No comments about Utah Parks & Monuments.

No comments about Mount Vernon: Home of George Washington.

No comments about Olympic National Park.

5 comments about The Judy Garland Christmas Show.

1. This episode of The Judy Garland Show is indeed my favorite of the 26. Judy seems to be at her best, with incredible voice (as always). Guest stars are Jack Jones, Mel Torme, Tracy Everitt, Liza Minnelli, Lorna and Joe Luft. Songs include, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Consider Yourself", "Little Drops of Rain", "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", "Where is Love?", "Alice Blue Gown", "Steam Heat", "The Christmas Song", "Lollipops and Roses", "Wouldn't it be Loverly", "Holiday Medley", as well as Judy's signature, "Over the Rainbow", which she sings with much love to her two youngest children, Lorna and Joe, at the end of the show on the couch in their nightclothes. Her affection to her kids is greatly shown in this film; constantly hugging and kissing them. This DVD is a must-have for any Judy Garland fan, or if a family is looking into buying a good holiday film to watch. It's a great film anyway. I recommend it highly!



2. They don't make Christmas specials like this anymore. The Judy Garland Christmas Show (which aired December 22, 1963) is an intimate, informal night at home with Judy and the kids, a few guests, a group of carolers, and a troupe of skinny, dancing Santas. There are a few small gaffes here and there on the part of several individuals, but everyone just laughs them off and goes on singing; that does much to create the atmosphere of charm surrounding the whole presentation. As the show opens, we find Judy sitting in front of the windowsill of her "home" with her two youngest children, young Joe and Lorna Luft, to whom she sings Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - this song alone makes the show worth seeing. The kids seem a little nervous (this was recorded in front of a live studio audience, of course), but there is no end to the affection displayed by Judy as she sings. After this opening number, Judy opens the door to welcome us inside, whereupon she and the kids do a walk-around performance of Consider Yourself, during which daughter Liza arrives with her beau Tracy Everitt to join in the fun. Judy, ever the doting mother, then asks her son to sing Where Is Love? from Oliver. This can be rather painful to listen to and is luckily fairly short, as little Joe proves that singing ability can sometimes skip a generation.

   Things get a little weird and less Christmas-y at this point, as Liza and Tracy show Judy the new song and dance number they have been working on - Steam Heat doesn't really scream Christmas. Finally, we get Judy to ourselves again singing Little Drops of Rain while all the kids are putting the final touches on the Christmas tree. No sooner is she finished than guest Jack Jones arrives singing Wouldn't It Be Loverly, after which he sings, at Judy's request, Lollipops and Roses. Lorna then climbs up on Jack's lap and does a wonderful version of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town; once she gets started, she really lets the sound pour out of her, making this my favorite part of the entire show. After Liza sings Alice Blue Gown, she, Jack, and Judy launch into a medley of Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride, It Happened in Sun Valley, and Winter Wonderland. Judy pretty much lets Liza and Jack sing It Happened in Sun Valley, but she delivers a beautiful solo of Winter Wonderland.

   Mel Torme is the next to arrive, with a whole troupe of carolers in tow. Torme arranged a lot of the music on The Judy Garland Show, and he also wrote the holiday classic The Christmas Song. He actually sings a new verse for the song on this night, after which Judy sings the famous chorus. She does mess up a couple of times, but it's no big deal at all (and one can sort of forgive her for singing "rainbow" instead of "reindeer"). Out comes the eggnog, and then the whole gang launches into another medley of songs. Judy's solo performance of What Child Is This? is simply beautiful. Jack Jones and Mel Torme give us a harmonized duet of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Liza and Tracy sing It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, and Lorna and Joe team up to sing a slightly imperfect version of Silent Night. After the guests leave and the kids are put to bed, Lorna and Joe come back out to tell Judy she forgot to do something that she does every year for them at Christmas. Watching Judy sing Over the Rainbow to her two youngest children makes for a perfect conclusion to the night's festivities.

