Dr. Caligari's cabinet is now so crammed that he had to stow stuff in the Cupboard. Time may wound all heels but once in a while you need a cup of tea.
Happy Hanukkah! Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah -
You add the candles from right to left but light them left to right.
So, let the serious eating commence.
Original Hanukkah Song Adam Sandler -
Golden: A KPop Demon Hunters Chanukah Six13 -
Hanukkah is Here! Firebuds -
Mi Y'malel (Who Can Retell?) SATB Choir -
A Freylekhe Nakht In Gan Eydn The Klezmer Conservatory Bandr -
Eight Hanukkah Nights by Marvelous Matzo Balls Stacy Kelly and Ellen Allard -
Please pace yourself - Eight days is a long time. And kids, know when a simple game becomes an addiction - please no actual gambling while playing with your dreidels.
Gamblers Anonymous (718) 352-1671
Speaking of gambling, for the thirteenth year in a row, the gentlemen from Bensonhurst were so moved by our themes concerning Frank and Dino that I have be persuaded (strong armed) by those gentlemen to present the 13th Annual Mobbed Up Christmas Special this year (our second theme of the evening).
(ACME's Legal Dept. would like to emphasize at this point - the appearance of any of these singers in this Holiday Spectacular should in any way denote their association, actual or implied, with organized crime. Enjoy)
It's just that the usual suspects, Frankie Lupini, Molluschi Vincenzo, Joey Carrozza, etc, 'requested' these songs.
Oh, You're All I Want For Christmas Al Martino -
Merry Christmas Baby Dion -
I’m Gonna Be Warm This Winter Connie Francis -
Do You Hear What I Hear? Bobby Vinton -
Christmas Candle Tony Martin -
Deck the Halls Vic Damone -
Give Me Your Heart For Christmas The McGuire Sisters -
After many shots of Grappa and plates of scungilli, baccalà alla vicentina and fried calamari, the boys want to wish everyone Buon Natale and Happy Hanukkah.
Before our feature presentation, The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour would like to start the evening with a holiday favorite the 1948 Disney short, Once Upon a Wintertime, directed by Hamilton Luske.
The scene where Joe skates a pair of hearts struck by an arrow on the ice represented Melody Time in the finale segment of Wonderful World of Animation.
Before the start of our feature presentation, we thought that we'd watch one of our favorite musicians, performing on NPR's tiny desk top concert:
listening to David Byrnes play is never a bad waste of time.
Happy Holidays! ACME wants you to join them in celebrating the holidays with your friends at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour - the official soap of our nation's bald eagles. Remember if your bald eagle's talons are filthy, do we have a soap for you! So why not join us in watching the Pink Panther holiday special, the 1978 Christmas special, A Very Pink Christmas, directed by Bill Perez and voiced by, Mel Blanc, and Clarence Nash.
You must laugh at the previous credit - all the characters are in silent.
I once shook hands with Pat Boone and my whole right side sobered up.
Today's Holiday Theme is A Dean Martin's Christmas (Dean died on Christmas day in 1995.)
As we mentioned yesterday, Frank wasn't the only member of the Rat Pack to sing carols -
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer -
Because Gene Autry's reputation was that of a Western star, he didn't feel suited to sing a Christmas song. The songs writer Johnny Marks, however, was determined to change Autry's mind (even though he'd never met him). He enlisted an unknown singer named Al Cernik to record a demo in the style of Autry and shipped it to the star in California. After a long wait - and some prodding from his wife - Autry agreed to record the tune.
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! -
This was written by the lyricist Sammy Cahn and the Broadway songwriter Jule Styne in 1945. It was first recorded by Vaughn Monroe, and has since become a standard.
I'll be home for Christmas -
The song was written by Walter Kent (music) and James Kimball "Kim" Gannon (words). Though Kent and Gannon collaborated on other songs, none reached the same level of popularity as I'll Be Home for Christmas.
Silver Bells -
This song was originally sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in The Lemon Drop Kid. The following year Bing Crosby, together with Carol Richards recorded the first recorded version.
