Burl Ives Books

This is a great book for anyone who is a fan, but also a real treat for people living in the metro-Detroit area, as a few of the celebrities asked are local TV and radio stars. She wrote to a lot of people over the years and has a great collection of stars' heroes, from Soupy Sales to Les Paul and of course Davy Jones! It's neat to find out who inspired the celebrities to be who they are today.

Mary Guerra is an authority on fandom as she is a member of a fanclub or two herself. I know this since she belongs to the fanclub I run for Davy Jones, Davy Devotees. Though the concept of fandom is normally perceived as being something the nonfamous possess, Mary spent years contacting various celebrities asking them just who they consider themselves a fan of and what fanclubs they would join if they could! She received personal responses from legends in the field of entertainment like RoseMarie and Phyllis Diller to Les Paul, inventor of the electric guitar, Richard Petty, of racing fame, columnist, Liz Smith and "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe. Shirley Jones, Peter Noone and Mary's personal favorite, Davy Jones of The Monkees, are just a few of the many other highlighted celebrities. If you've been a fan of anyone at anytime, this book gives you an interesting look at who those we admire actually admire. At times the featured celebrities provide laughs and at other times intriguing revelations. Overall this is a fun read with a lot of heart!

This book is fabulous. My husband and I found it to be a quick, entertaining read. We particularly enjoyed the entry from Mike Clark, our favorite radio DJ. It's interesting to see what people celebrities find heroic, and it conveys more of an inside look into their personality as well.

I had all of the Burl Ives series books and cassettes as a child. I listened to them over and over. I still remember whole lines and paragraphs from this series. I can hear his voice and the sound effects when I think of the Esther, Creation, Jonah and Daniel books especially. Now that I have children of my own, I wish these were still available. What a gift to pass on to your children!

I can't believe this record is not available. My kids enjoyed it until it turned to dust.

This is one of the great films. The drama is so stirring I have the most pained look on my face at the end of this film as I try not to cry before I inevitably do. James Dean made three films and all were great but this one is the best. He was truly a great actor and a great loss. The other actors are just as skilled and the director Elia Kazan makes the most out of his actors. This disk contains not just a great print of the film but several terrific special features. The commentary with Richard Schickel is absorbing enough to keep you glued to the television set for another two and half hours. Just a wonderful movie.

The 'Overture' shows the sea coast for 3 minutes. This story takes place in 1917 California. A woman walks to deposit money in a bank in Monterey. The dirt road shows horses are in use. A young man follows this woman (he is bare-headed). Why does he follow Kate? [Perhaps you need to read the book first.] Cal returns to Salinas and meets his brother Aaron. [The hair style is from the 1950s, not 1917.] Their father Adam plans to buy an ice house to ship his vegetables under refrigeration to a distant markets. Is Cal thoughtless or scary? Can people relax in an ice house? Cal's troubled soul is shown by his dumping ice. Why is he bad, unlike his twin brother? Restless Cal returns to Monterey and visits that house. He gets into trouble and meets the sheriff. Is Kate the reason why Cal is "bad"?

Aaron's girlfriend Abra tells Cal about her past, and her stepmother. [This conversation seems pointless, except as a clue to confused thinking.] The shipment of lettuce is a big event in those days. But snow blockaded the pass, the lettuce shipment was ruined. Cal wants to raise beans; war is good for business. They will pay farmers to plant beans at 5 cents a pound and do all the work, then they will sell them for 10 cents a pound. Cal knows where he can get the money. Kate knows how to do business: other people do the work and she profits. The Great War has an affect on Salinas. Cal shows his skill at the shooting gallery. We see the carnival that entertained people in simpler times.

Steinbeck's story tells how people's emotions are stirred to turn on a neighbor. The this leads to conflict between Cal and Aaron (a long simmering competition?). Cal has plans for a birthday party for his father. [Do you sense this will be a disaster?] Adam doesn't want the money raised by speculating in beans. Cal takes this hard. [Do his actions repeat in his other films?] This leads to a revelation about their long absent mother.
The ending seems incredible to me, however necessary to this particular story. Its like a deck of cards being rigged to fix the result. This story warns against hiding family scandals from grown children. I wonder if this would be a better film if made in a different time? The novel must be much better than this film.

Dean's first film may have been his best,simply because he may have been asked to play so much of himself in his role. Director Elia Kazan allowed his budding star to improvise with terrific results, especially in the tear filled breakdown scene, clinging to Massey's lapels. Massey had no idea how to handle himself,thus adding unintentional positive reaction to the scene. If the old man went ballistic,as reported,Kazan did too-in Dean's favor. Dean would repeat the favor in "Giant",stealing a scene with Rock Hudson by incessantly twirling his lariat, much to director George Stevens' delight and Hudson's chagrin. Meanwhile, East of Eden is a true emotional roller coaster with Jo Van Fleet taking an Oscar as Massey's former mate. Opposites attract? You're not likely ever to see anything like this picture again!