   If you love both Judy Garland and Christmas, this is a great holiday video you can enjoy every year. If you're not a Judy Garland fan, you most likely won't enjoy the show. Several of the songs really have little to do with Christmas, some of the children's dialogue is rather wooden (they're just kids, of course), Joe's solo can be rather frightening, and even Judy and Jack Jones miss a word or two along the way. As I said, this makes it all the more charming to me, but a non-Judy fan might think otherwise. On a final note, let me say that I am happy that the world can get a glimpse of Judy and her kids all together in this special show; the obvious love and affection she has for Joe, Lorna, and Liza do much to dispel the negative impression some people today may have of Judy Garland due to all of the troubles she battled throughout her adult years. Do, as Judy says, consider yourself part of the family and make The Judy Garland Christmas Show a holiday tradition in your own household.




3. ...it will tear your heart out. What a fantastic performer she was. What a tragic life. God bless her.



4. Okay, I love Judy and think she is in a league by herself. Check out my other reviews and you know I'm a huge fan. However, it is very clear she is struggling on this show. Her face is lined, her eyes lack sparkle, she is clearly pushing herself to be charming and enthusiastic. Her voice while fine and and her performances sometimes reaching the expected Judy heights, lacks the thrill and sparkle of other occasions.
   
   I give her kudos for giving it her all. She clearly is and despite the rap on Judy that she only performed when she wanted to, here I'm sure she would have preferred to wait but had no choice. Still, I find it painful to watch Judy push herself to appear okay when its clear she wasn't.



5. The Judy Garland Show was a television staple in the early 1960's, featuring one of America's foremost talents in the singing biz. Able to garner some fabulous stars via hr celebrity icon status, Judy's shows were a potpourri of old and the new, the standards and the innovative, merging together for one enjoyable ride. This is clearly evident in her "The Christmas Show" episode from the series, released on DVD.
   
   Guest stars of Jack Jones and Mel Torme spotlight the various numbers that inhabit this 50 minute special of song and dance. Jack's number with Judy and Liza is priceless, even though it was clearly evident he was looking at cue cards constantly. Mel's rendition of his song with Judy "The Christmas Song", is quite touching, with Judy making a small error in the lyrics and Mel playfully pointing it out. Great television!
   
   Lisa's "Steam Heat" dance number still rocks the house, with her partner "and beau" Tracy Everitt, and her pairing with her mother made for a terrific combo whenever the two sang together. Judy's youngest kids, Lorna and Joey, each get their own spotlight as well, although Joey's life as a singer was clearly at odds with his somewhat painful rendition of "Where is Love?". God bless him for trying that song as a seven year old!
   
   However, it's Judy that steals her own show. Every time the camera land on her, she a delight to watch. Equally at ease singing a solo, or handing the scene over to another performer, Judy's joy of music is evident. Just watch her as her kids sing, or as Mel or Jacks sings; she's positively, genuinely radiant. Which is even more of a feat considering the country was reeling from the assassination of JFK just a week before.
   
   Judy's Christmas special is one that I'll watch every season, once, twice, and even three times. We all miss Judy, but we can have a little piece of her, in our living rooms, every holiday season.

5 comments about The Christmas That Almost Wasn't.

1. Pioneer kids tv educator:Paul Tripp makes his leep to

   The big screen in this musical Christmas tale that is

   both heartwarming,funny and pogient.

   "The Christmast That Almost Wasn't"tells the story of

   a mean and vindictive miser:"Phinease T.Prune"(played by

   romantic singing lead:Rosino Brazzi of "South Pacific

   Movie Fame).Who hates Christmas and Santa so much..that

   he buys up the entire North Pole..Including Santa's work-

   shop and home and raises his rent bill so high!

   That Santa can't pay the rent and he hires a struggleing

   lawyer:"Sam Whipple"(Paul Tripp)to help him deal with

   "Mr.Prune".

   Seeing that "Prune"will not listen to reason and he

   refuses to disregard the rent bill.

   "Whipple"gets Santa a job at"Prim's Dept.Store"where

   he listens to the kids'Christmas wishes ,entertains them

   and helps to sell "Mr.Prim's"(played by another well known

   kids tv personality:"Wonderama's","Just For Fun's"and

   "Let Take A Trip's"Sonny Fox)toys during the holidays.

