Those Old Chestnuts
Have you ever tried really hard to find something that you remember being fabulous and amazing and wonderful when you were a kid…then wished you hadn’t? lol!
Well, since the advent of the internet, it really is easy to find just about anything. I’ve tracked down old toys, records, movies, books–things I remember loving like crazy–and if I can afford to, I’ll sometimes buy them just for old time’s sake. (Or have them bought for me.) For instance–Dawn dolls. They were my absolute favorite when I was little, and I managed to get one a few years back. She sits on top of my jewelry box on my dresser. (Of course, after going crazy over them, new Dawn dolls showed up in stores a couple of years ago, but they never really got popular again.) I’ve considered getting the Barbie Country Camper, which was my favorite Christmas present EVER when I was a kid. I loved that thing so much, but so far haven’t been able to justify it to myself!
Then there are things that just don’t hold up over time. Bruce got me the entire Land of the Lost series on DVD. I LOVED it when I was a kid. Umh…while the premise is still certainly very cool, the quality of the show itself? Not so much. (I have heard rumors that they’re making a movie version of it, not sure of the details.)
I know The Brady Bunch is out on DVD, like a hundred bucks for all ninety-four years of it. And while I loved that show and went around with my hair in bell curls because I wanted to look like Cindy Brady, I somehow don’t think I’ll be asking Santa for that DVD set.
At this time of year, I always think back to those special holiday programs from my childhood. Last year, knowing I would be with my two sisters and one brother, I decided to track down a copy of a Christmas special –Hallmark, I think–that I remember absolutely adoring as a kid. It starred Herman Munster and that little red-haired kid who played Jodie on Family Affair. And it was called The Littlest Angel. 
I got it…hid it like a glorious present for my siblings, so we could share in the very special memory of it…then put it on on Christmas Eve. And oh, my God, talk about BAD BAD BAD! Around the time Herman started dancing with the stars, we were literally rolling on the floor or the couch, screaming with laughter. I think we suffered through 20 minutes before turning it off. My sister-in-law has harassed me about that stupid movie every time I’ve talked to her this holiday season.
That was the worst, but it wasn’t the only one that just didn’t hold up too well. I loved Nestor The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (honestly, I still do love that one) but my kids refuse to watch it because it’s so depressing. Ditto The Little Drummer Boy. Santa Claus is Coming To Town was a huge fave, now when we watch it and get to the whole psychedelic mushroom number Jessica sings, we all just giggle and snort along.
I still love Rudolph, but really got annoyed when I realized the holiday classics DVD set includes a song that only aired the very first time the show was on. Instead of the “Fame And Fortune” number there’s this “Misfits” number, which I don’t like and don’t remember and am highly indignant about. (We also still have the old VHS so we just watch that version!)
Some have held up very well–The Grinch is fabulous. I love Max. (He reminds me of Cassie.) Frosty The Snowman is still adorable.
But in my opinion, there’s only one of those specials that has entirely withstood the test of time. It still gives me that warm, lovely feeling I always had as a kid and I still grow silent and teary when Linus explains what Christmas is all about. That, of course, is the Peanuts Christmas special.
So what about you? Ever track down something you remember loving only to wish you hadn’t? What do you think of those old classic holiday chestnuts–miss the days of Rankin & Bass or are we to make do from now on with Shreck’s Stinky Christmas? (Cute: but in no way a Charlie Brown Christmas!)
Oh Leslie, I loved “Nestor the Long-Earred Donkey”! But I admit I haven’t watched it in years cuz I want to remember it the way it was. Maybe one day I’ll break down and watch it though :santahat:
The one I remember most is “Starblazers” - an anime show from the 70’s-80’s that I used to watch w/ my brothers (hence my blog name). I don’t know if I go back and watch it I’ll feel the same about it - some things are best kept to our memories, I think. :candycane:
Comment by Stacy ~ — December 18, 2007 @ 7:06 am
Good morning jungle friends and
The Christmas Classics I remember are Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, with those cheesy versions of people…the advent of technology certainly does ruin a good thing…I was actually watching it the other with my friends and their son the the “beast” was so unrealistic to me…can’t believe I used to love that…Frosty the Snowman is another…the joys and naivete of childhood…I would never buy them though…
Leslie, read Chapter 7 and I am loving it…can’t wait to see if my suspicions are correct in the upcoming chapters…go check it out guys…
Talk to you all later, I am really going back to bed now…it’s vacation after all…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 18, 2007 @ 7:37 am
Gotta put a plug in here for Vicki Lewis Thompson…She was a guest blogger here in October…I came across one of her BL books; a part of the Harlequin Babies & Bacherlors USA series…it is called Sparks which takes place in the state of Illinois…it is a wonderful story…the love story is a great one too…Liza and Jeb are very lovable characters as is Denny, Liza’s son…he is just a little boy, 5 years old, who wants to be loved and needs attention so much that he does things that he shouldn’t…Liza is also like her son, but she deals with loneliness and not getting her parents’ attention and love in a more adult way…I think you all should check it out…it is a wonderful story…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 18, 2007 @ 7:59 am
Thanks for the recommendation, Paula–I think I missed that one of Vicki’s!
