Christmas in July 2018: Cathie Kahle

Christmas in July 2018: Cathie Kahle

1) Name your favorite Henson's Muppet Christmas program and why.

I love Elmo & Big Bird. I don’t have a favorite show. I also like the Barney Christmas shows. :)

from 1947's Miracle on 34th Street

2) Which decade produced the bulk of your favorite Christmas entertainment?

I like the Christmas movies you find on TCM. So 1940’s & 50’s? Most of them are black & white, and that reminds me when I was 7 years old and younger before we got our color TV in 1966. I even had one of those screens you put over your TV screen that made it “color.” This includes Holiday Inn, Miracle on 34th Street, The Shop Around The Corner, It Happened On 5th Avenue, I could go on forever. I especially like the old musicals.

3) Imagine the entertainment behind your ideal Christmas Eve dinner. Name the appetizer, entré, and dessert.

App: Mickey’s Snowed Inn At The House Of Mouse

Entré: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Dessert: White Christmas


4) What Christmas episode, special or movie doesn't exist--that you wish did? Feel free to get creative.

A Captain Kangaroo Christmas Special? Gene London?

from Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980)

 
5) If one Christmas movie, special or episode was to be selected for a time capsule to opened in 1,000 years, which title do you think should be included?

I think it would have to be Mr. Krueger’s Christmas, or the 3 Seventh Day Adventist Christmas At Cadillac Jack’s, Love’s Pure Light and All Is Bright. These three are beautiful shows. If you haven’t seen them, see if you can find them!

Christmas in July 2018: Wanda Stella

from 1979's John Denver and the Muppets: Christmas Together soundtrack album

Christmas in July 2018: Wanda Stella

1) Name your favorite Henson's Muppet Christmas program and why.

ANSWER:  John Denver and the Muppets

2) Which decade produced the bulk of your favorite Christmas entertainment?

ANSWER:  1960's

from 2009's Disney's A Christmas Carol

3) Imagine the entertainment behind your ideal Christmas Eve dinner. Name the appetizer, entré, and dessert.

ANSWER: 
Appetizer - Rudolph
Entre - A Disney Christmas Carol (with Jim Carrey)
Dessert - A Charlie Brown Christmas

4) What Christmas episode, special or movie doesn't exist--that you wish did? Feel free to get creative.

ANSWER:  A Pride and Prejudice Christmas

from 1965's A Charlie Brown Christmas

5) If one Christmas movie, special or episode was to be selected for a time capsule to opened in 1,000 years, which title do you think should be included?

ANSWER:  A Charlie Brown Christmas

Christmas in July 2018: Page G.

from 1987's Muppet Family Christmas

Christmas in July 2018: Page G.



1) Name your favorite Henson's Muppet Christmas program and why.



A Muppet Family Christmas – The Muppet Show and Sesame Street characters hanging out together for Christmas is pretty festive. The Swedish Chef orders a turkey, and a yuppie turkey with his sunglasses and tennis racket shows up. Ah … the ‘80s. That always makes me laugh. And I love that Jim Henson appears at the end. That is so sentimental now.

Mitzi Gaynor


2) Which decade produced your favorite Christmas entertainment?



I’m going to break the rules and cross decades just a bit. The late ‘60s into the ‘70s. It was such a wonderful time for variety shows, and they all did Christmas specials with gorgeous vibrant colors and decorations. Add to that, great music and there was such a feeling of family and closeness. Andy Williams, The King Family, Dean Martin, Mitzi Gaynor, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Donny & Marie … nothing gets me in the spirit like watching these old specials.

from The Mary Tyler Moore Show's 1974 episode "Not A Christmas Story."

3) Imagine the entertainment behind your ideal Christmas Eve dinner. Name the appetizer, entrée, and dessert.



My ideal Christmas Eve viewing party: Appetizer: 1974 – The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s "Not a Christmas Story" - they’re snowed in, fighting with each other and have to eat Sue Ann’s Christmas dinner that she made for The Happy Homemaker’s Christmas episode. I love them sitting around in goofy hats and singing carols at the end.  Entrée:  Any of the Andy Williams’ Christmas Specials (but especially the late ‘60s episodes). Dessert: Let’s finish the dinner with a Santa mug of eggnog with Bob and Emily. 1972 – The Bob Newhart Show – "His Busiest Season"



4) What Christmas episode, special or movie doesn't exist--that you wish did? Describe it.



