Saturday Morning Cartoon: Let's Celebrake

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...   My New Year's resolution is to write more, and depend less on YouTube.   However, It's Saturday Morning Cartoon time, and what cartoon could be better to celebrate the New Year than "Let's Celebrake" a 1938 Popeye cartoon from the remarkable Fleischer brothers.  Those who regard Popeye as one dimensional character may be surprised by this cartoon, which shows the one-eyed sailor in a very warm, compassionate mode.   Popeye cartoons in the 1930's show a remarkable versatility that eventually got lost in the 1950's, when every cartoon became essentially the same plot in a different locale.  Amazingly, this is one of the few Popeye cartoons with no violence...   Unless you count the consumption of spinach, which usually produces a violent reaction in me.   Enjoy "Let's Celebrake" and Happy New Year!

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Goodwill to Men

In honor of Christmas, I've chosen a rarely seen cartoon:  Good Will to Men, released by MGM in 1955.  This cartoon is a Cinemascope remake of the 1939 cartoon "Peace on Earth."   Both cartoons were nominated for Academy Awards.   This cartoon was an unusual break for the directing team of Bill Hanna and Joe Barbara, who had spent the last 12 years making nothing but the violence-driven "Tom and Jerry" cartoons.  Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukkah!

Sorry for the recent lack of posts, but the Holidays are upon me like a Louisiana hurricane, ready to sweep me away in glad tidings.   Here's a little ditty from Tom Lehrer for my Jewish friends...

Saturday Morning Cartoon: One Ham's Family

The Holidays are upon us like fleas on a dog, sucking the life's blood out of...  Okay, maybe that one is a bit much.  For the next few weeks I'll be posting a selection of Holiday-themed cartoons to help you celebrate the holiday season.   Here, from 1943, is "One Ham's Family" directed by the infamous Tex Avery.   The kid in this cartoon is based on Red Skelton's "mean wittle kid" or simply "Junior" that Red had introduced to radio audiences in 1941.  Enjoy!

Travels with Joe - Let's see Santa! Part 1

The holidays are upon us like a giant avalanche, ready to bury us completely with its tidings of comfort and joy.  I thought I would post a few Holiday themed "Travels with Joe."   We're going to start with a favorite roadside attraction that once existed in Carpinteria, CA:   Santa Claus Lane!   This attraction, and its giant statue of Santa Claus, beckoned to me for years from the side of the freeway whenever my family drove through the area.  I am proud to say that the constant pressuring of my dad finally rewarded me with a stop at this attraction many years ago.

Santa Claus Lane was started in 1948 by roadside entrepreneur Patrick McKeon, who was trying to attract people to his fruit stand.   He was new to the area, and was amused at all the "Santa" named towns in California (Santa Barbara, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, etc.).   He decided to name his roadside attractions "Santa Claus" and ended up building Santa Claus Lane in the process.   In its heyday, the Lane had a restaurant, candy store, fruit stand, various gift shops, and a miniature train ride that would go around and through the buildings.  Santa was perched high atop the Date Shop, while a statue of Frosty the Snowman watched over the restaurant.   There was even "Rudolph's Reindeer Lounge" for the adults to enjoy a quick refreshment while the kids checked out the tacky souvenirs.   The specialty of the date shop was the world-famous California Date Shake, which I have never been able to gag down past the first sip.

Santa Claus Lane fell on hard times in the 80's and 90's.   Frosty was removed from the roof as he was falling apart.   The train rarely ever ran (it was not open during my visit) and several smaller shops closed down.   The final indignity came when the giant Santa statue was deemed unsafe and would need to be removed.  However, a grassroots movement saved the statue, and it is now on display, fully restored and sporting a pair of California sunglasses, in Oxnard.  It's good to know that Santa finally had the last laugh - Ho, Ho, Ho!   Wait, didn't the Jolly Green Giant make that same comment at the end of his post?

Santa in his new home in Oxnard

Superman Mystery Explained

I saw this on Kerry Callen's blog and had to share, as it explains one of those Superman mysteries we have always wondered about.   Click each page to enlarge...

