Bittersweet Symphony

Started out a bit earlier today, around 8 AM. Our first stop was one of Lauren's favorite places to eat out. Kelly's Diner was a small brown building near the TJ Maxx shopping center in Pittsfield. It was a nice little hole-in-the-wall, with a line of regulars at the counter and in the booths. Lauren had a plate of enormous pancakes. I had French toast, regular whole wheat toast, and scrambled eggs. Yum! The French toast was perfectly cooked, and the scrambled eggs weren't too watery. Lauren even let me have a bit of her pancakes.

Our next stop was Ollie's Discount Store across the street. I think this one is even bigger than the one in Cherry Hill...and much better-organized. Lauren says it's only been open a few months and replaced her Big Lots. I found another one of those Williams Sonoma American Girls cookbooks, Summer Treats. Lauren and I both picked up boxes of Archway Cookies. She got iced oatmeal; I got Dutch cocoa. 

Next up was our first trip to Goodwill of the day. There's one not far from the Ollie's. It was huge, even bigger than the one in Audubon! It took me a while to find the media, which is kept up front in that store...but when I did, I hit the jackpot. There was a whole bin of Good Eats DVDs, some of them still wrapped. Since I couldn't bring the whole bin home and some of them had episodes I already owned, I went with sets revolving around sweet treats (including the first Good Eats Christmas episode, "The Cookie Clause"), fruit, and favorite breakfast foods and drinks like tea and yogurt. I also picked up a Time/Life collection of popular standards What a Wonderful World and a jazz collection.

After that, we went back across the street to TJ Maxx. Lauren used her gift card to get clothes and a cute bear, but I didn't see anything I wanted. I went next door to Five Below for a Cherry Coke Zero and a Zagnut bar instead.

Lauren took me to the bank she worked for, the Co-Op, next. I got to meet all her co-workers, and even see her really neat desk. She's upstairs, sharing space with two other funny co-workers, across from a window offering a lovely view of the street and Angelina's Subs next-door. Her desk is so her, with all its awesome toys, photos, and stuffed animals. And her co-workers were hilarious and friendly. 

It was a gorgeous day for a long ride to Great Barrington in South County. We made a brief stop at UPS so Lauren could pick up a package for her parents, then went on our way. Lunch was at Agaves Mexican Grill, just outside of Great Barrington. It was so beautiful, we sat outside to enjoy our half-iced tea, half home-made limeade drinks and tacos. She had roast pork with pineapple, I had chicken. Messy, but delicious. We enjoyed our meal while admiring the blue sky, fresh breezes, and totally dry weather.

After we got into Great Barrington, Lauren parked in the big lot next to the Food CoOp and went to the other branch of the CoOp, where Lauren worked for a while a few years ago. She still has a good friend there, Heather, who was cheerful and absolutely hilarious. Their banter was really witty, and it's obvious they'd been friends for a while. She gave Heather a pirate rubber duck for her rubber duck collection, along with things to give Rico, whose car hadn't been seen in the parking lot of the insurance building across the street.

We went for a long, lovely walk in Great Barrington next. This is a gorgeous old town, with massive stone churches, beautiful brick libraries, and charming little stores. Some of the stores weren't open on a Tuesday, but we did hit up most of the ones that interested us, starting with a lovely little toy shop. Lauren picked up action figures and a soft little purple kitty named Ube who was winking. I grabbed a sweet, wide-eyed little pink kitty named Strawberry.

There was a book sale in front of the old brick library. Tables of books were set on their front walk way, with a "pay as you go" donations box attached. Lauren found a book. I didn't see anything I needed.

The next store we found was even better. We were going to explore a comics shop, but they were closed. As we continued to walk, we saw a book shop nestled in a little yellow Victorian house. The Yellow House Book Store sold used books in three wonderfully cramped rooms filled with vintage finds from floor to ceiling. Some of those books went back over a hundred years! Lauren found comics. I found:

The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly (This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, the closest thing I could find to a swashbuckler or historical adventure at the school library, and it was only a dollar.) 

The Black Arrow by Robert Lewis Stevenson (In a vintage paperback edition that looks like it's from the 60's or 70's.)

Topped Chef by Lucy Burdette 

Bayou Book Thief by Ellen Byron

Bob's Records and Audio a few blocks down from the Yellow House proved to be an even better find. He had two rooms filled with records, CDs, and audio equipment of every kind. It's probably just as well that I can't carry records home. His prices on those were kind of high. His CDs were better. Lauren found country titles for her and instrumental classical albums for her parents, who listen to soft instrumental music when they're at home. I picked up:

Getz/Gilberto - Stan Getz and Joao Giberto (Another one I've wanted for a while, but the record copies I've seen were always expensive.)

Forest - George Winston

Lullaby of Broadway: The Best of Busby Berkeley at Warner Brothers (A 2-disc set containing the full music from some of the most famous dance numbers in Berkeley's Warners films.) 

After we left Great Barrington, we next stopped at another Goodwill. This one wasn't quite as large, but it did yield some good finds. Lauren picked up tank tops for her gym workouts. I found the soundtrack from Summer of Soul and a hardback mystery: 

Murder Comes to Call by Jessica Ellicot

Our last stop of the day was the Lee Outlets. We started with dinner at the food court. Despite being listed online as being open until 8, the only booth that actually was still open was Orientaste, their Chinese restaurant. We had Chinese by default. I had broccoli and chicken, mushrooms and chicken, fried rice, and a vegetable egg roll. They were only ok. The egg roll was kind of tough, and the rice was dry, but the chicken wasn't bad. Lauren had orange chicken and General Mao's Chicken.

We briefly stopped at Clarks - Lauren is friends with one of the sales ladies, but she wasn't there - before moving on to Jockey. They were having some really good sales. I picked up a three-pack of good cotton socks for $11.99 and buy one, get one free underwear. We did even better at Old Navy. Lauren bought more work-out clothes. I found a T-shirt that said "Montana Big Sky Country." I couldn't resist, though I've been trying to stay away from buying clothes. Bruce and Kay took Rose, Jessa, and me to Montana in 1995. I've wanted to go back for another trip ever since.

A brief stop at Talbot's yielded no finds, but we both did better at Eddie Bauer. Lauren got shirts off the clearance rack. I found more of those wonderfully comfortable and cute sleep socks and travel bags to keep accessories in. I've been using plastic bags as travel bags for more than 15 years, and I think it's time to retire them. 

By the time we got out of Eddie Bauer, it was past 6:30. We'd had a long day, and there wasn't much else to see at the Outlets. Time to head home. Thankfully, the mild traffic we ran into at Lee and Great Barrington had long vanished by this point. We showed Mr. and Mrs. Miller our finds, then went online.

I wasn't up to much more than two episode of Remember WENN from the 2nd season. It's "Some Good News, Some Bad News" when Scott Sherwood sets up an all-news day, then there's nothing earth shattering to report. Scott's attempts to make news lands them in hot water, until Betty Roberts realizes that a day with no bad things happening is noteworthy in and of itself. 

It's "Magic" when Hilary Booth claims during her magic act with her husband Jeff Singer that someone will pass between the doorways of life and death. There's more immediate concerns at the station as well. Scott reveals to the sponsor of Amazon Andy, Kurt Holstrom, that some of the decoded messages at the end of the show aren't making sense. Scott's the one in trouble when he decodes the messages and finds out who's really behind the sabotage. Later, Betty's still at the station...only to find that Hilary was right, and someone they thought was dead was a lot more alive than they believed...

Better Shop Around

Began the morning with an early start out to Albany. I love our drives through the countryside! Upstate New York is beautiful, especially at this time of year, when the trees are just starting to turn colors. It was a gorgeous day for a ride, too. Sunlight poured down on lovely old farmhouses, rushing rivers, and charming little villages with Victorian libraries and hotels. The sky was bright blue, and the air was fresh, clear, and dry.

We had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, just 20 minutes from the Crossgates Mall. It was only 9 AM, so they were pretty quiet. I kept things simple with blueberry pancakes and syrup, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Oh yum! The pancakes were a litte dry, but still pretty tasty. Lauren had a hash browns casserole with eggs and vegetables and a biscuit.

The gift shop on the way out has a lot of country-related items, along with candy and many things Peanuts. I found the cutest little Peanuts advice book, Be Thankful, and dark chocolate cherry gel sticks.  Lauren bought It's the Great Pumpkin t-shirts for her parents and a stuffed Woodstock that could be placed in the microwave and warmed to give you a very warm hug!

The Crossgates Mall is one of the largest in the Albany area, and probably the biggest of the three malls we visit. Since Lauren parked by JC Penney, we started there. I'm really trying not to buy too much in the way of clothing, but they did have plain t-shirts on sale. I got an olive-colored t-shirt for $6.29.

We next hiked across the mall to Dave & Buster's. This is basically the same deal as Round 1 with a sports bar instead of a bowling alley, a big, modern arcade. I spent the next hour or so running from giant Pac Man to ring toss to Centipede to skee ball. I amassed over 3,000 points. Settled for a small stuffed Pikachu, since he was pretty much the only thing I could fit in my luggage. Lauren was there a little longer - she was trying a new unlimited plays for 90 minutes deal - but couldn't decide what she wanted and opted to save her points.

Next up, we went upstairs to try another arcade. This one was much smaller, only one room...but it had a wall of vintage games. I played Burger Time, Donkey Kong, and for the first time in over 40 years, Defender. I'm still not much good at Defender, but I actually got past the first board on Burger Time and almost did on Donkey Kong. Also finally got a prize from a crane here, Share Bear dressed as a skunk. Lauren got Cheer Bear as a unicorn and a very funny Grumpy as a duck.