A Very Aaron Spelling Christmas – A jewel thief has robbed the Carrington mansion in Denver and then made his way to the luxury hotels of Vega$. Robert Urich as Dan Tanna chases him to Los Angeles and joins forces with Kris, Kelly, Sabrina and special guest star Farrah Fawcett as Jill to finally put the thief behind bars. In the end, Bosley dresses as Santa and passes out gifts of lip gloss and hair care products. Charlie calls in to tell them his Christmas present to them is a cruise on The Love Boat. Dan Tanna comments that Charlie sounds an awful lot like Blake Carrington. The angels flick their hair and giggle. Merry Christmas, angels!




5) If one Christmas movie, special or episode was to be selected for a time capsule to be opened in 1,000 years, which title do you think should be included?



A Charlie Brown Christmas – It reflects the best of the holidays and the best in all of us – A sense of humor, friendship, faith, pulling together … and, of course, a beagle who knows how to dance to a jazzy version of Jingle Bells.

Christmas in July 2018: Randall Buie

Jim Henson's cameo in 1987's Muppet Family Christmas

Christmas in July 2018: Randall Buie, Henderson, Nevada, author of The Education of a Country Hick

1) Name your favorite Henson's Muppet Christmas program and why.

This might come as a surprise since in previous years I have touted the virtues of John Denver and the Muppets - A Christmas Together.  But the Muppet program that gives me the warmest feeling is Muppet Family Christmas. There are many reasons for this. First the special uses Muppets from Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock. Secondly it is solid Christmas. Although there are musical numbers there are no lavish production numbers as in the Denver special. And lastly the program has a heart sinking cameo by Jim Henson. Who would have thought he would have been dead in a little more than two years?

from 1962's Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.

2) Which decade produced the bulk of your favorite Christmas entertainment?

This is a tough one. I guess I would have to say the 1960s. It provided Mr Magoo's Christmas Carol, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and a couple of Shari Lewis holiday themed episodes. There were also a lot of great Christmas episodes on series television -- The Monkees Christmas Episode, "The Jingle Bells Affair", the Gilligan's Island Christmas episode from season 1, The Andy Griffith "Christmas Story," etc.  That is not to say I don't have favorites from other decades but it seems like the sixties was loaded.

3) Imagine the entertainment behind your ideal Christmas Eve dinner. Name the appetizer, entré, and dessert.

I think I'll pass this question as I don't quite understand it.

4) What Christmas episode, special or movie doesn't exist--that you wish did? Feel free to get creative.

I would love for either the Three Stooges or the Marx Brothers to have created a Christmas short subject or movie.  The Stooges came close.  One of their shorts with Shemp entitled "He Cooked His Goose" shows Moe decorating a tree and Shemp in a Santa suit.  And three of their shorts had the same plotline  -- trying to invade a harem palace using Santa suits as disguises.  And Groucho would briefly mention the holiday on his quiz show You Bet Your Life mainly during the commercial messages.  But to see one or both of these comedy giants attack the Christmas season in their own unique styles would have been a delight.

from 1992's Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean.

5) If one Christmas movie, special or episode was to be selected for a time capsule to be opened in 1,000 years, which title do you think should be included?

I am a silent movie buff.  Several times I have had people watch classic silent movies like It or The General or Intolerance with me and have had them react with amazement at the primitive nature of the film.  Can you imagine what people who open the time capsule are going to think about a film that is over 1,000 years old?  So, hey, let's at least give them a laugh. I would place a copy of Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean in the capsule. Let's face it, wearing a turkey down to your shoulders should always be funny.

Christmas in July 2018: Drew Flowers

Christmas in July 2018: Drew Flowers, Co- Moderator Christmas movies and music

1) Name your favorite Henson's Muppet Christmas program and why.

I am going to go with the Muppets Christmas Carol on this one. I felt Michael Caine does a superb job playing Ebenezer Scrooge and he did it convincingly while being surrounded by singing Muppets you still felt his crudeness and anger that that role requires. I also love that even though it's being told by Muppets they also went and made it a musical as well to give it some extra feel and to an adaption that's been done many times. Most versions have Bob Cratchit working alone but this one gave Bob Cratchit or in this case Kermit the Frog the rats as fellow bookkeepers for lividity to really keep that entertaining for kids as well it just works on all levels for kids and adults with this version of The Muppets Christmas Carol.

