Christmas With the King Family (1967)

They just don’t make wholesome TV variety shows like Christmas with The King Family anymore!  Watching this 1967 TV special is like looking into a window onto the past when variety shows on TV were at their zenith and wholesome even corny sentimentalism was so popular, it was expected.  For those of us who still love this sort of thing, we're lucky that this entire 1967 TV special was released on DVD in 2009--a bonus feature on the Christmas with The King Family documentary that also aired on PBS.  The documentary is a collection of clips from several King Family Christmas TV programs with commentary by members of the King family.  Have you seen it?

DVD box cover

1967's Christmas with The King Family was the first Christmas TV special following The King Family Show variety TV series.  Though "America’s First Family of Song" began their variety series on TV in 1965, this 1967 special is their first hour-long Christmas special.  The cast includes the King Sisters, Alvino Rey, the King Cousins, the King Kiddies as well as all the other aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews that make up the extended musical family. This Christmas special was rebroadcast by the network for many years until the King Family made their next Christmas TV special in 1974.

The family opens the show singing "Happy Holidays" and "Caroling, Caroling" as they decorate a Christmas tree on an open stage setting with a staircase, a chandelier and a couch.  The music continues with the King Cousins, the King Kiddies and the King Sisters singing a medley of "Deck the Halls/Jingle Bells" in an arrangement that features each group of singers.

"The Holiday of Love." 

In gorgeous floor-length white dresses with black fur collars, the King Sisters harmonize on "The Holiday of Love."  This song is one of the signature King Sisters holiday songs recorded for the King Family Christmas albums.

Tina Cole singing to her toddler son Volney Howard.

Tina Cole sings "I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" to her baby son, while young Cam and Laurette, and King Sister Marilyn and husband Kent, continue the same song.

Rob on bass, Alvino with his "talking steel guitar" and daughter Liza Rey Butler on harp.

Alvino Rey plays the steel guitar with two King cousins accompanying him on harp and stringed bass.  My favorite performance is the King Cousins dressed in red pajamas singing and dancing to a hip bossa-nova arrangement of "Twas the Night Before Christmas/Santa Claus is Coming to Town."  This is followed by King Sister Alyce singing "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" at the piano, played by son Lex.  Lex continues on the piano, performing a relaxed arrangement of "Sleigh Ride."

"Twas the Night Before Christmas" performance

Bob Clarke with the King kids.

Bob Clarke recites a story about a Christmas donkey to the group of children intercut with animated images of Mary and Joseph on a donkey.

"Hear the Sledges With the Bells."

The whole family sings "Hear the Sledges With the Bells" and Marilyn sings "My Favorite Things." 

Marilyn sings "My Favorite Things" a song closely associated with the holidays--though it original comes from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music.  Sadly, the last of the King Sisters, Marilyn, passed away just last month (August 2013).

Performance for the song "The Little Drummer Boy."  What this photo doesn't reveal is the adorable puppy running through the set!

The King Kiddies perform a dramatization of the Nativity story against a recording of the King Sisters singing "The Little Drummer Boy."

"White Christmas."

The King Sisters sing the beloved holiday classic "White Christmas" dressed in luxurious white hooded coats trimmed with white fur.  This is followed by the female members of the King Cousins singing "The Christmas Song" eventually joined by their mothers.

"The Christmas Song."

"The Christmas Waltz."

 
Together the family sings "The Christmas Waltz" dressed in white gowns and tuxedos as they waltz to the music. The family sings "The First Noel/Auld Lang Syne/We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and they close the show singing "(When There’s) Love at Home."

Ric catches his mother by surprise walking up to her during her performance of "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

Her tearful reaction is a rare candid moment for TV viewers, many of whom also had members of their family serving away from home perhaps even in Vietnam at Christmas time.

Most people remember  this particular TV special because it includes the surprise moment when King Sister Alyce has an unexpected and tearful reunion with her son Ric, who is brought on stage in the middle of her tender performance of the song "I’ll Be Home for Christmas."  Ric who was away serving in the military at that time surprises his mother who had dedicated her performance to him just moments before.

"(When There's) Love At Home."

