Editorials

The Addams Family, TMNT, and Captain Planet! The 1991 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

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Hard to believe it’s been 30 years since the first real, and fuckin’ awesome, Addams Family flick. As surreal as that all seems, the first time I saw the perfectly cast Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams was not in the film itself, but rather the 1991 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade along with Pugsly (Jimmy Workman), Grandmama (Judith Malina), Lurch (Carel Struycken), and of course Cousin It riding a float mocking their 001 Cemetery Lane home.

The Addams Family film was a huge affair (I mean, it was for me anyway) during the 1991 holiday season and opened up officially in theaters just days before Thanksgiving that year. So naturally, banking on the tremendous advertising campaign the Macy’s parade brings as millions watch from home with the smell of turkey basting in the oven, Paramount used the traditional event to promote the movie- and man was it ever long overdue as the original cast of the 60s’ series never got the Macy’s treatment like their parallel monster family, The Munsters and it was a damn travesty- at least until 1991. Still, it would have been sweet as hell to see John Astin and Carolyn Jones in a Thanksgiving Parade during their heyday.

Anyways, beyond the fact The Addams’ infiltrated the sacred Tom Turkey-led march of helium madness, it was a VERY special year for the annual event as it was celebrating its 65th anniversary! Hosted by Willard Scott and Katie Couric, the lineup was every bit as entertaining with Ninja Turtles in cars, a stiff as hell Captain Planet, and a drunk Kermit the Frog balloon!

Ok, not drunk but winds provided some challenges that day and poor Kermit’s head got popped during the walk down Broadway.

Besides getting to see The Addams crash the parade, one of my favorite things about this particular year was the Ninja Turtles. In their second year appearance after the explosively cool 1990 film, the foursome donning Santa hats cruised down the parade in a couple of 1961 Cadillac convertibles like the true gangsters they are. Now that’s really all there is to it, but it was pretty awesome nonetheless.

The final highlight for me was the Captain Planet float. Again, nothing crazy spectacular going on here performance-wise but rather a stiff-looking Captain Planet on a very pretty Earth-themed float decorated with flowers and just aesthetically pleasing to my senses. Although it was years before Jingle All The Way, Captain’s stance is giving me serious Turbo Man vibes.

*Sorry for the ultra pixelated snapshots here guys.

The full parade can, of course, be found on YouTube- uploaded into two parts by user Major League Pong Gods. Time Stamps for the above highlights are all located in Part 2, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll just watch the whole damn thing in all its cheesy glory.

Addams Family float at 19:05

TMNT at 12:37

Captain Planet at 39:40

News

WATCH NOW: The Making of Rocky VS Drago, Rocky IV Director’s Cut

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Ever wondered what a free film lesson would look like from one of the biggest Hollywood actors’/writer/directors’ in the game? Filmed by Sly himself on his phone and uploaded here via his official shop, Sly Stallone Shop (which is super badass by the way) we now marvel in Sly’s approach to one of the biggest franchise sequels of all time- ROCKY IV: THE MAKING OF ROCKY VS DRAGO.

This making-of documentary that is totally free on YouTube, gives Rocky fans an hour and thirty-three minutes of phenomenal life advice, his passion for the project, and exclusive clips from the upcoming one-day Fathom Event release of the film to be followed by an Amazon release the next day.

I truly can’t say enough great things not only about this series of movies but this installment, in particular, that is especially loved by collectively everyone. Rocky IV has always been a different beast apart from its predecessors with a slew of God’s greatest gift of montages shoved into a 90-minute film about world politics, tragedy, and a theme of change for the better; and it is just a damn beautiful thing.

With the absence of SICO THE ROBOT and the addition of Mickey in flashbacks (more or less taken from ROCKY V) taking place in this new cut, what I’m personally most looking forward to is a more dignified, albeit still sad, end to Apollo Creed with a much longer fight sequence between him and Drago. Also, more lines for the villainous steroid-pumping Russian boxer; who had more lines in the original teaser trailer than in the entire film. So that’s rather exciting!

For tickets to this one-night-only event, click here at Fathom Events to get tickets in your area. And in the meantime, set your heart on fire with this fantastic making-of in preparation for the big release!

Nostalgic Eats

Nightmare Nostalgia’s Sparkling Ecto-Cooler Recipe!

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Nightmare Nostalgia's Sparkling Ecto-Cooler Recipe For The Holidays!

The holidays are upon us and so are the twenty pounds it brings along with it via all the tasty treats we prepare and stuff our pie holes in to celebrate. So why not make it count with a nostalgic treat that I concocted myself to bring a little extra flair to the holiday spread table! It’s easy, tasty, and sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving or Christmas get-together; and I’m sharing it with you guys today! The ever-so-wonderful Sparkling Ecto-Cooler Drink Recipe!

Grant it, there are a TON of copycat Ecto Cooler recipes out there. However, none are quite like this and I tweaked it with my own flair to give it a little extra punch especially if you, like myself, like a bit of fizzy in your beverage. So here’s what you’re gonna need to make this nostalgic nectar of the Gods:

  • 1 1/2 CUPS OF ORANGE JUICE (PULP FREE)
  • ONE BOTTLE OF IZZE CLEMINTINE SPARKLING JUICE
  • 1 TBSP COUNTRY TIME LEMONADE
  • 2 TBSP’S TANG
  • 1 TBSP SUGAR
  • WATER TO TASTE
  • GREEN FOOD COLORING

After mixing both juices, sugar, lemonade, and Tang mix, grab a water bottle and slowly pour to dilute it some to your own desired taste. Drop in a few splashes of green food coloring and presto- a holiday drink fit for the most gluttonous of ghosts! Bonus points if you have a McDonald’s Batman mug from the 90s’ to serve it in.

If you want to get saucy, add a shot of Vodka to really get into that holiday spirit. Enjoy my nostalgic nuggets! Let me know in the comments if you used this recipe and tell me what you think!