Christmas TV Specials: The Year Without a Santa Claus
In 1974, the animation team of Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass went to work on their next Christmas project, the Year without a Santa Claus. The story was based on the 1956 book by Phyllis McGinley, by the same name. … Continued
New Year Traditions: New Year’s Resolutions
Whether you love them or hate them each year, as we head into a new year, many people begin to make resolutions. So how did this tradition evolve? Let’s take a look at how people have celebrated New Years over … Continued
Christmas Traditions: Christmas star
The first Christmas star appeared on that first Christmas morning when it appeared over a stable. The shepherds came to see the Christ Child. The angels appeared to these shepherds and proclaimed “Do not be afraid; the star has come … Continued
Christmas TV Specials: The Little Drummer Boy
The Little Drummer Boy was produced by Rankin/Bass Productions, who made so many of our other Christmas specials. The special is based on the 1941 song where the drummer boy plays for the Christ child. The special premiered on December 19, … Continued
Christmas Traditions: Santa Tracking
Tracking Santa is exciting for children on Christmas eve. In 1955, a Sears Roebuck store in Colorado gave a number to a “Santa hotline”. However, the published misprint went to the Continental Air Defense Command {CONDAD}. “The Director of Operations, … Continued
Christmas TV Specials: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town is based on the song by the same name, introduced in 1934 by Eddie Cantor. “The special was created using Japanese stop motion animation called “Animagic”, in which all the characters are made out … Continued
Christmas TV Specials: A Charlie Brown Christmas
In the 1960s and 1970s, a number of animated TV specials were made. Those of us who grew up then fondly remember watching them. Even today they continue to be shown to the delight of children of all ages. A … Continued
Christmas Traditions: Reindeer
We all know Santa has reindeer who guide his sleigh, but how and where did the legend begin? The Inuit people had a story about the origin of caribou, or as we know them today Reindeer. “Once upon a time … Continued
Christmas TV Specials: Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
Johnny Marks wrote the song “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”, based on a book by his brother-in-law, Robert L. May, written in 1939. In 1949, Gene Autry recorded the title song. This was the basis for this 1964 special. Romeo Muller wrote … Continued
Christmas Traditions: Christmas Rose
Another legend is of the Christmas Rose, which tells of a young girl who wanted to worship the Christ child. Seeing the gifts of the Wise Men she despaired because she was so poor and had no gift to bring. … Continued