Headed to the food court next for lunch and to use the bathroom. I got a stromboli and bread sticks from Sbarro. Oooh, not bad. The spinach stromboli was nice and crispy, and the bread sticks were huge! Sbarro doesn't have the best reputation, but I didn't think that was bad. Lauren got orange chicken, corn, and rice from the Chinese booth.

After lunch, we went back downstairs to play mini golf. The theme of the indoor blacklight course at Crossgates is outer space. There's an astronaut, giant Venus fly trap aliens, and "rock formations" to get your ball around. Though I got a hole in one on the 15th hole, I also had a hard time getting my ball through several obstacles. Lauren won by three points (though she claimed it was close).

We walked around for a while after that. I got two CDs at FYE, a collection of three Harry Connick Jr. albums and the music from the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics that were super-cheap at FYE and a Sailor Moon manga (Japanese comic) at Newberry Comics. Lauren bought Rico a Captain America mug from Newberry Comics and a t-shirt from FYE. I didn't get anything at Primark, Charlotte Russe, Miniso, DSW Shoes, or Old Navy, but she got lounging pants and t-shirts from the first two. 

Tried somewhere new for dinner. Aloha Crab opened a few months ago. It's a small seafood restaurant with crab and shellfish dishes that are so fresh, they put paper on the table and tin buckets for the remains. We just got fried pickles and baskets of fried shrimp and sweet potato fries. Oh yum! The shrimp melted in your mouth, and the hearty waffle-cut fries were amazing. 

Headed home after that. We left around 6:30, just in time to witness a gorgeous pink and orange sunset on the horizon. There was no more trouble getting home than there had been driving to Albany, no traffic anywhere. 

I finished the night watching versions of Match Game that many people might not be familiar with on YouTube. Match Game began as The Match Game on NBC in 1962. Host Gene Rayburn asks a simple question like "Name a flavor of pudding." Two celebrities try to match their answers with the contestant's. It was actually too simple, and not very exciting. Apparently, it didn't start working until they made the questions slightly racier (though not to the degree of the 70's version). Alas, very little of the original 60's Match Game survives. NBC wasn't nearly as good about keeping their shows around as CBS would be later. The premiere episode seen here is one of the few survivors.

Though Match Game ended its run on CBS in 1979, there was enough interest left for them to debut in syndication. This would run for another three years, until early 1982. I think the early 80's syndicated Match Game is highly underrated, as is the attempt to fuse it with Hollywood Squares in 1983. They both have their share of fun celebrities. 

There would be two attempts to revive Match Game in the 90s. The 1990 one is generally the better-regarded of the two. It does have some of the fun of the earlier episodes and some hilarious banter, but the Match-Up mini-game tends to slow down game play and is a bit controversial. 

The 1998 version didn't do nearly as well. It reduced the celebrities to 5, and while Ross Shaffer could be a tiny bit stiff, Michael Berger was all wrong for a fun-filled comedy show. The show had its virtues, including Vicki Lawrence, Nell Carter, and an occasionally hilarious Judy Tenuta.

Check out some Match Game you may not have heard of with these hilarious episodes!

The Match Game Pilot (1962)

Match Game Syndicated Premiere (1979)

Match Game Syndicated (1981)

Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour (1984)

Match Game '90 Premiere (1990)

Match Game '98 (1998)

Still the One

We got an early start this morning after I ate a quick breakfast, driving through Lee and Stockbridge and onto the Mass Pike. This time, we had no trouble anywhere, not even in West Springfield. There was no traffic on the road or near the fair. Lauren set her GPS to take us to the Price Rite shopping center, where the parking is cheaper. We dropped the car there, then made the five-minute walk to the fair grounds. 

The Eastern States Exposition, aka The Big E, is one of the biggest state fairs in the US. The moment you enter, you're immediately assaulted by a farm market building, booths selling everything from solar panels to hot tubs, and stands with bright boardwalk-style signs selling every possible kind of food that can be fried. (And a few that you can fry but probably shouldn't, like Kool Aid.)

We spent the first few hours wandering around, seeing the lay of the land. Decided to hit the Avenue of the States first, before they got too busy to walk around in. The Avenue of the States features recreations of each New England state's original government house. Massachusetts boasted wild honey, fresh lobster rolls, and Boston sports teams memorabilia. Vermont's included its fresh cheeses and a Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream stand. Connecticut had the New England Air Museum and Mohegan Sun Casino. People stood in a long line to wait for Poland Springs water and baked potatoes in Maine. New Hampshire had beautiful jewelry and thick slabs of fresh fudge and maple candy.

Next up was after a quick bathroom break was the Young Building, one of the two shopping buildings at the Big E. We made our way right to the booth that sells clothing and stuffed animals made from alpaca wool. Lauren found a fluffy lavender winter hat. I bought an adorable little lion I named Mack, after Betty's stuffed lion in The WENN Nutcracker Suite. We saw nothing else of interest there, so we headed out again. Took another stroll in the Better Living Building, but bought nothing there.

By this point, it was finally lunchtime. We spent another half-hour walking around, trying to decide what to eat. There were way too many choices! Lauren, who loves Mexican food, finally found a tiny Mexican stand. We both had quesadillas. Hers was beef. Mine was chicken. We enjoyed them at a table between booths.

Our next stop was the Midway. Lauren's not much for rides, and I did rides at Philly and Atlantic City this summer. Not to mention, the last time we played games, Lauren spent over an hour trying to win a big stuffed toy. We stuck to the cranes. I won nothing, but Lauren picked up a Captain America doll for her guy friend Rico.

We headed back out to the main concourse. I was hot and sweaty, and Lauren was sunburnt. It was a gorgeous day, sunny, blue, breezy, and dry, but it was also hot, probably in the lower 80's. I'd seen "mix and match slushies" booths all over the fair and thought I'd try one...until I saw all the bees buzzing around the booth! I had wondered where all the bees that seemed to be everywhere had come from. They must have flown over from the landscaping. I figured getting a pumpkin spice mocha frozen drink from a donut stand was safer. 

While I tried to decide on a cold drink, Lauren was looking over a leather goods store. I joined her just as she was admiring a table filled with every kind of cowboy hat in existence. She was trying on a fuchsia cowgirl hat with a pink and silver ribbon. I had to agree with the saleslady. Lauren looked really cute, and it was on sale. She not only bought it, she wore it for the rest of the afternoon.

After Lauren picked up a strawberry lemonade frozen drink from the donuts stand, we decided it was time to get out of the heat. Since we were in that area anyway, we sat down at the Court of Honor Stage. There were musicians gathering and a drummer practicing even as we settled on the yellow benches. Turns out the 2 PM concert was a yacht rock - aka soft rock from the 70's and 80's - cover band. They even had a guest who had sung the hit "Brandy, You're a Fine Girl" in the 70's and wrote the theme from Lizzie McGuire. They weren't half-bad. We had an enjoyable hour or so in the shade listening, resting, and clapping along.

I needed to use the bathroom, so we went back to the Better Living Building. We explored there after I finished, but once again, we saw nothing we really wanted. Lauren looked at socks with cute or unique patterns and looked for superhero toys for Rico, but we ultimately moved on with nothing.

There was one last thing we wanted to do at the Big E, and one ride Lauren didn't mind doing. An adorable little blue and yellow train picks up across from the Massachusetts Building at the Avenue of the States, driving down the streets nearby and back around the States Buildings. It's technically for kids, but we get a big kick out of it. It's like being in a parade. Everyone waves to the train as it goes by. (Although the conductor did have to shoo one person off who tried to get on without a ticket.)

By that point, it was almost 4:30. We had been walking for six hours, much of it in the hot sun, and were tired and sore. It was time for dinner. Lauren considered getting McDonald's, but we both ended up at Chipolte. She had sofritos with white rice, black beans, tomato salsa, corn, and cheese. I replaced the white rice with brown, the sofritos with chicken, and threw in lettuce with the other things. Yum! It was all good, but the bowls were so big, we ended up taking part of them home.

We headed back out again around 5:30. Same deal going home. Once again, no traffic, not even around the fair or as we passed by Springfield. The sun was just sinking behind the Berkshire Mountains when Lauren finally pulled into her garage. 

Since the Match Game marathon never materialized, I watched the Lawrence Welk Show episodes I didn't get the chance to check out last night. There's at least three on YouTube with a county fair theme. The earliest is from 1967. I thought Jo Ann Castle as the bearded lady and Jack Imel as a carny singing "Anything You Can Do" was a riot! In the 1971 show, Arthur Duncan dances "Meet Me In St. Louis," and Cissy and Bobby naturally get a country fair song from the original Mickey Mouse Club, which Bobby appeared on. Tanya Welch is a psychic who wonders "Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair?" The 1975 show was the last time country singer Clay Hart was a regular. This time, Norma Zimmer got to sing "Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair?"

Here's all three episodes, so you can visit the fair with Lawrence Welk and his musical family, too!

County Fair (1967)
County Fair Show (1971)

County Fair Show (1975)

Finished the night at Tubi with News Hounds. This is one of the earlier Bowery Boys movies, from when the group was still jelling. Slip and Sach are a copy boy and a photographer, respectively. Slip dreams of being a real reporter, going undercover with Sach to expose a sports gambling ring. Their friend Gabe, who works for the ring, finds Slip's story against his bosses and inadvertently has it published. Thing is, Slip was about to give up the story due to lack of evidence, and now the paper is slapped with a huge lawsuit. Gabe agrees to help the guys find Sach's camera and bring in the photos as evidence. 

Ramblin' Woman

Since I already packed the novel I was reading, I started the morning with two American Girl books about vacations. Samantha Saves the Day when the boat she and the twins Agnes and Agatha took to Teardrop Island floats away. She has to navigate the twins and the kindly Admiral through the Sharp rocks around the island during a storm. Felicity Saves the Day reunites her with her beloved horse Penny. Her equine friend proves to be instrumental in helping her find her father's runaway apprentice Benjamin and convincing him to return to her father's service.

