Best Ruby Spears Podcasts (2025)

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130 SPECIAL - The Flintstone Kids 'Just Say No' 1:14:55

3d ago1:14:55

1:14:55

Send us a text Back in the 1980s, everyone, and I mean everyone, was trying to spread one simple message: Drugs Are Bad! There were a ton of PSAs telling kids to leave narcotics alone. Celebrities said to stay clean, and networks invested in one off specials to keep kids from taking one toke over the line. Or any tokes for that matter. Here now is …

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Record of Lodoss War (Madhouse Inc, 1990) 59:40

4d ago59:40

59:40

Unbeknownst to a much younger James, Western sword and sorcery tropes, motifs were a big deal in gaming in 1980s Japan, and from that wellspring would arise one of the most enduring fantasy franchises in that nation. Record of Lodoss War has it all: goblins, dragons, wizards, thieves, and leggy Elvish women that a young Pemmy fell in love with. So …

1
173: Stripper Wars: Chippendales’ Glamour, Greed & MURDER?! 56:54

5d ago56:54

56:54

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! For some reason, female nudity feels *way* more common than male nudity. In pop culture at least, we’re way more used to seeing women being naked and sexualized. Think how many times you see titties on tv. And then think about how everyone loses their minds when there’s a penis on HBO or White Lotus. It’s rare! Back in …

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172: Earthquakes: From Human Sacrifice to Nuclear Disaster… Is the Big One Coming?? 1:03:42

13d ago1:03:42

1:03:42

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Do you guys remember earthquake drills? I grew up in California… So earthquake drills were just part of my life growing up. It seemed like we did earthquake drills nonstop. And despite that, I can never seem to remember what to do during an earthquake. Like, do I go to a doorway? Do I hide under a desk? Do I stop, drop,…

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129 SPECIAL - Drugs R Bad 52:04

17d ago52:04

52:04

Send us a text Back in the 1980s, there was a problem: Drugs! There was an effort to shelter the kids from the threat. There was an effort to equip them against peer pressure. Here now are the Top Ten Anti-Drug PSAs from the 80s. See how many you remember, and thanks for 'tooning in.By Christopher Jay

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X-Men Evolution (Film Roman & Marvel Studios, 2000-2003) 1:23:22

18d ago1:23:22

1:23:22

It's the X-Men as most kids hadn't seen them before at the dawn of the 21st Century, as teenagers! With the Fox cartoon so fresh in people's minds, this was a way to get a new angle on these now pretty well-known characters, and a match made in heaven for the youth market-oriented WB Network. But as one of the "middle child" adaptations of this fra…

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171: Walmart: From American dream to American NIGHTMARE 1:05:54

26d ago1:05:54

1:05:54

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Do you guys remember that movie “Where the Heart Is?” It’s all about this girl who secretly moves into the store without anyone noticing, then she gives birth in the mattress department… and again, no one notices… It stars Natalie Portman, it’s great. When I was a kid and I saw this movie, it was 100% believable to me. …

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128 SPECIAL - Danger Mouse (UK) 56:30

1M ago56:30

56:30

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: A secret agent mouse lives in a human world where he might be stepped on or eek-ed at, at any moment. But he’s the world’s only chance of stopping the evil Baron Silas Greenback from world domination. Though, he would probably make a lovely dominatrix. Here now is the story of how this silly spy show came t…

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The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (Hanna Barbera, 1969) 56:50

1M ago56:50

56:50

The Hooded Claw is ransoming this podcast description to lure Penelope Pitstop into yet another one of his traps, so I'll keep this one brief: it's the writing of Michael Maltese, the voices of Janet Waldo and Paul Lynde, and one of the most memorable women of animation in the 1960s, all coming together for a true cult classic. Please join us, and …

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170: The Shocking Truth About Dairy: Why are we really drinking milk? 1:02:02

1M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! As a country, America has always had a complicated relationship with dairy. One month we hate it, the next month, some weird cottage cheese recipe goes viral, and we’re all over it again. But here's something I thought was a little strange. You never hear about dairy farmers or the dairy industry going bankrupt. It made…