2) Which decade produced the bulk of your favorite Christmas entertainment?

This was a tough one for me to decide but I'm going to go with the 1970s. It really had a wide variety of options ranging from the Bob Hope Vietnam Christmas show, John Denver Rocky Mountain Christmas, Bing Crosby's Christmas specials, one of my favorites was The Honeymooners Christmas special where they got the cast back together after many years of not being on screen and who could forget the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special!!

3) Imagine the entertainment behind your ideal Christmas Eve dinner. Name the appetizer, entré, and dessert.

The appetizer would be 1980-Yogi Bear's First Christmas. Great way to start it off with a classic with the best of Hanna-Barbera.  Entre- George C Scott's version of A Christmas Carol.  Dessert-Mr. Krueger's Christmas with Jimmy Stewart.

4) What Christmas episode, special or movie doesn't exist--that you wish did? Feel free to get creative.

I am not sure if this exists or not but I haven't seen it yet but I've always wanted to see a special on the Christmas radio shows that took place for years. I did catch a yule log that aired the Christmas radio shows instead of Christmas carols but I wish there was like a dedicated special on network TV reminiscing the old radio shows from Burns and Allen, Fibber McGee and especially the Lionel Barrymore version of A Christmas Carol.

Rod Serling delivering the closing to the 1960 Christmas episode of The Twilight Zone.

5) If one Christmas movie, special or episode was to be selected for a time capsule to opened in 1,000 years, which title do you think should be included?

I only get 1!!! So many choices to choose from but I'm going to have to go with The Twilight Zone episode title "The Night of the Meek" with Art Carney. Tugs at your heartstrings it's sentimental and moving. It portrays a message that every generation should love for the Christmas season.

Christmas in July 2018 ANNOUNCEMENT

It's that time again! The annual Christmas in July party I host each year on this blog is happening soon.  If you've been around awhile, you may remember that each year the summer time party is a little different.  I try to do something special in July each year because we all get very busy in December and it's fun to have a get-together when we aren't in the midst of the holiday season. This is the fifth year we've come together to do this--HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to us!

This year I'd like to repeat the mini-questionnaire as a way to spark a dialogue and to have everyone get to know each other  better. I was inspired to try this approach from what I saw (and participated in) five years ago on the website Kindertrauma.  With their blessing, I've adapted the questionnaire to fit our needs. We did this last year too--remember all the fun answers?  Click on the links to see the 2014 recap, the 2015 recap, the 2016 recap, and the 2017 recap.

This is how we do it: Answer the following five questions as completely or as briefly as you like.  Everyone is invited to take part--long-time readers, other bloggers, casual TV fans, or just the curious passer-by.  ****Everyone should feel free to join the Christmas in July party.******

Copy + Paste the questions below in an email, answer them, and email it back to me.  Send your responses in immediately and I'll email you back with a number. That number is your confirmation that I received your answers and it is your place in the queue. I will begin posting the responses starting on July 1st--and roll them out in the order received. (DON'T put your responses to the questions in the comments below--email them in). Email your responses to: [sorry--Christmas in July is now over].

Don't worry about photos either--I'll take care of that. And, duplicate answers are part of the party experience--don't exert too much effort trying to find rare examples for your answers. If you want to change your answers after you email them to me--please resist the urge. Instead, add comments to your own post when it goes up in July.

The Miser Brothers

The Christmas in July party is supposed to be fun and entertaining so don't sweat your responses.  Don't spend hours on it--just go with the responses that come easily. Get creative and have fun with it!

If you feel you need a little help, feel free to flip through your dog-eared copy of the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV--or put a copy on hold at your local library.  You can also use the search box on this website (not easily visible on a mobile device but it is top right of the screen for computers) or click through the archives on this website (along the sidebar on the right).  Christmas TV memories will come flooding back, I'm sure.

2018 badge--feel free to use on social media!

 
Whether you send in a response or not, please feel free to follow along throughout the month of July.  Reading other people's responses is half the fun. I want to encourage everyone to leave comments too--it makes people feel good to know their entry is being read by others. If you like, please feel free to use the Christmas in July 2018 badge on your website or social media posts to let others know what you are up to!

