BEST OF MARCH 2021

December’s retrospective resumes with Balladeer’s Blog’s Best of March.

dream no evil picDREAM NO EVIL (1970) – A horror movie so bad that I was almost devastated that I never knew it existed until March of this year. Edmond O’Brien and cult favorite Michael Pataki are in the cast. Click HERE.

FOOL KILLER: DECEMBER 1911 – The Fool Killer targets the Supreme Court, U.S. Steel and whoever’s negligence caused the Great Molasses Flood which had hit New Orleans back on September 11th, 1911. Click HERE

gs xmen 1X-MEN: THE NEW TEAM’S FIRST TWENTY 1970s STORIES – In 1975 Wolverine, Storm and others joined the team, beginning a legendary run of stories. Click HERE.

THE IRISH WILD GEESE – Expatriate Irish military units from 1585 to 1815. Almost like an Irish Foreign Legion. Click HERE.

UNMASKED – Andy Ngo’s expose about the fascist thugs of Antifa (really KLAN-tifa). Click HERE

FIVE NATURAL DISASTERS THAT STRUCK AMERICA (1811-1937) – Five monumentally horrific natural disasters. Click HERE.

garrison tGARRISON TALES FROM TONQUIN (1895) – American James O’Neill, who served in the French Foreign Legion in the 1880s and 1890s, wrote this collection of short stories based on his Legion experiences in Vietnam. Jaw-droppingly prescient material from this man. Click HERE.

TRANSGRESS WITH ME – My recurring segment, this one with sayings like “If you want people killed or injured just because they voted differently than you did, then they aren’t the fascists – YOU ARE.” plus “Left-wing Archie Bunkers are still fighting a version of America that hasn’t existed for decades.”and more. Click HERE.

IRON FIST: HIS FIRST TWO DOZEN STORIES – Click HERE. Continue reading

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FACULTY LOUNGE FASCIST ROUNDUP: DECEMBER 8th

educa smallerIt’s the latest installment of Faculty Lounge Fascist Roundup! It’s no secret that privileged white Democrats aka “baizuos” have distorted the educational system into a partisan “church” of irrational thought and ugly intolerance. 

DEMOCRATS AT CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL URGING STUDENTS TO WRITE “HEX POEMS” TO “CURSE” PEOPLE WHO SAY “ALL LIVES MATTER” AND OTHER “MICROAGGRESSIONS“.  Unreal. 

DEMOCRATS AT MIDDLE SCHOOL SEGREGATE “SAFE SPACES” BY RACE. Democrats apparently still feel “Segregation forever!” 

DEMOCRATS AT ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY USE TRICYCLES AND LEGO (Yes, tricycles and lego) TO SOOTHE THE EMOTIONAL CRIPPLES WHO PRETEND TO BE COLLEGE STUDENTS. The infantilization of “higher” education (LMAO) continues. Continue reading

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL: MORE LOST TV VERSIONS

Balladeer’s Blog’s Christmas Carol-A-Thon 2021 continues with another look at lost Carol versions from early television. For the previous look click HERE.

john carradineA CHRISTMAS CAROL (1947) – Yet another Christmas Carol version produced by the long-gone Dumont Network. This one aired live on December 25th, 1947 and starred John Carradine as Ebenezer Scrooge. According to Variety the broadcast was simulcast in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Baltimore. There were 22 cast members and 12 sets. 

           The one and only Eva Marie Saint made her television debut in this production. Bernard Hughes also appeared in this Carol which costarred Ray Morgan as Nephew Fred, who did double duty as the narrator. A young David Carradine was in the cast, by some accounts as a Cratchit child but not Tiny Tim.

           Variety panned this program, calling it “stiff and formal” with a “slow, drawn-out opening” which “became tedious.” The publication also trashed John Carradine’s performance as Scrooge, saying he “lacked conviction” and that “He was too ready to be kind – never the nasty, selfish, money-grubbing tyrant of Dickens.”      Continue reading

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BEST OF FEBRUARY 2021

Because December is the time for end of the year retrospectives, here is a look at Balladeer’s Blog’s Best of February 2021.

lifepod posterLIFEPOD (1981) – My review of another of the 10 cheapjack Robert Emenegger/ Allan Sandler science fiction movies from 1980 and 1981. In my view this is the best of the bunch. For the review click HERE.

ANALOG ARCHIVES & CHANNEL 7 – Balladeer’s Blog’s review of two of the internet’s best works of “Unfiction” (all-video ARGs mixed with elements similar to Creepypastas). These two are complete and can be viewed in their entirety. Click HERE.

defenders picTHE DEFENDERS: THEIR FIRST TWENTY 1970s STORIES – The opening tales of the Defenders, back before they were the mere street-level heroes that fans consider them today.

