slender, salty fries. Crunchy, spicy and very yummy.

Turned the corner to 2nd Street, heading to the Book Trader...but I couldn't resist a window with giant paper-mache Muppets. The creatively named A Four Foot Prune was an antique store specializing in toy collectibles and housewares, and yes, that includes Muppet collectibles. I didn't have the money or room for more toys, but I did find two records.

Merry Christmas From Sesame Street (Includes "Keep Christmas With You")

Judy Garland - Collector's Items (1936 - 1945)

My next stop was just a few blocks down 2nd Avenue on Quarry Street. The Book Trader is one of two used book store in downtown Philly that I absolutely adore. Like Mostly Books on Bainbridge Street, it looks deceptively small from the outside...but the inside is nothing but rows and more narrow rows of books on every topic imaginable. CDs, DVDs, and videos are displayed up front, but records have their own room upstairs. Despite them being incredibly busy, I actually did much better here than I did in mid-March. Found nine records: 

Joan Morris and William Bolcom - Vaudeville: Songs of the Great Ladies of the Musical Stage (I believe the Stockton College Media Center had this for some reason in the late 90's-early 2000's. Used to listen to it all the time there.)

British cast albums for Pickwick and The Prince and the Pauper

Soundtrack for The Night They Raided Minksy's

Off-Broadway revival cast for Leave It to Jane

Original Broadway cast for High Button Shoes (I have this, but the copy I found at Goodwill two years ago is in dreadful shape, heavily scratched and with a disintegrating cover.) 

Dennis King - Selections from Rudolf Friml's The Three Musketeers (There's songs from The Vagabond King and Rose Marie here, too, but...while those two do turn up from time to time, I have never, ever seen a recording of anything from Friml's Three Musketeers anywhere.) 

One CD:

Bette Midler - It's the Girls

And four books: 

Mercedes Lackey - Phoenix and Ashes (In hardcover!) I've looked for this one for ages, but the only place I ever saw it was the Haddon Township Library and Amazon.

Nekesa Afria - Harlem Sunset

Angela M. Sanders - Seven Year Witch and Bait and Witch

After I left the Book Trader, I headed down 2nd Street and turned down an alley. I saw a sign for a coffee shop. Found it just a few doors down. They were whitewashed and more modern, but their oat milk matcha latte wasn't bad. Actually, I was really there to use the bathroom (the Race Street Cafe didn't have a public one). Explored the outside of the Christ Church too. Their bell dates back to 1704, before even the Liberty Bell.

I'd been checking Google Maps all day to keep on track. I did get turned around here...but unlike when I got lost in March, I ended up in an attractive neighborhood of lovely old brick homes, more square parks, and newer apartment buildings shaded by sun-dappled trees. By the time I finally got back to Race Street, I was tired and carrying heavy records. Besides, I couldn't have gone back to Franklin Square, even if I wanted to. There were now security guards at the door, and I didn't have tickets for the Lantern Festival. I headed for the station instead and took a surprisingly empty train back to Collingswood.

I was so tired when I got in, I decided I wasn't up to walking home and called Uber. Unfortunately, I didn't read the app right about where to pick up my ride. I thought they'd see me on the corner across from the station. They picked up in front of it, and I totally missed the first driver. Thankfully, the second came in four minutes, and I got the idea this time. Ran over to catch him and got home in less than five.

Got my schedule when I came in. It's...pretty much the same as this week, with earlier hours on Sunday. The only surprise is I didn't get more hours next Saturday. In fact, I work later again, which means I'll be able to go to the Collingswood Farm Market again.

Worked on Hilary and the Beasts next. The day after Christmas, Doug Thompson arrives with gifts. His present to Hilary? Tickets to The Rivals. Not only is Pavla laying claim to the mansion, but she's about to blow town. She got a role in New York and is leaving the show. It's now or never if Hilary wants to confront her about Jeff vanishing. C.J will be backstage with her. Betty and Doug will be in the audience; Maple will stay home to take care of Mackie. Mackie's worried about his daughter, but Hilary assures him she can take care of herself.

