Thursday, December 31, 2009

Hokies Down Vols In Atlanta

At Atlanta:

Ryan Williams, who ran for 117 yards two touchdowns Thursday night, set a new Virginia Tech single-season rushing record with 1655 yards and Atlantic Coast Conference records with 21 rushing and 22 total touchdowns, as the Hokies (10-3) defeated Tennessee (7-6) 37-14 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Cyclones Edge Gophers In Insight Bowl

At Tempe, Arizona:

In a battle of teams that had to win a game against a team from the Dakotas just to become bowl eligible, Alexander Robinson ran for 137 and Austen Arnaud threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Iowa State (7-6) capped off their first winning season since 2005 with a 14-13 win over Minnesota (6-7) Thursday in the Insight Bowl.

Ricky Dobbs and Midshipmen Too Much For Mizzou

At Houston:

Quarterback Ricky Dobbs ran for three touchdowns and threw for one more as Navy (10-4) overpowered Missouri (8-5) 35-13 in Thursday's Texas Bowl.

Time For Guy

In a clip from Guy Lombardo's syndicated mid-1950s television show, here are Guy along with his Royal Canadians performing one of his signature hits, "Boo Hoo."





Those were Cliff Grass, Carmen Lombardo, and Fred Higman on vocals.

Ryan Broyles Catches Three For TDs As Sooners Top Cardinal In El Paso

At El Paso, Texas:

Ryan Broyles set a Brut Sun Bowl record on Thursday with three touchdown receptions while quarterback Landry Jones passed for 416 yards as Oklahoma topped Stanford 31-27. Both teams ended the season at 8-5.

Ball Control Helps Seal Bowl Win For Falcons

At Fort Worth, Texas:

Air Force (8-5) , with possession of the football for more than 41 minutes, and with Jared Tew and Asher Clark running for 173 and 129 yards respectively and two touchdowns apiece, dominated Houston (10-4) 47-20 Thursday in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Huskers Make Holiday Bowl History In Their Blowout Over 'Zona

At San Diego:

Zac Lee threw a 74-yard touchdown pass to Niles Paul in the third quarter Wednesday night as Nebraska (10-4) crushed Arizona (8-5) 33-0 in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, registering the first shutout in the game's 32-year history, and their first in 46 bowl appearances.

Vandals Pull Out Wild Win In Boise

At Boise, Idaho:

Quarterback Nathan Enderle, with four seconds remaining in regulation time, threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Max Komar, then connected with Preston Davis on a successful two-point conversion attempt as Idaho (8-5) defeated Bowling Green (7-6) 43-42 Wednesday in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl. The Falcons' Freddie Barnes caught 17 passes (giving him 155 for the year, a single-season FBS record) for 219 yards and three touchdowns, including a 51-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Tyler Sheehan that had put Bowling Green up 42-35 with 32 seconds left, before the Vandals' game-winning drive.

Tech Cans Embattled Football Coach

BREAKING NEWS: Texas Tech has given head football coach Mike Leach the boot.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Badgers Get Best Of 'Canes

At Orlando, Florida:

John Clay ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns as Wisconsin (10-3) defeated Miami (9-4) 20-14 Tuesday night in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Bruins Come Back To Take EagleBank Bowl

At Washington:

Akeem Ayers returned an interception two yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter as UCLA (7-6) came back to overtake Temple (9-4) 30-21 Tuesday in the EagleBank bowl. The Bruins finished their first winning season in three years while the Owls played in their first bowl game in 30 years.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Dawgs Smother Clumsy Aggies

At Shreveport, Louisiana:

Quarterback Joe Cox threw for two touchdowns and running back Caleb King ran for two more as Georgia (8-5) broke open a game that was deadlocked early in the third quarter and overpowered Texas A&M (6-7) 44-20 in Monday's Advocare 100 Independence Bowl.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

C. J. Leads Tigers By Wildcats In Music City

At Nashville, Tennessee:

C. J. Spiller scored a touchdown and amassed 172 all-purpose yards in his final game for Clemson as the Tigers (9-5) defeated Kentucky (7-6) 21-13 in Sunday's Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. The game may have been the last for Rich Brooks as the Wildcats' head coach. He told his players after the game that he was "80% certain" that he won't be coaching Kentucky next season.

Niners Too Much For Sloppy Lions

At San Francisco:

Frank Gore scored on a one-yard run and became the first player in club history to run for 1000 for more yards for four consecutive years as the San Francisco 49ers (7-8) defeated the error-prone Detroit Lions (2-13) 20-6 on Sunday in their final home contest of the season.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Trojans Top BC In 'Frisco

At San Francisco:

Quarterback Matt Barkley threw touchdown passes to Stanley Havill on Southern California's first two possessions of the game and ran for a score in the fourth quarter as the Trojans (9-4) topped Boston College (8-5) 24-13 in the Emerald Bowl Saturday night.

Panthers Cap Off First 10+ Season Since '81 With Win Over Tar Heels

At Charlotte, North Carolina:

Running back Dion Lewis ran for 159 yards and a touchdown as Pittsburgh (10-3) capped off their first season with ten or more wins in 28 years with a 19-17 win over North Carolina (8-5) Saturday in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

End Of An Era In Gainesville

Urban Meyer will step down as head football coach at Florida after the Sugar Bowl game on New Year's Day due to health concerns.

