Jack and the Beanstalk

Ryan of Brighton, NY emailed me to ask if I remembered or knew of a "Jack and the Beanstalk" episode shown on TV in the 1980's that he watched when he was a boy. He remembers that this Saturday morning show utilized live actors including, he thinks, Elliot Gould as the giant who cobbled up little boys.

In this show according to Ryan, Jack woke up in the night and saw an extremely large bean stalk growing outside his bedroom window. He jumped out of bed clad in just a red Union Suit and climbed the stalk up into the clouds. He had various adventures in his long underwear. 

I do not remember seeing this show but will check to see if I can identify this production for Ryan. If any of you Union Suit Fans can shed light on this program email me at cayersnd@gmail.com. Thanks, Chris. 

          When reporting your emails on my blog, I only use first names and towns.

The city of Cedar Springs, Michigan holds an annual Red Flannel Festival in October of each year. My family visited there when I was a teenager. Dad bought my brothers and me red Union Suits from the Red Flannel Factory. We put them on and got to run around town the entire week-end in just our underwear! Where else can you do that?  We boys had a great time. So did mom and dad.

Back then and from early on nearly everyone who attended the Festival wore their long, red one-piece underwear. Now days few people attend in their underwear. Most just wear red shirts, hoodies, socks, etc. If you don't, the Keystone Kops will toss you in jail. 

The first Red Flannel Day was held Nov. 11, 1939 and Carleton Cady wrote in that issue of the Grand Rapids Press:  “Lurid lingerie adorned the limbs of nearly every citizen. Scarlet certificates of knighthood were issued to members of the Order of Knights of the Red Flannel Drawers, who proudly wore the badge, which, in miniature, reproduced the article that on winter  Monday’s flies from Cedar Springs’ clotheslines.”

Their password was “itch”. Dr. C. W. Brayman, James H. Cook and Jack Pollock were some of the first members in good standing, crowning the first Red Flannel Queen, Maxine Smith.

In more recent days since few attendees appear in their Long Red Underwear, the Festival is not as fun or amusing as back in the day. 

The last time we attended the festival the boy
playing the guitar had donned a bright red Union Suit

Union Suit Fans:
  

Constable Benton Fraser (Paul Gross), an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Relaxing in his Long Johns (from a scene on the Television Show: Due South)

What is cozier than wearing Union Suits
at home in front of the fireplace?

The Great Gatsby wears a Red Union Suit

Long Underwear for Christmas


Thanks to All Who Emailed Me Your Photographs !

"Almost Maine" is a popular play being performed in High Schools, Colleges, and Community Theaters all over the United States. Towards the end of the performance, two of the main characters undress down to their long-handled underwear in a very funny strip-tease to the hilarity of the audience. Go see this fun yet provocative show!

 Cast Members Strip to Long Underwear
  The Winnipesaukee Playhouse
  Meredith, NH

Dave Admires His Artwork

Cast Members from
Seacoast Repertory Theatre

Taking a Final Bow

Dave in Union Suit, Cast Member 
 EF Academy Drama Club, New York

Dave Contemplates Asking Rhonda to Spend the Night

Dave and Rhonda - Almost Maine
Take a Bow

Max Gonzalez and Kailey Martin show off 

their red union suits during the rehearsal:

Almost, Maine, a play penned in 2007 by John Cariani, has become one of the most frequently produced shows in the United States. It was presented in the Mundelein High School Auditorium by MHS Theatre. 

"Almost, Maine is a unique story," said MHS Theatre director Jonathan Meier. "I would describe it as a romantic fable. The play was originally written for four actors playing multiple roles, but MHS Theatre will be using a cast of 20. The play is made up of nine different scenes, following the lives of the residents of this small fictitious town in Northern Maine.

"These are solid, hard working folks who are all effected by the appearance of the northern lights, as they fall in and out of love on a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter," Meier continued. The author has described it as a midwinter night's; it is funny, sweet, whimsical and poignant. Molly Whitaker plays one of the Almost residents. "I have loved participating in this production and am proud to share the stage with such a talented group of people." Whitaker explained, Almost, Maine is a true ensemble piece, with all of the roles being virtually equal."

More Union Suit Fans:

Thanks for the new Union Suit, Grandma

                            

Wake Up Sleepy Head - My Son in his Union Suit

Bicycle Journey in Long Johns

                                                  

A Boy's Best Friend

                                                                                                 

Six of the Brothers performing in

 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Thanks to All Who Emailed Me Your Photographs !