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Low in sodium and both Saturated Fat and Cholesterol, the sweet potato is abundantly healthy. Sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamins B6, Vitamin-A and Vitamin-C and a source of Manganese, and are a source of dietary fibre as well.

Distantly related to the common potato, the orange fleshed variety of potato called “sweet potato” and somewhat incorrectly sometimes also called a “yam” are grown in various parts of North America. The United States Department of Agriculture (”USDA”) allows North American-grown sweet potatoes to be marketed as “yams” so long as they are also labeled as “sweet potato.” Yams (the African and Asian-grown variety) do not grow as well in most agricultural North American climates because the growing season there is not quite long enough. True yams require a longer growing season that North America has. So if you see signage in the grocer’s store for “Yams, product of America” they are really Sweet Potatoes. Conversely, “Yams, product of Africa” means that they are imported, and are true yams.

Sweet potatoes have more vitamins and minerals than imported yams so consider this when buying vegetables. Besides, one should buy produce locally whenever possible which reduces transportation costs and the pollution associated with global transporting.

Carrots for Better Night Vision?

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Long associated with better eyesight and improved night vision, the beta-carotene they provide can help restore the poor vision that acute lack of Vitamin-A causes, and it really does improve night vision to a normal degree. But it does not provide super see-in-the-dark abilities.

There is a contention that eating large quantities of carrots causes one to acquire true night vision, which is not exactly true but this contention was utilized in the war effort. During World War II, British gunners were shooting down German aeroplanes in the dark and a Royal Air Force propaganda story was purposely released about the RAF’s consumption of large amounts of carrots being behind this success.

It was in fact the emerging technologies of radar and the use of visible red light in cockpit instrumentation (red light does not cause constriction of the retina as much as normal white light) that had much to do with this success with nighttime air combat and missions. This news release is said to have reinforced old folklore tales in Germans about carrots and the alleged improved vision, and may have for a time diverted attentions away from the possibility of new technologies being used against the German forces.

This propaganda news campaign although not completely factual as was released did have a beneficial effect upon the Britons too; it encouraged them to cultivate and consume carrots in an effort to better endure the regular blackouts which occurred due to power outages and of course, during air raids when lights were intentionally turned off.

Spinach

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The edible flowering plant that is native to central and southwestern Asia and almost universally disliked by children is an interesting candidate for this list. This dark green leafy plant can be eaten raw, chopped, or boiled and in a variety of other ways. It has many health benefits but some caveats as well.

A rich source of iron, a serving of boiled spinach has about 150% more iron than a weight-comparable hamburger patty. But against spinach is the fact that the bio-availability of the iron it contains is much less than optimal. The type of iron spinach contains is called ‘non-heme‘ iron, which the body cannot absorb efficiently.  Meat on the other hand contains the ‘heme‘-type of iron, which is readily absorbable by digestion. Consuming spinach with other vegetables high in vitamin-C makes better use of the iron it does contain.

Spinach is also a plentiful source of calcium but again with the deleteriousness of other compounds in spinach (oxalates, mainly) the calcium becomes bound in a water-insoluble solution and is actually swept unused from the body via elimination. For comparison, broccoli is also high in calcium and some 50% of its calcium is absorbable whereas closer to 5% of the calcium in spinach is bio-available for metabolizing. For correcting iron deficiency in the diet, eat meat not spinach.

Over all, spinach is still healthy and worthy of inclusion in the diet but often overstated are the virtues this dark green vegetable offers. From children’s cartoons “Popeye the Sailor” is shown in times of need for bursts of physical strength and endurance to obtain it from consuming a can of spinach. Presumably it is the iron in spinach responsible for his increased stamina. This depiction is possibly based upon a simple clerical error dating back to the 1930s when a German scientist by the name of E. von Wolf, Dr. whom was studying the benefits of spinach had inadvertently misplaced a decimal point in his calculations of the amount of iron present. This made an apparent ten-fold overstating of the actual value.