Saturday Morning Cartoon: You Oughta Be in Pictures

Here's another Warner Bros. favorite from 1940: You Oughta Be in Pictures, directed by Friz Freleng and released in 1940. Friz had left Warner Bros. for a couple of years, and this was one of the first films he made upon his return. The security guard is played by Michael Maltese, the longtime Warner's writer who penned most of Chuck Jones's films. Michael Malteses's voice is played by Mel Blanc, as they shot all the live action footage with a silent movie camera. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful there is a new Muppet Movie coming out.... and I will be doubly thankful if it is a good Muppet movie.    Meanwhile, in honor of Thanksgiving, here is an great episode of one of my favorite sitcoms, WKRP in Cincinnati. You can probably guess which episode...

On the Road with Joe #2

While traveling through Blue Earth, Minnesota, I found myself in the valley of everyone's favorite advertising giant, the Jolly Green Giant.   The town of Blue Earth erected this 55-foot statue in 1978 at the meeting point of the East I-90 and West I-90 freeways, the longest running interstate highway in the US.  Blue Earth has a Green Giant canning plant that still packages peas and corn every summer.  

The Minnesota Valley Canning Company was founded in the Valley around Blue Earth in 1903.   In 1925 the "Green Giant" slogan was first used to promote a type of pea, the "Green Giant Great Big Tender Peas."  In 1928 they introduced the Jolly Green Giant as their advertising icon, and in 1950 the Company was officially renamed Green Giant.   The Giant is now the third most recognized advertising icon, just behind the Marlboro man and Ronald McDonald (For the complete list follow this link).

The Giant's first appearances were scary...   let's face it, he's a creepy looking figure, not unlike a vegan version of the Incredible Hulk.   The advertisers finally learned to use him sparingly, especially in television commercials.  The "Ho-ho-ho" signature and the appearance of Little Sprout helped make him more approachable.  Please click on the advertisement on the right to see how creepy he could be...

The valley around Blue Earth is appreciative of the Giant's effects on their local economy, especially the nearby town of Le Sueur, where the Minnesota Valley Canning Company began.  They have a large billboard that comes up at you in the middle of nowhere.   According to reports it has startled drivers along the highway.

The top photo is me standing with the Giant.  There are entirely too many jokes to be made, and since I try to keep this a family-friendly blog, I am not going to make any of them.  Make your own jokes in private.  I'm sure the Giant would respond:  "Ho Ho Ho..."

Just an Observation...

I don't usually get too political here, but....

Everyone I know is upset over the fact that Lindsey Lohan received a 30-day jail sentence and only served 5 hours of it due to overcrowding.   They feel it smacks of preferential treatment.

I am more worried that she didn't get preferential treatment.   This may actually be the way we are treating prisoners in California...

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Gerald McBoing Boing

From Columbia Pictures and the UPA studios comes the 1950 Academy Award Winner, Gerald McBoing Boing.   This cartoon was based on a short story written by Dr. Seuss for a Capital record album.   UPA adapted the story for the screen, and the success of this cartoon set UPA as the new, groundbreaking studio of the 1950's.   A classic cartoon and one of my all-time favorites.

Halloween - the aftermath

This year, I had a total of eight trick-or treaters. This includes two adults with no costumes that had tagged along with their kids. These two got "Smarties" because they obviously need some.
I now have a full bag of Twix bars and 2/3 of a bag of Kit-Kat bars. I'll let you know when these are gone.

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Broomstick Bunny

Here's one to celebrate Halloween:  Chuck Jones's 1956 short Broomstick Bunny.   Not a great cartoon by any means, but hey, it's timely...

Halloween do's and don'ts...

Every year about this time, I am asked by several friends and relatives about what treats are appropriate to give to the kids who come to your door on Halloween.   Being an expert on this subject, I decided to post the answer here.   That way, I will have...   oh, about two less people ask me this year, judging by my readership. 

Halloween Treats Do's and Don'ts:

