Totally Rad Christmas!

Wayback Wednesday: Holiday Shopping and Wishbooks (w/ Vinnie Brezinsky)

What's up, dudes? Remember standing in line for hours to get that one toy? Your parents probably did, especially after you sat down and circled all the toys you wanted in the Wishbook? Vinnie Brezinsky from Huey and Bax joins me to talk holiday shopping and wishbooks! Malls and shopping and commercials! Oh my! From Toys 'R' Us to Sears, from JC Penney to Kmart, we talk all about shopping and wishbooks. The Sears Wish Book began in 1933 as a special Christmas edition of the Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog, packed with toys, games, dolls, bicycles, clothing, and other gifts that quickly made it a beloved holiday tradition for American families. Over the decades, the catalog grew into a massive annual showcase—often hundreds of pages long—where generations of children eagerly circled, dog-eared, and dreamed about the presents they hoped Santa might bring. As department-store catalogs declined and shopping shifted online, Sears discontinued the traditional Wish Book in the 1990s, briefly revived it in print and digital forms in later years, and left behind an enduring piece of Christmas nostalgia.Toys? Check. Clothes? Yeah, they're in there too. Christmas decorations? Of course! So grab your red marker and circle all the things you want in this episode on 1980s holiday shopping and wishbooks!  Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

Pink Panther & Sons “Insanity Claus” (w/ Jeff and Jeremy)

What’s up, dudes? It’s Christmas in July, and apparently Santa is getting a serious head start on his deliveries! The Rainbow Panthers are seeing red—and white—when the big guy himself drops by in Pink Panther and Sons “Insanity Claus!” Yes, Panky believes in Santa, even when everyone else thinks he’s completely crackers! I’ve got Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas and Alamo City Santa Jeremy Phelps with me to talk all about it!Pinky, Panky, and the Rainbow Panthers are having a slumber party when a mysterious stranger comes down the chimney. It’s Santa Claus! There’s just one little problem: it’s July! Santa claims he’s getting an early start on Christmas, but the Panthers aren’t buying it. Everyone assumes the jolly old elf is actually a burglar in disguise—everyone, that is, except Panky!Determined to protect Santa, Panky tries to hide him from his suspicious friends. Unfortunately, the would-be Kris Kringle is eventually discovered and hauled off to jail! Panky insists they’ve arrested the real Santa Claus, and despite everyone thinking he’s been duped, the little panther refuses to give up. Sure enough, the gang eventually discovers that Panky was right all along. Santa really was getting a jump on Christmas!Christmas in July? Check. Santa breaking and entering? Got it. Kris Kringle in the clink? Only until Panky proves that sometimes you’ve just gotta believe! So grab your sleeping bag, keep an eye on the chimney, and don’t call the cops on Santa as we go completely Christmas crazy with Pink Panther and Sons “Insanity Claus!”Lost Christmas PodcastFB: @LostChristmasPodcastTwitter: @LostChristmasP1IG: @lostchristmaspodcastAlamo City Santa                                                    IG: @alamocitysanta Etsy: North Pole General StoreFB: @northpolegeneralstore                                                                                              IG: @northpole_generalstoreGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (w/ Michael, Scott & Tim)

What’s up, dudes? What are you people? On dope?! I’ve got Michael May from After Lunch, Crestwood House, and Hellbent for Letterbox, Scott Leopold from Holly Jolly X'masu, and Tim Williams from 80’s Flick Flashback are with me to talk the Christmas-adjacent movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High!”Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) follows a group of Southern California teenagers as they stumble through a school year filled with first jobs, romance, sex, friendship, and the everyday humiliations of being young. At the center is Stacy Hamilton, a shy sophomore who begins exploring dating and relationships with encouragement from her more experienced friend Linda Barrett. Meanwhile, Stacy’s older brother Brad watches his seemingly perfect life unravel after losing his job and his girlfriend, while Stacy’s awkward friend Mark “Rat” Ratner tries to work up the nerve to pursue her. Their stories unfold against the backdrop of Ridgemont High and the local mall, capturing teenage life with a mix of raunchy comedy and surprising sincerity.The film’s most memorable character, however, is perpetually stoned surfer Jeff Spicoli, whose laid-back attitude puts him in constant conflict with stern history teacher Mr. Hand. While Spicoli dreams of surfing and Van Halen, the other students gradually discover that adulthood is arriving faster than they expected—and it comes with consequences. By the end, relationships have shifted, friendships have been tested, and several characters have grown up at least a little. Directed by Amy Heckerling and written by Cameron Crowe, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” became a defining teen comedy of the 1980s, balancing outrageous moments and endlessly quotable humor with a remarkably grounded look at the uncertainty, mistakes, and small victories of adolescence.Forgotten wallet? Check. Santa who got peed on? Poor kid. Most paused movie scene ever? You know you did! So grab your surfboard, put on your pirate costume, and scalp some tickets to this episode!80’s Flick FlashbackFB: @80’s Flick Flashback podcastTwitter: @80_podcastIG: @80sflickflashbackHolly Jolly X'masuFB: @HollyJollyXmasuTwitter: @HollyJollyXmasuIG: @hollyjollyxmasuAfter LunchGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

