Thunderbean News to kick things off:
It’s the last week of classes here- in fact, as of this writing, one more class until the semester is done. At Thunderbean, it also marks getting nearly all the finished ‘special’ discs sent (there’s 7 more to go tomorrow — then onto the Christmas Special disc(s)- and a few other things to get out over the weekend if we can!).
On the ‘Official’ discs, We’re finishing More Stop Motion Marvels right now – and likely will have a master finished next week. We’ll replicate it as soon as we’re able to. Rainbow Parades is a little further back, but not much… just waiting for a piece of the titles to be done, and perhaps a little more work on finding music-only pieces of the soundtracks added. Flip the Frog still waits for a few things to come from two different archives – the other 36 cartoons are all cleaned up and nearly ready. I hope to devote this space to some of those releases next week and other new releases.
Now, onto today’s prompt: Make up a Holiday Special!
When you think about “Christmas Specials”, only a handful really stand out as being the ‘classics’. Looking at the Wikipedia list (of *just* the ones produced in the US) you realize that most of them you haven’t— and probably *never* will actually see. Here — look for yourself!
A Terrytoons Christmas Special? Why not?
Reading through the list, there are some ‘classic’ animated characters that have specials, but *many, many more * that do not.
Rudolph (1964) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) are perhaps the most famous of any US specials – but after looking at the list, I couldn’t help but think how much cooler the past would be if some of my favorite characters had managed to get their own special. After all, if Peanuts can have four specials and the Flintstones can have four as well, why can’t a single Terrytoon character get their own special? Mighty Mouse or John Doormat must be spinning in their cartoon graves (or are they still alive?).
Oddly enough, the Disney Studio was pretty restrained in making Christmas Specials, at least until the 80s. One good special would suffice I guess – and it is a pretty good one.
So, in the spirit of improving the past, I call on you to alter history here — and cover the missing Classic Animation Christmas (or other end-of-the-year holiday) Specials. Here alone we can bravely improve the past and magically add vintage films to history.
Each of these specials should follow in the footsteps of the Disney and Warner Bros specials, using classic cartoons with new wraparound segments to somehow tie everything together.
Your rules – or at least things to make sure to include:
A) Name of the special and who made it (you can include the director)
B) Where it first aired
C) What “classic cartoons” are included
D) Whether it was a good special or not
I’ll start with a few (of course, none of these ’really’ existed, but I can’t wait for some industrious future cartoon researcher to actually go searching for them):
Captain Sailorbird’s Christmas around the World (originally Broadcast as Capt’n Sailorbird- Christmas On the High Seas) (Syndicated to UHF Stations, Ted Eshbaugh Productions, 1959)
In this bizarre special, Captain Sailorbird appears with his friends Goofy Goat, Cap’n Cub, Sammy Salvage and The Eskimo from The Snowman. They gather around a fire to tell stories from around the world. Cartoons include Capn’ Cub (1945) (using the factory footage, matting Christmas presents into each plane) Spunky the Snowman (1959, USSR), The Snowman (1932) and footage from Sammy Salvage run in reverse, with new footage of live action children receiving the various metal characters that walked backwards out of the incinerator. The special ends with all the characters riding angry accordions into the sky, knocking Santa out of his Sleigh as Goofy Goat puts on his hat and takes over Santa’s duties. For those with good vision, Otto Knowbetter can be seen running in front of a train in the first few shots of Santa flying over New York. This special has a cult following, oddly, in France.
Bombo’s Very Special Christmas (CBS, Al Broadax/Famous Studios production, 1960).
Since Bombo was the only character that Famous Studio thought they may still own from Gulliver’s Travels, they designed a special around him, using footage from Gulliver’s Travels (1939), Boo Moon (1954) and Gabby in ‘Two for the Zoo’ combining it with new footage featuring Gabby giving presents to all the animals.
The limited animation of the new footage required altering the older cartoons to match, so the frame rate was reduced on the classic cartoon footage from 24fps to 10fps, making for a fairly jerky experience. All prints of the special that have survived have, of course, turned that exact shade of NTA red. Modern Sound Pictures became exclusive distributor of this special for many years. It isn’t highly regarded.