Further damaging the reputation of spinach but in more recent years were the E. Coli outbreaks back in 2006 followed by the Salmonella outbreaks in 2007. Both incidences were in the United States and being zoonotic pathogens were ultimately traced to fecal residue of either domestic and feral animals seen in the vicinities of the production fields. Probably the contamination was vectored through irrigation water and also directly from the animals trespassing through the agricultural field. Typically, commercial vegetable produce for human consumption is fenced and patrolled to keep both domestic and wild animals out partly for this very reason.

The three types of spinach are Savoy (dark, curly and convoluted leafs and harder to wash clean), Flat/smooth leaf (smaller, flatter leaves and thus easier to clean) and Semi-Savoy which is of course, intermediate between the first two varieties. Washing fresh spinach leaves prior to use is always advised and deemed of benefit but this does not entirely remove the risk. Spinach is a very important vegetable to include in your healthy diet despite all these factors. Just know and be aware of both the benefits, myths and the risks.

Tarot originated around the year 1440 in Italy. The original cards were hand- painted and used in the courts of the nobility. They were a rare and exclusive passtime of the rich, and nothing more than a game.

There are many legends about the origins of these cards and they have been linked to India, the Jewish Kabbala, Egypt, or even ancient China. Historically there is no evidence for these stories.

Around the year 1500 these cards became known as tarocchi in order to differentiate them from ordinary trumps, or what we know as playing cards. The French form of this word is ‘Tarot’.

Folklore says that the gypsies, specifically Romanies, brought Tarot to Europe. This idea was actually started by writers from the mid 19th Century. Gypsies only started using tarot cards during the twentieth century. Prior to this they told fortunes by reading palms and interpreting ordinary playing cards.

Ordinary playing cards came to Europe from Muslim Spain around 50 years before Tarot cards arrived. These cards had four suits with kings and pages and the Tarot added The Fool and the Queens to this. These cards were originally used to play a game similar to bridge.

Around 1781 occult writers like Comte de Mellet started to mention Tarot as a divinatory tool. Interest in the cards as a system grew rapidly and they became an integral part of occult philosophy. They do infact tell a story which goes from the ‘Fool’ to enlightenment.

In the 21st century these cards are still used for prediction and interpretation of events and situations. There are some who consider the whole idea of prediction to be ridiculous and others who fear the power of the Tarot and it’s advocates. They have been called ‘tools of the devil’ and are said by some to be banned by the Christian churches. This is not true. The ban imposed by the church was solely on the ‘Pope’ and ‘Popess’ cards of the old decks. These were replaced by more acceptable images.

The cards themselves hold no power as they are merely cards which originated as part of a game. The real power comes from the reader’s ability to interpret the cards and relate them to situations. Those individuals who have a gift for this could do equally well using baseball cards!

In the hands of a sensitive, receptive reader, Tarot cards can work. They operate like a very basic map of a person’s mind and seem to work as a tool that facilitates access to whatever is really going on inside. It’s a little like looking at a rather distorted mirror. Images come and go and are far from clear. A little imagination can soon fill the gaps and make perfect sense.

Swiss psychologist Carl Jung studied the symbols within the Tarot and came up with the idea of universal symbols that can be used to map the human mind. He developed the idea that the unconscious mind of an individual is made up of the personal unconscious and a collective unconscious. This, he reasoned, partly explained the success of symbollic systems like the Tarot.

Most of us enjoy a good hot chilli from time to time and I’ve got to confess that I do occasionally succumb to the odd Vegetarian Spicy pizza from our local takeaway with loads of onion, mushrooms, olives, sliced tomatoes and jalapenos on it, particularly after a hard day’s graft tapping away at the keyboard listening to the dronings of some of my real estate clients extolling the virtues of some wonderful property with 20 bedrooms and two zillion acres of land which I know I could never afford.  Little did I realise that my need for this hot and spicy pizza could be down to the fact that chillies lift the spirit!