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm -
This was written in 1934 by Richard B. Smith and Felix Bernard. The lyricist Richard Smith served as an editor of a newspaper before taking up a career in music. The composer Felix Bernard, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, played the piano with popular orchestras and was also a tap dancer and writer of musical comedies for Vaudeville. He later became a composer and though this proved his greatest success, he also earned a steady income writing songs for Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor on radio shows.
What the hell I'm starting to feel the bourbon, let's watch an entire episode of The Dean Martin Christmas Show -
If people want to think I get drunk and stay out all night, let 'em. That's how I got here, you know
I would like to be remembered as a man who had a wonderful time living life, a man who had good friends, fine family – and I don’t think I could ask for anything more than that, actually. –
Welcome to our 15th Annual tribute to Ole Blue Eyes - Acme's tip of the hat to The Chairman of the Board.
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm -
It's not really about Christmas, but there's plenty of winter imagery in this frosty tune, what with the snow snowing and the wind blowing, making it a holiday classic with covers besides Sinatra: Billie Holiday, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Judy Garland, and Rod Stewart..
Whatever Happened to Christmas -
The song was written by Jimmy Webb and first appeared on the album, The Sinatra Family Wish You A Merry Christmas. Jimmy Webb related the story of having dinner with Frank Sinatra to discuss the recording of an entire album of Webb songs. But Webb's father was also there, and Sinatra and the senior Webb got caught up in comparing memories from their younger days, so the discussion about the album, and indeed the album itself, never happened.
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear -
One could claim that this was the first Christmas song to be composed in the United States, and today it is considered a standard. In the mid 1850s the Americans were only beginning to celebrate the Christmas traditions of their English forebearers. The influence of works such as A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens were beginning to enthuse the American nation.
I'll Be Home For Christmas -
The tune was originally composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840 for the second chorus "Gott ist Licht" ("God is Light"), of the cantata Festgesang ("Festival Song"). Festgesang was written by the German composer to commemorate Johann Gutenberg and the invention of printing. Mendelssohn died in 1847 and in 1855 Dr. William Cummings, who was an enthusiast of the German composer, put the words and music together in spite of the fact that Mendelssohn had made it clear that his music was not be used for sacred purposes. Additionally, Cummings had envisaged his words being sung to the same tune as his Easter hymn, Christ the Lord is Risen Today. However it is Mendelssohn's tune that is generally used today.
The Christmas Waltz -
This song was written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne for Frank Sinatra, who recorded it in 1954 as the B-side of a new recording of White Christmas.
Shhh -Acme would like to bring you their annual presentation of the 1957Christmas episode of The Frank Sinatra Show - Happy Holidays with Bing and Frank (I have no idea how long this will be up before it 's taken down from the intraweb.)
Because Bing Crosby liked to pre-record his music in the morning and lip synch on film and Frank Sinatra preferred to record live in the evening, the musical "duets" were recorded ten hours apart with only soft piano accompaniment. Nelson Riddle overrode the piano with the orchestra during editing.
We will leave you with a little yuletide cheer from the Rat Pack -
More from those fellows in the next few days
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland.
Happy Holidays! I'm sure you are just starting to run around doing your holiday shopping. It's our second guest programmer this year and it has nothing to due with the fact that it's Julietta's birthday. (And I didn't have to harangue her for several days to get her actual choices.)
Here are her holiday choices:
Christmas Is All Around Billy Mack -
Love is All Around was a hit by The Troggs in 1967. In 2003, the song was redone for the movie Love Actually as Christmas is All Around. In the film, the song was a holiday cash grab by aging rock star Billie Mack, reworking his hit version from decades past. The result was a wonderful send up of music videos, holiday songs, and rock stars who have hung around one holiday season too many.
This Christmas Donny Hathaway -
Like many Christmas songs, this one took a while to find an audience. Released as a single in 1970, it went nowhere, but later became a modern holiday standard, covered by a wide range of artists including Destiny's Child, Aretha Franklin and Lady Antebellum.
