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Holiday Jubilee: Classic & Kitschy Festivities & Fun Party Recipes
You're invited to celebrate America’s favorite seasonal traditions like never before. Ambassador of Americana Charles Phoenix mixes and mingles spectacular vintage Kodachrome slides of New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with his eye-popping, original recipes for epic edible centerpieces and party pleasers from his colorful Test Kitchen―including his legendary Cherpumple creation! Be prepared for your imagination to be inspired and your holiday spirit to soar!
192 pages, Hardcover
Published September 17, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 1, 2021
Realizing I was a midcentury modern fan opened up entire vistas of research and reading to me. The googie architecture, the neon, the kitsch, the entire world of Polynesian Pop: all of it remains fascinating and thrilling to me. It's informed my graphic design and even my writing.
So it was only a matter of time before I discovered Charles Phoenix, The Ambassador of Americana. Before I knew it, I'd read his books Addicted to Americana, Southern California in the '50s, and of course Leis, Luaus, and Alohas: The Lure of Hawaii in the '50s. The books all pop with bold color, Phoenix's smiling (manic?) face, and vintage pictures from Phoenix's legendary slideshows. They're great!
Holiday Jubilee isn't much different. The author takes on the big holidays - New Year's, Valentine's Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and of course Christmas - and looks at them through the lens of ironic vintage kitsch. It's mostly charming, delving into culture of America past, with its attendant consumerism and gee-whiz space-age obsession and the neverending allure of absurd food crafting. (Phoenix offers several vintage-style recipes here, all of which are heart attacks wrapped in cheer and most of which involve either meatloaf or cake. Or both!)
There does seem to be ... I don't know, a slight bit of cynicism to this book that I didn't detect in the others. Maybe it's the fact that it's about the holidays and I like to see them as fun and - if not sacred - a little more meaningful? I don't know. I like the camp of it all, even the recipes, although if there's one thing that this book impresses on me, it's that my obsession with midmod would not extend to actually living in it; literally everyone smokes.
All in all, I remain a huge fan of Charles Phoenix, and I look forward to the day when I can finally see one of his slideshows live. I KNOW!
So it was only a matter of time before I discovered Charles Phoenix, The Ambassador of Americana. Before I knew it, I'd read his books Addicted to Americana, Southern California in the '50s, and of course Leis, Luaus, and Alohas: The Lure of Hawaii in the '50s. The books all pop with bold color, Phoenix's smiling (manic?) face, and vintage pictures from Phoenix's legendary slideshows. They're great!
Holiday Jubilee isn't much different. The author takes on the big holidays - New Year's, Valentine's Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and of course Christmas - and looks at them through the lens of ironic vintage kitsch. It's mostly charming, delving into culture of America past, with its attendant consumerism and gee-whiz space-age obsession and the neverending allure of absurd food crafting. (Phoenix offers several vintage-style recipes here, all of which are heart attacks wrapped in cheer and most of which involve either meatloaf or cake. Or both!)
There does seem to be ... I don't know, a slight bit of cynicism to this book that I didn't detect in the others. Maybe it's the fact that it's about the holidays and I like to see them as fun and - if not sacred - a little more meaningful? I don't know. I like the camp of it all, even the recipes, although if there's one thing that this book impresses on me, it's that my obsession with midmod would not extend to actually living in it; literally everyone smokes.
All in all, I remain a huge fan of Charles Phoenix, and I look forward to the day when I can finally see one of his slideshows live. I KNOW!
September 3, 2021
Charles Phoenix loves holidays.
This less-than-200-page homage to bygone Holidays and places around the United States that go big for Holidays are showcased here in tons of pictures and tidbit stories.
This retro-throwback to a simpler America by the Ambassador of Americana shows off New Year's, Valentine's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
From elaborate three-layer cakes to some of the most extreme ways to do a holiday meatloaf, check out this and other foods common during these iconic holidays.
The big ideas here are the amazing Christmas trees, Holiday theme parks, WTF Halloween Costumes, and dozens of display and decorations from the past.
This less-than-200-page homage to bygone Holidays and places around the United States that go big for Holidays are showcased here in tons of pictures and tidbit stories.
This retro-throwback to a simpler America by the Ambassador of Americana shows off New Year's, Valentine's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
From elaborate three-layer cakes to some of the most extreme ways to do a holiday meatloaf, check out this and other foods common during these iconic holidays.
The big ideas here are the amazing Christmas trees, Holiday theme parks, WTF Halloween Costumes, and dozens of display and decorations from the past.
November 6, 2024
A rather bizarre holiday book mixing retro slides and memorabilia with almost repulsive recipes using store-bought processed foods. Holidays include New Years,'s Eve, Valentines Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (the latter being by far the largest section of the book). The slides are presented half mocking and half applauding by-gone traditions. Some interesting facts are presented about the various food manufacturers featured. Recipes include meatloaf in various shapes (rat, lamb, Santa), a cake filled with cookies, a cake filled with three kinds of pie, a turkey made out of sausages, a cheese ball snowman that can be melted for fondue...etc. with lots and lots of food coloring. Check it out from the library and read it for the amusement factor, if you can handle a side of gross.
April 25, 2021
This is the book I didn't know I needed! Charles Phoenix is that kooky uncle we all need in our lives. His book is vibrant, fun, light hearted, and an absolute joy. The recipes are a heart attack waiting to happen but I still want to try some. Rat Meatloaf anyone?? Edible confetti? Yes, please! The pictures are pure gold and the captions are hysterically spot on. Holiday Jubilee is the antidote for all of the junk that brings you down.
After borrowing this from the library, I quickly bought my own copy.
After borrowing this from the library, I quickly bought my own copy.
January 13, 2020
If you are a Charles Phoenix fan, or a fan of Technicolor kitsch, then this is the book for you! Over the top/retro-inspired recipes, Kodachrome slides, and lots of holiday-related trivia make this a festive read full of eye-popping color. The book is divided by holiday but still feels a bit crammed together. 3 1/2 stars.
December 4, 2020
I love kitsch and I love mid-century modern so this is a match made in heaven for me. As are all of his books. It's funny to look back and see what we considered fashionable 50 years ago and what was 'new and exciting'. I'm guessing in 50 years from now people will be saying the same about us!
January 8, 2023
This book is kitschy, snarky, and fun. I love the big, explosive holiday fun and quirky Mid-Century Modern photos featured throughout the book. This will become a favorite coffee table book to keep out all year long.
April 18, 2024
Fun book that has several recipes. Although some are a bit hard to follow or seem to be missing directions, I tend to think this book is a more camp look at kitschy food and holidays than something you could actually cook from. The Cherpumple can't be beat though!
December 19, 2019
A delightful collection of all things festive, retro, and kitschy!
October 3, 2025
Hilarious holiday related vintage photos, advertisements and recipes for year-round fun.
April 3, 2023
This has been on mt TBR list for a long time & OMG what a fun read. Why can't there be more books like this? Its parts laugh-out-loud, part photo-journal, parts cookbook & craft book, it also includes history, travel tips and wonderful historical insights. After I finished it I actually ordered another book by Charles Phoenix.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews