Magical Tee Vee Moments

Tom & Jerry are the prototypical cat and mouse cartoon characters: Mouse irritates cat. Cat chases mouse. Mouse bests cat. Repeat ad nauseum. Tom & Jerry were created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, who went on to invent some of the most memorable cartoon characters under the name Hanna-Barbera Productions. These include The Flintstones, their historical opposites The Jetsons, Yogi and Boo Boo Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Top Cat, Smurfs, Scooby-Doo, and Josie and the Pussycats, among man others. Tom ...

The Bible, Subliminal Satan, and Racism

Left: Satan wearing his hoodie. Right: without hoodie. I have been watching this miniseries . . . err . . . religiously. What can I say, I love Sand & Sandal ...

Andy’s Gang ► Another Magical Tee Vee Moment

Dateline October 7, 1905 – Andrew Vabre “Andy” Devine is born in Flagstaff, Arizona. With his trademark raspy voice, Andy Devine went on to become one of the great character ...

Another Magical Tee Vee Moment ► Richard Nixon’s Checkers Speech

Jackie Gleason keeping Richard Nixon from falling in the drink in Inverrary, Florida, a few miles from where I live. Dateline September 23, 1952 – Under fire for taking money from ...

Another Magical Tee Vee Moment ► Chuck Jones

Dateline September 21, 1912 – Cartoonist extraordinaire Chuck Jones is born in Spokane, Washington. According to Jones, he credits his father, a failed businessman, with his love of drawing. Says ...

Another Magical Tee Vee Moment ► Philo T. Farnsworth

Dateline September 7, 1927 – On this day Philo Taylor Farnsworth demonstrated his radical new invention: electronic television. Prior to this all televisions (which were still in the experimental stage) ...

Another Magical Tee Vee Moment ► President Clinton Addresses the DNC

Last night William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, officially nominated President Barack Obama for reelection at the Democratic National Convention. It was a barn-burner of a ...

I’ll Take Game Shows Hosts For 200

Who began his career on a televised sock hop in Canada in 1963? Need another clue? It was called Music Hop. Another clue? Are you brain dead? Okay. he hosted the following exciting ...

Perry Mason and Me ► The Case of the Growing Child

Erle Stanley Gardiner (L) with Luther S. Cressman, “father of Oregon archaeology” in 1966 Perry Mason transformed me from a child into a young adult. Let me explain. A Perry Mason novel ...

Another Magical Tee Vee Moment ► I’ve Got A Secret

Dateline June 19, 1952 – I’ve Got A Secret begins a 15 year run on tee vee. If it’s not obvious already, the pressure to post almost every day has me ...

Another Magical Tee Vee Moment ► Barbara Walters ► Katherine Hepburn ► Trees

Dateline June 2, 1981 – Tee vee’s Barbara Walters asks Katherine Hepburn what kind of tree she would be. Here she is defending herself some years later: What kind of tree ...

Last Tonight Show with Johnny Carson ► A Day In History

Dateline May 22, 1992 – Johnny Carson made his final appearance as host of the Tonight Show after nearly 5,000 shows. Here’s how that show opened: Johnny Carson gave so many ...

Another Magical Tee Vee Moment ► David Frost Interviews Paul McCartney

Dateline: May 18, 1964 – Paul McCartney is interviewed by David Frost in the full flush of Beatlemania. It’s so funny they were talking about a possible retirement in 2010. who ...