Listened to The Night They Raided Minsky's while I worked. This goofy comedy about the invention of the striptease is a semi-musical with songs by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. Although Rudy Vallee has fun with "Take 10 Terrific Girls," the real highlight is Norman Wisdom and Jason Robards attempting to be "Perfect Gentlemen." 

Switched to Match Game Syndicated during dinner. Comedienne Louise Sorrel joined in for a truncated week (one episode is missing). They had more trouble dealing with contestants who just couldn't match and Bill Daily's strange answers.

Finished the night after a shower with Vaudeville: Songs of the Great Ladies of the Musical Stage. Morris performs songs from some of the earliest female vaudeville headliners. The oldest was "In the Baggage Coach Ahead," one of the earliest hits by a black composer. The most recent was "Smiles," a signature song of Elsie Janis, the Sweetheart of the RAF, during World War I. Others included "I Don't Care," "Shine On Harvest Moon," "The Yama Yama Man," and "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now." 

One Alone

Began the morning with breakfast and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Adora is told to create the "Ties That Bind" with her horse Swift Wing as they restore The Watchtower, a First Ones relay station destroyed by the first She-Ra. Swift Wing's constant chatter annoys Adora at first, until she finally admits what she's really afraid of. Meanwhile, Glimmer and Bow capture Catra, then really regret it when all she does is annoy them and tell them that Entrapra is working for the Horde willingly.

Spent the rest of the morning watching the 1955 TV version of The Desert Song. I go further into this retelling of the sword-and-sand operetta with Nelson Eddy at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Musicals On TV - The Desert Song (1955)

Watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse during lunch. Daisy gets her Indiana Jones on to search for "The Golden Boo Boo" during Adventure Day at the Clubhouse. She and Mickey have to collect puzzle pieces from some very shady characters, including Mysterious Minnie and Safari Pete, before they can find where the golden chicken statue is hidden.

Hurried out for my appointment at South Jersey Radiology after Mickey ended. This time, I left early enough that I was only three minutes late. Checking my lower stomach went a lot better than my visit to the gynecologist did. In fact, the lady rubbing my stomach for the ultrasound, other than her pushing hard in some spots, felt more like she was giving me a really expensive massage. I was in and out in about a half-hour.

Since I was already nearby, I headed to the Westmont Acme after my appointment. I mainly needed yogurt, granola bars, and soda here. Kind was having really good sales. Got two containers of granola this time (Nature Valley was the good sale here). Treated myself to chocolate chip sandwich cookies from the bakery.

I needed even less at Sprouts. Just restocked coconut milk and sparkling water here, along with peanut butter cookies off the clearance rack. Dried cranberries in the bulk section were on a good sale. Everyone must either be on vacation or taking advantage of a cool, gloomy day to be elsewhere. Neither store was remotely busy or had anything resembling lines.

Went straight home and into working on Hilary and the Beasts. Hilary talks to Mackie on Christmas morning while Betty makes breakfast and C.J and Maple exclaim over their gifts. Mackie asks Hilary about the pressed rose bookmark he made her. She tells him about Troll and his love of roses. He's more concerned about her wanting to confront Pavla at the Nixon. He's heard that she's a black witch who uses her magic on those who get in her way. Hilary assures her father that she can take care of herself, and she wants to find out once and for all what happened to Jeff and the guys.

Listened to The Music Man while I worked. I went with the original cast from 1957, with Robert Preston as con-man Professor Harold Hill and Barbara Cook as Marian the Librarian. Though I actually like Preston better in the 1962 film, Cook is a radiant Marian here. In fact, this would finally make her a star after years of her appearing in supporting roles. Her "My White Knight" and "Till There Was You" are especially lovely. 

Switched to Match Game Syndicated during dinner. The episodes I saw is their Game Show Hosts week, where all the panelists but Brett either had been game show hosts (Bill Cullen, Dick Martin, Peter Marshall) or would be eventually (Elaine Joyce, Betty White). This was also the week Elaine and Betty got to admire a handsome young man from Alaska who had worked on the pipelines up there.

Watched more of the Storybook International episodes on Tubi after dinner. "The Solider Who Didn't Wash" is "Bearskin" without the bearskin and transported to Russia. Here, it's a Russian soldier who makes a deal with the devil to get money, and the Czar who offers the dirty soldier his daughter if he'll give him some. "The Well at the World's End" is a Scottish cross between "The Frog Prince" and "Valiska the Fair." The young woman who must gather water from the title well in a sieve gets advice on how to pull it off from a toad who insists on going home with her.