Homemade cookies: DON'T.   Let's be honest, the people in your neighborhood don't trust you.  Anything that you give them that is not clearly sealed by some factory worker in Mexico is immediately thrown in the trash.   That goes for the Christmas cookies you bake them every year as well.  Why go through the trouble?   Go buy something and stimulate the economy.  Besides, I've tasted your cookies... 
Tootsie Rolls:  DO.   But do them a favor and give out the fruit flavored ones.   They only come out once a year and taste better than the regular flavored ones.   What is the original flavor of Tootsie Rolls supposed to be anyways?   It's kinda like chocolate and yet it isn't. 
Candy Corn:  DON'T.   This is one of the few candies where the actual organic food tastes better than its candy counterpart.   I'd prefer you put a ear of corn in my bag than a bag of candy corn.
Twix Bars:  DO.   Just because I like them.   And you may give me the leftovers.
Any Candy With Wax Features:  DON'T.   What, do you think you are going to get trick-or-treaters from the 1930's?  Wax is not candy, it is WAX.   So, no wax lips, no wax fangs, no Nik-L-Nips...  none of that.   Keep the wax in your pumpkin where it belongs.
Candy Necklaces: DO.  Wow, candy you can wear!  Can it get any better than that?  Just turn your head and eat!   Best of all, it travels very little.   You wear it on your neck at the beginning of the night and wear it on your waist at the end of the night.
Money:  DO, but it better be more than nickles and pennies, bud.  Have you priced a candy bar lately?  Five bucks per person is appropriate.   Please send me your address if you decide on this option.
Fruit:  DON'T.   We are not in Victorian England, so do not give out apples and oranges, or you will get the fruit thrown at your front door later that evening.   It's called TRICK or TREAT for a reason, pal.
Mass produced, pre-packaged, recognizable candy are all DO'S.   Please notice that I said mass produced and recognizable.   Chick-O-Stick, Abba Zabba, and Bit O'Honey do NOT meet these standards.   Meanwhile, Smarties and Dum-dums do meet these qualifications, but please, how cheap do you really want to look to your friends and neighbors?   Give out a candy that actually look like you give a darn.  Bubble gum is out, or you'll step in it in the morning. 
Last big DON'T:   nothing flavored butterscotch.  And please, no button candy.  You might as well just feed them paper.

One last piece of advice:  Have a stock of those Harry Potter Jelly Beans on hand.... the ones that come in flavors like mud, grass, pepper etc.  These are the treats you give to anyone over the age of 15 .   This includes parents with an infant in their arms.   New Flash: They are not collecting for the kid.

Happy Halloween!

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Here Comes the Grump!

Here's one of my all-time favorite Saturday morning cartoon shows:  Here Comes the Grump, produced in 1969 by Depatie-Freleng and broadcast on NBC.  The show must have cost quite a bit, as every episode required new characters, new settings, etc., as Princess Dawn and Terry visited new lands every episode in their pursuit of the Crystal Key.  Dave Depatie and Friz Freleng based the Grump on Yosemite Sam from the cartoon "Knighty Knight Bugs"  which Freleng directed while at Warner Bros.   Odd Fact:   Yosemite Sam was originally based on Friz Freleng himself.  Here is the title sequence, with a theme song I was still singing years after the show went off the air:



This is probably the best episode of the bunch....   And I am proud to say that I actually own the  "Cheese Mountain" background painting from this episode!   It's the Blabbermouth of Echo Island:



Here's The Grand Slam of Door City...



And the end credits...

Cartoon Saturday: Three Little Bops

Here's a favorite of mine from Warner Bros.:   Three Little Bops, released in 1957 and directed by Friz Freleng.  A great cartoon from Warner's later period, and one of the few with no voices by Mel Blanc.



If you haven't had enough yet, here's a version done live at the Blackstump Festival in Australia in 1993, performed by the Belvedere Blues Band:

Cartoon Saturday: Cartoon Network bumpers

I miss the old days of Cartoon Network.   Back then, they had real fun with their cartoon stars, and made some extremely imaginative bumpers between the shows.   Here are a couple of good ones...

Papoo's Hot Dog Show is a no-go.

Sorry for the lack in posts lately...   However, I will make up for it in the coming weeks.   I have stories to tell.  In the meantime, let me tell you about the closure of another favorite hang-out of mine...   Papoo's Hot Dog Show. 
Every year or so I conduct an annual "Hot Dog Tour" of Los Angeles.  I draft unsuspecting friends for a cook's tour (pun intended) of the best hot dogs in LA.   The more famous places you'd expect are part of the tour...  Pink's and Carney's for instance.  But Papoo's was one of the lesser known stops on the tour, which was a shame.  It was truly a place I relished (that one was intended too).

Papoo's was an instituation in Toluca Lake for 62 years.   It sat in the glow of its more famous neighbor, the oldest Bob's Big Boy, which sits across the street and is an architecture treasure in it's own right.   But Papoo's had it's own charm.   The best part was the big neon sign, which is where I assume the place got it's name.  Who could not be entranced by a giant weiner dog with wings, flying through the clouds on a 6-foot stage?   When nightime hit and the neon turned on, it was truly a site to behold.

