Universal Monster Army

Chitter Chatter => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bonomo on November 24, 2011, 09:55:30 AM

Title: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Bonomo on November 24, 2011, 09:55:30 AM
.....for some reason there was a Universal Monster marathon on tv, and I have forever since associated turkey day with the classic monsters. This year shall be no different, starting with Frankenstien.
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: charp13 on November 24, 2011, 12:46:25 PM
Beautiful story Bonomo    :)
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Hepcat on November 24, 2011, 01:07:42 PM
Kind of brings a tear to one's eye.

;)
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Scatter on November 24, 2011, 10:29:37 PM
You from the New York area?? Because there was a marathon every year for a decade or more of classic monsters out of NYC
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Bonomo on November 24, 2011, 11:53:20 PM
Quote from: Scatter on November 24, 2011, 10:29:37 PM
You from the New York area?? Because there was a marathon every year for a decade or more of classic monsters out of NYC
Philly, so might have been the same
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Count_Zirock on November 25, 2011, 07:49:00 PM
WOR-TV (Channel 9) in NYC used to show "King Kong," "Son of Kong," and "Mighty Joe Young" every Thanksgiving, then a Godzilla marathon the following day. So, I don't think it was a NYC station. Man, I miss those Kong and Godzilla marathons. Although, "Punkin Chunkin' 2011" on Discovery was pretty cool!
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Scatter on November 25, 2011, 09:33:18 PM
Universal holds the rights to the Kong character. Kong is a classic monster. Therefore a Kong/Son Of Kong/Mighty Joe Young marathon is definitionally a classic Universal monster marathon. That's what I understood as his reference at least.

Additionally,WABC used to have themed weeks of afternoon movies in the weeks between Christmas and New Years. Often it was monster or sci-fi themed. Ah, the good old days!

BTW, what the heck is a Punkin Chunkin??
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Fester on November 25, 2011, 09:55:08 PM
Quote from: Scatter on November 25, 2011, 09:33:18 PM

BTW, what the heck is a Punkin Chunkin??

Its a competition to see how far one can launch a pumpkin.  Some use torsion catapults; some prefer trebuchets; and most of the pros make cannons.  The world record goal is one mile.  Lots of fun! ::)

Think spud guns or potato cannons on steroids.

http://www.punkinchunkin.com/ (http://www.punkinchunkin.com/)  Its also a fund raiser for several charities.
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Count_Zirock on November 25, 2011, 10:39:53 PM
Quote from: Scatter on November 25, 2011, 09:33:18 PM
Universal holds the rights to the Kong character. Kong is a classic monster. Therefore a Kong/Son Of Kong/Mighty Joe Young marathon is definitionally a classic Universal monster marathon. That's what I understood as his reference at least.
Well, when I watched them growing up, from '66 to '80, let's say, I always thought of them as RKO Radio Pictures. And, of course, I thought of the Godzilla movies on Black Friday as Toho Films.

I think WPIX Ch. 11 always had "March of the Wooden Soldiers" on right after the Macy's Parade on Thanksgiving.
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Scatter on November 25, 2011, 10:43:33 PM
Quote from: Count_Zirock on November 25, 2011, 10:39:53 PM
Well, when I watched them growing up, from '66 to '80, let's say, I always thought of them as RKO Radio Pictures. And, of course, I thought of the Godzilla movies on Black Friday as Toho Films.

I think WPIX Ch. 11 always had "March of the Wooden Soldiers" on right after the Macy's Parade on Thanksgiving.


I don't remember that after the parade.............but maybe I just didn't stick around for it. Used to love those Million Dollar Movies/Movies In The Afternoon/ Late,Late Show stuff though. Ever try to find a good old movie playing on broadcast TV these days?? Friggin' infomercials.
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Count_Zirock on November 25, 2011, 10:52:58 PM
Quote from: Scatter on November 25, 2011, 10:43:33 PM
Ever try to find a good old movie playing on broadcast TV these days?? Friggin' infomercials.
TV stations used to lose money running old movies late at night, because they couldn't get enough advertisers to even afford a skeleton crew. The 1-900 number ads helped, but then that money dried up with the rise of online chat boards. Most stations would be dark from 2-6AM if it weren't for infomercials.
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Count_Zirock on November 25, 2011, 10:53:41 PM
"Million Dollar Movie" was awesome. They stopped it when Ted Turner bought MGM and he wouldn't let them use "Tara's Theme" for their opening credits anymore.
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Scatter on November 26, 2011, 01:17:10 AM
Quote from: Count_Zirock on November 25, 2011, 10:52:58 PM
Most stations would be dark from 2-6AM if it weren't for infomercials.

That would be a marked improvement. I understand the logistics and the financial end............it's just a different world.   :(
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Zombiology on November 26, 2011, 03:40:27 AM
Quote from: Count_Zirock on November 25, 2011, 10:52:58 PM
Most stations would be dark from 2-6AM if it weren't for infomercials.

In the 60s, most stations were dark in the wee hours.  I still remember the sign offs with the test patterns and the wake up screens with the sun rising (a light behind a shade) and a tape of a rooster crowing.
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: Count_Zirock on November 26, 2011, 05:04:36 AM
I remember that, too. Although NYC pioneered up-all-night TV with "The Late Show" and then "The Late, Late Show." Some great '50s & '60s movies on those!
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: ChattyLMS on November 26, 2011, 06:41:26 PM
A few years ago on Christmas Eve, WGN broadcasted a whole bunch of radio shows.  On the TV screen they had an image of an old radio.  I went to sleep listening to it.  It was a wonderful idea.  I don't think they've ever done it again.   
Title: Re: On this day when I was about 9 years old.....
Post by: jimm on November 26, 2011, 08:28:41 PM
Quote from: Count_Zirock on November 25, 2011, 10:52:58 PM
Most stations would be dark from 2-6AM if it weren't for infomercials.
Thank god for on demand!