Finished the night with more of The Desert Song. My favorite version I have on record is the British Angel studio album from the 1950's. In addition to Edmund Hockeridge making an especially macho Red Shadow, we get a delightful Bruce Forsyth in two rare recordings of comedy numbers from this show, "It" and "One Good Boy Gone Wrong." 

Cool, Cool Summer

Got a very quick start today with breakfast and a black-and-white Mickey Mouse short. Mickey, Minnie, Clarabelle, Goofy, and Horace are "Camping Out." When Horace hurts one little mosquito, they all end up attacking the gang. Mickey and the others use every bit of camping tool they have at their disposal to eliminate these pests.

It was raining when I got up this morning, and looked like it had been raining all night. Even though it was down to a heavy mist by the time I went to work, this was no day for bike rides. I called Uber. The one going there had to dodge road work on Nicholson Road. For some reason, instead of following the detour signs, they went all the way around to the Black Horse Pike. I barely got there on time. Thankfully, the road work had ended by 1:30, allowing the driver to take me home the usual way down Nicholson with no trouble.

Truth be told, I probably could have been infinitely late. We were dead the entire morning. The rain and cold weather must have cleared out our customers. Not to mention, it's the middle of the week and the middle of the only month with no major holidays or anything going on. The mist stopped within a half-hour of my arrival, but it started up again when I left and has been off-and-on ever since. No trouble whatsoever. I barely had carts to gather.

Since I needed to pick up those prescriptions the gynecologist gave me yesterday, I grabbed a few other things while I waited. The Acme is having an online buy two, get one free sale on the "lunch packs," plastic containers with tuna or egg salad, grapes, crackers, and cubed cheeses. I got one with egg salad and one with tuna, along with a pack of sliced fruit. (The peaches and nectarines I bought last week went bad rather quickly.) Picked up huge s'mores cookies from the bakery clearance racks, too. 

After I got home, I watched Paw Patrol while having lunch and taking my new medications. "Pups Save the Space Alien" whose ship crash-landed at Farmer Yumi's farm, when they can get around his bubbles that leave cows and pups in mid-air. Marshall's excited about entering his frog in the jumping frog contest, but when his slimy friend ends up in Skye's airplane, "Pups Save a Flying Frog" and gets him to the competition on time.

Spent the rest of the afternoon napping. I've had a long couple of months, and I've been up way beyond too late recently, writing ideas and working on stories. I went down around quarter after 2 and emerged at 4:30, slightly more refreshed.

Worked on Hilary and the Beasts after that. Hilary and her sisters depart that very night, with Betty and Maple swearing to Bear and Eagle that they will return before the end of the week. They arrive at home to find Mackie laying on the couch in the living room, sick with the flu. Hilary bustles around, insisting on making chicken soup and hot lemon tea. Mackie asks her how she escaped the monster...and in spite of herself, even though she's frustrated with Troll's behavior, she defends him as far from a monster.

Listened to records while I worked. One of the stars I recognized on Celebrity Squares was Barbara Windsor, who was hilarious as Hortense, the French maid, in the 1971 Ken Russell The Boy Friend. She can be heard attempting her (bad) French accent in "Perfect Young Ladies" and leading the ensemble in "Sur La Plage," and even gets a number to herself, "It's Nicer In Nice." Twiggy was the actual star, and she's just as enchanting, especially in the charming "I Could Be Happy With You" and wistful "All I Do Is Dream of You."

While the show doesn't seem to be online, I love the soundtrack from The Roaring 20's. Dorothy Provine leads a female chorus through songs associated with the Era of Wonderful Nonsense, including such lesser-known hits of the time as "Crazy Words - Crazy Tune," "Doin' the Raccoon," and "When the Pussywillow Whispers to the Catnip." (Provine's success with this album seems to have made her the go-to lady for songs from the early 20th century during the 60's. I have an album of her singing numbers from the 1910's as well.)

