The spirit of Christmases past: George’s retro Crimbo photo overload

Old meets new: the season’s master music-man welcomes the decade’s golden boy to his ‘London home’ as David Bowie legendarily guest-stars on Bing Crosby’s final, UK-filmed television special in 1977 

Ah yes, the end of another year brings with it the opportunity to pause for reflection – and that’s quite some reflection this year, being it marks the end of a decade, too, and serves as the eve of a brand new one. But what about decades past? And, in particular, the decades that this very blog (which, yes, like it or not, is back from the dead!) concerns itself with?

Well, at this most atmospheric, colourful, cheery and, frankly, red, green and baubly time of year, times past and the great and good, who so entertained and defined them, go together like it’s Crimbo kismet. It’s easy as (a mince) pie, via a little digging, to unearth a rather special seasonal pic of one’s favourite stars of yesteryear. So, here then, is a choice selection of snaps of oh-so many big and little screen-stars, Rat Packers, Bonds and music-men and -women, all of them making merry and seeing out a year (whichever it may be) in fine style. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (and new decade) to you all…!

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HOVER OVER, CLICK ON or OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW the images for information

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Silver (screen) belles and bello-s – Part One

Party with these festive peeps if you could,

Audrey, Monroe, Bardot, Natalie Wood?

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Rat Pack unwrapped

Sing a seasonal tune with Dean and Frank,

And Sammy doing ads – money in the bank

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Jingle Bonds

Connery with Morecambe & Wise,

Moore and Lazenby, super spies

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Dreaming of a White House Christmas

JFK decorates the Camelot tree,

Ford, Reagan and Carter with the family

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Silver (screen) belles and bello-s – Part Two

Welch in Vietnam, Deneuve, Cardinale;

Dudley Moore, Gremlins, Muppets and E.T.

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Merry Music Makers

The Fabs, The Monkees and Jimi have a jam,

Bing, Dusty and Slade make the party go Wham!

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Festive TV faves

Only Fools, the Two Ronnies make us laugh and cry,

Happy Days, ALF and Mr T hit the telly Bullseye

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