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169: The Headlines called it “Justice,” In Reality it was a MASSACRE 41:11

1M ago41:11

41:11

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! You know, after living in Los Angeles for a few years, I’ve learned a lot. Like, for example, if you tell people you live in LA, the first thing they ask about is celebrities. Who have I seen? What were they like? Am I friends with Kris Jenner? It’s always the same question. LA is huge and a lot of people don’t realize …

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S10E10 The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy 1:02:37

1M ago1:02:37

1:02:37

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: A group of ragged animals come to life when their kid has her back turned. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know this one. The toys come to life and run away, only to almost get blown to bits my the kid next door. This sounds like it’s going to be a real toy story… in an antiquated way. Here now is the story of how this…

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The Mighty Heroes (Terrytoons, 1966-1967) 41:12

2M ago41:12

41:12

And as a raven shouts defiance, the call goes out for the mightiest heroes of all! ... so how did these five guys wind up being the ones to answer it?? A break-out success for Ralph Bakshi in the 1960s, the Mighty Heroes were a bunch of cartoon cut-ups who wouldn't make the cut for the Great Lakes Avengers! It's up and away with this formative supe…

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168: Britain's FIRST Female Serial Killer & A Gangster Mastermind??: DH of MOMSTERS 59:44

2M ago59:44

59:44

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! The other day I was watching Monster In Law - remember that movie? It starred J Lo, her character falls in love with this dream guy, they get engaged, and everything is perfect until… she meets her mother-in-law. The mother in law is played by Jane Fonda by the way, she’s so good in it. And the whole movie is essentiall…

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S10E09 Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series 1:25:15

2M ago1:25:15

1:25:15

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: A community of imaginary creatures band together to teach lessons of sharing, caring and interdependency. No, not “The Smurfs”. No, not “Care Bears”. Boy, the 80s were full of this trope. Here now is the story of how this Fraggle-tastic show came to Saturday Morning. Is it possible to dance your cares away?…

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Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (Walt Disney TV Animation, 1989) 1:37:43

2M ago1:37:43

1:37:43

To follow up DuckTales, did Disney think bigger? Nope, they thought smaller. Rodent size, in fact, by returning Chip and Dale to prominence with a 65 episode run of high adventure in tiny spaces. It's pompous feline crime bosses, nefarious cults centered around soda, and one lady mouse that some people are still strangely fond of, all in this episo…

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167: Wendy & Britney: Hollywood Hostages? The DH of Conservatorships 50:54

2M ago50:54

50:54

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! I love Wendy Williams. She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and “she is the moment.” From 2008 to 2021 Wendy hosted over 2,000 episodes of her show, got an Emmy nomination for best host, and honestly gave us some of the best memes and clips of all time. Then, in 2021, Wendy kind of… Vanished. No one really said what was going…

1
SPECIAL - The Banana Splits Adventure Hour 1:55:28

2M ago1:55:28

1:55:28

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: A dog, a monkey, a lion and an elephant walk into a bar… No, wait. They form a band. Thank goodness, the other one ends in the missionary position. I mean, with them being in position to become missionaries. You know what, let’s start over. Okay, so here’s the story: Someone dropped some ‘shrooms and watche…

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166: The Shocking Sex Scandals Behind This Infamous Dictator 1:07:10

2M ago1:07:10

1:07:10

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Julius Caesar...military genius, fashion icon, drama queen, and oh yeah—murdered by 60 of his coworkers. We've all heard the name before. Maybe you think of togas, Caesar salads (not from him btw), or that phrase "Beware the Ides of March." Whatever that means. But Caesar’s real story? Lemme tell you... way messier than…

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S10E08 Lazer Tag Academy 1:11:03

2M ago1:11:03

1:11:03

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: Kids from the future must partner with their ancestors in the 1980s to fight a super powerful criminal. Which sounds like just the thing kids should be doing. Then again, in the 1980s, we were allowed to go out all day and do whatever as long as we were back before dark. And that was in the day and age of M…