Now, it’s your turn. I’ll be greatly disappointed if Monkey Doodle or Goofy Gus doesn’t make an appearance.
Now — since it’s a near requirement for this column each week – here’s a real cartoon: Alias St. Nick — with a terrific animator’s breakdown from our own Devon Baxter. His article from back in 2015 is here.
..and here’s the toon too!
Have a good week all!
Steve Stanchfield is an animator, educator and film archivist. He runs Thunderbean Animation, an animation studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has compiled over a dozen archival animation DVD collections devoted to such subjects at Private Snafu, The Little King and the infamous Cubby Bear. Steve is also a professor at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.
Bombo? No – Bimbo! Dave Flesicher directs a 30-minute special with Betty, KoKo, and a surreal, ghostly conclusion in keeping with early 30s Fleischer cartoons and Victorian Christmas ghost stories. With a lively jazz score (Cab Calloway) and rapid-fire gags it would be a holiday classic.
In the very first line of the first episode of The Flintstones, Fred says: “Oh boy, good old Sunday. Nothing to do but lazy around and read the Sunday paper.” When I was little I asked my father why we had to go to church on Sunday while Fred Flintstone got to stay home and read the newspaper. Dad explained that the Flintstones lived during the Stone Age, thousands of years B.C. — that is, before Christ — so they couldn’t possibly have been Christians. The Flintstones, therefore, were Jewish, and would have observed the Sabbath on Saturday. This made sense to me, because I had a little German-language Flintstones storybook in which the Flintstones’ and Rubbles’ surnames were translated as “Feuerstein” and “Rubinstein”. But then the Flintstones Christmas episode came along and made a tsimmes out of my father’s logic. How could this be? Had there been a Stone Age Christ, who died for the sins of cave-mankind? It wouldn’t have made any sense to have a Flintstones Chanukah episode either, because they lived a long time before Judas Maccabaeus too.
The point of this megillah is that there are some cartoons that just shouldn’t have Christmas episodes. The Flintstones, as with everything else they did, should have had an analogous holiday named after a rock-based pun. My suggestion? “Schistmas”!
As for your question: As it happens, just recently I have seen a number of Japanese music videos of cute anime girls with sleighbells dangling from their Santa Claus bikinis, singing and dancing to jolly J-pop tunes and jingling all the way. A musical Christmas special featuring them would be guaranteed to put me in a festive mood.
Merry Schistmas, everybody! Yabba dabba doo!
A FoxTrot Christmas (1997, CBS)
Based on the comic strip FoxTrot by Bill Amend
Christmas-going-ons in the air, but not so much for paige
After getting a new high tech computer, playing his new video games with Marcus, Jason scares Paige with his pet iguana Quincy. Paige cries. Peter and Andy (Andy is the mom) give advice,until Paige attempts to write a suicide note. Before finishing the note, she encounters a commercially made VHS tape in the top of the little dresser- “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. She watches it and learns about Christ’s birth and “A little love”. Paige then promises to be nice to Jason all year round from that point on, and gives her most desired presents to the poor.
SPONSORED BY IGUANA INSURANCE- 15 percent more? Get Iguana. It pays (Jason’s pet iguana Quincy is the mascot with brief appearances with the FoxTrot cast).
I’m working on THE TOONERVILLE TROLLEY SAVES CHRISTMAS, in which all the Van Beuren shorts from that series are used, but haven’t got a plot worked out yet, beyond the Skipper magically piloting the trolley on a worldwide Christmas eve journey. Possibly produced and directed by Hal Seeger.
Or how about GABBY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL (Max Fleischer Animation Studios/Paramount Animation, Select theaters 2020 and CBS All Access 2021, also airing on Nickelodeon)
Gabby sees the error of his ways after being grumpy to every resident in Lilliput, includes stock footage all 5 cartoons and GULLIVER’S TRAVELS (which, if this special was created, NTA would renew all copyrights to Paramount’s pre-50 films. Also Paramount would buy Harvey Comics).
a POGO Christmas special — featuring a rousing rendition of “Deck Us All With Boston Charlie” — could’ve been a perennial classic.