Members included Hulk, Dr Strange, Sub-Mariner, Valkyrie, Silver Surfer and more. Click HERE.

1912: BATTLE OF THE THREE PRESIDENTS – The memorable race of 1912, pitting Theodore Roosevelt against Woodrow Wilson and William Howard Taft. Click HERE.

FOOL KILLER: NOVEMBER 1911 – Click HERE.

rivals of holmes smallRIVALS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE MOABITE CIPHER – My review of the final episode of the 1971-1973 BBC series, this one featuring a Dr Thorndyke mystery. Plus a look at the subsequent radio series about Holmes’ rivals. Click HERE.

trumbo posterTRUMBO (2015)- My review of the movie that proves Democrat hypocrisy is hilarious. We need 3rd Parties. Click HERE.

FOURTEEN FAILED PREDICTIONS BY SCIENTISTS – Women buying embryos to get implanted? Moon colonies by the year 2000? Soldiers with Anti-Grav belts? Japan and China facing mass starvation? Click HERE.

AUSTRALIA POINTS OUT JOE BIDEN’S SENILITY – Click HERE. Continue reading

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JOE BIDEN CRIMES, CORRUPTION AND SCANDALS: DECEMBER 6th

We desperately need alternate political parties in America. 

biden the fascistAMBUSH SLAYINGS OF POLICE OFFICERS IN THE U.S. HAVE GONE UP 28%. More HERE. Joe “Is he Jimmy Saville?” Biden and his fellow Democrats who thrive on demonizing and “defunding” the police had no comment.

FLORIDA JOINS OTHER STATES IN CUTTING TIES WITH THE BIDEN REGIME’S NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION IN PROTEST OVER BIDEN’S LABELING OF PARENTS AS “DOMESTIC TERRORISTS“.

SEVENTEEN STATES HAVE SEEN THEIR SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATIONS WITHDRAW FROM THE FEDERAL VERSION OVER THE BIDEN REGIME’S ACTION LABELING PARENTS AS “DOMESTIC TERRORISTS” FOR RAISING OBJECTIONS AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. And remember, TWENTY-SEVEN of America’s 50 states have at least objected to that labeling. Biden is divisive trash.

              Also remember that to get into most School Board meetings you have to show photo I.D., yet Democrats still act like showing photo I.D. to vote (like they do in Europe) is (yawn) “racist.” In reality photo I.D. hinders the Democrats’ chronic vote fraud efforts, THAT’S why they oppose it. 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY ASSISTANT SHERIFF SPEAKS OUT ON THE WAY THE DEMOCRATS’ “NO CASH BAIL” POLICIES RESULT IN BURGLARY SUSPECTS BEING RELEASED. Plus THIS. And we’ve all seen the news on how that and other Democrat policies have led to the Smash And Grab crime sprees around the nation. Plus the Waukesha Massacre.

DEMOCRATS KKK

DEMOCRATS

DEMOCRAT CRIME SURGE DISPROPORTIONATELY ENDING BLACK LIVES.

CHINA-OWNED JOE BIDEN AND CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS BLOCKING MEASURE TO PROHIBIT IMPORTING CHINA’S SLAVE LABOR-MANUFACTURED GOODS. Also THIS. The biggest regret of my life is having belonged to the Democrat Party before leaving it to become an Independent Voter. 

JOE BIDEN’S INFLATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN DEBACLES CONTINUE INFLICTING DAMAGE. The Biden Regime’s war on the working class and the poor rolls along.

JEN PSAKI DODGES QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED OF COVID UNDER BIDEN THAN UNDER TRUMP. Biden’s death toll is now over 360,000. Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AND BOWL RESULTS FROM DECEMBER 4th

NAIA

HELMETGrand_View_IAFIRST SEMIFINAL – The GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS were on the road against the defending National Champions of NAIA football – the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. A 14-7 Vikings lead in the 1st Quarter became a 21-20 Blue Raiders edge by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Lindsey Wilson College on top 28-26 but the 4th saw Grand View U win the game 34-28.

Morningside MustangsSECOND SEMIFINAL – In this game the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS welcomed the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS. The Mustangs were chasing the Red Raiders 13-7 in the opening Quarter and 16-14 at the Half. Morningside College moved out in front 21-19 in the 3rd Quarter, then won out 28-19.

