It's a Most Unusual Day

Began the morning with breakfast and The Pirates of Dark Water. "Sister of the Sword" introduces Ioz' pickpocket sister Solia. She steals gold from her brother and the compass from Ren, figuring she can sell it. She ends up selling Bloth's mate Konk on finding the treasure instead. The crew of the Wraith follow the duo to Arakna Island, the most dangerous island on Mer, to keep her out of trouble.

Switched to Paw Patrol while organizing my clothes and pulling out ones to donate. "Mighty Pups, Charged Up: Pups Stop a Big Bad Bot" when Harold finds another piece of meteor and creates an even bigger robot to steal buildings and make his own Haroldville. The Mighty Pups follow him, before he takes off with Mayor Goodway and City Hall! "Mighty Pups, Charged Up: Pups Vs. the Dome" brings back Copycat, who creates an energy dome around Adventure Bay to keep the Pups out. It also keeps many of the residents away from their loved ones, including Chickaletta and Wally the Walrus. The Pups find a way to crack the dome and stop Copycat from wrecking more havoc on the town.

Headed out shortly after the cartoon ended. I arrived at Thomas Sharp School just in time...which was a moot point. We had four pre-schoolers and kindergartners today, and two of those left relatively early. The other kids went home with their parents after the pre-school "step up" graduation ceremony. 

Once the kids ate, we didn't even try to separate the younger ones from their older peers. Everyone went outside on the blacktop together. It was sunny, bright blue, and breezy, but not too hot, the perfect day to run around and play ball games. I spent most of the time on the blacktop refereeing a kickball game. I hadn't laughed so much in ages. I cheered on both teams until the only girl playing (who set up the game in the first place) complained that the boy rolling the ball wouldn't let her do it and dropped out. Most of the boys followed. 

I ended up taking a group over to the playground instead. The older kids were even more eager to swing than their younger counterparts...and thankfully, most of them didn't object to standing in line. I had more trouble keeping them away from in front or back of the swings while kids were going really high. The others tossed a ball around that belonged to one of the boys while dancing to "Ghostbusters," several songs by Taylor Swift, and music from Moana, Trolls, Sing, Shrek 2, and KPop Demon Hunters. By 3:15, we were down to one younger kid and 10 older ones. When another teacher arrived to help with the older kids, they let me go early.

Since I had more time to relax, I came home, took out the trash, and watched Bowery Buckaroos. The last Bowery Boys movie to feature Bobby Jordan takes the goofballs from the Lower East Side out west, where they hope to clear sweet shop owner Louie Dumbrowski's (Bernard Gorcey) name. Louie was accused of killing his partner Pete Briggs to get his share of their gold mine, but the real killer was Blackjack McCoy (Jack Norman). Turns out Louie has the map to the mine tattooed on his back. Whitey (Billy Benedict) draws the map on Sach's (Huntz Hall) back, but it washes off. Meanwhile, the Boys' friend Gabe (Gabriel Dell) was sent to scout ahead...and scouts himself cowgirl Catherine Briggs (Julie Gibson), a tough-shooting lady who knows more about Pete Briggs than the Boys could guess.

Went back out after the movie ended. It was too nice to sit inside all evening. I dropped the bag of clothes in the donation box behind Dollar General, then went across the street to the White Horse Pub for dinner. They were pretty quiet when I arrived. Most of the barflies were watching the Pirates-Athletics game (Pirates won, 6-5) or analysis on the Knicks' big win the other day. I enjoyed a turkey bacon wrap with very yummy, thick, crispy bacon and very crunchy tater tots, along with a pitcher of Diet Coke.

Rode across Oaklyn to the Yummy Palace on West Clinton Avenue next. Treated myself to a cookie butter ice cream milkshake. Oh, yum! Cold and sweet, with plenty of ground Biscoff cookie pieces. I sipped it outside, then rode home.

Took a shower right when I got in, then watched Match Game '74. I came in just to see the last episode of the Jack Carter/Louisa Moritz week. I really like Jack. He was hilarious, and not a bad player. Wish he'd been on the show more often. 

Since I enjoyed Bowery Buckaroos so much, I finished the night with one of the older Boys movies that's currently on Tubi. Bowery Bombshell is the third movie in the series, and the first to establish many of the running gags that would be prevalent in them for the next decade, from them hanging out at Louie's to them owning a dilapidated jalopy to Slip being the leader. Louie needs $300, so the boys try to sell their jalopy Lucy. When that doesn't work, they go to the bank to get a loan. Of course, the bank is robbed just as they try to go in. Cathy (Teala Loring), a local on-the-street photographer who is a friend of theirs, takes Sach's picture...just as he hands money to the real bank robber. While Sach hides from the cops who think he did it, Slip, Cathy, and the others dress as a rival mob to scare the bank robbers into confessing. 

Matching With Father

Began the morning with breakfast and Paw Patrol. "Mighty Pups, Charged Up: Pups Vs. the Copycat" has them going against a little cat who belongs to a reporter who greatly admires the Paw Patrol. Frustrated at them stealing his owner's attention, the cat uses the meteor fragments to imitate their powers, make Humdinger their sidekick, and build their own makeshift tower. The Pups make discoveries of their own when they learn that when they touch paws, they gain more superpowers. It helps them repair the train tracks Copycat damaged and bring down his rickety tower.

The Shirt Tales have even stranger adventures over at their city park. In the first season finale "Dinkel's Ark," the Shirt Tales find a way to build a boat and rescue animals stranded in a flood without Dinkel knowing..and while bringing him along for the ride. Dinkel becomes "The Duke of Dinkel" when he hits his head and thinks he's royalty. He insists on staying at the Ritz and dining in the best restaurants, but thinking he's royalty makes him fussy and rude. Pammy, Rick, and Digger try to figure out how to bring the real Dinkel back, before he really gets into trouble.

Hurried out even before the cartoon ended. On one hand, we spent most of the first hour or so in the library. The cafeteria was being used for the older kids' graduation, or "step up," ceremonies, and they hadn't gotten around to putting the tables down. We had 19 younger kids, 8 in my group, but barely any older kids. Those who "stepped up" had likely gone home with their parents. For all that, the kids could have been worse. They were noisy, but they mostly enjoyed coloring and building with magnetic tiles. 

We ended up spending the vast majority of the afternoon on the playground. Last night's huge thunderstorm  left bright sunshine, brilliant blue skies, and cool, blustery winds in its wake. It couldn't have been a more perfect day in June. I had a nice chat with one of the younger boys about which pieces of mulch he could break and which were too thick to bend before they were finally allowed on the swings. Even there, they behaved pretty well. They've gotten the idea about waiting in line by now, even if they complain about it. By the time they let me go at quarter of 4, we were down to 3 kids, and one was leaving with his brother when I did. 

