The Isle of the Dead Arnold Bocklin was a 19th century symbolist painter whose work influenced and inspired Salvador Dali, Sergi Rachmaninoff, Marcel Duchamp and H. R. Giger. Adolph Hitler… Read the rest of the article: Hitler's Favorite Painter (and one of mine too)

If anyone wants to know what I want for my birthday, it's a jumbo sized framed photo of this incredibly creepy photograph from the Life magazine archives. This is the… Read the rest of the article: One More Demented Gift Idea: Framed Photos of the REAL Psycho House

Once upon a time in the middle of the 20th century, there lived a man named Jack Dutton. He was an average guy- nothing extraordinary about him, except that he… Read the rest of the article: Story Time: Jerry- The World's Most Human Chimp

Again, I have to apologize for a self-indulgent post… When I was a kid, my dad would haul the projector and screen out of the closet and put us all… Read the rest of the article: Photo Essay: On The Road In Search of Old Time Country Music

Kerov writes: The nature of propaganda is to use emotion to bypass rationality. That, to me, qualifies it as a "bad thing" generally. In my post on propaganda, I mentioned… Read the rest of the article: In Praise of Passion

The concept of propaganda is widely misunderstood. Many people automatically assume that it's a negative thing. But propaganda is just a tool that can be used for either good or… Read the rest of the article: WWI and WWII Propaganda Posters

One of my favorite pastimes is storytelling. I don't have a lot of stories, but the ones I tell are really good, and my delivery has been honed and perfected… Read the rest of the article: Story Time: Bozo and the Santa Claus Horror Show

I am going to reveal to you my biggest internet secret at the bottom of this post! The place where you can get incredible vintage Mexican lobby cards like this… Read the rest of the article: Mexican Lobby Card Fiesta!

Here is one of the greatest untold stories from the golden age of the Las Vegas lounge scene! Most people with an interest in this era of entertainment know all… Read the rest of the article: Mary Kaye Trio: The Birth of the Las Vegas Lounge Scene

Just about all of us grew up with Little Golden Books. Some of the world's greatest illustrators worked for Western Publishing on the series- Feodor Rojankovsky, Mary Blair, Mel Crawford,… Read the rest of the article: Gustaf Tenggren and the Genesis of the Golden Book Style

I have known the rough-hewn face of time, tracing back to mend the frayed, unraveled thread of years. Though all reflection is an empty glass- replacing not one fragment dream,… Read the rest of the article: Photo Essay: I Have Seen A Thousand Faces

When I first posted this video a little over a year ago, it flew like wildfire through the animation community. But I think it has something to say to all… Read the rest of the article: Ralph Bakshi on Surviving in Tough Times

It's four decades too late for the Summer of love, but aging hippies can relive their youth with a new iPhone app from my buddy, Larry Weinberg. He describes it… Read the rest of the article: iPhone Goes "Mod"

The weekend's almost over- GET UP AND DANCE! More 'buggin' after the jump… EXTRA! Make sure you read the comments. Marcelo gives us a great historical insight into how important… Read the rest of the article: Groovie Movie: Jitterbug Madness

For those who want to watch Boinger's Cartoon Circus in order, here are direct links… The Boing Boing Cartoon Circus Iwerks and Aladdin Pookie Sings Motown The Fleischers and Popeye… Read the rest of the article: Boinger's Cartoon Circus Link List

Well, that was a lot of fun. Hope you enjoyed the show. It's time to say goodbye, goodbye until some other day… (wiping a tear from my eye) Boinger says,… Read the rest of the article: BB Saturday Circus: Boinger The Clown Says Goodbye, Kids

Swing You Sinners (Fleischer/1930) I mentioned Grim Natwick in an earlier post, but here is one of his true masterpieces of animation. It would be hard today to find someone… Read the rest of the article: BB Cartoon Circus: The Weirdest Cartoon Ever!

In the comments, Roy Trumbull requested a little bit of Pinkie Lee action. Here it is! Guess who stole his act?

Tin Pan Alley Cats (Warner Bros/1943) The mark of a great cartoon director is how he handles all the elements of filmmaking available to him- design, color, movement, backgrounds, timing,… Read the rest of the article: BB Cartoon Circus: Bob Clampett and Jazz

I'm not sure why Rootie Kazootie is being referred to as "Rootie Tootie" here. But it sure is golden! The original Rootie Kazootie puppet is now owned by none other… Read the rest of the article: BB Saturday Circus: Rootie Kazootie Calls Himself Tootie