Christmas | Hollywood Yesterday

It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street Coffee Mugs (Plus a Bonus One that Sums it ALL UP!)

December 10, 2022 By Joi

As quite possibly the world’s biggest It’s a Wonderful Life fan, I have zero idea how I don’t already have this gorgeous It’s a Wonderful Life Coffee Mug (Amazon link) in my coffee mug collection.

What a travesty of justice and sensibility!

I am, however, on the cusp of righting this wrong even as we speak.

Right after I saw the great It’s a Wonderful Life mug, I spied another one that makes me feel so very, very, VERY seen. The I Just Want to Drink Coffee and Watch Christmas Movies mug (Amazon link) pictured below.

I mean, does this one sum it all up or what?!

But, wait… I’m not through (neither is my Amazon shopping cart, unfortunately), when you click through and visit the It’s a Wonderful Life mug’s page (link above), you’ll also find they have another CLASSIC and ICONIC Christmas movie (and another of my personal favorites), Miracle on 34th Street. I don’t have a picture to share with you, but it features the movie poster pictured below. It’s gorgeous and I have every intention of drinking from it and the It’s a Wonderful Life mugs all year long for years to come!

Miracle on 34th Street Movie Poster

Christmas in Connecticut (1945): Time for this Movie to Be More Famous!

December 2, 2019 By Joi

Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan, Christmas in Connecticut

Old Hollywood enthusiasts certainly know (and LOVE) Christmas in Connecticut (Amazon Link). We joyfully list it with our other favorite Christmas films – It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, and White Christmas. However, for some reason (that’s beyond me), “mainstream” movie viewers aren’t familiar with it.

Maybe it’s time we start making more noise about this film!

(Continued Below….)

Creative Plot

Barbara Stanwyck stars as journalist Elizabeth Lane. She is a food writer with a popular column runs is one of the country’s most-read magazines. In these columns, she describes herself as a great cook, a hard-working mother… as a woman who runs her home, kitchen, AND farm!

Sounds impressive, right? Unfortunately it’s all lies! She lives (alone) in an apartment in New York and gets all of her recipes from her adorable best friend Felix (played by S.Z. Sakall, in the only way he knows how to play any role… to perfection and deliciously). Truth be told, Elizabeth would probably struggle with boiling water.

The owner of the magazine she works for has decided on a special holiday “angle” for the column: A heroic serviceman will spend his Christmas on Elizabeth’s farm. Obviously… first they’re going to need a farm!

Elizabeth fears that, if the truth comes out, she’ll lose the job she loves, so she gets desperate. Desperate to the tune of “creating” a family, cooking skills, and even the beautiful farm and home.

(Wrapped Up Below….)

Perfect Cast

Joining Barbara Stanwyck and S.Z. Sakall (who’d be plenty in and of themselves) is Sydney Greenstreet (another of my favorites), Dennis Morgan, Reginald Gardiner, and the always wonderful Una O’Connor.

Though he isn’t as well-known as most of the stars around him, Dennis Morgan is absolutely perfect in this role. He plays it to a tee and has noticeable chemistry with beautiful Barbara Stanwyck.

The film is filled with laughs, loves, and plenty of Christmas spirit and charm. If you’ve never seen Christmas in Connecticut (Amazon Link), check it out right away. If you have seen it…. you know what I’m fixing to say… see it again!

Lobby card with Barbara Stanwyck, Sk Sakall & Reginald Gardiner

Buttons: A Christmas Tale On DVD December 3!

November 23, 2019 By Joi

As I began to put this post about Buttons: A Christmas Tale together, I kept thinking, “I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a new dvd release…”

But it just now hit me. I don’t think I’ve EVER been this excited about a new movie’s dvd release, simply because my favorite movies are old! Which is why I am beside myself with excitement for this one – two of its stars aren’t just legends, they’re two of my favorites: Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury.

I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to adding this to my collection.

Buttons: A Christmas Tale is the magical, musical story that shows believing can be the greatest gift of all. Follow the heartwarming journey of two orphan girls whose only wish is to find a home for Christmas. With a little help from their guardian angels (screen legends Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury), they discover that miracles really can happen when you find the power to believe. From director Tim Janis, this inspiring holiday film for the whole family features an all-star cast including Jane Seymour, Roma Downey and Abigail Spencer, and is narrated by Kate Winslet and Robert Redford.

It seems like there is so much negativity, cantankerousness (bet you didn’t expect to bump into that word today), and anger in the world, maybe Buttons is thing we ALL need right now.

A couple of beloved Guardian Angels coming into our world… reminding us how beautiful life truly can be? Sign me up!

Buttons Official Trailer:

I love the beauty in front of and behind this film. I also love that they used two Hollywood film and television legends in these extraordinary roles. They were wise enough to know that extraordinary roles call for extraordinary stars. Angela Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke are as extraordinary as extraordinary gets.

I hope you’ll show your appreciation for these wonderful legends by adding this one in a billion film to your collection. Legends don’t team up everyday, you know.

Continued Below….