I made a really quick stop for a bathroom break at CVS on the way home, since the bathrooms in the school were being cleaned when I left. They didn't have what I needed, though. I finally decided I could live without a fancy drink and rode home.

When I got home, I took the recycling out, took my laundry downstairs, and watched more of The Swamp Fox. "Tory Vengeance" wrecks havoc on Francis Marion and his men when Toby, the little boy who worked for the Videauxes and carried messages to the Swamp Fox, is killed while on a delivery run. At the same time, Francis' nephew Gabe Marion (Tim Constadine) returns with a commission in the Rebel Army...but he's captured by Tories who attempt to torture him and find out who the Swamp Fox is. Francis' men do rescue him, but when he's killed by one of the Tories, Francis vows revenge.

Switched to Match Game '74 while eating dinner. The night started with the hilarious week featuring announcer Gene Wood (in his only appearance on the show as a panelist) and Amanda Blake of Gunsmoke. Wry Orson Bean sat in Charles' seat the next week, joined by Betty White, hilarious quipster Jack Carter, and in her first of three weeks on the show, Cuban bombshell Louisa Moritz.

Brought my laundry upstairs, then finished the night with episodes featuring fathers on Match Game, either real-life ones or ones on TV. Richard Dawson, McLean Stevenson, Gary Burghoff, and Michael Lembeck all brought their actual children on the show. McLean's daughter Jennifer wore a Star Wars t-shirt and, as Didi Carr pointed out, was "a chippette off the old block." Gene Rayburn came in carrying Gary's darling daughter Gina and Patti Deusch's son Max in an earlier episode from 1978. Richard Dawson brought his stylish younger teen son Gary on for his birthday in 1975. Michael Lembeck brought on his young son to celebrate Father's Day on The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour in 1984.

Fictional fathers appeared on Match Game, too. Tom Bosley of Happy Days did one memorable week in 1975. Michael Landon of Little House on the Prairie was the first man to sit in the male ingenue seat on the show's very first week in 1973. Robert Pine, who is best known nowadays as the father of actor Chris Pine and for being one of the only actors to last through the entire run of CHIps, was a semi-regular from 1978 through 1981. I have him in one of his three nighttime episodes, and the only one where he sits in Richard's old seat and gets a shot at the head-to-head.

Celebrate Father's Day this Sunday with some of the funniest fathers around in these delightful episodes!

Match Game Premiere (1973 - Michael Landon)

Match Game (1975 - Tom Bosley)

Match Game (1975 - Richard Dawson)

Match Game (1978 - Gary Burghoff)

Match Game (1978 - McLean Stevenson)

Match Game PM (1980 - Robert Pine)

Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour (1984 - Michael Lembeck) 

Stormy Matches

Began the morning with a late breakfast and the first disc of my Diana Ross Anthology CD set. This one covered her earliest solo hits, from the late 60's through the mid-70's. Most of her songs at this point were bluesy ballads like "Good Morning Heartache" and "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand," or heartfelt anthems like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." I have fond memories of hearing these songs on the radio in my very early childhood, especially the theme from the drama Mahogany, "Do You Know Where You're Going To."

Hurried out after it ended. I didn't want to be late for work this time, but I needed lunch. I was just able to stop at Common Grounds Coffee House really quick for a Peach Raspberry Refresher and spinach turnover. Didn't even have enough time to sit and eat. I ate them quickly on the way out, but I did make it to the Acme right on time.

The Acme was a mess when I arrived. It looked like it must have been busier earlier this afternoon. I thought everyone would have gone to the Shore! It was sunny and breezy, but also hot and very humid, probably in the lower 90's. From the many people who asked me where things were, I suspect a lot of our customers were tourists on their way to or from World Cup events. The carts were so bad, they sent out some of the college boys who were cashiering or stocking to help me with the carts. Other than that, there were no major problems, and I was in and out.

When I came home, I went straight in the shower, then grabbed a quick dinner. Finished the night online with the Sunday Match Game marathon. The Love Boat had been a regular show for less than a year when the first of its three cast members turned up on Match Game. Bernie Koppel did two weeks, in mid-1978 shortly before the set changed, and later in 1980. Ted Lange had more fun during his three weeks. He got Fred Grandy to strip and give him the suit he loaned him right on the set (to Brett's delight) on one episode, then dressed McLean Stevenson in a similar white suit and cowboy hat on another. To tell the truth, McLean looked less like a chic gentleman and more like he got lost on his way to the Dallas set. As Brett pointed out several times during that episode, he had no flair for fashion.

Fred Grandy probably got the most out of his time on the show. He was a semi-regular from 1979 through 1981, usually sitting on either side of Brett. He and Bart Braverman spent a week blowing kazoos and ringing cowbells in everyone's ears. There was also the week in 1981 when a noisy, enthusiastic group from UCLA rattled everyone's nerves. He saw Gene Rayburn give Leslie Easterbrook (later of Police Academy) quite a welcoming kiss and on the PM episode where the older gentleman said he was there to negotiate returning the Dodgers to Brooklyn (and won a bundle to boot). 

Fred's last appearance was on a week of Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour in 1984. McLean Stevenson, who was also on that week, spent most of the episode complaining about marker on his pants. Gene gave him another pair, but they were too big. He ended up showing way more than anyone ever wanted to see of him to the camera when he went to hug the contestant after the Head to Head!

Set sail with the crew of the Pacific Princess as they match wits with wild college kids and Brooklyn gentlemen alike in this hilarious marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Featuring the Cast of The Love Boat On the Panel (Bernie Koppel, Ted Lange, Fred Grandy)

Oh, and it did finally storm around 10:30-11 PM, by which time I was long at home and watching the marathon. It got really noisy at one point, too. There was buckets and buckets of rain off and on for at least an hour. 

Cherry Hill Matches

Got a really quick start this morning with a small breakfast and Bluey. Bandit takes the girls for a "Wagon Ride" to the park, but he keeps stopping to talk to neighbors. Bluey is impatient to get there, until Bandit points out Bingo playing along the way. She discovers that getting there is half the fun, and she and Bingo can wait and find enjoyable things to do.

Headed to Collingswood for the Farm Market after I finished eating. They were busy, but not to the degree that they often are, even by 11:30. I missed the strawberries again, but they still had a ton of everything else. Asparagus is gone, but peas and radishes are in season. I didn't see cherries, but to my surprise, I saw peaches. Someone had North Carolina blueberries, too. I got the peaches and the blueberries, along with a Bubba's Creamery coconut bar. 