Watched Match Game Syndication during dinner. They started off with the week featuring one of the least-likely male ingenues. Hulking "Jaws" Richard Kiel broke several "big guy" stereotypes by being a genuinely nice guy with a family who played pretty well. The fact that he appeared on the same week as diminutive Paul Williams came in for quite a bit of ribbing as well. Tough-guy Scoey Mitchell, giggly Dolly Martin, and flirtatious Debralee Scott were on the next week.

Had a Bad Day

Began the morning with a phone call. The loan officer finally caught me when I was at home...and he didn't have good news. I'd have to save for two years to be able to buy a condo the way prices are now. I don't want to wait another two years! I've already lived here for three. I was so disappointed. I think I'll focus on finding a better job than the Acme once I get back from vacation next month and see if I can build up a little more money, then check back with PNC in the late winter or early spring.

Cheered myself off by finishing out the second season of What's New, Scooby Doo? on Tubi. "It's All Greek to Scooby" when the gang is on vacation in Athens. Shaggy purchases an amulet, which seemingly brings out a centaur who keeps pursuing him. Velma thinks there's something much deeper going on...but for once, the person under the mask is far from whom she expects.

I hurried out shortly after the episode ended. Took my bike, but I ran into traffic on Cuthbert and ended up being 15 minutes late to my gynecologist appointment. Fortunately, it was in the same building as South Jersey Radiology on the border of Haddonfield and Westmont, just on the second floor over the Radiology offices.

I'm not going to go into details, because it's icky and personal, but...I'm not happy at all. I ended up having to go downstairs to Radiology and make another appointment for Tuesday. I have to get pills from the Acme, too, likely for something caused by my perimenopause. I left the building feeling even worse than I had before.

I needed to try something new. Kismet Bagels and Luncheonette opened in Collingswood a few weeks ago, replacing the juice restaurant. They turned out to be a cross between a bakery and a sandwich shop. I had a turkey and tomato sandwich on a sea-salt rosemary bagel with garlic and herb "schmear" (aka cream cheese spread). Yum! Very messy due to a ton of "schmear," but very tasty. The bagel was perfectly crusty and salty.

Went back to Westmont to try another new restaurant that also comes from Philly. Scoop DeVille replaced the Rita's Water Ice in the cool glass building two blocks from Primo's. The contrast couldn't be more obvious. Everything about Scoop is local, from Philly-based names to frozen yogurt and vegan ice cream joining regular hand-made scoops. I ended up with a PB and J Shake that did, indeed, taste like peanut butter and strawberry jam.

Took the long way home across Westmont and Newton Lake Park. It was too nice not to! It was still cloudy and humid when I headed out, but by the time I was gulping my foamy peanut butter shake at a pastel table in front of Scoop DeVille, the day had turned gorgeous, windy and cool, likely in the 70's. I pushed my bike over the path on the hill in the park, enjoying the quiet and the wind blowing through the deep green leaves.

Headed straight home after that and into Remember WENN to make myself feel better after my bad day. "Scott Sherwood of the FBI" is also having a rough time. Station manager Scott's (Kevin O'Rourke) beloved Aunt Agatha (Jan Miner) turns up at the station, believing her con-artist of a nephew to be the head of the FBI. He and writer Betty Roberts (Amanda Naughton) play along, until what seems like a real agent turns up at the station, and Agatha reveals she knew darn well all along what Scott was up to.

Moved to The Chocolate Soldier after WENN ended. I go further in the 1955 TV version of the Strauss operetta with Eddie Albert as the candy-loving title character and Rise Stevens as the lady whose room he hides in at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Musicals On TV - The Chocolate Soldier (1955)

Listened to Steel Pier next. This 1997 musical was a huge deal in South Jersey when it opened. The Press of Atlantic City did extensive articles on its trip to Broadway. There was so much hype around it in the real Atlantic City, I had to hear it. It's...ok. A dancer (Karen Ziemba) partners with a mysterious pilot in an Atlantic City dance marathon in 1933, only to discover he only has two weeks left on this earth. Yeah, the plot is way too much. Either a ghost story or a dance marathon would have been more than enough for any musical. There are some good songs. Ziemba's opening "Willing to Ride" is a great "I Want" number. Debra Monk scores with the ribald "Everyone's Girl," while Kristin Chenowith got some of her earliest exposure with "Two Little Words."

