My Word with Douglas E. Welch

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On the tree 2…

Some of our favorite memory ornaments on the tree.

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Finding That Perfect Spot of Christmas Eve Sun

Bluestar knows exactly where to be today.

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Christmas Past – 25 and end of a series – Santa Claus (1898) – G.A. Smith | BFI National Archive

Made in 1898, G.A. Smith’s ‘Santa Claus’ is a film of considerable technical ambition and accomplishment for its period. It uses pioneering visual effects in its depiction of a visit from St. Nicholas.

A former magic lanternist and hypnotist, Smith was one of the first British film-makers to make extensive use of special effects to create fantastical scenes. It comes as little surprise that Smith corresponded with the French pioneer Georges Méliès at about this time, as the two men shared a common goal in terms of creating an authentic cinema of illusion. (Michael Brooke)

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Christmas Past – 24 in a series – Successful Farming 1929-12

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On the tree…

Some of our favorite memory ornaments on the tree.

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Christmas Past – 23 in a series – The Christmas Tree by Winslow Homer (1858)

More Winslow Homer on Archive.org.

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Christmas Past – 22in a series – Modern Priscilla 1921-12 by Reginald F. Bolles

More Bolles artworks on ArtNet

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Christmas Past – 21 in a series – The Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum (1902)

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As many of you know, I am a huge fan of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I had been meaning to watch this movie for a long time, but when The Man Who Invented Christmas (IMDB) appeared for free viewing on the Kanopy service (available via the LA Public Library and others) it was a perfect opportunity and time of year to settle in with some coffee and cookies, nurse my Christmas cold and enjoy.

The movie is quite good and you hear some of the best lines in the book as it shows Dickens’ characters helping him create the story. Dickens’ real family and real history also become part of the story as he struggles with his own past and own issues as he writes. The movie stars Dan Stevens from Downton Abbey fame and Christopher Plummer delivers a great performance as Ebenezer Scrooge.

This is the story of the magical journey that led to the creation of Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), Tiny Tim and other classic characters from A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) mixed real life inspirations with his vivid imagination to conjure up unforgettable characters and a timeless tale, forever changing the holiday season into the celebration we know today.

Nominated for Achievement in Visual Effects, Best Adapted Screenplay and Achievement in Make-Up at the Canadian Screen Awards.

“A surprisingly fresh movie about a story we all know very well.” – Peter Howell, Toronto Star

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Christmas Past – 18 in a series – A Vintage Christmas Card via Dave on Flickr

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