Research has shown that one of the prime chemicals in the peppers, capsaicin, clings to the receptors in the mouth and throat that detect heat.  This in turn send messages to the brain that the food we are eating is hot and the brain immediately says ”ouch, that’s hot mate”.  Endorphins, natural painkillers, are then released into the body which take away the Ouch Factor and this gives us a sense of pleasure.

As well as possibly helping to lift your mood, it’s also been discovered that hot chilli sauces eaten with meals slightly raise the rate at which calories are burnt for a couple of hours after eating so they’re good if you’re on a diet and it’s thought that they also stimulate digestion and relieve wind.

Why is it that one minute we’re being advised that some food or other is “good for you” so you go out, stockpile that food and before the first morsel has hardly had time to hit the side of your bowels, some other so-called “expert” comes forward and tells us that we should swiftly despatch it from the pantry to the bin as it’s lethal!  Such is the case with the poor, harmless looking Brazil nut!

It had come to the attention of the “first experts” that Brazil nuts had certain minerals in them that boosted the immune system and may protect against cancer.  Now our “second experts” have said that this mineral may push up bad cholesterol levels and raise the risk of heart disease!

These second experts from Warwick University (UK) found from their research that selenium which is found in Brazil nuts as well as grain, fish and meat, increased cholesterol levels.  They carried out tests which showed that the highest levels of selenium were found in those people who regularly took dietary supplements containing the mineral so it followed that if you over indulged on Brazil nuts and other foods that are rich in this mineral you’re at greater risk of heart disease.

The University took a cross-section of 1,042 people aged between 19 and 64 between 2000 and 2001 and, according to the researchers, of those people with selenium concentrations higher than 1.20 μmoles (micromoles) per litre of blood, levels of cholesterol were up by about 8%, and levels of a “bad” cholesterol associated with heart disease were raised by 10%. 

I would suggest that we take the research with a pinch of salt at the moment and I, for one, won’t be throwing my Christmas stash of nuts in the bin or scattering them onto the bird table!!  Oh, hang on; we’re not allowed to take a pinch of salt are we?  It’s bad for the health!!

Now please spare a thought for those who suffer from lachanophobia!  Never heard of it?  Neither had I until the other day.  It’s a fear of vegetables so my Vegetarian Spicy pizza definitely wouldn’t go down well with sufferers!

A 22 year old student from Portsmouth (UK) was frightened of vegetables when she was a child and this has continued into her adult life.  The poor girl has panic attacks not only when she finds the odd pea or carrot straying onto her plate, but also when she’s just walking past the greengrocery on display in a supermarket. 

She eats meat and cereals and can manage a potato and an occasional apple but nerry a pea or sprout passes her lips!!  And as for touching them – that’s definitely out!

Apparently lachanophobia affects a few thousand people in the UK and one of the best ways to curb the fear is to undergo “psychological re-programming” (sounds like something out of Dr Who!).

Anxiety UK, a phobia charity, has indicated that around 13% of British people suffer from some sort of phobia and most of them are treatable, usually by medication or self-help groups but they suggest that if anyone feels they’ve got a phobia they should, in the first instance, visit their GP for a proper diagnosis … Not quite sure what you’re supposed to do if, like 75% or more of us across the world, have a fear of the doctor’s surgery!!!

And finally, an amusing story of the Italian bakers who thought they could beat the credit crunch! 

Michelangelo Alesso and Alessandro Mancino had a nice little bakery in Turin but, due to the recession, they found their income dwindling as more and more customers abandoned them for cheaper, more run of the mill bread, so being extremely resourceful they decided to add a secret ingredient to their recipe and, once again found the customers flocking in to purchase.

Unfortunately this increase in trade was short-lived!  Police became extremely suspicious when queues for the bakery began blocking the footpaths.  Further investigation revealed that this secret ingredient was cocaine.  Apparently the bakers had turned to drug dealing in order to pay the bills!  Maybe they should have put some nice hot chillies into their mix instead!!

