At first, there was just Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (which I wore about here); then later in the 1960s, my brothers and I would eagerly await the broadcasting of the Big Three: Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (which played on NBC), How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas (which were both on CBS the same night, one right after the other).
One of the things I looked for in the Journal right around the time the specials were shown were publicity photos on the TV page. At left is the photo that promoted the very first showing of A Charlie Brown Christmas, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. The photo ran in the Lorain Journal on December 9, 1965.
To read some 1965 TV reviews of that first showing – including one written by a reviewer who didn’t like it – be sure to visit Tralfaz.blogspot.com. The Tralfaz post also has the same photo of the Peanuts gang (but in that one Charlie Brown has both of his ears).
To read some 1965 TV reviews of that first showing – including one written by a reviewer who didn’t like it – be sure to visit Tralfaz.blogspot.com. The Tralfaz post also has the same photo of the Peanuts gang (but in that one Charlie Brown has both of his ears).
Maybe it’s because I’m a crusty old man of 56, but I’m finally burned out on A Charlie Brown Christmas and the others. I’ve simply seen them too many times. Plus, they’re all chopped up, time-compressed and interrupted by endless commercials when they’re shown on TV these days.
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Like me, you might find it interesting to check out those TV listings below the Peanuts photo. It’s funny seeing how few choices you had back then. Although modern TV audiences would be horrified, it was plenty for us – and a lot simpler.
It WAS better when these shows were on once a year, closer to Christmas than Thanksgiving, and you had to wait a year to see them again. Then VCRs came along and things changed.
ReplyDeleteI can never get sick of "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol". I have it on DVD and watch it once. They don't show it on TV and if they do, skip out that first number.
You're right Dan -- when I was growing up three stations seemed like enough. Sometimes three were even too many. For example, the TV lineup in your blog reminded me of some conflicts between me and my younger brothers. I liked to watch Jim Doney's "Adventure Road" series, while they preferred "Captain's Comedy Clubhouse" which was on at the same time. Since I was outnumbered, I watched a lot of Captain Penny. Where was TIVO when you needed it!
ReplyDeleteAlso the ad for Sylvester's Drug Store on Broadway was a name from the past that I hand't thought of for many years. Imagine free delivery of prescriptions!
And whatever happened to "That Man" by Revlon?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments everyone! And I agree – Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol is the one I never get tired of either. It chokes me up in a way that none of the other three specials ever did.
ReplyDeleteThere aren't that many places on tv where you can still hear Luke Ch.2 quoted; thank God for "A Charlie Brown Christmas "! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
ReplyDeleteAt the end of Magoo I was always glad to see Marley's Ghost out taking a bow with everyone else. Scared the bejeebers out'a me! I also remember Magoo as Gunga Din.
ReplyDeleteThe. Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come didn't take a bow, though.
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