In addition to several live-action films including The Strongest Man in the World starring Kurt Russell (and Joe Flynn), Turner Classic Movies is presenting today (Sunday) a new documentary on the under-explored subject of Disney's live-action productions. "The Age of Believing" (the title is a twist on the Oscar-nominated song, "The Age of Not Believing" from Bedknobs and Broomsticks) will be cablecast today at 4:00 pm, Pacific time. In the meantime, enjoy the poster for the third and final film in the Dexter Riley trilogy, complete with its Jack Davis-inspired art.
Let's celebrate St. Nicholas Day with this fun cover from one of the best of the Disney Christmas-themed Little Golden Books. Santa Claus and Donald Duck. First published in in 1952, this volume features art by Golden Book favorite and Disney animation background artist Al Dempster. His truly jolly and lovable Santa is a delight, and—judging by his halo—even inspired Donald to be good. The seasonal storybook, with a charming tale written by prolific (she wrote over 200 books) Golden Book author Jane Werner Watson under the pen name of Annie North Bedford, was even recommended by the New York Times, a rarity for a Little Golden Book. Since then, this book, especially its irresistible Disney art, has continued to delight year after year, much like jolly old Saint Nick himself.
When I published the last post about the 1950 Little Golden Book Christmas in the Country I didn't realize that not only the cover but also the entire book had just been published on another blog. The blog of Barbie Miller, Golden Gems features tons of great illustrations from Little Golden Books and other books, magazines and additional sources. As Barbie herself puts it, her blog is a "collection of little golden books and other vintage & modern illustrations meant to inspire and delight." The Christmas in the Country art Barbie has posted is a delight indeed. Pictured here are several of my favorite images from this nostalgic tale, in which little Betty and Bob visit their grandparents on an old-fashioned farm for a glorious Christmas in the countryside. To show all my favorite illustrations from this entrancing book I would have to post every artwork in the book (but no need, as that's what Golden Gems has done), but certainly on the top of my list is the family (including Grandfather with his Santa-like beard) gathered around the organ to sing carols. Be sure to set aside some time (say a day or two) to explore Golden Gems—it's like Christmas morning every time you visit.
Many a charming Christmas tale has been told in the pages of Little Golden Books over the years, and one of my all-time favorites is the heartwarming Christmas in the Country. Published in 1950, this timeless story overflows with nostalgic art by Retta Scott Worcester. Renowned as the first full-fledged female Disney animator for her work on such classics as Dumbo and Bambi, Retta also contributed beautifully stylized illustrations to several Golden publications, including various editions of Walt Disney's Cinderella and Happy Birthday (1952). Here's the entrancing cover of this gold-standard Golden Book, a little volume all the more precious to me as it was a Christmas gift from my friend and a "golden" award-winning artist (Disney and otherwise) in his own right, Michael Giaimo. (Thanks, Mike!) One look at this utterly appealing cover and one can't help feel a little more Christmasy.
The wholesome fun of the Archie comic books makes a good match with Christmas so it's fitting that special holiday stories and issues have long been part of the Archie mix. Archie's Christmas Stocking began in 1954 as part of the Archie Giant series, and later started as its own series in 1994. To get December off to a good start, here's a fun 1957 cover showing the famous freckle-faced teenager doing what he does best: being lovestruck (if not lovesick) over those two beauties, Betty and Veronica. Archie is so girl-crazy that we can be sure mistletoe is his favorite part of Christmas. Happy December!