Wow, what an impressive screen debut for a 24-year-old. That was the famous James Dean, here in his first of three starring roles before death took him at a tragically young age. Just as impressive, however, is the overall performance of the rest of the cast, including lesser-known Richard Davalos, who also was making his movie debut.

The most impressive person connected to this movie, however, was director Elia Kazan who not only excelled directing this film but - in the same year - directed "On The Waterfront." Now, that's not a bad year of work!

Overall, it's a solid drama with complex characters who make you reflect about them long after you view this. I don't know why it took so long for me to finally see this movie, but I was impressed. (May I recommend this two-disc, special-edition DVD?). I am surprised it only garnered one Academy Award. I think it deserved more.

East of Eden

This classic film starring James Dean has all sorts of biblical references and parallels. It s a moving journey of Cal, a young man on a quest for truth and some semblance of love.
This narrative unfolds with rich detail, nicely capturing the pre-WWI era in America. Cal is a loner and a rebel. The pieces of his past are slowly unveiled to explain his lost sense of desperation and need. He yearns for his father's acceptance, and is jealous of his brother's relationship with him. Plus there is a secret attraction to his brother's fiance, which adds another level of drama to the story.

Dean dishes out a spectacular performance here. This moody, rebellious character seems to fit him perfectly. I'm anxious to see more of his work.
The dialogue is a bit dated, but it fits the setting which is nearly a century ago. Much of the themes of this film are timeless. I also like how nothing is sugar-coated, it makes the story more realistic. It explores deep into the dark corners of man. The temptations, insecurities, wrongdoings. It's life, the good and the bad.
A true classic, very entertaining and heartfelt.

This is one of the great films. The drama is so stirring I have the most pained look on my face at the end of this film as I try not to cry before I inevitably do. James Dean made three films and all were great but this one is the best. He was truly a great actor and a great loss. The other actors are just as skilled and the director Elia Kazan makes the most out of his actors. This disk contains not just a great print of the film but several terrific special features. The commentary with Richard Schickel is absorbing enough to keep you glued to the television set for another two and half hours. Just a wonderful movie.

The 'Overture' shows the sea coast for 3 minutes. This story takes place in 1917 California. A woman walks to deposit money in a bank in Monterey. The dirt road shows horses are in use. A young man follows this woman (he is bare-headed). Why does he follow Kate? [Perhaps you need to read the book first.] Cal returns to Salinas and meets his brother Aaron. [The hair style is from the 1950s, not 1917.] Their father Adam plans to buy an ice house to ship his vegetables under refrigeration to a distant markets. Is Cal thoughtless or scary? Can people relax in an ice house? Cal's troubled soul is shown by his dumping ice. Why is he bad, unlike his twin brother? Restless Cal returns to Monterey and visits that house. He gets into trouble and meets the sheriff. Is Kate the reason why Cal is "bad"?

Aaron's girlfriend Abra tells Cal about her past, and her stepmother. [This conversation seems pointless, except as a clue to confused thinking.] The shipment of lettuce is a big event in those days. But snow blockaded the pass, the lettuce shipment was ruined. Cal wants to raise beans; war is good for business. They will pay farmers to plant beans at 5 cents a pound and do all the work, then they will sell them for 10 cents a pound. Cal knows where he can get the money. Kate knows how to do business: other people do the work and she profits. The Great War has an affect on Salinas. Cal shows his skill at the shooting gallery. We see the carnival that entertained people in simpler times.

Steinbeck's story tells how people's emotions are stirred to turn on a neighbor. The this leads to conflict between Cal and Aaron (a long simmering competition?). Cal has plans for a birthday party for his father. [Do you sense this will be a disaster?] Adam doesn't want the money raised by speculating in beans. Cal takes this hard. [Do his actions repeat in his other films?] This leads to a revelation about their long absent mother.
The ending seems incredible to me, however necessary to this particular story. Its like a deck of cards being rigged to fix the result. This story warns against hiding family scandals from grown children. I wonder if this would be a better film if made in a different time? The novel must be much better than this film.

Dean's first film may have been his best,simply because he may have been asked to play so much of himself in his role. Director Elia Kazan allowed his budding star to improvise with terrific results, especially in the tear filled breakdown scene, clinging to Massey's lapels. Massey had no idea how to handle himself,thus adding unintentional positive reaction to the scene. If the old man went ballistic,as reported,Kazan did too-in Dean's favor. Dean would repeat the favor in "Giant",stealing a scene with Rock Hudson by incessantly twirling his lariat, much to director George Stevens' delight and Hudson's chagrin. Meanwhile, East of Eden is a true emotional roller coaster with Jo Van Fleet taking an Oscar as Massey's former mate. Opposites attract? You're not likely ever to see anything like this picture again!

