Hot Times Under the Sun

Began a late morning with breakfast and more Scooby Doo Show. It's a "High Rise Hair Raiser" when Shaggy, Scooby, and Fred get a job constructing a new skyscraper, only to be chased by what appears to be a ghost. Turns out the building that used to be on that spot was the home of an old man who was said to practice the black arts and could make himself younger. The girls do research on the site, while the boys dodge the ghost on the girders and talk to his ancient ancestor to find out what's going on.

Went online to check my schedule next. In good news, not as many hours as this week, but more than I've had lately. Early work on Sunday and Wednesday. Late work on Saturday, which does mean I'll be able to hit the farm market that day. Having Thursday and Friday off means I'll be able to hit the Cherry Hill Library for their summer book sale one of those two days.

Did a few things online, then headed out. Had lunch at Geneva Pizza on Cuthbert Road. It's been a while since I've eaten there. Kept things simple with a slice of cheese, a square slice of tomato-basil, and a bottle of Diet Coke. Watched Wimbledon while a dad ordered milkshakes for him and his son. 

I needed to run some errands next, starting at Target. I didn't find the vitamins I wanted there, but I did pick up wet wipes for my purse and stronger suntan lotion for work. I thought one of the granola bars I bought at Sprouts were on sale, but it turns out they weren't. I had more luck with the Bob's granola bars and finding cherry granola cookies on clearance. Found Poppi soda on sale as well. Decided to try cherry limeade and raspberry rose, the latter of which I've never seen before.

Made my way past the Haddon Township Library and a quiet high school to the Westmont Acme next. Restocked my yogurt and popcorn, the latter of which is still on clearance. Kind oat and honey bars are still on clearance, too. Got two Ollipops, two bagels, a bag of blue corn chips, those Made Good soft bars, and a slice of white cake with buttercream icing for a treat. (And no wonder I got off this weekend. None of the stores were busy, not even the Target.) 

Everyone who didn't go away for the holiday weekend may have been scared off by the heat. It was sunny and bright, but killer hot and humid. I cut through the park for some shade, then pushed my bike up the hill. It did feel a little cooler under the bright green canopy, but that didn't really help the humidity. I was sweating like crazy when I finally got home.

Put everything away, then took down the patriotic decorations while watching the first season finale of Vega$. "The Visitor" is Princess Zara (Kim Cattrall), who fled with her father to Vegas after a revolution in their Middle Eastern country. Dan is hired to be her bodyguard when her life is threatened by terrorists. After a woman tries to kidnap the princess and is shot by revolutionaries, Dan and his friend Harlan Twoleaf show her the good life in Sin City, and Dan ends up falling for her...but she wants to see her father, and those revolutionaries aren't about to give up...

Listened to the soundtrack from Thank God It's Friday while working on my rock record inventory. Added p through the first half of s today, including Pink Floyd, the Pointer Sisters, Prince, the Platters, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Linda Ronstadt, Helen Reddy, Paul Simon, and Bob Seger. I'm hoping to finish with the rock records by tomorrow or Monday, then start adding the rock CDs. Next up will be rock collections and cast albums.

Thank God It's Friday is about as disco as you can get. Donna Summer's "Last Dance" won the Oscar, but there's other good things here if you want to get your groove on. Other favorites include "Love Masterpiece" by Thelma Houston, Sunshine's "Take It to the Zoo," and "Disco Queen" by Paul Jabara.

Watched Match Game Syndicated while eating dinner and putting away records. Rita Moreno got to read a question in the first episode. In the second, Joyce Bulifant and Gary Crosby take up from where Betty White left off by messing around with Gene's trousers cuffs and socks. Gary's not too happy when someone pulls out a poster of the 60's movie Two Tickets to Paris that he starred in. (And I really need to review that.) 

Finished the night on Tubi with two unique retellings of famous fairy tales from the 1990's. Willa: An American Snow White resets the story in the rural Midwest in 1911. The wicked stepmother is an actress who desperately wants to stay young and is jealous of her stepdaughter's budding beauty. She orders her manservant to kill her, but he sends her away instead. She falls in with a trio of performers who put on shows and sell tonics that can supposedly keep one young. Willa eventually falls for the handsome young man who is putting on "moving pictures" in the same towns they play...but not before her stepmother comes back for revenge when those so-called tonics have the reverse effect on her.