Inside, Papoo's was just what you'd expect, a 50's diner atmosphere and a lot of locals having lunch.   The hot dogs, in my opinion were good.... not great, but a good dog.   I will say that many of my friends from the tour said this was their favorite dog.   I guess it's a matter of taste.   The variety of dogs that they sold were great, from the "Show Dog"....


to the "Bean Dog"...

and the "Pastrami Dog"...

...each one of them a weiner in its own right (pun was intended, but I may disavow it).    Now all these fine dogs, plus a classic hot dog joint, are lost to the ages.
Pappo's had quite a history in itself.   It started as the simple hot dog stand pictured here.  








As the years went by, it gained a certain following among those of us in the Hot Dog commmunity; we had to wait for the rest of you to catsup (this one was clearly a reach).  It appeared in a few feature films, such as this appearance in Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

 This is now the THIRD hot dog joint from my tour that has closed....  The Weiner Factory having closed in 2007 and Tail of the Pup in 2006.   Thank goodness Cupid's remains open.  I may have to move my buns and get over there (and this one was just unnecessary).

Saturday Morning cartoon: Up and Atom

Here's a cartoon from argueably the most overlooked cartoon studio in Hollywood:  The Columbia Cartoon Studios.   Columbia operated its own cartoon studio for several years, turning out a mix of mediocre cartoons from 1929-1946.   The studio never was able to produce stars of the Bugs Bunny calibur; their main stars were Krazy Kay, Scrappy, and the Fox and the Crow.   In 1946, Columibia began releasing cartoons from the independent UPA studios, and let their own cartoon studio die.   With UPA, they had a starring character named Mr. Magoo, plus the prestige that the UPA studio brought with it.   However, it's a shame, as the Columbia Studios produced some weird yet wonderful cartoons throughout the years.   Here is one of the best ones:  "Up and Atom"released in 1947.   Robert Clampett, the former Warner Bros. director, wrote this cartoon after leaving Warners, and Sid marcus directed.   Enjoy!


Up n Atom by Andrea_Dodgers

Jonny Quest... in 3-D!

Here's someone who needs a hobby...  or, at least, now needs a new hobby.   This guy loved the old Hanna Barbara Jonny Quest TV show so much he re-made the opening credits in stop-motion animation.   He really did an incredible job, considering the backdrops and models he had to build for some scenes that last maybe 2 seconds on the screen.  You can check out his website and see some of the work involved by clicking here.  


Jonny Quest Opening Titles from Roger D. Evans on Vimeo.

In case you can't remember the original titles or are under 40...  or never watched Boomerang, here are the original titles.


Jonny Quest opening by Himura86

By way of a little history:   Jonny Quest premiered in prime-time on ABC in 1964.   It was successful, but due to the high cost of producing the show only 26 episodes were produced.   The show was re-run on Saturday mornings for several years and gained a following of devoted fans.   New episodes were produced for syndication in 1986.

It's Convention time...

Every two years (give or take a year) I help a friend of mine put together a convention.  It's a Soap Opera Convention, for two of the soap operas that are still on TV (you have a 50-50 chance of correctly guessing which two).  The announcement of Soap Opera Weekend signifies the start of my slow descent into the depths of despair.   It starts out innocently enough....  

• Can you help me pick a good weekend? 
• Sure. 
• Can you help write a flyer? 
• No problem.   
• Can you help me pick a Hotel?
• Well...   I'm not a good judge of Hotels, but OK...
• Can you create an Excel spreadsheet?    
• Not really, Excel isn't my specialty, but I guess I..
• Can you start stuffing folders full of pictures?
• Well, no, I have plans, so I really...
• Can you do them RIGHT NOW?
• ok...
• Can you re-do them?   You can't put (name of actor playing a butler) on the top.  The (name of actor playing the town harlot) will complain.
• Really?   No one will even notice -
• Can you do them RIGHT NOW?
• ok...
• Can you do another 200 folders?   We are selling more tickets than I thought.
• ok...
• Can you seal and stamp 1000 invitations?
• ok...
• Can you write the show? And make it funny...
• thlrp...  (can't move my tongue after sealing 1000 envelopes)

And so it goes, deeper and deeper until the actual event arrives.  By that time, I am a mere drone, a slave to the cause, one of the army of helpers that gives up a weekend to help the fans have that once-in-a lifetime experience, yes, wait for it...    Their seventh meeting with (excruciating good looking actor who just happens to be the harlot's lawyer / lover).  Yes, the same people come to this event EVERY YEAR to get the same autograph they got the last seven years, and get the same picture with the actor or actress they most admire.   The only difference is while the fans get older in each picture, year after year, the star looks the same.   They never change.   It's like posing with Dorian Gray. 

