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 Monday, January 07, 2008
This Lad and Lass Love Lassie
Posted by maggie
So I'm happily listening to NPR's Morning Edition today, when I hear a familiar voice in a feature on Lassie. His Wisconsin accent ringing from my radio, Dark Horse Vice President of New Business Development Michael Martens extolled the collie, as did his wife, Cindy Marks. So give a listen to the delightful essay by Ketzel Levine. 
1/7/2008 9:50:50 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00) 
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Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Missing Bill Idelson
Posted by maggie
There are few sites I visit whenever I have online access and a few spare moments in which to inform myself. Mark Evanier's (see link on the left) is one of those few. Every so often (too often), one of his beautifully crafted postings hits me hard. So it is with the news (otherwise absent from my usual news sources) that Bill Idelson has died.
Most of the readers of my blog will blink and say, "Who?" A few will say, as I did, "Oh, no!"
Check Mark's tribute to Idelson's wonderful talent. Then come back here.
OK, this isn't about a figure from comic books. But Idelson was - from his youth - involved in one of the finest radio comedies of all time: Vic and Sade. And that's no small accomplishment. His delivery - always on target - shone as brightly as that of performers decades older than he was. [Aside regarding Vic and Sade: Paul Rhymer's classic is an acquired taste that, once aquired, makes its owners life-long devotees. Among them: Ray Bradbury, a member of his own informal group, The Vic and Sadists.]
And I'd hoped to meet him in October 2007, when he was scheduled to attend the Friends of Old Time Radio convention. But his health had failed to the point at which he couldn't attend.
In any case, his career did not end with a show that I never heard while growing up. He went on to a life of creative delights. His website (which will probably be retired) promoted his seminars. And (on a more personal level that never involved me with him but gave an added affection for his work) my daughter handled book design on his Story of Vic & Sade. You'll find that and his Bear Manor Press book on writing at the company's site. I'm not at the moment seeing a listing on his Gibby, a thinly disguised autobiography that Valerie also designed, but it's fascinating.
And that's not to mention his skills as a performer. Among his roles was that of the seldom-seen Herman Glimscher, Rose Marie's boyfriend, on The Dick Van Dyke Show. His was a wonderful, rounded talent displayed in a variety of creative roles in a life devoted to entertaining the rest of us.
1/2/2008 6:40:47 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Leap Year Again ...
Posted by maggie
Is there another comics connection to Leap Year besides Sadie Hawkins Day? (Or was Sadie Hawkins Day an annual event carrying out the tradition of Leap Year? Or does anyone in these liberated times even know what I'm talking about?)
Or ... Wait a minute ... another comics connection besides Sadie Hawkins Day and Superman's birthday ... Right?
1/1/2008 8:59:48 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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Monday, December 31, 2007
Updating
Posted by maggie
With 2007 barrelling to a close, I find my mind drawn to the ongoing challenges of updating. It's something most news suppliers find challenging, and many use that challenge as little more than a footnote, at best.
But here we are with recent losses including Wayne Howard and Paul "Zeus" Grant and (on a different note) the ending of Tom Ryan's TUMBLEWEEDS, and I realize all over again just how many people in the industry I haven't managed to keep up with.
It was great to see Gary Friedrich appearing at some conventions in 2007. How many other well-known figures from years back have we lost touch with? These aren't necessarily Facebook-type folks; whom should we be seeking out these days, anyway?
Son Stephen got an entire book out on this sort of project years ago (TENACITY OF THE COCKROACH), but can't we start tracking down people in a less elaborate way?
12/31/2007 1:47:55 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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Sunday, December 30, 2007
Yes, I'm Still Lurking About
Posted by maggie
It's been a bit since I posted here, though I've put up a couple of items on CBGXtra.com. Life is more complicated electronically, when a full computer is not at hand. I'm babysitting at the moment, Grandkids Jonah and Grace just having paraded through the room, announcing, "We're grounded, because we don't like anybody."
Could it be a reference to the 2008 primaries?
In any case, comics are still a part of life. SpongeBob has been a part of Christmas festivities in the homes of both my kids, and Jonah's bedtime reading night before last was the Christmas story of Donald, Uncle Scrooge, and the kids and the giant gold nugget. Hoo hah!
