Holiday Season 2020 - First Day of Christmas Vacation: The Year Without a Santa Claus

Saturday, December 19, 2020

First day of Christmas vacation today. Dale and I had a nice long talk this morning about this crazy year finally coming to an end. We also talked about how 2020 will be a before-and-after reference point for just about everyone on the planet for a while. I really began to feel the emotion behind all of it a couple days ago in a way that you only allow yourself to when the potential end is in sight. 

I watched The Year Without a Santa Claus this morning. The special dates from 1974 although I don't remember seeing it as a kid however everyone else I know seems to. I don't know where I was when it was first broadcast. 

I've seen it a couple of times as an adult, the first time being about 10 years ago. It's actually quite good and it was fun to see it again. Shirley Booth is the voice of Mrs. Santa Claus. I remember her from reruns of the old Hazel TV show which I always liked. Her distinctive voice was perfect casting for Santa's wife. Mickey Rooney provided the voice of Santa Claus, also a great choice for the role. 

What many peer remember most about the show are the characters of the Heat Miser and the Snow Miser. The only reason I'm 100% positive I never saw this program as a kid is that the characters are so memorable there's no way I could've forgotten them. Their musical numbers are trippy to say the least. 

Anyway, it was a load of fun watching it this morning. It's highly watchable and although I never saw it as a youngster it's so similar in look and style to other children's Christmas specials of the era it brought me right back to being a kid again. 

Also watched 'Twas the Night Before Christmas this morning. Although one of my favorites as a kid it really doesn't hold up to well. The title is taken from the famous poem by Clement C. Moore. Although the opening credits claim that it is narrated and sung by Joel Grey it's really told by George Gobel who plays Father Mouse. 

Santa takes issue with a letter that appears in the town's newspaper claiming that Santa doesn't exist. It's signed by "all of us." Turns out it's Father Mouse's eggheaded son, Albert, who wrote the letter. Santa decides to skip over the town on his midnight run which is rather passive aggressive if you ask me. If Santa knows who's naughty and nice you'd think he'd know who actually did it. 

Anyway, the rest of the show is about the town sorting out how they're going to solve the predicament they're in.