MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE WEBSITES, FINDS, ETC. FROM EVERYTHING CROTON

To the right--Sylvain's lovely Christmas tree and village--the houses aren't cardboard but we love it all the same. The tree is followed by another shot from Matthew Und's 2015 Christmas decorations--love the new and very large putz church. And then, a 1947 ad for the thrilling kissing bracelet!

Click on the photos and enjoy.

And here's a wonderful German Smoker - courtesy of Toys and Stuff - Erzgebirge Wooden Postman 'Smoker'- Blogger's everywhere who celebrate Christmas are probably sharing their favorite Christmas tchotchke's and knickknacks just as we've been doing since starting our blog. This little guy however is one of those decorations that can be used all year 'round. It's an incense burner; see this neat smoker and more here http://bit.ly/1QZwYxc

CollectionsEtc. is having their annual after Christmas sale. We always manage to find something neat!

Now admittedly there's quite bit here you won't have an interest in but every now and then you'll spot the perfect accessory for your village--or something that can be re-purposed or trashbashed--and at some of these prices...Check it out for yourself collectionsetc.com/

So we have a friend who swears that next year--hook or crook--she's getting an old fashioned tinsel tree...

Well check them out in just about every color at Mister Nostalgia--for the moment at least--some of these are bound to go fast misternostalgia.zoovy.com and...

Mister Nostalgia also carries new putz houses being made today--and old stock Radko putz houses as well http://bit.ly/1OyJPFQ

Want more vintage? Go here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/09/more-fabulous-vintage-websites-finds_29.html

p.s. For fans of the very handsome and very talented George Chakiras  http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-very-talented-george-chakiras.html

And...for those who'd like to keep their trains out for more than the Christmas Season--Trains and Villages for Every Season http://bigchristmastrains.com/all_season/allseasonhtml.htm 

THE VERY TALENTED GEORGE CHAKIRAS, IMPORTED FROM THE U.S.A. - COURTESY OF EUROPEAN FILM STAR POSTCARDS

A real treat from our friends at EUROPEAN FILM STAR POSTCARDS--and one of our favorite 60's actors:

IMPORTED FROM THE U.S.A. - GEORGE CHAKIRAS (click on the photo)

American dancer, singer and actor George Chakiris (1934) had his biggest success as Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks gang in the celebrated film musical West Side Story (1961). Later he starred with Catherine Deneuve in another classic, the charming French musical Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (1967).

READ AND SEE MUCH MORE HERE http://filmstarpostcards.blogspot.nl/2015/12/imported-from-usa-george-chakiris.html

MORE FROM ROB & MONICA, VINTAGE FINDS, AMAZING TRAIN LAYOUT, OLD-FASHIONED TOWN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION ETC.

And now...the latest adventures of Rob and Monica--as they get caught up with their postings for 2015...

There are some great finds as they go "saling"---and photos from the annual Old Fashioned Babylon Village Christmas Night (this town REALLY knows how to celebrate)--a wonderful train layout--click on the photo--Santa Claus--and much more. Click on the link for the latest from Rob and Monica and their Adventures Amongst the Ducks: 

http://www.ouradventuresamongsttheducks.blogspot.com/2015/12/december-begins.html

CROTON 1941: NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE NEW TUMBLE INN

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

COURTESY OF AN EVERYTHING CROTON ELVE: 

1941 - NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE  NEW TUMBLE INN. 

Click on the photo.

MORE VINTAGE CHRISTMAS GOODNESS, WWI, FROM THE DECEMBER 1916 DEUTSCH-AMERIKA MAGAZINE

As promised...more from Deutsch-Amerika---first, here's the back-story again--From back in August of this year: We've acquired a bound volume of German magazines called Deutsch-Amerika. According to USMBOOKS, they're rare issues of the German language weekly magazine, DEUTSCH-AMERIKA published in New York during World War I. Naturally, the magazine was quite pro-German before the US entered the war, then softened its stance as the war went on. You can read more here www.usmbooks.com/deutsch-amerika.html 

UPDATED TODAY: MORE VINTAGE CHRISTMAS GOODNESS FROM the December 15, 1916 edition. Click on the photos below. Needless to say we're looking forward to sharing more in the months ahead; many of the photos have English translations; there are also some great ads, and wonderful Christmas items to come.