Went to lunch after I left the farm market. I'd been wanting to try breakfast at Jersey Kabobs ever since Jessa and I ate there in Janaury. They were even busier during the day than at night! I went with an egg, cheese, tomato, and green pepper dish called menemen. It came in a huge flat pan with toasted buttered bread and was absolutely delicious. I'm glad I went with feta cheese. It added the right traditional flavors without getting as stringy and messy as mozzarella would have. 

As I left Jersey Kabobs and returned to the parking lots behind the Collingswood Senior Center where the bike rack is, I saw a sign for an estate sale at 403 Haddon Avenue. Turns out it's much further down Haddon Avenue, in the largely residential area around the new fire hall and the just-closing Garfield School. The 1910's-era house was huge, three stories of fine china, casserole dishes and small appliances from the 60's, records, books, and board games from the 60's and 70's, and clothes going back to the 1940's. I wanted the casserole dishes, but the heavy vintage glass measuring cup I ended up with was enough to carry home. I also bought a 60's-era Arabian Nights picture book and the 2-disc record set Jo Anne Castle and Her Ragtime Piano. 

(I'm glad I got the records and book out of there when I did. The first floor was air conditioned and heavily carpeted. The upper floors were not. The attic looked like it had been remade into rooms, but the window fans up there did nothing but move musty air around and distribute dust. I was sweating bullets when I finally came downstairs with my finds.)

After I got home, I put everything upstairs, got a drink, then called Uber. The one going to Cherry Hill cost me a bundle, but he did arrive in 8 minutes. I went through two going home. The first driver canceled at the very last minute. The second, thankfully, took the same 10 minutes to arrive. Surprisingly for a Saturday in Cherry Hill, no traffic either way.

I had the lady drop me off at the Sussex House, across from the Cherry Hill Library on King's Highway. It's a basic tan brick 60's apartment building, but it apparently does have condos for sale. There's not much else there, though. Though a few of the balconies had patio furniture, most seemed to be storage areas for bikes and outside gear and looked rather messy. At least the outside, while dull and dusty, was also clean and neat. An older gentleman taking a rest from custodian work in the shade of the building waved to me as I passed him.

Briefly strolled in the area behind the Sussex House, but while the streets had far better signage than the meandering Barclay cul-de-sacs and the houses were slightly older (probably dating to the 50's-60's), it was the same winding roads and suburban bric-a-brac. I did hear several families playing in backyards and in their air conditioning, including a father adorably playing games with what I suspect was his toddler daughter. Not wanting to get lost like I did two weeks ago, I made my way back up to King's Highway. At least it was a gorgeous day for all the walking, sunny, bright, and hot, but not nearly as humid as earlier in the week. 

The Sussex House side of King's Highway isn't much to look at, either. It's mainly a sea of dried front lawns, law and health offices, smoke shops, and car washes. The one shopping center is a slightly newer brick building directly across the street from the Ellisburg Center. TKO Fitness and Metro by TMobile hold little interest for me, but I did explore Mom's Organic Market. This is basically a smaller version of Sprouts, with the same bulk items and a lot of the same brands. I don't know how they do well with the similar and much larger Whole Foods across the street, but I did get organic strawberries, dried sweetened pineapple rings, orange marmalade, and Roar strawberry lemonade drink.

Finished the night after I got home with dinner and tonight's Match Game marathon. Patty Duke, then Patty Duke Astin, may have been one of the biggest stars at the time to be a semi-regular on Match Game. When she began in 1976, she was mainly doing TV movies and appearances on shows, and was still likely best-known for her early 60's sitcom The Patty Duke Show that had her playing identical cousins. 

When Patty was in a good mood, she could be a lot of fun. Gene once led her read a question. Her obvious relish and enjoyment of playing host makes it surprising that she never tried something like that again. She watched Richard and Gene argue over a contestant on a nighttime episode, tugging her arms back and forth until Gene finally pulled her away. When he asked her if she was all right, she responded "well, my arms are longer than when I came here!" She saw a pregnant contestant who looked a bit like her win big money on another nighttime episode.

Patty appeared on the series from 1976 through the end of the syndicated run in 1982, and in fact, probably did her best work in the syndicated episodes. She happily encouraged Robert Walden to strip off his sweater and jacket, then used his sweater as a wrap to play Little Match Girl. She protested Charlene Tilton's revealing clothing, then joined the equally small Bill and Charlene in complaining about a question that joked about short people. The Valerie Bertanelli week was already off the rails, what with Ed Asner and Gene lusting after the barely 19-year-old Valerie, and Patty clearly being at a low point didn't help matters. She did better on a week later in the syndicated run where she sat in for Brett Somers, who was out doing a play. Charles would often joke when someone went into ham mode that "Patty Duke should see that fine acting," even when Patty was there to witness their scenery-chewing.

It's double your pleasure, double your laughs with both sides of this Oscar and Emmy-winning TV favorite!

Match Game Saturday Classics - Patty Duke Astin Best Shows on Match Game

Busy Time In the Late Spring

Began the morning with breakfast and Paw Patrol. Ladybird uses powers gained from another meteor fragment to control huge, shiny dog statues in the museum. "Mighty Pups, Super Paws: Pups and the Big Twin Trick" has Ella making use of her ability to become huge to make Ladybird think she's a statue, too. Mayor Humdinger turns into the Incredible Hum-Hulk when he finds a meteor fragment. Having terrified the Kitty Catastrophe Crew, he chases every cat in town, including two big snow tigers. "Mighty Pups, Super Paws: Pups and the Mega Mayor" have to rescue the cats, round up the Kitty Catastrophe Crew, and bring this Hum-Hulk back down to size.

Switched briefly to Password Plus on Buzzr while I made my grocery list. As part of their Game Show Month marathon, they're running the remaining existing episodes with Tom Kennedy hosting from 1981 and 1982. The one I saw before I left was the week with Fred Grandy and Edie McClurg. 

Headed out to run errands next, despite the heavy heat, humidity, and bright sunshine. The reason I took the bike was so I could hit Collingswood Family Practice first. They had paperwork for Healthy Kids I had to sign. Signed the paper, put it in my backpack, and was on my way.

Next up was the Westmont Acme for this week's grocery trip there. Restocked blueberries, yogurt, soda, granola, and granola bars. Had a really good online coupon for sliced Swiss cheese. Since I had time, I headed up the hill to Sprouts after I finished at the Acme. Got dried mango slices, peanut butter cookies that were on clearance, diet sodas that weren't too expensive, and a delicious tuna salad with herbs and cucumbers sandwich on a multi-grain baguette. Thought I'd try oat milk and a bag of buckwheat pancakes mix that was on the clearance rack. I thought about checking out Target, but Haddon Township's schools are already on half-days. The bike rack was filled with kids' bikes. Not to mention, I didn't have the time. I just rode home after I finished at Sprouts.