Lissie and Sam are far from the only ones to have eventful vacations! Paddington Takes the Road when he repairs a tricycle and joins the Tour De France. Of course, Paddington being Paddington, he goes down a steep hill, only to realize he forgot to add brakes. Donald Duck has an even worse time in The Grand Canyon. He falls off his burro, and Mickey has to take a raft though the rapids to rescue him.

Switched to the 2002 Strawberry Shortcake during breakfast. "Strawberry's Big Journey" takes her, Orange Blossom, Angel Cake, and a worried Ginger Snap on the road to see a certain flower at Tangerine Torta's home. Angel Cake and Ginger Snap complain about getting lost, and they encounter a young mechanic named Banana Twirl who wants them to stay in her little town. Even though things don't work out the way they planned, Strawberry reminds them that the important thing is they had fun on the way.

Mickey and Minnie go on their own adventure "Around the Clubhouse World" in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Professor Ludvig Von Drake has them get stamps on a passport from each country they visit. They encounter artist Donald and flapper Daisy in France, Goofy as a gondolier in Italy, Chip and Dale ready for the Dragon Dance in China, and Big Pete reveling in Egypt, a land where cats are gods.

After Mickey ended and I finished making the bed, I figured it was time to go. Soon as I had my bags downstairs, I called Uber. No trouble there whatsoever. He picked me up in 6 minutes and got me there in a little over 20. There wasn't even much traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway for once. 

Normally, I love walking around in 30th Street Station. It's a huge old barn that looks more like the lobby of an expensive hotel and makes me feel more elegant just being there. It's also in the midst of a years-long remodeling. The stained glass windows are blocked by scaffolding, and the stores are replaced by narrow booths. I got a pumpkin spice donut and a matcha latte at Dunkin Donuts, then sat down to read. After I got tired of sitting, I used the bathroom, then walked around until it was time to get in line.

No trouble whatsoever with either train. The train going to New York was full, but I did manage to get a seat to myself. I ate lunch and did crosswords. It got in about 15 minutes late, but that could have been worse. Bought a big soft pretzel outside of Moynihan Train Hall. Used the bathroom inside, then had a snack in the main hall and walked around until I saw a line for the train to Albany. The train was actually going to Chicago. I got to see the outside of the sleeper car and dining car. 

The train stopping at Albany left on time and arrived on time. It was full until we left Poughkeepsie, then most everyone got off, and I finally got the seat to myself. Before that, the lady who sat next to me spent the two and a half hours we were on the train reading. I colored Cheer Bear and Funshine Bear in the ancient Care Bears coloring book that goes so far back, it's based on Adventures In Care-a-Lot from the late 2000's. 

I love the view going to Albany. All you see in New Jersey are train tracks and suburbs. Upstate New York is a fairy land of shining lakes, beautiful old mansions, forbidding factories, bobbing boats with crisp sails billowing in the breeze, and lacy suspension bridges. No wonder Washington Irving thought there were Headless Horsemen running around in the area. 

Lauren was there right when I got in. She had her own adventures to talk about as we drove to Outback Steakhouse on Wolf Road about 20 minutes from the train station. She did a "buddy walk" with some of her co-workers that was really a long hike. Needless to say, between her hike and my long travel day, we were both famished. Neither of us are the biggest steak fans, but Outback does have other meats. She had seared ahi ahi tuna on a bed of vegetables, with green beans and mashed potatoes. I had grilled chicken with green beans (they were out of any other vegetables) and a baked sweet potato. We shared a Bloomin' Onion and brown bread. Oh yuumm! It was all so good, the only things left after we finished was half of the bread and a quarter of the Bloomin' Onion.

Finished the night after we got home and I took a shower with the Match Game Saturday Classics marathon. The classic cop show CHIPs was just getting started when Match Game was finishing its run on CBS. Brianne Leary, who appeared as a cop in its first year, actually turned up on Match Game before the show was even conceived. She was a contestant in 1976, and won quite a bit of money, too. She became the only contestant to later appear on the panel when she turned up for several weeks in 1979. Robert Pine (later the father of actor Chris Pine) was actually a semi-regular who appeared fairly frequently from 1979 through 1981. Randi Oakes did a few weeks during the syndicated run in 1980, and she and Pine would both later turn up on The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour. 

Let's hit the highway with the members of the highway patrol and keep the streets of LA safe for matching in these hilarious episodes!

Match Game Saturday Classics - CHIPs Actors on Match Game Marathon

Friday Afternoon Fever

Began the morning with breakfast and Alice's Wonderland Bakery. It's "Swicheroo Day," and everyone switches places with one another. Alice eventually figures out how to rhyme and surprise people like the Cheshire Cat, and Rosa has fun helping with recipes like Cookie. Hattie and Fergie get switched with each other...and refuse to ask for help when they claim what they do is easy. The Cat and the girls remind them that it's not a bad thing to ask for help if you don't know how to do something. Glowing purple berries only drift in with the tide "Once In a Wonderland Moon." Alice has to figure out how to turn them into sea-going variations on Dole Whip before the moon vanishes, and the berries become shriveled, overly salty husks. 

Hurried out after that. I had a lot to do today, starting with an errand run at Target. Though my three-year-old niece Aurora's birthday isn't until October 1st, I wanted to get her and Amanda's cards out today. I bought a Disney gift card for Aurora. Mom says she's a huge fan of Minnie Mouse, so I thought she'd get a kick out of something from Disney's online store. I needed a new computer mouse rather badly. The Bluetooth one I bought a while back doesn't work with my new laptop, and my old USB port mouse is losing the pads on the bottom and eats batteries for breakfast. I finally found a smooth pink mouse that wasn't a bad price. Got a new pair of earphones too that could hook up to the cell phone I got in January.

Sprouts was next on my list. They sell "kids' meal" bags with chips, a sandwich, a bottle of water, a cookie, and a container of applesauce. Most of them had barbecue chips, which I don't like. The only one that came with regular chips was the almond butter and jelly sandwich. Why not? I don't think I've ever tried almond butter. The bag I bought last year was great for the train trip. Also small bags of mixed nuts and dried apricots for the trip and granola bars (buy one, get one half off) and soda for when I get home.

Headed down Cuthbert to the Acme next. Most of what I picked up here was for when I got back, including yogurt, soda, apples, and more granola bars. I did get a Propel for tomorrow. I'll likely need more liquids than just that tiny bottle of water that came with the kids' meal bag. Incidentally, I could absolutely see why I got off so easily this week. None of the stores were busy, not even Target. 

Rode down Cuthbert next and over to Haddon to hit PNC Bank. I wanted to take out money for the trip. I stopped at the outside ATM machine, got my money, and got out just as a car pulled up to the driveway. 

At least the weather was gorgeous for all the running around. The rain of the last few days was replaced by sunshine, blue skies, cool winds, warmth, and slight humidity. I enjoyed it as I made my way past the park and down to East Clinton.

Put everything away and packed my backpack while watching Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back!) on YouTube. Charlie Brown is shocked when Linus signs the two of them up for a foreign exchange program to France. Peppermint Patty and Marcie are a part of the same program, while Snoopy and Woodstock tag along for the adventure. (And because Snoopy can somehow drive a Volkswagen.) Chuck gets an even bigger surprise when he receives a letter in French asking him and Linus to stay at the Chateau Mal Voison. As Marcie explains, this means House of the Bad Neighbor...and it turns out that the Baron who owns the house is anything but friendly. It's Linus who eventually finds out who wrote the letter and how they knew about Chuck. Elsewhere, Peppermint Patty gets a crush on the son of their host, while Snoopy sneaks out to a cafe to sing songs from World War II and drink root beer.

This is by far the most unique of the Peanuts' five (to date) theatrical films. First of all, it's the only Peanuts film where you hear adults actually speaking. It would have been strange for four 11-year-olds, a beagle, and a bird to travel through Europe without some adult intervention. It's also the darkest of the five Peanuts movies. Though the Baron ultimately does nothing to the boys besides being a lousy host, he does make serious threats. There's also the sweet story between Violette's grandmother and Chuck's grandfather that makes a nice contrast to Peppermint Patty's imaginary romance. 

Not everything works. Most of the first half, with Snoopy playing tennis at Wimbleton and the kids trying to figure out Cockney accents in London, is pure filler, and honestly, the story seems a little too dark for this particular franchise at times. This is still recommended for major Peanuts fans like me and families with older kids who know something about history. Those with younger kids or who are less familiar with the Peanuts outside of the holidays will want to start with A Boy Named Charlie Brown or The Peanuts Movie first. 

Switched to What's New, Scooby Doo? while eating lunch. Mystery Inc realizes that "Diamonds are a Ghoul's Best Friend" when they come to see the US play Russia in a major hockey match, only for "The Frozen Fiend," an icicle-covered hockey player, to steal the cup and the diamonds embedded in it. Fred wants to jump the gun and capture the ghoul before they've figured out who it is, but Velma reminds him why actually solving the case before they chase the bad guy is important.

(Oh, and I checked my Acme schedule at this point, too, just to make sure my vacation went through. Yes, it did. I'm off for all of next week, and in fact won't be going home until next Sunday.)

Put on a quick Disney short while getting ready for work. Donald thinks he's a "Hockey Champ" when he imitates then-popular figure skater Sonja Henie, then challenges his nephews to a game. That proves to not be a smart move. The boys almost literally skate rings around Donald.

Dropped off the birthday cards for Amanda and Aurora in the mail box, then made my way down the White Horse Pike and Collings to the Thomas Sharp School. Our dance parties for the last two days had been so successful, the teachers decided to have another one in the library, despite it being nice enough to go outside.

