Christmas Reading: "The Triple Dog Dare" by Joanna Wilson

Each year when Halloween passes and November 1 comes, several things happen in the Bingle house.  I start playing Christmas music on the record player when the rest of the family is around (instead of listening privately, as I do every year in the months of January-October).  I more diligently begin detailed planning for my annual Christmas compilation CD (yes, I still burn CDs).  I start looking for the necessary fixins for the annual fruitcake baking later in November.  And I start my Christmas reading.

I love Christmas reading as much as anything during the holidays. Novels, stories, poetry, and works of non-fiction all make my reading list in a given year.  There are a few annual traditions I've settled into, such as reading Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory" every year on Thanksgiving morning, accompanied by the peace of the sleeping household and a cup of freshly brewed coffee with a touch of cream.

Most of my reading, though, is new to me, be it a classic Christmas story or a new work.  This year, I chose "The Triple Dog Dare: Watching - & Surviving - the 24-House Marathon of A Christmas Story" by Christmas TV journalist extraordinaire Joanna Wilson to kick off my holiday reading season.

In "The Triple Dog Dare", author Joanna tells her account of watching the modern classic film A Christmas Story for 24 hours straight, simulating the annual broadcast on TBS that has become a part of so many of our Christmas Eves and Days.  Twelve straight viewings.  Twelve showdowns with Scut Farkus.  Twelve times Flick stuck his tongue on the pole.  Twelve "Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra"s at the Chop Suey Palace.  Twelve "Oh Fuuuuuuudge"s (but he didn't say "fudge").  What would happen after the marathon?  Would she love the movie even more?  Would she never want to see it ever again?  Would she still be sane? 

These questions and many more are answered in this delightful and completely engaging book. Joanna explores the reasons why this movie has become so beloved, and why it is uniquely suitable for the 24 hour marathon broadcast year after year, which plays in to the reason so many major advertisers buy commercial time during the event.  She gives us many details about the cast, including connections beyond the film and some "where are they now" info.  We are treated to a cornucopia of tidbits about the film, production, location, and other miscellany.  Perhaps I knew, but had forgotten, that Bob Clark also directed "Black Christmas" the 1974 film.  I did not know until reading this book that Mr. Clark has a cameo in the film.  It's things like this, the details surrounding the film, that make the book such a joy.

But that's not all.  Joanna tells about her staging of the marathon - a re-creation done in February with a VHS tape of the movie recorded from television in 1989.  (We understand that viewing the entire marathon as it's broadcast live would be a serious detriment to enjoying the holiday, and really just not feasible for a Christmas lover).  An unexpected bonus of traveling back in time to television circa 1989 was the neo-vintage commercials that were fortunately not excised from the recording.  Joanna's accounts of these commercials, many for products and services that have ceased to exist, added significant joy to the reading experience.

Christmas Television History Expert Joanna Wilson

There is no unnecessary play-by-play of the movie.  Many scenes are referenced and used as inertia to explore an angle, a nook, or a cranny about the film, the viewing experience, the social and collective tradition that has developed since the marathon began, or other tangents and fascinating offshoots.  If you, like me, love the movie, you'll find much to love in Joanna's book.  It's a guarantee that you'll relate to some or many of Joanna's observations and experiences, and you will assuredly learn something new about A Christmas Story.  

While I'm at it, let me give a thumbs-up to Joanna's other Christmas-related books, "The Christmas TV Companion", "Tis the Season TV", and "Merry Musical Christmas Vol. 1".  The first two of these have suddenly become enablers for me to spend way too much time in front of the TV, looking up previously unknown (to me) TV episodes, film shorts, cartoons, and so on.  Thanks to Joanna I'm discovering Christmas entertainment that I didn't know existed, and it's wonderful.  Thanks Joanna!

Joanna Wilson, in addition to publishing books about Christmas visual entertainment, also runs the excellent blog Christmas TV History and keeps an active social media presence via Tis the Season TV and Triple Dog Dare on Facebook, as well as on other social media platforms.

1701 Press website
The Triple Dog Dare on 1701 Press
Christmas TV History

2017 Preview and Thisbe Vos Kickstarter

Hello and Happy November everyone!  Welcome back to another season of Christmas nerdery here at ye old Merrie and Bright blogg.  This post is to welcome you all back, to give you a little preview of what's in store this season, to share a quick news tidbit, and most importantly to encourage you to help crowdfund a new record from one of our absolute favorite musicians.

So, welcome back!  (check - done)

For long-time readers of Merry and Bright you'll see similar Christmas goodies in 2017 as in years past.  I'll be doing some reviews of Christmas albums and introducing you to artists that aren't in the mainstream but produce some darned fine music.  I have two artist interviews lined up already, a third pending, and perhaps a couple more will come along in the next month.  And, as always, I have a great set of vintage, out-of-print music to share out for you to enjoy.  I managed to get way ahead of the album-ripping game this year (whew!).  I have all of the records ripped, almost all of the audio processing done, and a good start on the cover scanning and stitching.  And it's only November 6th!

Beyond that, who knows what you'll find here.  You can guarantee it'll be in the holiday spirit, that's for sure.  I hope you like what you read, and if you do, leave a comment! 

Quick news tidbit:  I'm returning to the radio again this year.  Believe it or not, the hosts of River Trade Radio on KKFI in Kansas City invited me back for a special hour of Christmas music from my collection.  And,  the FCC was ok with that  :-)  So on Sunday December 3rd at about 9:15AM Central Time you can hear a little of me and a lot of great Christmas songs.  I'll post more info about that closer the day.

