Countdown to 2012

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 25

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Here's your present! Just pull back the tab that reads "25". Enjoy! Stay tuned for an important announcement in the coming days. Until then, have a great holiday week!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 25

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 24

It's Christmas Eve! Don't be a Hermit! Open the flap and find today's musical treat! Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 24

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 23

After the King of Rock and Roll serenaded us yesterday, we turn to an original Rock and Roll Queen for today's treat! Open the window marked 23 to hear who we mean. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 23

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 22

Today marks the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year and the basis for all of the holidays celebrated at this time. To celebrate, we bring forth one, not three, king as we pull back the flap! Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 22

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 21

Christmas is a special time of the year. No other trio put it better than the one that's hiding behind flap 21. Recorded a decade before they would be all the rage for the second time in their career, this sentiment can be found by opening the window. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 21

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 20

Closing in on the Winter's Solstice, we f-f-f-f-find s-s-s-s-ome re - ah- reading material. The k-k-k-kind that goes well with yesterday's Lester Lan-a-lan-a-lanolin song might fit nicely in the background. Pull the f-f-f-flap and find out! Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 20

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 19

Bobby Sherman sang so, um, politely yesterday it just makes me want to get away to a far off swingin' place. Find out where when you open the flap for today! Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 19

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 18

After viewing those home movies from the 70s yesterday, I think it's time for some bubble gum. You can find some behind today's flap. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 18

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 17

Here comes some classic memories of a great family Christmas. To find out what they are, pop open the flap for day 17. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 17

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 16

Hearing Glen Miller serenade us with that beautiful medley yesterday makes me anxious to find what's behind the door for day 16. Lift the flap and let's see what we find. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 16

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 15

Yesterday we found a classic Fleisher cartoon and today . . . who knows? You'll have to open the flap and find out! Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 15

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 14

After hearing El Vez sing about Poncho Claus yesterday, we settle down for an older treat today. Open the flap and see what's behind door #14. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 14

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 13

After that barrage of songs yesterday, it's time to get back to one at a time. Let's celebrate the 13th day of December internationally. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 13

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Days 10, 11 & 12

So the weekend got away from me and my computer died and etc etc etc. Hopefully that last episode of All in The Family kept you busy enough to cover. Here are the next three windows opened all at once. Enjoy!



Advent Calendar 2011 Day 10



Advent Calendar 2011 Day 11


Advent Calendar 2011 Day 12

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 9

After hearing Lionel Hampton serve us some Gin For Christmas, it's time we relaxed with some family. Find out how when you pull open the flap for day nine. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 7

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 8

After hearing Augie Rios find out all about Santa yesterday, it's time to sit back and relax with a nice beverage. You'll find it behind door #8. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 8

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 7

After hearing the X-Mass Twist yesterday, let's hear the truth about ol' Santa Claus when we open up today's window. Here's our treat for day #7. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 7

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 6

After yesterday's taste from Line Material, we need a new twist. Click on the link to find out what we found under door number 6! Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 6

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 5

As we rest our eyes from viewing Liberache tickle the ivories at Christmas from yesterday, we open door #5 and hear something fun. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 5

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 4

Guy Lombardo sang us a great song yesterday, so let's go ahead and open up door #4. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 4

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 3

After Sha Na Na gracing our ears with Christmas Bells on Day 2, let's find out what's behind door #3! Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 3

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 2

Here is today's surprise from our advent calendar! Each day brings a new surprise! Yesterday's was the great, Fats Waller singing "Winter Weather". What could be behind that door today? Click and find out. Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 2

Dartman's Advent Calendar 2011: Day 1

Welcome to this year's edition of Dartman's Advent Calendar! This whole month I'll be posting some great holiday content with a new window being opened every day. To keep the element of surprise, I'm just going to post the link and have you be surprised by what you get! Here's our first download of the season! Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2011 Day 1

Safety Lessons From Our Favorite HB Characters

I feel like I am a little late in posting this after hearing about all of the horrors that went on on Black Friday. But back in 1973, Hanna Barbera released a record with tips from many of their characters on how to be safe. The original album came with a coloring book and a poster. While I have neither the coloring book or the poster, I do have the album and it's pretty cool. All together there are 36 lessons to be learned from the likes of Wilma Flintstone, Quick Draw McGraw, Yogi Bear, Top Cat, Snagglepuss, Peter Potamus, Barney Rubble, Touche Turtle, Magilla Gorilla, Wally Gator, Dixie, Fred Flintstone, Huckleberry Hound, Boo Boo Bear, Riccochet Rabbit, Augie Doggie, Elroy Jetson and more. So take their advice and stay safe. Here is "Hanna Barbera presents Hear See Do". Enjoy!