12/30/2007 9:56:10 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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Sunday, December 23, 2007
You ARE Reading Mark Evanier's Blog, Aren't You?
Posted by maggie
Whether it's for behind-the-scenes information on the Writers Guild strike, for views of classic cartoons with more background than I'd ever find on a DVD disc, or for such factual matters as the posting of the correct (as opposed to Wikipedia) date of birth for John Severin, I try to check out Mark Evanier's blog every day.
Oh, and he's also got his own links to comics news -- such as this one regarding a worker being fired for posting a Dilbert cartoon. Geez.
I've linked here -- but there's an ongoing link to Mark in the "More Links" to the left, for your convenience.
12/23/2007 6:50:47 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
What the Heck?
Posted by maggie
It's just been brought to my attention that at least one Internet site says CBG is discontinuing itself in 2008. As we're all aware, absolutely everything on the Internet is True -- so I'm bewildered. Which is to say what you're probably already aware of: You should always try to verify stuff you may come across on the Internet. Especially the report that CBG is going away. Because we're not. In fact, we're simultaneously (in CBG #1639) tooting our horn over CBG's celebrating its 25th anniversary in Iola and planning issue #1640. Stay tuned.
12/19/2007 1:49:31 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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Keep These in Mind As You Shop for Gifts
Posted by maggie
I meant to post these Christmas morning -- but I'll be miles away from my scanner then. So take a look now. (Though you may not be able to see the dates on these scans, by the way, they both appeared in newspapers in 1993.) Ho ho ho!  
12/19/2007 8:41:40 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Dang! No Posts Since Last Week?
Posted by maggie
Sorry, sorry, sorry! Things have been crazy, of course. In olden times (when Don and I were publishing Newfangles, which predated CBG and TBG before that), comic-book companies would stub their toes in the dirt about missed shipping schedules and say that the reason for foul-ups this time of year was that there were complications because of Christmas. Such excuses continued into TBG days and occasionally into CBG days -- and we would occasionally point out that publishers might do well to invest in a new device called a calendar and plan accordingly. Because Christmas shouldn't come as a surprise; it could actually be planned for. And, yes, we've wrapped up Comics & Games Retailer today and plan to wrap up CBG tomorrow and then go on with our lives. But to do that, most other things have been set aside. For example, tonight I plan to scan comic-book panels that display less than accurate drawings of archers in action. (Just wait. You'll see the letters column next year.) But at the same time we've been wrapping the issues, I've been wrapping (and shipping) family gifts (including a huge box of doll furniture for Granddaughter Grace; don't tell her). Which sort of activity has precluded a lot of blogging. So what are your holiday plans?
12/18/2007 5:41:14 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
If You're Trying to Reach NYC People Today ...
Posted by maggie
And, according to the automatic fill-in gizmo on this site, I've used exactly that header before ... Anyway, most of those who work in the city or thereabouts and who commute to get to work have headed for home by now. There's freezing rain and snow, and all commuting is affected by that. So leave them alone and let them get home -- and wish them all safe traveling.
12/13/2007 3:01:17 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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Then, NPR Featured Virgin Comics
Posted by maggie
Not only did my day begin with Stephen's report on Christmas music, it continued with an extensive feature on comic-book stories produced in India for Virgin Comics. "Ancient Indian Tales Inspire a Modern Indian Art" by Laura Sydell takes listeners behind the scenes, and the Internet version features art from Virgin.
Check it out.
12/13/2007 6:33:20 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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Waking to Christmas Music
Posted by maggie
My clock radio, set to NPR, went off, and I lolled in bed, listening to news, followed by features. And then ...
Then ...
Then I heard something about an 18-hour drive from Washington, D.C., to Gresham -- and my eyes opened.
A familiar voice began, "I've always enjoyed hearing new Christmas music, but there's just so much of it. Every fall, I receive dozens of new holiday CDs -- countless hours of music to sift through in the long, agonizing buildup to Christmas."
So began "18 Hours of Christmas Music: My Holiday Hellride," a report on Christmas CDs, and the reporter was my son, Stephen Thompson.
A bonus of the website version of his report is a list of all 21 CDs he listened to on his trip: a list accompanied by thumbnail reviews of each with the bonus of sample tracks.
12/13/2007 6:15:56 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)
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