Put everything away, then had a quick lunch while returning to Password Plus. By the time I got home, they'd moved on to the week with Lucille Ball and Dick Martin. Lucy's a good player. Dick wasn't, but he can be pretty funny and good-natured about it. They were just starting the late 2000's Drew Carey Price Is Right when I called Uber. I nearly sweated to death riding around this morning! Prioritized the one going to Thomas Sharp. It came in 8 minutes. The one going home arrived in 11, not bad for the height of rush hour.

(Got my schedule while at home, too. I had to take four days off for half-days at Thomas Sharp next week. Good thing I made two of those four days vacation days. The only day I actually work next week is Sunday. I'll probably make more money than if I did work.)

Despite starting with no tables in the cafeteria again, things largely went better today than it did yesterday. For one thing, we had 19 kids all together, 8 in my group. They were a little rowdy in the bathroom, but not bad. For another, we never left the cafeteria. The older kids did go outside, but the younger ones didn't. There was no fussing over who colored what. I was able to read one of the little girls Hop On Pop and build colorful Duplo towers with some of the boys. They did bring the older kids in, but they were so noisy, they ended up taking them and the remaining three younger kids back outside. (One boy and his brother left when I did.) The kids were lucky they ended up postponing the Blacktop Bash until next Thursday due to the heat, or they wouldn't have been going out at all.

Put on the Bob Barker Price Is Right when I got home and got organized. I was there in time for the Showcase Showdown, and then the Showcases themselves. One with a crossword puzzle theme came out with trips. The other had a car. The lady with the car ended up getting a whole lot of prizes.

Switched to Match Game '74 next. They finished out the Michael Evans week in the first hour. Richard Dawson spent that week caught between sweetly goofy Joyce Bulifant and Fannie Flagg's whimsical southern witticisms. For some reason, the second hour jumped back to the Arte Johnson-Michelle Lee week that they just ran, so I went elsewhere.

Went to YouTube for more Swamp Fox. As in real life, the American Revolution pits "Brother Against Brother" as those loyal to the king burns the homes and land of residents who want independence. One of the few homes not burned is the stately dwelling belonging to Mary Videux (Joy Page) and her family. Marion's men are ready to burn her home, but her reminds them that two wrongs most definitely do not make a right. Mary assures them that she's on their side, no matter what her parents say, and she can pass information to them. She's the one who tells them that the English will be transferring prisoners, and how to rescue them...

Finished the night at Disney Plus with another type of swashbuckling American hero, Zorro. "Zorro Rides to the Mission" to stop its owner from selling out to the greedy Captain Monastario. Don Diego Vega tries to talk to him...but it's not until he sees him abusing the Native American workers that Zorro swings into action!

Hot Spring

Began the morning with breakfast and Little Bear. "Cat's Short Cut" proves to be anything but when Little Bear and Owl keep on getting lost and running into strange creatures on the path. "Little Bear's Bad Day" has him breaking his favorite toy boat and spilling everything in sight, but Father Bear reminds him that he's not the only one having trouble. "Captain Little Bear" leads his pretend pirate friends to the Lost Island, where they uncover a treasure. They lose the treasure when the boat fills up with water, but Little Bear does manage to keep one bit of it for Duck.

Spent the next hour and a half making the bed, changing the sheets, putting the summer sheets and quilt on the bed, and watching Hearts Beat Loud. I go further into this charming indie musical about a father who wants to form a songwriting duo with his college daughter at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Happy Father's Day! - Hearts Beat Loud

Switched to Paw Patrol while eating lunch and looking up questions about the law and house hunting to ask Rose. "Mighty Pups, Super Pups: Pups Save a Giant Chicken" brings back Ladybird, who regains her powers after snitching a piece of the meteor from the Rescue Tower. She wants to steal the extra-shiny town bell, but when Chickaletta pecks at the rock, she turns into a giant chicken! The Mighty Pups have to keep Chickaletta from wrecking havoc downtown and Ladybird from stealing the bell. "Pups Stop Harold's Deep Freeze" when he finds another meteor fragment and builds a machine that will freeze the entire town!

Since it was getting late when I called Uber, I spent a little extra to get priority. They did arrive in 7 minutes. I was right on time at the Thomas Sharp School. The driver going home surprisingly picked me up in 3 minutes during the height of the evening rush hour.

Though it was sunny when I got to school, it was also hot and incredibly sticky-humid. It was too humid for the kids to go out today. Things did not begin well. The custodians hadn't been able to put the cafeteria tables back down after gym class. After he did do that, my 8 kids were rowdy in the bathrooms. Three left without waiting for me and the others. Two of the girls messed around. I finally left them with the next teacher bringing her table.

On one hand, we only had 19 little kids all together today. On the other hand, they were noisy in the cafeteria, and even crazier in the library. I did read two of the kids in the cafeteria, and the head teacher read a book about a young boy taming his "elephants" (aka his feelings) by listening to them and whispering to them before we went in the library. They were even noisier in the library. The head teacher had just copied pictures of unicorns and KPop Demon Hunters. One of the girls cried and got very upset when she had to wait to use the black colored pencils. We're short on several colors, including black. It didn't help when the girl next to her drew on her picture. She drew on hers, they both got upset, and I got fed up with them and yelled at them. One of the girls separated herself and calmed down on her own. The other ended up sitting in the librarian's chair in tears before her mother finally arrived. The others danced to "Ghostbusters," "Try Everything" from Zootopia, and songs from KPop Demon Hunters, Descendants: The Rise of Red, and Moana 2. 

We finally got the kids back to the cafeteria around 5. I'm surprised most of them wanted to go outside. Despite some shade along the back of the blacktop, it was really hot, humid, and muggy, too much to be running around, though at least there was a nice, cool, strong wind. The boys played Monkey In the Middle and soccer anyway, while the girls talked and watched them. We were down to 3 younger kids when I left. One was on his way out just as the Uber driver picked me up to go home.

Put on The Price Is Right when I got in. Little Bear isn't the only one having a bad day. Neither of the contestants won the pricing games I saw. One contestant bid on a trip-themed Showcase. The other went for a movie themed one with a car...and alas, both just barely went over.

Things went better on Match Game '74. Most of tonight covered Charles Nelson Reilly's last week on the show before he went back to Broadway to direct a play. Brett went back and forth between claiming she'd cry the entire time he was gone and being glad he was leaving. Gary Burghoff made his debut in Charles' seat during the second hour. We also had the only week featuring Michael Evans, the original Lionel on The Jeffersons. 

Finished the night listening to one of Journey's biggest hit albums. Raised On Radio introduced the huge hits "Girl Can't Help It," "Be Good to Yourself," and the ballad "I'll Be Alright Without You." This was the definition of "power pop" when I was a kid, with chord-heavy numbers like "Once You Love Somebody," "Why Can't This Night Go On Forever," and the title song. 

