No, I’m not talking about men’s Xmas briefs with colorful flashing bulbs and have a squishy Rudolph nose on the crotch flap as you would squeeze it and Rudolph’s voice would cheerfully say, “Let me light the way!” I’m talking about those nostalgic televised animations shown during the first few weeks of December.
Suzie Snowflake
Hardrock, Cocoa, and Joe
The original Frosty the Snowman
During my childhood, nothing could get me more excited about December than turning on the tv and finding one of these playing. They only showed these three, and there was no telling at what time of day they would appear. They came on Channel 6, NBC, Johnstown-Altoona area that ran in parallel to Channel 11, NBC, Pittsburgh. We lived too far out to pick up the Pittsburgh signal.
Suzie Snowflake
Suzie Snowflake was a favorite, not the most favorite yet a close second. My sister loved this one. Really, there was just something so whimsical about it. The short didn’t celebrate Xmas. It celebrated winter and the first snowfall greeting the people with a mere light tapping on their windows. And who of us hasn’t listened to that familiar sound skipping along the cool pane of glass while we snuggle under warm blankets with perhaps a good book to read, a hot cup of cocoa to drink, or cuddling someone who is fondest in our hearts?
Hardrock, Cocoa, and Joe
This was the fun one and ranked right up at the top of all-time favorites. Everyone in the house loved watching the playful elves. If it came on the television, one of us would shout, “It’s ON!” Then a stomping of feet would sound as everyone rushed into the room. Although, this cartoon illustrated more toward the myth of Santa and the idea of gift-giving, there is still so much whimsy to be found in the black & white animation that you can sink yourself into the story and laugh along with the funny parts.
Frosty the Snowman
This is the Frosty the Snowman song that I love even more than the other classic one many of us know today. This one ranks in at third on my list but is still worthy to be mentioned. The sheer magical moment of when the snowman comes to life and the excited looks on the children make it priceless.
(Sorry, Burl Ives.)
Well, Burl Ives I recognise, but your shorts make me feel like an alien - which, as a Brit, I am! LOL :)
ReplyDeleteWhat - no Charlie Brown's Christmas? That jazz piano is stuck in my brain to this day. . .
ReplyDeleteBut you're makin' me feel old here; Frosty is the only one of these that I even recognize. . .
Those shorts are so evocative of a bygone day. I can hardly imagine most children today would be as fond of such things as you (and I, and others a bit older.) I had never seen those shorts before, but they still gave me a certain warm feeling. There IS something just... innocent about them. And lovely because of it.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard Suzy Snowflake as a child. It was introduced to me when I was working at the head office of a large department store in Montreal. The employees would be invited down to the ground floor to sing along with whomever was leading holiday songs for the day.. for the week preceding Christmas holidays. One of the women loved this song and we sang it daily (it was much faster than in the cartoon). That was the only time I'd ever heard it but it was for one week every year for the ten years that I worked there. Never before or since. Thanks for the memory. :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't get to see those clips as a child because we lived too far away from the Johnstown station to pick up their signal but after we got cable, I remember seeing them probably when my kids were small. But then, that station quit playing them for quite a few years and just brought them back in the recent past. I love all three of these and look forward each Christmas season now to hearing/seeing them on Channel 6!
ReplyDeleteI'm still partial to the Grinch. That song . . . "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. There are spiders in your smile . . . " is classic. I also love Heat Miser and Snow Miser in "The Year Without a Santa Claus". Hmmmm. I may have just stumbled on my next What Ever Happened To post.
ReplyDeletejinksy: Whoops! Yeah, this is strictly more of a regional thing. I don't think too many Americans have seen these (or so I'm finding out.)
ReplyDeleteDesmond: No, I skipped Charlie Brown and just focused on short tv spots. Maybe I'll do a post featuring that one and The Grinch. I do love Charlie Brown.
Suldog: That's what I wish the most, for the innocence to come back for the holidays.
Hilary: Well, at least now you know where it originated from. I adored the animation for it.
Jeni: Yes, I remember Channel 6 taking them off. I was so saddened about it. But it's great to hear that they finally brought them back to share with the next generation of children.
Knucklehead: WOW! The Heat Miser and Snow Miser! Now that takes me back. I loved those ones. I'm okay with the Grinch, especially the songs, but really those old classics like "The Year without Santa Claus" are more my style.
wow, these are new to me. my personal favorties are the grinch and charlie brown. though i watched charlie brown the other night and just felt so bad for the teasing he took. broke my heart really.
ReplyDeleteLime: I loved Charlie Brown mainly for the music when young. Now, it is such a sad yet heartwarming story. It's great to evolve a new opinion the older we get for those things we used to love when young.
ReplyDelete