Ashpet: An American Cinderella is a bit shorter and a little less scary. We jump ahead to the deep south in 1942, just as World War II began. Ashpet is Lily, who is bullied and treated like a servant by her two hateful and shrill stepsisters and her spoiled stepmother. Her only friend is Aunt Sally, a kindly older black woman whom her stepsisters regard as a witch and beg love charms off of. When they refuse to answer her riddles and go back on their promise to let Lily attend the Victory Ball, Aunt Sally takes matters into her own hands. She gives Lily her mother's dress and shoes and sends her off on a white horse. Lily falls for handsome soldier William, to her stepsisters' dismay. They try to waylay him when he turns up with her shoe, but Aunt Sally knows that love has a way of coming out in the end.

I enjoyed the shorter and sweeter Ashpet slightly more than the spooky Willa, Aunt Sally in particular is an awesome character, and the stepsisters have some good moments, too. Despite their obvious low budgets, they're both worth seeing for those like me who are looking for unusual versions of familiar stories. 

Star Spangled Lady

Began the morning with the 4th of July material from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. The longest piece here is a segment of Little House On the Prairie where Pa takes Laura and Carrie into town for lemonade and to watch their friend Almanzo Wilder take part in the horse and buggy race. There's also several patriotic poems, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, and The Star Spangled Banner. Did two short stories from the Disney Storybookland anthology, a version of "Ben & Me" and a prose retelling of Paul Revere's famous ride.

Watched the short "Patriotic Popeye" online while I had a quick breakfast. Popeye tries to hide the fireworks from his eager nephews, but they find them every time. They finally learn their lesson when they get caught on one of the rockets and their uncle has to rescue them.

Hurried out after that for Oaklyn's 4th of July Parade on West Clinton Avenue. The parade was supposed to start at 10, but they were late. They're always late. There were already tons of people running around and settling in lawn chairs when I arrived. Among them were my brother-in-law Craig, my niece Finley, and my nephew Khai. Fin turned 7 yesterday. I'm glad I remembered to bring her birthday bag. She loved everything, especially the pretty purple stuffed pegasus. 

The parade didn't start until nearly 10:30. I took Finley across the street to get free soda, water, small bags of chips, and warm soft pretzels at a tent pitched on the parking lot across from the school, and we got back with still ten minutes before it did start. Motorcyclists on cool red and blue vehicles led the way, followed by kids on decorated bikes and their parents and two local brass bands. Most of the other floats were baseball and softball teams, including one that won the local Little League and was now heading to the New Jersey state finals. Finley was just happy with all the Jolly Ranchers, Dum Dums, Starbursts, and Double Bubble gum those young ballplayers threw. Even I grabbed some candy for later. 

Craig took the kids home to rest after the parade ended, but I stuck around to hear a lady sing "The Star Spangled Banner" (quite well) and the announcement of the winners for best float. Mr. Softee pulled into the parking lot right before the parade started to give out free ice cream. I didn't mind waiting in a long line to get a freebie. I enjoyed my cup of vanilla and chocolate swirl soft-serve topped with rainbow sprinkles as I walked home. 

Settled down myself with a drink and a few more 4th of July or American history-related shorts. Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" who defends his fort from Hessian Yosemite Sam. "Donald's Failed Fourth" may turn his romantic picnic with Daisy into a disaster, unless he can get the blanket and chairs to cooperate. "Hysterical Highspots In American History" include Christopher Columbus lamenting the lack of cartoons in the New World, a fast-talking Native-American salesman, and two enterprising old maids who somehow managed to divert soldiers to their home during two very different and long-apart wars. 

Watched Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure next. I go further into this sequel to the beloved 1955 Disney movie at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Happy 4th of July! - Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure

Went back out after the cartoon ended. I enjoyed my Thanksgiving dinner at Mulligan's so much, I thought I'd try them for the 4th. Their turkey burger wasn't nearly as good as their actual turkey dinner. The fries weren't bad, but the burger was nothing really special for $14. I was surprised they weren't busy, either. Guess most people opted to barbecue in their own homes.

By this point, the morning clouds and breeze had long given way to bright sunshine and overbearing heat and humidity. I stopped at WaWa for a much-needed drink. Tried a matcha frozen lemonade. Not bad. Very tart. Cooling, anyway, which is really all I cared about walking home.

