Christophers -- Lost Film Trove!

The Christophers are a Christian inspirational group that was founded in 1945 by Father James Keller.  The name of the group is derived from the Greek word "christophoros", which means "Christ-bearer." Although the founders were Maryknoll priests of the Roman Catholic orientation, The Christophers preach a doctrine of religious tolerance and intend their publications to be generally relevant to those of all faiths.

The Christophers are based in New York City.  Their newsletter, "Christopher News Notes," is published 10 times a year. They have produced a weekly television show ("Christopher Closeup") since 1952, often featuring interviews with or original dramas starring celebrities who appeared without charge for their services.  It is these forgotten and in many cases lost films that are of great interest to movie fans.

I found out personally over 15 years ago that the current Christophers office in New York has very few of their early productions.  My associate Bob DeFlores contacted them, which resulted in us trading them a high quality video master of their first TV show - You Can Change the World - in exchange for VHS copies of Faith, Hope and Hogan with Bing, Bob Hope and Ben Hogan and a musical special of songs by Mario Lanza, Dennis Day, Bing and others compiled from previous shows.

Jack Waite worked for James Keller for one year, 1966, and wrote down some fascinating memories here.  Since Father Keller could only afford to pay him $70 a week to live in New York, he let Jack live in the office, which was against the law, and...

"Many of the best Christopher filmings had taken place long before I ever worked there, of course.  These old films were preserved in a storage section of the building. (There was a projector, and a screen in the room, along with all the cans full of films.)  Now, I have already explained that I lived in The Christophers building.  So, that meant that after everyone else went home, once the work day had come to an end, I remained in the building, because the Christopher building was where I actually lived.  So, I asked Father Keller for permission to amuse myself, by watching the hundreds of Christopher films which were sitting on those shelves in the storage area.  Keller said, "Sure...go ahead."  So, in that way, I got to see many of the programs which had aired years earlier ... films which were now just sitting in their film cans, slowly rotting away."

Read further about an interview in which Jeanette MacDonald and Rev. Keller had an on air fight over whether he knew or did not know which song she was about to sing!  Although the celebrities donated their services, the studio space and film crew were expensive so multiple episodes were filmed over a few days each year.  One of Jack's jobs was to catch the stars as they got out of a taxi, butter them up with praise on the way to make-up and get them in and out fast so the next celebrity could do their turn.  Hence there was no time to re-take the pointless squabble that Jeanette had started.

Father Keller was so amiable and sincere that Hollywood stars were delighted to appear with him and call him friend, even if they were not religious.  In Faith, Hope and Hogan Father Keller persuades Bob Hope to read a prayer, after which Bob replies "That's the most religion I've had since I saw Going My Way."  The very first Christophers broadcast gathered 9 Hollywood stars in Jack Benny's home - Jack, Rochester, Loretta Young, William Holden, Irene Dunne, Paul Douglas, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Ann Blyth - to discuss the ideals and philosophy of the Christophers movement, and how each of us in small ways can help to change the world for the better.

Although still seeking that Jeanette MacDonald episode, to find out what song she really did sing, we have acquired many episodes, including:

You Can Change the World -- the 1952 first episode. 

Faith, Hope and Hogan - 1954 with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Ben Hogan and Phil Harris.  This film is on "Golf Mania" DVD.

A Link in the Chain - Rare 1957 TV appearance by James Cagney, who play a retiring professor who looks back on how he helped change three students lives.

Government is Your Business - Based on a book by Father Keller, about how good americans should enter politics to fight corruption.

Let George Do It - 1955, with Danny Thomas, Robert Young and Dennis Day.

All God's Children - Korean war vet (played by Mike Conners) returns home and must decide whether to make a lot of money working for his wealthy father in a meaningless job or find a career path that where he could help change the world.

The Lost and Rare team is working on a formula to restore and release these and similar lost films to the public.  You can follow the Christophers' main theme that You can change the world through these clips from the six episodes:



Visit my websites at Festival Films and Lost and Rare.

An Angel Found me on the Internet!

Robert Hutton's grandson found this on the Internet.

