Forgotten CHRISTMAS TV PROGRAMS, COMMERICALS, MOVIES and MUSIC

A WALT DISNEY CHRISTMAS with Donald and friends

PERRY COMO sub-hosts for BING on Hollywood Palace Christmas 1969 with SHECKY GREENE, DIAHANN CAROLL plus  (1st portion of show)

 Bing and Kathryn Crosby Host Holywood Palace Christmas with Glen Campbell, Lennon Sisters.John Byner

 REMEMBER MARIE of Donny and Marie fame? She's back looking better than ever. You can too>

 

   Forgotten CHRISTMAS TV PROGRAMS, COMMERICALS, MOVIES and MUSIC

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS

 Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis,  Phll Spector (full Christmas album) ,  Ronnie Spector,  Darlene Love, Sam Cooke,  Vintage Commercials, Your Hit Parade,  Home Movies and even the full length movie, 'A Christmas Carol'

 SANTA'S VILLAGE near Santa Cruz, CA 1959 

Santa's Village no longer exists but, oh, the memories. Many continue talking about reopening it but here, have a look...Santa's village LIVES once again, at least for awhile thanks to the magic of old 'home movies.'

*************Enjoy Paul Harvey (twice) with Christmas messages and 37 other Special Christmasses

including  Live Performances from  Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis,  Phll Spector (full Christmas album) ,  Ronnie Spector,  Darlene Love, Allan Sherman 's 12 Days of Christmas, Dean Martin Christmas, Judy Garland Christmas Show 1963, Perry Como, Bing Crosby and much more! 

CARTOONS

**PICTURE OF THE WEEK**

NOW ON SALE AT WALMART FOR CHANUKAH, REALLY...

COULD ONLY HAPPEN AT WALMART

TV PROGRAMS

Good ol' JACK -   that's me, JACK BENNY - and I'm back for more Christmas shopping memories. You see, for you younger folks, Jack is very frugal and has a tough time when it comes to actually buying gifts for Rochestor, Mary and the gang. Last year he wouldn't even spend $40 for a suit for himself. He paid $39. Enjoy this classic of mine from a few years back! By the way, hope you're enjoying the coupons and deals I oversee on this site. NEVER PAY RETAIL! Now just click my $39 suit  , above, and watch me try to buy a watch , er, wallet for Don!


VISIT JACK SAVES for BEST HOLIDAY DEALS! 

    Forgotten CHRISTMAS TV PROGRAMS, COMMERICALS, MOVIES and MUSIC

Classic Christmas, 1950s, Commericals, Vinaage, Christmas programs, Cartoons, Jack Benny

COMMERCIALS

  

Hear Holiday greetings from Jack Webb, Doris Day, , Jerry Lewis, Jack Lemon, Elizabeth Montgomery 

COKE COMMERCIALS Have been a staple for years and here's from from back in the day... Have a ocke, or Coke-a-Cola as we used to say...

MOVIES

  MUSIC

 

Here's a medley of some of the best and often forgotten Christmas music.Just let it run... and there's more -in complete versions - JUST CLICK HERE

 MORE FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY MUSIC, MOVIES, MEMORIES...

We'll be back with more music, movies, memories and more... Again, join our text or mailing list or facebook pages if you'd like more ...  Now' were off to do some more shopping

 

Forgotten CHRISTMAS TV PROGRAMS, COMMERICALS, MOVIES and MUSIC

Main Street America, 1950s Live in Hillboro, Texas - Roadside America

Main Street  America, 1950s Live in Hillboro, Texas - Roadside America

If you like antiques and old cars you're going to love today's video! Get a dose of 1940's, 1950's and 1960's nostalgia at the Roadside America Museum in Hillsboro. Pack my bags, I'm ready to roll! Roadside America Museum Carroll Estes 212 E Elm St. Hillsboro, TX 76645 Phone: 972-291-2958 https://www.facebook.com/TexasCountry... Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/oldiescountry  Facebook: http://Facebook.com/oldiescountry