Christmas Tree Farm Taylor Swift -
Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm that was run by her parents at their Pine Ridge Farm home in Reading, Pennsylvania. Taylor Swift's childhood job on the Christmas tree farm was "picking the praying mantis pods off of the trees so the bugs wouldn't hatch inside people's houses."
Nice work if you can get it.
White Christmas The Drifters -
A perennial seller for an entire generation, the song is by far the biggest-selling Christmas song of all time, and most likely the biggest-selling single of all time. Sales figures from the 1940s and 1950s are rough estimates, especially the worldwide numbers, so there's no way to know for sure, but Guinness World Records estimates White Christmas at #1 with 50 million sold.
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Mariah Carey -
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) is a song originally recorded by Darlene Love in 1963 that Mariah covered for her 1994Merry Christmas album. “I really did enjoy Mariah Carey's version, I think she stuck so close to me,” Darlene told Variety in 2020. “I was really surprised, because that has a lower voice than how she sings. But when you have a song that has a great melody, like ‘Christmas, Baby’ does, there's no sense in trying to mess with it. And she has such a great, powerful voice. She did an unbelievable version.”
Julietta would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy holiday season and a bright New Year.
As always - for an extra added treat, here's a few Christmas songs from Puddles Pity Party
What would Christmas be without our favorite 7 foot tall clown singing Christmas songs -
Maybe your just starting to wrap your gifts or just relaxing this evening, why not listen to The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour Rockin Soul Christmas Revue (Old School)
Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday William Bell –
Merry Christmas Baby Otis Redding –
This Christmas Donny Hathaway –
Presents For Christmas Solomon Burke –
What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas? The Emotions –
Who Took The Merry out of Christmas The Staple Singers -
A Charlie Brown Christmas is the first animated television special based on the popular newspaper comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, and also the first Christmas special for the franchise. Acme is proud to ask you to join us in watching the perennial showing of this depressing little special.
The original broadcast included some brief animated sections which included the logo of Coca-Cola, the show's original sponsor. These have been edited out of subsequent broadcasts and the video release. Right after the opening title, Linus crashed into a sign advertising Coca-Cola after being tossed by Snoopy. The closing carol originally included the complete verse (instead of fading out) with a final on-screen "Merry Christmas from your local bottler of Coca-Cola" right after the United Feature Syndicate credit at the end.
A documentary celebrating the 2015 50th anniversary of the Charlie Brown Christmas special: It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown -
When they first saw the show, CBS executives were horrified at the idea of an animated Christmas special with such a blatant message. They also strongly objected to the fact that the show had no canned laughter. In addition, they greeted Vince Guaraldi's jazz score as an intrusion in the special that audiences would never accept. However, when CBS learned to their astonishment of the special's spectacular ratings earned on its initial broadcast and the glowing reviews for it, the network promptly contracted the producers for more specials.
A Charlie Brown ChristmasVince Guaraldi Trio -
Producer Lee Mendelson wrote the lyrics for Vince Guaraldi'sChristmas Time is Here music, and his son Glenn, along with his then sixth-grade class, sang the vocals.
Christmas Charlie Brown mashups
And a couple of Charlie Brown parodies
In honor of our depressed little pal: Let's all get in the mood and have a depressing Christmas -
The Little Boy That Santa Claus ForgotNat King Cole -
Written by British composers Michael Carr, Jimmy Leach and Tommie Connor, it tells the tale of a fatherless boy who sent a note to Santa Claus to request presents of soldiers and a drum. On Christmas morning he awoke to find that Santa never came, and therefore, he only had last year’s broken toys to play with. The song was introduced to a completely new generation in 1982 when it featured in the Pink Floyd film The Wall. Vera Lynn’s version is heard during the opening scene, providing an eerie atmospheric effect.
Christmas' When You Were MineTaylor Swift -
Taylor Swift does heartbreak like no one else, and she perfectly captures how badly it stings to remember details of your ex over the holidays in this song.