Thundering Herd Hold Off Bobcats

At Detroit:

Marshall (7-6), with quarterback Martin Ward running for two touchdowns and DeQuan Bembrey's interception with 40 seconds remaining, held off Ohio (9-5) 21-17 Saturday in the Little Caesars Pizza (formerly Motor City) Bowl game.

Friday, December 25, 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

A very Merry Christmas from all of us here at Bob's House!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Mustangs Trample Wolf Pack

At Honolulu:

Freshman quarterback Kyle Padron threw for a school record 460 yards and two touchdowns as Southern Methodist hammed Nevada 45-10 Thursday in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. This was the Mustangs' first bowl game in 25 years. Both teams finish the season at 8-5.

Hey, It's Big Enough To Share!

Here's an old TV ad from either the late 1950s or early 1960s for the 3 Musketeers candy bar.


Classic TV Commercial Time, Boys and Girls

From the mind of Stan Freberg, here is the classic 1960s Jeno's Pizza Rolls commercial.

Yes, folks, that's Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels as The Lone Ranger and Tonto, respectively.

George Michael, R, I. P.

George Michael, longtime Washington, DC sportscaster who was the longtime host of the highlights-rich George Michael Sports Machine (which I member watching when it was on a local Medford, Oregon TV station, one of roughly 200 that carried the show on a syndicated basis nationwide), passed away on Thursday at age 70 from complications from chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

A Historic First

The first commercial to air on British Television, first airing on September 22, 1955.




This is an advert for Gibbs SR Toothpaste.


I decided to re-post this video.

Merry Christmas From Mickey and Pluto

From 1952:

Here are Mickey Mouse and Pluto starring in "Pluto's Christmas Tree" from Walt Disney Productions. Directed by Jack Hannah. Originally released theatrically by RKO Radio Pictures. This is a re-release from Walt's distribution arm Buena Vista.


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Runnin' Utes Storm Back To Take Poinsettia Bowl

At San Diego:

Quarterback Jordan Wynn threw for a career-high 338 yards and three touchdowns as Utah (10-3) erased an early 14-point deficit to defeat California (8-5) 37-27 Wednesday night at the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. The Utes captured their FBS-high 9th straight bowl game and the Mountain West Conference is currently 3-0 in bowl games this season, with two of the wins coming at the expense of Pacific-10 Conference schools, BYU overpowering Oregon State the previous night in Las Vegas.

A Historic First

The first Kentucky Fried Chicken television commercial to air in Australia. This is from 1968.




KFC opened their first Aussie store in New South Wales that year.

Time For Another Christmas Cartoon

From 1933:

Otto Soglow's comic strip character, The Little King, starring in "Pals," produced by the Van Beuren cartoon studio in New York City and released theatrically by RKO Radio Pictures.



This cartoon was circulated for many years as "Christmas Night," via an Official Films release for home use and it was good to see the original titles for a change. Animation on this film was done by New York animation legend Jim Tyer.

Time For Some Nostalgia

Okay, recent nostalgia.








Yes, that was then-Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Mora's infamous "playoffs" outburst in 2001.


He was fired at the end of that season.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Take Roy's Advice

Pick up a package of Post Sugar Crisp cereal.



That was a commercial for Post Sugar Crisp, which sponsored The Roy Rogers Show. Yep, that was the King of the Cowboys himself, helped along by the Three Sugar Bears (Handy, Dandy, and Candy), who a few years later, would be replaced by one sweater-wearing pimp-smooth operator named Sugar Bear.

Max Hall Leads Cougs Past Error-And-Penalty-Plagued Beavs

At Las Vegas:

Quarterback Max Hall threw for 192 and three touchdowns to lead Brigham Young (11-2) to a 44-20 overpowering of Oregon State (8-5) in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl Tuesday night. The win was the Cougars' third win in five bowl games in Vegas in as many years and ended the Beavers' five-game bowl winning streak.

Here's Where To Fill It Up

Another old Australian TV commercial, this one from 1970, for British Petroleum.


When You Visit Australia

Take a ride on a Vanguard Six.




That's a 1961 commercial for the Vanguard Six, with Melbourne radio announcer John Ford (NO---NOT the legendary motion picture director of the same name) and Formula 1 driver Ron Flockhart.

Time To Stop B.O.

This 1940s ad for Lifebouy Soap was shown in Australian movie theaters.


This really was no more than a radio commercial with pictures.

Merry Christams!

From the folks at the Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.





This ad was from 1977.

Christmas Comes But Once A Year

Here's a 1936 Max Fleischer cartoon, released by Paramount Pictures, entitled, "Christmas Comes But Once A Year." Grampy, from the Betty Boop series, plays the role of Santa. In Technicolor.

Credits on screen.


Time For Fats

Here is Fats Waller in a 1941 Soundie, performing his co-penned "Honeysuckle Rose." Solos performed by Al Casey (guitar)and Gene Sedric (saxophone). Fats' "Rose" in this case was Cotton Club dancer Vivian Brown (NOT the same-named meteorologist on The [sometimes] Weather Channel).


Ben Bernie and All The Lads

Here's Ben Bernie and his orchestra in a short (c. 1924-25) early sound firm, using Lee DeForest's Phonofilm process.

