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.
Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Road Runner/ Wile E. Coyote Looney Tunes cartoon, the 1959 Chuck Jones directed, Wild About Hurry:
Some local TV stations cut the obligatory frozen introductory shot of the Road Runner in the beginning of the cartoon (because his faux Latin name in this cartoon technically says "Bat-outta-hell-ius").
Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer. Fun for all that children call their favorite time of year ....
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.
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 mini doc about A Charlie Brown Christmas -
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. (Look at current versions and you'll notice that we never see where Linus lands!) 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 Charlie Brown ChristmasVince Guaraldi Trio -
Producer Lee Mendelson wrote the lyrics for Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time is Here" music, and his son Glenn, along with his then sixth-grade class, sang the vocals.
Christmas Charlie Brown mashup
In honor of our depressed little pal: Let's all get in the mood and have a depressing Christmas -
Someday At Christmas Stevie Wonder -
This is one of the first Christmas songs with a social and political message. Released during the Vietnam War, it takes a stand for peace and for equality and compassion. John Lennon sent a similar message in his 1971 song.
Christmas Eve Can Kill You The Everly Brothers -
Apparently, Don and Phil could get really dark when they wanted to.
Xmas Time (It Sure Doesn't Feel Like It) The Mighty Mighty Bosstones -
Sometimes you might want to get out of town.
Christmas Lights Coldplay -
The words above the stage curtain in the video say CREDO ELVEM ETIAM VIVERE. This means "I believe Elvis lives" in Latin.
And what could be the saddest Christmas song written: Is There Really a Santa Claus?Red Sovine -
You may daub your eyes now, you just have a little dust in them. I know you are not crying.
My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.
This is a better way to remember John Lennon on this sad anniversary
Beatles Christmas Supermash !
Here's a recently uncovered private record Paul McCartney made for three friends -
December 7, 1969 -
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.
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.
December 6 -
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:
Evolution of Santa Claus -
Santa School -
Santa Claus' Workshop (1950)
Careless Santa They Might Be Giants -
'Zat You Santa Claus Buster Poindexter -
Today is the 53rd anniversary of the original broadcast of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, we have another Christmas video countdown today - Rudolph!
Rudolph was born 78 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.” May, who’d been lonely as a child, based the character on himself. Store executives fretted that shoppers might think Rudolph’s nose was red because he was drunk, but something about Rudolph’s story spoke to people. He was an outcast, down on his luck. When Santa gave him a job (it was the Great Depression, after all)—well, something clicked.
That Christmas, the company passed out two and a half million copies of the book
Original Rankin/Bass Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeerend credits (in black and white)
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1944) -
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Gene Autry -
Rudolph (You Don't Have to Put On The Red Light)
various commercials feature Rudolph and his friends -
Regis Philbin sings Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer!
(Sorry about that folks I hope the sight of the President didn't ruin the holidays.)
As previously, Jingle Bells was written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas. Composer James Lord Pierpont wrote the song in the 1850s to play for his Boston Sunday school class during Thanksgiving as a way to commemorate the famed Medford sleigh races. Kids and adults loved the song and eventually changed the lyrics to fit Christmas.
Sleigh Ride Ray Conniff -
Leroy Anderson wrote the music for this song during a heatwave in July of 1946, at his summer home in Woodbury, Connecticut where he was vacationing with his family.
Deck the Halls Nat King Cole -
Since this song can be performed royalty-free to capture the spirit of the season, it shows up in a lot of TV shows and movies. The song played a key role in the movie A Christmas Story, where the family is forced to eat their dinner at a Chinese restaurant, where the staff does their best to sing this for them, but can't because their accents make Fa la la la la sound like Fa wa wa wa wa.
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Andy Williams -
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year is a collaboration by composer George Wyle (known for writing the Gilligan's Island theme) and his regular partner Eddie Pola. It was written specifically for The Andy Williams Christmas Album and the crooner performed it on his popular variety show, The Andy Williams Show.
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Perry Como -
This song celebrates that time when Christmas decorations appear in stores and public displays, which has been earlier and earlier in recent years. There are some dated references in the song, such as the "five and ten," which is a store selling inexpensive items. The "Hopalong boots" the child wishes for are a reference to those worn by the fictional cowboy Hopalong Cassidy.
OK kids, PNC bank has reported that there is a .6% increase in the price of the items needed for the 12 days of Christmas. In the 34th year of their survey, PNC has found that the 12 items come out to a grand total of $34,558.65, a mere $195.16 increase from last year. The cost of this year's CPI rose ever so slightly, driven by the cost increases for the Pear Tree, the increased demand for Golden Rings and wage increases for the Lords-a-Leaping. (I did not know this but you do not get any bargains by purchases these item online; buying all 12 items from the comfort of your living room would cost you $45,096, an increase of 1.01% from last years total of $44,602.)
These prices are, of course, just for one verse of the song. If you add up the total cost of all the items from the entire song (what PNC Wealth Management calls “The True Cost of Christmas”) it would surmount $157,558.00, up a little bit more than $1,000 from last year!
The 12 Days Of Christmas Frank Sinatra -
The 12 Days of Christmas A Tale of Avian Misery -
12 days of Christmas Wal-Mart Holiday Commercial -