Worked on Hilary and the Beasts for most of the afternoon. Hilary is shocked when Troll turns up in the tuxedo Jeff wore in the Dreamscape. She's about ready to agree to his marriage proposal, especially as they all dance at the party held in the ballroom. It's all going very well...until Hilary gets a phone call from home. Mackie's sick, and C.J doesn't know what to do. Hilary insists on the ladies going home to take care of their father, enraging Troll. Heartbroken Bear gives Betty the story he wrote for her, then defies Troll, insisting on going to the library to write instead of the kitchen. 

Watched Match Game Syndicated during dinner. Sweetly goofy Eva Gabor and snarky Bart Braverman joined in for these episodes. We also got quite a bit of teasing Betty White about a "naughty little kid" question that involved hurting animals.

Finished out the night with another cast album, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, as I finished off Beasts and worked on the Chocolate Soldier review. Rupert Holmes, the creator of Remember WENN, had his biggest Broadway hit to date with this interactive show that debuted in 1985. Played as an English music hall performance, this version of Charles Dickens' unfinished novel allows the audience to choose which ending they want to see. All three endings are included on the original cast album I have. 

Take a Little One Step

Started off the day with Alice's Wonderland Bakery. Poor Rosa gets involved with "Two Many Teas" when she's invited to a wacky tea party with Hattie, the Mad Hatter, and the March Hare and a formal tea party with her mother and the Silver Queen. She tries to attend both, only to leave the cream she needs for the formal tea at the Hatter's home. She eventually realizes she should have discussed the whole thing with her mother and explained the problem. Alice loves making surprise goodies for her friends' Favorite Things Seaside Tea, but when the fashion designer March Hare joins in, Alice has a harder time figuring out "A Tailored Treat" for him.

After I called the housing loan broker and left a message, I went to head out...and stepped right back in when I realized rain was coming down in a steady clip. Spent the next hour doing things online and listening to the original cast album for No, No Nanette. The 1971 revival of the seminal 1925 musical was a blockbuster hit in its own right, bringing 20's fashions and fads back into the limelight and giving Ruby Keeler one last chance at glory. 

In fact, for all the fun dance routines like "Tea for Two" and Keeler's adorable "Take a Little One Step," my favorite number is a song for Keeler and Jack Gilford as her husband with three ladies on the side. "Only a Moment Ago" was either written for the show and dropped, or pulled out of the trunk and cut right before opening. Either way, though it likely did slow down the first act, on disc it's a charming reminiscence that reminds us why nostalgia is so important for many people. 

The rain finally ended by 12:30, giving me the chance to head out on my bike. My first stop was the Audubon Goodwill. I had another bag of donations to drop off in the back. After that, I went around the front to the store. I considered records, but ultimately ended up with two books. My family owned Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever for years. For all I know, Mom or one of my sisters may still have our old copy somewhere. And this copy was brand-new and in perfect condition, with the only difference from Mom's copy being a glossy yellow cover instead of a rough pink one. I also found The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna. 

Headed up the Black Horse Pike to the Black Horse Diner for lunch. I wasn't in the mood for Asian or stuffing myself on a buffet, I just had pizza not long ago, and I try to stay away from fast food. Ended up having a very tasty, if very messy, roast beef panini with Swiss cheese, tomatoes, and horseradish. Whew! That horseradish was strong stuff. It cleared my sinuses. The cakes in the display looked so tempting, I had a slice of carrot cake, too. It was wonderful, but too rich to finish.

I took the long way home across Audubon to avoid the traffic on the Pike and work off that cake. At least it wasn't a bad day for a long ride. While still gloomy and killer humid, it was at least much cooler, probably in the mid-70's. I went past Haddon Lake Park and Audubon High School to the train bridge, then went into a quiet Oaklyn. I saw kids riding around on their bike, but not much of anyone else. Most small local businesses are closed on Monday (which is why I did Goodwill today to begin with). 