And thanks for the kudos on the story! I really think I need to stop visiting the eHq message boards about it, tho. I’m thinking there must be some kinds of icon “codes” or something that I just don’t get based on a couple there this morning and figure some people are hating it and don’t want to say so because they know I’m there! lol!
Comment by Leslie — December 18, 2007 @ 8:43 am
I will check for that the next time I am there…if u decide not to visit…will you post that message there, just in case you are right? I don’t see how people couldn’t like it…it is a light love story…I mean, I am a book snob and if I like it, how could they not?
I also read Cindi Myers, Marriage on her mind, while she was guest blogging here, and it was a fun read too…It is set in Crested Butte, Colorado, which I found out was a real place…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 18, 2007 @ 9:28 am
I love all the Christmas classic cartoons. ABC Family runs most for the 25 days of Christmas. I love Rudolph and Frosty, but the original Charlie Brown Christmas is my favorite cartoon Christmas show.
My sister and brother and I always watched Emet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas. I actually found copies several years ago for each of us at Christmas. I still love it, but my 2 oldest nieces thought it was “so cheesy” and couldn’t stop laughing at the show. I might just bring the dvd to my dad’s so we can all watch it together this Christmas.
Comment by Liza — December 18, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Leslie:I think you and I are thinking on the same wavelength….I keep forgetting to tell you….my kids LOVE “The Land of the Lost”. Hubby got a “Sid and Marty Krofft” dvd for his birthday in August (yes, he is reliving his childhood, I never liked the show). The boys LOVED “The Land of the Lost’, so we had to buy the entire series. We are in our second run through (we watch one episode a night, in addition to another of my childhood series, “Fraggle Rock”
. They are making a movie with Will Farrell (we are up to date on “LOTL” trivia). My five year old wanted to know why they were never rescued (series cancelled). They will all tell you why Uncle Jack showed up during the third season (Marshall wanted too much money).
My boys also liked “Electra Woman and Dyna Girl”, “Wonderbug” and “Dr. Shrinker”. Some of the Sid and Marty Kroft ones they didn’t like.
I got the dvd of the Christmas movies (Rudolf, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, etc). Again, my five year old loves them. I think it has to ‘hit a chord’ with the child because not all of my boys like it.
I think the “Grinch” and “Charlie Brown” are timeless. My boys liked (not loved) the “Shrek” movie (they love Shrek, and have only asked to see it once, so that should tell you something, LOTL trumped Shrek).
Comment by katie — December 18, 2007 @ 9:53 am
I absolutely loved The Bugaloos when I was little, but when I got the dvds they just weren’t the same.
Same thing with Pippi Longstocking.
I haven’t watched the Christmas cartoons in years because they just didn’t appeal anymore. I do have a collection of Christmas movies I must watch every year: Christmas Vacation, A Chistmas Story and Miracle on 34th Street (the new one).
Comment by Julie — December 18, 2007 @ 10:11 am
I still have my Dawn doll. It’s in that basement. And a green sequined dress that she wore.
I have my fav on dvd- White Christmas. But I still watch it on tv instead. Go figure.
I love the Banana Splits and The Monkees. I would like them on DVD. I remember that song from Rudolph.
I hate being sick.
Comment by ev — December 18, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Katie, you just reminded me about Fraggle Rock…it is so ironic, because I saw it at BJ’s yesterday and remembered how much I loved that series…I am hoping that Will Ferrell does it justice…I don’t really like him as an actor…
Did anyone ever watch Land of the Giants or Planet of the Apes? I loved those two series as well as War of the Worlds and Twilight zone….of course the muppet show is also in there…my memory chest is unlocking finally…thanks to Katie…Fraggle Rock was the key…I have the theme song running through my head right…
Leslie, I checked out all the messages on eHQN, but I couldn’t pick up on anything…maybe you have a different view than I do…talk to you later…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 18, 2007 @ 10:40 am
I had forgotten about Fraggle Rock. Still love that show…I just love the Muppets!