Hanna Barbera Presents HEAR SEE DO

Thanksgiving With Abbott And Costello

Here's a classic episode from the Abbott and Costello program as heard on the air on November 23, 1944. It features a great guest appearance from the very sexy Jayne Wyman. Enjoy a little bit of Thanksgiving Turkey with Bud and Lou. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

The Abbott & Costello Show - Thanksgiving Show

Lucy And Desi Get Roasted

A huge event for the stars of I Love Lucy took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel November 23, 1958 in celebration of the Friars Club 10th Anniversary. These testimonial dinners eventually were called “roasts”. Making an appearance at this “roast” was Dean Martin who spoke at length and also sang a parody of “Volare” about Lucy & Desi accompanied by Ken Lane. There were also featured appearances by George Burns, Art Linkletter, George Murphy, Tony Martin, Milton Berle and several others. One of those several others was a comedian named Harry Einstein. His stage name was "Paryakarkas". The "roast" would be his last performance. Anywhere. Literally. During the night he collapsed onto Milton Berle's shoulder and died. A "private label" recording of this dinner was released sometime after and featured some hilarious performances but not the collapse of Mr. Einstein. It does open with an announcement telling of the death. Here is that bootleg, I mean, "private label" recording. Here is “The Friars Club Presents The Lucille Ball And Desi Arnaz Testimonial Dinner”. Enjoy!

The Friars Club Presents The Lucille Ball And Desi Arnaz Testimonial Dinner

BONUS:
Here's a newspaper article all about the roast and the sudden demise of Harry Einstein. (click on pics for larger images)

“Now Here’s Something We Hope You’ll Really Like…”

There have been a number of children’s records based on cartoons. Today we share one that features Bill Scott, June Foray, Paul Frees and all the rest performing the voices of Rocky, Bullwinkle and the other characters we’ve come to know and love. This tells the story of how Rocky and his friends put this record together by way of original songs and audio from a few of the old cartoons themselves. This one popped up on the ol' playlist in the car the other day and my son thought it was great. In fact, he kept having me repeat the first track over and over because he loved it so much. As a result, I share it with you today. Here is "Rocky & His Friends". Enjoy!

Rocky & His Friends

The Ominous "Link Share" Comments

Lately I have been getting a lot of comments and e-mails with people asking me to list their blog or website on my sidebar as a return of a favor that they have done for me by adding my blog to their links. While I am flattered that people think that much of the World of Wonder, I must politely say no thanks to these requests. As it is, I barely have time to post anything anymore let alone add links to blogs that I have never visited. The links that I have up are those of blogs that I enjoy and/or friends of mine who I have a vested interest in. I'm sorry to those that have requested. I don't mean to be rude. It's just that's not what the World of Wonder is about. No offense. Thanks - Dartman

Super 8 Theater Presents: W.C. Fields

Here's a short Castle soundie from "The Bank Dick" entitled "The Great Chase". Enjoy!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2011!!!

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: A Monster of a Good Time!

It's not exactly the perfect Halloween weekend here in CT since we were hit with a freak snow storm yesterday. However, that doesn't mean the fun can't continue here at the World of Wonder. Today we have a triple dose of fun for you all. Monsters in print, monsters in song and monsters in breakfast cereal! First up is a great issue of the classic magazine, "Famous Monsters of Flmland". I have a few issues of this great magazine but the reason I chose this one to share is the super cool cover! Next up is a Dickie Goodman album entitled, "The Monster Album in Stereo". Goodman was most famous for a series of "break-in" records he created from 1956 to 1986. His two biggest hits were "The Flying Saucer" and "Mr. Jaws". In between, in 1964, he managed to deviate from his formula and put together this collection of ditties. And finally, fans of the 1970s cereal monsters can rejoice in the sounds of their favorites, Count Chocula, Franken Berry and Boo Berry as they listen to their adventures. These are from two cardboard records that came on the backs of the cereal back in the 70s. Enjoy!


