Fun Ideas

New History Book on Underdog and TTV Out NOW!!

2009-06-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

Now you can order my second book "Created and Produced by Total TeleVision productions: The Story of Underdog, Tennessee Tuxedo and the Rest" at BearManor Media

Also available at Amazon

Front cover by Mike Kazaleh ("The Simpsons", "New Adventures of Mighty Mouse")

Back cover blurb by Scott Shaw! ("Scooby-Doo", "Captain Carrot")

Written by Mark Arnold ("The Best of The Harveyville Fun Times!")

380 pages! Full color covers! Complete TTV history!

From Fun Ideas Productions and BearManor Media!

Order your copy today! Only $29.95!

George's Greatest Miss

2009-06-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

What a disappointment. This should have been a career-encompassing greatest hits. Instead, we get an album of random tracks that are too top heavy on four of George's albums "All Things Must Pass", "Cloud Nine" and "Brainwashed", and "Concert for Bangla Desh" and virtually ignore everything else. Many have said this should have been a two-disc set. In light of that, here is a more coherent single-disc set that actually does cover George's entire solo career:

1. My Sweet Lord
2. What is Life?
3. Bangla Desh
4. Give Me Love
5. Dark Horse
6. You
7. This Song
8. Crackerbox Palace
9. Blow Away
10. All Those Years Ago
11. Wake Up My Love
12. I Don't Want To Do It
13. Got My Mind Set On You
14. When We Was Fab
15. Handle With Care
16. Cheer Down
17. My Sweet Lord 2000
18. Horse to the Water
19. Any Road

I Finally Replaced Archie's Car

2009-05-22T15:25:00.001-07:00

I am so happy. I went to Supercon in San Jose last weekend and found an item that was stolen from me years ago...Archie's Car!!!!

The genesis of this story dates back to 1969 when The Archies were HOT and Post cereals had various Archie items included in their cereals or as sendaway items. For example, there were cut-out records on the back of the boxes and a sendaway of Jughead's beanie.

One of the items was a small plastic car included inside of boxes of "Alpha-Bits" referred to as "Archie's Car". There were cut-outs on the back of the box of Archie and the gang that you were supposed to insert into the car and a cut-out of a garage.

The cut-outs were later discarded, but I always loved my Archie's Car. Later, in 1989, I had a party at my apartment in San Francisco, and invited people from my work at KBHK-TV 44 at the time.

I invited my boss and he brought along his wife and son. His son was about 9 years old at the time. I had a habit of having favorite toys on display on my bookshelves; Archie's Car being one of them.

Anyway, I noticed that the boss' son was looking at the car at the time, but figured he'd just put it back after holding it. Next day, I was cleaning up and noticed that my Archie's Car WAS GONE!!!

HORRORS! I was so mad. And I couldn't tell the boss, because I had no real proof that he actually took it. I only saw that he was looking at it, so I let it go.

Years later, I wanted to replace my Archie's Car and looked for it at shows and in stores and later on line. I never saw one. At one toy show, someone had a red one, but I wanted my yellow one back. (The car also was available in blue, apparently, but I've never seen one.)

Time after time, I checked Ebay to no avail. If you look up Archie's Car on Ebay, typically you will see the "Burger King" versions, which I also own, that feature Archie and the gang actually in the driver's seat.

Anyway, at last Saturday's Supercon, I was looking around...and THERE IT WAS!!! And it was YELLOW!!! It looked just like the one that was stolen, so I purchased it without hesitation. Cost me $20, which seemed fair. Of course, I would like to have not had to pay to replace it, but now the search is over.

And here it is (see photo above)!!!

Finally Found Thurl Ravenscroft Album!!!

2009-05-12T16:40:00.001-07:00

I finally found a download of a very rare Thurl Ravenscoft album!! For those who don't know, Ravenscroft was the voice of Tony the Tiger for over 50 years!! He also sang the theme song to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion and the Grinch song in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "No Dogs Allowed" in "Snoopy, Come Home" among other things.