YOU CAN SEE SOME MORE PAST SCANS FROM THIS EDITION IN MY FLICKR ALBUM https://www.flickr.com/photos/22283683@N07/albums/72157662917573005

LUKOIL IN HARMON TO BECOME SUNOCO STATION

For some time now, an anonymous commenter has repeatedly stated that the Lukoil gas station "across the street from Anton's" had "wisely elected to put up a mixed use apartment complex on the property". In the absence of any documentation verifying these claims, the comments were not posted. If you have heard these rumors...they are simply not true.

As you can see from the photo taken today, the Lukoil gas station is becoming a Sunoco station, not a "mixed use apartment complex", same owners. Click on the photo.

FOR FANS OF THE DON SIMONS FUNTIME BAND...

CONCERT MOVED TO ASBURY METHODIST, SAME TIMES; HOLY NAME HAS NO HEAT

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

FANS OF THE DON SIMONS FUNTIME BAND will be pleased to hear that they are doing the "pre-show" starting at 2 pm--before the Cortlandt Chamber Orchestra's performance at the free New Year's Day Concert at Holy Name of Mary, 3 pm. (Click on the photo.)

TOP 3 FAVE POSTS FROM ROB & MONICA'S 2015 ADVENTURES AMONGST THE DUCKS

Yes, it's a new tradition at Everything Croton:

Your Top 3 Favorite posts from 2015's OUR ADVENTURES AMONGST THE DUCKS!  But first...Click on the photo for Rob and Monica's Christmas greetings!  And now...drumroll please...

1) ABOUT THAT ORANGE COUCH, AN UPDATE ROM ROB & MONICA http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/09/and-about-that-orange-couch_8.html

2) ROB, MONICA, AND THE LATE ANITA DARIEN http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/03/rob-monica-anita-darian-christmas-in.html

3) ROB & MONICA, DIAL SANTA, AND MORE ADVENTURES AMONGST THE DUCKS http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/05/rob-monica-dial-santa-more-adventures.html

RAPHAEL TUCK & SONS

Vintage Christmas postcard collectors can usually count at least one printed by Raphael Tuck in their scrapbooks...that company produced some of the best! (Click on the photo). But they also did much more than that....

So...your editor was delighted to receive a link this morning from one of the elves that tells the history of Raphael Tuck & Sons, courtesy of  our friends of European Film Star Postcards; check it out at http://filmstarpostcards.blogspot.com/2012/11/raphael-tuck-and-sons.html

MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE WEBSITES, FINDS, ETC. FROM EVERYTHING CROTON

So much to show you as the countdown begins...

To the right and in excellent condition, a Walt Disney Christmas coloring book from 1953, courtesy of  Rossano aka Bud Care--he has an outstanding photo collection of vintage Disney ephemera and more you just have to see; click on the link http://bit.ly/1kemxXN

That's followed by the 1954 WESTINGHOUSE DECORATING IDEAS booklet--with an emphasis on commercial application--a'la those gorgeous exterior department store windows we can still see in some places today--but not as much as there used to be; see the whole booklet here http://bit.ly/1S7yFaM

And finally...another scene from Dianne's amazing 2015 Christmas putz (yep I've been leaving off  the "e" for some reason!) There are more of those very early vintage Made in Japan houses we all know and covet! 

Click on the photos and enjoy!

See more of Dianne's village here http://bit.ly/1m63cKh

For those asking about the status of your editor's "trashbashed" Fisher Price Noah's Ark, it's almost there! Stay tuned.

And once again, the latest edition of THE CHRISTMAS TIMES(TM) is online and here are some links your editor has really enjoyed:

--Yes, we had a few of these---Remembering our "shoestring" Christmases http://tinyurl.com/q8a8tso 

--Why I Need Christmas http://tinyurl.com/qj5c25x

THE TOP THREE MOST READ 2015 CROTON ROTARY ARTICLES AT EVERYTHING CROTON

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton-on-Hudson: our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship -- in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

EVERYTHING CROTON'S ANNUAL "TOP MOST READ" LISTS FOR 2015 BEGIN...

