In pursuit of the very lofty goal I have for the weekly Gen-X Files column to be both helpful and a fun walk down memory lane, this week's installment sticks with a theme: Christmas.
The "a theme" is, of course, taken from the world's best Christmas movie, "A Christmas Story." The movie has been on my mind this week, as my youngest child was just in her school's production of the musical version of the story. Said daughter refuses to believe me that no one saw the movie when it was in the theaters back in 1983 and only started to become popular when it hit VHS (or Betamax for my fam). I just knew it had the kid from "Real People" in it, but I didn't see it until later in the 80s.
"A Christmas Story" has now become a key part of our family's Christmas Eve celebrations. We do an afternoon Mass, then head home for Chinese food and the first watching of TBS's 24-hour "A Christmas Story" marathon. It is, in a hyphenated word, a "must-see" for our family.
So, let's talk about the other "must-see" Christmas shows from our youth. These are more of the TV special kind — the ones that typically only aired once per holiday season, and you were SOL if you missed them.
Must-See Christmas Shows of Days Gone By
5. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
This one just turned 60, so it pre-dates all of us! It originally premiered on NBC back in 1964, spent several decades airing on CBS, and featured the iconic voice of Burl Ives, who sang the theme song. Rudolph gave us the memorable characters of Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster, plus the Island of Misfit Toys.
60 years ago today!
— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) December 6, 2024
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer premiered!
This is the original trailer that was used for the next few airings. pic.twitter.com/TdVme9SHVU
NBC has already aired it twice this month, but you have several more chances to catch it before Christmas.
- Dec. 16 at 9:20 p.m. ET/PT
- Dec. 17 at 7:55 p.m. ET/PT
- Dec. 21 at 6:15 p.m. ET/PT
- Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. ET/PT
- Dec. 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
- Dec. 25 at 11 p.m. ET/PT
4. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
Featuring the voices of Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" told the story of how red-headed Kris Kringle turned into Santa Claus. We also see how Kris met the future Mrs. Claus. The Burgermeister Meisterburger was always a highlight. It first aired December 13, 1970, on ABC; it now can be found on Freeform.
My favorite Rankin/Bass holiday movie! Doesn’t get the love it should IMO. I’d kill to own one of the miniatures! #santaclausiscomingtotown pic.twitter.com/uU5hyJEjpQ
— YT (@yt74) December 6, 2024
3. "The Year Without a Santa Claus"
This one first aired December 10, 1974, on ABC, so it's all ours. I, overall, didn't like this one as much as the other two I've mentioned, but I freaking LOVED Heat Miser and Snow Miser.
'The Year Without a Santa Claus' Turns 50: How Heat Miser and Snow Miser Helped Make It a Classic https://t.co/Yo4b2q3F9k
— People (@people) December 10, 2024
Here's a fun fact:
The Year Without a Santa Claus was actually a story by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Phyllis McGinley. Her rhyming story was originally published in Good Housekeeping in 1956 and was later printed as a picture book. In 1968, actor Boris Karloff — who two years earlier had narrated the Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! TV special — recorded a narrated version of The Year Without a Santa Claus. It was one of his last performances before he died in early 1969.
Someone apparently made a live-action version of "The Year Without a Santa Claus" in 2006, starring John Goodman, Delta Burke, Michael McKean, and Harvey Fierstein. What a terrible idea.
This leads us to ...
2. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"
Never liked it. It's true. But...I know it's a classic "must-see" to which many Gen-Xers are devoted, so I'm reluctantly including it.
Dr. Seuss’
— Classic Movies & TV Shows (@ClassicFilmTV) December 7, 2024
HOW THE GRINCH
STOLE CHRISTMAS! (CBS, 1966)
dir. Chuck Jones
starring Boris Karloff, June Foray,
Thurl Ravenscroft and Dallas McKennon pic.twitter.com/11JdAjzYAy
A quick recap:
Based on the 1957 Dr. Seuss book by the same name, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" tells the story of a perpetually curmudgeonly, anti-social hairy green creature named the Grinch who lives atop an isolated mountain just outside of Whoville, the most festive, Christmas-loving town of all. An epic hater of Christmas, he vows to ruin it by stealing all of the Whos' festive supplies, including their Christmas dinner, decorations and gifts.
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" featured the voice of Boris Karloff and was originally telecast on CBS on December 18, 1966. It will air again on NBC on Wednesday, December 25, at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
1. "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
There could be no other #1, and I didn't even have to look it up to know that it aired on CBS. It first appeared on December 9, 1965, and it attracted an impressive 16 million households.
59 years ago today, A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on CBS.
— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) December 9, 2024
Here is the original promo as it aired in 1965.
🎄 🌲🎄☃️🌲🎄🌲☃️🎄🌲🎄☃️🌲🎄🌲
pic.twitter.com/tZxHNDRwEY
Although Charlie Brown isn't a Gen-Xer, we can relate. He's bummed out about the commercialism overtaking the Christmas season and sets out to find out the true meaning of Christmas. When he's tasked with finding the perfect Christmas tree for the school Christmas play, he discovers that he's found the answer when the pitiful tree he picks out becomes a way to bring people together. Plus, we got to hear the actual Nativity story from Linus!
Dishonorable Mention - "Frosty the Snowman"
I've got a four-word phrase to describe this one: Not a Christmas show! Yes, there's a brief appearance by Santa, but this is a story about snow, and snow does not equal Christmas. I am ready to take fire for this one!
55 Years ago today!
— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) December 7, 2024
Frosty The Snowman premiered on CBS.
pic.twitter.com/3Gm39RUAUp
Gen-X Meme of the Week
— Teri (@TeriChristoph) December 10, 2024
Okay, so what did I miss on this list? I personally liked "The Little Drummer Boy," but I have heard some serious hate thrown its way. What were your favorites?
