M*A*S*H Co-Creator And Master Funny Man
I love to imagine the pitch meeting to turn Robert Altman’s 1970 Korean War film, M*A*S*H, into a weekly sitcom:
PRODUCERS: “It’ll be hilarious! Just hilarious!”
STUDIO HEAD: “But isn’t it about...war?”
PRODUCERS: “Exactly! Pure comedy gold!”
Comedy gold it was, and it went on to become one of the best-loved TV shows of all time.
Of course, laughs were only half of it. The show tackled serious themes, too. But what we remember most is the lovable cast of characters we came to adore over the years.
We all had our favorites: smarty pants Hawkeye; co-conspiring sidekick(s) Trapper and later, Hunnicut; rodent-like Frank “Ferret Face” Burns; compassionate hothead Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan; Radar with his teddy bear; sweet and clueless Henry Blake; the tough guy with the soft spot, Colonel Potter; Klinger in his fine array of lingerie; pompous Winchester...and voice of reason and humanity, Father Mulcahy.
They seemed so real, that it’s almost inconceivable that they were created on paper by writers. In fact, the original film was based on a book by Dr. Richard Hornberger, himself a Korean War veteran. And the series was penned (primarily) by comedy legend Larry Gelbart.
Gelbart began his career writing for Danny Thomas’ 1940’s radio show, and went on to write material for the likes of Jack Paar, Bob Hope, Sid Caesar (collaborating with Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Woody Allen).
He co-wrote a little blockbuster musical called A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum in 1962, and dabbled in a few movie screenplays you might’ve heard of: Oh, God! and Tootsie.
Yet, the moments he created with M*A*S*H will always hold a special place in our hearts. It was a magical group of people who felt more and more like family throughout the show’s 11-year run. As many of you know, the emotional 1983 finale remains one of the most-watched TV episodes of all time.
Revisit the 4077th and all your favorite memories with our M*A*S*H Red Cross T-Shirt (in standard issue military green, natch), the Framed Memorabilia Collectible, and Green Helicopter T-Shirt.
And raise a glass to Larry Gelbart–the man talented enough to make the front line feel like home.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Making Politics Fun! Yes, It IS Possible!
As the presidential slugfest plays out before our eyes night after night, channel after channel, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We’ve all heard the endless jokes about “change” as the buzz word for 2008. We’ve all heard each and every candidate (current and otherwise) promise to ‘fix” America, and deliver great jobs, healthy children, and a booming economy for all.
Your Aunt Betty has friends who run the gamut when it comes to politics. Some are glued to each debate; poised to cheer, jeer, and fight for their favored candidates. Others wish it would all just go away until November because they’d rather catch up on LOST.
Whichever way your voting boat floats, these treats from The Attic give very human faces to our nation’s presidents; turning dusty old lectures into scandalous gossip, adventure and intrigue!
Case in point: our Historical U.S. Presidents Newspapers. Each set of 3 reproduction vintage newspapers features a fascinating collection in 3 different categories: Elections & Inaugurations; Facts, Fallacies & Foibles; and Deaths & Assassinations.
Read about what it was like during the days George Washington was elected (we’re guessing George didn’t drive around in a day-glo motor home with a snappy slogan painted on the side). The scandals section covers everything from the mistakenly-reported “Dewey Defeats Truman,” (whoopsie daisy)–to Nixon’s less-than-glorious resignation (Buh-bye).
The final collection recalls untimely deaths and assassinations with original articles and obituaries that I found myself poring over as if they were priceless artifacts.
Too heavy?
Try the interactive pop-up/pull-out book full of neat facsimiles you can play with! America’s Presidents Museum In A Book takes you on an amazing journey through the hallowed halls of the American presidency from the George W. who started it all (Washington), to the George W. who readies to pass on the baton (Bush).
Pull out and study a mini Gettysburg Address in Lincoln’s own handwriting, a letter from Albert Einstein to FDR, and doodle drawings JFK made during a Cuban Missile Crisis meeting! (see? you're not the only one who doodles inappropriately).