This time, they gave out glow sticks to the kids and turned off the lights, turning it into something of a disco dance party. It was hilarious. The kids were a riot running around with their glow sticks, trying to twirl them around their arms and perching them on their heads like glowing crowns. Even the teachers got glow sticks. We danced to "The Wiggle Dance," "Doin' the Flamingo," "Under the Sea," "Hakuna Matata," and songs from Frozen and KPop Demon Hunters. I hadn't had so much fun in ages.

After I got out, I made my way back down the White Horse Pike...but this time, I turned at CVS and rode into Oaklyn. Today was the last Final Friday block party of the year. "Final Friday" is two blocks on West Clinton of food trucks, craft booths, face painting and mini-golf for the little kids, and a local DJ playing hits under a tent. They were already pretty busy when I arrived, especially the long line for the barbecue truck! Since I'm going away tomorrow, I compromised. I had cheaper slices of broccoli-chicken teriyaki and tomato-basil-mozzarella pizza at Phillies Phatties, but for dessert, I treated myself to another one of those Bubba's Gourmet Creamery popsicles. Got chocolate-mint swirl. Oooh, so yummy and creamy...and very minty!

Put on Match Game Syndicated when I got home. Today's episodes covered the time future talk-show hostess Jenny Jones was a contestant on the show. She did very well, too, winning over $5,000. I learned quite a bit that I didn't know about her, like her being from Canada by way of Israel originally.

Worked on Maplepunzel next. Pavla slinks to King Thomas and Queen Gertie and, in the sweetest way possible, demands to have Maple fired. Not even Mr. Eldridge buys it. Maple has been nothing but a good and faithful servant. Gertie has her own reason to keep Maple on. Not only is she worried about Pavla keeping Victor from the rest of the household, but the coffee everyone's been drinking gallons of is putting people to sleep, not keeping them awake. She asks Maple to find out what's going on there.

Since I enjoyed Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown earlier, I finished the night with the far more typical The Peanuts Movie. Poor Charlie Brown just can't catch a break. He badly wants to impress The Little Red-Haired Girl, but whether it's a dressing as a cow for his sister Sally's talent show act, attempting to show off his moves on the dance floor, or writing a complete book report of War and Peace for her, nothing ever seems to turn out right for him. He thinks she doesn't notice him, but it's not until she chooses him as a partner at the end of the year that he realizes how much of an impact he's had on her and all of his friends. Meanwhile, his dog Snoopy writes a story about him being a brave World War I flying ace who saves a pretty poodle from the dreaded Red Baron.

Yeah, if you want to introduce your kids to the Peanuts outside of the holiday specials, I'd start here or with A Boy Named Charlie Brown. They're the most typical of the movies and probably come the closest to what the comic strips are actually like. I also love the animation style here. The kids look more like stop-motion animation, like they're almost made of felt, but their eyes have a hand-drawn style that allows them to have expressions closer to the comics. There's also the comics animation itself turning up in everyone's thought bubbles. No wonder this was a big hit a decade ago. It's probably one of Blue Sky Studio's best production and is really a sweet and charming treat. 

Getting Ready for Vacation

Started off a rainy morning with breakfast and PAW Patrol. The Pups' first "Ultimate Rescue: Pups Save the Royal Kitties" has them rescuing the Princess of Barkingburg's royal kittens from Humdinger, who wants to use their paws to open the box containing a purple gem cat statue. Humdinger somehow managed to convert a train engine to ride on streets, prompting a very strange chase throughout Adventure Bay!

Switched to Pointed Heels after the show ended. I go further into this early talkie backstage drama featuring William Powell as a producer and Fay Wray as the chorus girl he pursues at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Pointed Heels

(Oh, and while Musical Dreams Reviews is going on hiatus while I'm on vacation, I'll be bringing my laptop with me and will continue to update this blog daily.)

Pulled out the luggage while the movie was on, then took my laundry downstairs so I could wash anything I'd need for the trip today. I'm trying not to bring too much along with me. I will be wearing capris there instead of shorts. It's supposed to cool off considerably everywhere next week after the rain passes, especially in Pittsfield. Lauren has already said I can do laundry there. I just packed as much as I could get away with in the main bag today. I won't be packing my backpack until after I use it to go grocery shopping tomorrow. 

The Game Show Vault premiered an episode of Match Game '90 on YouTube in a clear studio master copy this afternoon. It was a good episode, too, the one where Ross falls down the steps he's supposed to descend, and the panelists tease him about it for the rest of the episode. Here it is, so you can see Ross take that crazy tumble, too.

Match Game '90 Studio Master 

Switched to records while I worked on the review for Pointed Heels. Went with two of the Ben Bagley Rediscovered LPs I picked up last year. Jerome Kern Rediscovered goes a bit further back. Cy Young is better-known for his writing today than his singing, but he and Barbara Cook are totally charming on "You Never Knew About Me" from the 1917 hit Oh Boy! They also joined Bobby Short for a delightful "Make Way for Tomorrow" from the 1944 Rita Hayworth-Gene Kelly movie Cover Girl. Short gets three more Kern gems from films, "Never Gonna Dance" and "Bojangles of Harlem" from Swing Time and another Cover Girl number, "Put Me to the Test." 

The majority of the songs on Cole Porter Revisited came from lost Ethel Merman vehicles with Porter songs of the 1930's and 40's. Ronny Graham has way too much fun with the opening number "Come On In" and "A Little Skipper From Heaven Above" from Red, Hot, and Blue. Kaye Ballard gets to belt "I've Still Got My Health" from Panama Hattie and tell the racy "Tale of the Oyster" from Fifty Million Frenchmen. She joins Graham for a hilarious "But In the Morning, No!" from DuBarry Was a Lady. 

Had a quick lunch, then called Uber. The rain had stopped by 2:25, but I wasn't taking chances. Though the driver took 11 minutes to arrive, she was a pleasant, sweet young woman who chatted with me about my vacation and got me to the Thomas Sharp School in less than 5 minutes.

Despite the sun having come out and the rain retreated by quarter of 3, we never went outside today. I guess they figured the playground was still too wet. We had another dance party...but this time, the kids were even rowdier! They were pretty noisy in the bathrooms, too. One of the teachers gave out prizes - little toys and slap bracelets - from a cardboard treasure chest, which may have added to the mayhem. Those dance parties wore them out so much, most of them ended up looking at books they couldn't really read instead before listening to their teacher read Pete the Cat and Little Critter. 

Put on Match Game Syndicated while I had dinner. I came in at the start of the week with Bill Anderson, Jonelle Allen, and Joyce Bulifant. Bill originally gave Gene a baseball cap with the name of his restaurant on it. Gene gave it to Charles, who just sat it slightly on his head in order to not muss his toupee.

Took a shower, then worked on Maplepunzel. Maple takes advantage of Pavla's absence the next day to pick up Victor's breakfast dishes and try to see him. Victor is not only still blindfolded, he's also still passed out. Nothing Maple does can awaken him. She's about to kiss him when Pavla storms in. Not only is she furious that Maple's kissing the prince, she's not happy to see her at all. She threatens to have Maple fired and literally throws her out.

Mackie sees Maple bang against the wall and goes to help her. He tells her how much she reminds him of his beautiful wife Penelope, who died after a witch took their little daughter Anna in exchange for Rapunzel greens to feed Penny during her pregnancy. Maple gives him a hug...but privately, she's starting to wonder if Pavla lied to her about being abandoned as a child...

Finished the night switching from vintage musical comedy to vintage operetta. Though Roberta, a light-as-air confection about a football star who inherits a Paris dress salon, is really more of a musical comedy, this Jerome Kern show from the 30's does have some very operetta-like songs. It introduced the ballads "Yesterdays" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," but my favorite song from this score is the charming "Let's Begin." 

The Vagabond King gets more into traditional operetta territory. Alfred Drake is the poet Francois Villon, Mimi Bentzell his Princess Marguerite. He gets an excellent "Song of the Vagabonds" that opens the second half of the CD. She joins him for a lovely "Only a Rose" and "Tomorrow." Her big solo is the soaring "Some Day."

Rose Marie is an earlier show from the same songwriter, Rudof Frimil. "Indian Love Call" is probably the score's best-known number today. The Media Theater recording I have actually includes almost the entire score, including the rarely-heard comedy numbers "Hard Boiled Herman," "Why Shouldn't We?" and "One Man Woman." 

Library Dance Party

Got a quick start this morning with breakfast and two classic Disney shorts. Chip and Dale are "Chips Ahoy" when they steal a boat in a glass from Donald and use it to cross a lake and get to a tree full of nuts. Mickey's looking for "The Simple Things" during a fishing trip. What he gets is a curious Pluto chasing the seagulls who want the fresh fish he's using for bait.

Hurried off to work after "Simple Things" ended and just made it on time. That was the worst thing that happened all day. The Acme was dead the entire morning. I honestly didn't have a lot to do. There weren't even a ton of carts to push. No wonder I got the weekend and all of next week off. Maybe the weather scared everyone off. It was cloudy, warm (though not to the degree of yesterday), and murderously humid. I was in and out with no trouble whatsoever. 

Made a quick stop at the pretzel shop on my way home for pepperoni-stuffed pretzels and two regular ones. Had those and grapes while watching cartoon episodes with characters playing superheroes. In My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Spike feels unwanted and unneeded when Twilight and the other ponies are repairing an old castle. They get sucked into the world of his comic and become "Power Ponies" who must defeat the evil Mane-iac in order to get home. Spike (and Fluttershy) prove that being quiet or small doesn't mean you're not a great superhero or a better friend.

The Backyardigans spoofed superhero tropes several times on their show, notably in the first season episode "Race to the Tower of Power." Austin is Captain Hammer, who can build anything with a magic hammer, while Uniqua is Weather Woman, the weather-controlling wonder. They have to stop Yucky Man (Pablo) and Dr. Shrinky (Tyrone) from reaching the Tower of Power and claiming the Key to the World.

