This Thanksgiving will mark the 10th anniversary of one of the most spectacular airship mishaps ever, an event that will forever be lodged in the memories of penguin lovers everywhere. it was a bizarre combination of "Born Free" and the Hindenburg disaster and this is how it read in the papers that fateful day, November 26, 1986: "Things didn't go smoothly at Detroit's Thanksgiving Day parade, where a 30-foot-long, $15,000 helium balloon of "Chilly Willy" the penguin broke away late Wednesday and floated off. At parade time yesterday a pilot spotted the flightless bird at an altitude of about 5000 feet over Detroit, said Bill Robertson, control tower manager at Windsor Airport across the Detroit River in Ontario. The Coast Guard later recovered Chilly in Lake St. Clair, 45 miles north."

Ever think about dialing 1-800-PENGUIN? We did, and lo and behold ended up calling the Penguin Crossing Bed & Breakfast. Located in farm country 30 miles south of Columbus, Ohio in beautiful Circleville. The Penguin is owned by Ross and Tracey Irvin. The inn is a converted 1820's farm house, and guests can stay in either the gentoo, adelie, macaroni, or emperor penguin rooms. For more information, you know the number.

Believe it or not, a new Monsieur Pingouin has been found, this time in France, and he is legally known as Alain Regis. For the past twenty years he has only answered to the name "Pingouin." As a legendary Paris-based DJ, manager and photographer, Pingouin is a fixture in the French entertainment scene, complete with his own penguin logo, t-shirts, bumper stickers and more. Drop him a line and say bonjour:

Pingouin
130 Rue De Lille
59100 Roubaix
France

Monsieur Penguin with Heather and Eric from Next Stop, South Pole

There is a surprisingly diverse selection of penguin and penguin related videos that can be found at your local video store. What constitutes a penguin video is completely subjective. For example, in the 1995 film "Billy Madison," Adam Sandler has a reoccurring nightmare about being stalked by a giant penguin. Since the penguin had a minimal screen time, and the film was a stinker, I do not consider it a "penguin film." Conversely, the 1987 film "Five Corners," which features a penguin on the video box cover, as well as playing a pivital role, is an excellent film, and receives a much deserved flipper (thumbs) up. So what we're saying is that not every film that includes a penguin cameo may be deemed worthy of the title "penguin film."

In the more easily definable nature category there are four recommended films that should be a cinch to find. In no particular order, they are: "Penguin World", "Antarctic Wildlife Adventure", "Penguin Summer in the Falklands", and "Penguin Odyssey". Also of note is the arty German film "The Congress of Penguins."

In the world of animation, if you can get your hands on Pingu, please do so. Although extremely popular in Europe and Japan, Pingu has yet to conquer the U.S. and as we've said in previous issues, Pingu rules. Probably much easier to find and just as amazing is academy award winner Nick Parks' fabulous feature "The Wrong Trousers". The 1995 Universal production, "The Pebble and the Penguin" is recommended for kids ages zero to three months only. For anyone else, beware.

Difficult to find, but very fun is the Canadian short "The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin". Assorted Tennessee Tuxedo videos are available, featuring the voice of Don Adams, and Chilly Willy can be found as part of Woody Woodpecker compilations. The Opus holiday special "A Wish For Wings That Work: is a must for Bloom County fans. Last, or should I say least, is the 1992 disaster "Batman Returns". A film so dark and vile that the only redeeming characteristic of the movie was the casting of real penguins as Danny Devito's henchmen (henchpenguins).

Honorable mentions go to the following films for memorable penguin cameos: "Roger Rabbit" (Ink and Paint club scene), "When Harry Met Sally" (Meg Ryan's Penguin collection), "Strange Days" (Penguin Vodka), "Happy Gilmore" (Penguin miniature golf hole), "Sudden Death" (penguin mascot), "Greggory's Girl" (reappearing guy in penguin costume).