In the early 90s Leonard Maltin listed Festival Films as a good source to acquire movies on VHS and later on laser disc and DVD in his "TV Movies Book."  This was a nice gesture that gave me a certain  credibility as a legitimate dealer, but the resulting business amounted to ... almost nothing!  It seems like half of the phone calls or letters were of the nature: "My grandfather who is 93 and fading fast appeared in a dozen movies from 1912 to 1919.  Do you have any of them?"  This led to explaining that 95% of ALL films made that early had unfortunately disappeared.  Most other contacts had been looking for some special favorite film for years, even an episode of Howdy Doody they appeared in as a child, and naturally I can't find what they had failed to find.  If a film was out on video then everyone had it.  If not out, then no one did.  I had to explain endlessly that only films in TV Movies with a big black dot at the end had at one time been issued on video, but many were now out of print.

So while I sold a couple of rare, unreleased films like Hellzapoppin' the Maltin listing seen by many millions was more of a hindrance than help.  I am reminded of a note I read this past week that virtually no one buys anything from a Facebook ad since they are not in a buying mood when they use Facebook.  If you want to buy available videos then go to Amazon.com, Movies Unlimited or Oldies.com.  Those who did not know this, and many were without computer access, came to me and I could not help much at all. After 15 or more years I eventually told Leonard's editor to stop listing Festival Films.

However if you want public domain films, by all means come to me!  My main source of new customers these last 20 years has been those who specifically want public domain films for television, for theaters, for public showings and for Internet use.  They google "Public Domain Films" and I show up on the first page.  I use yahoo search more than google, so if you enter "Public Domain Films" in a yahoo search then Festival Films comes up #6.  Oddly, in a search for "Public Domain Movies" I don't show until the middle of the second page.

People do find me, Festival Films and some of my rare films on the Internet.  A few weeks ago I got an inquiry for "The Soundies" documentary produced by my friend Don McGlynn.  They came to me because I list some of Don's films, but it turned out I never had acquired my own copy of this film because it had never been sold on VHS or DVD.  It had only run extensively on PBS for a short time, sometimes as part of a fundraiser.

My youtube video of Christmas is Magic was found last week by none other than the grandson of actor Robert Hutton who stars in the 1953 TV episode of "Your Jeweler's Showcase."  He posted this comment after the video: It's great to see old movies like this... Robert Hutton was my grandpa, so pretty neat to see these old movies.  I asked him if Robert was religious and got this reply by email: 

He wholly believed in Jesus Christ as his savior, especially in his latter years while living in his hometown Kingston N.Y.  I used to talk on the phone with him just about every weekend, some 23 yrs ago now when I lived in Virginia and he was simply the sweetest man.  He fell in his room, broke his hip, messed up his back, then passed away.  Amongst a few of his belongings sent to my mom (Jolie Louis Hutton), was a finished book about Hollywood, a box full of black and white pictures of many 'stars', and some craft-work he used to do all the time...little villages of people, horses, houses etc, in a snowy scenery, made out of match-sticks.  My family tells me that I am the only one in the family that resembles many of his physical and creative traits.  I'm a proud grandson.  By the way, I have not seen this movie before.  One of my favorites is "Cinderfella."

She found me on the Internet.
Sixty years later!

I got an interesting phone call just after Christmas from a woman (Barbara Merrell) who found the James Mason short "Star of Bethlehem" through a google search.  It turns out she plays an angel in the film!  Her granddaughter never believed she had appeared in anything and now they have the proof.  The children were all recruited from the church the Mason's attended: All Saints Church School.  She was in the choir that became the Heavenly Host in the film, but was singled out as the angel who had a few extra lines and a close up as shown here.

She felt James Mason mainly made the film to promote his daughter Portland, who plays Mary.  Barbara was older than Portland and so was not a close friend of hers in the church.  She recalls a big party in Mason's mansion to premiere the film to celebrity friends.  She declined speaking to the guests about being in the film.  She had a more vivid memory of attending a Saturday Matinee in a Hollywood theater, with cartoons and cowboys, when suddenly "Star of Bethlehem" began to play.  At the appropriate moment when she came onscreen her brother jumped up and screamed to everyone: "That's my sister!"

A few notes of interest about Portland Mason, who died in 2005 at the age of 55.  Her father directed her in one other short called"The Child" in 1954, which is public domain but I have no idea what it is about.  She appeared in a handful of TV shows and movies, most notably "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" in 1956 with Gregory Peck.  She was reportedly the most spoiled child who ever lived.  James tried to lobby with Stanley Kubrick for Portland to play the lead in "LOLITA."  We have much to thank that never happened!  

Visit my websites at Festival Films and Lost and Rare.

Movie Memories Online!

Movie Memories Online does not yet exist.  After revisiting the project these last few weeks I feel stronger than ever that MMO could enrich the lives of Seniors the world over.  The Big Idea needs to be launched Big with staff support and promotion, but this seems to be both feasible and affordable.

Movie Memories on DVD exists right now, today, and can be purchased from Festival Films.  This Retirement Community Group Activity wakens memories and promotes reminiscing and social interaction.  My separate Movie Memories blog has been getting hits lately and I sold a few Volumes at amazon.com, which is rather amazing since I have trouble finding it at Amazon.  One activity director told me she found it by searching for "1940s music."  I still can't find it unless I put in "movie memories reminiscing."

Movie Memories can also be a terrific GAME to connect seniors with grandchildren.  They share a fun video together showing what life was like when the grandparent was a child, then discuss the onscreen questions.  As such it has a future in private homes as well as retirement homes.

This video prevu explains exactly how the Movie Memories activity works:

 
Click Here To See More Samples!

Each DVD volume of Movie Memories includes a cornucopia of TV ads, newsreels, musical, comedy and action films, plus 1950s TV shows, cartoons, Sing Alongs and classic excerpts.  A group leader shows vintage film clips from a DVD player connected to a television or projection TV system.  Four onscreen questions after each short segment kick off the topics to recall and share.  The leader pauses on each question for discussion.  Seeing the cars and trains, homes and schools, cafés and drug stores, hairstyles and fashions, toys and sports of the 1930s to 1950s sparks memory.  Inspired by the films and prodded by the questions... reminiscing runs rampant!  Sharing memories with a group is a fresh tool for both memory therapy and social interaction.

Movie Memories are further explained at the Festival Films website where the Discussion Guides are posted for all 4 regular volumes and two Musical Movie Memories.  The four questions after each film segment are listed so you can guess in advance how your Senior groups might respond.  Plus there are numerous video samples of the films in Movie Memories followed by the onscreen questions.

So far Movie Memories are only available on DVDs.  Each volume contains 3 separate DVDs with about an hour of film on each, more than enough for three full sessions.  If a lively audience wants to talk a lot ... and please encourage that ... then a session can run way over an hour or you may quit without running all of the films on a DVD.

Movie Memories Online!
The bigger dream is to bring Movie Memories to Seniors and the whole world on the Internet: Movie Memories Online.  Here is how a FREE online version of Movie Memories might work:

Activity Directors connect their laptop computers to large screen TVs in small meeting rooms or to DVD projection systems in auditoriums.  They choose the Movie Memory segments they want to run that day from website menus divided by genre -- sing along  cartoons, newsreels, action, horror, comedy or romance clips, etc.  They can rearrange the segments and preview them before the session.  Push “Start” and the first film streams from the Internet cloud to the screen.  After each film clip the first question freezes onscreen.  Then it's Talk Time!  Who wants to talk about their favorite childhood toy?  Favorite cowboy star?  Name Big Band singers?  After lively discussion it’s on to the next question or film clip.

Activity Directors will embrace this activity once they see how much Seniors love  reminiscing sessions.  Any Senior living at home with computer access can also enjoy the activity free by themselves or with friends and family.

Movie Memories Online could make money using this business model:
1)  Insertion of ads before each Movie Memory segment.
2)  Monthly subscription fee that would let Activity Directors stream the videos without ads.  (Think 10,000 retirement homes x $20 a month!  How about 50,000 homes?  How many communities are in the world market?!)
3)  Public domain or licensed feature films could be added to the site for additional ad revenue or to induce users to subscribe to watch the films without ads.