Christmas Eve Can Kill YouThe Everly Brothers -
The weather outside is frightful, and the belief in humanity runs just as cold, in the brothers’ soaring but remarkably despondent ballad. A forlorn hitchhiker wards off frostbite on a snowy roadside as cars speed by … even as he admits that if he had a family waiting, he’d pass himself up too.
7 O’Clock News/Silent NightSimon & Garfunkel -
In perfect two-part harmony, they sing the song to a piano accompaniment. Into that song bleeds the sound of a news announcer bringing news of the day, thus creating a sound collage of peace set against modern times. That news was actually scripted and read by Charlie O’Donnell, who was a radio DJ then and became the announcer on many TV game shows, including The Wheel of Fortune.
Pretty PaperRoy Orbinson -
This was written by Willie Nelson, who at the time was a successful songwriter but relatively unknown performer. It's a Christmas song where the singer goes about preparing for the holiday, but notices an unfortunate homeless person who can't afford the luxuries of the season. Unsure how to handle this, the singer decides he is just too busy and carries on with his preparations.
And what could be the saddest Christmas song written: Christmas Will Break Your Heart - LCD Soundsystem
Christmas, I love you but you're bringing me down.
Before you go - since you're in the mood, let's all get together and listen to William S Burroughs read his Christmas story, The.Junky's Christmas.
Francis Ford Coppola produced this short Claymation film based on William S. Burroughs short story The Junky’s Christmas. The piece was directed by Nick Donkin and Melodie McDaniel.
Another Rankin/Bass production, Frosty the Snowman, premiered on CBS-TV on this date.
This was Jimmy Durante’s final film (not counting documentaries and one short film appearance).
The original recording of Frosty The Snowman by Gene Autry was his seasonal follow-up to his successful recording of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1949.
This time he peaked at #7 in December 1950.
The Snowman in July (1944)
Frosty The Snowman (1953)
Snowman’s Dilemma (1960)
The Snowman (1982)
When this program first aired on PBS stations in the United States, the introduction featured a newly filmed introduction by David Bowie instead of Raymond Briggs on the grounds that the animation needed a star.
Before you go – I couldn’t resist this mashup of I Melt With Youand Frosty The Snowman by Les Skivvies
I should have known what the costumes for The Skivvies were going to be.
I will not play the songs featuring Olaf from Frozen (the earworms they cause has led to a UN report being issued concerning possible war crime being committed by yours truly.) Really, don’t bother to look for them if you can help yourself.
(So sorry -early version of this post aired before it was ready. Here is the completed post)
Happy Holidays to us all
Before our feature presentation, The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour would like to start the evening with a holiday favorite the 1935 Harman-Ising short, Alias St. Nick, directed by Rudolph Ising.
The unclothed rear view of the popular Kewpie doll just made it past the censors of the time, as the Hays Code was applicable to animated cartoons as well as cinematic offerings.
Before the start of our feature presentation, iwe thought that we'd catch another quick round of a QI Christmas compilation:
We always get a smile from watching Stephen Fry.
Happy Holidays! ACME wants you to join them in celebrating the holidays with your friends at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour - the official soap of our nation's bald eagles. Remember if your bald eagle's talons are filthy, do we have a soap for you! So why not join us in watching one of Fred Astaire's last films, the heart warming 1979 Christmas film, The Man in the Santa Claus Suit, directed by Corey Allen and starring, Fred Astaire, Gary Burghoff, John Byner, Bert Convy, Nanette Fabray, Harold Gould, and Majel Barret.
Besides being Fred Astaire's final TV appearance, the film features a rare special appearance by Nanette Fabray who had previously worked with Fred Astaire in the MGM musical The Bandwagon in 1953. Also ironically she makes reference to Fred and Ginger in this movie.
It's the Feast of Saint Nicholas (yes, that St. Nick.)
