Top Ten Key Search Phrases Leading to the World's Greatest Website

For what it's worth - for the first time ever, since I have been tracking this, "jeff pickens" was not at the top of the list:

Search Keyphrases (Top 10)
151 different keyphrases Search Percent recall chris christie 81 21 % recall christie 29 7.5 % recall governor christie 26 6.7 % jeff pickens 19 4.9 % acs bike-a-thon 2010 13 3.3 % american cancer society bike-a-thon 2010 12 3.1 % chris christie petition 8 2 % recall governor chris christie 5 1.2 % petition against chris christie 5 1.2 % chris christie recall 5 1.2 % Other phrases 182 47.2 %

Early TV Kids Show Pioneer’s Puppets To Be Brought Back To Life.

PRESS RELEASE

Sandy Becker’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ To Be Re-Imagined using his original puppets from the lost 1961 production.  

Almost 50 years after it’s original airing, and now lost to the ages (as were many early  TV productions from the 1950’s and 60’s), Flexitoon – one of the premiere puppet production companies in the country – has signed up to ‘re-imagine’ the original production of Sandy Becker’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ with production costs backed by members of the crowd-funding Web site kickstarter.com.   

Sandy Becker was a television announcer, actor, comedian and puppeteer who hosted several popular children's programs in New York City, the best known was The Sandy Becker Morning Show, which ran from 1955 to 1968 on Channel 5 WABD-TV and WNEW-TV. Becker believed that one of the highlights of his career was his December 23, 1961 interpretation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, performed by his resident troupe of puppets, with GEEBA GEEBA as Scrooge. Unearthing a copy of this lost classic remains the holy grail for many fans and collectors.

“To millions of Baby Boomers who grew up in the Metro NY area, the name SANDY BECKER is magic!” said Flexitoon Partner Craig Marin. Marin, who was profoundly influenced by Becker as a child later become his protege, and friend. When Sandy Becker passed away, he bequeathed his puppets to Marin, with the mandate to "re-imagine" the ‘Sandy Becker Christmas Carol’ as a gift to "his kids." Those plans which have been on hold since Becker’s death in 1996, have been reignited with the prospect of funding by a traditionally unlikely source - his fans.

Through the urging of Sandy Becker fan Jeff Pickens, who proudly lists himself as “one of Sandy’s kids” and came up with the idea of using Kickstarter as a funding source, Marin was convinced that a modest, but sufficient of budget of $30,000 could be raised by tapping into the hearts (and wallets), of other grown up “Sandy’s kids”.

The project is now live (http://bit.ly/c3HeYf ) on Kickstarter.com and features an original Flexitoon video explaining the project with Flexitoon characters Harried Harry and Lucky Jack that’s designed to unabashedly pry pledges ranging from $10 to $500 from enthusiastic backers.

 About Flexitoon

FLEXITOON is a company that for thirty years has specialized in television, film and stage, creating and performing award-wining puppets, marionettes, and programming for Nickelodeon ("Pinwheel"), PBS ("Shining Time Station"), FOX ("DJ Kat Show") and Showtime ("KIDS-TV"). Their "Talking Stain" for TIDE was voted the # 1 Funniest Office Commercial in the World, and the #3 Super Bowl commercial of all time. For more information please visit: www.flexitoon.com

Media Contact:

Craig Marin

Partner

Flexitoon

212-877-2757

FLEXITOON@aol.com

NYC Puppeteer Hopes to Recreate 1961 Christmas Classic

In today's digital age, where everything that is written, photographed, and otherwise recorded, is forever. If it's on the internet, you can find it. It's hard to believe that this was not always the case.

We are talking, in particular, about the kids' TV shows of the early 1960's, hosted by such giants and legends of broadcasting as Chuck McCann, Sonny Fox, Soupy Sales, and most of all, Sandy Becker.

Sandy Becker hosted a daily kids show, broadcast live on WNEW-TV, Channel 5. Any fifty-something Boomer who grew up in the greater NYC area in the 1960's watching TV, remembers being entertained by Sandy Becker, and his cohort of characters and puppets. These shows were broadcast live, recorded on kinescope (the pre-cursor to videotape), saved for a short time, then erased and taped over for the next show.