The film clips on the initial Movie Memory DVDs are from public domain films and are presented in standard definition.  Licensing deals could be worked out that reimburse owners of music, the actors' images and the films themselves.  Imagine "Movie Memories: I Love Lucy" or "Movie Memories: Ma & Pa Kettle."  All videos could be upgraded to High Definition for improved quality on large screens.

Movie Memories are for sale on DVD at Festival Films.  Movie Memories is registered with the Writer’s Guild of America.  I am seeking an Internet partner to turn my online dream of free Movie Memories on every computer into a reality.  Here are further ideas how Movie Memories Online could be upgraded with a small investment that promises huge rewards.  Don't just stream videos to Seniors, give them the key to unlock childhood memories and discuss them with friends and family.  Give them Movie Memories Online.

Thanks for visiting my websites at Festival Films and Lost and Rare.

-- Ron Hall

Gale Storm - Sweetheart of the B's!

My earliest memories of 1950s TV sitcoms centered around three charismatic women: Lucille Ball in "I Love Lucy" (1951-'57), Joan Davis in "I Married Joan" (1952-'55) and Gale Storm in "My Little Margie" (1952-'55).  While Lucy and Joan played middle aged married women who got into hilarious slapstick jams every week, Gale Storm appeared to be in her early 20s and had a boyfriend.  She always played younger than she was and was actually 30 in 1952.  Young boys didn't think about age, and we probably couldn't quite put our finger on Gale's allure ... cute, sweet, charming, petite, wholesome, available and ... sexy.

Born Josephine Cottle, at 17 she entered a contest on Gateway to Hollywood radio show and won a one-year movie contract with RKO.  She performed with her future husband Lee Bonnell who became known as Terry Belmont.  RKO changed her name to Gale Storm.

Only in the last ten years have I become aware that Gale had a long movie career in the 1940s where she was even cuter and all those other thoughts.  Her first film was Tom Brown's Schooldays (1940) where she plays the daughter of the pastry shop owner where the boys congregate for sweets.  Although 18 at the time Gale was made up like 15.  She gets her first screen kiss on the cheek from the star Jimmy Lydon.  She made approximately 35 films before television, often appearing with leading man Robert Lowery, Mantan Moreland, Frankie Darro and Johnny Downs in B pictures for Monogram, RKO and Republic.  None were classics, except perhaps the charming It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) with Charlie Ruggles, Victor Moore and Don DeFore that shows widely every Christmas on TCM.

Gale Storm was likely to show up anywhere in the 1940s, whether in Revenge of the Zombies (1943), with Edgar Kennedy in Cosmo Jones Crime Fighter (1943) or Swing Parade of 1946 (1946) with the Three Stooges or with the East Side Kids in Smart Alecks (1942).

Gale made three memorable westerns with Roy Rogers, although billed in each after Sally Payne.  In Roy's last period western, Jesse James at Bay (1941), Sally and Gale are journalists in search of a story about Jesse.  Her chemistry with Roy leads to no surprise when she rides off with him to get married in the fade out.  In Red River Valley that same year they are already sweethearts as Roy sings to her in the opening scene during a moonlight ride.  Sally Payne plays Gabby's daughter at the newspaper.  Roy's third in a row with Gale was Man From Cheyenne (1942) that features a lot of hugging and kissing.  Gale and Roy hug in an early scene when he does not remember her from the ten year old girl he was raised with.  Then in a home coming scene, he kisses Gale passionately as well as Sally which makes her beau Pat Brady jealous.  Quick, name another film in which Roy kissed anyone!  One can easily imagine Gale becoming Roy's leading lady for years since he did not make a film with Dale Evans until 1944.  One can only guess that Monogram wanted her back.

Because she largely worked at the small studios, 13 of Gale's films are in the public domain.  I have most of them except for Rhythm Parade (Monogram, 1942) with Nils T. Grantland (who's that?), Robert Lowery, Margaret Dumont and the Mills Brothers.  It simply seems to be lost since every public domain vendor would love to issue such an attractive item.