Over the years that I have been nonchalantly saving my pennies I tried to not let other coins get intermingled with the contents of this jar. Still, it happens and there were a few dimes and a nickel or two in here. Certainly less than a dollar so I will just eschew any errant final figure as to final total dollar value. The ability of pennies to shift around and occupy the actual volume is far greater probability than the skewed value a dollar’s worth of ’silver’ might cause.

The Penny Jug, The Mystery of What is it Worth?

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I wish that I had weighed this now. It would have given a better descriptor of contents and a more accurate result of how much is actually in this jug. I always imagined a booth at the Fair with a ‘guess how many pennies are in this jar and win a prize’ scenario. Of course, the weight of the jar would not be revealed at such an event and the jar, whatever volume it was, would not be completely filled either. Just on general principle.

No way was I going to mule this heavy jar to the store as-is. I wanted to take it down in smaller increments. To that end, I used another smaller jar to transfer some portion into. Those automatic coin-machines are pretty neat; you drop your coins onto a perforated rack and press the “START” button, and you begin to sweep your coins into the maw of the machine. The perforated tray allows anything non-coin to drop safely out. Things like clothes lint, little wads of paper, paper clips (often, small dishes from office desk contains both paper clips and pennies.) The detritus-collector tray always shows what was dropped through and it looks pretty disgusting. I saw a very small copper coin that made it through the perforated tray; it was foreign. Maybe Polish, it was about half the diameter of a dime. It belongs to whomever cleans the machine now.

The machine will stall if it gobbles anything non-coin and this can cause the accurate counting of your coins to terminate. You may lose your money. Try to deposit the cleanest load of coins that you can.

Loading-up on Pennies

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I decided to take more than just the small jar, so a plastic meal container joins the effort. As it is, this is a bit less than half the total volume of the gallon jug and still almost inconvenient to transport. But the effort will be rewarded. I needed some additional cash at the time for my son’s upcoming birthday presents and this would do quite nicely. I was surprised at how much was in this jar in total.

What you see in the smaller jar and the plastic container together was counted by the machine and it came to $22.42 (after the small fee that the machine extracts for the service.) Not too bad. This machine separates coins by value (size, thickness, weight, etc.) and tallies the total. It ejects a register receipt when you press the “finished” button. This is redeemable that day only towards grocery purchases or for cash payout at the Service Desk.

It may vary by store, city or other, but this particular location mandates that the receipt given be redeemed the same day. It cannot be saved for a future date. I suppose that this eliminates or reduces the chance of fraud or alternation of the printout.

As my Son would say, More Pennies!

Several days later I re-loaded the small jar and plastic container for the final run and with just a few handfuls remaining, bagged them in resealable freezer bags and took them all to be redeemed. This time the payout was $30.81.

How Much is a Gallon Jug of Pennies Worth?

This particular gallon jug of pennies came to a total of $53.23 but the actual amount might be different between the same size jug. Remember, depending upon how the pennies lay in the jug, the amount of other coins also present and counted, exactly how filled the jug is and of course in this particular case, the debited service fee that the coin-counting machine exacts your amount can and probably would vary.

If you have a jar or jug of pennies, what are you hoarding them for? Redeem them for money that you can more conveniently use. If the jug of pennies is a safeguard for the future still you can redeem them and deposit the money into a bank account. Stuff the folding money under your mattress. Either way, it will still be more accessible and convenient to use when you need it.

The Moonsign astrology of Pisces adds a watery forecast and New Moon energy all at once for Thanksgiving day.

Moonsign Astrology of Pisces

Pisces is a spiritual sign that harkens back to the days of Roman persecution of people who wanted to follow Christianity. The symbol of Pisces, Icthus (fish), became iconic, and is still commonly seen throughout contemporary Christianity.

