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.