I think I’d prefer it as a stop-motion adaptation (in the vein of POGO FOR PRESIDENT) rather than the Chuck Jones treatment seen in POGO’S SPECIAL BIRTHDAY SPECIAL.
In a sense, Disney did a Christmas special every year on Disneyland and Wonderful World of Disney with “From All of Us to All of You”…sure, it usually worked to promote whatever was the late fall/early winter release from the studio, but it was always Christmas-themed as well.
P
“How The Grinch Saved Chanukah” (MGM/Chuck Jones, 1967)
Theo Bikel narrates this heartwarming tale of how the Grinch, working with Tevye Who, saves the holiday by coming up with Who Oil that burns for eight full days. Aired on Israeli TV in 1967, shelved after the Six Days’ War.
A Jonny Quest Christmas
CBS, 1965
Uses footage of Arctic Splashdown (9/25/64) Werewolf of the Timberland (1/7/1965) and Monster in the Monastery
Professor Quest is informed of a highly secret production facility in the frozen North operating at a fevered pace. Race Bannon is assigned to infiltrate and learn what secrets he can; Dr. Quest to neutralize any threats that may be evident. Jonny, Hadji and Bandit are, of course, included in the adventure.
After touching down in the Arctic, our intrepid heroes are held at bay by a series of bizarre menaces: burly and secretive lumberjacks, a possible werewolf, and, most inexplicably, a barrage of Yetis.
Of course, the big reveal is that the hidden research facility is Santa’s workshop. Race vows to keep the Old Man’s secret, while Dr. Quest improves Rudolph’s natural navigation system. Jonny and Hadji, having been good all year, are rewarded with something they have always wanted: an airship.
Oh … and A Jonny Quest Christmas was great, becoming a cult favorite among fans of Doc Savage, Jack Armstrong and Tom Swift!
These are GREAT!
The Spirit Of Christmas was released on DVD in 2005 by Hart Sharp Video. I have it and it’s one of my favorites!i
I have an idea for a feature film timed to Christmas with the characters from Hilda Terry’s “Teena” comic strip. I told her about it when I wrote to her in 1994, when she was still with us, and she called me from New York a short time later. The problem is, most of the voice cast I had in mind for the movie has since passed away, including June Foray (Teena’s mom), Joe Alaskey (Teena’s dad), Janet Waldo (Pipsy), Lucille Bliss (Gwendolyn) and Regis Philbin (a Dean Martinesque cruise ship singer whom Teena is starry-eyed over). All that’s left is Rhonda Shear (Teena) and Conan O’Brien (Bugjuice). I would have liked to have Al Brodax work on it as well.
A BULLWINKLE CHRISTMAS
(Jay Ward Productions, Thanksgiving Day 1962. Originally NBC, later part of the syndicated reruns).
It’s a well-known fact that around the world, children are on their best behavior because Santa Claus is coming to town. But this year the little angels are more like little devils, going far out of their way to be naughty.
(Spot gags of kids throwing tomatoes as grownups, writing graffiti like “Mickey Mouse stinks”, etc. A candy store is robbed of candy by kids acting like 30s gangsters, firing slingshots at pursuing cops).
In Frostbite Falls, MN, Rocky is reading headlines (“Girl Scouts arrested for counterfeiting cookies” … “Little League payola scandal”) and comments their little neighbors are more surly lately. Bullwinkle thought they were just short teenagers. They’re visited by Murry, an elf who talks in Madison Avenue jargon.
He explains that Santa and his top-level executive elves sent him to find out why the Nice list is shrinking like a Nielsen Rating while the Naughty list is booming, brat-wise. If this keeps up Santa will be able do his rounds in one of those little German cars. Hundreds of elves and reindeer will be thrown out of work. It’ll be breadline-ville at the North Pole.
They go out to investigate, but the streets are devoid of children. Of course … It’s Saturday morning and every red-blooded kid is watching cartoons. They chance to glance in a window where some kids are watching a show when a commercial comes on:
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sanity Clause, and this is little elf.”
“Ho Ho Ho, dahlinks.”
“Tired of being good before Christmas? I bring toys to naughty children. The naughtier the better!”
“I like ’em naughty.”
