About Christmas TV History

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Christmas TV Party 2014: Johnny Holmes at Radio Once More

from Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
 
Christmas TV Party 2014: Johnny Holmes at Radio Once More



1) What is the first Christmas special you remember watching? 

The 2 that stick out in my mind as being the first Christmas specials that I recall watching are Rankin-Bass’ Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol. 

 

2) Name one Christmas program/movie you enjoy watching all year round.
     
I think I’ll cheat and give you 2.  1) The 1947 classic, Miracle on 34th Street, and 2) Rankin-Bass’ Santa Claus is Comin' to Town…I love the catchy songs from this special.  I love to put….."One Foot in Front of the Other” all year long!!!

1974's Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
            
3) Name one overlooked, or under-appreciated Christmas program.
     

An extremely touching Christmas Special with very little airplay is the wonderful 1974  Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.  I love the various ethnic individuals that make up Virginia’s neighborhood.  

4) Send us to 3 places on the internet.

www.RadioOnceMore.com


www.tvshowsondvd.com
www.Facebook.com

from the 1968 episode "Christmas Came a Little Early" on Family Affair.
 

5) What are your 3 favorite Christmas episodes of a TV sitcom or drama?
01) The Waltons – “The Homecoming: A Christmas Story”
02) Happy Days – The touching Christmas episode when The Cunninghams bring Fonzie to their house on Christmas Eve.
03) Family Affair – An extremely touching episode where Buffy’s friend is terminally ill and Uncle Bill and Mr. French (as Santa) throw a Christmas party early so that Buffy and her friend have a Christmas together.  I tear up every time I watch I watch this episode.










7 comments:

  1. Thanks Joanna for letting me be part of the Christmas TV Party 2014!!!!! Many of these great programs are indeed great to watch all year long!!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!!!

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  2. Thanks for sharing your Christmas favorites. I'm a big fan of classic radio shows, I just bookmarked Radio Once More and plan to check it often in the future.

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    1. Thanks J.A.!!!!! We hope you like the station. There is Old Time Radio all day and every night there is a LIVE show with various hosts about various topics. As a matter of fact, if you tune in Wednesday evening @9PM, I'll be on with my wife Helen and we'll be featuring a discussion with Joanna about this very 'Christmas TV Party 2014' event on this blog. Thanks again J.A. and we hope you tune in!!!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!

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  3. Thanks Johnny! I met the nicest people at Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention last year.

    That Family Affair episode you mentioned--CLASSIC! Thanks for the reminder of how special it is.

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  4. Oh, I would love to see that 1974 version of Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus! Does anyone know if it is available on DVD ? Perhaps alone or in a collection? I wish they would play more of the old classics and it would be wonderful to see the movie "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" with Richard Thomas.

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  5. Fun stuff. I do sing the One Foot in Front of the Other song in my head now and then, too. The Family Affair episode is one I don't recall but sounds great.

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  6. Johnny, I love that version of Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus--it's so charming. And that Family Affair ep is so well done--so understated and touching. The last (very short) scene is brilliant.

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