After I got in, I made the bed while watching two patriotic Scooby Doo episodes. Tubi now has the mid-70's Scooby Doo Show. This is the show I remember being re-run the most as a kid, and probably the one I remember best. Mystery Inc is in Washington DC to celebrate the Bicentennial and find themselves fleeing into the Smithsonian to avoid a heavy rainstorm. When they're attacked by what seems like the ghosts of famous traitors Benedict Arnold, William Demont, and Major John Andre, they have to figure out what "The Spirits of '76" are doing and why they're running around with wet shoes.

Laff-a-Lympics goes north to "New York" for a Central Park buggy ride. Finley would have loved Blue Falcon's chariot pulled by an alicorn, but I thought Doggie Daddy's normal carriage pulled by a very small horse who turns out to be accurately named Goliath was funnier. The race to put a wreath on top of the Statue of Liberty was even closer. Captain Caveman has his powers, but Orful Octopus of the Rottens doesn't need to cheat with suction-cup tentacles, and there's Grape Ape's sheer size. The Dread Baron somehow manages to win a unicycle race in "Turkey" despite his own outrageous cheating, and the Daltons prove that size - and pure slipperiness - does matter during a swimming relay race in the cross-tides.

Mom texted me to wish me a happy 4th of July right before I left for lunch. I called her on the patio at Mulligan's after I got out. She finally called me back as the second half Laff-a-Lympics ended. As it turns out, they weren't doing anything, either. Keefe apparently had to work on a newly-built ship today. 

By that point, I was bored stiff. I originally intended to walk into Collingswood, but it was too hot for a long stroll, and my legs were still pretty worn out from pushing carts for 7 hours yesterday. Ended up walking through a quiet, shady Newton Lake Park instead, with a stop at Dollar General for snacks and a drink to eat during the fireworks. 

Put on Yankee Doodle Cricket when I got home. Amos Mouse isn't the only rodent who claims to have shaped American history. Tucker the Mouse insists that he originally created the first American flag and wrote the Declaration of "Interdependence" as a treaty between cats and mice, Harry the Cat got Paul Revere's horse going, and Chester the Cricket wrote "Yankee Doodle." 

Rose called shortly after I got in. Did I want to come over for dinner? Sure, why not? I had no other plans. I was just going to eat out of the fridge for dinner. I ended up heading across a quiet Oaklyn to her house instead after the cartoon ended.

When I arrived, I was greeted by Rose's two frisky dogs Oreo and Cider. Oreo is a sweet pup who sure took a shine to me. He wouldn't leave my side for most of the time I was there, laying at my feet and licking my toes. Rose has a stressful job as a lawyer, and she was pretty tired, but she did put out a plate of grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cherries and a tray of meat and cheese with mini-naan rounds. Craig made tasty burgers, sausage, and zucchini and yellow squash, the latter fresh from his own garden. The lettuce for the burgers was from his garden, too. Before dinner, Finley got to show off the Jurassic Park dinosaurs she got for her birthday, including a remote-control t-rex. 

I hurried out around 8:41. Rose and her family usually watch the fireworks at their house, but I prefer Newton Lake Park. The big grassy area across from the Parkview Apartments is large enough for many people to relax on blankets and not be in each other's way and still get a good view of the show. I wasn't sure I'd have the time to go back for my blanket and the water and snacks I bought earlier, so I just plopped on the grass. 

Not ten minutes after I settled down, I heard the first boom overhead. Glittering pink and green sparkles lit up the night! The fireworks at Collingswood are always gorgeous, and this year was no exception. I especially love the ones that make shapes, the nifty rings and hearts inside each other. Someone set off some pretty big fireworks at the Parkview, too, making it seem like the show was coming from all sides. 

I hurried home the second the last fireworks started to go off. The White Horse Pike is always a mess after the fireworks. While I don't have to cross the street anymore to get home, I do have to dodge all of the people and cars looking to avoid taking the main roads and running into just as much traffic. I was very happy when I finally got home.