“That’s for you older boys. Here at jolly workshop, jolly elves make all kinds nifty playthings for you naughty little …”
“Dahlinks.”
“Is right. Little dahlinks.”
(Thuggish guys in elf costumes are seen making anti-social toys: weapons, getaway bikes, Li’l Forger kits, Used Car Salesman games, etc.)
“These toys help you be even naughtier, so you get more toys.”
“Is this a system or what, dahlinks?”
“What are you waiting for? Get out there and misbehave!”
Kids pour out of their houses to do so. At their secret base, Boris Badanov removes his Sanity Clause beard and hat as he and Natasha gloat over their plan to turn children naughty, putting Santa out of business and clearing the North Pole for a Pottsylvanian missile base.
Can Rocky and Bullwinkle track down Sanity Clause and make kiddies nice again? Don’t miss our next episode, “The Fright Before Christmas”, or “Clause for Alarm”!
Last time you remember our old field Boris Badanov was turning children naughty with commercials for Sanity Clause, part of a plan to put the real Santa out of business. Rocky and Bullwinkle, with Santa’s elf Murry, go to the TV network …
The network president is shocked to discover they’ve been showing Sanity Clause’s commercials. We all know grownups NEVER watch Saturday morning cartoons, even at the network. He gives Rocky, Bullwinkle and Murry the address of the Mostly Non-Toxic Toy Factory, which looks like a fortified prison.
———————-
After some hijinks to get inside it comes down to a duel between Bullwinkle and a wind-up mouse. The latter turns out to be a twenty-foot metal-eating moon mouse, albeit powered by a wind-up motor. Rocky has a plan. He flies to New York and borrows the Bullwinkle balloon from the parade. It scares away the metal-eating moon mouse, the thug elves, and finally Boris and Natasha.
Children switch to being nice again, and on Christmas morning open their toys from Santa — pretty much the same array of weaponry and anti-social playthings Sanity Clause was pushing. Happy holidays from Rocky and Bullwinkle as they flee from suction cup arrows, darts, and other toy projectiles.
“Nicky Nome Saves Christmas”
A thirty minute Christmas special produced but the Jam Handy Organization starring Nicky Nome and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. Santa’s sleigh breaks down, due to the excessive weight from all of the toys in Santa’s sack. To make matters worse poor Rudolf is fighting a cold and his nose won’t light! Just when all seems hopeless Nicky Nome and Horace Hopper arrive and orchestrate the construction of a brand new Chevrolet Sudan to transport Santa’s toys. The construction is coming along until it abruptly comes to a halt! The elf who was making the springs got frustrated, and shouted “I hope I never see a spring again”, awakening Coily the spring Sprite to arrive and make all of the Springs disappear. Santa and the elf plead with cCoily to make the springs come back. Though hesitant, Coily agrees to restore them. The elves and Nicky Nome finish the car, which is built with a very large trunk and very powerful headlights! Nicky, Rudolf and the elves pack Santa’s Chevy full, but now Santa has gone missing! Saddly he’s been kidnapped by Scrooge! Nicky and Rudolf arrive at Scrooge’s house in their newly built car where they free Santa, and confront Scrooge. Scrooge, confesses to Nicky and Rudolf that he’s frustrated, as he is going to be visited by three ghosts and has no beverages to serve them, and is doesn’t want to be a bad host. This gives Nicky an idea! Santa, Nicky Rudolf and Scrooge drive in the car to the local Super Market and buy Scrooge a life supply of Coca-Cola (another sponsor). Christmas is saved and Santa drives off into the night singing “See the USA in your Chevrolet”. while only broadcasted in black & White, it was originally filmed in Technicolor.
I’ve actually thought about this! I would have had Rankin/Bass make their version of “The Stingiest Man in Town” about 10 years earlier than its actual date of 1978, so it would be around the time of “Mad Monster Party?” It would be in the Animagic process with Jack Davis designs. Scrooge’s nephew Fred would look sort of like Dr. Jekyll. And, of course, Boris Karloff would voice Scrooge!
A FLASH GORDON CHRISTMAS
(King Features, 1963. Never aired.)