Let's get this party started:

Christmas in July 2018: (insert your name--your website/optional)

1) Name your favorite Henson's Muppet Christmas program and why. (For example: "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street," "Muppet Christmas Carol," "Muppet Family Christmas,"John Denver and the Muppets: Christmas Together," "Elmo Saves Christmas," "The Christmas Toy," etc.) If you have no Muppet preference, feel free to name another puppet Christmas favorite.

2) Which decade produced the bulk of your favorite Christmas entertainment?

3) Imagine the entertainment behind your ideal Christmas Eve dinner. Name the appetizer, entré, and dessert.

4) What Christmas episode, special or movie doesn't exist--that you wish did? Feel free to get creative.

5) If one Christmas movie, special or episode was to be selected for a time capsule to opened in 1,000 years, which title do you think should be included?

 
Since I'm hosting this party, I'll be glad to be the first one to jump in and lead by example.  Isn't this fun already?

Christmas in July 2018:  Joanna Wilson from ChristmasTVHistory.com

1) Name your favorite Henson's Muppet Christmas program and why.

As a kid, I looked forward to watching the John Denver and The Muppets: Christmas Together. The soundtrack still holds a powerful nostalgic trip for me each year when I hear it again. However, as an adult, I end up watching Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas more often. The attention to detail in the background shots, the music, and the heartwarming story are satisfying.

2) Which decade produced your favorite Christmas entertainment?

I'm going with the 1970s. The 1970s saw the development of the Christmas TV movie. Watching the made-for-TV movies The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) and The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972) each year in my house was must-see-TV. I still fondly remember many of the TV variety specials of the 1970s, from Bing Crosby to The Captain and Tennille, Donny & Marie Osmond, to Sonny & Cher, and Andy Williams. Re-watching those musical programs is still quite pleasurable.
 
3) Imagine the entertainment behind your ideal Christmas Eve dinner. Name the appetizer, entré, and dessert.

My ideal Christmas Eve viewing party: Appetizer--1996's "The Christmas Lunch Incident" episode of The Vicar of Dibley.  Entré--It's a Wonderful Life. Dessert: 1987's A Garfield Christmas.

4) What Christmas episode, special or movie doesn't exist--that you wish did? Describe it.

I still can't believe there isn't a Christmas episode of I Dream of Jeannie! But I wish there was a classic Star Trek Christmas episode. Kirk, Spock and Dr. McCoy referring back to the ancient Earth custom of the yuletide has so much potential. I can hear Spock saying "That's illogical!" and watching Kirk roll his eyes. Uhuru would insist upon a gift exchange. What a missed opportunity.

5) If one Christmas movie, special or episode was to be selected for a time capsule to opened in 1,000 years, which title do you think should be included?

I would pick one of those mid-1960s Andy Williams Christmas specials. The color was so vibrant and the music was swingin'. Williams features his brothers on the show singing with him, and the Osmonds are there in five-part harmony too. I like the idea that Christmas is a time of music and a time for family which clearly comes across in these TV specials. If I can be so bold as to suggest a second title, I might include Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol in the time capsule. It incorporates Christmas animation, a musical, and the classic Dickens tale. Can I include both? LOL

Do you have any questions about Christmas in July 2018?  Ask below in the comments.

Send in your responses today!  Thanks for playing along and Merry Christmas in July.



Joanna Wilson is a TV researcher and book author specializing in Christmas entertainment. More about the TV programs mentioned on this website can be found in her book "Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials, and Made-for-TV Movies." Her most recent book "Triple Dog Dare: Watching--& Surviving--the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story" was released in 2016. Her books can be found at the publisher's website: 1701 press.com

*Support this website and its research by purchasing the books at 1701 press.com

Christmas Is (1970) animated TV special

Animated TV special from 1970

We all remember watching the animated TV specials Rudolph, Frosty, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. But do you recall Christmas Is, also made during the golden age of Christmas TV animation? Christmas Is is a half-hour, traditional cel animated TV special produced by Lutheran Television. It aired for many decades in syndication. Not only do I remember seeing it when I was young in the 1970s, but I know it was STILL airing each holiday season through the early 2000s after I had begun the research for the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV.

Best friends Benji and and his pet dog Waldo.

