How “David Seville” Created Alvin and the Chipmunks

The story of the songwriter who, with a little audio experimentation, made an entertainment franchise.

by Rich Watson 

Cartoon musical groups were once very popular on Saturday morning TV: the Archies, Josie and the Pussycats, Jem and the Holograms, not to mention dozens of shows about teens who also happen to play in bands. Occasionally the songs you heard on their shows became hit singles, blurring the line between fiction and reality.

Alvin and the Chipmunks were unique in that they began as a novelty singing group that went on to animated success on TV and the movies. 

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ties In With the Center’s Development

A holiday tradition born out of the despair of the Great Depression evolved into New York’s showcase Christmas event for one of its landmark destinations.

by Rich Watson 

For close to a century, the holiday season in New York has been marked by the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, in midtown Manhattan. Hundreds flock to the televised ceremony, marked by live performances.

The development of the event coincides with that of the Center itself, started during the heart of the Great Depression.