| JANUARY 2003 NEWS! |
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THE DAYDREAMER & THE WACKY WORLD OF MOTHER GOOSE SCHEDULED for MARCH 4th Street Date!
THE WACKY WORLD OF MOTHER GOOSE is a cel-animated film and not one of the better RANKIN/BASS efforts BUT this is the first time that the film print has been restored and MARGARET RUTHERFORD's performance as MOTHER GOOSE alone is worth buying it for. In the past, like MAD MONSTER PARTY, it was issued on VHS from a poor quality 16mm print. This DVD also features a still archives, trailer and a 4 page booklet written by Rick.
Rankin/Bass & Other Great Art Available at New Online Gallery!
THERE IS A NEW ANIMATION GALLERY IN NY started by our friend DAVID SCHEVE! Many RANKIN/BASS items for sale including DON DUGA storyboards and Set ups! He also has cels from THE JACKSON FIVE series autographed by ARTHUR RANKIN and others. David's on-line store is a feast for the eyes.
CLICK ANY PICTURE TO VISIT DAVID'S GALLERY at www.thedeeparchives.com!
MORE COOL R/B STUFF AT TIME & SPACE TOYS!
For the first time ever, the Rankin Bass Holiday Classic, The Little Drummer
Boy is the subject of a new collectible set featuring a Figural Ornament of
Aaron, the Little Drummer Boy. The set also comes with a video of the
special (in VHS or DVD), a Children's Bible, and a Display Scene.
This set is currently going for outrageous prices on auction sites and was
advertised on another online webstore that no longer lists the item as
available. However, Time & Space Toys can be relied on to deliver the goods
at a standard retail price. Order at
www.timeandspacetoys.com! (Click the pics to visit their website!)
Time & Space Toys is also now carrying The Year Without A Santa Claus action
figures, figurines and plush that were introduced in 2002. These figures
are sold out in other webstores and are available now at www.timeandspacetoys.com! (Click the pics to visit their website!)
What animation project did BORIS KARLOFF make the splash with? HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS? MAD MONSTER PARTY? If you answered either....you are wrong. His first Animated project was as the RAT in the RANKIN/BASS feature film called THE DAYDREAMER (1966). You will finally be able to see him as the RAT in a restored version of the film on the ANCHOR BAY DVD!
We can safely say that ANCHOR BAY did another wonderful job with the packaging and release of two more RARE RANKIN/BASS Feature films. THE DAYDREAMER is one of our favorites and combines primarily 'ANIMAGIC' with Live-Action in the 1966 feature. The DVD features a restored version of the film with Theatrical trailer and still archives provided by RANKINBASS.COM. It also contains a 4 page booklet written by Rick.
The Little Drummer Boy
The Year Without A Santa Claus
Jack Frost Selling Great on DVD!
The JACK FROST DVD was the BIG seller over the 2002 HOLIDAY Season and the affordable list price of $7 helped quite a bit! Out of the greedy hands of WARNER BROS. this DVD was one of the BEST items of the season! A fan favorite! It was issued by FRONT ROW ENTERTAINMENT in 2001 and LASERLIGHT in 2002!
WILLY McBEAN & HIS MAGIC MACHINE on DVD?
With the recent DVD release of MAD MONSTER PARTY and the upcoming ANCHOR BAY releases of THE DAYDREAMER and THE WACKY WORLD OF MOTHER GOOSE....it's time to release the first RANKIN/BASS feature film WILLY McBEAN & HIS MAGIC MACHINE! It was Produced in 1965 in 'ANIMAGIC' and features the same ANIMAGIC staff and Voice cast that was used in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER! A real GEM in the RANKIN/BASS catalog! PLEASE drop a postcard in the mail to CLASSIC MEDIA and put a vote in for this one! We know they have the trailer and they already re-mastered the film! We believe they are hesitant to release it because it is relatively unknown. It has only aired in recent years on late night TV, usually on CBS. The Previous video releases were poor quality! This is certainly one of our favorites and we are sure you will agree!
| RARE BURL IVES PHOTO DISCOVERED!
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We want to thank our friend and longtime RANKINBASS.COM customer for hunting down this RARE Un-published Production photo from RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER! We were able to use it as an on-screen graphic on Rick's WGN MORNING NEWS appearance this past 12-13! We are also talking to Elliot Cowan (TV Producer and son of BERNARD COWAN) about a Documentary based on Rick's RUDOLPH book for television and this BURL picture will certainly be included! THANKS Susan! |
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RANKINBASS.COM Featured in December 2002 CHICAGO TRIBUNE!
We would like to THANK writer PATRICK KAMPERT and the CHICAGO TRIBUNE for a well written article in the Q SPOTLIGHT on RICK and RANKINBASS.COM! There was even a seperate article featured with new interviews with PAUL SOLES (Hermey) and BILLIE MAE RICHARDS (Rudolph). The article was HUGE and brought alot of attention to preserving the history of RANKIN/BASS! THANKS! |
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| CHRISTMAS CARDS FROM OUR FRIENDS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SHARE! | |
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Here are a few postcards that stood out during the 2002 HOLIDAY season we wanted to share! First is a CLASSIC MEDIA Christmas card with a beautiful design with the RANKIN/BASS Characters and a few others!
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Second we have another humorous card from our friend and RANKIN/BASS designer PAUL COKER! It was a fold out card (3 sections) with the punchline being on the last section! We now have the signed MISER BROS. postcard set by PAUL COKER back on our SHOPPE PAGES and they are going fast so.....order your's now!
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More ALEX ROSS Halloween Pics!
| 1. Rick with the hosts of hosts, Alex Ross! |
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2. RICK with legendary Chicago television personality RICH 'SVENGOOLIE' KOZ.
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3. RON MURPHY dressed as the original SVENGOOLIE (Gerry G. Bishop version) with SVENGOOLIE Rich Koz as BIZARRO SUPERMAN
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4. Rick with Alex's Dad (aka NORM McCabe in KINGDOM COME)
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5. Rick and Alex's Mom
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6. The BUDDY Shot of Lil' Rick, Lil' Ron and Lil' Mitch O' Connell
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Wild Chicago Visits rankinbass.com!
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Looks like our segment on local Chicagoland PBS's documentary show, Wild Chicago, will air sometime beginning in February. Look for Rick and friends in the upcoming episode which will also be rerun throughout the year! (Click here to read the behind the scenes story and view pics in our October News!)
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RUDOLPH BOOK FEATURED AT ANIMATION BLAST! Check out a review of the latest book RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER - THE MAKING OF AN ANIMAGIC CLASSIC written by our own R/B author/historian Rick Goldschmidt at AnimationBlast.com! (Click the pick to visit the site.) |
We hope 2003 is a good one!
- Rick and Mark
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