Christmas Is centers around the characters Benji and Waldo, a little boy and his long haired sheepdog. This is the first of four animated specials to feature Benji and Waldo. The two characters can also be seen in The City That Forgot About Christmas (1974), Easter Is (1974), and Freedom Is (1976, Fourth of July TV special).

More about these 7" records in the essay Christmas Records, Part 2. Click HERE.

My Benji and Waldo plastic coin bank.

Benji and Waldo were also featured in children's merchandise. I've found three different plastic 7" records that I believe were offered as free giveaways. I also have a Benji and Waldo 5" plastic coin bank. (If you know of any other Benji and Waldo items--please let me know!)

At play rehearsal. (Benji is the boy touching the floor).

Even though Benji has played Shepherd #2 before, he claims he still doesn't understand what's going on.

Christmas Is casts a long shadow despite its simple story. Benji is playing Shepherd #2 in a children's pageant about The Nativity. After a chaotic rehearsal--another child misbehaves several times--everyone is instructed by the director to return in the evening for the production. Carrying his costume, Benji walks home with the other children. He remarks to the others his frustration with playing the minor role of Shepherd #2 for the second year in a row. Benji expresses doubt that his role is necessary to the production.

Existential crisis time! Benji wonders about the role of Shepherd #2.

To better understand his role, Benji takes a second look at a storybook with the entire tale. Next, he finds himself with Waldo in Bethlehem at the time of the first Christmas. The streets are crowded as people come to the city to be counted in the census. A Roman soldier orders everyone off the streets for the night but the local inn is already full.

Ever find yourself lost inside a book? Benji does.

Benji wisely obeys the orders of a Roman soldier.

Benji enters the building and sees that the innkeeper is struggling to bring food and meet the needs of his guests. Benji volunteers to assist the innkeeper in exchange for a place on the floor to sleep. The innkeeper agrees.

Aahhh. Now Benji has a better understanding of the context of the story.

Going from table to table, bringing food, pouring wine, and cleaning up, Benji overhears various conversations of the people in Bethlehem. He hears people talking about the importance and purpose of the census. He hears Roman soldiers discussing the power and authority they hold over the local residents. And, he hears people discussing their need and desire for the Messiah. When Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary arrive at the front door, Benji sees the innkeeper direct them towards the animal shelter behind the inn.

A baby has been born in the stable but the crowds don't yet know the significance of the event.

In the middle of the night, Benji, Waldo, and the others in the inn are awakened by a bright light coming from the sky. A commotion is happening in the nearby stable, and people begin gathering there. Shepherds arrive at the animal shelter and begin sharing with everyone the importance of the newborn baby. The shepherds reveal that an angel visited them in the fields and told them that this baby is the Messiah of prophesy.

Benji addresses the real-life Shepherd #2.

Benji speaks with one of the shepherds and comes to understand that no one gathered at the stable would know who this baby was if it weren't for the shepherds. Feeling like he has a better understanding of his role in the dramatic story, Benji is eager for the evening's Christmas pageant.

The children's play is a success!

Benji's "research" allows him to bring a sense of authenticity to the role of Shepherd #2.

The animated TV special includes two original songs in its soundtrack: "Christmas Is" and "Christmas All Over the World." The original music is composed by Jimmie Haskell, with lyrics by Guy Hemric.

The voice cast for this production is stellar. Actors Hans Conried, Don Messick, Jerry Hausner, Vic Perrin, and June Foray are certainly familiar voices in the history of animation. This production clearly had a significant budget which they used wisely in casting. The investment clearly contributes to the longevity of Christmas Is.

The short title makes this production a bit confusing to locate in the age of on-line search engines. Make the effort anyway. Christmas Is is available for viewing on DVD, and elsewhere. Do you remember watching the TV special? Have you seen it more recently? Is this one of your favorites? Do you have any additional Benji and Waldo merchandise not mentioned above? Tell me about it in the comments below.


Joanna Wilson is a TV researcher and book author specializing in Christmas entertainment. More about the TV programs mentioned on this website can be found in her book "Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials, and Made-for-TV Movies." Her most recent book "Triple Dog Dare: Watching--& Surviving--the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story" was released in 2016. Her books can be found at the publisher's website: 1701 press.com

*Support this website and its research by purchasing the books at 1701 press.com