Here's a medley of songs performed by Ben and the boys:

"Rose Marie"
"Oh, Baby Be Good"
"Tell Her In The Springtime"
"Rose Marie (reprise)"
"Indian Love Call"
"Tea For Two"
"Fascinatin' Rhythm"


Top Cat, Herman the Mouse, Gerard, R. I. P.

Arnold Stang, the bespectacled, owl-faced actor best remembered for playing nerdy, milquetoast characters on radio, television, and motion pictures, passed away on Sunday at Newton, Massachusetts from pneumonia at age 91.

Mr. Stang is remembered for providing the voice of Herman the Mouse in 1940s and 1950s cartoons from Famous/Paramount Studios and Top Cat in the Hanna-Barbera-produced Top Cat, which aired on ABC in prime time in the 1961-62 season.

As for Herman the Mouse, he began co-starring in his own official Famous/Paramount series with Katnip the Cat (voiced by Sid Raymond) in 1952. The series ended in 1959.

Arnold also played the role of nerdy New Yorker Gerard on Henry Morgan's radio shows (ABC 1946-48, NBC 1949-50), making life at times miserable for the acerbic Mr. Morgan.

Monday, December 21, 2009

How 'Bout A Big Heapin' Bowl Of...

Grape Nuts Flakes.






This television commercial for Post Grape Nuts Flakes is from around 1958.

Don't Live With A Corn

Try living with a tomato.



All kidding aside, here's a 1972 television commercial for Freezone.

In COLOR!

Here's A Rare Classic

From 1937:

It is "The Little Match Girl," one of the best cartoons ever to be made by the Charles Mintz (Screen Gems) cartoon studio. This Academy Award-nominated cartoon , released by Columbia Pictures, was supervised by Sid Marcus and Art Davis.




Story by Sid Marcus.

Animation by Art Davis and Emery Hawkins.

Music by Joe DeNat.

How 'Bout A Bar Of Ivory Soap

Better make that four bars for the price of three of another brand, as depicted in this 1953 commercial.


And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

Here's a commercial for Aerowax that aired during a 1953 CBS telecast of the weekday soap opera, Love Of Life.


A Few Moments With Eddie Cantor

Here is a pioneering sound film from Dr. Lee DeForest's laboratories from 1923 with Eddie Cantor, produced in New York City.






The title is, of course, "A Few Moments With Eddie Cantor." Here is Eddie in rare top form in this brief film. This film was made in Lee De Forest's sound-on-film Phonofilm process.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Blue Raiders Top Brett Favre's Alma Mater

At New Orleans:

Dwight Dasher ran for a bowl-record 201 yards and two touchdowns and threw for two more as Middle Tennessee (10-3) defeated Southern Mississippi (7-6) 42-32 Sunday at the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

Time for Rudolph

Here is the 1948 animated version of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer." Produced for Montgomery Ward by the Detroit-based Jam Handy Organization and directed by animation pioneer Max Fleischer.


Niners Eliminated From Playoff Contention

At Philadelphia:

Donovan McNabb threw for one touchdown (to DeSean Jackson) and ran for another as the Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) locked up a playoff berth in the National Football Conference with a 27-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers (6-8) on Sunday. The loss locked up a second straight NFC West Division title for the Arizona Cardinals and knocked the Niners from playoff contention for the seventh straight year.

Another Crown For Sioux Falls

At Rome, Georgia:

The University of Sioux Falls repeated their NAIA national football championship of last year with a 25-22 win over Linderwood University (Missouri) on Saturday.

Braden Wieking kicked what turned out to be the game-winning field goal with less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Chalk Up Another Bowl Win For Rutgers

At St. Petersburg, Florida:

Freshman Mohamed Sanu was all over the field on Saturday night. He ran for two touchdowns (one from the wildcat formation), and scored on an 11-yard pass courtesy of quarterback (and fellow true freshman) Tom Savage as Rutgers (9-4) defeated Central Florida (8-5) 45-24 in the St. Petersburg Bowl. The win was the Scarlet Knights' fourth straight bowl victory.

Cowboys Top Bulldogs In Overtime Thriller In Albuquerque

At Albuquerque, New Mexico:

The college football bowl season got under way on Saturday as Wyoming (7-6) defeated Fresno State (8-5) 35-28 in the New Mexico Bowl. Cowboys freshman quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to David Leonard in the second overtime period.

Warhawks Conclude Perfect Season With D3 Title

At Salem, Virginia:

Levell Coppage ran 31 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 77 seconds remaining as Wisconsin-Whitewater defeated Mount Union (Ohio) 38-28 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for the NCAA Division III national football championship on Saturday. A winter storm forced the game to start five hour later than originally scheduled. The victory ended the Warhawks' season at 15-0. The Purple Raiders (14-1) suffered their only defeat of the season.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Wildcats Overtake Grizzlies For FCS Crown

At Chattanooga, Tennessee:

Running back Matt Szczur ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns while picking up an additional 68 yards receiving Friday night as Villanova won the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division 1-AA) national title
Friday night, defeating Montana 23-21.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Prominent Obits

Gene Barry, best remembered for his portrayals of Bat Masterson and Amos Burke on television in the 1950s and 1960s, passed away last Wednesday at a Woodland Hills, California assisted-living facility at age 90.

Pioneering televangelist and the founder of the Tulsa, Oklahoma university that bears his name, Oral Roberts, passed away Tuesday at a Newport Beach, California hospital from pneumonia at age 91.