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Dog City (The Jim Henson Company & Nelvana, 1992-1994) 1:34:36

2M ago1:34:36

1:34:36

Detective work in the cartoon world is a dog-eat-dog racket. Ace Hart, Private Eye, he'd know. This animated German Shepherd deals with every case thrown at him by his animator Eliot Shag, and even has the nerve to talk back if it's not going so great. Yup, it's a fusion of animation and puppetry courtesy of Nelvana and the Jim Henson Company with …

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165: The Psychotic Actor & Assassin Who Killed America’s Favorite President 42:51

3M ago42:51

42:51

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! There are some things from history class that just stick in my brain. Mostly… the murders. I’m sure this isn’t surprising to anyone. Like JFK getting shot in his car. Or… Julius Caesar getting stabbed in the back. And, for some reason I always remembered that Abraham Lincoln was shot in a theater. I always thought, “wow…

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Transformers Animated (Cartoon Network Studios & Hasbro, 2007-2009) 1:21:35

3M ago1:21:35

1:21:35

After post-apocalyptic beasts, a cosmic trilogy and a successful feature film, the Transformers return to animation like never before! Quite literally as Transformers Animated has as much in common with shows like Ben 10 and Teen Titans as it does past iterations of the franchise. And yet it worked so very well, becoming one of the more loved itera…

1
S10E07 The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show 2:02:03

3M ago2:02:03

2:02:03

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: A group of characters in their 50s get together to have comedic adventures and explore life. No, not “The Golden Girls”. Though Foghorn Leghorn would make an awesome Dorothy. Hmmm… Warner Bros, what’s stopping you from producing a Looney Tunes / Golden Girls remake? Oh, that’s right. Your taxes. Here now is…

1
Gay Purr-ee (UPA, 1962) 59:49

3M ago59:49

59:49

It's the only animated appearance by Judy Garland! It's the movie that got Chuck Jones fired from Warner Bros! It's... a box office flop. Gay Purr-ee is a fascinating movie both by its circumstances and the fantastic artwork that went into it, and Krissi helps James on a journey to 1890s Paris through the eyes of a starstruck Mewsette. Best enjoyed…

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164: When Jokes Turn DEADLY - The Most SHOCKING Pranks Gone WRONG 40:42

3M ago40:42

40:42

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! You know what I love more than anything? A good prank. A perfectly timed jumpscare that makes someone pee their pants a little bit? I live for it. But I went back and I was looking at some famous pranks throughout history… And I realized, a lot of pranks go *too* far. Either because the pranker gets carried away, or bec…

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163: Mobsters, Britney Spears, and the Raiders?! The TWISTED Identity of Las Vegas 53:12

3M ago53:12

53:12

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! The other day I was invited to a bachelorette party. And it wasn’t one of those simple, one day parties. NO. This was going to be an all-out, wild, expensive bachelorette weekend in… the city of Las Vegas. And I knew exactly what was going to happen. The shots. Thunder from Down Under. $300 dinners. No sleep. And I’m li…

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S10E06 Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears 1:06:40

3M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: A pack of legendary bears inhabit a royal forest. They’ve stayed hidden from humans for a thousand years, but are found now because… it’s convenient for the show? Here now is the story of how this bouncy show came to Saturday Morning. What was the origin of this show? Did the studios have a village creature…

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Q*Bert (Part of the Saturday Supercade, Ruby-Spears, 1983-1984) 1:06:49

3M ago1:06:49

1:06:49

The filthiest language ever on Saturday mornings! Q*Bert hopped out of the arcades and into a pastiche of Happy Days courtesy of Ruby Spears, for a cartoon that was... just kind of mostly there. Atari Archives creator and frequent Retronauts host Kevin Bunch joins Pemmy, Krissi and James to talk about the game, the show, and the circumstances surro…

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162: Secrets of the Bloodthirsty Women Who Ruled the Sea 45:08

3M ago45:08

45:08

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! All great rulers at some point had to deal with the people who had the real power… pirates. I know. It sounds like a joke. But it’s true. For centuries, pirates were a huge power to be reckoned with. They didn’t follow any rules, they were violent, unpredictable, and there were tens of thousands of them just waiting to …

