Wednesday, March 27, 2024

The Art Of The Classic Western Movie Poster!

Westerns-they have been a part of the American pop culture scene for over 100 years.

Tales of the brave men and women who pioneered the Old West have fascinated not only the citizens of The United States but people from all over the globe.

Dime novels, rodeos, Wild West Shows, popular fiction, radio, television and other forms of mass media have all had their part in the mythos of the Western.

In Schiffer Publications’ The Art Of The Classic Western Movie Poster! book, edited by Ed Hulse and foreword written by Jay Dee Witney, readers are given a tour of the gallery of Western movie posters since the art form first began.

The oversize hardbound book is bulging with full-color photos  showcasing the very best of Western movie posters.

Starting with Silent Era of films the book progresses through the years with large scale legendary Westerns starring such greats as John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda.

Other Westerns spotlighted include movie serials, historical accounts, adult Westerns, classics, singing cowboys, cowboys versus Indians, Western homesteads, forgotten heroes, modern classics and the twilight of the Westerns.

The stunning and beautifully compiled book contains anecdotal, historical and poignant text.

It’s a Westerns lover’s dream come true. Saddle up! It’s time to ride the high plains!

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. John 15:26

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Wednesday

Back in the mid-1960s the ABC TV Network premiered a decidedly different type of TV show based upon the New Yorker cartoon The Addams Family by Charles Addams.

The strip featured the bizarre, somewhat spooky, kookie and outrageous antics of The Addams Family” the father-Gomez, the mother Morticia, the son-Pugsley, the daughter-Wednesday, the uncle-Fester, Thing-the disembodied hand and Lurch-the Frankenstein monster type butler.

Of all the characters Wednesday seemed the most bizarre.

As a  little girl she relished in things dark, death, destruction, deadly and spooky.

Recently a new 8-part Wednesday series premiered on Netflix featuring Wednesday as a teenager. Actress Jenna Ortega nailed the part.

She looks and acts the part as do the actors/actresses who represent the other members of The Addams Family household-including Thing and Lurch.

Having been expelled from various schools Wednesday is reluctantly enrolled in Nevermore Academy-the same high school her mother and father attended.

No sooner does she arrive than a murder mystery begins to unfold.

Throw in the supernatural, classmates and faculty who are more than they appear, a monstrous killing spree and plenty of mayhem, horror and the unexpected and you have the perfect school for Wednesday.

The Season 1 Wednesday Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack from Warner Bros./Discovery includes every episode as envisioned and directed by Tim Burton.

She’s funny, frightful, horrific, hilarious and hauntingly beautiful. Be sure to check out her unique dance moves, fencing and fighting skills and more.

“She’s creepy and she’s kooky. Mysterious and spooky. She’s all together hooky.

She’s Wednesday!”

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Sunday, March 24, 2024

DC Super-Villains


Whether it’s in books, TV shows, movies or any other medium where there are heroes the stories would be dull and uninteresting without the heroes having villainous foes.

No where is that more true than in comic books. Where would DC Comics super heroes be with out their super-power super-villain adversaries?

TOP Trumps Specials presents the DC Super-Villains card game deck that features the worse of the worse bad guys created by DC Comics artists and writers.

Pit bad guys against bad guys in a no-holds barred battle to see who comes out on top.

The beautifully designed deck features images of DC’s Super-Villains printed on thick paper-stock, glossy coated cards stored and protected in a special flip-lid clear and black plastic box.

Like the Super-Villains the card deck will be around for years to come.

Follow the fast-paced and exciting game rules for two to six players that are seven years old and older.


Full bio-stats are included for each character and battles are determined by the categories: weapons and tech, cunning, chaos, brutality and powers.

It’s good to be a bad guy-especially one with super-powers!

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25

Friday, March 22, 2024

McLaren

There are certain automobiles that are talked about in whispers. 

Car enthusiasts and collectors mention their names in reverent quiet tones-almost like a prayer.

McLaren automobiles are on that list.