This particular album was available as a digital download and is everything I expected. Ravenscroft narrates the story behind the Gospel song and then sings it. I had the pleasure to interview with Ravenscroft a few years ago, and I asked him if there were any plans to issue this to CD and he said probably not. Sadly, it turned out to be his final interview and can be found in "Hogan's Alley" magazine.

I would still love to see it rereleased. Despite a download, I'd still be interested in a vinyl version of this, so if you see one cheap, please let me know...

If the Rich Just Paid More Taxes....

2009-03-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

Interesting chart that was sent to me showing that the rich only pay about 35% of their income in taxes currently. In the past, they have paid up to 91% of their income and guess when we were strongest economically as a country, when the rich were paying that much!!!

Look at the 1920s before the Great Depression, the rich paid the least in taxes and look what happened? THE GREAT DEPRESSION!!!

During WWII and after, when they were paying a lot, we were doing GREAT economically as a country.

As the rich have paid less and less since the 1950s, our economy has gone down and down accordingly. IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, but not totally unexpected.

So wealthy people, you know what to do. Your fun is over. It's time to pay more than your share to help us low paid individuals out and SAVE OUR COUNTRY!!!

This is the bailout we need!!!

Paul and Ringo in Concert Again

2009-03-13T16:47:00.001-07:00

Only about 29 years too late....

Cracked Book

2009-03-10T07:39:00.001-07:00

I have been told to write a new blog entry due to monumental demand (alright one person), but that's enough for me to do another plug for my upcoming book on "Cracked" magazine.

The book is going to be called "If You're Cracked, You're Happy: The History of Cracked Mazagine" and will be published by Bear Manor Media.

I am currently in the process of interviewing as many of the original creators as possible including John Severin.

I am also in the process of indexing every issue ever published including the annuals and specials and am currently up to 1969.

I'll post periodic updates here, but please feel free to comment or give me any assistance on the project. I would like to know if anyone has a "Who's Cracked?" T-shirt from 1958, or any other rare "Cracked" merchandise?

Please email me at thft@att.net if you have anything...

Finally! Finally! At Last!! At Last!!

2009-02-20T14:10:00.001-08:00

Tracks like "Kingpin" and "16 Golden Bits" are enough to qualify it as a classic, but "A Date With Danger" and the "Tonight Show" parody truly bring it over the top...

It's great to have this finally in high fidelity on compact disc instead of listening to my old vinyl recordings.

Highly recommended...

The Collection I Have Been Waiting For For Years

2009-02-19T10:37:00.001-08:00

This is the Stan Freberg collection I have been waiting for as it does indeed collect not only the A-sides of virtually every Stan Freberg record as released but the B-sides as well!!!

Some of these have never been compiled on any album before. For instance, you probably have heard Freberg's version of "Ya Got Trouble" from "The Music Man", but have you heard his version of "Gary, Indiana"?

I say virtually because there is at least one single ("Comments For Our Time Parts 1 and 2") that still eludes compilations, but this is a minor complaint due to the excessive datedness of the track and the fact that it really isn't very funny anymore.

Buy this and Tip Of The Freberg (Includes Video) and be in Freberg heaven!!!

Jr’s Fun To Draw

2009-02-17T09:40:00.000-08:00

Jerry Beck was gracious enough to post scans I made from a book called "Jr's Fun To Draw". Rather than re-type his entry, I will post a link to "Cartoon Brew" here:

Cartoon Brew

-Mark.

SNL Better Again

2009-02-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

I posted this on Facebook, but it turned out well enough, I made it a blog entry.

I feel SNL is finally getting better again after being lousy for a number of years. SNL has always been kind of hit and miss with the better years being 1975-1980; 1982-1985; 1987-1992; 2004-present, and I've watched it since the beginning. I think they took more chances in the beginning especially with the musical guests where they could have a jazz artist or classical artist, where as now it's just the latest pop or rap act. The comedy writing and acting was more daring and sharp in the early days a lot of the time as well, and if a sketch didn't work, it didn't seem to go on for 20 minutes, except maybe Bill Murray as the lounge singer. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now when re-watching them recently on the full season DVDs.