Roy Edward Disney, Walt's nephew, who was a major force at the studio that his father and uncle co-founded, passed away on Wednesday from stomach cancer at Newport Beach, California at age 79.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Niners Force Seven Turnovers To Keep Cards From Clinching Division

At San Francisco:

The San Francisco 49ers (6-7) defense forced seven Arizona turnovers while Frank Gore ran for 167 yards and a touchdown as the hosts kept their outside shot at winning the NFC West Division alive Monday night, defeating the Cardinals (8-5) 24-9 in the Monday night game, preventing Arizona from locking up their second straight divisional championship. Next for San Francisco, a Sunday battle with the Philadelphia Eagles (9-4) on the road.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Bearcats Capture D-2 Crown

At Florence, Alabama:

Northwest Missouri State defeated Grand Valley State (Mich.) 30-23 to win the NCAA Division II national football championship on Saturday.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

No Bowl For Army

An eighth straight win for Navy over Army ruined the Black Knights' hopes of going to their first bowl game in 13 years.


UCLA, thus, will get to play Temple at the EagleBank Bowl at Washington on December 29.

Historic First For Crimson Tide

At long last, a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide won the Heisman Trophy.


He's only the second sophomore to win the honor, following the closest vote in history.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

End-of-game FG Sinks Niners

At Seattle:

Despite a 310-yard and two touchdown pass day from quarterback Alex Smith, the Seattle Seahawks, with Olindo Mare kicking a 30-yard field goal as time expired, knocked off the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 Sunday in NFL play. The Niners and Hawks (both now 5-7) now trail Arizona by three games in the NFC West Division.

Tide and 'Horns To Play For All The Marbles

With the aftermath of the conclusion of Saturday night's Big-12 Conference title game, there are some folks who don't feel that great about this arrangement.

Here's the lineup for the five BCS games for next month.

Here's the bowl schedule for 2009-10:

Saturday, December 19:

New Mexico Bowl at Albuquerque:
Fresno State vs. Wyoming

St. Petersburg Bowl at St. Petersburg, Florida:
Central Florida vs. Rutgers

Sunday, December 20:

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl:
Southern Mississippi vs. Middle Tennessee State

Tuesday, November 22:

MAACO Bowl at Las Vegas, Nevada:
Oregon State vs. BYU

Wednesday, December 23:

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl:
Utah vs. California (Berkeley)

Thursday, December 24:

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl at Honolulu:
Nevada vs. Southern Methodist

Saturday December 26:

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl at Detroit:
Marshall vs. Ohio U

Meineke Car Care Bowl at Charlotte, North Carolina:
Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina

Emerald Bowl at San Francisco:
Boston College vs. Southern California

Sunday, December 27:

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl at Nashville:
Kentucky vs. Clemson

Monday December 28:

Advocare V100 Independence Bowl at Shreveport, Louisiana
Texas A&M vs. Georgia

Tuesday, December 29:

EagleBank Bowl at Washington:
Army/UCLA vs. Temple

Champs Sports Bowl at Orlando, Florida:
Miami (FL) vs. Wisconsin

Wednesday, December 30:

Roady's Humanitarian Bowl at Boise, Idaho:
Bowling Green (OH) vs. Idaho

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl at San Diego:
Arizona vs. Nebraska

Thursday, December 31:

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl at Fort Worth, Texas:
Houston vs. Air Force

Brut Sun Bowl at El Paso, Texas:
Oklahoma vs. Stanford

Texas Bowl at Houston:
Navy vs. Missouri

Insight Bowl at Tempe, Arizona:
Minnesota vs. Iowa State

Chick-Fil-A Bowl at Atlanta:
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee

Friday, January 1:

Outback Bowl at Tampa, Florida:
Northwestern vs. Auburn

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, Florida:
West Virginia vs. Florida State

Capital One Bowl at Orlando, Florida:
Penn State vs. LSU

ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI AT PASADENA, CALIFORNIA:
Ohio State vs. Oregon

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL AT NEW ORLEANS:
Florida vs. Cincinnati

Saturday, January 2:

International Bowl at Toronto:
South Florida vs. Northern Illinois

PapaJohns.com Bowl at Birmingham, Alabama:
South Carolina vs. Connecticut

AT&T Cotton Bowl at Arlington, Texas:
Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi

AutoZone Liberty Bowl at Memphis:
Arkansas vs. East Carolina

Valero Alamo Bowl at San Antonio:
Michigan State vs. Texas Tech

Monday, January 4:

TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL AT GLENDALE, ARIZONA:
Boise State vs. Texas Christian

Tuesday, January 5:

FEDEX ORANGE BOWL AT MIAMI:
Iowa vs. Georgia Tech

Wednesday, January 6:

GMAC Bowl at Mobile, Alabama:
Central Michigan vs. Troy

Thursday, January 7:

BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AT PASADENA, CALIFORNIA:

Texas vs. Alabama


NOTES: All BCS bowls are listed in full capital letters. As for the EagleBank bowl, if Army defeats Navy this coming Saturday, the Black Knight would become bowl eligible, otherwise, UCLA will get their crack at the Temple Owls.



Friday, December 04, 2009

Oh, Well.....

No one in the NBA will go 0-82 this season.

