"The Ten Commandments" (1956)

Last night, I was changing stations on my television to see if there were anything interesting to watch (I miss TV Guide magazine) and came upon the1956 Cecil B. DeMille-directed epic, The Ten Commandments. It is the life of Moses, starring Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Rameses.

It was broadcast by ABC.

There were a number of other stars in the movie such as Edward G. Robinson, Debra Paget, Anne Baxter, John Carradine, Vincent Price, John Derek and Yvonne DeCarlo.

This is probably the movie that Heston is best known for. Years ago, I heard a story of Heston that took place during the filming. Allegedly, he was at either at the Paramount studio commissary or restaurant nearby in full Moses costume and had to go to the men's room. As he walked to it, someone yelled, "Look! It's Moses!"

Above, Charlton Heston (to the right of Nancy Reagan) at a 1984 Reagan
campaign kick-off rally in Fountain Valley, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I hadn't seen the movie in ages and this time it was a special treat, for it was in widescreen. I managed to start watching just before the plagues began, to force Rameses to free the Hebrew slaves. Of course, I managed to see the parting of the red sea and Moses on Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments. 

The special effects were good for its day, but looked to me more cartoony today. 

Still, I enjoyed watching it. 

Reagan Ranch and Young America's Foundation

Above, the Reagan Ranch edition of Libertas.

Recently, I made a contribution to Young America's Foundation's Reagan Ranch fund.

As you are probably aware, President Ronald Reagan had a mountaintop ranch in Ventura County near Santa Barbara, California, Rancho Del Cielo ("Ranch In The Sky"). It was at the ranch, President Reagan vacationed and "recharged his batteries" while doing ranch work. This blog is named after Reagan's ranch.

After Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and he could no longer enjoy the ranch or safely ride horses, the ranch was put up for sale. Prior to this, President Clinton refused to have the ranch preserved and protected and the California State Assembly failed to act to do the same. Reagan's last visit to the ranch came on August 15, 1995.

Fortunately, Young America's Foundation bought the ranch for preservation and for future generations to enjoy and learn about the 40th president of the United States, much like Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and George Washington's Mount Vernon.

As one can imagine, the upkeep (and probably taxes) for the ranch are pricey and that is why Young America's Foundation continues to raise funds for the ranch.

Yesterday, I received a package in the mail. Inside, were a DVD, a weekly planner and the Reagan Ranch edition of the YAF magazine, Libertas as a thank-you for my contribution.

Above, the Reagan Ranch DVD.

According to Libertas, there is now the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara. The center is described as "a schoolhouse for Reaganism."

Above, the weekly planner.

The DVD is hosted by the late Charlton Heston and features son Michael Reagan. It describes what people can do to help fund the Reagan Ranch and the benefits their contributions would entitle them to along with a look at the ranch. There is one clip of the 1980 Republican National Convention during Reagan's acceptance speech where I can be seen in the audience.

They have a website for more information and contributing to the Reagan Ranch and the Reagan Ranch Center. To access it, go here.

The website for Young America's Foundation is http://www.yaf.org/.

Charlton Heston, 2000 NRA Convention