Christians who wanted to secretly alert others of their new religious persuasion painted the symbol of the fish on their doors, indicating a place of safe harbor for those who needed to hide from the Roman soldiers.

So, a strong spiritual sentiment exists for this Thanksgiving’s Moonsign Astrology. More than turkey day, we can easily tune in to the aspect of gratitude. Gratitude is an important focus due to the fact that gratitude brings more of the good things in life into our perspective. 

Image via Wikipedia

A spritual focus shows gratitude shared between the settlers and natives in one of the first Thanksgivings for the Pilgrims.

Pisces Moonsign Astrology and the Weather

Usually a drenching rain, Pisces astrology doesn’t normally sponsor violent storms. Weather permitting, travel should be smooth for this day, as well as, communication. Higher energy levels of the new moon facilitate positive social interchange.

Astrology of the shrouded aspects of Pisces.

Overindulgence is often part of the Thanksgiving feast. Wonderfully prepared food sends delicious aromas throughout the air. Giving way to the urge for an extra serving or two is a common event that goes along with a Thanksgiving feast. So, it may be wise to stay in tune with the feeling of fullness.

Overeating is attributed to what is known esoterically as “astral body cravings.” In the case of Thanksgiving, eating for sheer pleasure comes to the forefront.

When the tendency to overeat rears its ugly head on Thanksgiving day, don’t let the essence of Pisces lead you too far astray. Once the normal hunger has been satisfied, the food becomes a drug of sorts.

Drug addiction is often known to be a weakness inherent in the sign of Pisces. Food can be considered in the category of addiction when eating goes beyond sustenance. Everyone knows how overindulgence and Thanksgiving go hand in hand. If you are a diet conscious person, today could hold a double whammy for you.
Pisces Astrology and Planning

Pisces is in an incompatible astrology arrangement at this time. The Piscean shrouded qualities may tend to contribute to confusion. When planning a trip, gathering, or other special plans work on the details first. For this kind of Thanksgiving astrological climate, having the details out of the way circumvents last minute confusion.

This is easier than it sounds.  Try a few rows to get the hang of it.  It requires a little maneuvering, but you’ll catch on quickly enough!  Just remember that the right side (RS) is always facing you!  Don’t turn at the end of rows!  (This is what makes the ridges.)

You will need cotton yarn and either an I or J hook.

Ch 32.  (Once again, I like my washcloths big, so if this is too big for you, just chain any number of stitches; make sure you add 2 for the starting row.)

Row 1: Skip 3 ch (counts as first dc.)  Dc in each ch to end.  DO NOT TURN!

Row 2: Ch 1.  Sc in front loop only of the last dc made.  *Sc in front loop only of next dc to right.  Repeat from * to last stitch.  End with slip stitch in top of turning ch at the beginning of the row.  Do not turn.

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc).  Skip first st.  Dc in back loop only of next and each st of the “last-but-one” row, to end.  Do not turn.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until your washcloth measures square.  Ch 2 and sc a border around, making sure to do 3 sc at corners.

Happy scrubbing!

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Good pastas have always been a good source of memories of the old country and particularly Rome. It has been over ten years since my return from the old country and I not only miss the cooking, I miss the gests surrounding their dishes and preparations that Italy and particularly Rome had been noted for. My landlady would come up with a fruity plate of figs they harvested from a family plot and there would be a chance to sample some of the gnocchi that she prepared religiously every Thursday. Each dish had their characteristic scent.  Those were part of the sights and sounds that I miss near my last home in the Colle Prenestina or hilly region on the east side, just outside the ring road that surrounds metropolitan Roam and all its districts.

 In the summers I would paint on my balcony while the sweet smell of tomato sauce and basil leaves was simmering on the stove almost ready to be added to some whole grained thinner cousin to spaghetti, spaghettini.  I had become more discerning with time and quite frankly the thinner grain meant less cooking time too so I switched from spaghetti.