A semi-pilot for a “Flash Gordon” animated series. Flash and Dale, guests of Prince Barin and other friends, miss Christmas on Earth. Meanwhile, Emperor Ming’s underlings are flying over Arboria, trying to locate Barin’s hidden palace by tracing transmissions.
Dr. Zarkov finds a way to boost television signals from Earth, so they can see their favor Christmas cartoons. The bulk of the special is holiday episodes of Popeye (the 60s run), Krazy Kat, Snuffy Smith, and Beetle Bailey. Ming’s men are supposed to use Zarkov’s booster signals to locate Barin’s palace, but they get caught up in the cartoons.
In the last few minutes Ming takes charge, but while Flash & Co. emerge from hiding for a too-brief spaceship battle, Ming fails to locate the hidden palace. He’s about to punish his blundering men when he’s distracted by one last 60s Popeye.
There is no evidence this ever aired, or was even offered to stations running the King Features shorts. The Flash Gordon animation was by one of the outfits handling the Popeyes, and looked it. For a while it was included in some of the DVD packages of random King Features — now Hearst Entertainment — properties.
A CHRISTMAS CARTOON CARNIVAL
(TBS, 1997)
A 90-minute special meant to alternate with “A Christmas Story” during the all-day marathons. It was predictably a collection of seasonally-themed period cartoons from the Turner library.
The main point of interest was live-action footage showing Ralphie and others from the movie going to a cartoon festival at the local movie palace. The actors were look-alikes and narration was a Daniel Stern sound-alike, and it had the feel of a cheap sitcom, but they did use a genuine old movie palace and equipped it with period posters and snack bar treats. There was a sort of plot involving Ralphie keeping tabs on his brother while struggling to be cool with a girl classmate.
These segments, spaced between toons, amounted to maybe 20 minutes. At some point before broadcast the live action footage was pared back to the opening sequence of kids arriving at the theater, replaced by one more vintage toon and modern commercials. It aired one year only, perhaps because “A Christas Story” fans only wanted the movie and non-fans weren’t watching the channel at all.
I love the Rocky & Bullwinkle storyline.
I always thought there should be a Dennis the Menace Christmas special. There were plenty of good stories in the comic books by Fred Toole and Al Wiseman that could be adapted–I always liked the one where Henry and Dennis go into the country to cut down a tree, just like folks did in the old days. A friendly farmer comes by in a sleigh and offers them a ride and they all head off singing “Jingle Bells.” The farmer brings them to a small town, where his friend is the judge; the judge finds Henry guilty of cutting down the farmer’s tree illegally and gives him a choice: thirty dollars or thirty days. After Henry pays the fine, the farmer brings Henry and Dennis (Henry fuming, Dennis cheerful, not really understanding what happened) back to where they cut down the tree, helps them tie it to the car, then charges Henry another 30 bucks for the tree. (“I already paid for it!” “You paid the FINE for cutting it down–the TREE is thirty dollars.”) What makes this hilarious is that the farmer remains friendly and cheerful throughout, even waving goodbye and calling out “Come back next year!” as Henry & Dennis drive off. Clearly, this happens all the time, and the farmer has just decided to use it to his advantage. If he were alive, I would cast Burl Ives as the farmer.
Even as a kid, I could tell that there were different artists working on the Dennis comic books, and to me the Al Wiseman stories were the REAL Dennis. Ideally, the animation should be done in his style. There was a double-sized Christmas issue published each year, and there was plenty of material that could be used in a TV special.
“Frosty Returns” (1989, Film Roman)
Frosty meets two two kids and reunites with Karen, their mother who spends more time on her job than her kids. June Foray voices adult Karen. Though wouldn’t be as memorable as the 1969 Rankin Bass classic, the character designs would still be a bit familiar, albeit in the style of a comic starring a certain lasagna eating cat. Desiree Goyette and Ed Bogas provided some songs in the tv special.
A Footrot Flats Christmas Carol.
First aired in Australia and New Zealand in 1988, after the success of “Footrot Flats -A Dogs Tale” in 1987. Written by Murray Ball. Produced/Directed by Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez.