When I got home, I went straight into Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man. Here, the two are newly-minted private eyes whose first case is finding out who set up boxer Tommy Nelson (Arthur Franz) and got him sent to prison for killing his manager. He insists on being injected with an invisibility serum to help the guys figure out who did it...but him getting drunk and the effects of the serum on his mind don't help the situation. Tommy insists that he wouldn't throw a fight between him and Rocky Hanlon (John Daheim), and Morgan (Sheldon Leonard) had his manager beaten to death and him framed. He helps Lou knock out Hanlon and arranges a fight. Lou might not live to get in the ring when Morgan and his goons go after him and Bud, and then when he tries to buy him off.

This was surprisingly fun, more on the lines of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. The invisibility made for a lot of great gags, and Lou in particular had a great time with the boxing satire. Look for Leonard as the head gangster who cause the trouble and Adele Jergens as his tough-as-nails girlfriend Boots Malone, too.

Worked on Hilary and the Beasts for most of the afternoon after I got in. Puppy (Enid) help Hilary, Maple, and Betty find gowns in the mansion's attic. They emerge in lacy Victorian splendor, a riot of velvet, silk, and high ruffled collars. They even find a black velvet maid's gown for Mrs. Fox (Gertie) and a cranberry red girl's dress for Enid (based on the first Christmas dress American Girl made for Samantha). Hilary borrows a cape and bonnet for her and Troll's (Jeff's) reading of A Christmas Carol. It's a big success with the others...and Hilary can't help but notice how well they act together. She's almost considering saying "yes" to Troll's constant proposals of marriage.

Switched to Match Game Syndicated during dinner. David Doyle was a good friend and drinking buddy of Brett Somers, which is why he turned up so often during the late 70's and early 80's. He had the most fun this week, explaining his trademark gravelly voice and attempting imitations of Sydney Greenstreet. Gary Crosby and Rita Moreno were a blast, too. I wish Rita appeared on the show more often. She really livened things up whenever she was there.

Finished the night with British versions of American game shows. Game show formats have been traveling around the globe since the radio era. By the 1970's, England was even more likely to adapt our formats than we were theirs. Their version of Hollywood Squares, Celebrity Squares, has turned up three times on what's now ITV Central. I have the first episode of the 1993-1997 version, the longest-running to date, here. Bob Monkhouse was the "Master of the Boxes" in the original 70's run and the 90's version. Play is almost identical to the US version, but the bonus round with the cars is closer to the one for the 1999-2003 Whoopi Goldberg show. 

They also had fun with Match Game on the BBC. Known as Blankety Blank in England, I have the first episode of the original 1979-1990 run hosted by Terry Wogan here. While the main game is played largely the same as in the US, instead of ongoing contestants, we have two sets of main games and Super Matches played per show, with the bigger winner coming back at the end for a second Head to Head. The BBC's low-budget prizes apparently became a running gag on the show, including the consolation prize checkbooks and pen. 

Even the wild world of Chuck Barris found its way across the pond. Blind Date is the ITV version of The Dating Game. It's played pretty much identical to how it is in the US, with a bacheorette asking three bachelors questions, then choosing one for a date, and then a guy asking ladies questions. Singer Cilla Black is the knowing hostess. This couldn't be more 80's if it tried, from some of the questions to the huge hair on one of the guys. 

Play Your Cards Right is the ITV version of Card Sharks. Bruce Forsyth hosted all three of its runs, from 1980 to 1987, 1994 to 1999, and a short-lived 2002-2003 version. In fact, Forsyth was so associated with the show, the 80's run was known as Bruce Forsyth's Play Your Cards Right. By the time of this 1987 episode, the contestants were all newlyweds, turning this into something of a cross between Card Sharks and The Newlywed Game. The front game is identical to the original US shows, but the bonus round involves asking more questions and then turning over cards to win points. 

Even Nickelodeon shows traveled to England...and often did better there than they did here. Finders Keepers lasted 7 months on Nick in 1987-1988, but it ran from 1991 to 1996 on ITV's kids morning block and got a brief revival in 2002. Here, the bonus round, with the kids searching the entire huge weird stuff-filled house, was identical, but the main round was different. There was no looking for pictures, no questions, just kids searching the rooms. 

Take a summer vacation to jolly old England and see how some American shows were translated across the pond!

