Dear Grandpa,

Rest in Peace. You lived life a so full and touched so may people...it will never really feel like you are no longer with us. Say hello to Grandma for us now that you are together, we all love you very much.

With Love,

Your Little Buddy

Merry Christmas!

May the holiday find you happy and full of good cheer! All the best from your Uncle EL and the rest of the Famous Family Singers...PEACE (on Earth and good will towards man)!

MORE MURRAY SANTA MAYHEM!

So, several years after the financial success of the original 'Santa Claus' movie in the previous post, Murray played Dr. Frankenstein to another horrendous classic in 'Santa Claus and His Helpers'. Padded mercilessly with scratchy footage from the original Santa movie, and surrounded by abysmal, filmed-in-the-US silent footage worthy of bad home movies, this short film was actually released theatrically as a feature!

The crux of the 'story' is that Santa Claus and Merlin the Magician visit their feuding pals, Stinky the Skunk and Ferocious Wolf, on Earth. Santa and Puss 'n Boots convince Stinky and Wolf to put aside their grievances and prepare for Christmas. Stinky is put in charge of Santa's modern toy factory. Plus, the mysterious use of the 'Fifth Dimension' is unveiled once again to give the story that whole creepy occult thing that ended up a Murray trademark. Confused? Don't feel bad...while I love it, so am I.

To add some local flavor for those in the Chicagoland area, the new scenes shot in the US took place on location at the three Santa's Village amusement parks...including the one in Dundee, IL (represent)! Two more films followed, including 'Santa's Magic Kingdom' and 'Santa's Enchanted Village'...both pretty much following the same formula and storyline.

Want to check out the insanity for yourself? Unfortunately, I can't find 'Santa's Helpers' anywhere and there isn't any fun MST3K commentary, but you can enjoy the following in their entirety nonetheless...

'SANTA'S MAGIC KINGDOM'

PART 2

'SANTA'S ENCHANTED VILLAGE'

PART 2

...and be sure to visit the go-to-website for all things K. Gordon Murray: THE WONDER WORLD OF K. GORDON MURRAY and read up further on a slew of movies that led one theatre-chain owner to reportedly dub the Florida producer, 'Disney from Hell.'

MURRAY CHRISTMAS!

K. Gordon Murray was a Florida-based producer and distributor of low-budget motion pictures. From the late 1950's through the mid 1970's, he released approximately 66 films...many of them imported from Mexico and re-dubbed for US release. The films ran the gambit from horror to kiddie/family matinee to exploitation/grindhouse...and most of them elevated Murray into legendary status amongst cult film aficionados.

The reason i'm posting up about him now though...a series of crazy Santa Claus movies rivaled only by his run-in w/ martians mentioned in earlier posts. The original 'Santa Claus' was imported from Mexico, re-dubbed/re-released in the US and finds Santa in battle w/ the Devil...yes, as in Lucifer, Beelzebub, SATAN. I'm not joking...

See? Not only does he thwart the Devil's minions and makes sure Christmas goes off w/out a hitch, but he does so w/ the help of Merlin...yes, the magician...and powers drawn from the mysterious and powerful 'Fifth Dimension'. Folklore, religion and the occult incredulously intertwine for the entire family! Truly a creepy and beautiful mess, it has to be seen to be believed.

Luckily for you, this film received the MST3K treatment as well! It's broken up into nine parts, w/ (again) links organized nicely, below. Different host, same great holiday taste:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Great stuff. Insane and a lot of fun...but it doesn't stop there. What would you say to meeting 'Santa Claus and His Helpers'? How about visiting not only 'Santa's Magic Kingdom' ...but his 'Enchanted Village' as well?!

If the answer is 'F**K YEAH I WOULD!' then stay tuned for the next post where we'll delve even further into Murray's warped Christmas vision.

HOORAY! HO-HO-HOLIDAY MIX 2007!