As the TV anchors whip themselves into a tizzy over polls and projections, it all really comes down to people. People who are not perfect, no matter what they try to tell us. Some of them have great ideas. Some of them truly care about making a difference. And hopefully, one of them will.
We’ll find out soon enough.
In the meantime, enjoy the ride! Because once you realize how crazy it all is–it gets a lot more fun!
Your Aunt Betty has friends who run the gamut when it comes to politics. Some are glued to each debate; poised to cheer, jeer, and fight for their favored candidates. Others wish it would all just go away until November because they’d rather catch up on LOST.
Whichever way your voting boat floats, these treats from The Attic give very human faces to our nation’s presidents; turning dusty old lectures into scandalous gossip, adventure and intrigue!
Case in point: our Historical U.S. Presidents Newspapers. Each set of 3 reproduction vintage newspapers features a fascinating collection in 3 different categories: Elections & Inaugurations; Facts, Fallacies & Foibles; and Deaths & Assassinations.
Read about what it was like during the days George Washington was elected (we’re guessing George didn’t drive around in a day-glo motor home with a snappy slogan painted on the side). The scandals section covers everything from the mistakenly-reported “Dewey Defeats Truman,” (whoopsie daisy)–to Nixon’s less-than-glorious resignation (Buh-bye).
The final collection recalls untimely deaths and assassinations with original articles and obituaries that I found myself poring over as if they were priceless artifacts.
Too heavy?
Try the interactive pop-up/pull-out book full of neat facsimiles you can play with! America’s Presidents Museum In A Book takes you on an amazing journey through the hallowed halls of the American presidency from the George W. who started it all (Washington), to the George W. who readies to pass on the baton (Bush).
Pull out and study a mini Gettysburg Address in Lincoln’s own handwriting, a letter from Albert Einstein to FDR, and doodle drawings JFK made during a Cuban Missile Crisis meeting! (see? you're not the only one who doodles inappropriately).
As the TV anchors whip themselves into a tizzy over polls and projections, it all really comes down to people. People who are not perfect, no matter what they try to tell us. Some of them have great ideas. Some of them truly care about making a difference. And hopefully, one of them will.
We’ll find out soon enough.
In the meantime, enjoy the ride! Because once you realize how crazy it all is–it gets a lot more fun!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Led Zeppelin—The Song (Thankfully) Remains The Same!
February 15, 1969: The feverishly-anticipated, self-titled debut album by Led Zeppelin entered the album charts, going to #10.
Before The Internet, buying concert tickets was not as easy as clicking a mouse.
When your favorite band announced a show, if you really really wanted good seats, you dug out the folding chairs and camped outside the box office hours or even days before they began selling tickets.
In 1975, Led Zeppelin sold out not one—but THREE—consecutive Madison Square Garden concerts in four hours!
That’s basically the equivalent of someone today selling out three concerts in 4 seconds. Okay, not exactly, but you get the idea.
More than 30 years later, fans worldwide are crossing their fingers that the mighty Zep may roar once again.
On December 10th, 2007, the surviving members of the band, (Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones) along with late drummer John Bonham’s son, Jason, on drums (an established drummer in his own right) played a historic concert at London’s O2 Arena as part of a tribute to their beloved friend, Atlantic Records founder, Ahmet Ertegun, who passed away on December 14, 2006.
Reviews were unanimously ecstatic!
Fans and critics proclaimed it “the concert of the century!”
Some people paid $14,000 a ticket!
I didn't get to go and may never fully recover...
As we wait with bated breath to see if the O2 appearance spirals into a “2008 reunion tour,” pledge your allegiance to one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time in our brand-spanking-new Led Zeppelin T-Shirt!
Whether you’re an old school fan of Page, Plant, Jones and the original God Of Thunder, John Bonham—or discovering them for the first time— you’re sure to become swept up in their cosmic elixir of blues, hard rock, folk, and interstellar magic.
Besides—(to borrow the line from Almost Famous) the guitar playing is ”incendiary!”
See you in “Kashmir!”
Before The Internet, buying concert tickets was not as easy as clicking a mouse.