Famous Monsters of Filmland Issue #3

Dickie Goodman - The Monster Album in Stereo

Cereal Monsters Cardboard Records

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: Betty Boop's Halloween Party.

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: That's Fronkensteen!

Mel Brooks has created some of the greatest comedies of all time but "Young Frankenstein" stands out as a work of art above all others (at least in my humble opinion). Gene Wilder wrote it but Mel gave it the direction it needed and together they created a masterpiece of cinema. The genius of Brooks is shown through the use of not only the same scenery as the original Frankenstein but the same camera angles as well. The film is quoted more and more through the years and I don't know anyone who has ever said "I don't like Young Frankenstein". As with other Brooks films, a soundtrack album was released that contained not just the great music from the film, but also contained dialogue from some of the best scenes as well. Here is that soundtrack album for you to listen to and add a pinch of humor to your Halloween festivities! Enjoy!

Young Frankenstein OST

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: Readings From The Count (Dracula/Dooku)

Christopher Lee brought the Hammer Film's version of Dracula to life and in one of the few strokes of genius that George Lucas showed in his Star Wars Prequels, Lee appeared as Count Dooku, an evil Sith Lord. He also brought his fiendish talents to the role of the villian Saruman in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. His creepiness remains intact and he can still send a chill up my spine. Here are two collections of Lee reading from various Horror writings. The first is a collection of Edgar Allen Poe's works and the second a collection of various writers that is referred to as "Fireside Tales". The collection of Poe's tales were released as an audio book in the mid 80s while the "Fireside Tales" were originally broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on December 30th, 2004. Here they are for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

Christopher Lee Reads Tales of Horror

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: A Double Shot of The Addams Family in Print

You can't celebrate Halloween without the Addams Family. Whether you are a fan of the TV show, the original Charles Addams comics, the movies, the cartoon or the Broadway show, you have to include them somehow. I've been watching the first season of the tv show all month and am loving it. To me, that's the true Addams Family. I love the original comics but have no time for the films. I originally wanted to see the Broadway show but the more I hear about it, the less I want to go. (if you want to go, you should go soon. It's closing at the end of the year). Today I bring you the original television line-up in an article from Monster World Magazine. It's from 1966 and features a great cover story on the show. It also features an awesome photo-comic version of the Hammer "Horror of Dracula" (that's better than the story on the Addams Family in my opinion). In addition, you get the 80s sticker book from the cartoon of the Addams Family. Though I was never a big fan of the cartoon, this is a pretty cool sticker book. It comes complete with paper dolls of Wednesday and Pugsly. It has the original look of the family from the Charles Addams' comic. Here they are for you as part of Halloween-A-Thon 2011. Enjoy!

Monster World Issue #9

The Addams Family Sticker Book

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (re-post)

1981 was the year of the werewolf. Along with this classic, The Howling and Wolfen also saw the light of day. The make-up effects for this film were groundbreaking and still hold up to this day and you can't beat any film that features Jenny Agutter! Elmer Bernstein wrote the music for the film but the studio never released an official soundtrack. Instead, they asked MECO to give the world his interpretation and thus we have this!

An American Werewolf in London OST

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: Scrappy's Ghost Story

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: The Voices of Horror (re-up)

As a kid, I was drawn to story albums and spoken word recordings. As you can tell by a lot of my posts, I still am. One of the ones that always caught my eye as a kid was a 1963 Wonderland Records release entitled, "Famous Monsters Speak". I would see it at the store and in ads in my comic books but alas, never obtained it in my youth. It would take me until the 21st Century (2003 to be exact) to obtain a copy for myself. It was well worth the wait! Voiced by former Dead End Kid, Gabriel Dell, the album consists of two tracks. The first (side 1) deals with the invention of a recording device that allows us to hear the thoughts of Frankenstein's Monster and the second (side 2) tells the tale of a reporter who has been entrapped in Dracula's Castle. The stories are real works of art in that they maintain an integrity not often found in children's records. They hold up well to this day and actually give great side stories to the original film versions of both characters. The Frankenstein story is very interesting in that it deals with the Monster's feelings towards his creator and his life, a side of the story that was included in the original Mary Shelley novel, but not portrayed in the Universal film version. I can't say enough great things about this album so I'll just say, here it is for your fright filled October enjoyment! Here's "Famous Monsters Speak". Enjoy!