Wow, what an impressive screen debut for a 24-year-old. That was the famous James Dean, here in his first of three starring roles before death took him at a tragically young age. Just as impressive, however, is the overall performance of the rest of the cast, including lesser-known Richard Davalos, who also was making his movie debut.

The most impressive person connected to this movie, however, was director Elia Kazan who not only excelled directing this film but - in the same year - directed "On The Waterfront." Now, that's not a bad year of work!

Overall, it's a solid drama with complex characters who make you reflect about them long after you view this. I don't know why it took so long for me to finally see this movie, but I was impressed. (May I recommend this two-disc, special-edition DVD?). I am surprised it only garnered one Academy Award. I think it deserved more.

East of Eden

This classic film starring James Dean has all sorts of biblical references and parallels. It s a moving journey of Cal, a young man on a quest for truth and some semblance of love.
This narrative unfolds with rich detail, nicely capturing the pre-WWI era in America. Cal is a loner and a rebel. The pieces of his past are slowly unveiled to explain his lost sense of desperation and need. He yearns for his father's acceptance, and is jealous of his brother's relationship with him. Plus there is a secret attraction to his brother's fiance, which adds another level of drama to the story.

Dean dishes out a spectacular performance here. This moody, rebellious character seems to fit him perfectly. I'm anxious to see more of his work.
The dialogue is a bit dated, but it fits the setting which is nearly a century ago. Much of the themes of this film are timeless. I also like how nothing is sugar-coated, it makes the story more realistic. It explores deep into the dark corners of man. The temptations, insecurities, wrongdoings. It's life, the good and the bad.
A true classic, very entertaining and heartfelt.

The Rankin/Bass animagic Holiday specials are as much a part of my childhood memories as putting up the tree, hanging the stockings and painting the eggs.

It is nice to see Rick Goldschmidt drag them from the foggy haze of my nostalgia and bring them back into the light. I never new that there was so much information on Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass. "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass" has it all, from the most obscure cel animated cartoon to the classic animagic of Rudolph and Santa.

Everything you could want is here: Behind the scenes photographs, a complete list of Rankin/Bass works, well-written articles and a jumble of Rankin/Bass memorabilia. This book is even more relevant, now that the Rankin/Bass filmography is being released on DVD. It will make you chomp at the bit for each new release.

If Peter Cottontail, The Snow Miser and Heat Miser, Frosty the Snowman and Happy the Christmas Baby ("those ears!") ring any bells for you, then you will enjoy "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass."

I think the other reviewers here have just about covered it BUT I wanted to add that this is the way a book should be done on a classic HOLIDAY TV SPECIAL. It is loaded with information and gives background on everything from the voice actors to the Stop-motion animation. In Rick's other book he covered the entire body of RANKIN/BASS work, which was quite an undertaking, considering there were many reference books out there with incorrect info. In this book, he covered the process. The two book collection cover the history of RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS very nicely! A Perfect Holiday gift set!

The 2nd printing is WONDERFUL! So glad to see this book come back! Make your HOLIDAYS HOLLY & Of Course JOLLY! This book is it!

This book is my favorite book I have ordered from AMAZON.COM! The color pages have tons of pictures and they are the most vibrant I have seen! There is tons of incredible material in here! RANKIN/BASS Rules! Josh

If you LOVE Rankin/Bass, holiday specials, or childhood memories, then this is a MUST have book! Mr. Goldschmidt's love for the R/B TV specials & movies, shines through on EVERY page! VERY informative & detailed!I was lucky enough to get a hardcover version, but thank goodness they've released a 2nd printing for the people who missed out on his book the 1st time! Purchase this book, you WON'T be sorry!I can't wait for his upcoming; Making of R/B classic- Rudolph the red nosed reindeer! I'm sure it's gonna rock! Let's hope he follows it up w/another of my ALL-TIME favorite R/B productions; Mad Monster Party! Have some HOLLY JOLLY holidays! ;-)

Just finished reading "May's First Rose" for the third time. I didn't cry quite as much this time but still found it profoundly moving. The first time I read it I had two aging dogs that I loved like good friends. The second time was when the female developed cancer and had to be put down. The third was just recently when our 17 year old "little boy" died suddenly at a friends house when we were on vacation. I have never read a book whose author understands the love a person can have for a dog better and more eloquently. Martin Kosins poem at the end is one of the most touching things I have ever read in my life. Bravo Mr. Kosins and thank you so much for sharing your words with all of us true pet lovers. They are our companions in life and the love we feel for them endures.