   But "Mr.Prune"is not one to be foiled by two good

   guys.

   And he conspires with his manservant:"Bascome"to

   ruin the plans of our heroes.

   Will he succeed in evicting The Clauses and their

   workers and ruin Christmas for everyone?!

   The film has a wonderful story and beautiful songs

   performed by Mr.Tripp(who also wrote the tunes with Mr.Ray Carter),Mr.Brazzi and the actors playing
   Santa and Mrs.Claus(Played by Mr.Brazzi's late wife Lida).

   The sets are dark but charming and the acting is superb.

   For anyone..who wants a truly charming and tuneful

   Yultide Fantasy?

   This is the one film to have.




2. As a child, I remember going to the theatre each year at Christmas time and seeing a different holiday movie. I don't know why I remember this movie more than some of the others I've seen. I don't think it is destined for cult status like A Christmas Story, but there's something about the charm of The Christmas That Almost Wasn't. The grinch-ish landlord threatens to foreclose on Santa's workshop and it's the kids to the rescue. It's the age old Gricnh stealing Christmas with a different twist. I only gave it 2 and a half stars, but I would reccomend it for anyone's holiday movie collection.



3. The movie is somewhat corny, but when your 11 years old and it comes around every year, you don't care. This movie was an annual tradition as Christmas shows go, like to March of the Wooden Soldiers and Charlie Brown. It mysteriously disappeared in the early to mid '70s. By then I was entering my late teens so I didn't care. But this is one of those TV shows that you need to see to help bring back those childhood images, like watching it in the living room of your parent's old apartment.
   
   PS: does anyone know whatever happened to Paul Tripp?



4. With all of the crazy holiday movies out there, with lots of violence and even horror, I have to say this is a very clean all in the family classic. So many people love this film because it brings family together. And what is great about the plot, is that all these years Santa has given to kids, but now the tide has turned and the kids now go out to give back to Santa. Its a hart warming Christmas classic. And the ending is great, the acting is good, and while some may say cheesy, I have to say when your a kid growing up, this is believable and a fun movie. Get this if you want to hold on to a true holiday classic that will always be just that, a "Holiday Classic"The Christmas That Almost Wasn't



5. Remembered this movie from when I was a kid and was looking for it a long time and finally found it on amazon! Great Family entertainment!

5 comments about Chanukah on Planet Matzah Ball.

1. I should say that we are not Jewish, but when this came on PBS my daughter and I both really enjoyed watching it. (She's 3). Now she keeps asking me to put it on so I had to order the dvd. She also asked where our dreidel was the night after watching it- so it must have made a big impression! A really good and fun movie.



2. This is possibly the most inaccurate protrayal of Chanukah in kids programing to date. The movie starts with aliens on planet Matzah who found out they were jewish and who begin to chant 'we are jewish! we are jewish!' like it was some crazy cult. Then out of space comes this menorah that falls into their spaceship. This is fallowed by a song that goes something like "what do you do with a menorah? what does a menorah do? what do you do with a menorah? we all wish that we knew." Then in a quest to find out about Chanukah they uncover that the Greeks captured the Jews and made them worship a Greek god named "Ralph" instead of their own. Also they had a scene where the Jews go shopping in a Greek grocery store....and all they had were "pigstacio icecream" or "pig sount brussle sprouts" or "little pig cereal" point being the greeks made the Jews shop in their grocery stores where all they could eat was the forbidden pork. The movie ended with a song about Chanukah put to the tune of a Christmas song. I don't think an ounce of research was done for this film. I've concluded that the writer and the director of the puppets got together for a production meeting and someone was like "okay I have a friend who has this friend who had a cousin that married a girl who was once half jewish and the word on the street is that they have these things called latkes."