(Oh, and it did finally rain...around 10:30, by which time I hope the kids were long in bed. It was a doozy, too, with buckets of rain and thunder and lightning and strong winds.)

In the Heat of Adventure

Began the morning with breakfast and The Pirates of Dark Water. "The Pandawa Plague" is drugged melons that turn the monkey birds - including Niddler - into an evil pirate's slaves. Ren and the others do their best to protect the Queen and her egg and to find a way to change the others back.

Called Uber soon as the episode ended. Though it wasn't raining, it was humid and cool. I didn't trust the weather. Unfortunately, I couldn't trust Uber, either. They took almost 19 minutes to come, and I was 10 minutes late. It went better later in the day. The driver going to Thomas Sharp came in 8 minutes, the one going home in 6 minutes.

Good thing the Acme wasn't busy anyway. In fact, we were pretty quiet for most of the morning. I returned some cold items, but other than that, I swept and pushed carts. Even the carts could have been worse. It was just starting to pick up slightly when I finished. I changed, then bought Persil laundry detergent while it was still on a really good online sale and a bag of soft sugar cookies from the bakery clearance racks before heading out. 

Had lunch at Applebee's. I was too tired to hike anywhere else. They were surprisingly busy for quarter after 1 on a Wednesday. Several couples and families came in just as I did. I listened to their chatter while enjoying a juicy Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich with fries and an unsweetened iced tea. Strolled over to Sonic afterwards for a small banana milkshake. They were much quieter. Everyone must have been getting lunch in their cars and avoiding the humidity. I walked back to Acme after I finished to pick up Uber.

I'm glad I got to Thomas Sharp slightly early. We had 24 kids today, 9 at my table, and they were all excited about Stuffed Animal Day. I saw Chase the dog from Paw Patrol, the Incredible Hulk, a little blue unicorn, a much-loved white tiger, and a knitted brontosaurus who was almost bigger than his owner, among others. The kids were absolutely wild today. They messed around in the bathrooms. They wouldn't calm down in the cafeteria and kept running around and hitting each other. The boys were especially bad. They continued hitting each other even when we got them outside. I had to calm one boy when another literally kicked him in the rear and separate several fights. Those who didn't jump on each other admired the baby brother of one of the boys and danced to "I'm Still Standing," several Taylor Swift songs, "Try Everything" from Zootopia, the themes from Bluey, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and PJ Masks, and numbers from Frozen, Sing, and Moana. 

We finally ended up taking the kids inside early, not because of fighting, but because of the humidity. It wasn't that hot and there was a nice breeze, and everyone, including the kids, were still sweating to death. A few of them went back outside to play with the older kids on the blacktop, but others remained to build with "BrainFlakes," plastic flower-shaped pieces that can be pushed together. The plastic jug that held the flowers had a slit in its top reminiscent of a piggy bank or a money jar. Two of the boys played bank and slid the flowers in the slot, until I told them that, to paraphrase Hello Dolly, money was no good unless you spread it around. That finally convinced them to give some to the other kids building, too. All but one of the remaining 4 kids had finally gone back outside when I left, and that kid left when I did.

Put on The Price Is Right when I got home. I came just in time to see a woman barely win The Range Game, to her considerable shock! She was so close, the judges thought she'd lost at first. She said all she'd wanted to win was a teddy bear. There was some surprise over the Showcases, too. The first showcase revolved around video game-based prizes. The second had the models as cheerleaders who cheered the prize names. The lady continued to be lucky, just barely getting a second car.

Match Game '74 had its own excitement as I ate dinner. Alas, the final two episodes of the Kaye Stevens/Jimmie Walker week are currently missing from the Goodson-Todman Archives. They went straight into the next week, and it was a big one. Laugh-In comedian Arte Johnson appeared for the first time on the show, joined by Broadway ingenue Michelle Lee in her only week. In one episode, Richard Dawson didn't give the answer the contestant expected to "__ Canyon" on the Head-to-Head, sheepishly admitting that he was British and didn't know much about American topography. Charles Nelson Reilly was late in another episode. Head boss Mark Goodson, "the kid who owns the block" as Richard called him, sat in for him. 

(Oh, and the rain held off until around 7 PM. In fact, it poured at one point...but it was short-lived. Not only did the sun reemerge, but we had a rather lovely pink and gold sunset.)

Finished the night at YouTube with The Swamp Fox. I enjoyed Dr. Syn's tales so much last week, I decided to dig into YouTube for other Disney historical action miniseries. My sisters and I loved them when we were kids and they turned up on the Disney Channel. Rose preferred the dashing Hispanic heroes Elfago Baca and Zorro. Anny always looked forward to Texas John Slaughter. I loved Gallagher the newsboy, Dr. Syn, and The Swamp Fox. The Swamp Fox was a real life American Revolution general who turned American Robin Hood in the swamps of his native Carolinas to chase the British out of the south. Leslie Nielson may seem like an unlikely Francis Marion, but he's honestly not bad. I enjoyed "The Birth of the Swamp Fox" and will certainly dig around for the rest of the series. 

Almost Live From Oaklyn

Got a quick start today with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel and Miss Elania Put Their Things Away" when they want to go outside and play, but Elania can't find her mitten. When they come back inside, Dan can't find his toy trolley. They learn that if they put their things away where they belong, they'll be there when they need them. Likewise, "Daniel and Prince Wednesday Put Their Things Away" when Wednesday leaves the book Prince Tuesday made him outside and it gets wet.

Spent the rest of the afternoon taking down the spring decorations and putting up what I have for summer and the 4th of July. The folk art "USA" wooden angel letters, white fabric rose, and red, white, and blue tinsel garland went on the entertainment center. America Cares Bear (aka Americana Bear) went on the top of the DVD shelf with Simone the Squishmallows Lobster. The patriotic Beanie Bears sit with the other bears on top of the record crates. The new thicker bright blue tinsel garland and two of the cardboard cutouts went on and over the bedroom window. The stuffed summer flamingos and flag panting went on the children's hardbacks shelf. Hung the glittering beaded fish on the closet door. The two big red, white, and blue ribbons went on the front door and bedroom door. 

Watched cult mysteries from England and Australia while I worked and had lunch, starting with The Persuaders! "The Long Goodbye" takes Brett and Danny to Scotland, where they discover a recently-deceased scientist's formula for a cheap synthetic fuel is missing. While Danny keeps ending up in the clutches of a group that's after the fuel, Britt tries to figure out which lovely lady is the real heir to the formula.