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S10E05 Pink Panther and Sons 1:06:06

4M ago1:06:06

1:06:06

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: A non-verbal pink cat has two sons to carry on his family name: Panther! Unlike their dad, they’re not into stealing diamonds, Peter Sellers, or the Inspector. They’re about having fun in the 80s, hanging out with their friends the Rainbow Panthers, and being part of the Marvel Universe. [beat] You didn’t k…

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World War 2 Propaganda (Multiple Studios, 1942-1945) 1:06:35

4M ago1:06:35

1:06:35

Is this trip really necessary? Or rather, is this podcast a little too of the moment?? Well, half of it, anyway. The animation industry became pitchmen for rationing, selling war bonds and other ways to help our men and women overseas during World War 2, while also taking every pot shot the Hayes Code would allow them to at the fascist powers we we…

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161: Saving Millions or Making us SICK?? The Shocking Truth Behind Vaping 51:03

4M ago51:03

51:03

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Even though it’s super controversial, it seems like everyone is vaping these days. If you’ve ever watched my FYP videos, you know that I like to take a hit of the devil’s lettuce from a vape pen. But every time I post one of those videos, without fail, someone is like, [annoying voice] “vaping is so bad for you!” or “he…

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160: ICON, Sex Kitten, and BLACKLISTED?! WTF happened to Eartha Kitt 49:58

4M ago49:58

49:58

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Most celebrities are lucky to be known for one big thing. But some are famous for different things, across multiple generations. To me, those are the icons. And one of those people is Eartha Kitt. A lot of millennials recognize her as the voice of Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove, that animated movie with the llama? B…

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S10E04 Pryor's Place 1:01:32

4M ago1:01:32

1:01:32

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: A very adult comedian, one of the writers on “Blazing Saddles”, gets a Saturday Morning show aimed at kids. It was only a few years after he set himself on fire, and after he became one of the highest paid actors ever. He was still a box office success, so… who gave him a kid’s show? Here now is the story o…

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Bailey's Comets (DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, 1973) 57:09

4M ago57:09

57:09

Would you believe that in 1973, Evel Knievel wasn't done in by a motorcycle accident but a bunch of bumbling roller skaters? Bailey's Comets, another DePatie-Freleng production conceived by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, attempted to out-do Wacky Races in every regard. More characters! More teams for these characters! More outlandish situations! More mem…

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159: Sadism, Sex Potions, & Deer Musk?? History’s Most Disturbing Aphrodisiacs 45:47

4M ago45:47

45:47

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Since ancient times, people have sought out aphrodisiacs—those mysterious foods, herbs, and even animal parts thought to ignite desire, spark passion, and awaken romance. But do these so-called love enhancers really work? Are they based on science or just the stuff of legend? And what’s the strangest aphrodisiac ever us…

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S10E03 The Biskitts 55:41

5M ago55:41

55:41

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: Imagine a village of little creatures that are hidden from humans. They have their own way of speaking, and there are very few girls. If it sounds like a recipe for success, it was… Just not for this show. But it worked like gangbusters for their cousins from Belgium. Here now is the story of how this dog-g…

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Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles (Hanna Barbera, 1966) 52:09

5M ago52:09

52:09

Rally Ho and away we go! As Hanna Barbera entered their first, brief action/adventure phase, their old comedic roots would still be showing with this particular series at the same time. Thus you had the boisterous Ted Cassidy-voiced Frankenstein Jr bellowing his way through madcap monster battles while the Impossibles took on various eccentric crim…

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158: The Disturbing Truth About Amelia Earhart’s Final Flight: The Mystery That Haunts History 44:53

5M ago44:53

44:53

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! We all know who Amelia Earhart was. You know, she was a really famous pilot, who set a bunch of records and I discovered… disappeared without a trace. Officially, no one knows what happened to Amelia, her plane,or the man who was on board with her. But boy oh boy, are there theories. So many theories. And surprisingly… …

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157: The Painkiller Problem: How Fentanyl Took Over America 41:08

