These are the legends about Charlemagne and his Paladins, not the actual history, so there will be dragons, monsters and magic.
FOR MY FIRST CHAPTER ON CHARLEMAGNE’S PALADINS CLICK HERE.
ASTOLPHO REUNITES BRADAMANTE AND RUGGIERO – The last Paladin to depart the island realm of the good Queen Logestilla was Astolpho, as he and the queen savored each other’s company. Finally, Astolpho announced his departure, knowing his duty was to return to the war raging on the Continent between Emperor Charlemagne’s forces and the Muslim invaders from North Africa and colonized Spain.
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Queen Logestilla provided her swiftest ship and best crew to transport Astolpho from her island west of Ireland back to Charlemagne’s Empire. The good fairy queen gave the Paladin a mystic tome which included instructions on how to overcome all manner of enchantments.
Her final gift to Astolpho was a magic horn which, when blown, could drive off supernatural creatures and/or shatter the strongest of spells. The ship carried the Paladin to the port city he requested and, astride his horse Rabican, he was soon on his way to rejoining the bulk of Charlemagne’s army.
Along his way our hero clashed with groups of brigands who were taking advantage of the unsettled state of the Empire due to the ongoing war by acting as bandits. Astolpho also overcame a wolfpack and then a giant serpent, which he drove off with a blast from the horn given to him by Queen Logestilla. Continue reading
A MEXICAN MYSTERY (1888) – Written by W. Grove. (No other name available) This is the first of two novels by Grove. This one features a sentient and evil train referred to only as The Engine. 
The furious Emperor disqualifies Pedro’s Engine and awards the prize to another designer. Da Luz rants and raves to such a bloodthirsty degree that his fiancee Inez dumps him, adding to his anger. Meanwhile, the Mexican people begin regarding the Engine with superstitious awe and claim it is possessed by the Devil. 
These are the legends about Charlemagne and his Paladins, not the actual history, so there will be dragons, monsters and magic. 
SANTA CLAUS (1925) – This 28 minute and 44 second movie was directed by Frank Kleinschmidt, the famous explorer and documentary filmmaker. Santa Claus has an irresistible charm and with its short running time might be the ideal way of introducing silent films to modern day viewers who are unfamiliar with them. 
Santa Claus opens with Saint Nick himself welcoming us with arms spread wide. The story proper gets underway as we join two children – a brother and sister – who sneak out of their beds overnight to wait for Santa in their living room. 
These are the legends about Charlemagne and his Paladins, not the actual history, so there will be dragons, monsters and magic. 
RUGGIERO MEETS PRINCESS ANGELICA – When we last saw Bradamante, the Paladin in White Armor, she was continuing her quest to find her beloved Ruggiero. He was a Muslim warrior who was allied with the Saracens who had invaded the realm of Emperor Charlemagne from colonized Spain. 
BATMAN: THE REAL YEAR ONE 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
Balladeer’s Blog’s annual end-of-year retrospective concludes with this look at September’s best. 
RED SUN (1971) – My review of this action western which starred Charles Bronson, Toshiro Mifune, Alain Delon, Ursula Andress and Capucine. Outlaw Charles Bronson joins forces with samurai Mifune to recover a ceremonial sword (and a fortune in gold) stolen during a train robbery by Delon. Capucine and Ursula are a pair of dangerous ladies. Click 
ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: A VOYAGE INTO TARTARY (1689) – I reviewed this long-ago sci-fi novel about the discovery of a futuristic city whose inhabitants had flying machines, ray-guns, and telescopes which had let them see forests and unknown life-forms on the moon. The city’s science had also spawned genetically engineered hybrid creatures. Click 
HEADMASTER (1970) – This example of Forgotten Television starred Andy Griffith in his first post-Mayberry sitcom role. He played the new headmaster at a private academy in California. Jerry Van Dyke co-starred. Click 
MICRONAUTS: THE SWORD IN THE STAR – The Micronauts scour the Microverse/ Quantum Realm on a quest for a relic called the Sword in the Star. The fate of two universes rests on finding it. Click 
EIN WEIHNACHTSLIED IN PROSA ODER EINE GEISTERGESCHICHTE ZUM CHRISTFEST (1960) – Christmas Carol-A-Thon 2024 comes to a close with this review of a neglected version of A Christmas Carol that aired on German Television in 1960. 
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