I was encourages to peel my Italian tomatoes and let that simmer until the water had evaporated so that the essential juices would be kept for the sauce. Trying the concentrated version of spicy tomato pastes really did nothing for my palate and I also learned the value of garnishing that would add a particular zest to a simple plate like a piece of parsley or some garlic shredded and sautéed in olive oil before being added to my condensed tomato sauce.

Sometimes when I was looking for some food value I would add a can of oil preserved tuna chinks to the tomato paste and let that simmer before adding it to the pasta. This was part of the versatility that I had learned when being a medical student in a country where people wanted to keep the quality of their foods and did not want to sacrifice their traditions. I even had the opportunity to savor other home made pasta recipe varieties from people who coming from different regions of Italy brought their tastes to the imperial capital; had the chance to sample a cream of mushroom sauce added to a plate of fettuccini. An opportunity to eat an appreciated plate of porcini added to pasta gave the dish an odd meaty flavor. People in the outline regions would harvest this rare mushroom for their salads and pastas. 

When living outside Rome on the south side I had the advantage of growing my own zucchini or eggplants and would boil and slice that into my tomato sauce base for another sauce variety with added vegetable value. Sometimes I would just as well slice them up and add them to a scrambled egg, which I added to simple mix of spaghettini bathed in olive oil and garlic. I did not know any of this when living in Montreal.
In short living abroad in Italy allowed me to experiment more with different ingredients to add to spaghetti or gnocchi sauce. They did not all have to be tomato based.

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Sausages have been around since the days of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. In fact, the sausage was a special dish served up on feast days in Roman times.

Roman sausages were made of pork meat and seasoned with black pepper and pine nuts. The original recipe was brought back to Rome by soldiers who had been serving in the most southern region of Italy as part of the garrison stationed at Lacania,

Today, sausages are made in most countries of the world from US to Poland, and Palestine to Brazil. The names of many of these sausages come from the place name, Lacania. For instance, in Brazil, there are sausages called linguica.

Image via Wikipedia

Lacania sausages were originally made by grinding pepper, cumin, rue and parsley with bay berries and garum. Garum is a fish paste similar to anchovies. Then ground meat was mixed with these herbs and the whole lot was ground again. After that pine nuts and pepper corns were added,

then the whole lot was pushing into whatever casing was available and the sausage left in smoke to cook.

These sausages kept for a very long time because they were heavily spiced and quite dry.

Sausage festivals are held in many countries of the world, especially in Germany and Holland which are known for their beer and sausages extravaganzas. There is also a Vancouver and a South Texas Sausage festival. Hungarians and Bulgarians also have their own variety of sausages to celebrate at festivals.

In Madison, Wisconsin, at their annual Brat Fest, a new record was set in 2008, when they sold a whopping 191,712 bratwurst sausages over four days. Apparently there was a huge dinner rush on the final day of the festivities and 10,000 of these sausages were sold in just one hour. An announcement was made on stage and every person was asked to buy just one more bratwurst to break the record. The appeal worked and the festival raised more than $100,000 for various charities that were selected by the volunteer servers.

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In a hot dog eating contest, a New York man ate twenty four hot dogs and buns in ten minutes to win the title. His comment when interviewed about his win was that it was the toughest thing he had ever done and that he was looking forward to eating a huge, juicy beef steak for his dinner. He claimed to have different compartments in his stomach, ‘One’s for competitions,’ he said, ‘one’s for enjoyment and one’s for pleasure.’

Image via Wikipedia

So, the next time you eat a sausage, or a hot dog, remember that it has a long and distinguished ancestry and that people all over the world are enjoying this dish on a daily basis.

Most people expect to use their cell phone in the event of an emergency. The sad fact is that there are literally thousands of miles of roadway in the United States where cell phones are useless. Because of terrain or population density cell phone towers will never provide 100% coverage of the United States or Canada.