I actually wish that the show wouldn't be live anymore. Since I live in California it's never live anyway. It could easily be "live on tape" or actually filmed so that there weren't any flubs and the sketches could be tighter since the writing and acting isn't as strong. Also, I think it's time Lorne Michaels be put out to pasture. SNL has gotten stale and stiff like he has. Watch the early shows and he seems to have an enthusiasm that is totally missing now. So what if he created the show...

Harvey Art Show at the MoCCA in New York City!!

2009-01-24T18:17:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a chance to write about it until now, but I went to New York to view and participate in the Harvey Art Show on January 14-16, 2009. The show runs at the MoCCA at 594 Broadway #401 until April 25, but I was there to appear at the Official Opening for the New York version of the show, despite the show having a soft opening on December 16, 2008.

The show is still called "From Richie Rich to Wendy the Witch: The Art of Harvey Comics" and still features most of the exhibits contributed by Skeet and Linda Rose, Dave Holt and myself, but also some new ones by Kent Meredith and by Adam Harvey.

The major differences between the San Francisco show and this one is that the display area for the Harvey show is larger in New York, but it is the only show going on, whereas the San Francisco display area was somewhat smaller and there were three other galleries to view.

The New York version also had more color with multi-colored painted walls and stencils of various Harvey characters like Hot Stuff or Casper, as well as displays featuring original comic books including some from the Harvey horror era and superhero era and a copy of "Richie Rich" #1.

There were some other new items added to the show including the original artwork to the cover of "Richie Rich" #200. I will be posting a video version of the New York portion of the show soon to YouTube. In the meantime, I have posted photo on Photobucket and have included one of them here.

I flew out early Wednesday morning from San Francisco to New York on Delta. It was great to be flying again and it was the first time I had been to New York since early 2001.

On the Wednesday night Opening, many illustrious people from Harvey history did manage to show up including artist Angelo DeCesare who worked on Richie Rich in the late 70s and early 80s and now works for Archie.

Former Harvey Production Artist Paul Maringelli was there as was three of the four sons of Alfred and Vicky Harvey: Eric, Adam and Alan. Sid Jacobson's son, Seth was there as was Sid Couchey's "de facto" manager and agent, Dan Busha. Harvey fans and former Marvel employees Jim Salicrup and Danny Fingeroth were also there, as were Allan Neuwirth and Nick Biales.

Harvey fan and writer for the "New York Villager" Will McKinley went around interviewing everyone at the show for an article. McKinley interviewed me via telephone a couple of days prior to my arrival in New York.

The Opening was well attended and a few speeches were made by Ellen Abramowitz and Karl Erickson, the museum's curators. The festivities went on for a couple of hours and many photos and some video footage were shot.

Afterwards, Salicrup invited me to dinner at ACME, a great Cajun food restaurant. I had the catfish and we discussed Harvey, Marvel, MoCCA and Papercutz (Salicrup's current company).

The next day I went shopping in 10 degree Fahrenheit weather with snow. It was cold!! After shooting a bit of video of the snow, I did a little shopping at Bleeker Street Records, partially to get in out of the cold and partially to see what they had. I managed to pick up a vinyl copy of the Richie Rich album called "Mysteries of the Deep!". This is not the rapper, mind you, but one of four children's albums released by Parachute Records, a division of Polygram, back in 1983. (I will cover these albums in a future issue of "THFT!")

Later on, after some other limited sightseeing, I went back to the museum for day two and the Harvey Q&A Panel. The panel was moderated by Salicrup and featured Paul Maringelli, Angelo DeCesare, Rick Parker (who worked at Harvey for a few months before later working at Marvel on "Beavis and Butt-Head"), Chris Barat and me.

In looking at the photos and video footage, I have to admit that there were shades of "Adam Awards" in how the presentation looks (see the photo at the top of this blog entry). Kent Meredith, Joe Torcivia and Chris' wife, Nicki were among those in the audience for this panel presentation. Nicki took the panel photos.