Alrighty Dalek faithful, the fat man is only 8 days away from making his way down your chimney (with glee) and your Uncle EL producly presents to you his (semi) annual audio stocking stuffer for your holiday listening pleasure.

Hang some missletoe, chill some Cranberry Sierra Mist, cue this bad boy up on the hi-fi and then curl up w/ your sweetie on the faux bearskin rug by the fire...

'HOLIDAY MIX 2007: THEIR SANTANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST'

Hooray for Santy Claus! - Milton DeLugg & The Little Eskimos

Father Christmas - The Kinks

Rock 'N' Roll Santa - Little Joey Farr

Come On Christmas - Cheap Trick

Linus and Lucy - Game Theory

Super Sunny Christmas - Red Kross

Sleigh Ride - The Three Suns

Christmas Wish - NRBQ

Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses

Donde Esta Santa Claus? - Guster

Frosty the Snowman - Man or Astroman?

Christmas Boogie - The Davis Sisters

Waking Up on Christmas Morning - The Smithereens

Eggnog - Luna

Merry X-mas Everybody - Oasis

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Los Straitjackets

I Believe In Father Christmas - Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Auld Lang Syne - Esquivel

The New Year - Death Cab for Cutie

Mmmm, that's good stuff. Burn a copy, make your own cover and pass it off as your own to friends and family in lieu of a real gift...leave one for Santa next to his milk and cookies...use it as a coaster for Uncle Louie's eggnog...whatever you decide to do with it, have some holiday fun and ENJOY!

I think I still have a few more gifts in my big magic bag, so hang tight...more yuletide poop is on the way!

This Is No Laughing Matter...

First full trailer for the upcoming 'Dark Knight' flick is online HERE...and, if you think that looks good, check out THIS little x-mas gift that showed up early before the imax showing of 'I Am Legend'. Seriously, wow.

A Caroling We Will Go

I love Christmas music and when I say that I love Christmas music, I mean I love all TYPES of Christmas music. You can't beat the traditional stuff ala Mel Torme, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, etc...but this time of year, I also find myself on a quest to find holiday tunes you won't hear while shopping for a last-minute fruitcake at Walgreen's. Be it modern covers of the classics to originals of their own modern bent, it's an obsession that comes up each and every year.

Much of the latter usually finds it's way to my annual holiday mix, but while you wait for me to post up w/ this years audio gift bag to get the sugar plums dancing in your head (look to the skies early next week)...here are a few standouts of a non-traditional variety for you to check out:

'Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus'

An excellent compilation from the Sympathy for the Record Industry label, this'll incite you to cover yourself in x-mas lights and set the tree on fire just to watch it burn. Well, maybe not that excited...but you'll have a lot of fun w/ new tunes and new takes on old tunes served up in surf/garage/punk rock wrapping from artists like Rocket from the Crypt, New Bomb Turks, Man or Astroman, Mono Men, Supersuckers and Go-Nuts just to name a few.

'Tis' the Season for Los Straitjackets'

Instrumental versions of x-mas classics performed in a surf rock manner by an amazing band wearing Mexican wrestling masks...what's not to love? Really though, Los Straitjackets are no novelty act and bring forth a wonderful sounding uptempo holiday album that will have the entire family twisting by the chimney with care. One of my personal favorites.

'Merry X-mas from the Space-age Bachelor Pad'

I have been on a big space age pop/lounge kick as of late and thanks to my good friend, Miss Yvonne, I finally got my hands on the fantastic holiday offering from the genre's King himself, Esquivel. A mess of big-sounding lounge-esque holiday magic complete w/ instrumentalization using everything but the kitchen sink and plenty of POW DOO DOO ZA ZA ZA ZOOOOOOO-WOW! Can be enjoyed ironically or for the fun album it actually is at any 'holiday happening'.

The first two are availble via iTunes and you can pick up a copy of the third on Amazon or, likely, other means of an e-variety if you look hard enough. I'll have a lot more musical fun for you all w/ the holiday mix early next week...kids on the naughty list get first dibs.