A distinctive Australian/New Zealand take/twist on the classic tale, where Christmas is in Summer not winter. Wal Footrot plays the main character of Scrooge, where he just hates on Christmas, it’s too hot to celebrate, He doesn’t want Aunt Dolly showing up to fuss over him when there’s work be done on the farm, and it’s stll too flamin hot to deal with Christmas.
He’s still bummed out that he stuffed things up with the greatest love of his life, “Cheeky Hobson”, but he’s not going to tell anyone about those sissy feelings. And than to top it all off, he’s best mate Gooch, is the opitome Of Christmas cheer, and has planned the biggest Christmas bbq shindig that’s ever been seen, and expects Wal to be there. After one too many “Christmas Grinch” jokes from Gooch, Wal loses it at him, bah flamin humbug! Wal is visited by the Christmas “Grey Ghost” (The Dog) and the familiar story of A Christmas Carol is told in an Australian/New Zealand way, with all your favourite characters from the Footrot Flats world, The Dog, Jess, Major and Horse. Rangi Pongo and Cheeky Hobson. Walls Arch enemies the Murphies, and an all in Finale with Gooch and Aunt Dolly, will their wish come true. Can Wal shake off the Scrooge/Grinch persona, and Finally win back the love of his life, Cheeky Hobson. This Christmas special, will be a little “Slice of Heaven”!
If your not sure what I’m talking about, google Footrot Flats. It’s a New Zealand comic strip, that was huge in N.Z and Australia. Charles Schulz (Of Peanuts fame lol) was a huge fan and friend of Murray Ball the creator.
A POPEYE CHRISTMAS (1963, produced by King Features Syndicate, animated by Paramount Cartoon Studio, directed by Seymour Kneitel).
After the success of MR. MAGOO CHRISTMAS CAROL, producer Al Brodax had the idea of doing his own hour-long TV special adapting “A Christmas Carol” using the Thimble Theatre cast. With Brutus as Ebeneezer Scrooge, Popeye as Bob Cratchit, Olive Oyl as Mrs. Cratchit, Swee’Pea as Tiny Tim, Eugene the Jeep as Ghost of Christmas Past, Wimpy as Ghost of Christmas Present, the Sea Hag as Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, and Geezil as Marley.
When this (irresistible) premise came to mind….the immediate first thing i thought of was: “Hoppy Hanukkah!”
I certainly trust that this brings NO offense to any body in their religious beliefs. I just couldn’t resist
Li’l Abner Christmas and its sequel, Christmas with the Schmoo.
Voting for myself: The InterStellar OverDrive ChristMas including Chicspec as Santa Clops. The Inventer & Igor Christmas including the Inventer dreaming he’s a Grinch parody that successfully stole all the toys with half the Who parodies moping and the other half rioting. And the Sci FI Guy! Xmas with retro fun as the teenage characters have an adventure over Christmas ’99 and New Years 2000 vacation stopping the Y2K bug from ending the world.
HUCK’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
(ABC; Hanna Barbera; December 1961)
Huckleberry Hound is our master of ceremonies at his lavish Christmas Party high in the mountains at a ski lodge. Huck would show off winter-themed cartoons while engaging in friendly chit-chat with his party guests including Snagglepuss, Quick Draw McGraw, Hokey Wolf, Augie and Doggie Daddy, etc. All culminating with a visit from Santa Claus (played by special guest star Fred Flintstone), whose loud Ho-Ho-Ho’s causes an avalanche that encapsulates the ski lodge completely in snow, with Huck declaring “You know folks, we may not be able to dig outta here til next Christmas”.
Cartoons Include:
•Huck-Ski Champ Chump (1959)
•Yogi-Slumber Party Smarty (1958)*-shown as an explanation as to why Yogi couldn’t attend the party.
•Snooper and Blabber-Scoop Snoop (1961)
1. Toonerville Trolley had a christmas cartoon as part of the long sought after PBS christmas anthology “Simple Gifts”, which aired in 1977 but never had a home media release since
2. I would love to see a Wombles christmas special, i don’t have a clear concept for it but potential is there
With the success of “Spook-a-nanny”, Walter Lantz decides to create a half hour Christmas special with a new Christmas short made for the program titled “Here Comes Santy Claus” (1965)
Unlike the Halloween episode of “The Woody Woodpecker Show”, it’s mainly animated with wrap-arounds featuring Woody telling Knothead and Splinter stories before bedtime. “The Redwood Sap” (1951) and “Hold That Rock” (1956) are featured as the stories Woody tells them. “Here Comes Santy Claus” is the final short and is tied to the plot, which begins when they sneak out of their rooms.