Everyone including yours truly had quite a bit to say and an edited version of the footage will be on YouTube soon. Most everyone went out afterwards for another meal at ACME sans Joe, Chris and Nicki.

I contemplated staying through Sunday, but decided since I have had limited funds due to being out of work during November and December, that I just best go home, though I wished I could have stayed longer.

I flew home on American and had an uneventful flight on Friday despite ongoing news coverage of another plane crash in the Hudson Bay on Thursday.

You can view all of the Photobucket photos by clicking here!

Details on the YouTube videos will be posted when I upload them. Stay Tuned.

After April, the show moves to Pittsburgh and the Toonseum.

Harvey Art Show Opening and Panel Talk in New York

2009-01-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to give you all a heads up reminder that the Harvey Art Show is going on now in New York at the MoCCA at 594 Broadway, Suite 401. I will be in attendance on January 14 for the Opening Reception and on January 15 for a panel discussion featuring Chris Barat and me. Please stop by and say hi if you are in the area...

For more details, please go to the MoCCA website at http://www.moccany.org/ or call 212-254-3511.

Hope to see you there!

Good New Movies to See

2008-12-29T09:09:00.000-08:00

Since I've been too lazy to put a separate blog entry for each of these, I will just highly recommend the following current films: "Valkrie", "Gran Torino", and "Bolt".

Some have quibbled about the non-historical treatment of "Valkrie", but at heart it is just a good action film that just happens to be set in WWII Germany.

"Gran Torino" is a return to form for Clint Eastwood in his "Dirty Harry" persona. He is not the same character, but his crankiness is perfect. "Get off my lawn" will soon supplant "Go ahead, make my day" as the classic Clint catch phrase.

"Bolt" was a total surprise and begins the blurring of the lines of what is and what isn't a Pixar film. It isn't a Pixar film, yet John Lassiter of Pixar worked on it, and there was a short featuring Tow Mater from "Cars" at the front end. I think eventually the Pixar name will be retired. "Bolt" is a much better film than the previous non-Pixar Disney CGI films ("Chicken Little", "Meet the Robinsons"). Maybe not in the same league as "Wall-E", but close.

I highly recommend all three...

Gentleman Gene Colan

2008-12-05T00:34:00.000-08:00

I went to the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco tonight with Lee Hester of Lee's Comics to honor "Gentleman" Gene Colan. For those unfamiliar with his work, pick up appropriate issues of "Daredevil", "Creepy", "Howard the Duck" or "Tomb of Dracula".

Gene was honored with a lifetime achievement award, and also answered some brief interview questions with Glen David Gold. He also received in person accolades from Tom Field, Steve Engelhart, Steve Leialoha, Adrienne Colan (Gene's wife) and in a special video message, Stan "The Man" Lee.

About 40 pieces of original art are on display from November 15, 2008 through March 15, 2009 at the Cartoon Art Museum which is at 655 Mission Street in San Francisco.

Gene also signed my "Howard the Duck" trade paperback and the new Dark Horse "Creepy Archives Vol. 2" book.

If you feel that you missed out meeting Gene in person, you do get a second chance. Gene Colan along with Gene's sometime inker Steve Leialoha ("Fables") will be appearing this Saturday, December 6, at Lee's Comics from 2-4pm, at 1020-F N. Rengstorff Avenue, Mountain View. Check out Lee's website at http://www.lcomics.com
for more information.

For photos of the event, please check out my Photobucket account at http://s218.photobucket.com/albums/cc49/thft_2007/Gene%20Colan%20December%202008/

Permission is granted to use any photo in this folder for any purpose, just please give me photo credit.

The Verdict on "Wall*E"

2008-11-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

So why didn't I see this on June 27, when I was such a huge fan of Pixar films prior to this? Because I felt that Ratatooee (intentionally misspelled) was one of the worst Pixar films ever made. The initial concept was good, but after you got the point it just went on and on and on and on repeating the same lame joke, again and again. Ok, ok, we get it, the mouse controls the cook and does so from under the cook's hat. Do you have anything else?