Blankety Blanks (1979)

Blind Date (1986)

Bruce Forsyth's Play Your Cards Right (1987)

Celebrity Squares (1993)

Finders Keepers (1995)

Music and Matches

Began the morning with breakfast and the soundtrack from American Graffiti. I've had this awesome collection of classic rock for years. It was one of the first albums I bought on LP way back in the mid-2000's. Wolfman Jack is heard in snatches taken from the movie, but it's mostly some of the best songs of the late 50's and early 60's, like "All Summer Long" by the Beach Boys, "Come Go With Me" by the Del-Vikings, "Only You" by the Platters, "Little Darlin'" by the Diamonds, and the original versions of "Love Potion #9" by the Crests, "See You In September" by The Tempos, and "You're Sixteen" by Johnny Burnette.

Spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon working on Hilary and the Beasts. It's the day before Christmas Eve. Troll (Jeff) shows Hilary the massive ballroom, where they will put on their two-person performance of A Christmas Carol. Hilary's so impressed, she suggests a party for Christmas Eve, with everyone dressing up and Miss Organ playing music for them to dance to. She's also trying to press him for more information about the curse. He admits that one of his friends had a girlfriend who was an actress, but chose his work over her, while the other thought Pavla's abilities were a load of hogwash...until they attacked them. Hilary's having a hard time concentrating on their performance as it is. He's just so familiar, so close to someone she knew...and love dearly...

Put on Golden Treasures while I finished up writing and during lunch. This is another 3-disc classic rock collection, featuring a more eclectic selection ranging from "Tom Dooley" by the Kingston Trio to "Harper Valley PTA" by Jeanne C. Riley. I got the first two records in before I had to go to work, including "Venus In Blue Jeans" by Jimmy Clanton, "Raindrops" by Dee Clark, "The Twist" by Chubby Checker, "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day, "Sh-Boom" by the Crew Cuts, and "Down In the Boondocks" by Billy Joe Royal.

Headed to work after that second disc ended. Work was busy all afternoon. The carts were almost totally empty when I arrived, and I frequently had a hard time keeping up with them. I'd no sooner fill one side than the pharmacy entrance on the other side would empty. It didn't help that it was sunny, very hot, and murderously cut-the-air-with-a-knife humid. I was sweating buckets when I got home, and for at least an hour afterwards.

Spent the rest of the night eating a simple dinner, cooling off while watching tonight's Match Game marathon. Some of the most famous contestants on the entire series turned up during 1975, the height of the show's original success. There was the single woman who said she "fooled around," to the delight of Gary Burghoff and Richard Dawson! Richard gave her a note asking her to call him and wondered if she had any jobs open in her new art shop. 

After Charles came back, we had Francine, the lady who won for most of the famous week with Allen Ludden and Betty White on the panel. She claimed she'd belly dance if she won $5,000. Charles came down to pretend to play for her, but the music department played "The Star Spangled Banner" instead of anything Indian. That didn't stop Betty and Brett from doing their own versions of belly dancing! There was also Gene saying "I've had Betty" during the Audience Match, and Allen jokingly coming down to have a little chat with him. 

The biggest winner would be Carol Bartos, who eventually went home with over $20,000. She was the biggest winner they'd had at that point, and would remain as such for over a year. She had a lot of encouragement from another big winner. Her good friend and neighbor was Janet Finn, who had been the biggest winner before that. She even brought a corner of Janet's winning card with her for good luck...and it sure worked!

Probably the most memorable contestant to appear that year was by far Ron Valenti. The handsome blonde gym teacher turned a lot of heads, but none more than Fannie Flagg's. Fannie spent the entire three days he was on with her flirting with him. At one point, she even danced with him. When the week flipped over and Betty White was in her chair, she did her own flirting...and I don't blame them. Ron was genuinely cute and a nice guy who seemed to handle their attention well. He went home one of the bigger champs from that year, and every cent he got was well-earned.

Get to know the most famous contestants and biggest winners of 1975 in this romantic and hilarious marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Match Game '75 and PM Best Contestants and Winners of '75

(Oh, and it had clouded over by the time I rode home from work. The thunderstorm didn't arrive until around 9:30-10, by which time I was long at home and online. Sounds like it'll clear out the heat and humidity - it's barely supposed to get into the 70's tomorrow.)