3. My son loved this DVD and so I have to buy it because I've already spent [money] on rental fees. The puppets are very cutesy, the songs are catchy and easy to learn. Exactly the kind of entertainment the target audience craves. So OK, it's not completely historically accurate, but I think it portrays the story and spirit of Chanukah so that my 3 year old understands it. Everytime the Grandma starts singing the blessing, he brings me into the room, sits on my lap and we bond. It's touching and sweet and silly and that's enough for both of us. It might twist some facts, but it does great with bringing the spirit of the holiday home. And its way more accurate than the Rugrat's version.



4. 
   First of all, I'd like to warn everyone about Katie Rains review below - she obviously has no sense of humor.
   
   This is by far one of the best Chanukah films made. I have been waiting all my life for Chanukah to get some attention. Who cares if it's not 100% accurate? Is every Xmas show 100% accurate?
   
   It is such a cute show and brought to life maybe some new Chanuakh songs. There is no song that sings to an Xmas tune like the below review states.
   
   It is simply a good family Chanukah film that children of all ages would love. Surely a new Chanukah tradition in my family.



5. We got this video for our almost 3 year old son for Hanukah. He really likes it but I'm not crazy about it at all. I don't like it's portrayal of the Greeks and the whole thing about "pigstachio" ice cream is ridiculous and completely inaccurate. I don't know what the people who produced this video were thinking. The singing dreidyl is also annoying, but I can tolerate that part. I would not recommend this video to anyone.

No comments about Holiday Inn.

5 comments about White Christmas Limited Collector's Gift.

1. No Christmas is complete without seeing Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and others perform this Christmas Classic. A great family movie.



2. Ordered this dvd to replace my original copy that was loaned last year and never returned. It was great to end my Christmas Season with this tradional classic movie. Good quality, shipped promptly, good service.



3. After watching a poorly edited broadcast of White Christmas, one that was actually missing "Snow,Snow,Snow", I decided to get my own copy. What a difference! It's something that we watch every Christmas season.



4. White Christmas
   
   Who wouldn't love this movie? It is a clasic that one can not watch too many times!! It should be a part of everyones collection.



5. The quality of the picture and sound was great. A definate yearly watch for every Christmas season.

1 comments about Yule Log Hotties (WMVHD).

1. Got one of these for my brother in law.. he loved it.. said it was the hit of his holiday party. I picked a a few more to give at the holiday office party. They were a definite hit.

5 comments about Brand Spanking New! Doug: Doug's Secret Christmas.

1. THIS MOVIE WAS ONE OF THE WORST VIDEOS I EVER SAW! THE ANAMATION WAS BAD THRE WAS NOT ONE GOOD THING ABOUT DOUG'S SECRET CRISTMAS! IT WAS DRAGED OUT AND THE BONUS EPISODE I MEAN SITTING THROUGH ONE WAS ENOUGH! PLEASE DON'T BYE THIS BAD VIDEO YOU'RE WASTING YOUR HARD-EARN MONEY!



2. I liked this cartoon because it is a break from the norm. So often holiday cartoons and specials seem to overlap each other. Doug's Secret Christmas is different. In this video, Doug and family learn that there will be a new addition to the family. In all the chaos of preparing for the child's arrival, Christmas traditions are overlooked, causing Doug to create his own "secret christmas". There is also a bonus cartoon of Doug on this video, which deals with Doug, his sister, and their new sibling. All in all a nice video, well worth the money, and one that the entire family can sit together and enjoy.



3. It a great movie for the Holiday,and it new.Buy It I have and It make you of yourself at that age,and the Bonus cartoon is cool.Trust Me and don't belive that who said is the worst, it not.



4. Dougs so broing the charecters voices suck and why are so of the charecters skin green and blue. Hello? do we live in the simpons world? I really don't get what the crator is trying to tell us bad anmations cool? Doug knows nothing? Having blue skin is coo.........ZZZZZZZ opps sorry just thinking about this made me dose off. Still if you looking for a good old ncikloden cartoon watch rugrats or the first epsoides of sponge bob. This is a waste and not even worth 1 cent!



5. This is a great holiday movie, watch it every christmas. I wish they would release the whole show on dvd or just this episode. I always loved watching it and it was a popular show to watch when I was a kid.