This includes Sandy Becker's 1961 rendition of "A Christmas Carol", starring his ensemble of puppets, including Geeba Geeba as Scrooge, and Sir Clive Clyde as Bob Cratchit. Anyone hoping to get their hands on a video of this original show is out of luck.

However, New York City based Craig Marin, of Flexitoon puppet studio, has a plan. Marin was a friend and protege of Sandy Becker and inherited Becker's puppets when he died in 1996. "Sandy was a mentor, and we often talked about and planned to remake his Christmas Carol," says Marin, who began his career as a puppeteer and ventriloquist as a teenager. "But sadly, when he passed away, plans were put on old. However, now is the chance to realize Sandy's dream for Boomers and beyond. Our vision is to produce a re-imagining of Sandy Becker’s Christmas Carol, using all the original puppets!"

This will be a 21st Century rendition of the classic show, using the original puppets, new sets, high-def cinematography, and state of the art special effects and editing. In order to finance this project, Craig and Flexitoon, with the assistance of Jeff Pickens (disclosure: the author is a collaborator on this project), have launched a project on Kickstarter, an all-or-nothing funding platform for artists who seek backing for their projects. Potential backers pledge a dollar amount, and with the pledges come premiums, the higher the pledge, the sweeter the premium. No money changes hands until the project is fully funded by pledges.

To learn more about this project, please go to the Kickstarter project page at http://bit.ly/c3HeYf. Read the project description, and the updates, for everything you need to know about this exciting project.

For those of us who remember this program, this was tantamount to a kids' version of Woodstock. With the 50th anniversary approaching, this DVD would make a wonderful gift, an instant Holiday classic you can enjoy with your kids, grandkids, and generations to come!

Geeba Geeba sez: BECOME A BECKER BACKER!

You can help make this happen by becoming a Becker Backer and making a pledge on the Kickstarter site.

And We're Off! Sandy Becker's Christmas Carol

FLEXITOON PRESENTS SANDY BECKER'S CHRISTMAS CAROL

OK, here's the deal folks, we need $30,000 by 5/1/10 to make this happen. We launched the project on Kickstarter and got off to a good start, 7 backers and $500 over the first two days. Not bad, but we need much more.

So, if we get 300 people to each kick in $100, or 600 people to each kick in $50, or some combination thereof, we're in. This will be a top-quality production by Flexitoon, one of the premier puppet studios in the country. A DVD the whole family can enjoy.

So, please help us out, here's the link:

http://bit.ly/c3HeYf

And you can join the Facebook Fan Page

Geeba Geeba, Norton Nork, and the Big Professor thank you!

 

UPDATE: Flexitoon Presents "Sandy Becker's Christmas Carol"

The Project:

On Saturday night, December 23, 1961, SANDY BECKER, the popular and unique host of the top-rated children’s program on WNEW-TV in the New York City/Tri-State area, presented his vision of Charles Dickens’ “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”.  The program starred Sandy's entire ensemble of puppets - - most memorably Geeba Geeba as Scrooge, Sir Clive as Bob Cratchit, and Marvin Mouse as Tiny Tim.  Millions of Baby Boomers who grew up with Sandy as a vital member of their "TV-family" were introduced to Dickens ghostly tale of redemption through this production, and harbor fond and tangible memories of it - - wishing they could view it once more.

Unfortunately, as was the case with many live programs of the time, the tapes - - to the best of our knowledge - - were destroyed or erased or taped-over, lost to the ether, never to be seen again.

 

However, the torch has been passed and we have the next best thing!