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries jumps overseas to Australia and from the 1970's to the 1920's for "The Green Mill Murder." Phryne Fisher is dancing at the local nightclub The Green Mill when one of the dancers dies on the floor. The sweet young man she was dancing with is accused of the crime. Turns out the victim was blackmailing just about every single person at the club, from the young man to his mother to the club's singer and her musician husband. Phyrne and her assistant Dot have to figure out who was fed up enough with the blackmail to kill over it.

Headed to Thomas Sharp School after the shows ended. Thankfully, despite a chaotic beginning in the library, things didn't go too badly. We only had 21 kids overall, 8 in my group. Other than the girls being annoyingly giggly in the bathrooms, there weren't any major problems. I think part of the reason may have been many of them got new books they bought during their big Read-a-Thon last month. I read a book about a boy who turns into a wolf in the full moon when he wears woolly underwear and another about a young girl who outwits a troll in order to save her family's farm to a couple of the kids after snack time.

They went even better outside, maybe because it was a gorgeous day. It was sunny, breezy, and in the mid-80's, not bad for early June. I didn't even have that many problems with the kids on the swings. They got into line and only fussed a little when they had to get off. The others chased each other, built mulch piles, and danced to "I'm Still Standing," "Footloose," "Pup Pup Boogie" from Paw Patrol, the theme from PJ Masks, and songs from Moana and Sing. We just took the remaining 5 kids inside to make beaded necklaces when I went home.

Took out the trash, grabbed dinner, and watched Match Game '74 when I got in. The first hour finished out the Gunilla Hutton-Richard Deacon week. The second introduced Jimmie Walker to the show and brought in sweet blonde character actress Lynda Day George and comedienne Kaye Stevens of the infamously noisy laugh. Kaye was so enamored with one handsome contestant, she literally jumped on the turntable to see him after he lost!

Finished the night at YouTube and Dailymotion with episodes of The Gong Show, which celebrates it's 50th anniversary on Sunday. Chuck Barris developed the most outrageous amateur show on TV as a spoof, with acts both talented and utterly terrible appearing side-by-side. Genuine celebrities judge the performers. If they're good (or mildly decent), they can get up to 10 points per panelists. If they're really terrible (and many were), one or more celebrities hit the gong and, thankfully, end the misery. Winners get a check for $500 and a Gong Show trophy. 

Chuck Barris had never intended to be the host, but after Gary Owens dropped out of the pilot and John Babour wanted a straight amateur format, he took over. He was a little stiff at first, but by the end of the first season, he'd warmed up to the point where he might have been the craziest performer on the show. He's fun even in the very first episode I have here. 

The Gong Show proved to be a little too provocative for network TV. Acts like the two teenagers who suggestively lick popsicles in an infamous episode from 1977 led to them being pulled off NBC by 1978. The show did better in syndication, where the wacky acts weren't any stranger than some of the people being interviewed on talk shows or seen in re-runs. The syndicated Gong Show ran until Barris finally overextended himself with the controversial 3's a Crowd and all of his shows were yanked in 1980. 

Re-runs of the The Gong Show proved to be so popular in syndication, the show returned there in 1988. It was pretty much the same idea, with a neon set and slightly better acts. The lady who could do truly amazing things with hula hoops wins for best act of the episodes I watched tonight, though the honky-tonk piano player was pretty awesome, too. DJ Don Blu proved to be slightly too bland for such a nutty show.

Game Show Network debuted Extreme Gong in 1998. The celebrity panel was replaced by viewers calling in to vote for their favorite act...which proved to be unwieldy and annoying. In fact, only one act, a decent guy with a guitar, made it to the end of the first episode. Extreme Gong was also hampered by an ugly gray set that was likely meant to be someone's ancient living room and by very annoying and hyperactive host George Gray. It barely lasted a year.

The show had a better home on Comedy Central in 2008 as The Gong Show With Dave Atwill. The neon and celebrity panel return, but this time, they give them a score of 1 to 500. Atwill was easier to take than Gray and there were some good acts, but it wasn't funny enough to last longer than a few months.

The most recent incarnation of The Gong Show turned up as a summer replacement on ABC in 2017 and 2018. Mike Myers, in his Tommy Maitland persona, was the far more appropriate host. This version not only went back to the original scoring system, it also went back to the original orange set and blocky lettering. With standards changing, even men playing the stomach of a sumo wrestler and a magician pulling a rabbit out of his stomach made it in. They weren't even gonged. It was still a lot of fun, though not enough to last longer than two seasons. 

Celebrate 50 years of the most controversial, the most outrageous, and the most unique performances ever on the air (and that's just the hosts) in the wackiest talent show to ever feature ordinary folks who dared to call themselves "amateur."

The Gong Show Premiere (1976)

The Gong Show (1977)

The Gong Show Syndicated (1988)

Extreme Gong Premiere (1998)

The Gong Show With David Atwill (2008)

The Gong Show (2017)

The New Doctor Is In

Began the morning with Shirt Tales. The "Nearsighted Bear" is a circus performer who refuses to wear his glasses...until the Shirt Tales rescue him when he tries to run away and bounces all over town. The mysterious villain the Hand has stolen all of the money from popular rock group the Patriots' charity tour. Big fan Rick is excited to lead "The Magical Musical Caper" to recover the money and find the Hand.

I thought I was just on time when I hurried out to my doctor's appointment...but I forgot it was at 10:20, not 10:30. I was five minutes late. They took me almost as soon as I came in. After I got my blood pressure checked (slightly high, but I hadn't taken my medicine - I needed to eat first), I talked to Dr. Lauren, my new physician. She turned out to be a round younger woman who sort of looked like my best friend Lauren. 

She checked all of the usual places, like eyes and ears, then asked me for my history. I told her about everything that had gone on this year and all of the stress I was under between the two jobs, the arthritic knee, and trying to find a condo. Yes, I can now admit to myself that I am under a lot of stress. I'm trying to do a lot, and I'm doing it on my own. She suggested therapy, but...I think I've had enough therapy. I need action and real connection, not just talk. They were busy and I had to wait a while, but they did do my blood work and confirm that I was able to work with children. After they took the needle out of my arm, I was all set to go.

I treated myself to brunch at the Westmont. I hadn't been over there for a while. I had chocolate chip pancakes with a bowl of fruit. They were very quiet, especially for lunch hour, with only one or two other pairs of friends chatting in booths. The pancakes were excellent, even if the chocolate chips were on top of the pancakes, rather than in them. The fruit was sliced pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, and strawberries in a bowl, and as such wasn't bad. Had real unsweetened iced tea to wash it all down.

Went straight home and into The Rockford Files. Rockford is hired by a snobbish young millionaire (James Woods) to find out who killed his father in "The Kirkoff Case." The police think the young man did it. So does the father's gold-digging mistress (Julie Sommars). Even Rockford's beginning to wonder after the head of the local mob (Abe Vigoda) claims he did it, too.