FORGOTTEN THANKSGIVING and CHRISTMAS Music and Memories

BIFF'S UFO-DESIGNED COFFEE SHOP Loses Long Battle to Survive to New Hipster Dive

SORRY TO SAY BIFF'S WAS RAZED IN FAVOR OF A 'HIPSTER HANGOUT' LAST OCTOBER, 2016-  A remodelled Biff's would have been a popular Hipster and Millenial hangout, as architect Roy pointed out, but big money was  burning a hole in some developers pocket and there you go. One less old soul left in Oakland

BIFF'S UFO-DESIGNED COFFEE SHOP  Loses Long Battle to Survive to New Hipster Dive


 “It looks like it’s about ready to lift off.” —Victor Newlove, of Armet Davis Newlove Architects, in a 2011 interview with NPR

     Biff’s Coffee Shop (1963–c.1995), at 315 27th Street in Oakland, CA was a “Googie”-style coffee shop designed by the Los Angeles architectural firm of Armet & Davis (dubbed “the Frank Lloyd Wrights of diner designers” by SF columnist Herb Caen). It was built in 1963 by Standard Oil (now Chevron) in combination with an adjacent gas station, on a triangular lot at the corner of 27th Street and Broadway. The restaurant was the firm’s only round restaurant, and its now-empty building is a rare surviving example of Googie architecture in the Bay Area.  MORE courtesy Oakland Wiki

BIFF'S TODAY WITH RETIRED ARCHITECT JOYCE ROY

    And now a couple of old-school architects from the day who remember Biff's wanted to reopen and bring back TO LIFE the long-dormant historical  .
gem to it's original glory, but this will now be old news (below) as the remarkable building many of us knew and loved was taken down last October after a long battle by old Oaklanders and preservationist to restore the one-of-a-kind building. MORE  Turns out the original building was build by the family of 'Tiny' Naylors chain of Los Angeles coffee shops, so popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and, there were , reportedly, similar Bills-style round ones in Los Angeles. But, no more in the Oakland, Bay Area, to our knowledge

BIFF'S UFO-DESIGNED COFFEE SHOP May Be Ready to Take Off Again

continued....

Gone are the green Naugahyde seats. Gone is the coleslaw with peanuts. Gone, too, is the flashing neon dotted "I," visible for miles in any direction.

But for those who love Biff's, Oakland's long-dormant 24-hour diner, hope never dies - it just gets sent back to the kitchen every now and then.

"The time is right to try again. Biff's is on the radar," said Joyce Roy, a retired architect who's among a stalwart band of Biff's buffs hoping and praying the shuttered diner finds a deep-pocketed developer to dust off its Formica tables and reopen it.

"A new Biff's would be a perfect fit for First Friday and all the other great things going on around here," she said. "It would be a huge draw, for everyone." CONTINUED FROM SF GATE

TODAY, THE TOP OF THE 'UFO' ,  GRAFFITI-COVERED BIFF'S AWAITS A SAVIOR TO BRING IT BACK TO ITS DAYS OF GLORY.
CALL JOYCE ROY OR FRIENDS OF BIFF IF YOU MIGHT HELP.
sEE BELOW LINKS TO PARTICIPATE AND CONTRIBUTE

   WE REMEMBER BIFF'S , TOO.  AT THE TIME, WE PROBABLY DIDN'T APPRECIATE THE 'FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT' OF DINERS at the time, until it was shuttered in 1995. Afterall, there was still the kwik way, an even earlier (1960) drivein restaurant  a few blocks away that seemed to get priority, and, of course, the merritt, though it didn't have the style of either biff's or Kwik way.  the good news is that this classic restaurant somehow escaped the wrecking ball for the past two decades . Now it's just waiting for a caring owner to reopen it, which looks like biff's could 'take off' again, much like the restored paramount theater on broadway and the fox oakland on san pablo ave.