DUCKS TOP BEAVERS IN CIVIL WAR TO CLINCH FIRST PAC-10 TITLE AND ROSE BOWL BERTH IN 15 YEARS

At Eugene, Oregon:

Running back LaMichael James ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns as BCS-ranked #7 Oregon defeated #16 Oregon State 37-33 Thursday night to win the 113th edition of the Civil War to lock up the Pacific-10 Conference championship and the conference's Rose Bowl berth. The Ducks will face Ohio State on New Year's Day at Pasadena.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

Hey, Kiki!

Are ya nuts?!

Take A Demonstration Drive

In the 1961 Lark by Studebaker.




That's Rex May, talking up the virtues and value of owning a Lark. Studebaker (at that time Studebaker-Packard Corporation) sponsored the Mister Ed show.

Gosh...............

Could there be too many sports networks?

You Know, I Actually Hate To See This Happen

Looks like the end of an era in Tallahassee.

Sorry, Charlie

Well, when you make history by coaching your team to six or more lossed in three straight years, it seemed inevitable.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Als Storm Back To Top 'Riders For Grey Cup Crown

At Calgary, Alberta:

The Montreal Alouettes
came from behind to defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28-27 Sunday to win the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup championship. Quarterback Anthony Calvillo threw a touchdown pass to slotback Ben Cahoon (shown here) in the fourth quarter. The Als
' two-point conversion attempt failed, but in the final seconds, after the 'Riders were penalized for too many men on the field, Montreal kicker David Duval, whose failed 43-yard field goal attempt was wiped out by the Saskatchewan penalty, connected from 33 yards, giving the Alouettes their first Grey Cup title since 2002.

Photo by Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press

Polls and BCS Rankings For Ducks And Beavers

Oregon:

AP: #7 (Up three spots from last week)

USA Today/Coaches: #8 (Up two from last week)

BCS Rankings: #7 (Up one from last week)

Oregon State:

AP: #13 (Up three spots from last week)

USA Today/Coaches: #16 (Up two from last week)

BCS Rankings: #16 (Unchanged)

Niners Smother Jags, Pick Up A Game On Cards

At San Francisco:

Alex Smith threw for a pair of touchdowns and the defense kept the visitors out of the end zone as the San Francisco 49ers (5-6) ended the Jacksonville Jaguars' (6-5) three game winning streak 20-3 in National Football League action on Sunday. The win, coupled with Tennessee's come-from-behind 20-17 home win over Arizona allowed the Niners to move within two games of first place in the NFC West. San Francisco travels to Seattle for a game next Sunday. The Jags' loss, coupled with their win earlier today at Houston, locked up the AFC South Division title for unbeaten Indianapolis.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Hey!

It's Chef Boyardee! Unlike Betty Crocker, Chef Boyardee was not a fictitious advertising icon, but a real chef. Hector Boiardi came to the US as a teenager, became chef of a hotel in Cleveland, then opened a restaurant where his spaghetti recipe became famous. Here's a 1953 television commercial with the Chef.


Now A Word....

Someone who made a pain reliever for a living.






This aired on daytime television around 1953. Please don't ask me who the hell was the commercial spokesman. Me pop used to take Anacin but stopped and ultimately switched to Tylenol because of gout.

Another Word.....

From those who used to make toys for a living.






Here's an old commercial for the Electro-Shot Shooting Gallery..........................by Marx!

Time For A Polka

From 1964, here are Myron Floren and Jo Ann Castle playing "The Village Polka" on their Pancordions on the Lawrence Welk Show.


And Now A Word....

From some folks who made toys for a living.






That's on old TV commercial for the Hootin' Hollow Hauned House-----------by Marx!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Locos Take UFL Crown

At Las Vegas:

Graham Gano kicked a 33-yard field goal in overtime as the Las Vegas Locomotives defeated the Florida Tuskers 20-17 Friday to capture the inaugural championship game of the United Football League before 14,801 fans at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Al Alberts, R. I. P.

Al Alberts, a founding member of the Four Aces, a vocal group that had several hit recordings during the early and middle 1950's ("[It's No] Sin," "Tell Me Why," "Three Coins In The Fountain," "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing") who changed careers to become sort of a local television legend in Philadelphia, passed away Friday morning at his central Florida home at age 87.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Cartoon Time Again, Kids!

Here's an old chestnut released on November 25, 1943 by Columbia Pictures, as the Fox and Crow star in "Way Down Yonder In The Corn" in which the Crow disguises himself as a scarecrow to guard the Fox's victory garden.



Produced by Screen Gems, Inc.

Produced by Dave Fleischer

Directed by Bob Wickersham

Story by Sam Cobean

Animation by Phil Duncan and Basil Davidovich

Music by Eddie Kilfeather

Additional personnel:

Voice Characterizations: Frank Graham
Layout: Clark Watson
Film editor: Edward Moore
Production manager: Albert Spar
Technicolor
Sound System: RCA

You Are What You Eat

At least, according to Timer...


Don't You Dare Miss Breakfast-----------Or Else!

Another old animated PSA with Timer.


Time For Timer

Here is an animated PSA that aired on ABC and its affiliated stations during the late 1970s, featuring a character named Timer, who, in this public service announcement, is hankerin' for a hunk of cheese. The cartoons were produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises in Hollywood with Lennie Weinrib as the voice of Timer.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!!!

Here's hoping that you and yours enjoy this Thanksgiving Day!!!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

"Uncle Tom's Cabin," The TerryToons Way

From 1944, a "Mighty Mouse" cartoon entitled "Eliza On The Ice," an adaptation of "Uncle Tom's Cabin."