The big event is this weekend, so you may not hear from me for a few days.   But think of me whenever you hear a shriek of girlish delight.   That will be me, happy the weekend is over.

On the Road with Joe #1

I'm starting a new feature.   It needs a better name, but for now, I am calling it "On the Road with Joe."  It will feature pictures and stories from the various odd places I have visited throughout the United States.   Here's today's photo, taken with my trusty Olympiad camera:

This was at an amusement park in Panama City, Florida that is sadly no longer in existence.   Its name was Miracle Strip Amusement Park and was on Florida's Gold Coast, across the street from the Gulf.   While the park was quite popular throughout the years, the land become so valuable that the owners, in the midst of a post 9-11 slump in tourism, decided to sell.   I visited the park in 2003 and was very impressed by the whole place.   The Park had various buildings like this, with huge facades that had to be seen to be believed.   This one is was probably the oddest.   My personal opinion:   Don't walk under any snowman in that particular position.

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Blooper Bunny

Sorry for the recent sparseness of postings.  
In Los Angeles there are occassional screenings of classic cartoons.  I love going to those and try to get to them all. However, life sometimes interferes with my scheduling (couldn't someone else have donated blood to...  well, never mind) and I miss the occasional show.   Whenever this happens, I get the inevitable call from a certain friend of mine, asking me if I made it to the show.   When I say no, he immediately tells me what a shame it was that I missed it, because THAT NIGHT ONLY they showed the rarest Bugs Bunny cartoon that ever existed.   The pulled it out of the vaults for that one night, showed it, then set fire to the negative in front of the entire audience.  They then erased everyone's memory before they allowed them to leave the theater.
He may well have been talking about today's Saturday Morning Cartoon:  Blooper Bunny.   This cartoon was produced in 1991, then shelved for several years.   No one is quite sure why the cartoon was never released, but some speculate that Daffy's ranting about Warner Bros. executives at the beginning of the cartoon may have been a part of the problem.   It was also felt that the humor may have been a little too edgy and inside to appeal to regular audiences.   Either way, the cartoon sat in the vaults unknown and forgotten until 1997, when Cartoon Network spotted it sitting in the vault.   They aired it, and since then, it has gained a small cult following.  I had seen a small mention of it here and there throughout the years, but never saw it until the Internet made all things possible.   Here it is, one of the rarest Bugs Bunny cartoons of all time: Blooper Bunny.

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Dudley Do-Right

Dudley Do-right was created as a back-up feature for the Bullwinkle Show in 1961.  Jay Ward and is accomplished staff of writers and directers were always able to overcompensate for cheap animation with great writing and directing, and Dudley Do-Right was one of their crowning achievements.   I had the opportunity to watch the following episode recently in a crowded theater where it was a HUGE hit from start to finish.   Enjoy "The Sawmill."

Restaurant Review #4: Pie 'n' Burger

Guess what I had for lunch.

Hamburgers are one of those things that the restaurant community is always trying to re-invent.   Several gourmet or trendy restaurants have re-envisioned the burger, with odd variations that included goat cheese, Kobe beef, cranberries, olives, salmon, and - in the worst-case scenario - a fried egg.   A FRIED EGG.   Sorry, I had to repeat that in case you weren't sure you read it right the first time.   A FRIED EGG.   The Burger Bar in Las Vegas has a $60 burger on their menu that includes foie gras and shaved truffles.   This all may be your cup of tea, but I prefer a old-time classic burger.   One of the best places to get a classic burger is in a little diner in Pasadena called Pie 'n' Burger.