 

FLEXITOON, one of the premier puppet production companies in the USA on television, film and stage, was bequeathed the puppets, and mountains of memorabilia, by Sandy Becker himself.  Flexitoon partner Craig Marin - - who as a child was greatly influenced by Sandy - - also became his very good friend. "Sandy was a mentor, and we often talked about and planned to remake his Christmas Carol," says Craig.  "But sadly, when he passed away, plans were put on hold."  Now, through the Internet's power to connect everyone, the Holiday special is back on track.  "Our vision is to produce a re-imagining of Sandy Becker’s Christmas Carol, using all the original puppets!"  Flexitoon will make new costumes, sets, and music, and apply  21st Century production techniques, allowing us to "keep the spirit of the original intact, and simultaneously connect to a modern audience."  This one-of-a-kind take on A Christmas Classic will appeal not only to nostalgic Boomers, but to all ages as well.  "Also," Craig adds, "this will be a COMMEMORATIVE DVD in advance of the 50th Anniversary of the original presentation."

Networking:

Once this project has been placed into the Kickstarter platform, collaborators Craig Marin and Jeff Pickens plan to seek backing by reaching out to our diverse professional and social networks, as well as family and friends. With Craig’s background in creating award-winning puppets and productions in all media, and Jeff’s background in finance and project management, we see this project as a winner, and expect to touch a nostalgic nerve with enough backers to make it happen. The program will be produced direct-to-DVD, for sale to the public via the Internet, nostalgia conventions, and direct marketing.  Theoretically if we can get 300 people to pledge $100 each we have our goal of $30k. Of course some will pledge more, and some less, but considering our network we can reach out to enough people to attract the backers.

The Collaborators:

Craig Marin

Craig Marin has a lifetime of experience in the field of puppetry. A native of New York City, Craig grew up enamored with the puppets he saw on television, eventually apprenticing for the great Chuck McCann on WPIX. Soon he was appearing on all the local children's programs - - including "The Sandy Becker Show" - -with his unique spin on puppets. After high school he formed the Marko Puppet Theatre and toured colleges throughout the United States with a highly original concept that was just right for the times -- a psychedelic puppet show. The show garnered such an underground reputation, that Marko was asked to perform for the Grateful Dead at Jerry Garcia's birthday party (!). Coming east to New England, Marin began a children's theater that for five years toured schools and theaters. Craig accepted a job with Bil Baird's Marionettes, and it was here that he met his partner and future wife, Olga Felgemacher. Together they created FLEXITOON, a company that for thirty years has specialized in television, film and stage, creating and performing award-wining puppets, marionettes, and programming for Nickelodeon ("Pinwheel"), PBS ("Shining Time Station"), FOX ("DJ Kat Show") and Showtime ("KIDS-TV").  Their "Talking Stain" for TIDE was voted the # 1 Funniest Office Commercial in the World, and the #3 Super Bowl commercial of all time.

 

Jeff Pickens

Jeff is Manager of Internal Controls for a Fortune 100 company. He has over 30 years experience in accounting control, financial management, risk management, planning and budgeting, cost control and project management. As well as being a life-long TV, film, and theater enthusiast, Jeff’s hobbies include cooking, vegetable gardening, photography, videography, and blogging. His YouTube videos on a variety of subjects (travel, gardening, backyard barbecuing) have been enjoyed by thousands of viewers from all continents. His photos, videos, and writing have been frequently published on CNN.com iReport.  A native of Jersey City, NJ, Jeff currently resides in Gloucester County, NJ.

A New Take On Sandy Becker's Christmas Carol

Are you a Baby Boomer who grew up watching TV in the Greater NYC area in the 1960's?

Do you remember the Sandy Becker Show? Do you remember Sandy's production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", starring Geeba Geeba as Scrooge, and Sir Clive Clyde as Bob Cratchit?

Unfortunately, the kinescopes of this production, to the best of our knowledge, have been destroyed and are lost forever. It remains, according to puppeteer Craig Marin, "The Holy Grail" of puppet videos.

But we have good news. A project is in the works to produce a re-imagining of this classic show, using Sandy Becker's original puppets! FLEXITOON - - one of the country's premier puppet studios - - will create and perform the show keeping the spirit of the original, while adding a 21st Century flavor that will appeal to all ages. A DVD is planned for release this Halloween.

The project is in its embryonic stages at this time, and needs financial backing. We will be seeking backers through Kickstarter. If you might be interested in getting in on the ground floor of this exciting project, send an email to Jeff at jrpickens@gmail.com, or Craig at flexitoon@aol.com, or leave a comment on this blog. And if you are on Facebook (and who isn't), join the Sandy Becker Fan Group.