The release date of the DVD is December 3, 2019, but you may pre-order at https://paramnt.us/Get.Buttons now. This would make such a beautiful Christmas gift – especially for young people or for people (like me) who are head over heels in love with the film’s guardian angels, Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury.

Digital copies of the film are also available. The digital copy may also be purchased at the same link.

Buttons: A Christmas Tale on DVD

Marilyn Monroe Christmas Ornament (Into the Cart with You, MM!)

November 6, 2018 By Joi

I’m not sure I’ll get it done this year (after all, I have officially waited until the absolute last minute) but by next year, I want an entire tree in our den decorated entirely with all things pertaining to the Golden Age of Hollywood.

If I start rounding up ornaments now, a year from now I’ll be SET.

This gorgeous Marilyn Monroe Keepsake Ornament may just be the first one in my collection! The fact that it’s such an iconic moment from Marilyn’s history and from Old Hollywood makes it absolutely irresistible for me.

I also love that it’s from Hallmark… that means it will be as perfect as Miss Monroe was, herself.

Okay. Close.

See Marilyn Monroe Keepsake Ornament for more information.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Fun Facts About The Christmas Classic

November 26, 2013 By Joi

I’m going to let you in on a little secret (but only because I like you so much): I’m more obsessed with the classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Amazon dvd link) and its adorable characters than most kids are with Santa Claus.

The movie came out the year I was born (1964), so I guess it’s fitting that I’m its biggest fan. I’d hate to even try to count the number of times I’ve seen it because not only have I watched it every year, In the VCR’s heyday, I recorded it and watched it multiple times and since getting the dvd, I’ve been known to pop it in several times during the Christmas season.

In fact, I think it’s high time I watch it today…

I’ve also been collecting Rudolph memorabilia over the years and its one of the funnest collections I have going. People get almost as big a kick shopping for these collectibles as I get receiving them.

Below are some cool facts about this classic and the people who made the magic happen.

Santa’s reindeer are all seen and even mentioned, by name, in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The three reindeer with “speaking roles” are all voiced by Paul Kligman. These reindeer (along with their roles) are:

Donner – Rudolph’s father
Comet – Coach of the infamous Reindeer Games
Dasher – One of the other buck’s (at the games) dad

Sam the Snowman is the Narrator of the movie. Burl Ives was the speaking and singing voice behind Sam. The face of Sam the Snowman was designed to resemble Mr. Ives.

The Abominable Snow Monster of the North is also called The Bumble in the movie.

Rudolph was voiced by Billie Mae Richards and, yes, this was a female. In addition to voice overs in quite a few Care Bear movies, she was also the voice of Rudolph in the movies Rudolph’s Shiny New Year and Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July.

Yukon Cornelius was voiced by Larry D. Mann. In the 1964 TV movie Return to Oz, Mann was Rusty the Tin Man. He was also in episodes of Get Smart, The Big Valley, Bewitched, and several other classic television series. Watch for him, it’s a real hoot to hear Yukon Cornelius’ voice coming out of someone else.

Corinne Conley provided the voice for the adorable doll on the Island of Misfit Toys. She (the actress… not the doll) went on to play the second Phyllis Anderson on Days of Our Lives.

The original Misfit Toys didn’t have their happy ending. Although it’s hard to imagine, in the original TV version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rudolph, Hermey the elf (who wants to be a dentist instead of an elf), and Yukon Cornelius visit the Island of Misfit Toys and promise to help them. However, the original movie ended without the Misfits ever being seen again… let alone helped.After it aired, the producers were SWARMED with letters from upset children who wanted to know why the Misfit Toys weren’t helped! A new scene was produced and added to the end of the show – the adorable scene where Santa and his reindeer (led, of course, by Rudolph) land on the Island of Misfit Toys, pick them up and take them to their new homes.

The main Misfit Toys were comprised of:

Charlie in the Box – a Misfit simply because he’s named Charlie instead of Jack.
Spotted Elephant – Seemingly a misfit because of the spots?
A Toy Train – The back wheels were square instead of round.
A Bird – Able to swim but not fly.
“Dolly for Sue…” or just “Dolly” – One of the questions most people have always asked about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is, “Why is the doll a misfit toy?” One of the producers, Arthur Rankin Jr., finally addressed the subject. He said Dolly’s “problem” was psychological! He said she was abandoned by her human and it left her feeling depressed and unloved. OK, is that priceless or what?

Santa’s magic works wonders. If you watch closely, at the end of the movie, when the toys are “delivered,” the train’s wheels are all round. Also, the bird doesn’t need a parachute like the other toys for his trip from the sky – he simply flies!

Rudolph isn’t as big as he appears. While the Rudolph puppet, on screen, appears to be about three feet tall, in reality “Rudolph” is actually much smaller. He’s really the size of a newborn kitten.

They used to laugh and call him names… and that’s never okay. Author and special education professor, George Giuliani, recognized the behavior of some of the characters toward Rudolph as qualifying for bullying. In In December 2011, he decided to wrote a book titled No More Bullies at the North Pole!