Gale sang in many of her films or played a singer, but it wasn't until she was spotted singing on TV in The Colgate Comedy Hour in 1954 that someone thought to offer her a record contract.  Her first record sold over a million copies - a cover version of Smiley Lewis' "I Hear You Knocking."  She only recorded for Dot for two years while headlining in Las Vegas and making live appearances, then gave it up for husband and four children.  Most of her popular hits were covers for other artists.  Her many fans never forgot her!

And now for the entertainment!  Gale filmed Lure of the Islands (1942) in between her last Roy Rogers and only East Side Kids film.  It can best be described as pretty goofy!  Margie Hart's name appears above the title.  Margie was a burlesque stripper in New York who made just one film, this one!  Her looks and bronx accent are so strong that the film explains her being a South Sea maiden because her father was from the states.  Her pal is Gale Storm, also a native but fooling no one, so her non-ethnic presence is explained by Margie as "my cousin."  While Margie pairs up with Robert Lowery, Gale is stuck with that romantic hunk Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams.  It was unusual to find such a mint print of any Monogram Picture.  This may be the only one I have ever seen that has exit music over black after The End credits, so I included it in this brief excerpt of Gale Storm (age 20) dancing the hulu and singing her heart out at the request of Big Boy.  There is also a glimpse of Margie Hart.


Visit my websites at Festival Films and Lost and Rare.

Cabin Kids - Their Rise and Fall

Whatever happened to The Cabin Kids?

My thanks to Ruth's children Ruben and Anita who contacted me in May, 2013, and filled in some of the fascinating history of this singing group that is beloved by many film fans for their appearances with Our Gang, Gene Autry, Bing Crosby and W.C. Fields.

The foremost correction is that Ruth was not related to the other four!  Ruth was born LaRuth Shegolden Chavis and her parents were friends with Mrs. Beatrice Hall and her four sons and daughters.  The popular singing quintet consisted of Helen (10) and Ruth (11) in the top row left to right, and in the bottom row left to right Fred (4) known as "Honey", Winifred "Sugar" (6) and James "Darling" (9). Those ages are approximate for 1935, which is the year of their first film.

There is some reference to their singing on the radio first in the Los Angeles area, which may be why they were cast in the Our Gang film Beginner's Luck, released Feb. 23, 1935.  In this above average Little Rascals comedy, Spanky is entered in an amateur contest whose acts include the very first appearance of Alfalfa singing with his brother and the Meglin Kiddies, 5 young girls who do not dance in synch very well and hence the humor.  The Cabin Kids harmonize to "Dinah" for less than a minute.  The youngest, Fred, seems disengaged and barely singing until his brief solo of a scat refrain.  Throughout their 16 or so films Fred seemed to get the most close-ups as he picks his ear or scratches his nose and occasionally struts a few steps that might be construed as dancing.  The reason Fred scratched in the first film is that he was just recovering from a case of ringworm!  Fred also stood out as being short and bald.

The Cabin Kids were also featured in the next Our Gang film Teacher's Beau.  They open the film by leading the class singing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."  Alfalfa is a full gang member in his second film, and this marks the last appearance of Stymie Beard who had grown too tall and was replaced by Buckwheat as the black child who was a friend and equal of the white kids.  The Cabin Kids do not appear later in the film, only in the first school scene where they blend right in since black children were an honored tradition in the Our Gang comedies since the first one in 1922.

Their biggest film was certainly Mississippi (1935) with Bing Crosby and W.C. Fields.  They first show up two minutes into the film supporting Queenie Smith as she rehearses a number on Fields' showboat.  They accompany Fields to a plantation party where they sing an extended solo and then start "Swanee River" led by Fred but that morphs into a Bing Crosby rendition.

Their only other "A" picture appearance was a few brief glimpses in Hooray For Love (1935) starring Ann Sothern and Gene Raymond. Three of the Cabin Kids appear ever so briefly in the film "I'm Livin' in a Great Big Way" number with Bill Robinson and Fats Waller!  Ruth is not one of those appearing.  Look fast to even spot them, but I present the clip here as an homage to Bill and Fats appearing in the same film for the first and only time that I know of.