Like the Apple Pan, this little diner is often listed as serving one of the best burgers in Southern California.  It has been in the same location in Pasadena since 1963, when the place opened.   The current owner started working there in 1972 and has kept the same restaurant fixtures, recipes and personnel.   The head baker has been there since 1972, and one waitress has been there since the restaurant opened.  It's small and unassuming; a large lunch counter and about 5 tables make up the entire seating area.  Seat yourself at the counter and look up at the wall, because, like any good lunch couter, that is where you will find the menu.  Burgers, sandwiches and a few hot dishes make up the menu.  They also serve a plethora of fresh-baked desserts, which I will get to later in this review.   Patience, little one.

I ordered the burger.   Duh.   What else do you order in a place called Pie 'n' Burger?   Well, yeah, I guess you could order pie too, but as I said, have patience.   The burger is brought to you wrapped in paper on a plate.   The meat is obviously hand-formed, giving each burger its own unique shape.  Fries are optional; They are good but nothing spectacular.   But the burger....   aaahhh.   It's just as it should be.  A nice big piece of fresh, crunchy lettuce, Tillamook cheese, and a hand-made thousand-island sauce that mixes with the juice from the meat to create a messy yet tantalizing burger.    I'm sure the onions and pickles are good too, if you like that kind of thing.  I don't. 

What wasn't so good?   Well, I was surprised to find that the milkshakes were not as good as I had hoped.   For a great milkshake, head over to nearby Fosselman's in Arcadia.   I'll write a review about that place later.  

Now for the dessert.   I had berry pie.  The pie was very good.   Not the best I have had, but very good diner pie.   The big secret ended up being the dessert my dining partner ordered - strawberry cake.   It's made with real strawberries, both in the cake and in the frosting.   My dining partner swears by it.   During our last visit there, they were sold out, and she swore by it in an entirely different way.  I snuck out the back door.

 Pie 'n' Burger is a Pasadena institution that is well worth a visit if you are in the area.  The meal is a little pricey, especially if you order two burgers like I always seem to do, but well worth it.   Tell them Joe sent you and demand a good table.   It won't mean anything to them, but I like to embarrass you every chance I get. 

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Porky Pig's Feat

Today I'm bringing you "Porky's Pig's Feat" a black and white Looney Tune released in 1943 and directed by Frank Tashlin. Tashlin is one of the lesser-known Looney Tunes directors among the general public; however, he was one of the most successful. He started directed at Warner Bros. in 1938, left for a while and returned for three years, from 1943-1946. At that point Tashlin left animation to become a live-action writer and director, working with such talents as Bob Hope, Red Skelton and Jerry Lewis. He wrote films such as "The Paleface" "The Fuller Brush Man" and "The Lemon Drop Kid," and directed "Cinderfella," "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" and "Artist and Models" among others. In his cartoon work, you can defintely see him experimenting as a director, with odd camera angles and movement that were beyond what the other directors were doing at the time. Watch the scene in this cartoon starting at 2:40, where much of the action is shown via camera pans, reflection, and very odd camera angles. Enjoy!

Dog Tease

This video has made the rounds, so you have probably already seen it.   If not, sit back and prepare to feel sad.   Very sad.

Restaurant Review #3: The Bahooka Restaurant

Tiki bars were a big thing in the 1940'3 and 1950's.   Places like Don the Beachcomber, Trader Vic's and the like were the popular places to go to sip mai tais and zombies.  Tiki bars have recently experienced a resurgence, with many new tiki bars opening up around the hip places in LA.   Heck, Disneyland just opened one at the Hotel, called Trader Sams.  However, if you want to go to an authentic 50's tiki bar that is anything but trendy, head for the Bahooka Restaurant in Rosemead, CA. 


The Bahooka actually opened up in 1967, a little late in the tiki craze.   However, you'd never know it was a latecomer.  The entire place is agog with nautical artifacts, tiki architecture, and fishtanks.   TONS of fishtanks.   It's rumored that there are over 100 fishtanks in this restaurant, and I'd be the last one to argue this estimate.   And these fish aren't your doctor's-waiting-room variety, either.   We are talking large tropical fish, small sharks, turtles and the like.   As you walk into the lobby, you are greeted by Rufus, a 33-year old pacu that is enormous.   If you're in luck, you may catch the restaurant staff feeding Rufus carrots.  Not a place you'll want to stick your fingers.