Splinter and Knothead stays up late to meet Santa, outsmart a hungry wolf dressed as him and finally meet the actual Santa (they assume it’s Woody until he comes to the living room and they look out the window when they hear bells and Santa saying “Ho Ho Ho”)
A Jetsons Christmas episode during it’s original run, or had it lasted more than one season, would’ve been good and miles ahead of the Christmas Carol adaptation from the 80s revival. Can’t think of a plot, but imagine some cool presents the characters would have. Elroy having a remote control space ship or something similar to a drone, Judy with a portable radio that plays her tapes , a cross between a walkman and a virtual reality helmet, and Jane a message chair/personal salon.
Was there a preorder for Flip the Frog? I never saw one.
Cartoon All-Stars Rescue Christmas.
Whatever this is, it would be lame.
Songs would include “Hanu Kanah (Feast Of Lights Is Here Again)”, “If I Were A Grinch Man” and “You’re A Mensch Now, Mister Grinch”…
Speaking of unfulfilled promises, what about the promised reissuing of Yuletide Flickers?
THE NEW SCOOBY-DOO MOVIES, Guest starring Huckleberry Hound in “HUCK’S HAUNTED CHRISTMAS.”
Fred, Daphne, Shaggy, Velma and Scooby-Doo arrive at a taping of the HUCKLEBERRY HOUND CHRISTMAS SPECIAL to enjoy the show from the audience. However, one by one, the cast and crew has disappeared and Huck cannot find them. The Mystery Inc. Gang agree to help Huck find his friends so the Christmas special can be taped. Soon, everyone starts searching for clues and find some unusual latex, some opened sour milk and a broken Christmas ornament. Huck, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo go in search of more clues while Fred, Daphne and Velma look for clues behind the stage area. Huck is shocked at the amount of food that Shaggy and Scooby put down their tummies but it is what is in the light-up Christmas tree that starts to make the two dogs and a Shaggy very creepy.
Ah yes, the ultimate Holiday special from the mimd of Bob Clam-pet…I am of course referring to “A BEANYLAND CHRISTMAS” or, should I say, “A BEANYLAND X-MAS” only because the entry to the seasick wonderland is that all-important “X” that marks the spot, but will Dishonest John get there first and pollute the winter wonderland with his own surreal horrors? I only wish I had a long list of terrific visual ideas to go along with it, but I’ll leave that up to anyone else who cares to expand on this extreme scene. Some amazing guests are expected, like a dizzying production number by the Boo Birds and watching the very first Christmas of one little Menace named Vennis, direct from Mars, a quick trip from Beanyland to be sure…loads of almost 3-D like effects with new and imaginative inter-planetary characters like the Schmoon Goon…and maybve a visit from SNORky, from the folky ballad and cartoon of the same name!! Of course, no “BEANY AND CECIL” Holiday special would be complete without Li’l Homer and his undersea buddies, dancing around the tree…with far more budgets in animation so that we could see this show as if it were one of Clampett’s classic LOONEY TUNES.
BLACKIE THE SHEEP’S WOOL-TIDE HYJINX (1959, Famous Studios, animated by Paramount Cartoon Studio, directed by Seymour Kneitel)
Plot: It’s the day before Christmas Eve, and Blackie the Sheep (Arnold Stang) needs to do some last-minute Christmas shopping for his nephews. However, his nemesis Wolfie the Wolf (Sid Raymond) wants Blackie for Christmas dinner, and will stop at nothing to capture him. Blackie must both avoid the wolf and get his Christmas shopping done in time before the store closes.
This special received mostly negative reviews upon release, mainly for its terrible plot and unoriginal humor. Though the special was soon sold off to Harvey Films, they have never released it in any form and it has never aired since 1959. Seymour Kneitel has also disowned the film.