Famous Monsters Speak

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: Dracula Under Glass

When the classic Bela Lugosi Dracula film was first released in 1930, talkies were still something new. As a result, the men behind the film made it so that it could be shown to audiences both as a silent movie and as a talkie, though conversation was limited to basic narrative elements. Unusually, it did not have a specific score and only two pieces of music on its soundtrack: Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake during the opening credits, and the overture of Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg during a scene at an opera. That's the way the film remained until 1999 when Philip Glass was commissioned to write the score by Universal Studios Home Entertainment, which released the movie with the Glass-soundtrack on VHS and DVD. According to Glass, the choice of chamber music played by a string quartet rather than an orchestral score followed from the movie's setting, "libraries and drawing rooms and gardens." The string quartet that Glass hired to perform his score was the great, Kronos Quartet. Kronos (accompanied by Glass on piano) performed the score during viewings of the movie across the United States in 1999 and 2000 to promote the album. The soundtrack and the performances thereof have received mixed reviews. Entertainment Weekly was very positive, praising the "hypnotic new score," while The Essential Monster Movie Guide calls the score "unnecessary," and a Lugosi-biography calls it "ill-considered." Being a fan of all three components, I was excited to see the collaboration and enjoyed it thorougly. I hope you do as well when you listen to the soundtrack that Glass wrote those twelve years ago. Here is "Dracula" by Philip Glass. Enjoy!

Dracula Soundtrack - Philip Glass & Kronos Quartet

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: Drac Goes Dancing

Aside from Christmas, no other holiday has inspired more strange disco novelties than Halloween. Needless to say, today's sharity is a disco album. The band behind the Halloween of disco is a rather anonymous German disco group, featuring a number of notable Munich session players under the name of Hot Blood. The record is so anonymous in fact, that the production credit is given as "Produced by Hot Blood". The major track on the record, "Soul Dracula" has every cliché one would expect from a novelty 'dracula' track: maniacal laughing drrrracu-la with exaggerated Bela Lugosi-esque accent, catchy/annoying background gimmicks that drill themselves into your head, cheesy sexual overtones, not to mention a bit of pointless appropriation in the song title. Still though, cliché's aside, this ain't that bad. Judge for yourself when you disco down to Hot Blood and "Disco Dracula". Enjoy!

Hot Blood - Disco Dracula

Halloween-A-Thon 2011: When Michael Comes Slashing Home Again, Hurrah, Hurrah

In 1978, John Carpenter released what many, including myself, feel is the greatest horror film of them all. He took a self-penned screenplay, added virtually no budget and an up and coming actress who happened to be the daughter of two gigantic film stars (including the original slasher chick, Janet Leigh!) and turned it into the greatest horror franchise the world had seen up to that point. Of course I am talking about Halloween. It was great when it first came out and to this day. The sequels don't hold up to the original. There are really only two that matter. The second one as it is the continuation of the first film and the seventh which brought back the original character of Lori Strode played by the pre-Activia Jamie Lee Curtis. The great thing about Halloween H2O (the seventh film in the series) is that it acts as if Halloween 3 through 6 doesn't even exist. (In my mind, they don't).

I was hopeful that the series would end with H2O but unfortunately, the greed train pulled in and another sequel was made followed by a "re-imagination" (I hate that term) of the original by Rob Zombie. I've only seen a tad of that film and I really can't say anything too bad because my good friend and boss, Micky Dolenz was part of it. I can say that it is not the original. There will never be another "Halloween". For today's treat I bring you the soundtracks to Halloween and HalloweenH2O. The music for the original was written by John Carpenter on a little Casio keyboard and is legendary. It's minimalism at its finest! Here is the 20th anniversary edition of that soundtrack that was released in 1998, the same year H20 was released. Enjoy!

Halloween OST

Halloween H2O OST

Halloween-A-Thon 2011 Begins!

It's October and that means blogs all over the internet are counting down the days until Halloween! We here at the World of Wonder are no exception. Seeing as how a lot of the back pages of the blog have been wiped away or a lot of my sharities have been removed by the facist rapidshare corporation, I've decided to mix some old with some new this year. Some of the Halloween goodies I will be sending your way have never appeared on the World of Wonder before, while others will make a very welcome return. The first post of "Halloween-A-Thon 2011" is an old friend that has been wiped off of the blog. We are pleased to welcome back Paul Lynde's Halloween Special!