What I love about this classic TV special is its old-fashioned goodness and simplicity.  Even if I wasn't around to watch it in its original run on TV, I enjoy watching it now as a way to capture that feeling we all love to feel at Christmas--a longing for the good ol' days and warm times spent with the family.

The King Sisters started their careers during the Big Band era.

Even if you've never heard of The King Sisters, and their large extended family, you may be interested to know of the King family's further influence on pop culture.  Guitar virtuoso Alvino Rey--husband to King Sister Luise--was a pioneer with the pedal steel guitar.  I still hear people evoke his name when discussing exotica music, a style of music Rey embraced later in his career.   Two of Alvino's grandsons Will and Win Butler continue in the music industry--in a hugely successful band, Arcade Fire.  It's a small world, isn't it?

Young Cam Clarke with Laurette in "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."

 
You may also recognize King Sister Alyce's husband, actor Bob Clarke--who has appeared in several classic science fiction movies.  Clarke was also a regular in the 1960s color episodes of Dragnet (my favorite!)  King Kiddie Cam Clarke has since grown up to become a very successful voice actor in animation and video games.

Tina Cole played Robbie's wife Katie in the TV series My Three Sons.

And, King Cousin Tina Cole also worked as an actress.  She's appearing at The Hollywood Show in Chicago on Sept. 6th-8th, 2013 in a mini-cast reunion for My Three Sons along with former cast members Barry Livingston and Stanley Livingston.  I hope to see everyone in Chicago--I'll be there signing books.  Be sure to drop by my booth and say 'hi.'

Book Review: A Christmas Story: Behind the Scenes of a Holiday Classic by Caseen Gaines

Even though it's Labor Day weekend, I'm already in the Christmas spirit.  That's because I've received an advanced copy of a new book by pop culture enthusiast Caseen Gaines entitled A Christmas Story: Behind the Scenes of a Holiday Classic.  The book which is scheduled to be released on October 1st, 2013, is the hottest item on everyone's Christmas list.  It is being released to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the movie's debut.  That's what I call perfect timing! 

Gaines' book is everything it should be--and it covers everything it should cover.  Within its ten chapters, you'll read about the behind the scenes activities of what it took for the film's director Bob Clark to bring this production to theater screens.  Gaines recounts the film's screenplay, casting, shooting the film, its initial release and critics' reactions, and the movie's eventual climb to cult status.  There are also in depth discussions of Brian Jones' efforts to develop what has become Christmas movie fans' ultimate vacation destination: The Christmas Story House and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio--the house used for the exterior shots in the movie.  You'll also read about the Schwartzes, a couple who are such die-hard A Christmas Story fans that they made an indie film about their efforts to track down the original Canadian shooting locations and the original costumes worn in the film by the principle cast.  Gaines' book also details the explosion of merchandise retailed after the 20th anniversary of the film, as well as the multiple follow-up movies and staged productions inspired by the success of the 1983 film.

The photos in the book include movie publicity stills as well as some from the personal collection of Ian Petrella who played the little brother Randy.   Petrella's photos are a wonderful addition as they consist of candid, behind-the-scenes images of the cast and crew captured during the 1983 film's shoot.

This is me standing inside the Christmas Story House in Cleveland, Ohio--"It's a MAJOR award!"  Click HERE to revisit my post about my trip to A Christmas Story House & Museum in 2010.

Most of you may be pleased to learn that this new book includes a level of detail for even the most ardent A Christmas Story movie fans.  Even if you've seen the movie dozens of times--even hundreds of times--you'll learn something new.  Loyal fans of radio personality, raconteur, and short story writer Jean Shepherd will be satisfied to discover how much Gaines' book attributes to Shepherd's work, his influence on the success of the film, and Shep's ongoing legacy.  I recommend this book to anyone who knows the joy of watching A Christmas Story.  This is the Red Ryder BB Gun of books you'll want on your Christmas list this year.

In addition to all the wonderful details about this classic Christmas movie, I was pleased to see wider discussions, asking the questions--has this holiday cultural force jumped the shark? will viewers and fans ever lose their enthusiasm and will the film diminish in popularity?  I also appreciate Gaines reiterating the question--what makes A Christmas Story the cultural touchstone that it is?  From my perspective, I share Gaines' assertion that the movie continues to endure because it is rooted in the ritual of families coming together every year watching the movie marathon 24 Hours of A Christmas Story on cable TV or on DVD.  This ritual for many has become tradition--the essence of Christmas itself.  Can we imagine a Christmas in our futures without watching A Christmas Story on television?  Not in my lifetime!