When your favorite band announced a show, if you really really wanted good seats, you dug out the folding chairs and camped outside the box office hours or even days before they began selling tickets.
In 1975, Led Zeppelin sold out not one—but THREE—consecutive Madison Square Garden concerts in four hours!
That’s basically the equivalent of someone today selling out three concerts in 4 seconds. Okay, not exactly, but you get the idea.
More than 30 years later, fans worldwide are crossing their fingers that the mighty Zep may roar once again.
On December 10th, 2007, the surviving members of the band, (Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones) along with late drummer John Bonham’s son, Jason, on drums (an established drummer in his own right) played a historic concert at London’s O2 Arena as part of a tribute to their beloved friend, Atlantic Records founder, Ahmet Ertegun, who passed away on December 14, 2006.
Reviews were unanimously ecstatic!
Fans and critics proclaimed it “the concert of the century!”
Some people paid $14,000 a ticket!
I didn't get to go and may never fully recover...
As we wait with bated breath to see if the O2 appearance spirals into a “2008 reunion tour,” pledge your allegiance to one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time in our brand-spanking-new Led Zeppelin T-Shirt!
Whether you’re an old school fan of Page, Plant, Jones and the original God Of Thunder, John Bonham—or discovering them for the first time— you’re sure to become swept up in their cosmic elixir of blues, hard rock, folk, and interstellar magic.
Besides—(to borrow the line from Almost Famous) the guitar playing is ”incendiary!”
See you in “Kashmir!”
Monday, February 4, 2008
I Love Lucy & Chocolate!
What Else Could We Want?
As a woman “over that certain age,” I’m easily suckered by advertising that promises me a fountain of youth. But I’m not about to fork over $75–$150 for designer face creams!
So when I read about the connection between antioxidants & chocolate, the angels began to sing!
Chocolate contains high concentrations of antioxidants. Antioxidants keep us healthy, inside and out, by canceling out free radicals–cells in our body which are believed to cause various types of damage.
Now, you could get your antioxidants from broccoli, spinach, or prunes...
Or–unwrap a succulent chunk of chocolate and plop it on your tongue!
Welcome to Lucy’s Chocolate Factory!
It’s a sweet shoppe loaded with classic I Love Lucy laughs and lunacy–with tons of chewy chocolate on top! And did I mention that all the chocolate is made from scratch by the world-famous Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory®?
Just listen to the names of some of the candies: Chocolate Clusters, Cashew Dippers™, Pecan Dippers™, Macadamia Dippers™, Peanut Butter Cup™—hang on a minute, I have to mop up the puddle of drool on my keyboard (macadamia does that to me every time).
All of this chewy, ooey oodness comes bundled in beautifully-packaged gift sets that combine the kooky cool of vintage Lucy with the greatest medicine Mother Nature ever made!
Click here and start eating your way to beauty!
Enjoy!
As a woman “over that certain age,” I’m easily suckered by advertising that promises me a fountain of youth. But I’m not about to fork over $75–$150 for designer face creams!
So when I read about the connection between antioxidants & chocolate, the angels began to sing!
Chocolate contains high concentrations of antioxidants. Antioxidants keep us healthy, inside and out, by canceling out free radicals–cells in our body which are believed to cause various types of damage.
Now, you could get your antioxidants from broccoli, spinach, or prunes...
Or–unwrap a succulent chunk of chocolate and plop it on your tongue!
Welcome to Lucy’s Chocolate Factory!
It’s a sweet shoppe loaded with classic I Love Lucy laughs and lunacy–with tons of chewy chocolate on top! And did I mention that all the chocolate is made from scratch by the world-famous Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory®?
Just listen to the names of some of the candies: Chocolate Clusters, Cashew Dippers™, Pecan Dippers™, Macadamia Dippers™, Peanut Butter Cup™—hang on a minute, I have to mop up the puddle of drool on my keyboard (macadamia does that to me every time).
All of this chewy, ooey oodness comes bundled in beautifully-packaged gift sets that combine the kooky cool of vintage Lucy with the greatest medicine Mother Nature ever made!
Click here and start eating your way to beauty!
Enjoy!
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