Produced by Paul Terry, written by John Foster, and directed by Connie Rasinski. Made in New Rochelle, New York and released by 20th Century-Fox.


Here's Another Cartoon, Kids

Time for an old Terrytoon released in 1938 entitled "Bugs Beetle and His Orchestra." This cartoon, made in New Rochelle, New York, was produced by Paul Terry and directed by John Foster.






This film was made for Educational Pictures, who in turn, had the cartoon distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox.

Cartoon Time, Boys and Girls

Here is a cartoon from Paramount Cartoon Studios, released in 1966, as part of its "Modern Madcap" series, this one featuring the mercifully short-lived character "Quacky Whack" in "Two by Two," a cartoon rejected by a member of Paramount Pictures board of directors as blasphemous. This cartoon, made in New York City, was produced, written, and directed by Howard Post, who soon afterward, lost his job as head of the cartoon studio.


Sunday, November 22, 2009

Ducks And Beavers Climb Up BCS Rankings And Polls

Following their Saturday road victories that set up the December 3 Civil War showdown for the Pacific-10 Conference title and the New Year's Day Rose Bowl encounter with Ohio State in Pasadena, both Oregon and Oregon State climbed up in the polls and Bowl Championship Series rankings.

Ducks: BCS, #8 (up three spots from last week), AP (media), #10 (up one from last week), and USA Today (coaches), #10 (also up one from last week)

Beavers: BCS, #16 (up three), AP #16 (up four), and USA Today/Coaches, #18 (up two).

Packers Hold Off Niners, 30-24

At Green Bay, Wisconsin:

Aaron Rodgers threw for 344 touchdowns and two touchdowns as the Green Bay Packers (6-4) held off the visiting San Francisco 49ers (4-6) 30-24 Sunday in NFL action. The Niners have now lost five of their last six games.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Ducks Top Wildcats In Overtime Duel In Tucson To Set Up Civil War Battle For Pac-10 Crown

At Tucson, Arizona:

Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli deadlocked the game with a touchdown pass to tight end Ed Dickson with six second remaining in regulation time, then ran for the game winning score in the second overtime period on Saturday as Oregon (9-2 overall, 7-1 in Pacific-10 Conference play; #11 in the BCS rankings) defeated homestanding Arizona (6-4, 4-3) 44-41 to take control of the Pac-10 race. The win, along with Oregon State's earlier triumph at Washington State, sets up one of the biggest games in the history of The Civil War as the two teams will play at Eugene on December 3 for the conference title and the right to face Ohio State in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day at Pasadena.

Beavs Maul Cougs In Pullman

At Pullman, Washington:

With Sean Canfield throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns, and Jacquizz Rodgers running for two more (10, 39 yards), Oregon State (8-3 overall, 6-2 in Pacific 10 Conference play; #19 in the BCS Rankings) blasted feckless Washington State (1-10, 0-8) 42-10 on the road Saturday to stay in contention for the Pac-10 title and a berth in a BCS bowl.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

It Just Proves...

You're never too old when it comes to giving the finger.

Bills Can Coach

What else can you do when your team is 3-6, have an anemic offense, and, to this point of the season, has the dubious distinction of losing to a band of amateurs sporting Cleveland Browns uniforms?

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was named head coach on an interim basis.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

More Rock N' Roll, The Lawrence Welk Way

Let's go back to 1956 as Aladdin, Bob Lido, and Jack Martin sing "Juke Box Baby" on the Lawrence Welk Show on ABC.


Ducks Climb In Both AP (Media) And USA/Today Coaches Polls; Beavers In Both Top 25s Too

In the aftermath of impressive Saturday home wins, the Oregon Ducks climbed up to #11 in both the Associated Press (from #14 last week) and USA Today/Coaches polls, while the Oregon State Beavers reached #20 in both polls (they were not in the top 25 in either last week).

The Ducks move up two spots to #11 in the BCS rankings and the Beavers climb up four spots to #19.


Beavers Overpower Huskies

At Corvallis, Oregon:

Running back Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 159 yards (putting him past the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight year) and two touchdowns as the Oregon State Beavers (7-3, 5-2; #23 in BCS rankings) throttled visiting Washington (3-7, 2-5) 48-21 Saturday to stay in the race for Pacific 10 Conference title. It was Oregon State's sixth straight win over the Huskies.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Ducks Throttle Sun Devils

At Eugene, Oregon:

Running back LaMichael James ran for 150 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday as Oregon (8-2, 6-1; #13 in BCS Rankings) overpowered visiting Arizona State (4-6, 2-5) 44-21 to remain in sole possession of first place in the Pacific Ten Conference.

Make Room For Tiny And Larry

In this clip from a 1959 ABC telecast of The Plymouth Show, which was Lawrence Welk's Wednesday night series, here are pianist "Big" Tiny Little and vocalist Larry Hooper performing "The Yellow Rose of Texas."


Friday, November 13, 2009

"Original Dixieland One-Step

Here is a clip from the 5th anniversary telecast of The Lawrence Welk Show (1960) on ABC. Russ Klein (Saxophone), Don Bonnee (Clarinet), Bob Havens (Trombone), and Warren Luening (Trumpet) performing "The Original Dixieland One-Step."


