DIVER DAN - Episode 15 - "An Unusual Fish" (1961)

Tonight's post X-mas Wacky Wednesday post is called "Diver Dan" and was a very short kid's TV show that ran for one season in 1961. The fish with the cigarette in it's mouth is classic!

Although "Diver Dan" should have been completely in my wheelhouse, I do not remember this series at all! Not even a tiny bit!

I see they've got episodes numbered up all the way to number 102, but it looks like there was only 35 of them, and there's not much info on most of them. This episode titled "An Unusual Fish" was episode number 15!

Each episode of "Diver Dan" was about seven minutes long, so there's not a whole Helluva lot going on at any given time! Frank Freda was Diver Dan!

Dan's just tromping around at the bottom of the sea in his diving suit, and talking to some fish with names like The Captain!

The unusual fish in the title is this guy named Horace! He's an old friend of The Captain's, and a fish unlike anything Dan has ever seen before!

In fact, Horace is so unusual, Dan decides to take a picture of him!

The queen of the sea, this mermaid was played by Suzanne Turner. Neither Suzanne or Frank Freda have any other acting credits!

I don't know what it is with me and puppets lately, but they seem to be popping up all over the place for some reason!

Episode 15 is about a continuing trial for nefarious bad guy fish Baron Barracuda who has been accused of all kinds of crimes, but mostly, he's just a two bit thief! Since he is a newcomer to the scene and should in impartial, Horace is asked by the mermaid to be the Judge in the case!

The whole concept of underwater marionettes is pretty fascinating, and they actually do a pretty good job with it!

I love how they have Baron Baracuda held captive with a ball and chain!

Here's an album I actually don't have, but if you're interested in all sorts of different music, check out my new store front on Discogs. I only have a little over 150 records listed so far, but if I ever get done, it will be in the thousands. Just like "Diver Dan," it's been fun thus far, so, if you like good music, come on by and see for yourself!

SON OF TABONGA! XMAS MONSTER LAFFS!

This is the funniest stuff I could come up with for your Xmas present, more Tabonga! Xmas Laffs. And especially this year, we all could use a big laff or two, so, here we go!..

Hope your funny bone got satisfied, Eegah!! will be here on Wednesday with more funny stuff, so, like, be there or be a trapezoid...

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS (1953)

Well, this is my last Ho, Ho, Ho film of this X-Mas season, and I've got to tell you, it actually is a Saturday Night Special event, but hold on, because now comes the boring part where I tell you why!

Puppets can be pretty creepy, and this film is no exception, except these Mabel Beaton Marionettes are pretty amazing looking. Gerry Anderson could have learned a thing or two about details from Mabel Beaton. I looked around but I really couldn't find that much more info about Mabel. She was the writer and the director of "The Spirit Of Christmas" too, but that seems to be her only credit. She also was an author who wrote a book titled "The Complete Book Of Marionettes." So I guess it's time to quote Procol Harum,
"Mabel, Mabel, please get off the kitchen table!"

Look at these Bell telephone workers going to town back in the time when there was a work ethic!

They are making books in braille for the unfortunate blind children of the world!

Since it's for blind kids, they add touch and feel objects! I'm just not quite sold on the whole dead mouse thing!

"The Spirit Of Christmas" is divided into two halves! The first half is a blow by blow re-telling of "Twas The Night Before Christmas" by the author Clement Moore!

 Santa is on the way!

Mom looks like a Lucy who has been up for a while on an all-nighter!

"While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads!"

Where these freaky ginger bread men cookies fit into the deal, I have no idea!

"Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash."

Part two is all about the birth of Jesus Christ! This is Mary!

This is a beggar who tells Joseph and Mary where they can go since there's no room at the inn. So just in case you're ever wondering why the homeless population is so out of control these days, just remember there were people living on the streets over 2000 years ago, so it's no wonder it's a problem today!

Joseph and Mary arrive at the manger.

The wise men show up, and I think it's pretty cool that back in 1953, they made one of the wise men black! Think about it, and it only makes sense!

Look at Mabel's shepherd puppets! They look like real people!

Anyway, I think that in 1953, the fact that a major corporation approached Christmas from both the Santa and the Jesus angles was pretty open-minded and amazing, cause...

"What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?" - Elvis Costello

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 I hope the spirit of Christmas shines down upon you and

"May your days be merry and bright!"

THE OUTER LIMITS / Season 1 Episode 12 "The Borderland" - 1963

Here's a little stocking stuffer for a Friday... In this story, scientists are working on a machine that can create new dimensions and possibly contact the afterlife, they convince a wealthy man to finance their experiments with the possibility of contacting his dead son.

It stars Philip (THE INVISIBLE BOY) Abbott, Gladys (THE BLACK CAT) Cooper, Nina (CRY OF THE WEREWOLF) Foch, Barry (THE MAGIC BOX) Jones and Mark (AGENT FOR H.A.R.M.) Richman.

Here are Professor Ian Fraser, his wife Eva and Lincoln Russell, they have gone to the house of the wealthy Dwight Hartley to discuss a deal to fund their effort to reach into the fifth dimension, where, they say it's possible to communicate with his beloved dead son. Luckily, the scientists will receive their funding as requested after Ian shows Mr. Hartley this!..

After Ian accidentally stuck his left hand into the magnetic field during an experiment, it's a right hand after he pulled it out... McWeirdsville!!

Anyway, the scientists get a sweet set up inside a super duper power plant, now there's plenty of electricity to proceed with the show!

Before Ian steps into the dimensional field though, they use a lab rat to test the machine. There are phasing problems that have to be resolved...

And at one point, the poor rat explodes!!.. Not a good omen for Ian.

They finally iron out many of the problems with the machine and it's ready to go. Ian speaks with Hartley about his son before he tries to enter another dimension.

So, awaaay we go!!..... Ian enters the dimension with much discomfort and tries to describe what he's seeing and feeling!

Here's Mrs. Palmer and her helper, they decide to (sub plot) sabotage the experiment and they send things into a tail spin! Ian cannot hear so Eva writes out messages for him.

Here, Ian tells them that he seems to be on an alien planet!

Eva gets into the mix and things get super crazy! She tries to reach for Ian through the field.

As you can plainly see, Ian's having one Hell of a time!!

Eva screams for Lincoln to.. PRESS THE GODDAMN BUTTON!!.. And, he does!

Okay, this one doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense, but, it's lots of fun to watch! Ian gets his left hand back but Mr. Hartley bites the dust... Check back tomorrow when Eegah!! spreads his XMAS cheer!!