5M ago41:08

41:08

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Last year I had a surgery so that I could breathe again, and it’s been nice, thanks for asking! I love breathing. But when I was in the hospital, the doctors gave me some really strong pain medication. I asked what it was, and the doctor told me it was fentanyl. At first I was like..fentanyl??? Doesn't that kill everyon…

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S10E02 The Scooby & Scrappy / Puppy Hour 1:27:23

5M ago1:27:23

1:27:23

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: A pack of dogs travel the world in search of the boy they love. While they knew where he was going, they divert to exotic locations and have the adventures that only happen on Saturday Morning. They didn’t get togo to space, so I give them extra points. Here now is the story of how this barking mad show cam…

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Garfield and Friends Part 2: US Acres (Film Roman, 1988-1994) 1:11:40

5M ago1:11:40

1:11:40

In-between Garfield's own segments was US Acres, a short subject series based on Jim Davis' other, less widespread comic series. The tales of Orson, Roy, Wade, Bo, Lanolin, Booker and Sheldon got pretty popular as part of the show, outlasting the comic they were based on by a good few years, and giving the show's team vehicles for more gags that wo…

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156: Pranks, Blackmail, and Perverts: America’s Weirdest Presidents 43:23

5M ago43:23

43:23

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! History books put presidents on a pedestal. We think of them as these untouchable heroes. In school we learn about what made them good leaders… What their big achievements were. How they handled war. Disasters. Terrorist attacks. But what about the weird stuff they did that no one talks about? I’m talkin’ their quirks a…

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155: Urine Beer, Insulin Comas, and Ozempic: the DH of Diabetes 41:11

6M ago41:11

41:11

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Diabetes is a disease that’s been around for thousands and thousands of years. Literally, since the neanderthals were walking around, painting in caves. Recently, I went to the doctor. And something happened. I had to pee in a cup, you know, pretty routine. But my doctor came back with this look on his face and he was l…

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Tony J on Willie Moore Jr Show 4:37

6M ago4:37

4:37

Exciting news! I was honored to be interviewed on The Willie Moore Jr. Show alongside my good friend AJ Joiner! The interview airs nationwide TODAY at 4 PM EST—tune in on 100.9 in Charlotte, 102.5 in Atlanta, and over 30 other Urban One major markets! Willie Moore, Jr. words inspired me in ways I can’t fully express, and I’m truly grateful to God f…

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S10E01 Trollkins 58:59

6M ago58:59

58:59

Send us a text Okay, so here’s the story: Imagine a village of little creatures that are hidden from humans. They have their own way of speaking, and there are very few girls. If it sounds like a recipe for success, it was… Just not for this show. But it worked like gangbusters for their cousins from Belgium. Here now is the story of how this troll…

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Garfield and Friends, Part 1: The Title Tabby (Film Roman, 1988-1994) 1:01:03

6M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

Arguably the magnum opus of both Jim Davis and Mark Evanier, Garfield and Friends entertained audiences and pushed cartoon writing into some genuinely funny places it hadn't really gone since the heyday of Jay Ward. It's held up remarkably well, and our hosts look at four of their favorite short segments that star the fat cat himself. Tune in for U…

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SPECIAL - The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire 1:24:07

6M ago1:24:07

1:24:07

Send us a text Back in 1989, we all got the warm and fuzzy feels when Christmas came around. It was a time to reflect before the year ended, binge Christmas movies, and think of others. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. And then it got even more wonderfuller. There was a new family on the block, and they believed in spouses lying to…

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A Charlie Brown Christmas (Lee Mendelson Film Productions, 1965) and Christmas Comes to Pacland (Hanna-Barbera, 1982) 1:25:11

6M ago1:25:11

1:25:11

Tis the season for hot chocolate, presents under the tree, goodwill to all men and women, and... colorful ghost monsters?? It's the timelessness of A Charlie Brown Christmas, contrasted with the VERY "of its time" Christmas Comes to Pac-Land. One of these aired for years upon years on network TV until just very recently. One of these was reran at 3…

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