Comment by Liza — December 18, 2007 @ 11:02 am
Leslie, nothing can beat the Peanuts! We haven’t (re)watched many of the Christmas specials, so I can’t comment on how some of the rest have held up, but I do love good ol’ Charlie Brown
Comment by Fedora — December 18, 2007 @ 11:25 am
I had completely forgotten The Littlest Angel!!!! I am stilling trying to find an old horror movie from my childhood, Monolith. Some rock comes to earth and it turns all living things to stone. I remember the stone dog vividly.
Comment by Phyllis Lamken — December 18, 2007 @ 11:33 am
Les, I hear you on things not quite standing up to the test of time.
I finally got the copy of THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE that I’d blogged about before…and I can I say…BORING. Slow, slow, slow! And Cinderella was so clueless. The fairygodmother was fabulous, but the songs were dull and even Richard Chamberlin couldn’t spice it up for me. I didn’t even finish watching.
I do, however, love THE YEAR WITHOUT SANTA CLAUS and still think the Heat Miser is the bomb. I don’t remember a new song in Rudolph…we have the video version and it has the Misfits song. Love them. Won’t watch Little Drummer Boy…way too depressing.
But Charlie Brown is awesome. “Help! I’ve been kissed by a dog! Get the disinfectant! Get the iodine!” Love it. We TiVo’d it this year because we only have it on video and our player isn’t working.
My daughter’s new favorite is OLIVE: THE OTHER REINDEER. It’s actually cute.
Comment by Julie Leto — December 18, 2007 @ 11:41 am
BTW, in the name of research, I watched Casanova this week.
Love that movie. Anyone who hasn’t seen it should.
Comment by Julie Leto — December 18, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Jules, which version of Casanova is it? Is it the one with Richard Chamberlain, because he is the man, well next to Sean Connery of course? I loved him in The Thornbirds, which was kind of weird, but gave evidence to the fact that priests are men and can fall in love too…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 18, 2007 @ 11:57 am
I absolutely LOVED Land of the Lost when I was a kid. I’d love to see it again - although I know it wouldn’t be the same. The special effects from 30 years ago are so hokey!!
My sister-in-law and I were reminiscing about games we played as kids. We both played Which Witch - a 3Dboard game that was a castle and had a stairway, etc. We found it on ebay and thought it would be great to play it at Christmas time. It ended up selling for $202!!!
Needless to say, we won’t be playing it anytime soon!
Comment by Shari — December 18, 2007 @ 11:57 am
Did anyone here ever watch, He-man, She-ra , Thundercats, or the Transformer cartoons? I loved those growing up, especially the ones with strong female characters like She-ra and Thundercats?
I remember watching them again in my early 20s and I still loved them.
Hey Jules, what did you think about Cinderella III, Happily Never After (?) I think that was the title. My friend’s son loves it and I thought it was cute, but predictable…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 18, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
Paula, of course I watched He-man and She-ra! You guys know what a cartoon freak I am. My new favorite is Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. Love that Bloo. He cracks me up.
It’s the Heath Ledger version that came out a few years ago. Janelle and I watched it together the first time when Carly’s plane was late landing in Florida and we had to pick her up. I loved it. And since it’s set in the mid-1700s, I’m watching it to research the hero of my new Phantom book. The language, the costuming, the mood.
Love it!
Comment by Julie Leto — December 18, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
What a trip down memory lane, Les! However, the times I’ve bought something from the past that I always thought was cool THEN, it is so uncool now. Not to mention my kid’s
reaction to it! 
Julie — Cassanova is one of my favorite Heath Ledger movies! I bought the DVD and my girls love it, too.
Comment by Janelle — December 18, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
I LOVE Christmas specials. I’ve been blogging about different ones on one of my blogs but I have to say the Rankin/Bass are my favorites but I have seen alot this year. So far I’ve seen It’s a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special, A Flintstone Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Shrek the Halls (awful!!!), Christmas Comes to Pacland, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Love Mickey Rooney), Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too, and Jack Frost.
Comment by Ladytink_534 — December 18, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Jules, I have seen Foster’s and it is cute…I like Bloo too, but I like the hispanic guy the best…can’t remember his name because I am not an avid watcher of this…
I actually did see Heath Ledger’s version of Casanova, but I was biased because I absolutely loved the version with Richard Chamberlain…I am going to have to watch it again…now that I am older…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 18, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
That’s Eduardo. Yes, he totally cracks me up.
You must see the Heath Ledger version. I think it’s really clever. It reminds me of Shakespeare with all the hidden identities and quick dialogue and the heroine, Francesca, is simply marvelous. Heath is Heath.