Cashier station (click for larger view)

As you are taken to your table, you'll pass by the small bar.   The restaurant is famous for its tiki drinks, but the bar itself is something to behold...   it's a large fishtank.   As you place your drink on the counter you can look down and see turtles and fish glide past the bottom of your glass.   If you drink like a fish, you'll be in good company.

At your table, you are guaranteed a great view of the tropical fish.  Each booth is surrounded by at least three tanks, plus various others around the seating area.   Did I mention that the Bahooka is known for their drinks?   I am not a drinker myself, but here I always indulge in something just for the presentation.   The Bahooka Ade is my drink of choice.   Yes, it's non alcoholic, but it's brought out in a flaming bowl for two.   The other drinks are all wonderful, according to those of you who know.   You can't go wrong when your drink is served with a little paper parasol.

The food is...   adequate.  It's good, but the food is not the main reason you are coming here.   Polynesian ribs are the specialty here, which come with a pineapple glaze that I really enjoyed.   The chicken had a teriyaki glaze that was delicious as well.   Desserts are not worth mentioning, so I won't.  

Before you leave the Bahooka, be sure to walk around and take in all the decor.   There is one seating area for small groups that is located in a jail.   The banquet room is awash in color and yes, more fishtanks.   Christmas lights adorn one of my favorite booths.  And the fish are really worth seeing.   It's like getting a free visit to an aquarium with every meal.   My favorite fish are the ones that build mountains.   It's something to see:   they use their mouths to scoop up mounds of the gravel from the bottom of the tanks, then spit it all out on the highest point in the tank, creating a mountain.  


With the re-introduction of Tiki Architecture across LA, this restaurant is well worth a visit.   It's conveniently located off the 10 Freeway, on Rosemead Blvd.   Aloha, and Numi Kai Tan Yo!  (that's Hawaiian for "even though the bowl is meant for two, you really don't have to share.")

Click on the pictures for larger views.   Disclaimer:   If you have a fear of fish, I do not recommend this place.   This is directed at a certain reader:   YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

Saturday Morning Cartoon: Goonland

Today's cartoon features that one-eyed runt, that spinach-slurpin' sailor, Popeye.   Popeye originally appeared in in a comic strip called "Thimble Theater" on January 17, 1929.  He was originally just an incidental character, but his popularity rose and rose until he became the star of the strip.  In 1933, the Max Fleischer studios began producing Popeye animated cartoons.   They were highly successful, and for a time Popeye was the #1 cartoon star in the US, passing over Mickey Mouse for the title.  The Fleischers lost their studio to Paramount in 1942, and the Popeye cartoons began a gradual decline in quality at that time.   However, in their heyday they were inventive and fun, and rarely the same Popeye / Olive / Bluto rivalry thing over and over.  Here's a great one from 1938: "Goonland," which chronicles Popeye's quest to find his long-lost father.



For those of you who prefer the Popeye / Olive / Bluto rivalry, here's another great one, "The Paneless Window Washer" from 1937.

By the way....

More Restaurant reviews are coming soon.   I have them ready, but I have lost the little cable that I use to download pictures onto the computer.   Once I find that, the reviews will commence.   I have pictiures from The Bahooka Restaurant (one of my favorites) Pie and Burger, The Chicken Box, and a few others.  So don't change that dial, hopefully they will be here soon!

Top Animated Films, as chosen by Joefood...

Here it is!   As I promised, here is my list of top animated films of all time!

The problem with putting together a list like this is deciding on the criteria.   There are three different ways I am looking at this:   Should a top list include the best-made animated films, the most groundbreaking, or the most enjoyable?   Fantasia, for instance, qualifies in two of those areas, but many of my friends feel the film is less than enjoyable.  "Like having teeth pulled" is how one friend described it, a viewpoint I do not endorse except maybe during the Toccata and Fugue section.

It's also hard not to make a list that is heavy on the Disney films.   But, let's face it, Disney made more animated films than anyone, and had the market cornered for most of the last 70 years.  Snow White will still be shown to audiences long after Madagascar and Ice Age have had their time in the spotlight.  Disney animated films are still the benchmark for the industry, so the list may be heavy with Disney Films, including the Pixar films, which now hold the dominance the Disney hand-drawn films once held.

Here is my list.  I think any one of these 20 films can hold its own among the greatest films of all time, in any medium.    I held it down to 20, as after that it gets a lot more muddled...