I know that over the last few years this has been a hot commodity that almost every blog has posted it so I figured I would keep the tradition going by posting it here. If you have never seen the special, you need to run out to the store and get your copy right now. It is a classic and features a list of guest stars that would rival any episode of The Love Boat! It's also historic in that it features the first television appearance of the band, KISS. Here is the original television soundtrack to "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special". Enjoy!

Paul Lynde Halloween Special OST

The Last of the Hulk Cards

Here are the last five packs of the Incredible Hulk series of trading cards from 1979. I was going to space them out over a few more posts but October is upon us and I want to get into the usual Halloween theme here at the World of Wonder. So, without further ado, the remaining packs of this great series of cards (plus a few bonus items) are presented for your pleasure. Enjoy!

The Incredible Hulk Trading Cards Packs 9 & 10

The Incredible Hulk Trading Cards Packs 11, 12 & 13

"HULK TRADE CARDS!"

Here are the next two packs of Hulk trading cards. I hope you are enjoying the way I have it set up so that if feels like you are actually getting the old packs and finding the cards that you need to complete the set. Of course, it would be much easier for me to post the whole set as one big download but where's the fun in that?! The other upside is that you don't have to worry about getting any doubles. And if you want to trade with someone, you can just copy the file and send it rather than give away your prized possession. Here are packs 7 & 8.

The Incredible Hulk Trading Cards Packs 7 & 8

Within Each of Us, Ofttimes, There Dwells a Mighty and Raging Trading Card.

Here are two more packs of the trading cards from the classic television show, "The Incredible Hulk". As you open them up and collect them, you might notice that most of the cards come from the first season of the show. There are a few from the second season but most of them are from the first season. Not only that, but they come mostly from certain episodes. There are scenes from the pilot, the 747 episodes and the Times Square episode. Plus there are the ones from where David Banner goes through hypno therapy and confronts the Hulk in his hypnosis. Interesting choice of episodes. Here's packs 5 & 6. Enjoy!

The Incredible Hulk Trading Cards Packs 5 & 6

ANGER! DANGER! TRADING CARDS!

Here are the next two packs of cards from "The Incredible Hulk" set. These cards were originally released in 1979. They are still a much sought after set to this day. A collectible shop in a mall not too far from where I live sells the original wax packs. While most cards from that era are selling for a dollar or two a pack, these sell for $5 a pack. If I needed them, I probably would spend that much. Here are packs 3 and 4 and remember to keep a look out for those bonus cards and stickers!

The Incredible Hulk Trading Cards Packs 3 & 4

Don't Make Me A Trading Card . . . You Wouldn't Like Me As A Trading Card

Since I received that great e-mail from Kenneth Johnson a few posts back, I thought it fitting to serve up the next set of trading cards to you. This time, as you may have already guessed, it's The Incredible Hulk set from 1979. The set features 88 cards and 22 stickers. In keeping with the original packs, I have included 7 cards in each pack but instead of just one sticker I am giving you two! Woo hoo! And to keep the math straight and not have any doubles, I've included bonus cards from other trading card series featuring the Hulk throughout the set. Keep an eye out for them! Here are the first two packs! Enjoy!

The Incredible Hulk Trading Cards Packs 1 & 2

Bake The Hall In The Candle of Her Brain

Yesterday, my son and I were out driving around listening to "The Muppets Present: The Frog Prince." It captured my little two year old's ear and he eagerly awaited every new track. Just to be sure that I wasn't imagining him paying attention to the story, I asked him about it later on in the day and he recounted the whole plot and even a few items that I had forgotten. It brought a smile to my face to know that he was enjoying what was coming over the sound system. It also furthered my happiness in knowing that we have the old fashioned audio stories to listen to rather than having a DVD player in the car. Here is that same audio that we listened to yesterday (that he is still talking about today). It's a combination of the original soundtrack album and the soundtrack from the actual television special from 1971. Here is "The Muppets Present: The Frog Prince". Enjoy!

Jim Henson's Muppets Present: The Frog Prince