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About Mount Crumpit THE BEGINNING & MIDDLE, WITH NO END IN SIGHT We at Mount Crumpit are here for one purpose: to spread holiday spirit. We don’t know about everyone else, but the holidays are extremely important to us. Not only is it a time for us to embrace some of our family that we don’t see on a daily basis, but it can be a very enlightening time of the year. Putting any past differences aside and coming together as a whole to show just how much each of you mean to each other. So for all the people who feel the same way as us, this site is for you. This is merely a place where we can share in our affinity for Christmas. If you like it, please come back again. If you don’t, thanks for at least giving it a chance. 2001-2002 Mount Crumpit first started in November of 2001 after the live action film, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas was released on DVD/VHS. Chad Northrup, along with cousins Brad, Andy and Alex Bidwell threw themselves into the film, watching is nearly four times that first day. It would only carry on throughout the holiday months of 2001. The guys could hardly wait the next year, so they could enjoy it another holiday season. “And that we did. We would get together almost every night the first two years to do the same thing.” Says Chad. “The best part was that we weren’t getting sick of the movie at all. It was like every time we watched it, we grew on it even more.” 2003 The first step in launching a successful fan forum began in 2003. The idea to open a website would allow much more of a connection to not only the film, but the spirit of the holidays. This year would only feature Chad, along with Andy and Alex. The three watched the movie many times during October, November and December during the operation of the Bidwell family business, Whitetail Acres Christmas Tree Farm. The site they formed, simply titled “Grinch”, gained a lot of hits each day, quickly surpassing other holiday sites on one particular Christmas Link site, Mr. Grinch’s Holiday Links. “With all the attention the site was getting, I knew we had to do something to keep it fresh the next year.” Says Chad “There were some different things I was hoping to get into to make it look more original, as I was new to web design at the time and was experimenting with the basic template the provider was using.” 2004 2004 would bring a new look to the forum. After deciding to expand itself to several holiday films, the Grinch guys relocated to “Mount Crumpit” under the Angelfire.com hosting server. The images were better. Pages still only really held onto the old information like Production Notes and Cast sections to the Grinch film. Sadly, besides the improved look, the site never managed to take off due to scheduling conflicts. The newly added Reviews section never held more than one review. Many wondered if the site would ever launch again 2005 The biggest year for Mount Crumpit. Chad spent months in preparation for the colossal launch, dated for November 15th. Not only would it host about a dozen movies, it would house more information that Chad initially hoped it would. “I began working on Mount Crumpit that July. I wanted to feature 10-12 holiday films, each with their own brief review and information. I also wanted to get into holiday movie multimedia like Wallpapers, Merchandise and product availability. There was a lot I knew I could do when I put my mind to it. Andy and I didn’t join forces throughout much of the project, except for a few movie showings.” The site response was massive. Hundred if hits each month. Everything was easily accessible, and contained just the right amount of information. Everything went smooth until mid-December, when things began to cool down, and the site shut down throughout the holidays. It wouldn’t open again until August of 2006. “I got so preoccupied with my family and other projects that Mount Crumpit became a lower priority on my to-do list.” Chad says. “But this year, Im expecting a lot of new things. Things that could get us our own dot-com domain name within a year or two. Bank on it” 2006 2006 was the biggest year for the project at that time. The website not only had everything Chad had been promising for years, but everything had a fresh, new look to it. Links, buttons, text and reviews were all re-done, new reviews and extras were added, and we finally got to see the first attempt at multimedia. With everything running smoothly, the site racked up hundred of hits per month. With the good, however, came the bad. Several of the new features didn't pan out. "I spent much more of my time trying to re-write history. I had been talking about certain things for a couple years at that point, and I couldn't justify putting all of the new ideas ahead of things that I felt I should have done. It wasn't so much that I was doing it for the people checking us out, but I had to finish things I started and start the things I should have already finished." New features like Poll of the Week, Holiday Tests, Merchandise and MCR108.5 Holiday Radio never really took off. The polls were never answered, the only test ever uploaded was a revised version of the Grinch Aptitude Test and the Merchandise was ideally the same as the year prior. MCR108.5 did however have its first broadcast on August 30th 2006, but sadly wouldn't work again that season. There has been talk of doing one in 2007, but nothing is really expected to happen. 2007 As you hit the homepage, you're no doubt greeted with the message of New Injury Media founder, Chad Northrup's plans to shutdown all of his holiday projects. Northrup made the decision just three weeks into the fall project, The Autumn Effect. The site is shut down completely, and un-viewable. Chad has said that he will not close Mount Crumpit, but will not be working it for the 2007 Holiday Season. But, he has said that there are a few things you can expect. "I've yet to make an official statement regarding Mount Crumpit explaining my decisions and actions. I will summarize what has already been said and confirm that you could very well see a few new movie reviews this season, as they were already being worked prior to the actions taken in late September. With the exception of my statement, the Captain's Log will not be utilized. So, besides the reviews, nothing should really happen. There is one other piece of news, but I will wait for November 1st, when I will address everything. 2008 Yet another year marked with uncertainty. For several months, Chad debated on whether or not he wanted to get involved with his holiday tradition. Recently wed, and quite busy with several other projects, the thought of adding on something else wasnt necessarily overwhelming, but more or less a simple question of maintaining the quality Mount Crumpit has had throughout its run. As the holidays approached, Chad responded with a resounding "yes" as be made several posts detailing new reviews and multimedia plans. It looks as though dispite the personal aspect of it all, Chad will make the best out of 2008. With more than a dozen new reviews, things look more stable than ever. |
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