Time For Some Dixieland Music

Here are the Champagne Music Makers performing "Copenhagen" in this clip from a 1956 ABC telecast of The Lawrence Welk Show, here featuring Bill Page on clarinet and Johnny Klein (Lawrence's second cousin) on drums.

Enjoy!


Niners End Losing Streak As They Pick Off Jay Cutler Five Times In Win Over Bears

At San Francisco:

The San Francisco 49ers intercepted Jay Cutler five times Thursday night as they ended their four-game losing streak 10-6 over the visiting Chicago Bears. Frank Gore scored the only touchdown of the game with his 14-yard run in the second quarter. Both teams are 4-5 on the NFL season.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Rock N' Roll Larry

Here's Larry Hooper, performing "My Little Baby" on a 1957 ABC telecast of Lawrence Welk's Dodge Dancing Party.


Maybe I Should Have Known

Maybe this guy has paid for his sins. The question is whether the Ducks were indeed a better team without him.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Niners Fall Again

At San Francisco:

Vince Young completed 12 of 19 passes for 172 yards and ran for a touchdown and Chris Johnson ran for 135 yards and two other scores as the Tennessee Titans (2-6) racked up their second straight win, handing the San Francisco 49ers (3-5) their fourth straight National Football League setback 34-27 on the road on Sunday.

Ducks Fall In BCS Rankings (And Polls); Beavers Enter BCS Rankings

The Oregon Ducks dropped five spot to #13 in the new BCS Rankings released Sunday, while the Oregon State Beavers are ranked #23.

The Ducks dropped down from #7 to #16 in the Associated Press media poll and from #8 to #16 in the USA Today/Coaches poll.

The Beavers are #26 in the AP poll and #28 in the Coaches poll.

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Beavers Stun Cal In Berkeley; Bears Lose Star RB To Concussion

At Berkeley, California:

Quarterback Sean Canfield threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns and the Rodgers brothers each scored a TD (James caught a 15-yard pass for a score and Jacquizz ran 24 yards for another) as Oregon State (6-3, 4-2) knocked off California (6-3, 3-3, #20 BCS rankings) 31-14 on the road Saturday. With the win, the Beavers gained bowl eligibility. The Bears, meanwhile, lost star running back Jahvid Best in the second quarter with a concussion after he slammed to the ground in the end zone after scoring the hosts' first touchdown.

Stanford Ends Ducks Winning Streak

At Palo Alto, California:

Running back Tony Gerhart ran for a school-record 223 yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Andrew Luck threw for two scores as Stanford (6-3, 5-2) gained bowl eligibility Saturday by knocking off Oregon (7-2, 5-1, #8 in the BCS rankings) 51-42, ending the Ducks' seven-game winning streak, and pretty much assuring that there will be no Pac-10 team playing in January's BCS National Championship Game.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

All In Pursuit Of A Leprechan And A Box Of Cereal

Here is a 1964 commercial , one of the earliest ones, for General Mills' Lucky Charms cereal.






Arthur Anderson did the voice of Lucky the Leprechan for many years.

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Niners Fall At Indy

At Indianapolis:

Reggie Wayne scored the game-winning touchdown, receiving a 22-yard pass from running back Joseph Addai in the fourth quarter as the Indianapolis Colts (7-0) won their 16th straight regular-season game Sunday, coming back to overcome the visiting San Francisco 49ers (3-4) 18-14. It was the Niners' third straight defeat.

Ducks (Now #8 In BCS Rankings) Continue Climb Up In Media And Coaches Polls

In the wake of Saturday's 47-20 home beatdown of USC, the Oregon Ducks climbed up again this week in both the AP (#7, up from #10 last week) and USA Today/Coaches (#8, up from #12) polls. The Ducks climbed a couple of spots to #8 in the BCS rankings.


After Saturday's home win over UCLA, Oregon State did get some support in the AP poll, winding up tied for 33rd place with Central Michigan.



Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween Night A Bag O'Treats For Ducks As Oregon Ambushes USC

At Eugene, Oregon:

Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli threw for 222 yards and a touchdown and ran for 164 yards and another score as Oregon (7-1, 5-0, #10 in the BCS rankings) broke open their game in the second half and smothered visiting Southern California (6-2, 3-2, #5 in BCS) 47-20 in a big Pac-10 game on Saturday night. The Ducks remained unbeaten in conference play and remain alone atop the Pacific 10 Conference standings after they handed the Trojans their worst loss in 12 years.

Let's Try Another One

Here's another Casper cartoon, this one from 1953, "Boo Moon."




This Famous Studios cartoon, released by Paramount Pictures, was one of two cartoons the studio made that were produced and released theatrically in 3-D.

Time For A Casper Cartoon

Here is the cartoon that launched the career of Casper the Friendly Ghost.



"The Friendly Ghost," produced in 1945 by Famous Studios and released theatrically by Paramount Pictures and was part of Famous' "Noveltoons" series. The series was created by animator Joe Oriolo. After appearing in two other "Noveltoon" cartoons later that decade, Casper was given his own series in 1950, which would last until 1959.

Rodgers Brothers Lead Beavers Past Bruins

At Corvallis, Oregon:

Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 112 yards, caught 7 passes for another 92 yards and even threw for a touchdown (14 yards to Brady Camp), while his brother James ran 17 yards in the fourth quarter for the winning touchdown as Oregon State (5-3, 3-2) defeated visiting UCLA (3-5, 0-5) 26-19 Saturday in Pac-10 play.