TOP 3 MOST READ 2015 CROTON ROTARY ARTICLES AT EVERYTHING CROTON

#1
2015 CROTON ROTARY CAR SHOW 
--PART 1 http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/10/photos-from-2015-croton-rotary-car-show.html
--PART 2 http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/10/part-two-photos-from-2015-croton-rotary.html

#2
1961, GERALD WALD ADDRESSES CROTON ROTARY http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/06/1961-gerald-wald-addresses-croton-rotary.html

#3
1971, CROTON ROTARY, SPECIAL GUARD FOR $34,000 STAMP http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/09/1971-croton-rotary-special-guard-for.html

HONORABLE MENTION
2015 CROTON ROTARY DELIVERS 160 TURKEYS TO FOOD PANTRY  http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/11/2015-croton-rotary-delivers-160-turkeys.html

RESULTS MAYCLIM TOURNEY 2015

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton-on-Hudson: our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship -- in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

With thanks to Patricia Lynch for the update: Croton took the lead late in the 4th quarter but could not hold on. The Carmel Rams won the championship game 45-43.  It was a great battle from two evenly matched teams. Click on the photo. Garrett Lynch and Charlie Goldberg were named to the All-Tournament team.  The Mayclim family including grandchildren were there to help hand out awards.

MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE WEBSITES, FINDS, ETC. FROM EVERYTHING CROTON

Another wonderful scene from author and fellow collector Antoinette Stockenberg's annual Christmas mantle--featuring very early made in Japan putz houses, a storyline too, and antique zinnfiguren. We don't know she keeps coming up with new and wonderful stories and arrangements each year. but she does!

If you haven't yet seen this year's village, click on the link now--you won't be disappointed: http://www.antoinettestockenberg.com/Putz2015.htm

Antoinette is followed by another marvelous scene from David Montreal's 2015 Christmas decorations; lots of very early glass ornaments here and the addition of vintage/antique dolls and the poodles(!) is very effective.

Click on the photos and enjoy. More's coming!

An oldie but goodie--some scans from the 1915 S&H GREEN STAMP CATALOG http://bit.ly/1YlSSif 

And in case you missed it: the 1885 Edison Electric Scarf Pin! http://bit.ly/1RWc80E 

--THE NEW DECEMBER 2015 EDITION OF PAUL'S THE CHRISTMAS TIMES(TM) IS OUT--and it's filled with neat stuff! READ MORE BELOW. (For reasons of space, your editor here at Everything Croton had to do a little cutting here and there but wanted to call attention to all the holiday goodness!) 

IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome to the December, 2015 issue of The Christmas Times™.

Yes, you just got a newsletter on Nov. 30, but we wanted to say "Hi" one more time before Christmas....We have some fun new reading material this month, and links to some stunning Christmas villages. In the meantime, Paul is drawing up plans for a stable large enough to hold a 6'4" Joseph on our church's platform, Shelia is helping her friend plan a Christmas-day theme luncheon for her family, Wright State's Chamber Chorus in medieval costume and character and other activities and opportunities keep arising.........Topics discussed in this update include:

REMEMBERING OUR SHOESTRING CHRISTMASES - Shelia looks back to several of her favorite Christmas memories. Ironically, they were often during the financially "tough times." Click the link below to go to Shelia's "musing." http://familychristmasonline.com/musings/life_inflation/dec_2015_ponderings.htm 

LIGHT ON A SNOWY DAY - A CHRISTMAS STORY - Widely published children's writer Artie Knapp shares a story about an injured fawn and a little girl who couldn't help wishing she could keep him forever. Click the link below to see Artie's story. http://familychristmasonline.com/stories_other/artie_knapp/light_on_a_snowy_day.htm 

WHY I NEED CHRISTMAS -Paul reviews some reasons people need Christmas, in spite of other folks' opinions on the subject. Click the link below to go to Paul's "musing." http://familychristmasonline.com/musings/needing_christmas/needing_christmas.htm 

PUTZ HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA - The Cardboard Christmas forum hosts discussions of folks who collect, restore, build, and display those cardboard Christmas houses that circled so many Christmas trees between 1929 and the mid-1960s. This year, the forum has exploded with photos from many new contributors. It is just stunning how much charm and interest a few cardboard houses and vintage accessories, carefully arranged, can bring to a quiet corner. Thanks to our contributors Laurie and OkPat for the photos above and to the right. Click the following link and work your way down the page to see display after charming display. http://bit.ly/1mrs3I9

