Seasonal Silliness Continues: Happy Howl-i-days

Silent night, silly night...settle in with some Sugarplum Nightmares 
First with Hector the Dog.




And Rudolph (the Jam Handy version). Enjoy Rudolph's mom's fine legs.



And, finally, follow the bouncing hen fruit.

Sunday Morning Special: Happy Howl-i-days

Silent night, silly night...settle in with some Sugarplum Nightmares 
First with Hector the Dog.




And Rudolph (the Jam Handy version). Enjoy Rudolph's mom's fine legs.



And, finally, follow the bouncing hen fruit.

New Year's Play

Well, of course, we should start 2012 with some animated weirdness...

How about some Popeye?










This nightmare-inducing bit of film is a longtime favorite of mine.  Don’t think too hard about it as you watch.








Another favorite.  Why would flies go to a place called the Spiderweb Hotel?







This one is quite nice, really.  Odd, but nice.








And, here’s Molly Moo-Cow to fill your heart with New Year’s cheer and dread. 

Happy 2012!

We'll be back with your regular updates on January 3, 2012.  Here's wishing everyone a healthy and happy New Year!

Counting Down...

Christmas Special: Ho, Ho, No...

Merry Christmas!

Celebrate with the Little King as he picks up and bathes with some hobos...one of whom is wearing something special under his rags.



And, what's Christmas without Popeye?



Or Little Audrey and some demented cake?




And, of course, our Mr. Punch with Santa and some racially insensitive puppets...

Christmas Eve Special: Happy Howlidays

Silent night, silly night...settle in with some Sugarplum Nightmares
First with Hector the Dog.



Next with Tom and Jerry.



And Rudolph (the Jam Handy version). Enjoy Rudolph's mom's fine legs.



And, finally, follow the bouncing hen fruit.

Yuletide Dueling Divas and their "Children"

Here, we have very sincere Christmas wishes from Santa's little helpers, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The kids with Bette aren't hers. They're from central casting. The kids with Joan are hers inasmuch as she bought them from a baby broker.

Now, pour your Christmas Scotch and Pepsi and for Pete's sake, stop wishing for that railroad!

Christmas Eve Eve Special: Merry Mania

As you prepare for the coming holiday, enjoy this vintage foolishness and mayhem.

Up first, get into the spirit with some orphan suffering.





We can next celebrate with a mad inventor making dangerous presents for parentless children.





Next, raise the cup that cheers, but doesn't inebriate as a beautiful lady squirrel hosts a Christmas circus.




And then with Little Audrey and some ethnic stereotypes.

Trick or Treat Special: The Devil Doll, 1936

Nothing starts the holiday season more than Lionel Barrymore in drag, leading a couple of murderous mutants in a quest for revenge and love. The favorite Halloween film in my household, as I mentioned in an article last year, is 1936’s The Devil Doll which was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by famed horror director Tod Browning. The film starred a cross-dressing Lionel Barrymore and, as his estranged daughter, Maureen O’Sullivan.


Sometimes it’s difficult not to save this feel-good classic for Christmas, but, it does have just the right amount of sentiment for Halloween. Check out the trailer. And, by all means, purchase the DVD to make it a permanent part of your holiday festivities.

Treat of the Week—Special Edition: Bertie Dog Cupcakes

Part of living a beautiful life is learning to celebrate. Every June 11, for Bertie’s birthday, my mother bakes a very special cake which represents Bertie’s interests (dogs have interests) and his personality.


For his seventh birthday, the Bertie Dog was treated to many sweet little representations of himself with these gorgeous Westie cupcakes. Delicious butter cream icing topped rich white cake. Iced Marshmallows and smaller portions of cake create the sculptural effect. Chocolate (a.k.a. “dog poison”) free, Bertie was able to enjoy a small portion of a cupcake with the rest of the family. This was the perfect end to a really lovely day set aside to honor a very special little guy. We all feasted on hamburgers (because that’s what he wanted) and enjoyed one another’s company.

Our mission here at “Stalking the Belle Époque” is to find the beauty that still remains in each day. Some days, the beauty comes straight from our kitchens.