I was going to take my bike to Thomas Sharp, too, but by the time I was ready to leave, it had finally started showering. Called Uber instead. The driver was a bit late. I got to the school just in time. The rain was still coming down when I finished, so I took Uber home, too. 

I think you can guess that the kids never went outside today. We were in the library almost the entire afternoon, but we still had a marvelous time. In fact, I think we had more fun in that library than we ever did outside. One of the teachers brought a speaker, playing "The Flamingo Dance," "Sharks In the Water," "Let It Go" from Frozen, and several songs from K-Pop Demon Hunters. One of the other teachers moved the tables out of the way so we could all dance. Oh boy, did we have fun! The kids were hilarious, swirling around, scooting on the floor, or wiggling their arms and legs. After our dance, we all settled down to hear Pete the Cat and Hop on Pop. Several kids claimed teacher laps, including mine. I hadn't had so much fun on a rainy afternoon in a long time.

When I got in, I worked on Maplepunzel. Queen Gertrude (Gertie) is tired of this so-called "Maple" (Pavla) not letting her see Victor and treating the servants badly behind her back. She recruits the real Maple to keep an eye on her, write down what she sees, and report back to her. Maple also enjoys hearing the stories told by their butler Mackie, who speaks fondly of his late wife Penelope, her strong healing power, and the little daughter they lost.

Watched Match Game Syndicated while working and as I had dinner. They started off finishing the week with McLean Stevenson, Eva Gabor, and Elaine Joyce. The next week introduced Edie McClurg as a semi-regular. She annoys some people, but I think her energy and her Valley Girl imitations are cute and funny. That week cut off early...because part of it is on the tape with the Jimmie Walker week that he still hasn't cleared for being shown. They skipped to the week with Robert Donner and giggly Betty Kennedy. Delightfully sarcastic Patty Duke sat in Brett's character actress seat that week.

Finished the night with The Love Boat at Paramount Plus. "Country Cousin Blues" has a country singer (Florence Henderson) falling for an old friend (James Noble) who is now a politician, which his actual girlfriend (Carol Lawrence) doesn't like one bit. Gopher thinks he's hit the "Jackpot" when he finds a purse full of money and fantasizes about how he'll spend it. A young woman (Randi Oakes) is on the boat with her father (Mason Adams), but rethinks being "Daddy's Little Girl" when he almost drives away a veterinarian (Frank Bonner) who seems interested in her. 

Hot In Autumn

Slept in and spent most of the morning reading and writing. It was almost noon before I got going with a very small breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. "Minnie-rella" is tired of her friends giving her tons of chores to do. She dreams that Fairy Godmother Clarabelle and Goofy give her a gown, glass slippers, and a tomato carriage so she can attend Prince Mickey's ball. They fall in love, but after Minnie flees, Goofy is the one who has to help Mickey find whose foot fits that glass shoe.

Headed out next. My first stop was brief. I dropped off that huge collection of F. Scott Fitzgerald short stories and his novels This Side of Paradise and The Beautiful and the Damned at the book kiosk on Johnson Avenue. Not only do I not have the room for it anywhere, but I suspect I could probably find most of Fitzgerald's short stories online, and I didn't like the novels enough to keep them.

Headed down to Collingswood next for lunch. The Stardust Cafe was still pretty busy when I arrived. They gradually cleared out as I enjoyed my three massive pancakes topped with strawberries, syrup, and butter. The "strawberry sauce" I also ordered was so thick and full of huge strawberry pieces, I ate it with a spoon. Tried an Arnold Palmer Slushie, lemonade iced tea with lemon foam on top. Not bad. Tart and not too sweet...and cooling, which is really what I cared about.

It was too nice of a day off to spend it wandering around in stores. Besides, I want to save what little shopping I need to do for vacation next week. I rode around in Collingswood and Westmont for a while, enjoying the warm sunshine. It was a bit humid, more than it has been, but not to the killer degree that it was last summer. 

Made my way down to La Morense Plus on the corner of Cuthbert and the White Horse Pike. It was too hot to not get some kind of cooling treat! Decided to try horschata water ice. It did indeed taste like rice and cinnamon drink water ice, almost like rice pudding water ice. Very sweet and very needed on that hot afternoon. I wasn't the only one there. A dad and his son enjoyed treats next to me.

I did make a stop at Family Dollar on the way home. My friend Amanda and my niece Aurora's birthdays will be while I'm on vacation. I wanted to get their cards and gift cards out now. Got Lauren and Amanda gift cards and Amanda a card here. Lauren's birthday isn't until the 19th, but I wanted to celebrate it with her early next week. Also grabbed a much-needed Propel.

Headed home and put on The Price Is Right while I took down the summer decorations and put up what I have for fall. It may not have felt like fall today, but today is the first full day of the season. I put out a stuffed squirrel holding a nut, an orange owl in glasses reading a book, and patchwork apples and pumpkins. There were tiny baskets of foliage and short Indian corn for my shelves, two small pillows from Jo Ann's and a yard sale respectively to hang on doors, and a lovely beaded wreath from another yard sale on my walls. The huge straw and fall foliage bow-shaped wreath is from a yard sale, too. The thick wooden standing rustic wood pumpkin is from Goodwill. 

Watched one episode of Match Game Syndicated while I put everything away. I wasn't going to miss McLean trying on Gene's jackets. He ends up in a pale blue one for most of the episode. He even does an imitation of a lounge singer near the end of the show. As Brett constantly said, he had no flair for fashion (though his comedy sense was pretty sound).

Switched to It's a Great Life after that. I go further into this 1929 backstage melodrama featuring genuine vaudeville headliners the Duncan Sisters at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Cult Flops - It's a Great Life

Worked on Maplepunzel while the movie was on. Maple and Scott settle into their roles as maid and gardener at the castle. Maple proves to be excellent at her job, enough for the king and queen to commend her. She most loves to hear the butler Mackie Bloom tell stories of his days as an actor and his beautiful late wife, Penelope, and the daughter they lost...

Went back to Match Game Syndicated after the movie ended. This time, McLean found himself caught between the considerable assets of glamorous blondes Eva Gabor and Elaine Joyce. Eva, Elaine, and Brett helped Gene show off the gorgeous bird-based artwork one of the contestants had done.

Finished the night with the original cast album for On the Twentieth Century. Madeline Kahn was movie star Lily Garland, arguing with her director ex-husband Oscar Jaffee (John Cullum) on this original cast album. Imogene Coca has a hilarious number near the end, "Repent!", as a religious nut who annoys everyone on board. Kahn wasn't in the show all that long (and was said to be difficult when she was), but she sounds great singing "Veronique" and joining Cullum for "Our Private World" and "I've Got It All."

Kids and Whammies

Began the morning with breakfast and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. In the second season finale "Reunion," we meet Bow's fathers, two scholars who run a library devoted to First Ones artifacts. They want Bow to be a librarian like them, which is why Bow has lied and told them he, Adora, and Glimmer go to an academy. He finally has to tell them the truth when he and the girls have to fight off a First Ones monster Adora accidentally unleashed. Meanwhile, Catra faces major punishment from Hordak for letting Shadow Weaver go.

First thing on the docket was a walk to Dollar General. It was too nice of a day not to! It was sunny, warm and a little humid, but not too much, probably in the lower 80's. I mainly just needed pads. Got a Coke Zero, too. Grabbed birthday cards for Lauren, Amanda, and my littlest niece Aurora and a thank-you card for Lauren and her parents for having me visit them. 

Went with the Bowery Boys after I got in. Slip and Sach are horrified when they learn their boss, a Wall Street broker, has committed suicide. After they learn he had a massive gambling debt to a certain local mob boss, they learn the fine art of flim-flam from a local con man and become Lucky Losers when they set up their own illegal casino to lure the gangster out of hiding. They become a bit more concerned after their buddy Gabe Moreno, a TV journalist with his own show, is beaten for naming names. They call in soda shop proprietor Louie Dumbrowski to pose as a high-rolling cowboy and help make sure they don't end up in the hospital too.

Worked on Maplepunzel for most of the day. It takes several days of driving through the swamp, sweeter-smelling woods, and past industrial factories, but Scott, Maple, and the others do finally arrive in the small but attractive kingdom of Wennaria. Scott gets directions from a rather motley Army regiment (MASH cast members in a cameo) to small but cozy Wennaria Castle. Miss Mary, the head housekeeper, hires Scott as the gardener and Maple as an upstairs maid. She's too tired not to! She's yawning the whole time she interviews them and finally passed out at the table. She mentions the coffee that the household is drinking while preparing for Prince Victor's wedding. Scott and Maple know there's something fishy here and decide to investigate. 

Switched to Storybook International during lunch. "The Squire's Bride" is a variation on "Clever Gretel" from Scandinavia. Gretel does not want to marry the fat, greedy old squire, no matter how much her father needs to be released from his rent. Instead of agree to their wishes, she sends a furry pony over to be dressed in her bridal clothes and teach the squire a lesson.

Headed to the Thomas Sharp School after the episode ended. The children were pretty rowdy today, probably because they were excited about having tomorrow off. Even though one of the other teachers read Horton Hears a Who, they still had a hard time sitting down at lunch. I ended up spending the rest of the afternoon with the older kids. The teacher took most of them outside to play Red Light, Green Light. I drew with the rest and watched after those who built with magnetic tiles or Legos. The kids admired my drawings of Eugenia and her sisters from the upcoming Four Dancing Princesses, Eugenia, Foley, Scott, and Betty in the ballroom, and Eugenia trying to pet the enchanted puppies on Pruitt's leashes. When it was down to three kids, we put out connecting foam mats and let them strut their stuff in various poses on a "runway." 