ANTOINETTE STOCKENBERG'S 2015 PUTZ - For an exceptional putz experience, visit novelist Antoinette Stockenberg's 2015 putz. Not only does she arrange her charming village and accessories into a remarkably attractive setting; she also tells the story of most of the little town's citizens.  Click the following link to see this year's putz. http://antoinettestockenberg.com/Putz2015.htm 

SEE THE ENTIRE DECEMBER NEWSLETTER HERE http://familychristmasonline.com/fco_newsletter/15_12_c_times.htm 

KEEP IN TOUCH - Each month, we get more interest in this newsletter, in our Christmas sites, and in the Christmas traditions, ideas, and memories we discuss. We welcome your questions and comments as indicators of what we should be working on next (also, we always try to answer reader questions quickly). In addition, if you have any photos, tips, or articles you'd like to share with your fellow Christmas enthusiasts, please let us know.

BEST WISHES! As always, our hope is that we can continue helping you and your family (as Dickens said of Scrooge):  Honor Christmas in your heart, and "try to keep it all the year."

May God grant you joy and wonder every season of this year, Paul and Shelia Race 

http://www.FamilyChristmasOnline.com 
http://www.CardboardChristmas.com 
http://www.OldChristmasTreeLights.com

BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST, ALL ABOUT THE 1925 SILENT FILM VERSION, FROM EUROPEAN FILM STAR POSTCARDS

Long before there was the 1959 critically acclaimed movie spectacle BEN-HUR with Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd, MGM produced an equally acclaimed 1925 silent film version starring silent screen idols Ramon Navarro and Francis X. Bushmann (click on the photo).

And now, courtesy of our friends at European Film Star Postcards, an extensive history of the film with many beautiful postcards from the period:

BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST -- "Ben-Hur was Ramon Novarro's greatest success. He was promoted by MGM as a 'Latin lover' and became known as sex symbol after the death of Rudolph Valentino. His revealing costumes in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ helped to establish this image."  Read more here.

You can also see the trailer for the silent film version here http://bit.ly/1ZdOfDL

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: THE EDISON ELECTRIC SCARF PIN 1885

Everything Croton continues its very popular series GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN....and so without further ah-doo...

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: THE EDISON ELECTRIC SCARF PIN, 1885..THE GREATEST NOVELTY OF THE AGE!

Click on the ad for all the details. Editor's Note: Check out the price back in 1885--$6.66--a friend says: This electric lamp scarf pin, priced at $6.66 in 1885, was much more than a simple novelty, as it was extremely expensive for the time. Per an online inflation calculator, the buying power of $6 in 1885 compares to $144.23 in 2015 dollars; $7 back then had the 2015 buying power of $168.27. So in today's dollars, it would run around $150, plus or minus. Not something the average woman (or man) would likely be sporting.

WANT MORE GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN? GO HERE FOR THE RARE ORGAPIAN! http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/11/gone-but-not-forgotten-rare-orgapian.html 

MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE WEBSITES, FINDS, ETC. FROM EVERYTHING CROTON

--The lovely Christmas vignette to the right comes to you courtesy of David Montreal. From the vintage and antique ornaments to the little world beneath the feather tree (we just love the dolls and the pup too!), this is a breathtaking and magical holiday scene. Click on the photo and stay tuned for more from David's outstanding vintage Christmas display.

--Fabulous 1930's tinplate: the 1938 Marx US Army Turnover Tank No. 3 http://bit.ly/1lPywN3

--From 1968, a nice find indeed, and in the original box! The blinking peeping Santa blow mold by Empire, again courtesy of David: http://www.oldchristmastreelights.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=180

--A small but very charming putz house display! 14 photos http://www.toyconnect.blogspot.com/2015/12/2015-small-christmas-display.html

--Can't get enough vintage Christmas, movies, everything? Go here http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2015/11/more-fabulous-vintage-websites-finds_28.html 

CONGRATULATIONS AUSTIN CROTEAU, CLASS OF 2015

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton-on-Hudson: our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship -- in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

Congratulations to Austin Croteau, a 2015 Croton Harmon High School graduate, who completed his training with The United States Army in Fort Benning, GA.  Recently his family attended his Turning Blue Ceremony in which he received his blue cord. He has trained very hard these last several months--and the Croteau family is understandably very proud! Photo and content via Daphne Belle.