Amongst other things, he is the patron saint of children and was known for his generosity. He's also known as the patron saint of sailors, fishermen, merchants, the falsely accused, prostitutes (Huh), repentant thieves, pharmacists and broadcasters.
Let's check out some other ways St. Nick has been portrayed:
Things We THINK We Know About St. Nicholas –
The Harvard of Santa Schools – -
Santa Claus' Workshop (1950)
Careless Santa They Might Be Giants -
'Zat You Santa Claus Louis Armstrong -
Here Comes Santa Claus – Gene Autry -
We have another Christmas video countdown today - Rudolph! Today is the 61th anniversary of the original broadcast of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,
Rudolph was born 86 years ago this Christmas season, at the Montgomery Ward department store headquarters in Chicago. He was the star of a humble coloring book, written by a copywriter, Robert May, who almost named the protagonist “Reginald.” The character of Rudolph was indeed born out of Robert May's personal experiences, and his feelings of isolation as a child. Even though some executives were worried about the red nose possibly implying drunkenness, it was clear that the message of acceptance and overcoming adversity had universal appeal. The story resonated deeply with people, especially during the Great Depression, when many were struggling.
The decision to pass out millions of copies of the book ensured that Rudolph became a holiday staple.
A short documentary from the Norwegian Postal Service about Reindeers
Original Rankin/Bass Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer end credits (in black and white)
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1944) -
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Gene Autry -
Creed sings (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer")
various commercials feature Rudolph and his friends -
Today's holiday special - Really Bad Christmas songs.
I received word from medical authorities that I should avoid posting Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. It would be considered risky given your mental state.
Duly noted.
Rock and Roll Santa Jan Terri -
Please don't get me wrong - this is bad. Really bad. Spectacularly bad. And yet, Ms. Terri is very well known as an 'Outsider Rock and Roll' performer and there are people posting on the web that this is one of their favorite holiday songs. It's starting to have an Ed Wood, Plan Nine From Outer Space feel to it.
Christmas Cookies RuPaul -
There are certain words you never want to hear in a holiday song: "Finger-licking," "back door," "piping hot," "loving oven," and "Dutch oven." Because nothing says Christmas like a fart joke.
Don't Shoot Me Santa The Killers -
Another holiday song that no one asked for - a murderous boy pleading with Santa to not shoot him. But they, there are folks who love this one.
Spin Me a Christmas Aqua –
First Barbie Girl in 1997 then 12 years later this. It's just a Scandinavian nightmare.
Dominick the DonkeyLou Monte -
Just say no.
We'll end with our perennial favorite -
What list of cheesy holiday songs would be complete without this wretched dreck concerning a filthy child's odd foot fetish (especially since it centers around his dying mother) - always an uplifting tune.
But I will give Patton Oswald the final word on the subject.
OK bunkies, national inflation levels are on the rise, and that is reflected in the cost of celebrating Christmas in the style of the classic 12 Days of Christmas song, which has increased significantly this year. PNC Bank's annual survey reveals a 4.5% increase in the price of the items featured in the song, totaling $51,476.12 for 2025—an increase of $2,212.65 from last year. This rise in cost largely mirrors the increase in service prices, as inflationary pressures have mainly impacted services rather than goods like birds, which have remained fairly steady.
The price of gold, unfortunately, surged by a soaring 32.5% year-over-year. Interestingly, while purchasing the items online still costs more, the price gap between in-store and online shopping has narrowed compared to previous years. In 2025, buying the entire set of items online would cost $55,748.05, a $4,271.93 premium over in-store purchases. This represents a 3.1% increase from the 2024 online total of $54,073.69.
If you were to buy all the gifts from the entire song - every single repeat of all 12 items - the “True Cost of Christmas,” when doing your own shopping (as opposed to shopping online), would be a staggering $218,542.98, reflecting a 5% increase from the 2024 total.