Comment by Julie Leto — December 18, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Dear Leslie,
I love being reminded of those good ol’ times. When I was younger my favorite occupation was playing with barbies. Even when I got older and all the other girls started putting on make-up, I was the one who still sat in front of the Barbie’s dream house dressing the dolls with my sister. I’ve even kept some of them but you can’t compare those with the ones you can buy in shops now. Because these can speak and sing now. But I still love thinking about the time when I seemed to live in barbie’s dream world where every thing was great.
As for the songs, I’ve always loved those Christmas classics. I still got them on CD and love to listen to them at Christmas time. There is everything on it: From Jingle Bells to Rudolph the red nosed reindeer over White Christmas.
Recently, I was switching through the channels and my attention was drawn to such a cute Mickey Mouse movie. I simply had to watch it even if I wasn’t that much into Mickey Mouse when I was younger. But it really was adorable. Now you know it: I’m still a kid at heart
Have a great day
Seems like you are already in holiday mood. Here, holidays will start next Monday. So still some days to go. But I think I’ll be fine
enjoy this time of the year
mastree:
See you
Vero
Comment by Vero — December 18, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Julie: I loved the Bugaloos (probably one of the only Sid and Marty Kroft ones that I liked). My boys hate it. Why they adore LOTL versus the Bugaloos who are so cheerful, I don’t know. My oldest loves Dopey from LOTL. They are so funny, they know ALL of the dinosaur’s names! LOL!
Comment by katie — December 18, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
The Christmas classics that I loved and still do are A Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer–I just love Yukon Cornelious and “The Bumble” :-)) And Leslie, I agree, I get teary too when Linus makes his little speech. sniff, sniff.
I don’t remember “Dawn” dolls at all. I’ll have to look that one up.
Okay, I’m going to get on my soap box here for just a minute–I stopped by Whole Foods on my way home from my harp lesson this morning to pick up this favorite soy cheese I really love–the monterey jack style. I’m lactose intolerant. Anyway, the stopped carrying it!! I was so pissed!! All they have now is this really yucky vegan style cheese. Aaach!!
I’m calm now…maybe Vitamin Cottage has it…
Have a great day all,
Cher
Comment by Cher — December 18, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
I have to say for me, this year Abc Family 25 days of Christmas was a huge disappointment. They had a Harry Potter marathon, Mary Poppins and movies that just weren’t Christmas.
My favorites are A Muppet Family Christmas, Charlie Brown, A year without a Santa Claus, Frosty, Rudolph, The Grinch, Home Alone, White Christmas, Christmas in Conneticut, The Bells of St. Marys.
My mom was just telling me about an old Christmas movie that she hadn’t seen in years called Bell, Book, and Candel, which is about a witch, so I managed to find it on Amazon I’m just hoping it arrives in time!
Leslie, while out shopping I came across the game Mystery Date, and I came very close to buying it for myself, but like you, just couldn’t justify it…lol :santahat:
Comment by Tina Martinesi — December 18, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
Oh, I’m loving seeing everyone else’s walk down memory lane!
I loved Fraggle Rock–so did my oldest, when she was just a little baby.
Loved Heath Ledger in anything…oh, yeah, in Casanova.
Julie–Slipper & The Rose—I wondered about that in Phantom! Seemed a little dated to me, I don’t even remember it! (Of course, I was never a Richard Chamberlain fan.)
Comment by Leslie — December 18, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Tina–I have Bell Book & Candle on VHS! My sister gave it to me. I haven’t watched it in years–Kim Novak and, I don’t remember, either Cary Grant or Jimmy Stewart? And she casts a spell on him to make him fall in love with her, then wants him to love her without the spell.
Hmm…sounds like a romance novel!
Comment by Leslie — December 18, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
Paula–loved She Ra!
I also really loved Shazam! and Isis.
And Penelope Pitstop. Sometimes Wacky Racers comes on the cartoon network and I get to see that sexy, long-legged Penelope.
Comment by Leslie — December 18, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
Shari–I LOVED WHICH WITCH??
Totally LOVED that game. I got it for Christmas when I was 9 or 10 and played it until the cardboard pieces ran out!
And Tina, Mystery Date is still around, but it’s a much newer, “updated” version. I know my girls have it. :santahat:
Comment by Leslie — December 18, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Paula–no worries, I just noticed there was a comment of only icons–meaning “confused” and “worried” and that someone said nothing but ditto. So I had the feeling they’re just not into it but don’t want to say it with me there!
