Favorite Christmas Shows...That Don't Air Anymore

[Shugardrawers]

The Santa and Kakeman show!! It was a locally produced show on KAKE tv in Wichita, KS back in the 70s. It was a 30 min show "live from the North Pole" in which Santa and his side kick, a puppet named Kakeman would talk about the newest toys and interview people. They would count down the days to Christmas Eve when "Santa and Kakeman and Rudolph would load up the sleigh with all the toys for the girls and boys and go zooooming around the big wide world, and zooooming and zooooming and zooooming" I loved it. On a related note, does anyone else remember hearing little news bits on the radio or tv on Christmas Eve where they would say that a UFO had been spotted over Canada? They would try to pick up a radio signal from it and you'd hear faint jingling and a ho ho ho. I'd get so excited and that would be our cue it was time for bed. DSis doesn't remember this though she'd listen with me every year and Dh says he never heard it.

 

[ead79]

I was wondering if anybody else would mention Claymation Christmas. I LOVE that special! I got it on DVD last year. That along with Charlie Brown Christmas, Garfield Christmas, and the Grinch, and I’m a happy camper!

 

[mickeysgal]

For those that grew up in the Chicago area, does anyone remember Ray Raynor & Friends and Garfield Goose? These were both morning children's shows. I believe it was on Garfield Goose that every Christmas you would see "Hardrock, Coco, and Joe", "Frosty the Snowman" and "Suzy Snowflake". Rather bizarre by today's advanced standards, but classics, nonetheless. We're no longer in the Chicago region, but from what I understand WGN will be airing some sort of special of Garfield Goose this Christmas...perhaps on Christmas Eve...(I'm not sure though). I miss those old, and I do mean old, shows.

 

[RyMickey]

Those are the two I was thinking of when I read the thread title. My mom taped them off of TV and I still have it and watch it (though the quality is horrible). I especially love watching all the old commercials too!

The commercials are sometimes the best part of watching old tapes. All the old McDonald's commercials. And I specifically remember during Muppets Family Christmas there's a commercial for Osh Kosh B'Gosh that makes me laugh hysterically. All these little kids trying to say the brand name -- "Osh Be Gosh Be Gosh!" --- While nobody probably knows what I'm talking about, it makes me crack up.

 

[DisneyGirl421]

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
It was first aired in the late 70s, and my parents taped it for my sister when it aired during the early 80s.
It is my all time favorite chrismtas special... Me and my sister have watched it EVERY christmas eve since we were little... it's a tradition!
And the good news - it's finally out on DVD! it's on the dvd with Elmo Saves Christmas. Good thing, for our vhs of it is very old and worn out!

 

[Slacking]

Am I the only one thats seen the Pee-wee christmas special? Its bizarre and surreal but definitely worth viewing!

The one Christmas special I've always wanted to see but will never get the chance......... The Star Wars Christmas Special! (Will George Lucas sue me just for mentioning it?)

 

[DisneyDotty]

Oh, man, disneyelaine--this is what I was going to name.

I LOVED that show. Jason Robards played her dad. I wonder if this one is on dvd.

You're the only other person I know that remembers this one!

Well, I know it's available on VHS, 'cause I have it. So depressing. Poor Addie.
And how about "The Little Drummer Boy?"

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

How about Red Skelton’s Freddy The Freeloader’s Christmas Dinner? It aired on HBO in the 80's...

 

[BelleMcNally]

I got it at FYE in the mall, but have seen it at Wal-mart before. I wouldn't be surprised if Best Buy carries it.

Thank you!

 

[BelleMcNally]

For those that grew up in the Chicago area, does anyone remember Ray Raynor & Friends and Garfield Goose? These were both morning children's shows. I believe it was on Garfield Goose that every Christmas you would see "Hardrock, Coco, and Joe", "Frosty the Snowman" and "Suzy Snowflake". Rather bizarre by today's advanced standards, but classics, nonetheless. We're no longer in the Chicago region, but from what I understand WGN will be airing some sort of special of Garfield Goose this Christmas...perhaps on Christmas Eve...(I'm not sure though). I miss those old, and I do mean old, shows.

My father (who grew up in Skokie) ALWAYS brings up "Hardrock, Coco, and Joe"! He was a huge Garfield Goose fan--I need to check out when this is airing and tape it for him...

 

[escape]

Mister Magoos's Christmas Carol!!

I actually saw this on one of the cable channels last year. Maybe it will be back on sometime this season.

 

[LadyyRedd]

Anyone remember The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas? About a little teddy bear who was going to wait up for Santa, but he fell asleep.

Kimya

 

[buddy&wooz]

Am I the only one thats seen the Pee-wee christmas special? Its bizarre and surreal but definitely worth viewing!

We have that on tape, and it's been a favorite of my kids each year. Surreal, definitely!

I'd love to see some of those old forgottens- like Littlest Angel and the King Family specials! TVLand or ABCFAM should dig them up.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

The House Without A Christmas Tree...I think the girl main character was named Addie? Loved it!

Yes! used to love that one.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

Another one I really enjoy is a story by Truman Capote called a Christmas Memory. The old version, back in the 60's with Geraldine Paige was fabulous. Never see that anymore.

 

[jekajekalynn]

I LOVED Garfields Christmas Special. I have it on DVD .

There is another cartoon I remember from when I was a kid that I THINK was called Santa Bear. It had a grumpy bear that flew a plane and had to deliver presents, and something about penguins too.

 

[mickeysgal]

My father (who grew up in Skokie) ALWAYS brings up "Hardrock, Coco, and Joe"! He was a huge Garfield Goose fan--I need to check out when this is airing and tape it for him...

If you go to WGN.com, it says that there will be a Bozo,Garfield Goose, and Ray Raynor special on Christmas Eve - Channel 9 - at 7PM.

 

[POB14]

If you go to WGN.com, it says that there will be a Bozo,Garfield Goose, and Ray Raynor special on Christmas Eve - Channel 9 - at 7PM.

And repeated on Xmas Day, if I recall correctly.

It's Ray Rayner, by the way -- he always seemed like such a great guy, like you wished he lived next door to you. I got to see him in the lead in Music Man one time at the old Candlelight Theatre; he was quite good in that too. If you go back that far, he was Oliver O. Oliver on Bozo also. When I was little, the Bozo show would start with, "Who's your favorite clown?" And without fail, I would yell at the TV, "Oliver O. Oliver!!!"

From this website's bio of Ray:

On January 21, 2004, Ray Rayner died from complications caused by pneumonia. We can only hope that Bob Bell and Roy Brown were there to meet him at the gates of Heaven with seltzer water and pie in hand!

Doggone it, John Lennon, Ray Rayner -- I'm gettin' all mushy over everybody this week!

ETA: I was Gar Goose for my first Halloween. White coveralls, crown, beak made out of a paper plate. My brother carried me around, and apparently the candy haul was unbelievable that year! I've seen a picture, but I'm afraid it may have been lost when my mother moved.

 

[orvilleair]

The Snowman should be on every year. Great music, unique animation. First saw it on HBO as a kid. I found it kind of a tearjerker.

Garfield. Always thought the Christmas show was much better than the cartoon series. Seemed like the guy who voiced Garfield was on every cartoon show at the time (Ghostbusters for example).

 

[Princess Dot]

I Anyone remember The King Family? I loved them back in the day!

WOW! The King Family! Talk about a flashback and from when I was really little. But I remember that I loved their specials especially since I was an only child and I thought that a big singing family was just the greatest!

For another flashback, anyone have the Partridge Family Christmas album? I used to wear that thing out playing it over and over. Again with my thing about a big singing family!