Welcome to my 100th post on this blog! It's been 6 years since I published the first edition of
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol: The Making of the First Animated Special, which recounted the virtually lost story of two Broadway songwriters, Styne and Merrill, and the once cutting-edge animation studio, UPA, both of whom had an outsized impact on all future animated Christmas specials. The book that no publisher would take on went through two sold-out printings and an out-of-print special commemorative 50th anniversary edition because I decided the story was compelling enough to publish it myself.
I'm sorry to say that the limited print runs have ensured that any edition of the book you can find from third party vendors will now likely be both rare and pricey. However, if you're looking for a special Christmas gift or just want to get the book before it's gone forever, I recently discovered a few treasures in storage so here's your last chance. This is a list of the final remaining inventory:
First printing of the book, signed by the author and 9 of the original cast and crew, #50 of 50: Marie Matthews, Laura Olsher, Jane Kean, Bob Singer, Gloria Wood, David Weidman, Bob Inman, Marty Murphy and Anne Guenther. $199
50th Anniversary Collector's Edition, signed by the author, #204 of 250, #248 of 250. This edition was revised and expanded from the first edition with 48 new pages and over 200 more images. Includes a separate Blu-ray/DVD with bonus material, which features the lost
Overture and one of the song demos played and sung by Styne and Merrill. $175 each.
If you'd like to purchase any of the above items, send me an email at
info@oxberrypress.com. First come, first served.
To all my readers over the years, have a Merry Christmas!