Stay tuned for details!

Larry, The World's Greatest Lowe's Guy

Since I spend so much time complaining, I thought I would spend a few moments (but not too much) to mention the great experience and service we got at Lowe's, from the appliance guy named Larry Jordan.

After our stove broke on Saturday, the day of the Big Snowstorm, we needed to replace it, pronto. We (we?) also decided that as long as we were getting a stainless steel stove, we should also get a stainless steel refrigerator. What I never realized is that there are different shades of stainless steel.

Larry could not have been more patient, helping us find the right matching appliances, even moving various refrigerators next to the stove to compare, and most important, getting them delivered the next day.

I felt compelled to write to Lowe's -

Thanks again, Larry!

Replied On 12/22/2009 10:55:41 AM----------------------------

------------

Dear Jeff Pickens:

Thank you for taking time to let us know about your experience with Lowe?s Associate Larry Jordan. We are always glad to hear that a customer has received exceptional service while shopping with Lowe?s. Our goal is to provide customer-valued solutions with the best prices, products, and services to make Lowe's your first choice for home improvement.

The Turnersville, NJ Store Manager will receive a copy of your comments, and Larry Jordan will be recognized by the Management Team.

Again, thank you for contacting us about this experience.

Thank you,

Nicholas
Lowe's Customer Care
Received On 12/20/09 18:17:42----------------------------------------

I am writing to commend Mr. Larry Jordan at your Turnersville, NJ store. We recently bought a stove and refrigerator. Mr. Jordan spent a great deal of time with us, even moving the refrigerators next to the stoves so we could compare shades and styles. Mr. Jordan made the experience as positive as it could be, and arranged for next-day delivery in the wake of a major snow storm in our area.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE TURNERSVILLE STORE MANAGEMENT IS MADE AWARE OF OUR POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH MR. LARRY JORDAN.

His professionalism is a true asset to your organization.

Does Anyone Know What "FARK" Is?

I was looking at the view counts, demographics and discovery for one of my YouTube videos, "Rosslyn Metro Escalator Cam - Down", and found that the video, after a long relatively dormant viewership, suddenly received almost 200 hits on October 8, 2009.

I dug in further and found out that the spike in viewership was due to a link posted on fark.com. I looked on fark.com and could not find any link to my video. I emailed them about it but haven't heard back yet.

Has anyone ever heard of FARK? What is it, and I wonder how my video ended up there?

Dear Mr. Football Commissioner

Dear Mr. Football Commissioner:

Michael Vick is really really sorry for all those things he did to those dogs. He even talked to schoolkids about it (on the same day as the President).

Can he please play next week?

Sincerely,

The Eagles

Sausage & Peppers

This year's garden has been a mixed bag - great crop of cucumbers and zucchini early in the season, some good cherry tomatoes, and some not so good regular and plum tomatoes. I think that something's getting at the tomatoes (squirrels? birds?) just as they turn red and before I can pick them.

One pleasant surprise, however, have been the green peppers. I have tried every year to grow green peppers, but have never been successful until this year. I have had lots of them, all edible and delicious.

This morning I picked a bunch, and discovered we had some Italian sausage in the freezer, so I decided to bring some of the Jersey Shore boardwalk into my house and make sausage and peppers for lunch.

Sausage & Peppers

To pierce or not to pierce?
Most cookbooks will tell you not to pierce sausage before you cook it, because the juices run out, but guess what? If you don't pierce them, the skin splits and the juices run anyway, so go ahead and pierce.

Cook the sausages first in a skillet. Get them good and brown on each side and try not to burn them. Then turn the heat way low, cover, and cook for about 5-10 minutes on each side until they're cooked through.

Take the sausages out of the skillet and set aside.

Slice the green peppers (and onion if you want) long-ways. Cook in the same skillet, in the sausage fat, at high heat, tossing often to prevent burning. Cook until soft.

Return the sausages to the skillet and mix thoroughly with the peppers and onions. Cover and let sit until ready to eat.

Best served on a good Italian roll.