When I got home, I had dinner while watching Match Game Syndicated. They're on the hilarious week where McLean first takes over reading a question for Gene, so Gene can answer the questions himself. In fact, McLean hosted the rest of the episode, and didn't do too badly, either. Brett scolded him for his lack of fashion sense in the last episode.

Finished the night with a salute to game show producer and director Bill Carruthers, whose birthday would have been Saturday. Bill started out directing game shows in the late 50's and early 60's like Ernie Kovacs' Take a Good Look and Chuck Barrios' The Newlywed Game. By 1968, he was producing his own game shows...but he never seemed to have much luck. Neither Give n Take with Jim Lange nor the retooled You Don't Say! with Tom Kennedy lasted more than a few months. 

Second Chance from 1977 didn't last long, either...but its lightning-fast game play and huge flashing board provided the bones for what would be Carruthers' only hit. Press Your Luck debuted on CBS in 1983. Three players answer questions, earning spins for each correct answer, three if they buzz in first. Those spins give them turns to play the huge board and win money or prizes. If they hit a Whammy, the annoying animated red guys (designed and animated by "Savage" Steve Holland) take everything they've accumulated. Four Whammies, and they're out of the game. 

Which happened in the very first episode. The one guy whammied out, leaving the ladies to battle it out. They do better on an episode from later in the run, though the episode included from 1985 had its own weirdness. At any rate, Press Your Luck is by far Carruthers' most popular contribution to game shows. He only did one more game show, Designated Hitter for ESPN in the 1990's, before retiring in 1996 after a stroke. 

Take a good look as the Whammies snatch your cash in this salute to the man who gave all those hit by the annoying red guys a second chance!

Take a Good Look (1959)

The Newlywed Game (1969)

Give N' Take Pilot (1975)

You Don't Say! (1975) 

Second Chance (1977)

Press Your Luck Premiere Episode (1983)

Press Your Luck (1985)

Music and Matches

Began the morning with breakfast and the Broadway original cast album for Rodgers and Hammerstein's State Fair. This 1997 stage version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's only musical made for film mostly uses songs taken from lesser-known projects along with all of the songs written for the original film and one for its 1962 remake. Of the additions, my favorites are the gorgeous ballad "So Far" for Wayne and Emily from the experimental Allegro and two songs from Pipe Dream, "The Man I Used to Be" for Pat and "The Next Time It Happens" for Margie. Nothing you absolutely must hear unless you're a huge fan of the film, but a pleasant enough listen if you run across it.

Kitty's Kisses goes back even further. In this recently-restored 1926 musical, Kitty is a young woman posing as a married woman to get a hotel room...and is mistaken for another married woman. Not the most exciting story, but some of the songs are charming. The opening "Walking the Track" is adorable, and the trio "I Don't Want Him" is absolutely hilarious. Once again, not the greatest thing ever, but worth checking out at least once if you're into the musicals of the 20's. 

Listened to the Eagles-Rams game on my scan mini-radio before I went to work. The Eagles started off badly, with the Rams out-running them. The Rams had just pulled ahead when I went to work. I later heard from several co-workers that the Eagles made a last-minute play that won them the game 33-26.

Work was surprisingly busy, considering the game was still on when I arrived. I had trouble gathering carts all day. I'd go out and fill them, go inside to sweep, and then go back out, and they'd be empty again. It had finally just started slowing down a little bit when I finished. 

Hurried home, took a shower, grabbed leftovers for dinner, and finished the night watching tonight's Match Game marathon on YouTube. Jo Ann Worley is best known today for appearing on the first four seasons of Laugh-In and for her animation voices, including as the Wardrobe in the original Disney Beauty and the Beast and Hoppo in The Wuzzles. She started off in 1974 and would appear sporadically through 1976. She mooned over a handsome mountain man sporting long hair and thick beard and heard a question asking what Frankenstein's monster would do if he had Brett's brain. 

She probably did her best work in the 1990-1991 show. There, she got to show off her soprano voice, joke with Charles about appearing with him in The Mikado, and flirt with handsome contestants in mullets. She did really well by those guys, winning them money in the Head-to-Head at least four times. 

Bring your fan and your own operatic aria to honor this lady who makes music and laughter in equal measure! 

Match Game Sunday Classics - With Jo Ann Worley on the Panel

Stories In the Sunshine

Began the morning with breakfast and Alice's Wonderland Bakery. It's "A Dumpling Thing" when the Queen of Hearts holds a contest to find the official food of Wonderland. Alice asks every character to bring their favorite dishes. They learn a lesson in diversity when they all bring variations on dumplings...but despite being similar in make, they're all very different from one another. Alice asks Millie the Carpenter to help them create "A Tasteful Game of Croquet" when the Queen of Hearts puts in a request for an edible croquet set. 

Headed out after the episode ended. My 8 1/2-hour work shift was pretty steady almost the entire afternoon. I was run ragged for a lot of it. I was trying to gather carts, return cold items, and help clean up spills, with little or no help. I had a hard time keeping up with the carts, especially later in the day. The weather did help. It was hot, sunny, breezy, and dry, without a cloud in the sky. It actually felt pretty nice pushing carts. 

At least I came up with some great story ideas while working in the parking lot. Eugenia and Mr. Foley's "Four Dancing Princesses" story is now set in the Roaring 20's. Mr. Eldridge is a wealthy theatrical producer and theater chain owner, Gertie is his wife, and the four ladies are his daughters. Foley is supposedly the sole survivor of the anarchist bombing that damaged Mr. Elridge's largest theater, where Betty and Eugenia's new musical was to have debuted...a show that was heavily critical of Pruitt's shady practices and black magic abilities. 

Bored while staying at their family's summer mansion, Hilary discovers the entrance to a magical speakeasy under the house. They dance the night away with their three missing suitors - Jeff, Scott, and Victor - but Pruitt is controlling the music and forcing all of them to dance until exhaustion. He wants to drain their energy and musical abilities, forcing the ladies into unwanted marriages with himself and his fellow financial colleagues. During the day, Foley discovers that Pruitt keeps the men under a spell as dogs...and is especially cruel to Scott, who keeps trying to escape and tell Betty what's going on. Sweet Eugenia is the only one who resists Pruitt's spell. She and Foley have to use their own special kind of harmony to overwrite the cursed music and save her sisters and his friends. 

Went straight into the first of two Match Game marathons tonight when I got home. Foster Brooks is still best known today for the ultimate drunk act. He made several memorable appearances on Match Game in 1979 and 1980, in the last weeks of the show's CBS run and early in its syndicated run. He comically frisked Betty White when Dick Martin claimed his watch was missing. There was also the time when the audience came up with the top answer for "__ Balsam" in the Audience Match and the panel walked out in disgust, and Foster telling a few racially-offensive stories in an episode that led to that episode being banned from Buzzr (though it apparently has been seen on GSN before). 

Lift a glass to the screen's most lovable-non drunk in this tipsy delight!

Match Game Saturday Classics - Foster Brooks on the Panel

For the second week in a row, we finish with a tribute to a TV character actress who passed away the week before. Pat Crawley had been appearing on TV for over a decade when she turned up on her only Match Game week in late in 1975. This week was mainly notable for introducing a very funny contestant who happened to own a hotel in Encino, playing on Gene and Brett's infamous and long-running joke about ending up there. 

Salute a very sweet and funny lady with this touching marathon!

Pat Crowley Tribute

And here's my review for Plankton: The Movie, which I watched yesterday. 

Animation Celebration Saturday - Plankton: The Movie

All Together Now

Began the day with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel's Grr-ific Grandpere" teaches him about the wonderful things that can be found at high tide and shows him the secret compartment in a toy boat. Jodi and Daniel love "Making Mozies with Nana." "Mozies" are flourless banana cookies made with bananas and oats. The kids are upset when they realize they're out of chocolate chips, but Nana shows the kids that they can try something new. 

Went out to hit the grocery stores after breakfast. Dodged traffic on Cuthbert to hit Sprouts first. Mainly needed coconut milk and dried fruit there. Golden raisins were on a really good sale. Found Cliff kids' bars on the clearance racks and good sales on soda and sparkling water. They still had the cherry shortbread cookies on the bakery rack for cheap. Tried bruschetta and a "sparkling non-alcoholic drink" from the lady giving out samples. Yum! The bruschetta was tasty, tangy and buttery. The drink was...kind of weird, maybe because I don't drink the real stuff.

The Acme wasn't much busier than Sprouts had been. Mainly needed to restock yogurt, granola, and soda. Cliff's bars were on a good enough sale to pick up here, too. Starting this past spring, Acme has been releasing limited edition snacks in seasonal flavors. Their seasonal cookie is leaf-shaped maple sandwich cookies, which I love. Grapes and strawberries were on good sales with online coupons. Had an online coupon for pretzel roll sliders with ham, turkey, and cheese, too. 

Took the long way home across Newton Lake Park. It was too nice of a day not to! Hot, yes, probably in the upper 80's, but breezy, sunny, and dry. I was surprised the park wasn't busier at quarter after 1. Everyone must have been at lunch. The smaller trees are just starting to show the first signs of changing color. The bigger ones, however, remain dusty green for now. Fruit and seeds dropped off the bushes on the banks of the lake and in the gully alongside the path over the hill. 

Watched the second disc of Snoopy Tales when I got home. The vast majority of these episodes revolved around Linus and his blanket. Either he'd try to kick the habit of carrying it around and give it to Snoopy or Lucy, or Snoopy would attempt to steal it. It ended up with the cat next door once. Woodstock finally rescued it. Snoopy made it into coats for him and Woodstock. He dragged it and Linus into a lake while Linus desperately held on. Lucy hid it from him and mailed it to a grandmother. 