Educational Pictures, that only made inexpensive short subjects, starred the Cabin Kids in 11 one-reel musical shorts from 1935 to 1937.  In The Life of the Party a high society hostess is short on entertainment until she finds the five kids of the kitchen maid singing up a storm.  The black stereotypes that Hollywood hung on black adult actors carried over to Spooks (1936) where the kids roll their eyes and get scared between songs. Most of the shorts are quite rare, unseen for many years.  The only information at IMDB about Pink Lemonade (1936) is that it is directed by Al Christie and stars The Cabin Kid and Toto the Clown in his last screen appearance.

The Cabin Kids Educational one-reelers:
The Life of the Party (1935)
Radio Rascals (1935)
College Capers (1935)
Way Out West (1935)
Easy Picken's (1935)
Way Down Yonder (1936)
Spooks (1936)
Pink Lemonade (1936)
Gifts in Rhythm (1936)
Rhythm Saves the Day (1937)
All's Fair (1938)

They returned to features two final times in Gene Autry westerns.  Round-Up Time in Texas (1937) is a most unusual western in which Gene takes horses to Africa and mixes it up with lions, a gorilla and natives.  The Cabin Kids are Chief Bosuto's children whose musical talent is discovered and nurtured by Smiley "Frog" Burnette.  They sing "Dinah" and assist on a few other numbers.

Git Along Little Dogies is a more traditional B-western about Gene singing on the radio and raising money for oil exploration.  Gene introduces the Cabin Kids to sing in the radio studio as "Sam Brown's Children The Cabin Kids."  They only sing one number, the delightful "After You're Gone" with Fred scratching his face and back more than singing, his odd trademark for a singing group.  Audiences must have found it amusing, or maybe not since this was the end of the line for Cabin Kid movies.  Likely Fred had a growth spurt and the older girls were no longer children in 1938.  Ruth in particular was edging up on the tall side.

So whatever happened to The Cabin Kids?  They grew up too fast, of course.  Ruth, Helen and Winifred then formed a singing group billed as the Hall Sisters.  They made three records and toured with the USO during World War-II in a segregated unit of African-Americans who performed before black troops, an unknown segment of our history that I had not heard about before.

Enjoy clips from the Gene Autry films followed by the rare 1936 short Gifts in Rhythm.


Visit my websites at Festival Films and Lost and Rare.

Christmas is Magic -- Vision of Jesus Christ

Christmas is Magic is one of the six films on our Heavenly Christmas Film Classics DVD release.  An extraordinary discovery was just brought to our attention today by a happy customer, the day before Christmas Eve.  An unmistakable vision of the face of Jesus Christ appears several times.  The face of Jesus is clear to both Christians and non-believers alike in numerous scenes.

Because the Face appears more than once, it may have been an intentional although subliminal insertion by the film's producer, Sovereign Films.  Another theory is that it is an artifact of the 16mm to video transfer process.  Yet others may claim that we altered the film to attract publicity, and I can assure everyone that is not at all the case.  The DVD was released by Festival Films over three months ago and today is the first time I and my two partners became aware of this phenomena.

Christmas is Magic was the Christmas episode of an anthology TV series called Your Jeweler's Showcase.  It was first shown on television on Dec. 13, 1953, and may have been syndicated on 16mm prints for a few years.  Our source is an original 16mm syndication print.

A WW-2 war veteran (Robert Hutton) with amnesia gets off a train in a town he never heard of on Christmas Eve.  In the village square he meets a young widow (Frances Rafferty) whose husband was killed in the war and her 8-year-old son.  The son and man, who calls himself John Doe for lack of his real name, quickly bond and he goes home with them to wait for Santa to arrive.  The mother and son pray together in a moving scene not often found on television.  Later John Doe helps trim the tree while the widow helps him remember his past.  Miracles happen.

