chaplin gold rush spotlight

Chaplin’s Masterpiece: ‘The Gold Rush’

About the making of THE GOLD RUSH, the film for which CHARLIE CHAPLIN said he most wanted to be remembered. The final installment of our 125th birthday anniversary celebration
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Kinda Memorable Bluegrass for Christmas

This year’s crop of new holiday releases has been one of the weakest in recent memory, but even in the strongest years THE ROYS' delightful BLUEGRASS KINDA CHRISTMAS would be a standout.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Pt. I: ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ & The Lost Punctuation Mark

What Americans hear when they listen to 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' is not anything like what the English peasants meant when they first sang this song more than 500 years ago. So claims best selling author ACE COLLINS.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Pt. 2: ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’ and The Dickens Connection

Ever wonder what is the Christmas carol of Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol'? Evidence points to 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' as the carol in question. We make our case herein.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Hark the What? Ironies of a Beloved Carol

REV. MARK D. ROBERTS knows 'If you don’t want to tick people off, then don’t change the words of the hymns and carols.' As he explains, 'HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING' is a perfect example of this maxim.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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How Mr. Chokepear Keeps A Merry Christmas.

From a December 25, 1841 issue of the British humor and satire magazine PUNCH, a story satirizing a heartless one-percenter's self-absorbed Christmas rituals.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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The ‘Quiet Ecstasy’ of Harry Simeone’s ‘Little Drummer Boy’

The story behind THE HARRY SIMEONE CHORALE's classic 'THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY' begins in 1941 with KATHERINE KENNICOTT DAVIS'S 'CAROL OF THE DRUM' and includes a classic Christmas album featuring the oft-covered seasonal favorite.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Christmas in Verse, 2021

Timeless Christmas poems by ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, DOLLIE RADFORD, ROBERT SOUTHWELL, et al. plus Christmas music videos featuring THE POGUES, THE PRETENDERS, THE ROYAL GUARDSMEN, THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA and THE SUPREMES.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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A Half-Century+ of Classic Animated ‘Rudolph’

On Dec. 6, 1964 NBC premiered an animated version of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER with BURL IVES as host. It drew a 50 share and was an instant holiday classic. From a 50 share to 50+ years as a holiday staple, we pay tribute...
by David McGee