Gaines' previous book.

Christmas TV junkies should also look for Caseen Gaines' previous book 2011's Inside Pee-Wee's Playhouse: The Untold, Unauthorized, and Unpredictable Story of a Pop Phenomenon.  The book devotes an entire chapter to the 1988 prime time TV special Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special. 

You can pre-order A Christmas Story: Behind the Scenes of a Holiday Classic at Amazon.com
You can also follow Gaines' book on facebook: A Christmas Story book

Starsky & Hutch Christmas (1976)

As I mentioned, I'm looking forward to being at The Hollywood Show in Chicago on Sept. 6th-8th, 2013.  One of the exciting guests in attendance will be actress Kristy McNichol.  So I'm motivated to re-visit one of her past roles in a Christmas episode.  Do you remember the second season episode "Little Lost Girl" of the police/action series Starsky & Hutch?

You know it's Christmas because there are holiday decorations hanging from the car's rear-view mirror.

The story opens with Hutch bitterly explaining that he has no intention of buying his partner Starksy a Christmas present this year.  Hutch claims he's trying to avoid the phony "euphoric sentimentalism" he sees everywhere around him this season.  Meanwhile, Starsky cannot stop himself from whistling and singing Christmas carols throughout the episode.  The Zebra 3 receives a call--there's an armed robbery in progress nearby!

America's Most Wanted: Molly Edwards, a hungry girl with little parental supervision.

It turns out a local grocer has made the false report in order for the police to come and capture an underage shoplifter that has repeatedly ripped him off.  This twelve year-old delinquent is tomboy Molly Edwards who just wants to be left alone.  Starksy and Hutch get her away from the angry grocer and take her home.  But what they find there alarms them--she lives in a dingy apartment that's filled with empty liquor bottles.  They decide to wait with her until a parent arrives.

No happy Christmas for this little lost girl.

After several hours, they receive a phone call--Molly's father has been killed.  Looking into his background, Starsky and Hutch discover that Molly's father had just been released from prison two months ago.  He had served time after getting caught for a jewelry store robbery in which several stolen diamonds had not been recovered.  His two accomplices had never been found either.  It looks like Molly will have to return to her foster home as soon as the family can be contacted.  In the meantime, she'll stay with Hutch at his apartment.

Hutch listens as Molly cries herself to sleep.

Trying to help, Hutch finds himself offering to take Molly Christmas shopping and Starsky brings a Christmas tree to Hutch's apartment.  When Molly is returned to her foster family, her father's accomplices scheme to recover the stolen diamonds by kidnapping and forcing Molly to reveal what she knows. Now Starsky and Hutch must track down the two armed robbers who are the number one suspects in Molly's father's murder--but Molly as well!

YYESS!!  This Christmas story includes everyone's favorite informant, Huggy Bear!

These two bad guys are menacing however one of them looks like an evil Johnny Mathis!? 

Though Molly escapes from the bad guys clutches, she eventually uses herself as bait to lure them to her once again so they can be more easily caught!  This is not the plan Starsky and Hutch had in mind--but it works and the baddies are eventually caught.

Hutch has demonstrated quite of bit of "euphoric sentimentalism" over this little girl this holiday season--and Starsky won't let him forget it!  And on Christmas morning, Starsky, Hutch, Molly, and Hutch's friendly neighbor boy named Kiko all open gifts together.  As a ridiculous punchline, Starsky gives Hutch an ant farm as a gift and Hutch gives his partner a certificate that states that a tree has been planted in a nearby park in Starsky's name. 

If you're a fan of Kristy McNichol like I am, you may want to join me in Chicago at The Hollywood Show.  Get your tickets now!  You may also notice among the 36 celebrities attending the show, her brother Jimmy McNichol will also be there.  I can't wait!

Kristy also appeared in both of The Carpenters' musical Christmas TV specials in 1977 and '78.  Why aren't these on DVD yet?