THE CLASSIC '50s sign with
crossinging poles beckoned diners in the 1960s

From Randy Garbin's Roadside #32 "Oakland Emerging":
"Biff's Coffee Shop, a circular restaurant designed by noted Googie-style architects Armet & Davis, opened in Oakland at the tail end of the "Populuxe" era. As defined by Thomas Hine in his book Populuxe, Googie fit into the post-war optimism that lasted until 1964, the final year of the New York World's Fair. Not long afterwards, America plunged into an orgy of Early American and Environmentalist design influences, leaving these odd space-age architectural anomalies to stand out in the landscape like crashed UFOs.

Biff's did a fine business into the 1980s when it eventually became J.J.'s Diner, but then closed after four more years of operation. In stepped Chevron Oil, which owned the property and planned to demolish the dowdy structure to erect a gas station/fast-food/quickie-mart mutation. Into the breach rushed about 50 concerned citizens mindful that Biff's had once served as an anchor for the local neighborhood. These activists reminded the city that the place represented one of the last coffee shops from this era and one of the few in the Bay Area. Calling themselves the Friends of J.J.'s, the group sought to help market this property to prospective restaurateurs looking to take advantage of the Oakland revitalization."

*

"Supportive elements for the Biffs restaurant included a palm tree and signs (internally illuminated neo-60s on original crossed pole supports, replacing animated neon bullseye "Biff's" sign).

The Biff's/JJ's restaurant was vital to the livelihood of the Broadway Autorow community especially the senior citizens from several senior residential centers located on 28th Street."

Special thanks to Randy Garbin (www.randygarbin.com) and Charles Brown. These pieces originally appeared in Roadside Magazine and the Beat 8 newsletter, respectively.

Links and References

• History Is Reborn As Downtown Oakland Booms / New life put into old buildings San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate
• Friends of Biff’s
• Biff’s Coffee Shop Dwell
• Biff(s) Bam Boom! Vote by 2/20 to Restore this Cultural Icon in Uptown UptownPlaceHomes.com
• Biff’s Coffee Shop Chevron Gasoline Oakland, CA FlickRiver.com
• A Salute to Biff’s Coffee Shop in Oakland The Dollar Store Diet
• Biff’s Diner: The Lost Googie of Oakland Findery — (Oakland Museum of California)
• Armet Davis Newlove Architects- Formerly ‘Armet & Davis’ — the design firm of Biff’s Coffee Shop
• Googie Architecture- A style of modern architecture dating from 1949
• Restoring Oakland’s Biff’s diner may be tall order SF Chronicle 2014-01-13

Check back to these pages AND HTTP://FACEBOOK.COM/OLDIESCOUNTRY for future updates/status of Biff's comeback




 





BIFF'S UFO-DESIGNED COFFEE SHOP May Be Ready to Take Off Again

ANNETTE - 'Pineapple Princess' 1950s Icon's Passing Points Up Societal Changes, Good or Bad

LOOKING BACK to Annette Funicello's passing earlier in the year, Bill O'Reilly pointed out some
startling facts that may help explain why, despite an improved economy and racial situation today the society has taken  a downward spiral in terms of interpersonal relations including values and family upbringing. O'Reilly reports that only 5% of children were born out of wedlock in 1959 as compared to 41% in 2010. Also in the 1950s drug use was rare, though alcoholism was about the same, O'Reilly continues. Lastly, regarding the 'loss of innocence' we have just looked back at with the 50th year of passage of President Kennedy, he points out that premarital sex and explicit behavior, to whatever point it existed, was kept under wraps as compared to today; O'Reilly was inferring that such behavior was much less in the 1950s in part because it wasn't fostered by the media. He would also add, later, that disability is much higher today, which led O'Reilly to question whether people are even working today.  While O'Reilly wouldn't come right out and say the U.S,. was a better country in the 1950s you get the feeling he really does believe that as do many who well remember then and now. What do you think of now vs. then, assuming you lived then? 

******************************************************************** 
    ONCE BIGGER THAN LIFE, ANOTHER GOOD DIES YOUNG...  
   