So it stands to reason that today's holiday theme is - The Twelve Days Of Christmas
The 12 Days Of Christmas -
12 Drinks of Christmas Fay McKay -
Christmas Countdown Frank Kelly-
The 12 Days of Christmas A Tale of Avian Misery -
The 12 Gifts of Christmas Allan Sherman -
The Twelve Days of Yaksmas -
Simon's Cat 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS -
Tonight is the unofficial start of London’s holiday season, when the annual lighting ceremony of the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is held on the first Thursday in December.
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The tree is a gift given to Britain by the people of Norway as a thank you for support during the Second World War. The tradition has been ongoing since 1947. The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg will be hosting the Mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindboe, and the Norwegian Ambassador, Tore Hattrem.
(They also light the tree in Boston Commons tonight. The tree is a gift from the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and has been sent every year since the 1970s. It is in recognition of the swift and sustained relief effort the people of Boston put together to aid Halifax after the explosion in their harbor in 1917. )
Thousands of poor souls will gather to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree be lit for the first time this holiday season tonight. Remember to bundle up and bring a polo mallet with you if you, unfortunately, find yourself in midtown.
If you think I'm bad with remembering season dates: The Rockefeller Center website can't seem to agree with or not it is the 93rd or 94th annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting.
The first tree was put up by the construction workers at the Rockefeller Center site in 1931 - the workers pooled their funds to purchase a 20-foot balsam and decorated it with a string of cranberries, a few tin cans and homemade paper garlands from their families. Another tree was put up again by the construction workers and lighting may have been involved.
According to their website: The Rockefeller Center made the Christmas tree an annual tradition and held the very first tree lighting ceremony with a 40-foot evergreen that was strung up with 700 lights.
Do you really want to be stuck in the middle of potential Darwin Award winners and their children who should be forced to play in traffic? So once again, I’m giving native New Yorkers a gentle reminder – watch last year’s lighting here.
This year, Reba McEntire, Marc Anthony, Kristin Chenoweth, Brad Paisley, Gwen Stefani, and more, as well as, the refugees from overbooked ancient hotels in the holy land are involved this year.
Exert extreme caution!
It’s the holiday season, so let’s get lit - Christmas Light Shows:
According to recent surveys, approximately 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas in some form, includes both religious and secular observances, such as family gatherings, gift exchanges, and holiday traditions that are not necessarily tied to Christian beliefs. This means there are approximately 100 to 120million households households in the United States that celebrate the holiday. While not every home in the U.S. that celebrates Christmas decorates with extravagant lighting, many of them do.
Electricity use in the United States in 2024 was more than 12 times greater than electricity use in 1950. The amount of electricity used by holiday lights is determined by the type of light used. The most common include 100-light mini lights. These lights use 0.039 kWh of electricity per hour, which is around 0.95 kWh per day. Ceramic C7 lights are also widely used. A 100-light strand uses 130 watts, which is around 0.13 kWh per hour, resulting in a daily use of around 3.15 kWh.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average cost for electricity in the United States is about 17 - 18 cents per kWh, in 2024. Based on that cost and the known wattage for typical bulbs, you can do the math to determine how much it costs to power a standard 100-bulb strand. The bigger the bulb, the more juice it takes to make it sparkle. For those big old-school C9 bulbs that are used most often for outdoor displays (and popularized by Clark Griswold, you can plan on paying for 175 watts of power for a single 25-bulb strand. Run that strand 12 hours a day for a 45-day period, and you’ll pay around $16.06 per strand over the holiday season. Prefer mini lights instead? A 100-light strand of incandescent minis runs around $16 per season. Some extreme household decorators can spend an extra $2,125 to light their displays!
It’s nice to see that the public is helping support the public utilities. You know that they are barely eking out a living.
ACME commemorates the anniversary of St. Elvis' comeback with their annual tribute -
Touch but his sweat soaked leather raiments and be made whole again:
Today's holiday theme - It's an Elvis Christmas today
If Every Day Was Like Christmas -
Merry Christmas Baby -
I Believe -
Santa Claus Is Back in Town -
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem -
Christmas Duets -
If you find yourself all tingly in your bulbous naughty bits;