Checked my schedule at this point as well. I only work two days at the Acme next week...because I'll be leaving for Pittsfield a week from tomorrow. I have the feeling I would have been working the same hours on Sunday and Wednesday regardless of what I did the week after. I don't even have as many hours at school. The kids are off on Tuesday for Rosh Hashanah, which means I have a full day off to relax, and almost the entire week to work on Maplepunzel and get ready for vacation. 

After the disc ended and I finished lunch, I headed down to the Thomas Sharp School. We started out in the library, but weren't there for very long. Apparently, several teachers were having a meeting. Everyone ended up back in the cafeteria. I drew Betty and Enid the youngest snowflake fairy in the Snowflake Forest from my upcoming WENN Nutcracker Suite re-write with them. 

Made sure the older kids washed their hands in the bathroom without fuss, then joined the younger ones outside. It was too hot for them to do a lot of running around. They mostly spent the time climbing around under the trees, playing in the mulch, trying to climb the fences (which they are not supposed to do), or fussing over the swings. I'd just started drawing Nutcracker Scott with them after we'd gone back inside when I was told enough kids had gone home that I could leave early.

Made a brief stop at Speedy Mart on the way home. Their bagels are genuinely good, probably some of the best in the area along with Kismet's in Collingswood. I got a rainbow, a blueberry, and a cinnamon raisin. I don't often see Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi around, either. They were really busy with people buying their own drinks and groceries after work. It took me a few minutes to get their attention and the bagels.

Worked on Maplepunzel when I got home. Furious, Maple and Betty insist on leaving for Wennaria right away to stop Victor from marrying Pavla. Whoa, ladies, Scott says. They can't all ride on the two horses. Scott, Maple, Betty, and the animals eventually build a carriage, with Hilary offering queenly critique and Jeff pointing out where to find the strongest and driest wood. Scott trades the animals he's hunted for four very rusty wheels that they have to strip and get on the carriage. Soon, though, they're all ready to go, even Hilary and Jeff in the mirror. Scott and Maple sit up front, while Eugenia the songbird leads the way. 

Watched Match Game Syndicated while I worked. Most of the night was devoted to the week with Betty White in Brett's seat. In fact, Joyce Bulifant (to her delight) and Marcia Wallace got to sit in Brett's seat, too. So did Bill Daily when the women sat on the lower tier and the men on the upper. For some reason, they skipped the first week of the 1981 season and ended the night with Fred Grandy in Charles' seat, Brett returning, an unusually sharp Mary Ann Mobley, and McLean Stevenson taking over permanently in the fifth "smart guy" seat.

Finished the night with Plankton: The Movie at Netflix. I'll go further into this bizarre exploration into the mine of SpongeBob SquarePants' most unique villain and his computer wife at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews tomorrow. 

A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood

Began the morning with breakfast and What's New, Scooby Doo? Mystery Inc is "Farmed and Dangerous" when they head to the farm the Secret Six puppies and their owner Mr. B bought with their winnings from the dog show. They're being terrorized by a ghostly farmer on a huge tractor. While Scooby protects the puppies, the others have to decide just what this horrifying man of the land is after.

Spent a lot of the day working on Maplepunzel. Scott asks to see Victor and find out what happened to him after he was kidnapped. Pavla, speaking with Maple's voice and wearing her hair woven into her own, brings Victor back to the smaller Wennaria Castle. She charms elderly King Thomas, but Queen Gertrude is suspicious when this woman who claims to love her oldest son won't heal him or let her help take care of him. She hypnotizes Victor into believing she's Maple and puts him to sleep before Gertrude can ask him what happened. Gertie's even more suspicious when "Maple" insists on marrying Victor within a week...to the horror of the real Maple!

Watched Seven Hills of Rome while I worked. I go further into this charming Italian-set vehicle for Mario Lanza at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Seven Hills of Rome

Headed out as soon as the movie ended. It was too beautiful to sit inside all day. I treated myself to lunch at Amato Bros on the White Horse Pike instead. The lunch crowd was just leaving as I had my tasty flounder sandwich with thick crinkle-cut fries and perfect Cole slaw that wasn't soupy at all. 

Since it was still too early for work, I went for a long bike ride around West Collingswood Heights. I don't often go down there, and if I'm going to work there, I figured I might as well get to know the territory. Not to mention, it was just too darn nice to be hanging out inside. Though it was warm again, in the mid-80's, it was also breezy, sunny, and dry. Couldn't have been a nicer day in mid-September.

Arrived at the Thomas Sharp School just in time. The younger kids were in the library again today. That seems to suit them just fine. They can play, draw, and have their snacks while hearing stories. I kept an eye on the older kids while they washed their hands in the bathrooms, then joined the pre-schoolers outside. Boy, did they have a good time. Unlike many schoolyards (including the ones at Oaklyn and Cape May Elementary), the tiny playground area at Thomas Sharp is ringed by huge trees and has ample shade. Some kids hung out under the slides. Others gathered ivy to make a home under a tree for a ladybug. Others argued over how long they'd been on the swings. There wasn't music this time, but they all had a great time chasing each other nevertheless.

Went straight home after work for Storybook International. "The Three Coins" is a Spanish tale where a farmer gives his sons a silver coin and tells them to find suitable work. One becomes a master thief, one a flamboyant fortune teller with a crystal ball. The youngest becomes apprenticed to an honest coppersmith. They all have to work together and use their different skills to rescue a princess from a wicked black knight.

Switched to Match Game Syndicated during a leftovers dinner. Most of the episodes tonight were from the week where Jack Klugman took Brett's spot while she was out doing a play. He spent the week complaining about not getting gifts and the radio they did give him not getting his horse races. Betty White got to sit in Brett's seat for the first and only time in the last episode of the night.

Finished the night with the soundtrack from the 1954 movie Deep In My Heart. This is another MGM semi-revue revolving around the life of a composer...but the composer in question here is Sigmund Romberg, who specialized in ragtime, early jazz, and florid operetta. The former is represented by Jose Ferrer and Helen Traubel having too much fun with "The Leg of Mutton Rag." Ferrer does even better playing all the roles in a typical Al Jolson vehicle himself in an attempt to impress the girl he met at a summer resort (Doe Avedon). Other notable numbers include Ann Miller dancing to "It," a comedy number from The Desert Song, James Mitchell and Cyd Charisse dancing a sensual "One Alone" (also from The Desert Song), Vic Damone and Jane Powell's lovely "Will You Remember?" and "Road to Paradise" from Maytime, and Howard Keel and the chorus' rousing "Your Land and My Land" from the rare Civil War operetta My Maryland. 

Rainy Day Serenades

I opened my eyes as 8 as the alarm went off and closed them for five minutes. I opened them again...and it was 9:08! I was due at work at 9. I yanked my uniform on, wolfed down my breakfast, grabbed my phone, and contacted Uber. They were supposed to arrive within three minutes...but it took over twice that long when the first driver canceled. I still wound up being a half-hour late for work. Thankfully, it was easier getting home. The first driver I called came in 4 minutes. No trouble on the road, no traffic either way.

Work started out totally quiet. It didn't pick up until around 11:30...and then, it was unusually busy for a middle of the week and middle of the month day. Maybe people were trying to avoid the cold, cloudy, windy weather. It showered a little bit around noon, but didn't do a whole lot else. I had a hard time gathering carts around noon. It was slowing down a bit when I left.

I originally planned on going out to lunch or getting pretzels, but between the rain picking up by the time I went home and my phone being almost out of juice, I just ended up going home. Watched Alice's Wonderland Bakery while I ate. Everyone gets together to celebrate the anniversary of "Alice's First Day In Wonderland." Cookie is so mortified when she loses the recipe for Wondercake they baked on that first day, she decides to retire. Alice joins the Cheshire Cat on Memory Lane to piece together her memories of that first day and figure out where the recipe might have gone to.

Chase is also having a chaotic time in Barkingburg during Paw Patrol. His attempt to protect the Princess' crown turns into "Mission Paw: Quest for the Crown" when spoiled Sweetie the pup steals the crown and frames Chase. The others have to find him and prove who the real culprit is.

The rain had slowed down by quarter after 2, but I wasn't taking chances. I called Uber again. This time. they arrived in 5 minutes and took less than five minutes to arrive at the Thomas Sharp School. I joined another arriving teacher and just went in a bit early.

It's probably a good thing I did. We had over 30 kids today...and needless to say, no one went outside. The pre-schoolers ended up in the library. That actually ended up working out surprisingly well. There were lots of books to read to them, and we brought in colored pencils and construction paper, wooden blocks, and magnetic tiles to play with. They even could have been worse in the bathrooms. I thought the kids might get a kick out of my drawing Captain Victor, reporter Betty, Shadow Man Scott, and Lunar Lady Maple from my upcoming Captain Victor, Man of Power stories. Started Eugenia and Foley from the next story I have planned, The Four Dancing Princesses, but ran out of time to finish them. 

It wasn't raining when I got out, just cold, windy, and damp. I walked home. Needed to stop at Dollar General on the way anyway. I was originally going to buy an egg timer to help me get to bed earlier, but they didn't have one. I did get triple AAA batteries there (I'm almost out of those) and a Coke Zero.

Worked on Maplepunzel after I got in. Maple and Scott both hug Betty the deer in a show of solidarity, while Hilary recalls how they appeared in the hovel after the smoke cleared, and what it had been. Scott asks Jeff how he got trapped in the mirror. Pavla lured him to Prague Castle after he found out she and Pruitt were the ones who destroyed Hope Springs. She forced him into a marriage to save his brother Victor and their men, then used the same mirror magic to hypnotize him, take his voice, and bind him to the mirror as a silent slave. He's trapped in the Mirror World. Hilary can see him, but she can't hear him or touch him, and he can't speak to or touch her. 