I loved this book. It is one of my all-time favorites. He totally understands how much a part of you your pet can be. The people who wrote poor reviews are to be pitied, as they just don't understand the bond. Many people say they love their pets, but don't really understand when they're part of you. People who truly love their pets understand and will find this book helpful.

I wrote a blog about my beloved Manda. I needed help finding THIS BOOK - Maya's First Rose. I read it many years ago just because I worked at a vet hospital and wanted to understand more what folks losing their pets were going through. It helped me to understand even though I had never experienced such a thing.

Now, in my life, I have lost one dog to brain cancer. His quick illness lasted a total of five days before I had to make the excruciating decision to have him euthanized.

Now, I am watching my beloved 17 year old dog fail. She has kidney failure, heart failure, a collapsing trachea and is anemic. She still loves life, is happy and with medical help isn't suffering.

I'm so thankful to author MIRALEE FERRELL for helping me find this book:

Here's the blog I wrote which triggered this whole thing and helped me find this GREAT BOOK!!!

Has anyone read a book called: MAYA?
I can't remember the author and I'm not 100% that is the entire title. The book is a great story about a guy and his love and devotion to his dog. It takes the reader through his last days with Maya. I would love to get my hands on it again...to re-read it during this time.

As I am care-taking Manda, my 17 year old Pom who has had our hearts since she entered this world, I am reminded of this book. We have been through so much together over the last 17 years! As you've read in previous blogs about my dogs, they are a huge part of our lives and bring me much joy.

Manda shows so much love and dedication to me, how could I even consider turning my back on her now? While she is so ill, she is still bright and alert. She still runs to greet me with a wagging tail and kisses. She still spins in circles with excitement.

Is it a lot of work? Is it inconvenient? Is it worth it? Is it keeping her from suffering? Yes to all of the above. She will begin at home "sub-q" treatments next week.

Is she going to get better? Is it an investment that is going to offer financial returns? No to both. We have no idea how many days, weeks or even months she may be with us. We want each and everyday that she has left to be as good as possible.

Manda had bloodwork done this week. She has been receiving treatment for over 1 year for her heart and trachea. Now, she is in full blown kidney failure and she is anemic along with being in heart failure. The meds to treat either the heart or the kidneys work against each other and the other organ involved. We are simply doing the best we can for our dog who has given so much to us over the years.

It's not that I have tons of money and it is easy to just spend money on her. It is a sacrifice that we are willing to make because it needs done.

I feel God gave me this little creature and it is my responsibility to take care of her in the best way possible. That doesn't mean I ignore signs and symptoms allowing her to suffer, wishing the problem would go away and wait on her to die. That doesn't mean I go to all possible life saving and trial measures such as transplants.

The veterinarian cried with me at the clinic and over the phone with results. I'm a major animal lover. I'm one of those who doesn't even kill a fly or spider that gets in the house. I catch them and put them back outside. I cried when a opossum ran out in front of the car and my hubby couldn't miss it. I really wonder where I came from sometimes. I have no idea where or how I developed such a love for animals. I didn't grow up with animals lovers but at a young age I began rescuing animals! For some reason, God made me this way!

I hope I can have the courage necessary to continue taking care of her in the best way possible. I find myself trying to touch her more, look at her more and enjoy our last times together even more.

If you're looking for a book that is creepy and horrendously dull, this book is for you.

I bought this book and started reading it (and finished it!) in the same day. This was and is the most wonderful book I have ever read. It was so touching and sweet and sad all at the same time. I have always loved animals and have had a special connection and love for those that share my life. Many times I feel a bit "crazy" for loving my animals the way I do but reading this book made me realize that I am not alone. The connection we get from our pets is something that we just can't get anywhere else; it's completely special in its own way. The devotion this man showed toward his dog is an inspiration. That kind of unconditional love is amazing. I have read this book probably 5 times since I bought it a few years back and I cry every time I read it. If you LOVE animals, you'll LOVE this book!

Since the English Invasion killed the folk movement in the Sixties, a lot of the interest in Folk Music has been on the sort of songs that were in Harry Smith's Anthology and in the "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack (and by extension projects like "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" and its progeny).

Mr. Ives' book is interesting in that it includes a lot of songs going back to Colonial and Revolutionary America, and covering until roughly the Civil War.

Although this is meant to be book of American songs, and Ives himself acknowledges he is "not an authority on folk songs in an academic sense," it would've been interesting to see some of the original songs whose tunes are recycled and how the earlier and later versions differed. Even a short bibliography or "notes for further reading" would be very welcome. In the Fifty-five years since publication, the public generally knows less about the old ballads and folk songs, and more explanatory material would seem to be indicated.

All that having been said, as a collection of "115 American Songs with Complete Piano Arrangements and Guitar Charts", it's not bad at all and worth owning if you can find a copy in good shape.