Dennis the Menace (1959)

I've been getting prepared for my upcoming appearance at The Hollywood Show in Chicago, September 6th-8th, 2013.  I'm getting excited about all the celebrity guests at the event--many of whom have appeared in outstanding Christmas entertainment.  One of the guests who will be in Chicago is actor Jay North.  Among his many roles, North played Dennis Mitchell on the sitcom Dennis the Menace, a TV series based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham.  Do you remember the first Christmas episode of Dennis the Menace, 1959's "The Christmas Story?"

Henry Mitchell is having a hard time finding a place to hide the Christmas gifts--out of Dennis' reach.

In this episode, Henry and Alice Mitchell struggle to keep the family's Christmas gifts hidden from young Dennis as he searches through every nook and cranny of their home.  When Henry thinks he knows the perfect place to hide the gifts--in a locked trunk in the attic--Henry finds Dennis and his friend Tommy already there trying to pry open the trunk!

Henry gets the idea for next-door neighbor Mr. Wilson to hold the Mitchells' gifts for them until Christmas day.  Mr. Wilson agrees to this and he hides them in the closet.  Unaware that the gifts have left the home, Dennis still searches high and low for the Christmas presents.

Dennis sets a buzzing alarm clock to go off so he can hear where the gifts are hidden!

Then Dennis gets the clever idea of asking his mother to place the alarm clock gift he plans to give his father with all the other hidden gifts.  What Alice doesn't know is that Dennis has set the snooze alarm on the clock and it will buzz every few minutes until it is shut off! 

Dennis knows what time he set the alarm clock to go off at--but he can't hear it from where it's hidden.

Poor Mr. Wilson keeps answering the buzzer at the front door--but no one is there.

Though Dennis never hears the alarm clock in the Mitchell home, Mr. Wilson mistakes the buzzing noise for his front door bell.  On Christmas Eve, the Mitchells invite the Wilsons to their home to trim the Christmas tree.  Though Dennis has been practicing his bugle all week long in order to play "Silent Night," his parents suggest that everyone sing the beloved carol instead.  Upon hearing Dennis' sweet voice, the adults one-by-one drop out from singing.  The devilish little boy looks positively angelic as he sings “Silent Night” in front of the Christmas tree.

Dennis' sweet, innocent voice brings tears to the eyes of his parents and the Wilsons.

If you're familiar with this series, you may already know that Dennis sings "Silent Night" in each of the three Christmas episodes.  This charming musical moment is just one of the many TV sitcom musical highlights that I discuss in my most recent book Merry Musical Christmas: Volume 1: The Best Christmas Music in Sitcoms and Dramas that was released last holiday season.

Did you ever relentlessly search for your hidden Christmas gifts when you were a child?

I'm looking forward to The Hollywood Show in Chicago on Sept. 6th-8th.  In addition to actor Jay North being there, the actress who played Dennis' friend Margaret, Jeannie Russell, from the Dennis the Menace series will also be there.  I hope to see you there too!

Animation Celebration: Recap

This concludes Christmas in July: Animation Celebration!  July is the special time of the year that I turn the blog over to my readers.  All month long I have been posting essays written by people eager to share their passion and memories for animated Christmas entertainments.  I want to thank all the readers who took the time and effort to comment on other writers' essays.  In case you may have missed any of the guest posts this month, below is a complete list of links.  Merry Christmas in July!

Polar Express

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

A Cosmic Christmas

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

The Little Drummer Boy

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

 

The Simpsons' "Marge Be Not Proud"

Batman: The Brave and the Bold's "Invasion of the Secret Santas!"
 
Winnie the Pooh and Christmas, Too

The Small One

Mickey's Christmas Carol

 

A Charlie Brown Christmas 

A Garfield Christmas

Santa and the Three Bears

Yogi's First Christmas

A Very Merry Cricket

Animation Celebration: A Very Merry Cricket

Welcome back to Christmas in July: Animation Celebration!  July is the special time of the year that I turn the blog over to my readers.  All month long I'm posting essays written by people eager to share their passion and memories for animated Christmas entertainments.