Switched to something different while I ate a quick lunch. I found a channel on YouTube devoted to Hungarian Folk Tales, short fairy tales animated to resemble Hungarian art. They're simple but charming, and I started with one story I know from other cultures - "One Eyed, Two Eyed, Three Eyed." This is a Cinderella variant with a good sister with two eyes. Her one-eyed and three-eyed sisters are ignored by suitors, which makes them jealous. She has a goat that gives her food. When they order the goat killed, she buries the bones. She's the only one who can pick the golden apples on the tree that grows in their place, catching the eye of a handsome prince.

Headed to Thomas Sharp after the cartoon ended. I'm not the only one diving into fairy tales today. Many of the kids were dressed as kings, queens, princesses, and princes themselves. One little boy wore a full king costume, including a crown and plastic scepter. A little miss was a lovely queen in a tiara and a fluffy white and blue dress. There were two little Rapunzels, a mini Elsa in an ice-blue dress, a girl in a sundress with huge poofy sleeves, and one who just settled for a Disney Princess shirt. Some of the boys wore golden paper crowns.

Thank heavens things went much better than they did at the end of last week. For one thing, not only was the head teacher back, but one of the teachers for the older kids who was in a car accident and had been out since spring break had fully recovered, too. We had 22 kids, 11 at my table. I read a Sesame Street board book, a Cars Golden book about Mater and Lightning McQueen, and Emma In Charge, a very cute story about a bossy brown bear cub playing teacher for her toys, to a few of the kids after snack time. 

There were a few problems when we got outside. The two Rapunzels would not let one of the other girls who was dressed normally play with them. The young miss was so disappointed, I turned her towards two of the other girls instead. One of the Rapunzels fibbed about her parents coming to try to get on the swings sooner. Another girl refused to put her shoes back on, then threw a fit when I wouldn't let her have a second ride on the swings until she did. Oh, and having them line up when it's time to swing is working out just fine. I just need to keep the line from getting too close to the kids doing the swinging.

At least the weather was great for all the running around. In fact, it was perfect. Golden sunshine with a soft blue sky and a wonderfully cool breeze. Couldn't be nicer for early June. 

Took out the recycling, took the laundry downstairs, then watched Match Game '74 while eating dinner. Most of tonight finished off the week with Gary Burghoff and Elaine Joyce. The second hour picked up with the first week for Richard Deacon, Nipsey Russell's only appearance in the third seat next to Brett, and Petticoat Junction sister Gunilla Hutton in her first and only time on the show.

Returned to YouTube next for more Hungarian Folk Tales after the laundry was done. "The Fox Princess" is a wily female fox who poses as a princess so a kind young prince can marry the real bride. "Brave Prince Nick" defeats dragons with many heads to restore the sun, moon, and stars to the sky. "The Water Fairy" steals a young man she'd been promised before he was born. His grieving wife brushes her hair and spins until the fairy releases him...and even then, they end up on the opposite sides of the world before they meet again. "The Two Princes With Hair of Gold" are killed by a treacherous witch who wants her daughter to marry the king, but they return to their father in a most unexpected way. "The Hedgehog" is adopted by a poor man and his wife after he helps them, a king, and a merchant out of the woods. The merchant's daughter won't marry him, but the king's kind daughter will. He repays her gentleness by showing his true form.

Here's the channel, so you can see these lovely short fairy tales from Eastern Europe yourself!

Hungarian Folk Tales

Finished the night back at Tubi for Storybook International. "The Blind Beauty" is the daughter of a merchant in Indonesia who had let go of a kind, hard-working young man when his jealous foreman accuses him of stealing. It's the foreman who causes the trouble, scaring away all the merchant's customers, until the merchant has nothing, and his daughter has gone blind. Meanwhile, the young man has made a good name for himself, working for his uncle. He's now ready to help the girl and her father, and she doesn't need eyes to know what true kindness and hard work is. 

Of Feuds, Matches, and Musicals

Got a quick start today with breakfast and one of the records I bought yesterday. Here at Last...Bee Gees...Live was a recording of their December 1976 show in LA. It was their first live album - a double set, in fact - and it features their best songs from "Jive Talkin'" down to 60's hits like "I Started a Joke" and "I've Gotta Get a Message to You." No wonder this was a hit at the time. There's some marvelous performances here, especially the medley on Disc 1 of early hits like "Started a Joke," "Massachusetts," "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," and "To Love Somebody."

Had a really quick lunch before calling Uber. I was tired, it was warm and windy, and my heel has been sore. Unfortunately, I called too late. They took 15 minutes to arrive, and I was over 10 minutes late. Surprisingly, they only took 8 minutes to pick me up at the height of rush hour.

The Acme was a mess today. There were long lines, even with three registers open. I couldn't even sweep. I kept dodging people. I couldn't keep up with the carts, either. They kept vanishing. There was no one to help me. The Acme heavily cut back hours. It was all they could do just to have enough people inside. At least the weather could have been worse. It was mostly sunny, windy, and slightly cloudy, though it did spit slightly just as I finished at 5. 

As soon as I got home, I changed, finished the Bee Gees album, and put on today's marathon. Match Game wasn't the only game show Richard Dawson appeared on. Even before he hosted Family Feud, he was a ubiquitous presence in shows as far apart as Celebrity Bowling and The Gong Show. He got some of his earliest game show exposure as part of the panel of the hilarious 1972 syndicated version of I've Got a Secret. In fact, Goodson and Todman were so impressed with him in that show, it led to his stint on Match Game. The episode that introduced the Bob Barker version of The Price Is Right is included here. Audience members bid on items belonging to the panelists - in Richard's case, his mailbox - and whomever got the closest to what it actually cost won.

Richard was likely the most popular panelist on Match Game from it's beginning in 1973 until he got fed up and left around mid-June 1978. His antics figured into some of the funniest episodes. He played Brett Somers, who sat over him, not once, but twice. Betty White was his Charles Nelson Reilly in the 1977 nighttime episode. Fannie Flagg played him in the day show from earlier that year. Gene Rayburn also remembered to never bet against Richard when he wagered that his answer to "Admiral ___" wouldn't be on the Audience Match, and..well, Richard was very rarely wrong.

He and Betty were two of the four "grandmasters" who made it to the finale of the 1975 Password All-Stars tournament (the only episode of that run available today). Bill Bixby of My Favorite Martian and The Incredible Hulk and Hal Linden of Barney Miller were the other two. They all played really well (especially with their hilarious descriptions of "Halleujah!"), but in the end, even Betty couldn't beat Richard. He won money for his charity and a beautiful golden plate. 