Finished the night after the Match Game '76 chat premieres with a vintage Disney 4th of July parade from 1988. It's a shame Disney didn't continue to air their 4th of July spectaculars like they did the Easter and Christmas shows. They're cheesy, but so much fun. Marc Summers and Tempest Bledsoe put more of an emphasis on the actual parade, with units representing different sections of the US, than most of the other broadcasts. We also get Willard Scott riding the Maelstrom (now Frozen) in the then-new Norway pavilion at Epcot, the introduction of Mickey's Birthdayland at the Magic Kingdom (now the circus-themed kiddie ride area of Fantasyland), and a chorus routine at what was then the Disney-MGM Studios (which opened about 10 months after this). Tommy Tune and Rita Moreno lead the dancers through medleys of George M. Cohen songs in front of Cinderella's Castle in the finale. 

If you missed your hometown parade or want to check out Walt Disney World almost 40 years ago, here's the full parade, for your enjoyment!

1988 Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular 

And here's hoping you had a wonderful 4th of July too, with all the people you love!

Liberty Trees and American Patrols

Began the morning with breakfast and The Busy World of Richard Scarry. Billy Dog takes "The Big Dare" when he goes into an old saw mill to see if it's haunted. He learns why it's a bad idea to be wandering around in abandoned buildings when he gets hurt and the other kids have to call Sergeant Murphy. Oliver is the clumsy butler of the Earl of Sandwich. He's in love with one of the Earl's female visitors, but her father won't let him marry her unless he does something important. When he can't find the gloves for their card game, he creates "Oliver's Sandwich" to keep their hands from getting messy. "Pig Will Won't" when he gets a bump on his head and starts acting like his contrary brother...and Pig Won't finally gets a taste of his own bratty medicine.

Rushed off to work just after the cartoon ended and barely arrived in time. Thankfully, that was the worst thing that happened all day. Surprisingly for the beginning of the month and the day before a major holiday, we were steady but not overwhelmingly busy except at the noon rush hour. I was on my own in the morning, but one of the college boys arrived at noon and took over the sweeping. I spent most of the day pushing carts, and my tired legs aside, I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. The weather remains gorgeous here, a little warmer and slightly humid, but not too bad, and with a deliciously cool breeze.

Soon as I got home, I went straight into adding L through O's to the rock albums inventory. Artists I put in today include Bette Midler, the Steve Miller Band, the Monkees, Olivia Newton-John, and Tony Orlando and Dawn. 

Listened to patriotic music while I worked. I have the original 1980 vinyl release of Yankee Doodle Mickey, with "The Liberty Tree" from Johnny Tremain sung by the Disneyland Glee Club and a very young Molly Ringwald belting "This Is My Country" and "God Bless America." My favorite number is the Armed Forces Medley, with Mickey singing for the Marines and the Air Force, Goofy for the Army, and of course, Donald for the Navy.

America the Beautiful is a huge two-disc collection of patriotic music put out by Reader's Digest in 1986 for the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty and her big restoration. Among the vocal selections are Kate Smith's famous rendition of "God Bless America," an energetic "This Land Is My Land" performed by the New Freedom Singers, and a gorgeous "Shenandoah" by the Robert Shaw Chorale. Of the instrumental pieces, my favorites include "On the Trail" from the Grand Canyon Suite, "American Patrol," and a medley of George M. Cohen songs by Arthur Fielder and the Boston Pops that you can actually hear people in the audience singing along with on the recording,  

Switched to Match Game Syndicated as I finished up the inventory and had a delicious dinner. The first episode I caught was the very funny one where Gene was "shocked" by the question holder, complete with wavy lines on the screen. Charles took his microphone, then claimed he'd "never take over a part that badly acted." Phyllis Diller and Fred Grandy looked on in a later episode as a gentleman in a cowboy hat who tried to figure out "Tonight __" in the Head-to-Head and Diller showed off some pretty nifty wigs, including a beaded one.

Finished the night with two Disney movies and specials from the 1950's centering around the American Revolution. Johnny Tremain is their 1957 version of the 1944 novel (which I'm in the midst of re-reading). Johnny (Hal Stalmaster) is the cocky apprentice of a silversmith in Boston who claims he can make a special silver cup for wealthy Johnathan Lyte (Sebastian Cabot). Johnny is so eager to do it, especially after talking to Paul Revere (Walter Sande), he rushes and does it on a Sunday. Not only does he upset his religious master (Will Wright), he burns his hand so severely that he can't continue as a silversmith.