Comment by Leslie — December 18, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
Since there wasn’t TV when I was growing up it is old movies for me! TV from my kids growing up!! :santahat: My favorites are White Christmas, for me it has held up to the test of time & Miracle on 34th Street with Maureen O’Hara & Natalie Wood & the wonderful old man Edmund Gwen! I watched them both last year and enjoyed.
mastree: Charlie Brown’s Christmas is good but I don’t usually watch because the commercial’s annoy me! Years ago I would see Charles Schultz every morning on the freeway going to work. He had a specialized license plate so I knew which car was his!! He is a big celebrity here in this area. :stocking:
Comment by Donna M — December 18, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
Hehe how appropriate was this blog today. I’ve spent the better part of the last couple days trying to track down a “Nestor’ stuffed animal. My brother had one when he was little (he’s 36 now) and he dragged that thing everywhere. We still have it, it’s beat up and ragged but you can tell how loved it was. We decided to try to find a ‘newer’ one that is in better condition to surprise him with but so far no luck. I’ve found a variety but not what I’m looking for. I think you hit the nail on the head: we have those cherished childhood memories and while they will never dim when we look back and try to figure out why it makes you go hmmmm. The Littlest Angel was a favorite of mine as well and when I saw it again a few years ago I couldn’t believe it. Bad doesn’t begin to cover it
mastree:
Comment by Christy — December 18, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
Oh, Christy, good luck with the Nestor!!
And toooo funny on another Littlest Angel disappointee.
Comment by Leslie — December 18, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
Leslie, those emoticons were the only ones I was thinking of too…
She ra did kick butt, didn’t she…and Cheetarah in Thundercats was no joke either…What about Lady Jane from G.I. Joe, the real American Hero…G.I. Joe is there…yep the song is stuck in my head…she rocked too…
Guys, what about Boy’s Town with Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy…wasn’t that kind of Chrismasy…there is another stary Bing Crosby as a priest and I female leads name…I loved it too…I want to say it was Our town, but I am not sure…or was it Bells of Saint Mary…I think this one is it, but still not sure…Bing was a priest and the woman was a nun running an orphanage…hmmm…I am going to have to Google that one…
I could be mixing everything up though…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — December 18, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Hugs to Cher on her quest to find lactose interant cheese….
If anyone finds A Muppet Family Christmas for more than a million dollars (trust me, I have looked!), let me know.
Just got back from visiting Santa at my littliest’s preschool (my kindergartener came, too to help out….last year little one SCREAMED when he saw Santa). I got a too cute picture. Friday it is off to the mall to get a picture with all three of my boys (my oldest WANTS to go see Santa, too!). I am actually hiring a sitter to come with us…
Comment by katie — December 18, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Katie, I searched for a Muppet Family Christmas, but all the new versions have missing scenes because of something to do with the music and copyright issues…anyway I searched and found a Muppet collector who made me a dvd copied from the original tv version for $10, the copy was great and we really enjoyed it heres his website if you want to check it out http://www.kermiclownvideos.com/
Comment by Tina Martinesi — December 18, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Leslie what a great blog and it is Shrek The Halls
I had a Dawn doll also and I had the Barbie camper also and when I was growing up my street was off a hill and ye sone day I rolled the camper down the hill
OMG talking about old shows is great
I remember Banana Splits, The MOnkees, watching the Planet of The Apes with my cousins and my mom making fried dough on the the night it was on.
Bugaloos
The list can go on
How about Zoom
I like Emett the Otter also
Frosty
Santa Claus is Coming To Town
The Year Without Santa
Charlie Brown
Comment by Cherylann — December 18, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
Come on and zoom zoom zoom a-zoom.
Come on and zoom-a-zoom-a-zoom-a-zoom.
Come on give it a try, we’re gonna reach for the sky, we’re gonna show you to fly high!
Come on and zoom! Zome on and zoom zoom!
(my fave…way better than Electric Company!)
Comment by Leslie — December 18, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Paula - it was Bells of St. Mary’s, and I loved Land of the Giants. I also watched LOTL. HR Puf-n-stuff and Sigmund and the Seamonster were other favorites. I came across a VHS of The Hardy Boys a while back (a teenage favorite) and watched it - terrible acting.
I love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Grinch and Frosty. Plus It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street (original) and White Christmas. Oh, Meet Me in St. Louis too.
Leslie, I love your eread!
Comment by Bailey Stewart — December 18, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
>>Leslie, I love your eread<<
Thanks SO much Bailey!
Comment by Leslie — December 18, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
Ahhhh, I’m clicking through the channels with NOTHING to watch and just stumbled on…Nestor the Donkey!!
Comment by Tina Martinesi — December 18, 2007 @ 11:40 pm
Oh goodness - it’s a tradition that I read The Littlest Angel to my daughters every year - I sob like a baby every time lol.
Comment by catslady — December 19, 2007 @ 1:54 am