Unfortunately since systems like Onstar rely on cell phone towers they cannot be relied on in many rural areas.

If you are stranded on the side of the road an emergency CB radio can be removed from your trunk, plugged in to the cigarette lighter and operating in less than a couple of minutes. After tuning an emergency CB radio to channel 19 one can often summon the help of a trucker as they pass by. Emergency CB radios do not typically have a great range but can transmit a call for help up to a couple of miles. This is enough to communicate with passing trucks.

In some areas of the country channel 9 is still monitored by emergency personnel or volunteers who work with REACT or the Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams. In the event of an emergency you should first try channel 9 and if you cannot make contact there, switch to channel 19 and try to contact a truck driver.

Emergency CB radios sell for less than $100 and there is no fee to use the service. In these tough times many are revisiting this old technology as they are forced to give up cell phone subscriptions. No FCC license is needed to operate a CB radio and most models come with complete instructions on how to make a call and listen for a response.

Most emergency CB radios feature a magnetic mount antenna and a transmit power of four watts, which is the legal power limit. In addition to emergency use, a pair of compact CB radios can be used for car to car communications.

Before winter driving season arrives, consider adding an inexpensive portable emergency CB radio to the emergency kit in your trunk.

Popular makers of emergency CB radios are Cobra, Midland, Uniden and Realistic.

For more on how to use a CB radio see: CB Radio, Not Just For Truckers

It’s a Wonderful Life Italian photobustas image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

Director Frank Capra and RKO Radio Pictures delivered the delightful It’s a Wonderful Life to movie theaters in 1946. Both original and reissue promotional material from this holiday classic are huge collector favorites, with the standard one sheet poster valued at over $6,000.

James Stewart and Donna Reed Star in It’s a Wonderful Life

Based on the short story “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern, It’s a Wonderful Life was filmed at the RKO Ranch in Encino, California, during the hot summer of 1946. Written for the screen by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra and Jo Swerling, the movie features James Stewart (George Bailey), Donna Reed (Mary Hatch Bailey), Lionel Barrymore (Henry F. Potter), Thomas Mitchell (Uncle Billy), Henry Travers (Clarence), Beulah Bondi (Mrs. Bailey), Frank Faylen (Ernie), Ward Bond (Bert), Gloria Grahame (Violet Bick), H.B. Warner (Mr. Gower), Frank Albertson (Sam Wainwright), Todd Karns (Harry Bailey) and Samuel S. Hinds (Pa Bailey).

The film centers on small-town citizen George Bailey and his life in Bedford Falls. On Christmas Eve, a despondent George discovers that his business has an $8,000 deficit. He then makes the wish that he had never been born, with his guardian angel Clarence showing him the dire consequences of such a reckless request.

It’s a Wonderful Life opened in New York City on December 20, 1946. And although it lost $525,000 during its initial release, this charming slice of pure “Capra-corn” later found its audience, earning its holiday stripes as one of the world’s most beloved motion pictures.

It’s a Wonderful Life Original Movie Posters

Original posters from It’s a Wonderful Life are expensive, and are often the exclusive province of deep-pocketed collectors. The movie’s standard one sheet poster, picturing Jimmy Stewart tossing Donna Reed into the air, is always in demand. Measuring 27×41-inches, one stunning example preserved on linen in fine/very fine condition brought $6,572.50 at auction.

Other original 1946 posters of varying sizes are also available. They include the following, with auction result duly noted: insert poster, 14×36-inches ($5,078.75); half sheet poster, 22×28-inches style B ($7,170); half sheet poster, 22×28-inches style A ($6,572.50).

It’s a Wonderful Life Foreign and Reissue Posters

The various foreign-issued posters are also big with collectors. A 1956 reissue Italian photobusta poster titled La vita e’meravigliosa is valued at almost $500. The 1948 French poster, set in a dark blue background and picturing James Stewart doling out money during the famous bank run scene, is also attractive and can sell for over $600.

