Holiday History

I have a few holiday traditions that I keep up with every year. Many of those include Christmas movies or TV specials. Watching those certainly help get me in the spirit. It was on this day in history that two of my “must watch” shows first debuted.

It was 61 years ago – December 6, 1964 – that NBC presented the classic Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer for the first time.

In the story, we follow Rudolph from his birth right up to the historic night when he led Santa’s sleigh. It is the classic story of a misfit who is bullied and made fun of until he becomes the hero that saves the day. Sadly, there are people who refuse to take it for what it is and try to make it something that it isn’t.

Cancel culture doesn’t care for shows like this. They don’t understand the lesson that is learned from the story. It’s like Mr. Rogers once said, “Every one is special in their own way.”

I love this one for the many great supporting characters. Who doesn’t love Sam the Snowman or Yukon Cornelius?!

Not to mention Hermie and Bumbles.

The special has continued to be a staple for 61 years and I hope it remains that way for years to come.

Just 16 years years ago – December 6, 2009 – An adaption of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge was released to theaters.

There were quite a few people who really dissed on this version, but I truly enjoyed it. I think Carrey is fantastic as Scrooge (and a few other characters, too). This is just one of the many versions I watch each year. Every version/adaption takes some liberty with the story, which is why I still read it every year.

I remember seeing this one the first time and thinking that it got pretty dark in a few spots. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but now I can say that it only helps to make the transition of Scrooge more joyous.

There are also some things that animation can do that weren’t so easy to make happen in the early adaptions. For example, in the book it says that when Jacob Marley undoes his head wrap, his jaw literally drops to his lap. With today’s special effects, I’m sure they could do that, but those early films couldn’t. In this animated version, it really comes across as scary, just as the book intended.