JUNE 2005 NEWS!

Comcast Airs Re-mastered
Tales Of The Wizard Of Oz!
Over the past year, COMCAST CABLE has been broadcasting (On a PAY PER VIEW basis) episodes of THE TALES OF WIZARD OF OZ, THE MIGHTY HERCULES, THE DICK TRACY SHOW and others. All re-mastered and all from the catalog of CLASSIC MEDIA. Perhaps CLASSIC MEDIA/SONY WONDER will issue these on DVD, since they went through the trouble of re-mastering them. Let the folks at CLASSIC MEDIA know the demand by checking out www.classicmedia.tv and contacting them!

Howard Beckerman:
A Rankin/Bass Person You Should Know!
I was introduced to HOWARD BECKERMAN by DON DUGA, unfortunatly after my first RANKIN/BASS book went to press. HOWARD filled the gap between TONY PETERS (RUDOLPH) and DON DUGA (EVERYTHING after RUDOLPH) as RANKIN/BASS Storyboarder. HOWARD was the storyboard artist on the very first RANKIN/BASS TV Special RETURN TO OZ (Feb. 1964). It made it's debut on the NBC-TV GENERAL ELECTRIC FANTASY HOUR and was well received. It was also the first time that ROMEO MULLER wrote for a RANKIN/BASS Special. HOWARD BECKERMAN as he appears today in the BIG APPLE

Howard began in the animation field in 1949 when he was hired personally by Paul Terry, at the TERRY-TOON STUDIO, to work on MIGHTY MOUSE and HECKLE & JECKLE Cartoons. He rose from inker to in-betweener and then moved to Paramount's FAMOUS STUDIOS to draw POPEYE and CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST.

HOWARD and Daughter Amy circa 1963, just before RETURN TO OZ aired on NBC-TV
The demands of television brought the opportunity to animate commercials for many top studios including: SHAMUS CULHANE Productions, FILM GRAPHICS, ELEKTRA FILMS, GRYPHON, PELICAN, CINEFFECTS, BILL STURM STUDIOS and UPA PRODUCTIONS. At UPA (1954-1957), he drew the successful PIEL'S BEER Spots and wrote and animated shorts for the CBS series the GERALD McBOING BOING SHOW. It was the first animated half hour Children's program in COLOR.
In the 1970's, he opened a studio to Produce, write and animate films for such clients as the XEROX CORP., IBM, EXXON, CBS, NBC. PROCTOR & GAMBLE and even animated segments for SESAME STREET & THE ELECTRIC CO.. For nine years his studio did all the animation for the BLACK FLAG commercials (Which many have thought JACK DAVIS designed BUT he did not.)
Today he teaches Animation classes in New York at THE SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS (As does DON DUGA) and THE PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN. He also appeared with DON DUGA recently at an ASIFA screening of MAD MONSTER PARTY to talk about his RANKIN/BASS work and meet fans. "I enjoyed those early days working on RETURN TO OZ. I remember ARTHUR's studio well, which at the time doubled for his residence," Says BECKERMAN.

Cool Vintage King Kong Merchandise!
Japanese King Kong Notebooks
Check out this link a fan was kind enough to send us showing some great licensed proucts from the past that were spawned from Rankin/Bass hit cel animated television series KING KONG! The folks at TICK TOCK TOYS have posted many photos of Kong merchandise - from the notebooks pictured above to a King Kong watering can, there are 13 retro items to view! Some even we haven't seen before! Very Cool! The rest of the site is also worth a look as well if you're nuts for nostalgia like we are! Click the link below to view 'em!

theimaginaryworld.com/kong.html

King Kong....You know the name of King Kong...(now I can't get that theme out of my head!)

Tons of New Rankin/Bass Merchandise
at Time & Space Toys!

RUDOLPH fans:

More Rudolph Animatronics from Gemmy in 2005!

Check out this
Ultimate Bumble Animated Figure!

There's also a new
Sleigh with Santa, Rudolph & Misfit Toys
Animated scene
too!

Here's an all-new concept: Inflatable Snow Globes!

This will be the hot new novelty item concept for 2005. There will be many generic santas in inflatible globes like this, but this is the Licenced Rudolph version. Check it out here.

Rudolph back in Plush Form for 2005!

Most will remember the original plush CVS line. Now new for 2005 is a larger 8 inch plush figure line that features full song sound when squeezing the dolls. Called, Squeezers , this new set is up for pre-order now. Also new are plush style hanging ornaments that combine the soft cuddly features of a plush toy with the decorative hanging style of a tree ornament. .

All-New Rudolph Housewares Section at TST!

This all-new section in our store focuses on ceramic kitchenware and other household items. Decorative, yet practical housewares to add some Rudolph fun to your holiday dinner party or home decor. Great for gifts too! New are Cookie Jars, Bowls, Cheese Speaders, Napkin Rings,>/A> Candle Holders, etc.. There's some new Jingle Buddy Ornaments too!

All-New Rudolph Yard Decor Section at TST!

Extremely popular last year (we sold out) these illuminated 4 foot yard decorations continue from Roman Lights. New this year are Misfit Toys, Sam the Snowman, Clarice and Hermey in Snow Bank.

Rudolph DLX Animatronic Singing Figures

Are back with an all-new Clarice and Skinny Santa w/ Rudolph .

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Monopoly Board Game

available now! The classic properties game meets the classic holiday characters. Now you can play Monopoly as Rudolph and friends and trade North Pole properties. Based on characters and places from the classic Rankin/Bass holiday TV special, this new version of the famous board game is sure to be a huge hit this season.

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN fans:

New Frosty Animatronics from Gemmy!

Check out this Kissing Animated Figure Set! There's a cute new Magic Hat lifting Frosty Animated scene too!

Here's an all-new concept: Inflatable Snow Globes!

This will be the hot new novelty item concept for 2005. There will be many generic snowmen in infltable globes like this, but this is the Licenced Frosty version. Check it out here.

A Christmas Tree with new Frosty & Krystal Ornaments

is available this year too! Here is the pre-order.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN fans:

New Talking Deluxe Action Figures from Memory Lane!

Time & Space Toys is the only online source for these new versions of the lead characters with new display bases. Pre-orders coming soon!

Rick Goldschmidt's WGN Visit!
Rick and his sister Lindsey were part of the first ever LIVE studio audience for the WGN MORNING NEWS as Special guests Friday May 20th and got to meet guests COLIN QUINN (Saturday Night Live), ROY JONES, JR. (Boxing Champ), JAMES DENTON (Desperate Housewives) and RITA MORENO (Legendary actress/dancer). HERBIE, THE LOVE BUG was also on hand in the studio to promote the new LINDSAY LOHAN film to be released this Summer. A fun time was had by all and the audience was on camera throughout the entire show. WGN's Morning News Personality Larry Potash

There's No Need to Fear!

Our good friend and talented artist Patrick Owsley (who has created some fantastic artwork for us - like the illustration of S. D. Kluger pictured right) was recently commisioned to create some UNDERDOG art for CLASSIC MEDIA and now his images of UNDERDOG has been featured on a NASCAR race car! Very, very cool!

"We hope all of the dads out there had a Happy Father's Day!"

- Rick and Mark