Other posters can be found from such countries as Spain, England, Argentina, Belgium, Poland and Australia. One Australian daybill poster, measuring 13×30-inches, sold at auction for $1,600.

It’s a Wonderful Life was later re-released in the United States, resulting in the production of additional posters. For those on a limited budget, a 1990 reissue poster can be acquired for around $50.

It’s a Wonderful Life Lobby Cards

RKO’s It’s a Wonderful Life produced the standard eight card lobby set in 1946. These colorful gems, measuring 11×14-inches, were displayed in movie theater lobbies in order to promote the film.

Because of the demand, It’s a Wonderful Life lobby cards are generally sold individually. The title card, considered by many collectors to be the most desirable, is expensive with one example fetching $1,015.75 at auction.

Other lobby cards and their auction results include the following: James Stewart, Donna Reed and Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer in the Charleston dance contest scene ($478); James Stewart romances Donna Reed after the dance ($493.54); James Stewart confronts Lionel Barrymore at the Bailey Building and Loan ($310.70); James Stewart and Donna Reed marry ($448.13); James Stewart turns down Lionel Barrymore’s job offer ($358.50): James Stewart courts Donna Reed ($1,434).

It’s a Wonderful Life Pressbook and Movie Stills

A big attraction is the It’s a Wonderful Life pressbook, which features the movie’s entire promotional campaign via sample posters, lobby cards and inside information. The latter features the nugget that it was Cary Grant who brought Philip Van Doren Stern’s story to the attention of RKO, who then bought the movie rights with Grant as the intended star. An uncut 1946 pressbook in excellent condition is valued at approximately $500.

Various promotional 8×10 stills were produced for the film. The 1946 originals can bring several hundred dollars each in excellent or better condition. 

It’s a Wonderful Life Movie Reviews and Advertisements

It’s a Wonderful Life was reviewed by a number of periodicals of the era. Some collectors pursue complete editions carrying these thumbs-up/thumbs-down critiques or feature stories. The hot issues include Life (12/30/46), Variety (12/25/46), Time (12/23/46), Newsweek (12/30/46), The New Yorker (12/21/46), Theatre Arts (2/47), The New York Times (12/23/46), The Nation (2/15/47), Commonweal (1/3/47), The New Republic (1/6/47) and Scholastic (2/3/47).

Clipped movie ads are also big with collectors. A full-page It’s a Wonderful Life advertisement can be found in the January 13, 1947, issue of Life. Dealers often price these at $15-20.

It’s a Wonderful Life Miscellaneous Movie Memorabilia

Check out these auction/set sale results for miscellaneous memorabilia:

• Collection of 30 signed typewritten letters from James Stewart to fan Virginia Heilman 1945-49, including one which reads, “It’s a Wonderful Life finally wound up and I’m off on a deep-sea fishing trip with Hank Fonda…” ($1,035)
• Original radio script for the 1947 It’s a Wonderful Life broadcast on The Lux Radio Theatre starring James Stewart and Donna Reed ($125)
• Keybook 8×10 b/w still featuring Stewart and Reed doing the Charleston at Beverly Hills High School ($334.60)
• 1963 Spanish reissue one sheet movie poster ($131.45)
• December 1989-January 1990 issue of Modern Maturity featuring It’s a Wonderful Life cover story ($10)
• The It’s a Wonderful Life Book by Jeanine Basinger, Alfred A. Knopf, 1986 ($20)
• Jimmy Stewart autographed vintage b/w photo ($262)
• Frank Capra signed 1941 movie document ($145)
• Donna Reed autographed vintage b/w portrait ($100)
• Lionel Barrymore signed one-page handwritten letter ($178)

“Merry Christmas, Mr. Henry F. Potter!” James Stewart shouts to the town miser.

Nice touch, but some fans prefer the Saturday Night Live version, where the angry citizens of Bedford Falls storm Old Man Potter’s mansion. Hee haw!