NCAA DIVISION TWO

Colorado Mines Orediggers NEWFIRST QUARTERFINAL – The COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS took on the visiting ANGELO STATE RAMS. This was a tale of two Halves, with the Orediggers holding a comfortable 20-3 advantage at the midpoint only to have to hold on tight in the 2nd Half against a Rams rally. Colorado School of Mines won a 34-28 thriller.    Continue reading

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SPIDER-MAN: 1970s CLASSICS 14 – THE JACKAL AND THE SCORPION

Here’s Part Fourteen of Spider-Man 1970s Classics. For Part One click HERE.

sm 145SPIDER-MAN Vol 1 #145 (June 1975)

Title: Gwen Stacy is Alive and Well?

Villains: The Jackal and the Scorpion

Synopsis: We pick up right where we left off in last issue’s cliffhanger: a woman who looks exactly like the late Gwen Stacy has shown up, causing Peter Parker’s Aunt May to have a heart attack and wind up in intensive care at the hospital.

145 splash pagePeter himself is in a state of shock, while the “new” Gwen, whose memories are months out of date, cries and pleads with him to help her understand what is going on. When Gwen tries to embrace him, Peter loses it, recoiling from her and screaming at her that she must be an impersonater.

He angrily tells her he’s not buying the con job and storms downstairs and out of his apartment building in Chelsea, telling Mary Jane’s Aunt Anna that this new Gwen has to be a fake. He says whoever’s behind it has a sick sense of humor and goes off to the hospital where Aunt May is.

Once out of sight of Anna Watson, he switches to Spider-Man and swings over to the hospital. Changing back into Peter Parker, he inquires about his aunt and then sits in the ICU waiting room to sweat out developments while his mind tries to deal with Aunt May possibly dying AND what may be up with this Gwen Stacy situation. Continue reading

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A CAROL CHRISTMAS (2003)

A Carol ChristmasA CAROL CHRISTMAS (2003) – Here’s another entry in Balladeer’s Blog’s Twelfth Annual Christmas Carol-A-Thon. This version is one of the many that tries mining laughs out of setting the Dickens classic in the modern age. These adaptations have varying degrees of success and on a scale of 1 to 10 I would give this effort a 6.5.

A Carol Christmas isn’t trying to be the most touching or the funniest rendition of A Christmas Carol, it’s just a pleasant, fluffy diversion for the Christmas season. Tori Spelling stars as Carol Cartman, a daytime hostess like Jenny Jones, Oprah and so many others. As the Scrooge figure Spelling is selfish, mean-spirited and abuses her staff, especially her assistant Roberta, the Bob Cratchit role.

Roberta (Nina Siemaszko) is a struggling single mother caught up in a custody battle for her version of Tiny Tim in a novel departure from the usual Cratchit family pathos. 

Dinah Manoff portrays the ghost of Carol’s late aunt and manager Marla. Aunt Marla was a driven “show-biz mom” type whose monomaniacal, cold-hearted drive was passed on to Carol as she forced the girl into a show business career she never really wanted. Because of this Marla is cursed in a Jacob Marley manner and has come to warn her niece that she faces the same fate unless she changes her ways. Continue reading

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CHARLEMAGNE: THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA

CharlemagneAs regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog know, December is not just the month in which I cover umpteen versions of A Christmas Carol but also the month in which I look at versions of the tales of Charlemagne and his Paladins. These are the legends about Charlemagne, not the actual history, so there will be dragons, monsters and magic. Roland shows up in this story. 

FOR MY FIRST CHAPTER ON CHARLEMAGNE’S PALADINS CLICK HERE  

paladins of charlemagneTHE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA – Princess Angelica of Cathay, in our previous tale, had failed to win the heart of the Paladin Reinold despite holding him at her enchanted isle for a time. Just as the escaped Reinold was even now trying to make his way back to the court of Charlemagne, Angelica returned to her father’s court in Cathay.

While she had been gone, the Tartar King Agrican (also called Agri Khan) had surrounded Albracca, capitol of the Kingdom of Cathay with his army and demanded the hand of Angelica from her father, King Galafron. The siege lasted for weeks, but in its early stages Galafron had managed to dispatch messengers to Circassia.

One lone man among those messengers survived to reach Circassia and ask its King Sacripant to come to the aid of Cathay. Sacripant, like every other male character in these stories (except Reinold) was captivated by Princess Angelica’s beauty. The king thus led his army forth, intent on defeating the Tartars and winning the hand of Angelica. Continue reading

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BIDEN APPROVAL RATING STILL DOWN AT 36%

biden stinksCrooked Joe Biden, accused rapist, career criminal and corrupt politician in the pocket of China, was still at just 36% approval in the latest polling. It’s no wonder given Biden’s war on the working class and the poor plus the non-stop failures of his regime.

biden and hunter drugs… 

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