You have no doubt learned of the passing of Annette - only the first name is necessary - the 1950s /early 60s icon, who personified the era as much as anyone.  She gave a lot of good times to those lucky to have grown up in the day - the movies, the music, the memories - yet suffered  the past twenty-plus years with MS.  In fact, we posted a little tribute just weeks ago(below) , after learning about her and her husband's efforts to gain more funding for not only her plight but Multiple Schlerosis sufferers, in general... Will follow up with some more classic videos and fun memories that will come alive again for many of you, we're sure. More @ http://oldiescountry.blogspot.com/2013/04/annette-once-bigger-than-life-another.html

-pictured above Annette in 1990 (left) and  recent-

 Title track from 'Monkey's Uncle' (1965) with Annette backed by Beach Boys! 

  from late March post:

  It was with great pleasure to finally catch up with Annette and her husband ,Glen Holt, who has stood by her for 30 years; they go public with their current life and continuing effort to find a cure for MS  via their  website,  AnnetteConnection.com.  Annette no longer can walk or even speak, though she still gets out and one can maybe  even see a twinkle in her eye.  It may be hard for some to watch this video though we find it an inspiration. There are also nice tributes from Shelley Fabares and others.   In this four part video series from CTV, we see Annette in her early years and today and  the efforts Glen and doctors have gone to in helping Annette deal with MS, including a new treatment that  is showing promise.  Glen is using Annette's old foundation to continue researching help for annette and others with MS. He is hoping that, though Annette's fans, he can raise money to still find a cure.  


 

   *************************************************************

Annette had a run of 5 Top 20 hits  in the two year period, 1959-1960,  and then became quite a movie star, with at least six fun 'beach' movies between 1963-1965 with some more great music and followed up with a popular 'reunion' movie, 'Back To The Beach' with favorite Frankie Avalon and the gang, in 1987, shortly before being diagnosed with MS...

 **************************************************************

Congrats to Annette's second husband, Glen .  for 'lifting the curtain' of MS, so as to   help others and being such a great inspiration to Annette, who has always been a great inspiration to so many of us form her days on the Mickey Mouse Club to her positive, fun movies ,music and lifestyle.

  So, again, we applaud Annette, Glen and their team. May we continue to hear inspirational news and  stories from them for many years to come  as we make contributions to the MS cause. Please  help spread your good cheer via their website, above and your own connections as we will do through http://www.OldiesCountry.com and http://www.SeniorCountry.org 

  I saw Annette with Frankie Avalon  about 20 years ago at Pleasanton, CA -  Alameda county fair,  just before she stopped performing. It was a great show and we would have hardly  known she was already dealing with early stage Multiple Sclerosis  We think it is great that Annette has  came out with her updated story with video now, with the help and encouragement of Glen.   We think it's a beautful story. I've just spent the last three years with my 97 year old Dad , who just passed , but only after , again, three good last years, with kind people's help and good cheer around him. People can still have quality of life, though sometimes it's a challenge,even in these situations.


Rare, Indepth interview -ATTITUDES with Virginia Graham from late 80s- Annette reflects on the changing times and how she still lives up to her 'clean, happy days' image, which she relishes...


 

Join us for more in Oldies Country

full history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annette_Funicello

ANNETTE - 'Pineapple Princess' 1950s Icon's Passing Points Up Societal Changes, Good or Bad


 



 Maybe the best for last... Trailer for 'Beach Blanket Bingo' 1965 featuring no less co-stars than Don Rickles, Paul Lynde and Buster Keaton, among other star names!!!


  From a fan... "She was beautiful, good-natured, humble and kind to everyone around her. And she did it all - TV, movies and music, one of the biggest stars in the world in her time. Then walked away from all of it to raise a family. A role model for everyone who works in this industry. Her suffering was cruel and undeserved, but she handled it courageously. Now she can RIP."


Annette's Music and Videos LIVE ON -- Get Yours Here....

Annette  -CLICK below 'Books' to search for Annette biography and more - Great gift ideas...

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ANNETTE - 'Pineapple Princess' 1950s Icon's Passing Points Up Societal Changes, Good or Bad