Christmas Comes to Monster Mountain

What's up, dudes? It's another minisode! Today we're celebrating Halloween and Christmas with the John Barrett penned Ted E. Bear story "Christmas Comes to Monster Mountain!" It’s a the literary sequel to “The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas” and “The Great Bear Scare.”John Barrett came up with the story to “The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas” and developed the teleplay for the special which was subsequently produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises in 1973. The special stars Ted E. Bear as a curious bear who yearns to discover and experience Christmastide, even as he endures ridicule from the entire bear community. Barrett also wrote several sequels to the special, including “The Great Bear Scare.” In this adventure, the bears of the city of Bearbank hear rumors that Count Dracula and the other monsters from Monster Mountain are going to invade and conquer Bearbank on Halloween. Teddy believes he has found a way to deter and repel the creatures, and indeed he does save the day. In fact, “The Great Bear Scare” was turned into a special layer in 1983, though the animation is stilted and incomplete. Dracula also has trouble turning into a bat for some reason.That now brings us to “Christmas Comes to Monster Mountain.” Developed by the LeFave Company, it was published in 1981 by Children’s Press. The illustrations were done by Rick Reinert Productions in the style of the original special. Dracula, the leader of the monsters, is running for re-election, and needs a scheme so vile that it secures his victory. His diabolical plot: kidnap Santa. I wonder if Jack Skellington took notes from this book. He writes a letter to Santa pretending to be a young boy so that the good saint will visit him. Sure enough, on Christmas Eve, Santa comes down Dracula’s chimney and is caught in his trap. When Santa doesn’t come back up the chimney, his reindeer fly off to get help. Enter Ted E Bear! He agrees to help, and since he can’t rescue Santa from Dracula, he delivers all the presents in Santa’s stead. On Christmas morning, as Dracula revels in his success, Ted shows up and reveals that the ploy failed because he himself delivered the presents. Dracula is sure he will lose the election; however, Santa always brings extra gifts on his trip. Ted E Bear handed them out to all the monsters for Christmas. The monsters are so overcome with joy that Dracula wins in a landslide. He brought Christmas to Monster Mountain.Scary monsters? Check. Undaunted protagonist? Got it. Learning to fly Santa’s sleigh in no time? For sure! So grab your flight map, hop on the sleigh, and deliver presents to this episode!Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

Rainbow “Snowman” (w/ Kevin Williams)

What’s up, dudes? Kevin Williams from ‘Tis the Soundtrack joins me to talk about Rainbow “Snowman!” Yes, the former Deep Purple guitarist took Howard Blake’s song from the 1982 classic and reworked it as an atmospheric synth and electric guitar anthem!Rainbow was formed in 1975 by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore after he began to tire of Deep Purple and the band’s changing musical direction. Deep Purple had already replaced Ian Gillan and Roger Glover with David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes, but Blackmore remained unhappy with where the music was headed. What began as Blackmore recording a single with members of the band Elf ultimately grew into a full album and the creation of Rainbow. The band quickly became known for its larger-than-life live shows, whose centerpiece was a massive computer-controlled rainbow containing some 3,000 lightbulbs and stretching 40 feet across the stage. Rainbow also became notorious for its revolving door of musicians, with original vocalist Ronnie James Dio departing in 1978 over disagreements about the band’s increasingly commercial musical direction. After further lineup changes, Joe Lynn Turner eventually took over as lead singer, ushering in Rainbow’s more radio-friendly early-’80s era. That lineup would lead to Bent Out of Shape, released September 9, 1983, which featured the song in question as the album’s ninth track.Rainbow’s instrumental “Snowman,” featured on their 1983 album Bent Out of Shape, is based on “Walking in the Air,” the haunting theme written by composer Howard Blake for the beloved 1982 animated film The Snowman, itself adapted from Raymond Briggs’ 1978 children’s book. Blake had actually composed the melody around 1970 before later adapting it for the television special, where it became the musical centerpiece of the story. The Snowman—which went on to become a seasonal television favorite in Britain and Finland—follows the fleeting adventure of a young boy and the snowman he brings to life. During their magical flight to the North Pole, “Walking in the Air” accompanies the pair as they soar through the night before attending a gathering of snowmen and meeting Santa Claus and his reindeer. In the original film, the song was performed by St. Paul’s Cathedral choirboy Peter Auty, whose recording was later reissued in 1985 and 1987. Ritchie Blackmore was captivated by the composition’s haunting, melodic beauty and, having long enjoyed adapting classical and traditional melodies into rock instrumentals, transformed Blake’s delicate vocal theme into “Snowman.” Rainbow’s version builds atmospheric tension around the familiar melody before giving Blackmore the opportunity to let loose with a soaring, emotional electric-guitar lead—turning one of animation’s most delicate Christmas themes into a distinctly Rainbow instrumental.Synth flute? Check. Fuzzy guitar? Got it. Brad Fiedel The Terminator-style synth percussion? Definitely! So grab your guitar, stand behind that keyboard, and rock out to Rainbow “Snowman!”‘Tis the SoundtrackYouTube: @TisTheSoundtrackIG:  @tisthesoundtrackGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!