Here's A Blood Curdler!

From 1953, here is an animated version of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart."





This United Productions of America (of Gerald McBoing Boing and Mr. Magoo fame) cartoon, released by Columbia Pictures was actually made in 3-D, but was released in 2-D instead. The credits are shown on-screen. This cartoon was wickedly narrated by James Mason.

Here's Another Cartoon For You

Yessir, once again Popeye the Sailor and Bluto battle over Olive Oyl in this 1954 cartoon, "Fright To The Finish," with animation by Al Eugster and William B. Pattingill, story by Jack Mercer (who did Popeye's voice), scenery by Robert Connavale and music by Winston Sharples. This Famous Studios production (released theatrically by Paramount Pictures) was directed by Seymour Kneitel, who happened to be Max Fleischer's son-in-law.



Besides Jack Mercer, the other uncredited voice artists were Mae Questel (Olive) and Jackson Beck (Bluto).

Happy Halloween!

Here's a 1935 Scrappy cartoon, entitled "Scrappy's Ghost Story," produced by Charles Mintz, supervised by Ben Harrison (story) and Manny Gould (animation, along with Harry Love), and released by Columbia Pictures.




Ben Harrison and Manny Gould were actually better remembered as the duo who supervised Charles Mintz's other Columbia-released monochrome cartoon series, the series that was a bastardization of George Harriman's Krazy Kat. Scrappy was usually supervised up to this time by Sid Marcus and Art Davis, who by that time, were concentrating on Mr. Mintz' color cartoon series, "Color Rhapsodies." Music on this cartoon was done by musical director Joe De Nat.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Happy Anniversary

Today is the 75th anniversary of the incorporation of the now-defunct Mutual Braodcasting System.

From The Nuckin' Futs Department...

Guess which cable television network is scheduled to start airing theatrical motion pictures beginning tomorrow.

Monday, October 26, 2009

It's Alex's Job Again

Alex Smith has replaced Shawn Hill at San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback.

After his trials and tribulations in his previous stint, you'd figure that Alex was at the end of the line with the Niners, who, in 2005, made him the first overall selection in that year's NFL collegiate draft.

But after his gallant performance in the second half Sunday at Houston, the starting job is his again.

For now, anyway.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

ESPN Analyst Gets The Boot

I guess that's what you get for having an affair---allegedly---with a 22 year-old production assistant.

Ducks Continue Climb Up In AP And USA Today/Coaches Polls And BCS Rankings

After Saturday's win over Washington, the Oregon Ducks climbed up two places to #10 in the Associated Press media poll and two places to #12 in the USA Today/Coaches poll.

The Ducks also climbed up in the BCS rankings, up a spot to #10.


Support for Oregon State, in spite of their gallant effort at USC, evaporated in both polls.

Texans Hold Off Niners

At Houston:

Steve Slaton scored two touchdowns and the Houston Texans (4-3), who had a 21-point lead at halftime, held off the visiting San Francisco 49ers (3-3) 24-21 Sunday in NFL play. The Niners benched starting quarterback Shawn Hill at halftime, replacing him with Alex Smith, who threw three touchdown passes to tight end Vernon Davis only to be intercepted by Texans defensive back Eugene Wilson which snuffed out a last-ditch Niners drive late in the fourth quarter.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Tojans Get Their Revenge As They Outlast Beavers

At Los Angeles:

Allen Bradford ran for a career-high 147 yards and two touchdowns as Southern California (6-1, 3-1, ranked #7 in the BCS rankings) outlasted visiting Oregon State (4-3, 2-2) 42-36 on Saturday in Pac-10 Conference play. The Trojans avenged their loss last year to the Beavers in Corvallis, their only loss of 2008.

Ducks Smother Huskies In Seattle

At Seattle:

The Oregon Ducks (6-1, 4-0) , ranked #11 in the BCS rankings, overpowered Washington (3-5, 2-3) Saturday on the road 43-19. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, back from a knee injury, ran for two touchdowns and threw for another while the Ducks blocked a punt for a touchdown. Next up for Oregon, who ran their winning streak to six games and clinched bowl eligibility, an eagerly anticipated home encounter next Saturday night with USC.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Another Visit With The Champagne Music Makers

Here are the boys performing "Donkey Serenade" in this clip from a 1957 ABC telecast of Lawrence Welk's Dodge Dancing Party.






That was the title of Lawrence's Saturday night ABC show.

Just How Many Licks?

That was the overriding question in this classic Tootsie Roll Pop commercial first aired in the early 1970s.


Nothing quite like a smart owl. It had been years, actually decades, since the ad aired in its original 60-second length. The animation was done by Fred Wolf. Frank Nelson, Paul Frees, and Paul Winchell were among the voice artists in this advertisement.

Here's One From The "They Don't Make Commercials Like That Anymore" Department

Here's a commercial for Funny Face drink mixes from Pillsbury.






This was Pillsbury's competitor to General Foods' Kool-Aid. The product was introduced around 1964. About a couple of years later, Injun Orange and Chinese Cherry were renamed Jolly Olly Orange and Choo-Choo Cherry respectively. Let's be thankful they didn't make Limey Lemon or Negro Chocolate.

What A Marvel!

Here is a commercial from around 1969 for Marvel the Mustang, from Marx Toys.