Many people may not know this but the Pixar deal with Disney was initially just as distributor. As such, under the original contract, Disney distributed the two "Toy Story" films, "A Bug's Life", "Monsters, Inc.", "Finding Nemo", "The Incredibles" and "Cars". I think that's all of them. Anyway, "Cars" was the last one made under the original deal.

In the meantime, Disney decided to create it's own CGI animation team. They put out "wonderful" stuff like "Dinosaur", "Chicken Little", "Meet the Robinsons" and this week's release "Bolt". Now, I don't know if "Bolt" is any good or not at the moment, so I reserve judgment on that one for a later time. The other ones came across as cutesy and boring ("Dinosaur") or downright annoying (the other ones).

Anyway, Pixar's first feature length release under the new agreement was the aforementioned "Ratatouille" (spelled correctly this time). I know this film has its fans, but I felt it was very weak, so when "Wall*E" was scheduled to have "cute" robots, I felt I should take a pass.

Now, I wish I had seen it in the theater. Certain negative comments I have heard about it, I don't see. I didn't think it was too long, which is a surprising comment by me, who usually thinks many movies are too long. It does have a slower pace, and that's what I liked about it. It didn't shove its message down your throat and rush through things with stupid jokes like other non-Disney CGI films. Apart from "Shrek", most of those make me gag.

I've heard comments that the first part is great with the basically silent footage, and then it bogs down later with all the talking. I disagree. I would have to admit that this is perhaps my favorite Pixar film, even more so than "The Incredibles", "Cars" and the two "Toy Story" movies. THAT is an impressive accomplishment.

I LOVE the irony of Disney releasing a film that shows basically a futuristic EPCOT in space!!! I am referring to the original EPCOT concept as created by Walt Disney, not the World's Fair concept of EPCOT Center that stands today.

I LOVE it that everyone's a fat blob and doesn't do anything.

If I had ANY quibble, it would be the fact that the people in the beginning look like people, and that later they look like cartoons, but I guess blobs do look like cartoons. MINOR complaint. I'm such a Fred Willard fan, this small point it forgiven.

The only other complaint and if you haven't seen the movie, this may be a spoiler. If they had no plants for 700 years, how did the humans survive?

Otherwise, EXCELLENT film. I wish animated films could still win for "Best Picture".

Thank You, America!!!

2008-11-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

I want to thank everyone for electing Barack Obama the next President of the United States. I can't say he'll do anything, but he cannot be worse than Bush.... At least he can speak...

I Met Matt Groening!!

2008-11-04T10:13:00.001-08:00

I don't usually get this excited about meeting celebrities, but Matt Groening of "Simpsons", "Life in Hell" and "Futurama" fame has been so elusive, that I am impressed that I finally got to meet him. Here's picture proof from the APE in San Francisco on November 1, 2008.

Voting

2008-11-03T09:49:00.001-08:00

You now how everyone is shouting "Get out there and vote". Well I say, "Get out there and vote if you are going to vote for Obama". Votes for McCain are not going to do the country any good, and I don't care your level of income. He's a nice enough fellow and I would have voted for him over Bush in 2000, but he's older than my dad and doesn't have any new ideas.

As such, he doesn't give a shit about the US; he just wants to be President just to say that he once was the President and to get into the history books. Otherwise, he's almost ready for the pine box. He was a POW...big deal. That's no reason to vote for him. I'm happy he served his country and probably did things more courageous than myself, but I still don't have to give him my vote.

The other stupid reason is the abortion issue. I'm sorry abortion is legal. My attitude on abortion has always been "If you don't want an abortion, don't have one". In fact, if I accidentally impregnated someone, I wouldn't want her to go through that ordeal. I did once. It's painful, both physically and emotionally, for both partners, if they care. That said, I'm still voting for Obama. I don't think he'll do anything, but then again he might, but abortion will not be on the agenda, just the economy and this stupid war.

McCain on the other hand doesn't seem like anyone who would do anything, period. I think that if you can collect Social Security, you cannot serve as President. If you have to be at least 35, you should also have to be less than 65, or 67 tops.

