Criswell Predicts...1966

Notorious now for his friendship and collaborations with the infamous writer/filmmaker Ed Wood, back in the f fifties and sixties, Criswell was a popular TV psychic with his CRISWELL PREDICTS. Here is a famous clip of him with Johnny Carson as he inaccurately predicts what 1966 will be like.

Boeing-Boeing

Although released in December of '65, the tag line clearly indicates that it considered itself too be a '66 release. Behind the scenes, old friends Jerry and Tony jockeyed for position while Jerry also had to contend with personal health crises as well as a studio feud which led to his leaving longtime producer Hal Wallis and longtime studio Paramount. Somehow none of this comes through onscreen as the whole thing is just one big, shiny but ultimately forgettable sex farce.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

For all of us sixties kids, this now-classic TV special from '66 still ranks as one of the 2 or 3 greatest Christmas specials of all time and a rare instance where the adaptation was better than the source material! Dr. Seuss! Chuck Jones! Boris Karloff! Thurl Ravenscroft! Max! What's not to like?

The Incredible String Band

This influential and now legendary Scottish folk rock band issued its debut album in '66!

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax

Dorothy Gilman's aging lady spy/detective made her debut in '66 in this novel.

Sam, Bangs and Moonshine

This wonderfully illustrated children's book deservedly won the Caldecott illustrator's award in '66.

An American Dream aka See You In Hell, Darling

R.I.P. Eleanor Parker

Beatles Press Conference

The Beatles press conferences were usually quite fun but here we have a semi-serious one from '66 where Paul addresses John's infamous misinterpreted religious statement. Note Brian Epstein keeping an eye on things to the side.

Bat Stuff # 57

Spotted on Facebook.

Cap

This '66 image of my favorite super hero, Captain America, wasn't published at the time. It's drawn by the great Jack Kirby with gorgeous inks (and colors?) by Don Heck. In 1966, I was just starting on comics and the first Captain America I ever saw was Heck's, in an issue of THE AVENGERS.

Joni Mitchell-Urge For Going

In '66, Joni Mitchell was a Canadian folkie. Over the next few years, her lyrical and melodic genius would make her a fixture on the international music scene where she would stay for decades. Here's an early glimpse and with my personal favorite of her many wonderful songs.

Batstuff # 56

Winchester Cathedral

One of my favorite songs in '66--at age 7--was WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL, a massive radio hit that played into the earliest part of the big nostalgia boom of the era with megaphone vocals and old fashioned...well, everything. 

It would be many, many years later before I found out that the group that had this massive favorite hit...didn't actually exist. 

Although credited to The New Vaudeville band, it was expected to be just a novelty release and so the Producer just went with the demo vocal, a practice that happened fairly often in those days. The record was made by studio musicians built around that demo vocal.

But then when it became a hit, some musicians were hired to form a real band and a singer was hired who could sing like the record.

 

Arabesque

From th director who brought you SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, 1966's ARABESQUE, starring Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck, was Stanley Donen's second Hitchcock-style thriller after CHARADE.

Marvel in Esquire-1966

In spite of that Jack Kirby signature, Spider-Man was either drawn or at least heavily retouched by John Romita. Kirby never really could draw Spidey all that well. That may have been the ONLY thing he couldn't draw all that well, though!

King Kong Board Game

One of my very favorite board games as a kid--and one of my mother's, too. Although it was very simple, I remember us spending hours on the kitchen table playing it.

The Three Stooges

By 1966, the Three Stooges were nearing the end of their surprising career revival which occurred when TV picked up their old Columbia shorts. Their comic book would continue longer than they did, though, and a few photo sessions got new covers that LOOKED like they were from movies but they really weren't.

The Professionals

It may look now like a precursor to 1969's WILD BUNCH but 1966's THE PROFESSIONALS is a force unto itself, nominated as it was for 3 Academy Awards and spotlighting a classic cast including Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, Woody Strode, Jack Palance, Ralph Bellamy and the beauteous Claudia Cardinale.