Today's essay is the last original essay--tomorrow I'll post a recap of the month's guest posts so you'll be able to see if you missed any of them.  Thanks to everyone who participated--I hope you got as much out of it as I did.  Isn't it fun to see what animated holiday stories are important to others? 

Today's essay is on 1973's A Very Merry Cricket.  How long has it been since you've re-watched this one?  This guest post comes to us from Dominic, the editor/publisher of 1701 Press, who also wrote the essay on his favorite Simpsons Christmas episode earlier this month.

A Very Merry Cricket is the sequel to the 1973 animated short, A Cricket in Times Square. Chuck Jones--the animator behind the Christmas TV classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas--adapted A Cricket in Times Square for television from George Selden’s story and Garth Williams’ illustrations. It’s the story of Chester C. Cricket, a Connecticut cricket, who, through a series of mishaps, finds himself in New York City. He’s taken in as a pet by a boy in a subway newsstand, and befriended by a stray cat, Harry, and his best friend, Tucker the mouse. Chester saves the newsstand’s sagging business when it’s discovered that he has an incredible musical gift and all of New York is captivated by his ability to play beautiful music.

A nightmarish and expressionistic New York is getting Christmas all wrong!

In A Very Merry Cricket, Chuck Jones reunites Chester with Tucker and Harry to rekindle the spirit of Christmas in New York. The city has become a nightmarish place--rife with chaos, commercialism, and selfishness. Harry and Tucker decide to bring Chester back from Connecticut to the city for Christmas, believing that his music will inspire the city dwellers to be kinder--like his music did the first time Chester played for them.

Harry the cat, Tucker the mouse, and Chester C. Cricket reunite in Connecticut.

So, the cat and mouse make the trip to Connecticut to enlist the help of their friend. The trip back to New York proves somewhat tricky, with the trio having to improvise to avoid an aggressive bulldog and a threadbare stray cat who wants to make Tucker the main course in his Christmas dinner. When they return to New York, they find it too loud and chaotic for anyone to hear Chester’s music. In a stroke of Christmas luck, a power overload causes a blackout and Chester’s beautiful playing miraculously brings out the best in everyone again.

A creepy stray cat tries to eat Tucker.

A Very Merry Cricket is every bit as charming as A Cricket in Times Square, and it’s filled with Chuck Jones’ unforgettable style. I grew up loving How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and A Very Merry Cricket could have easily been a favorite companion piece to The Grinch. Watching A Very Merry Cricket again, I was struck with how excellent it is. It’s got wonderful characters. Tucker the mouse is voiced with great warmth and humor by Mel Blanc (who brought so many classic Warner Brothers characters to life, from Bugs Bunny to Foghorn Leghorn), and the suave Harry the cat along with mild-mannered, liverwurst-loving Chester C. Cricket, are voiced by the elegant Les Tremayne. Both Tucker and Harry display Chuck Jones’ signature style of facial expressions and movement--looking like they could’ve have been good friends to the Grinch and Max the Reindog. The imposing city scenes of hustle and bustle, and the eventual scenes of goodwill and togetherness are absolutely spectacular. There’s little movement in many of these city scenes beyond that of the camera panning from one direction to another, but it’s done with such artistry that the feelings come across loud and clear.

Harry, Tucker, and Chester take a perilous downhill sled ride (a little like the Grinch and Max) to try to catch the train.

The music is also wonderful.  Music, of course, is a big part of my Christmas celebration. It also plays an important role in my cherished Christmas memories growing up, watching Christmas on TV, celebrating with my family and Italian grandparents, and going to church with all the old Italian people in an atmosphere that was both reverent and joyful. A Very Merry Cricket is filled with lovely violin arrangements of Christmas carols, including “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World.” When Chester plays “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” the arrangement swells to include a particularly beautiful vocal accompaniment by a solo child’s voice, backed by a choral group.

People joining together in the spirit of Christmas, inspired by Chester's playing.

The characters are charming, and the story conveys a satisfying sense of Christmas spirit. But my favorite part of A Very Merry Cricket is the montage of scenes of togetherness, goodwill, and happiness as people all over the city are inspired by Chester’s beautiful Christmas music. The illustrations are beautiful, filled with humanity, and they make this animated special a real sight to behold.

Another beautiful image of Christmas spirit while Chester plays Christmas carols.