Feud had its own share of memorable moments once that started in 1976. There was the lady who answered "September" when Richard asked at what month does a pregnancy start to show. He laughed so hard, he nearly ended up on the floor. It didn't help when her sister came out a few minutes later and said "cuckoo" when he asked to name a noisy bird. Every year, his older son Mark (and later, Mark's wife Cathy) would celebrate Richard's birthday with a cake for the cast. One year, Richard got mobbed by the audience after the cake came out. Another year, they took so long bringing the cake out and introducing Richard's younger boy Gary (who had been living with his mother in England at that point), they played a few questions, then let both families play Fast Money and return to play a legitimate game. 

Celebrate the life and times of one of the funniest Match Game panelists and the first Master of the Feud with these hilarious episodes!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Celebrating Richard Dawson - Featuring Top Match Game, Password, Family Feud, and I've Got a Secret

Oh, and I switched back and forth between the marathon and the Tonys on Paramount Plus for a while. I think I'll need to get the cast albums for Schmigadoon! and Two People Carrying a Cake Across New York the moment they come out on vinyl. Not as interested in The Lost Boys - I'm not a fan of the movie, either. Ragtime is one of my favorite musicals and I'm so glad it won Best Musical Revival, but I'm fine with my original cast album that I bought when it came out in 1998. I really thought Cats: The Jelllicoe Ball would win, based on all the yellow fans in the audience. Loved the lady who was the Narrator for Rocky Horror Show. She was just the right kind of adorably creepy. My sister Anny was always a bigger fan of Pink than me, but I did think her performance of "All That Jazz" from Chicago (the revival is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year) was fabulous. (Incidentally, Death of a Salesman won Best Play Revival, Liberation, on the women's lib movement of the 70's, won Best Play, and Schmigadoon! won Best Musical.) 

A Walk In Cherry Hill

Began the morning with breakfast and The Pirates of Dark Water. "The Game Players of Undaar" capture the Wraith and the Maelstrom, forcing Ren and Bloth to work together in order to defeat their warriors and win their twisted game. Meanwhile, Ioz and Tula try to rescue them, while Bloth's men are more interested in betting with the Game Players on the outcome.

Rushed to the Acme after the cartoon ended...and thanks to the traffic surrounding Oaklyn's Town-Wide Yard Sale, I was still late. Fortunately, that was the worst thing that happened all day. The Acme was really busy, to the point where I had a hard time keeping up with the carts early-on. I did have to put a few cold returns away and help mop up a flower spill in the floral department. I only just got caught up with the carts when I finally finished and headed out.

Since the Town-Wide Yard Sale had an hour to go when I got out, I thought I'd ride around and see what was left. Other than a bottle of water on Newton and lemonade on Kendall, the only things I found were three records from a sale on Eden. Most of it was classical (and one Huey Lewis album I already had), but I did find these:

The Bee Gees - Here At Last...Bee Gees...Live (2-Disc set) 

Astrud Gilberto and Stanley Turrentine - Gilberto With Turrentine

The Johnny Smith Quartet and Stan Getz - Moonlight In Vermont

Soon as I got home, I put the records away, changed, and called Uber to get me to Cherry Hill. No problems here, rather surprising for a Saturday afternoon. The one going to Cherry Hill came in 10 minutes. The one that picked me up at the Cherry Hill Library arrived in 8. 

Started off at Honeygrow. I figured a nice, sensible lunch would counter all the junk and fast food I've been eating lately. I made my own noodle bowl, with spinach, shrimp, whole wheat noodles, sesame seeds, 

spring peas, tomatoes, and a little bit of garlic butter sauce. Yum! It came out nicely, and the bowl was even just big enough for a good, solid lunch.

Headed down King's Highway to the Cherry Hill Library next. I just wanted to walk around in there a bit and see what their adult books and media collections look like. They look huge. They have three times as many CDs and mysteries as anyone else in the area, and they're the first library I've seen rent records since I was about 10. They were wonderfully quiet at 3:30, with it mainly being old people and working folks doing research. The families were all upstairs in the kids' area. 

After I left the library, I strolled two blocks down to a near-by shopping center to get a white grape Powerade at CVS, then went for a stroll. I saw two large buildings in the area behind the Library and I wanted to check them out. Turns out they were The Premiere, formerly (and still listed on signage as) the Windsor Towers. Alas, they were rental apartments, not condos. There was another building across from the library, the Sussex House. That one is mainly apartments but apparently does occasionally have condos for sale. I might check out around that side of the street next week. 

I learned my lesson getting lost in Barclay last week. I always kept landmarks like the Premiere in sight, and I didn't wander too far from King's Highway. Passed townhouses on my way back to the library, but they were "luxury" and too expensive. I picked up Uber at the library, just as it was closing. Watched a family tumble around the realistic statues of two kids reading before the driver arrived.

When I got home, I took a shower and had dinner while watching Sudan. Queen Nailia of the Egyptian kingdom of Khemis (Maria Montez) loves to walk among her people, but she has more purpose than just seeing how the other side lives when her father is killed by a rebel arrow. She is told to seek the rebel leader Herua (Turhan Bey), but is captured by slavers. She's rescued by two roguish horse sellers (Jon Hall and Andy Devine), who help her get home. There was a reason for her capture, though. Her vizier Horadef (George Zucco) will do anything to get the throne for himself. She falls for Herua, but he walks out when he realizes she's a queen. Horadef tosses them all in the dungeon...but it'll take the combined work of rebels and royalty to save her.

Finished off with tonight's YouTube marathon. Family Feud was so wildly popular in the late 70's and early 80's, ABC had a series of all-star specials that pit casts from the biggest hit shows of the time against one another. Love Boat and Eight Is Enough were on almost every one...and I think they won maybe three times between them. Susan Richardson was so happy when she finally won Fast Money, she scooted across the floor! Fred Grandy couldn't keep his eyes off Loni Anderson's, um, assets when they faced off against one another. John Ritter was adorably nervous even on a game show. 

The specials were even funnier when ABC invited shows from the other networks to compete, too. Quinn Cummings of Family was totally shocked when her quickly tossed-off answer turned up on the board. Charlene Tilton protested playing against adorable Missy Gold and her "big blue eyes." (Not that Charlene was one to talk. She wasn't much taller than Missy!) Debralee Scott of Angie was pretty shocked herself when, despite being even more nervous than John, she became only the fourth person in the history of the show to win a Fast Money all on her own. The cast of Dallas won for funniest opening when they showed up behind the cameo oval holding Larry Hagman (J.R Ewing)...and then unceremoniously dropped him.

See what the networks had to offer in prime time in the late 70's and early 80's with these hilarious prime time Feuds!

Saturday Classics - All-Star Family Feud Specials (1978-1981)