McLaren automobiles are known for their sleek design, excellent road-handling, luxurious interiors, high performance engines and unmatched prestige. They are also know for their cost.

Not just anyone can afford a McLaren. Those who can treat driving their car almost as religious experience.

In McLaren The Road Cars 2010-2024, author Kyle Fortune and Schiffer Publishing, present an oversize hardbound book complete with stunning black and white and color photos of McLaren automobiles from 2010 to 2024.

Car aficionado  and collector Jay Leno provides the foreword for this lovingly crafted and stunning book.

Learn everything there is to know about McLaren automobiles from their engines, suspension, body assembly, design, custom interiors and much more.

Highly-detailed text reverently chronicles that vehicles including their history, specs and more about what many consider the ultimate driving machines and supercars.

I may never be able to afford to own a McLaren automobile but I can dream can’t I? 

This book provides a glimpse into the world of one of the most (if not the most) luxurious automobiles ever engineered and assembled.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25


Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Peanuts Card Game


Ever since I was a kid I've loved reading the daily and Sunday comic strips.

One of my all-time favorite series was (and is) Peanuts by Charles Schulz.

Peanuts chronicles the adventures and misadventures of a tight-knit group of young kids that touches upon the thoughts, aspirations, anxieties and dreams we all share.

Classic figures like Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy, brother and sister Lucy and Linus, Woodstock the bird, Pigpen and many others offer slices of life in daily and Sunday comic strip panels.

Top Trumps’ Peanuts Specials Card Game captures the fuzziness and nostalgia of the beloved comic strip.

Created for two to six players ages six years old and up it consists of a deck of 30 cards.

To play the game you:

  • Shuffle and deal the cards face down.
  • Players pick up their cards and look at their top cards only.
  • Player 1 (left of dealer) chooses and calls out their best stat (e.g. 'Dark Side - 6').
  • The other players see if they can beat this stat (Highest number wins).
  • The card with the highest stat wins all of the top cards and adds them to the base of their pile.
  • The winner of the round chooses the stat for the next round.
  • The first player to get all of the cards wins!
Color cartoon panels include: Imagination, Good Grief, Hope and Dedication categories.

Printed on high-gloss, coated, heavy paper stock which makes the card images really pop.

The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. Proverbs 10:32

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Craig Before The Creek

Treasure, adventure, danger, hidden secrets, kid pirates, a fort, dangerous creek waters and an intrepid explorer.

All these and more are in the Craig Before The Creek original movie DVD adventure taken straight from The Cartoon Network animated series: Craig Before The Creek.

Join Craig as he navigates, using a secret map, the suburban landscape and its hidden surprises as he seeks out the fabled creek and its lost treasure.

But beware as nefarious and cunning suburban pirates pursue Craig and seek to destroy the creek.

Craig encounters many new friends and encounters deadly foes in what has to be the biggest suburban treasure hunt of all time.

It’s fast, furious, fantastic, fun and full of surprises! Top it all off with a killer soundtrack and you have it all!

Warner Bros./Discovery and The Cartoon Network present the Craig Before The Creek full-length animated film.

Includes a free poster!

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Marvel Comics Essential Rawhide Kid Vol. 1

Saddle up your horse, strap on your six-guns, polish up your spurs and get ready to adventure out into the Old West.

Back when Marvel Comics was still Atlas Comics and Martin Goodman was the owner Westerns were hugely popular.

Western movies, TV shows, toys and merchandise were all the craze then, especially with kids.

Atlas Comics had its selection of Western titles such as the original Ghost Rider, Two-Gun Kid and Rawhide Kid.

Eventually when Atlas became Marvel Westerns fell out of favor. Early on during the transition Westerns were holding on-the most popular being Rawhide Kid.

To Marvel’s credit (and writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby-among others) the Rawhide Kid remained poplar and was even incorporated into the Marvel Comics Universe through the clever use of time travel.

In fact, occasionally the Western stars of Atlas/Marvel would rear their cowboy hat covered heads now and again.