Looking for other work, he eventually joins the printer of a local newspaper that specializes in articles criticizing England for their unfair taxes. Johnny finds himself running errands for none other than the Sons of Liberty after the laid-back copy boy Rab (Richard Beymer) teaches him how to ride the spirited horse Goblin. He tells Lapham's daughter Priscilla (Luana Patten) that he intends to sell the cup his mother gave him to Lyte, but Lyte thinks he stole it. After Josiah Quincy (Whit Bissell) and Priscilla prove his innocence, he throws himself into getting even more involved with the Sons of Liberty. He even takes part in the Boston Tea Party, helps Revere with his ride, and joins the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

While a lot of characters and incidents were dropped from the book, including Lyte's beautiful daughter, Lapham's youngest daughter Isannah who is attached to Priscilla, and Lapham's other loutish apprentices, enough remains for me to thoroughly enjoy Disney's excursion into American history. Beymer looks a lot more interested than he ever did four years later in West Side Story, while Cabot and Ralph Clanton have a fine time as Lyte and General Gage of the British Army. Despite the DVD copy I found being rather grainy, it's still worth seeking out for fans of the book, American Colonial history, or the Disney historical action movies and TV shows of the 50's and 60's. 

Johnny Tremain was not Disney's first adaptation of a children's novel that revolved around American Colonial history in the 1950's. The animated special Ben & Me debuted in front of the documentary The Living Desert in 1953. The "me" in this case is Amos Mouse (Sterling Holloway), who finds himself helping Benjamin Franklin (Charlie Ruggles) with his many inventions. Putting Amos in the air on that famous kite that discovers electricity is the last straw for the beleaguered mouse. He returns home to the First Church...but Ben needs his help again years later when he and Thomas Jefferson (Hans Conried) have to come up with a certain Declaration of Independence. 

Once again, this does lose incidents from the book, including the entire second half where Amos helps Ben when he's the ambassador to France, but there's enough left to be enjoyable. Holloway makes an especially funny Amos; the animation when he's up in that kite is both scary and absolutely hilarious. Worth looking around for if you or your younger child is a history buff or are looking for unique and patriotic animal stories. 

Finished the night with another patriotic special, Uncle Sam Magoo. I went further into the second Mr. Magoo TV special at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog last year before the 4th of July.

Uncle Sam Magoo

People Get Ready

Got a quick start this morning with breakfast and Annie Get Your Gun. I go further into the 1950 adaptation of the hit 1946 musical about sharp-shooter Annie Oakley (Betty Hutton) and her relationship with rival marksman Frank Butler (Howard Keel) at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Annie Get Your Gun (1950)

Rushed out to work shortly after I had lunch and Annie ended. Between this being our senior discount day, the beginning of the month, and it being two days before the biggest holiday of the summer, we were busy for most of the afternoon. I had a hard time keeping up with the carts. They just kept vanishing. No help, either. The head bagger was pulled to replace a cashier who just retired on Monday. I did my best to get all the sweeping, pushing carts, and putting everything away done that I could. 

At one point, I swear I saw an ambulance and paramedics. I was doing carts at the time, so I have no idea what happened there. I think I saw an older woman sitting outside with the paramedics. Maybe she fainted and had to be revived. Also noticed at least three police cars down by the bus stop on the Black Horse Pike a bit later in the day. There was one guy there. Maybe they were scolding him for something.

At least the weather was nice for all this. In fact, it was gorgeous. Sunny, breezy, a little humid, but not too hot like the last two weeks. Probably in the lower-mid 80's, perfect for early July.

Hurried home after work ended. Took out the trash, then went straight in the shower. Finally had dinner while watching Match Game Syndicated after I got out. Gary Collins and Susan Richardson join in to see Joyce Bulifant to give her fourth Head-to-Head answer in a row - and do very well with it, for once. She doesn't do quite as well later with a question about who is really disliked.

Finished the night as I worked on my review with three rock and reggae albums from the 60's and 70's, one a classic, and two from a favorite band that should be better-known. As weird as the Monkees' film Head is, there are some good things on the soundtrack. "The Porpoise Song" and "As We Go Along" are two of Micky Dolenz's loveliest ballads, Mike Nesmith puts in one of his best pure rockers with the hard-driving "Circle Sky," and Davy Jones has fun with Harry Nilsson "Daddy's Song." 