Ok, now for the important message.  You may recall Thisbe Vos from previous posts here.  The first was a review of her amazing Christmas record in 2015, and then her interview with Der Bingle last season.  Now, Thisbe has a new project, and she needs crowdfunding support via Kickstarter to achieve her goal.  Thisbe is making a "Romantic Valentine's Day Jazz Album", with her renditions of jazz standards fitting the occasion, plus several original songs.  Now, Thisbe is not only an amazing jazz singer, she is a truly gifted songwriter.  I've been endlessly impressed with her ability to write a new song and have it sound like a standard.  If you haven't heard Thisbe, visit her at one of the links below and listen to this talented young jazz artist.

On her Kickstarter page, Thisbe details her plans for the albums and describes the costs to make the record, including the breakdown of the funds.  She has quite a chunk of the funds allocated to the musicians that will be recording with her, which makes me want to support her even more.  Earning a steady, decent wage can be challenging for those who dedicate their lives to making music, so I was very glad to see that the Kickstarter will support not only Thisbe, but also her band and collaborators. I pledged to support her new record right away, and I hope you will consider signing on as a supporter. Even if jazz music isn't your thing, maybe you know someone who would love a CD from Thisbe.

So, please take a minute to check out her Kickstarter page.  Der Bingle thanks you.

Thisbe Vos Kickstarter Site
Thisbe Vos website
Thisbe on Facebook

Well, that's it for tonight - I hope you visit Merry and Bright many times this season.  Happy holidays!

Vintage Recipes!

I found an old Betty Crocker recipe booklet while sifting through my Mom's many, many collected recipes (I found about 9 different variants of fruitcake, one of which is a no-bake version held together with graham cracker crumbs, orange juice, and melted marshmallows, then frozen in a tube) and thought you might enjoy the seasonal ones.  There isn't a date on the booklet, but I'm guessing it's from the 1960s.  

Cover:

Sugar Plum Dreams:

And two Dickens-inspired recipes:

Enjoy!

Feelin' like Christmas...

Hello all!  Yawn, stretch, jingle, jingle, jingle...  it's starting to feel just a tad like Christmas.  There's not really a nip in the air yet, but there's a Fall-like feel here in Kansas City today, and it is of course officially Autumn now (why do we have two name for this season, but only one for the rest?  Ever wonder that?) so around my place Fall means that we start listening to some Christmas tunes, sorting through the new/old records and CDs, and planning the annual Christmas comp.  I know, I know, many of my collector friends have been planning their comp for months already.  I always have a running list and jot potential songs to it from time to time, but the real planning doesn't start until Octoberish each year.  Just my M.O.

So, I'm encountering a new phenomenon here recently, one that's quite welcome.  A few days ago, and old buddy pulled up at my house to pick me up to go to a Wilco concert, and he came bearing a sackful of old Christmas records he got from his mother.  Quite a nice selection, too.  Some may be shared out here later in the season.  Then, the next day, I traveled to my sister's place down in Tennessee, and upon arrival she had a stack of old Christmas records for me, finds from estate sales.  What a thing - people giving me stacks of Christmas records!  I guess all that incessant posting on Facebook about Christmas music is paying off :-)  Anyway, it's a cool thing.  Add in my Omaha daughter scouting the used record haunts up there looking for Christmas records and my Kansas City kids letting me know about albums they've spotted, and I have quite a network going.  Maybe it'll turn into inventory for that Christmas music store I'll open up when I retire.  Won't make a dime in profit but the in-store music will be great!

Well, stay tuned here folks.  The blog is warming up for another season.  I have some artist interviews already lined up, and will be talking up some new album releases, including (I hope) one from a fantastic local band.  Plus, all the usual stuff you find here at Merry and Bright.  It's Beginning To Look a Little Like Christmas! 

I decided to include a few album pics too, just to jolly up the place a bit.  Enjoy!

Eclipse!

My house in Kansas City was within the path of totality ("totality" - the Word of the Year 2017), so I got to enjoy the event from my deck.  Here are a couple pictures, taken with my iPhone, of the eclipse during totality.  The pics aren't great, but do show the light-ringed black ball in the sky.  I was trying to take the pics quickly and then just enjoy the view for as long as it lasted.  Anyway, here's the view of the great eclipse of 2017 from my backyard!

Just Some Seasonal Pictures

I felt like updating the blog with some seasonal pictures, so here they are!

Is it Christmas Music Season yet?

Ha!  What a silly question!  Stop that!  Stop that!  You're being silly!  (please comment, those who pick up that reference).

It's always Christmas Music season in the House of Bingle, though sometimes not with quite the same intensity, as, say, the months of September - January.  And, as it's pushing 100 degrees here in Kansas City today, we're not feeling a bit Wintry.

But, Christmas music season is starting to emerge on the internet, slowly but surely.  Good friend Stubby has semi-un-retired from the Christmas music internet scene, which is reason for rejoicing.

Good friend Ernie has a mega-celebration of Christmas in July going on over at his place, with loads of Christmas songs shared out from non-Christmas albums.  The dude has a superpower of being able to find these treasures.

And, our favorite Facebook group 200 Days of Christmas is already at day 45 this year, posting a Christmas song every day, many of which will be new to you (no matter who you are).  If you haven't followed 200 Days yet, you need to. Right now.  Then come back here, please.

And what about the plans for Merry and Bright this season?  Well, I'm not sure yet.  I know of a couple artist/album features I want to write up.  I'm, hoping to do some more artist interviews this year.  I'll dig into my vinyl and see what I can share out - hope to have at least a few of those again this year.  I guess I see Merry and Bright as a variety platter in the world of Christmas Music blogs - a little of this, a little of that, not all exclusively music related.  We'll see what happens.

So for now - Merry Christmas in July!  I'll be back in a couple months...