GLAD TIDINGS, GLAD TIDINGS!

Okay kids. I've had several x-mas presents i've been planning on dropping on the Dalek faithful and this is one of them...

Deckin' your halls w/ a double-whammy. Two, Two, Two gifts in one! Not only are you getting one of the greatest 'so-bad-it's good' holiday classics of all time in 'Santa Claus Conquers The Martians'...but you get it w/ the additional yuletide flavor of one of the best shows ever to be on TV, MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATRE 3000!

Really, the movie is just so fun by itself, but watching it w/ Joel, Crow and Tom Servo just makes it even better...much like booze in your egg nog. It's broken up into 10 parts, w/ Part 1 up above and links to the others, organized nicely, below. C'mon gang, let's Have a Patrick Swayze Christmas:

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

PART 6

PART 7

PART 8

PART 9

PART 10

and for those of you who'd rather watch the film in it's glorious entirety, w/ one click and in better video quality... HO, HO, HO! More holiday fun from the El Famous workshop is on it's way.

All I Want for Christmas is...

...this bad mamma jamma. Okay, actually, I already know i'm getting it. Spotted it at Costco of all places for $20 less than the suggested retail price. Snapped it up yesterday, but it's being wrapped by the Mrs. and placed underthe tree until the 25th.

What is it? Well, true believers, it's 'The Marvel Vault: A Museum-in-a-book With Rare Collectibles from the World of Marvel'. A really sharp looking retrospective tome about Marvel comics by master comics writer and former longtime Marvel editor-in-chief Roy Thomas and noted comics historian Peter Sanderson, cool enough in and of itself.

However, it comes loaded w/ a bunch of extra goodies and reproductions of promotional materials, w/ each section includes a plastic holder containing a rare facsimile unique to the era.

Facsimiles featured include:
- Sketches 1941-42 (8)

- Bill Everett's Postcards to his daughter (3)

- Farewell Party poster 1957

- Stan Lee's Fantastic Four synopsis

- 1961 Thing Christmas card

- 1965 MMMS Welcome Kit (4)

- Marvel Convention book 1975 (small version)

- Value Stamps Collection mid-70's (10)

- Howard the Duck Campaign Button 1976

- No-Prize Book 1982 (small version)

- Marvel Visitor Pass 1982

- Spider-Man Wedding Invitation 1987

- Trading Cards 1990 (3)

- Marvel Share Certificate 1993

- Marvel Restaurant Menu 1998

- Andy Kubert's Origin sketches 2001(4)

I looked through one in the store and it's beautfully done...each of the 'trinkets' are organized and enclosed in flat plastic pouches to keep them in good shape, etc. An excellent x-mas idea for the comic book geek in your family.

Some more legitimate holiday poop on the way soon. Stay tuned.

Do You Have Christmas in France?

Well, it's December and Christmas in only a mere 22 days away. Stately Famous Manor is decorated appropriately and the boys are having fun w/ trying to 'redecorate' the tree. That said, i'm still not in the holiday frame of mind quite yet.

Actually, we were out at Woodfield Mall yesterday and I found myself pretty disgusted that the big 'Meet Santa' deal in the middle of the place was entirely sponsored by the horrible looking movie 'Fred Claus'. Seriously. Movie posters everywhere and a big freaking video screen right in back of Santa playing an endless loop of Vince Vaughn line-dancing w/ a bunch of elves. Co-opting the holiday for a movie tie-in is one thing...but a crappy flick like that?! The whole thing struck me in a bad way like a stocking full of coal to the head.

As I actually love this time of year (including the crass commercialism that comes along with it), i'll get over it. I may even try to post up w/ my annual Holiday Mix, should my lazy ass get around to it. So, as always, stay tuned for mucho holiday fun and other useless pap.

Naughty? Nice? I don't give a crap...everybody is invited. Ho.