In the Marvel Comics Essential Rawhide Kid Volume One oversize softbound book the Marvel Rawhide Kid series is reprinted in black and white starting with issues #17 through #35.

Along with interior pages the covers are reprinted along with the text stories included with each issue.

It’s interesting how Kirby, Heck, Lee and other artists were able to make the stories of the Kid almost appear as superhero tales using interesting characters, dynamic covers and page layouts and eve some Western lore such as Indian spirits and the like.

For some over the top Western action be sure to check out the Rawhide Kid.

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." — John 5:24

Friday, March 15, 2024

Alfa Romeo

Mention Alfa Romeo and car enthusiasts nearly swoon.

Known as one of some the most prized automobiles ever manufactured Alfa Romeo automobiles have caused many a car lover to lust for them for over a century.

In Alfa Romeo An Illustrated History 1910-2020, Schiffer Publishing presents the ultimate illustrations, photographs and historical accounting of some of the most prestigious automobiles ever created.

Known primarily for its sleek and flashy sports cars Alfa Romeo offers much more than driving luxury and speed.

Inside the book, filled with historical text, specs and brilliant color photos (some two-page spreads) readers are provided a highly-detailed accounting of the manufacturing, design and history of the vehicles.

Take a tour of a Alfa Romeo factory, discover non-sports car models and learn about the effort and search for perfection that goes into each vehicle.

Interiors, suspensions, engines, accessories, aero-dynamics, and so much more are explored in the most minute detail.

This beautifully hardbound book features a full-color photo cover, glossy interior pages and highly-detailed and crystal clear photos.

Get ready for the ride of your life as you flip thorough the book’s pages and imagine yourself behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:26-27

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

All In The Family

Up until the early 1970s network TV consisted of powder puff comedies that were silly, sanitary and safe.

CBS was the king of late night comedies with such shows as The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction and other soft-pedal pabulum.

All that changed in the1971 when, in a bold move, CBS introduced a TV series that knocked traditional TV comedy on its collective rear end.

That show was All In The Family, created by Norman Lear.

I remember vividly watching the first episodes and was shocked by the racial jabs, colorful language and verbal tit for tat among the cast of characters.

All In The Family was inspired by and adapted from a British TV series. Its creator Norman Lear pushed creativity, social taboos and the CBS Network to the edge.

The show was instantly popular when it premiered and stayed so throughout its entire run.

Subjects never touched upon before on TV were fair game and, while it was a comedy, it was not afraid to get its hands and feet dirty depicting real life social, political, religious and family life.

It’s characters were flawed, often at odds with each other and happy endings didn’t always happen.

And yet, it was obvious that members of the Archie Bunker household loved each other.

The show became so popular that many of the guest characters spotlighted in its many episodes branched off into their own series such as The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude.

The show ran nine seasons ending with Edith’s death. Carol O’Conner (Archie Bunker) would go on to star in his own spin-off: Archie Bunker’s Place, for several more years.

The gorgeous, hardbound book contains key episode spotlights, script excerpts, cast interviews and so much more complemented by full-color photos.

It’s all here. It’s All In The Family, by Norman Lear and published by Rizzoli/Universal.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

The Jeep

During World War II the United States military needed a fast, highly-maneuverable, rugged and inexpensive vehicle that could transport not only troops but equipment and weapons as well.

It would need to traverse the varied landscapes of both Europe and the Pacific isles in all types of weather. What was finally selected was the Jeep.

Inspired by both the Allied and Axis powers small vehicles the Jeep was the U.S. military’s answer for the need for speed, and durability in a multi-purpose vehicle.

The Jeep History Of A World War II Legend, is written and researched by David Dalet and Christophe Le Bitoux and published by Schiffer Publishing.

Learn how the little, rugged vehicle came about, its various types and uses, markings, costs, uses and everything imaginable about the Jeep.

Filled with black and white and color archival photographs the thin hardbound book contains historical facts and a price guide.

Discover the secrets about the vehicle which helped win the war.

If you are a WWII history buff or love vintage vehicles this book is a ‘must-have’.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6