Davy and Micky did Changes in 1970 after Mike left to form his own band, but don't let that put you off finding this album. Micky in particular contributes two of his best later songs, "Midnight Train" and "All Alone In the Dark." Davy's best numbers here are the rockin' "99 Pounds" and charming "Do You Feel It Too?" 

After seeing the Bob Marley biography One Love in February that focused the creation of his album Exodus and the story behind it, I had to hear if for myself. If nothing else, it features one of my favorite of his songs, "Jammin'." There's also the hit title song, "Turn Your Lights Down Low," and "One Love/People Get Ready." This is so laid-back and, well, Jamaican, I'm surprised it's not their national album. It definitely has an oddly gritty and yet tropical vibe that well reflects its tumultuous creation. 

Sunny Day Games

Began the morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel and Margaret Visit the Farm" with their parents. Daniel's nervous about horseback riding for the first time, but his father walks with him until he's ok. His little sister Margaret is equally scared when she feeds the ducks for the first time, prompting her brother to hold her hand. She's scared of the "Fireflies and Fireworks" at the beach, too. Dan holds her hand until she's used to the fireflies, but the fireworks are too noisy for both of them. Their parents stay with them while they watch. 

Headed out to run errands after the cartoon ended. It was such a beautiful day, I thought I'd walk to Collingswood. It was too nice to rush! It remains slightly humid, but nothing to the degree of yesterday. The heat was now a far more normal for early July lower 80's, the sun was out, the sky was a perfect clear blue, and the wind felt wonderful. Those big green leaves at Newton Lake Park made wonderful shade as I passed by sparkling green water.

First stop of the day was PNC Bank to get money. There was already one person using the outside ATM, and as it was 12:30, I thought it might get busier. I went inside and used the ATM there instead. There was no line, and I was in and out.

There isn't a whole lot open in Collingswood on a Monday, but I did get to peek around Occasionette. The gift shop now has pizza cookbooks, colorful marble chopping blocks, and Collingswood and Philadelphia-themed gift items out. They're fun to look at, but expensive to buy, so I browsed and moved on.

Stopped at a very busy GrooveGround Coffee Shop for a much-needed drink. They had fruit-flavored iced tea for summer advertised on a sandwich board outside. I tried their watermelon green iced tea and a blueberry scone. Oh yum. The iced tea was wonderful, cool and tart without being too sweet. The scone was likewise a little crumbly and not too sweet, either. It was even dusted with flour on the bottom. They do carry a limited assortment of records, but I saw nothing interesting, and they were already so busy with people chatting and working on laptops that I moved on after I finished.

Innergroove isn't open on Mondays, but Collingswood Music is. I waited for a minute while the owner talked to someone before he opened the doors. Took almost an hour browsing, but I finally came up with these records:

The Beatles - Rubber Soul 

Spike Jones - The Best of Spike Jones

The Ralph Sutton Quartet - Jazz at the Olympics (More specifically, the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics, as all of the songs are winter-themed.) 

The Who - Face Value

Soundtrack from La Bamba

Went across the street to WaWa to get something to drink for the walk home. Tried their Green Pineapple smoothie. Yum! Green tea, pineapple, and mango. Sweet, but very refreshing.

Speaking of the Olympics, I had lunch while watching Laff-a-Lympics. They started off in "India" with a tiger hunt that went spectacularly off the rails. Shaggy was too chicken to help Captain Caveman look for anything scarier than a cold, while Daisy Mayhem's attempt to pose as a tiger for the Dalton Brothers just ended with them not getting anything. Snooper and Blabber ended up being the winners by default. The Great Fondoo did manage to get his magic working well enough to win the elephant race, though. Speed Buggy naturally trounced the competition at sand sailing in "Israel," while Yogi had the least trouble keeping his boat together in the Reed race, winning the whole show for his team. 

Took the laundry downstairs, then did some job searching and added records to that inventory. Tried looking at some record organizing apps, but in the end, I just returned to making a list. One of the reasons I'm doing this is to figure out when I bought some of these. In addition to still having many of the 65 records Bruce gave me from his first wife Kaye's collection in 2006, I've been buying records from yard sales, thrift shops, and the many music and media stores in Philadelphia and South Jersey ever since. Some of my CDs go back to when I got my first player in high school, around 1995-1996. 

Listened to records while I worked. Rubber Soul was the only Beatles album I didn't have in one form or another. I didn't realize until I got home that this was the US Capitol version, which is missing several tracks. I have the missing tracks elsewhere anyway, and it's still hard to argue with some of the Beatles' best songs, including "Think For Yourself," "Michelle," and "In My Life." 