I don't understand people who say, "Why vote when Obama's going to win anyway?" Well, that's stupid, too. What, you only vote if your candidate's losing and you never vote on the propositions or anything or anyone else?

That's why I say, "Get out there and vote if you are going to vote for Obama". Everyone else stay home and get this stupid election over with already. Make it a landslide instead of a nailbiter.

Finally, get over the color of Obama's skin. If you are in the 21st Century and still hung up on that crap, do us all a favor and gouge your eyes out, so you don't have to look at him while you vote. Idiots!! If Obama was white, he'd be a shoo-in. Vote for Barry!!!

Thank you for your support...(geez, I sound like Michael Moore with all this grandstanding).

BTW, I'm STILL a registered Republican for those who care...

Please Vote for Obama This Tuesday!!!

2008-10-31T08:29:00.001-07:00

Obama giving a speech recently to a very receptive audience!!

Julia Child Shows You How to Edit Video Tape

2008-10-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

I am posting this blog in hopes that someone can help me to find this elusive gem. When I was taking courses at San Francisco State in the late 80s, one of the instructors, who used to work at KQED channel 9 in San Francisco had a copy of a short film called "Julia Child Shows You How to Edit Video Tape" that was made for NET, the network that preceded PBS.

It was hysterically funny short black and white video in which Julia takes out a huge meat cleaver and literally chops a reel of 2" video tape in two. Then, she cuts it in another spots and splices the two ends together with mashed potatoes. Great, funny stuff!!

I cannot even remember the instructor's name who showed this, and I'm sure he's long retired or even dead by now. This was 20 years ago and he seemed to be fairly old then.

If anyone has any information on how to get a copy of this elusive film, I would be forever grateful. I haven't seen it on YouTube, so it's not there.

Writer's Block

2008-10-21T14:33:00.000-07:00

You'd think I'd be having writer's block since I don't write on my blog too often. Quite the contrary, I usually think of things to write about, but don't have time to. Recently, I could have written reviews for "Mr. Hobbs Goes on Vacation" or "The Invasion" or "Capote", but I just didn't do it.

I also could have written about my mother's recent death (on October 7), or going through her stuff, or finishing up my book, or doing any number of things that I usually do.

I could even write about that I'll be working at Lee's Comics this Saturday and again the following week at the APE show in San Francisco.

But I just don't have the time. Pity.

Last Week's Sac-Con

2008-10-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

Oh well. It takes me a week to write sometimes. Anyway, I went to last week's Sac-Con in Sacramento, CA, upon the invitation of animator/comic book artist Mike Kazaleh. Mike will be drawing the cover to my upcoming book about TTV (Underdog).

Anyway, as I walked in, I sat on a panel about "The Simpsons" that Mike along with fellow friends Bill Morrison and Phil Ortiz was on. This lasted about an hour and was very entertaining. Voice artist Billy West (who does voices for "Futurama") was also on the panel, as were a couple of artists from the recent "Treehouse of Horror" comic book.

Anyway, afterwards I was thrilled when Bill came up to me and asked how my book was coming along. I am happy that he remembered. I told him it was due at the end of November.

Overall, it was a quick 3-hour reunion with people that I admire greatly in the industry.

No Bailout!!!

2008-10-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hey I lost money years ago and am still paying for my mistakes. If I can't have a bailout, nobody can. If anything, they should give each and every American regardless if they are working or not $2000 each if you make below $50,000 per year.

It should be sent gratis through the mail or if the IRS has your direct deposit, just put it in. Us poor people will spend it soon enough and it will end up back in the hands of the rich people, but at least we will have a little fun while it lasts and stimulate the economy at the same time!!!

I can't wait....only 110 days left of the worst President ever!!!!

Keith Knight Opening Reception

2008-09-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

Keith Knight of "K Chronicles", "th(ink)" and "Father O'Flanity's Hot Tub Confessional" fame appeared last night at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. I went with my friend Heather and showed her my Harvey Art Show in the process. It was a fun evening and I snapped a couple photos of Knight describing his artwork.