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

[ceiligh1]

I loved the Jug band Christmas (I have it on DVD) and the Christmas toy (taped onto VHS). I still watch them every year. However, I remember a movie about a little girl. It was set in Australia and she would ride around in a kangaroo pouch. I don’t remember much about it except it always played around Christmas (I remember being on Christmas break and there being snow on the ground, doesn’t happen too often NW OR.) Does anyone know the name of it? They stopped showing it one year and I don’t remember anything else about it.

 

[Galahad]

I saw Charlie,nj's thread about an old Christmas show and it got me to thinking...While I had never seen the Christmas show Charlie,nj was talking about, I remember lots of Christmas specials that don't air anymore.

As a child of the 80s, these were two of my favorites:

A Claymation Christmas

By the people that brought you the California Raisins (who make a cameo in this 30-minute special as well)...Funny with some great music.

That's the first one I thought of (I guess because my kids are "children of the 80's").. We have a DVD of it that I made from a VHS tape of it - not the greatest recording quality, but at least we can still see it. LOVE the Carol of the Bells! AND it was broadcasted on Disney, so we get a blast from the Disney Past to boot.

 

[JPN4265]

Emmitt Otter Jug Band Christmas

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I do remember The King Family Christmas specials!!

What ever happened to them and who were they anyway?? The only time I remember hearing about them is the christmas specials!!

I liked that also. The only one I remember was Tina Cole, because she was in My Three Sons.

I also like the old classic guys shows- Bing Crosby, Andy Williams

Princess Dot- I had the Partridge Family Christmas Album too. I also liked
Bobby Shermans. I had a few others too, can't remember them now.

 

[mickeysgal]

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:



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.

Oops! Sorry about the spelling...Rayner! I should have known better.

I wish they'd release these old shows on DVD. They're releasing everything else under the sun. What was the name of dog Ray would visit every once in a while? Was it Cudley Duddley? Remember the duck...wasn't it Chelveston? (I've probably completely messed up those spellings as well!)

I certainly remember him as Oliver O Oliver. Yes, I go back THAT far!! I even attended the Bozo show tapings twice!

 

[POB14]

I wish they'd release these old shows on DVD. They're releasing everything else under the sun.

I'd sure buy 'em.

What was the name of dog Ray would visit every once in a while? Was it Cudley Duddley? Remember the duck...wasn't it Chelveston? (I've probably completely messed up those spellings as well!)

Yeah, Chelveston "Le Duke". Used to bite the @#$# out of Ray. Hilarious.
This, I swear, is off the top of my head:

We're off to Cuddly Dudley's house
He's cute as he can be
With his fur of gold
And his nose that's cold
He's cuddly as can be
He tells riddles and jokes
but the fun that he pokes
Is never aimed at me
Here's the place that he lives
And the name that he gives
Is Cuddly!​

I certainly remember him as Oliver O Oliver. Yes, I go back THAT far!! I even attended the Bozo show tapings twice!

Oh. My. God.
May I touch your holy feet?
Now if you tell me you actually got picked for the Grand Prize Game, I would be forced to be your slave forever. And my wife probably wouldn't like that. So say it's not true, even if it is.

 

[poutytink]

I remember one called " Twas' The Night Befoe Christmas". I think it was about a human family and a mouse family (horrible animation by the way) acting out the poem of the same name. Both families were poor and even resembled each other! Does any one else rememeber this one?

 

[mickeysgal]

Oh. My. God.
May I touch your holy feet?
Now if you tell me you actually got picked for the Grand Prize Game, I would be forced to be your slave forever. And my wife probably wouldn't like that. So say it's not true, even if it is.

LOL...

No, I don't think your wife would like that, lol.

You memory of the Cuddley Duddley song lyrics are impressive. I don't remember that at all.

To tell you the truth, the arrows did land on me but then another kid moved in front of me and she was the one that got to play. Thats the closest I ever got. It was so overwhelming to be standing in the hallway outside the studio...they had a picture window area that showed off the king of all Grand Prize Game prizes...the bike! They picked the kids for the relay games out in that hallway also. We once did a relay game where the whole audience participated row by row. We had to pour water from glass to glass all the way down the row. First row to fill up a pitcher won.

What memories for a kid, huh?

 

[jekajekalynn]

I remember one called " Twas' The Night Befoe Christmas". I think it was about a human family and a mouse family (horrible animation by the way) acting out the poem of the same name. Both families were poor and even resembled each other! Does any one else rememeber this one?

I remember that one, and I remember the odd looking Santa.. Just a white beard and NO mustache? Was he Amish or something?

 

[kdibattista]

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!

I look forward to this every year.... and I'm 29!!!!

 

[Tink33]

. However, I remember a movie about a little girl. It was set in Australia and she would ride around in a kangaroo pouch. I don’t remember much about it except it always played around Christmas (I remember being on Christmas break and there being snow on the ground, doesn’t happen too often NW OR.) Does anyone know the name of it? They stopped showing it one year and I don’t remember anything else about it.

You are thinking about Dot and the Kangaroo . I can't believe I remembered that one.

 

[FranP]

I think this one was called "The Night They Saved Christmas" - Jaclyn Smith's husband is going to dynamite the North Pole and an elf comes to get her children to take them to Santa so he can get them to convince Dad not to blast. Of course, no one believes them - but Mom gets sent to the North Pole and meets Santa and Mrs. Claus (Art Carney and June Lockhart) and he convinces her he's real by telling her a story about the Christmas right before her father died and something about a fishing pole and she says "Oh Santa, I didn't believe" - they save the North Pole and everyone is happy again. Gets me every time - I just love it.

PS I also love Emmet Otter and Mr. Magoo!!!!!!!!!

 

[SeeDisney]

I'd like to see Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol cartoon. Loved it every year when I was a child. The voice of Mr. Magoo was Jim Backus.

Also, Yes' Virginia, there's a Santa Clause.

 

[ceiligh1]

Thank you so much Tink33. I cant belive that someone remembered, I have been trying for months. Have a wonderful season.

 

[jenm2878]

I also love the one with John Denver where he's an archetect that goes to a small town with his daughter to scout out a good place for a sky resort. The whole town believes in Santa and they have an entire day devoted to writing and mailing letters to Santa. I can't remember the name though.

 

[What the Heck]

The two that I miss are listed.........
All I Want For Christmas. Thankfully, I have that one taped!!!! I love that movie!!!!!
Another favorite that they don't play on TV anymore, and I don't have taped, is It Came Upon The Midnight Clear. Mickey Rooney is in it. He plays a little boy's grandfather. I haven't seen it on TV in years!

I used to have "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear", but it was on Beta that I taped it. I might still have a copy (from the copy) on VHS.

I also loved "Bill and Opus: A Wish for Wings that Work". It's out on VHS and it is so funny. I only saw it on TV once and I was watching it with my kids (my son was maybe 5 at the time). It has 3 stooges impersonators playing these 3 ducks in it. When it got to the scene where Santa's sleigh comes unhitched from the reindeer and he's falling going "ho, ho Hoooooooooo" I started laughing. My son looked me right in the eye and said in his serious voice "thats not funny daddy". I was laughing so hard I had to walk out of the house with my son following me saying "thats not funny daddy".

Also, I'll never think of an Albatross in the same way again.