Finished the night with dinner, a shower, and Serenade. I go further into this melodramatic Mario Lanza vehicle from a James M. Cain book at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Serenade

The Beautiful Entertainers

Began the morning with breakfast and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. We learn more about Shadow Weaver, formerly known as "Light Spinner," in this episode. She was once a good magician and teacher who was mentoring a young man named Michah. She wanted to use dark magic to combat the Horde attacking her land, but ended up being consumed by the very magic she tried to control and joining the Horde instead. While she manipulates Catra into helping her escape, Bow finally interprets the message he got back in "Signals."

Switched to Because You're Mine after the cartoon ended. I go further into the first of three vehicles for Philadelphia tenor Mario Lanza I'll be doing this week at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Because You're Mine

Spent most of the morning - and actually, a lot of the day - working on the flashback sequence of Maplepunzel. Hope Springs was once a beautiful, culturally-obsessed country of theaters and artists. Scott and Betty are deeply in love, and he wants to run away with her to Yorkalia, where he'll start his own business and she'll write without Hilary's interference. 

Hilary and her financier Rollie Pruitt stop him before his plans get far. Pruitt told Hilary Scott stole money from businesses in Hope Springs. Queen Hilary banishes him for the theft. He returns to Betty the evening of her engagement party, but Hilary told Betty about Scott's theft, and she slaps him instead of listening. She'll go through with the engagement to the frequently absent Prince Victor, even though deep down, she still cares for Scott. He watches her run upstairs in her lacy white and pink gown, but Hilary's guards throw him out.

Pruitt, however, is working for Pavla, who has promised him a beautiful bride of his own (Maple) in exchange for getting rid of Scott. She transforms Hilary's guards into monsters and the members of her court and prominent citizens of Hope Springs at Betty's engagement ball into woodland animals. Her monsters attack Hilary as she prepares Betty for the party. Pavla uses Hilary's own hand mirror to curse them into the things they fear most. Hilary is now the ugly old crone she fears being, while Pavla steals Betty's voice and turns her into a pet deer and Hilary's only remaining possession besides the mirror.

Switched to the first CD of The Monkees deluxe 2-disc set during lunch in honor of songwriter Bobby Hart, who passed away a week ago. Hart was one half of the songwriting team of Boyce and Hart, who were the initial writers for The Monkees project. The vast majority of the songs on the Monkees' self-titled album were written by them, including "Let's Dance On," "Theme from The Monkees," and the hit "Last Train to Clarksville." 

Headed out to the Thomas Sharp School after the CD ended. We started out in the school's tiny library, thanks to the school band rehearsal in the gym/cafeteria running overtime. The kids loved it when I read Arthur Writes a Story (since I'm currently writing one, too) and the Little Critter story Gets Lost for them. I got a big crowd around my table who wanted to hear about Arthur's writing project and Little Critter being lost at the mall. 

After snack time, I spent the rest of the afternoon helping out with the older kids. For once, there were more of them than there were of the pre-schoolers. I made sure they all went to the bathroom and washed their hands (and that the boys were actually doing those things and not messing around). After that, I did art with the older girls while the little kids were outside, running around on a cold, windy, gray day. I drew the scene I just wrote of Betty turning Scott away after he admits he lied to her about where the money for their escape came from, then a scene I have planned for later, where Maple cries onto the blinded Victor and restores his sight.

Made a brief stop at the Speedy Mart on the way home. I hadn't really done much of anything today besides write and thought I deserved a treat. Enjoyed a Prime drink (Nightmare!) and a huge, moist chocolate-chocolate chip muffin that was really tasty.

When I got home, I resumed writing. Watched The Sting in honor of Robert Redford, who passed away today. Small-time con man Johnny Hooker (Redford) joins up with the more experienced Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) to take down Irish mobster Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw) after he has Johnny's former partner Luther (Robert Earl Jones) killed. They join with Henry's sarcastic girlfriend Billie (Eileen Brennan) and a team of experienced con-artists to create a fake horse betting scam that will lure Doyle in and take him down once and for all.

Soon as the movie ended, I put the soundtrack on. The movie and the soundtrack are two of my all-time favorites. The Sting was one of the catalysts behind a major revival of ragtime in the 70's. Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" became a huge top-10 hit more than 60 years after it was written, and it's still associated with the film to this day.

Finished the night with More of the Monkees. Although Boyce and Hart would continue writing songs for the Monkees until well into the early 70's, this was the last time they produced their album. Their version of "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" was the big hit here. The dark ballad "She" was their other major song on the album, though the two-disc version I have also includes their "Words." 

(Oh, and it started showering shortly after I got home and has rained lightly off and on ever since.)

Kids and Games

Began the morning with breakfast and Paw Patrol. "Pups Save a City Kitty" when Katie's cat Cali gets bored at a cabin in the woods and runs away. Trouble is, it's night, it's cold, and Cali doesn't know the area. Katie and Everett call the Paw Patrol to help bring her back. "Pups Save a Cloud Surfer" when Daring Danny's attempt to wind surf on a really windy day ends with him surfing in the air, to his delight and the frustration of the Paw Patrol.

Headed out to run errands. Started with getting my hair cut at the Westmont Plaza Great Cuts. They had just washed my hair and were about to actually cut it when the lights went out! It was a perfectly nice, sunny day, so they figured someone hit a pole somewhere. The entire block was out, including the Wells Fargo building on the end of the mall. Even when the lights came back up, their internet was still down, and the ATM machine at Wells Fargo wasn't up, either. I ended up getting a free hair cut. 

(At least, for all the trouble, my hair cut came out fine. I was at the closest hair cut station to the front anyway, so she used natural light. I went shorter again. It just gets too thick and frizzy when I let it get too long.)

Made a brief peek at Target next. They were up and running, but they didn't have the conditioner I wanted. Rode down a busy Cuthbert to Kresloff's Eye Associates instead to pick up my new glasses. They fitted them on me, gave me a really cool new orange, brown, and black glasses case in a nifty modern design, and I went back out.

Montegrillo Pizza and Grill opened in Collingswood a few months ago. I've been meaning to try them out! Fortunately, they're closed on Tuesdays instead of Mondays. I followed the long entrance to the front order counter. Got a slice of cheese, a slice of broccoli-ricotta-tomato, and a Diet Pepsi. Sat down with it at one of the big, heavy wood tables. Not bad. Slightly thinner, but still chewy enough.

Made two more stops on the way home. Dollar General didn't have the conditioner I wanted, but CVS did.  I didn't realize it was there either at first. Tresemme now has their conditioner in pumps and makes it black like the shampoo bottle.

Went home for an hour to relax and watch Snoopy-themed episodes of the newer Peanuts show set I picked up a while back. In "A Day With Snoopy," Snoopy's happy dance mystifies Chuck, while Lucy is mystified as to why she should want to support National Dog Week. Snoopy is a "Crazy Mutt" who fights with Lucy and learns driving from Chuck. Chuck tries to "Train Your Dog," but it ends with Snoopy making his dinner more elegant. Snoopy celebrates the holidays with the kids in "Too Cold" and "Winter Wonderland."

Went back out to Thomas Sharp School for work. One poor young lady dropped her Teddy Grahams snacks and had no snack. She was so upset! Good thing we have a box of emergency granola bars. I helped take the older kids to the bathroom as well as the younger ones before I joined the younger kids outside. The kids really like it when I push them on the swings. I haul 35 packs of water for a living. I'm pretty strong.

Watched Match Game Syndicated when I got home. Diana Sorvino became the first and only opera singer to appear on the show in 1980. She flirted with handsome young men and praised Charles' beautiful singing voice.

Worked on Maplepunzel after I ate and took a shower. Prince Jeffery shows us the beautiful, shining chateau Bedside Manor, with its lush gardens and vast grounds. Queen Hilary finds Scott and Betty sitting together under a plum tree. He wants to help her flee Hope Springs, but she's reluctant to leave her guardian Hilary, who has been kind to her, even though she's not interested in running the country and really does love Scott. Pruitt, Hilary's financial advisor, told Hilary that Scott skimmed money from local businesses. Furious, and hoping to keep him from Betty and restore Hope Springs' sparkling reputation, she banishes him from the country. He's angry and disappointed, but that won't stop him from seeing Betty one last time...

Finished the night with game shows featuring stunts. Stunt shows go way far back. They started on radio with Beat the Clock...but if ever a genre of game show was meant for TV, it was this one. It was even better when you could see people spraying goop at each other and organizing magnetic words to form phrases. Bud Collyer was the host of the original 50's version. I have one of the earliest surviving episodes here.

Let's Make a Deal does involve stunts to a degree. They also go far back. Though the show started in 1963, they contestants wouldn't begin appearing in costume until a few years later. By 1968, the contestants and their outfits were as wild as the gameplay, as in this rare black and white episode.

50 Grand Slam attempted to get more creative in 1976. Half of the show was a traditional question and answer game. The other half had golf experts playing versions of the game. Tom Kennedy was the energetic host. Despite a glittering set that seemed to use every light bulb in Hollywood, neither game was terribly interesting or really managed to catch on. Allen Ludden appears in the premiere episode to push his show Stumpers (which also failed and is now mostly lost). 

Nitro! got even weirder in 1995. Greg Lee leads contestants across a board-game like board to various mini-games. This was one of the few bits of original programming on something called the "tv! Network," which apparently was just made up of programming blocks intended as samplers for bigger cable channels. 

Many stunt games for adults nowadays originated in Japan, where they get weird and occasionally brutal. Hole In the Wall was one of the stranger ones. A team of three people attempt to fit through cut-outs in a large yellow wall coming at them. If the break the wall or get pushed in the pool under them, they lose points. This did slightly better on Cartoon Network than it would on Fox. This is one of the episodes left unaired when Fox gave up on the show in 2008. 

Play along with some truly unique stunts in these wild shows!

Beat the Clock (1951)

Let's Make a Deal (1968)

50 Grand Slam (1976)

Nitro! (1995)

Hole In the Wall (2008)