Pre-Christmas Wonder Woman Wednesday

Every year, the lovely ladies at Shades of Gray help Santa Claus with making his rounds, ensuring that all the good boys and girls out there get their gifts. This year is extra special, because Wonder Woman is also lending a hand!

Christmas is almost here...

... and Bebe Daniels has an innovative idea for those of you who haven't gotten your Chirstmas Tree decorated yet: Just dress yourself like one. It's even more festive!

Nat King Cole brings 'The Christmas Song'

Christmas is almost here. Here's a performance of "The Christmas Song" from Nat King Cole in 1961 that even fills Krampus and the Grinch with the Spirit of the Season when they hear it.

And this year, everyone can all use a little extra Christmas cheer, so we at Shades of Gray hope this classic will bring you some.

Christmas is Coming!

June Marlowe wants to make sure you're ready!

Christmas is Coming!

Jane Russell is helping us decorate our Christmas tree here at Shades of Gray this year. How are your Christmas decorations coming along?

Musical Monday with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

It's December 2020, so it may be tricky to get the Christmas Spirit going... but we're going to give a try. Here's Big Bad Voodoo Daddy with an old-timey sounding song about loving Christmas time. We hope this helps!

Christmas is Coming!

Fay Wray stopped by Shades of Gray to help us decorate for Christmas. Have you started putting up your decorations yet?

Wonder Woman Wednesday

Wonder Woman offers you well-wishes and a toast, as we here at Shades of Gray hopes everyone out there is having the happiest of Christmases!

By Ramona Fradon

Christmas is here...

... and Santa's Helpers once again deployed across the world to help him keep his busy schedule! This year, Christmas was saved in part by:

Muriel Evans

Mary Martin

Virginia Grey

Christmas is almost here...

… and Loretta Young found a spot here at Shades of Gray that hadn't been decorated yet.

If you're not done decorating for Christmas yet, you better get to it!

'The Christmas Dream' brings Holiday Cheer

The Christmas Dream (1901)
Starring: Uncredited Actors
Directed by Georges Méliès
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A child dreams about more than just fairies and sugar plums on Christmas Eve.

"The Christmas Dream" consists of a series scenes of Yuletide merriment and magic, as dreamed by a child. Some of them are standard Christmas scenes (such as church bells being rung and a sumptuous feast for rich nobles being shared with a beggar). some are variations on standard Christmas imagery (angels delivering presents by dropping them down chimneys, and dancing fairies magically turning a wintery landscape into a Christmas tree), and others are just plain strange (such as some sort of weird Christmas parade with Punch & Judy-style jesters and a line of can-can dancers; I think maybe it's the 12 Days of Christmas song brought to life, but I'm not sure).

There’s no plot to speak of in this film, just lots of Christmas cheer. For a Méliès film, it's also very light on special effects, with only a couple simple (compared to what he does in other films) tick photography shots. It's not his most remarkable work, but it's worth checking out if you're in the mood for something with a different sort of Christmas Spirit. What's more, you can watch it in this very post, by clicking below!

Christmas is coming...

... and Esther Ralston is putting the final touches on the decorations here at Shades of Gray! Have you gotten yours up yet?

Musical Monday with Mariah Carey

Then there was that time that Mariah Caray hopped in a time machine and went on television to perform her hit Christmas song "All I Want for Christmas is You" before she was even born.

Christmas is coming!

And Mary Pickford has some advice that is good for you and the poor store clerks.

(Although we may have to send her to sensitivity training in the new year...)

Christmas is coming!

Although the Thanksgiving turkeys haven't even been cooked yet,  it's also worth noting that there are only 30 days to Christmas! (Janet Leigh and her little helper encourage everyone to get the shopping and wrapping done early this year, so as to avoid stress.)

Christmas is here!

Santa is making his rounds, but in case something goes wrong, we've arranged for back-up! Standing by are...

... Shirley Knight ...

... Vera Ellen ...

... Joan Crawford ...

... and Mary Carlisle!

Um... Mary seems to have left a few necessities behind at the North Pole staging area. Whoops.

Merry Christmas!

I hope all those who have visited 'Shades of Gray' for the reviews, pictures, and music videos over the past ten years are enjoying the company of friends, family, and other people who care about them. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you'll be back in the future!

Christmas is Coming...

... and rather than hang the wreath here at Shades of Gray, Dorothy Granger decided to hang *with* the wreath.

Hopefully, you're having an easier time decorating your place than we're having around here!

Picture Perfect Wednesday: Christmas Carole

Carole Lombard is trying to guess what's in the Christmas gifts. What's your favorite approach to figuring out what's in the packages under the tree?

Christmas is Coming...

... and Ann Miller wants to remind Santa what might happen if he doesn't bring her what she wants this year. (She did not, apparently, learn anything form the example of Kathy Griffin's photo-shoot with the severed head of a much-respected figure.)