My love of Motown dates to the Saturday nights I spent listening to the oldies show on my local rock station in the 80's and early 90's. I would tie a ribbon around my waist and another around my head and pretend I was in the 60's or early 70's, when the songs by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and Martha and the Vandellas were new. Probably the two most famous Vandellas songs on their Greatest Hits album are "Love Is Like a Heat Wave" and "Dancing In the Street." Favorites on the Miracles' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 include "Going To a Go-Go," "The Tracks of My Tears," "I Second That Emotion," and "More Love." 

Finally broke for dinner and Match Game Syndicated at 7:30. Marcia Wallace began the episode by insisting Gene spray her dress to keep it from clinging to her. Brett, Charles, and David Doyle were more than happy to toss out quips about what that dress had to cling to.

Finished the night on YouTube after I finally remembered to bring the laundry upstairs with episodes of my all-time favorite game shows. I've watched game shows for as long as I can remember. Mom loves them too and would often watch them with us when we were little. She told me she watched the original Password and Jeopardy with her grandparents in the 60's and 70's. That's very likely how the revived Jeopardy and nighttime Wheel of Fortune became an after-dinner ritual for my family in the late 80's and early 90's. We'd even make a game out of guessing the Pennsylvania Lottery numbers on Channel 6 before Jeopardy started. We very likely saw the episodes listed here when they first ran.

I resumed watching Fortune and Jeopardy when I was in college, alternating the latter with the late 90's Hollywood Squares during commercials. Whoopi Goldberg led a who's who of wacky comedians, TV personalities, character actors, and comedy writers through delightfully goofy bluffs. Tom Bergeron played off her so well, it was disappointing when she finally left. This episode from 1999 is in honor of Martin Mull, the musician, host, and comedian who passed away over the weekend.

Name That Tune was another show I watched in syndication, in this case on USA Network. I've always loved music, so this one was right up my alley. It was a lot of fun to watch contestants try to guess the Golden Medley and dare each other to name that tune in one note! Loved watching Press Your Luck - and all of those wacky Whammies - on USA too. 

In the late 80's and early 90's, the Ray Combs Family Feud and The Price Is Right were virtually synonymous with each other. They ran one after the other on CBS, and I never missed them when I was home sick or on a summer day when it was too rainy for the beach. I'm pretty sure I watched the syndicated Feud before dinner, too. The two shows were among those that helped me through a very rough time in my life. The episodes I have here are emblematic of the ones I watched and enjoyed as a child, with the Price episode being especially funny. (Check out the huge guy lifting Bob Barker in the air!) 

Though I'm most familiar with the syndicated $100,000 Pyramid, I know I watched The New $25,000 Pyramid on CBS in the early-mid 80's, too. It was fun to watch the celebrities help their contestants guess a subject! Richard Kline nearly beats Billy Crystal's still-existing Winner's Circle record here. 

Of course, I also watched game shows made for kids. We saw one favorite of mine, Double Dare, last week. Fun House was another. Kind of the same deal as Double Dare, with no daring and a race on wacky vehicles before the big bonus stunt course. I actually preferred the run through the Fun House to the difficult Double Dare Obstacle Course. All but the very slowest kids were guaranteed to come out with at least one cool prize or a lot of cash, as they do here. 

Even now, I'm still running across shows I either don't remember well, or never heard of before the last few years. I very vaguely remember seeing the syndicated Match Game in the early 80's. I certainly don't remember it being the funniest, craziest, most delightful game show I'd ever seen in my life. Mom says she watched Password Plus and Super Password when we were really little, but I don't remember Plus at all, and once again only vaguely recall Super. And I definitely don't remember how challenging and fun to play along with they are!

Play along and revive a few memories of your own with some of my all-time favorite games! (And I enjoyed this so much, I will definitely be doing another all-time favorites marathon later in the summer.) 

Match Game (1976)

The New $25,000 Pyramid (1983)

The $100,000 Name That Tune (1984) 

Super Password (1985)

Jeopardy (1986)

Press Your Luck (1986)

The Price Is Right (1988)

Wheel of Fortune (1988)

Fun House (1989)

Family Feud (1991)

Hollywood Squares (1999)