What in the Dickens? A look at my favorite Christmas Film

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What in the Dickens? A look at my favorite Christmas Film

In October of 1843, the literary genius Charles Dickens sat down to embark on what was in its original intent a cold, calculated business venture, intended to offset impending financial losses. While his previous works, The Pickwick Papers and The Old Curiosity Shop had risen to meteoric levels of sales and positive critical acclaim, other works like Barnaby Rudge and Martin Chuzzlewit had conversely registered numbers far less in magnitude than the author had originally expected. This left Dickens slightly bewildered and uncomfortable--and somewhat compromised—as his business partners of the day were tightening the pressure on him to produce a palatable work. And one that would make it to press by that December. He had absolutely no idea how deep an emotional chord his little story would strike with the ordinary citizen—a simple story of redemption. Today, I would like to discuss what is arguably the most famous of all the works of Charles Dickens—A Christmas Carol—and a few of it’s cinematic offshoots, adaptations and transmogrifications. On Box Number Seven.

Bus Number 17--The Horror in Proberta

November 30th, 1921, Over 100 years ago—a rural town in northern California was engaged in the mid-season holiday machinations. People baking pies, making presents and generally enjoying the wintry intermission between Thanksgiving and the upcoming Christmas celebrations. What was a normal foggy winter morning--would become a moment that was so horrible, that there is no way to recall the moments without invoking the carnage that ensued.—the moment that a school carriage containing 15 souls would intersect with an oncoming train, killing nearly everyone, many of them instantly—the horrific nature of the scene—a a scene that technically reverberates right through the ledger lines of school-bus protocol to this day.

Once upon a Casino Fire

35 year old Claude Nobs had no idea that simple act of heroism in a 1971 fire would echo so long. Hope you like it Thank you to Dino Jelusick for the opening liner promo.

Swinging in the Wind: The Lynching of the Ruggles Brothers

In May of 1892, John and Charles Ruggles conspired to rob a Wells Fargo Stagecoach just outside Shasta Ca. A man would be killed in the process and by July a clandestine community of men would circumvent the judicial process. Right or wrong, the moment cast a pall over California--as the photographic remnant would be disseminated worldwide. Further speculation about there the stolen gold was, might be or is goes on every today. On this episode, I am joined by Ryan McCloskey, most recently appearing on Discovery Channel's Expedition Unknown with Josh Gates, to discuss the dispositional theories of the loot. Inquires about the information accrued, interviews or so forth can be sent to boxnumberseven@yahoo.com [boxnumberseven@yahoo.com] Ryan McCloskey can be found on Instagram: @Redding_cemetery_tours Ryna was featured on Discovery Channel's "Expedition Uknown". The Great Gold Rush Shootout.