1. Pinocchio
Probably the most technically perfect animated film of all time, combining perfect animation, expert effects, a beautiful score and memorable characters.   Also, probably the most terrorizing animated films of all time, not counting Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer...
2.  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
It's hard not to put this film as #1, as it showed everyone how it should be done.   However, I have to give the edge to Pinocchio.
3.  Bambi
Another beautiful, and almost lyrical film.  Bambi is probably the film that caused Kleenex sales to jump dramatically in the 1940's.  Saddest...moment....ever.  At least for animated films.
4.  Fantasia
Sorry, all, but it's a beautiful film and it makes my list.   If you don't like it make your own list.
5.  The Little Mermaid
The film that helped start the animation renaissance of the 1990's and beyond.   I remember distinctly seeing this film, and walking out of the theater saying "Wow...   Disney actually CAN still make a classic animated film worthy of Snow White!"  The huge impression it had on me at the time gives it this high ranking.
6. Beauty and the Beast
Another near-perfect animated film.  The basic story could have been down without animation, but the supporting characters and great songs make it a Disney classic.
7.  Toy Story
Toy Story was the first computer-generated animated film of all time, launching the trend that dominates the industry today.  I went to see this film with skepticism.   I felt there was no way a computer animated film could create the characters, the emotion and the sincerity that hand-drawn animation could capture.   Boy, was I wrong.  This film, along with The Little Mermaid, had the biggest impact on me concerning the future of animation.
8.  The Incredibles
Action!   Comedy!  Mystery!   Romance!   The Incredibles had it all.  For added fun, watch "Jack-Jack Attack" (a short cartoon on the DVD release) right after watching the film.  It fills you in on what was happening in the Incredible's home while they were out saving the world.
9.  Toy Story 3
Each film in the Toy Story Trilogy is a masterpiece, and this one is the one that ends it all perfectly.  'Nuff said.
10.  Dumbo
A favorite of one and all, always ending up on someone's top ten list.
11.  One Hundred and One Dalmations
I have always loved this film.   Cruella De Vil, to me, will always be the greatest Disney Villain of all time.  Her first scene, as she bursts into Roger and Anita's apartment, sells me on the film every time.

12.  Lilo and Stitch
This is the anti-Disney Disney film.   The plotline sounds ludicrous (alien criminal lands in Hawaii and is adopted by an dysfunctional family, with songs by Elvis Presley) and yet it works beautifully.   Stitch has joined the ranks of memorable Disney characters like Baloo, Dopey, Goofy, and the rest of the merchandised mob.
13.  The Lion King
The story is predictable, but the animation, the characters and the music all combined to make it the highest-grossing animated film of its time.  
14.  Aladdin
Just plain funny, with great songs as well. 
15.  Toy Story 2
When Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl, tells her background story, I get choked up every single time.   Curse her!   Another great Toy Story film.  This one especially hits home, because as a comic-book collector I can really commiserate with the villain, Al from Al's Toy Barn.  To be so close to completing his collection, only to have the airlines lose his suitcase.... 
16.  Ratatouille
This movie combines two of my passions - animation and food.   Despite the gross-out factor involving rats handling food, this is a great animated film with Parisian settings that look better than the original.
17.  The Iron Giant
My first non-Disney film!  If you saw the film you would understand how it made the list.   The story of a small boy who adopts a giant robot from outer space seems like Saturday-Morning cartoon material.   Well, understand that this movie was directed by Brad Bird, the genius behind The Incredibles.   A hugely enjoyable and moving picture.
18.  Shrek
I liked the first Shrek film.   It was funny, had a cute story and some great characters.   Each subsequent Shrek film has been worse and worse, but I still have a soft spot for Shrek #1.
19.  Up
Another hit from Pixar
20.  Lady and the Tramp
Everyone raves about the 10-second clip of Lady and the Tramp chewing on the same spaghetti strand, but they fail the remember that this small scene is part of one of the most romantic scenes in cinema history.  It's loaded with charm and humor as well.

Honorable Mention:
The Simpsons Movie
Not perfect, but it definitely harkins back to the first 9 seasons of the show, when the writers were operating on all cylinders.
South Park:   Bigger, Longer and Uncut
The first half was great.   The second half....   not so much.

I also need to get around to seeing "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Kung Fu Panda" both of which I hear may make the final cut.  Let me know what you think I left off, or what I should have left off, in the comments below.