It's Halloween and trick-or-treaters may appear in some very unlikely places!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Here are a couple of my favorite Halloween-themed Pink Panther covers I did for Novaro/Western Publishing way back in the 1980s:
Monday, October 31, 2022
Sunday, October 30, 2022
More Halloween Memories
As I always do around this time, here are some few samples of my Halloween themed cartoons:
Saturday, October 29, 2022
REBECCA!
My pretty little granddaughter Rebecca was born 8 years ago and it is with great joy and happiness that today we celebrate her birthday! All I can say is, I wish her all sorts of blessings and the best in life always. Rebecca...I love you!
Friday, October 28, 2022
TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION DAY!
From Wikipedia:
This day commemorates the first public performance of Charles-Émile Reynaud's Théâtre Optique at the Grevin Museum in Paris, 1892. In 1895, the Cinematograph of the Lumière brothers outshone Reynaud's invention, driving Émile to bankruptcy. However, his public performance of animation entered the history of optical entertainments as shortly predating the camera-made movies. In recent years, the event has been observed in more than 50 countries with more than 1000 events, on every continent, all over the world. IAD was initiated by ASIFA, International Animated Film Association, a member of UNESCO. During International Animation Day cultural institutions are also invited to join in by screening animated films, organizing workshops, exhibiting artwork and stills, providing technical demonstrations, and organizing other events helping to promote the art of animation. Such a celebration is an outstanding opportunity of putting animated films in the limelight, making this art more accessible to the public.
Thursday, October 27, 2022
LOVE & DEATH
As I was strolling across a field near my home, I suddenly felt a strange chill running through my spine and a weird sense of anxiety overcame me, when suddenly I turned around and saw this tall and mysterious figure standing right beside to me. A cold breeze swiftly encircled my entire body and I knew then and there I was next to Death itself. Fortunately, the alarm went off and I woke up. I then remembered I had fallen asleep a few hours before, watching Woody Allen's 1975 film "LOVE AND DEATH". Whew!
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Vic Flick and Plas Johnson
VIC FLICK - You may not know the name Vic Flick, but you know his signature motif–that reverby lick from the James Bond theme, recorded in 1962 for Dr. No, the first in the long-running film franchise. Flick played on every Bond smash through Diamonds are Forever, and even recorded with Eric Clapton on the latter-day 007 soundtrack, License to Kill. You can further hear the guitarist in the film scores such as Midnight Cowboy and The Return of the Pink Panther, as well as cult shows like “The Avengers” and “The Prisoner.”
The John Barry Seven, featuring John Barry on trumpet and Vic Flick on the guitar.
Vic Flick
The Clifford Essex Paragon Deluxe Guitar used by Vic Flick
on the original James Bond Theme recording of 1962.
John Barry recorded a revised version in 1967.
You can listen to it here:
The original James Bond Theme used in DR. NO :
PLAS JOHNSON -
Plas Johnson's seductive tenor sound has been utilized on many studio sessions, including - most notably - the Pink Panther film (1963). A more versatile player than one might think, Johnson sounds equally at home in blues, R&B-ish, and hard bop settings. He recorded a single in New Orleans (1950), moved to Los Angeles, and was quickly established as a popular studio musician. Johnson worked with Johnny Otis and Charles Brown, recorded dates as a leader for Tampa (1956-1957), Score, Capitol (1958-1960), Ava (1964), and Concord (1975-1976), worked with the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut, and toured with the Gene Harris Superband in 1990. But to date, his most famous piece is the theme from THE PINK PANTHER, composed by Henry Mancini and recorded in 1963.
"The Pink Panther Theme" is an instrumental composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther and subsequently nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 37th Academy Awards but lost to the Sherman Brothers for Mary Poppins. The eponymous cartoon character created for the film's opening credits by David DePatie and Friz Freleng was animated in time to the tune. The tenor saxophone solo was played by Plas Johnson.
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Birthday Wishes for Two Great Little Kids!
And also a ton of good wishes for her youngest brother, little Ferrán, who was 2 years old this past October 19th. Sending him many hugs and kisses on this momentous occasion!It's no secret that grandchildren give us elders a renewed lease on life!
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Signs of the Halloween Season
Maybe getting your head chopped off by the Headless Horseman is a bit too radical a sign for the oncoming Halloween but the relentless merchandising of Halloween stuff everywhere may well be the next worst thing about the Halloween Season. And wait...Christmas is coming right behind it!
Monday, October 17, 2022
BULLITT
BULLIT, starring Steve McQueen as Lt. Frank Bullitt was released on October 17, 1968.
It was directed by Peter Yates with a screenplay by Alan R. Trustman and Harry Kleiner,
based on the book MUTE WITNESS by Robert L. Pike.
The plot was fairly simple and dealt with San Francisco police detective Lieutenant Frank Bullitt and his team, Delgetti and Stanton who are tasked by Walter Chalmers with guarding Ross over the weekend, until he can be presented as a witness to a Senate subcommittee hearing on organized crime on Monday morning.
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I'm just glad I didn't own a car back then or I would've certainly totalled it trying to emulate the famous car chase which is still considered to be one of the greatest car chases in cinema history.
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Of course, as was the case with almost every great film of the sixties, MAD Magazine featured a very funny spoof of the movie, written by Al Jaffee and illustrated by the master of caricature, Mort Drucker.
And, as I frequently do whether the occasion fits or not, I shall celebrate this event by listening to Lalo Schifrin's excellent jazz score and watching BULLITT for the umpteenth time!
VA-ROOOO-OOOOOM!
The complete story of the film can be found here:
And more photos from BULLITT here:
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