Robert Hutton and Frances Rafferty

If indeed a Face of Jesus Christ was inserted secretly into a 1953 television show, then why has it taken 59 years for anyone to notice?  I don't have an answer.  I do have a theory as to what might happen next in this wonderful age of the Internet when social media has the power to spread unusual news at the speed of light.  Word about this sighting of the Face of Jesus might attract many viewers to see for themselves.  Interest in unexpected images of Christ is always high.  While deciding yeah or nay, coincidence or intentional, or what it all might mean, viewers will experience a profoundly moving Christmas story about love and childhood and memories and renewal.  Was the Face from 1953 intended to focus world attention on Christmas is Magic on this Christmas week in 2012?  Stranger miracles have happened at Christmas time.

We urge you to watch the film from the beginning to end first to experience the full effect of the story, then explore the Face.  Still pictures do not capture the Face of Jesus Christ very well.  It is much more apparent in the youtube video just below.  Most will see it -- eyes, nose, nostrils, beard and hair in the traditional image of Christ as depicted on the Shroud of Turin and in religious paintings.  One can see faces in almost anything, but this has symmetry, does not disappear after a few frames and is, of course, a very special face.  Look closely at the fabric of Robert Hutton's tweed suit from 14:00 to 14:25.    Once you see the Face you will spot it in other scenes both before and after.  The indication of a face could be a coincidence or it could have been woven into the fabric on purpose.  You decide.  By all means, tell your friends!  Spread the mystery. Spread the word.  Spread the joy.  Foremost, enjoy the film!

And the merriest of all Christmases to every one of you!



Visit my websites at Festival Films and Lost and Rare.

Have Yourself an Ozzie & Harriet Christmas!

Most TV series in the 1950s and beyond celebrated Christmas in late December.  This includes comedy shows like Red Skelton, the Ruggles, Betty White, Beverly Hillbillies, Love That Bob, etc., as well as ones you would not expect Santa or gift giving to turn up in: Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes, Annie Oakley, Racket Squad, Man Against Crime and more.  (On this last show, I sure would like to find the 1952 episode "The Day They Kidnapped Santa Claus.")  In fact Wikipedia offers a fascinating and humongous if not always accurate list of US Christmas TV Programs.

Every year about this time I re-visit the Christmas episodes of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" to  upgrade quality or remember the difference between "The Day After Christmas" and "The Late Christmas Gifts."  Among other things I learned this year: "A Piano for the Fraternity" (1960) is indeed a Christmas show I was not aware of.  That Wikipedia list claims there is a 1955 episode called "Christmas in October," although it does not appear in any lists of the shows so I am skeptical.  I do not have an acceptable copy of the 1954 "Lost Christmas Gift" and so have removed it from the episodes I offer.

Some years Ozzie and Harriet presented two Christmas themed episodes, some years none and other years they took a filming break to repeat a holiday favorite from the past.  Most are included in my collections of Christmas TV Shows or Ozzie and Harriet DVDs.  Eight are offered for sale by Alpha Video/oldies.com where you can also buy this poster.  Alpha does not include "Piano for the Fraternity" or that elusive "Lost Christmas Gift" that I have but is too poor to sell.  Or possibly it includes "Lost Gift" mislabeled as "Late Christmas Gift."

Leaving out that questionable "Christmas in October" show, here are the ten that definitely exist and carry the Christmas spirit with family values to every generation yet to come.  They really are special so take a look if they visit your TV set later this month.

12/19/1952.  Boy's Christmas Money
Only the 12th episode made in a series that ran for 14 seasons.  Dave and Ricky (really young) take jobs in the city in an attempt to raise cash so they can buy their own Christmas presents for their parents.

12/26/1952.  Late Christmas Gifts
When Grandma Nelson's gifts finally arrive, David and Ozzie believe she mixed them up by giving Oz the sports jacket and David a dull book.  Franklin Pangborn shines as a prissy insurance salesman who lays guilt on Ozzie for not better insuring his family's future.

12/25/1953.  The Miracle
Most unusual of all Ozzie episodes with a flashback to Christmas when he was a child, wherein Rick plays Oz, David plays Oz's older brother and Ozzie and Harriet portray his parents.  This rare episode only surfaced when associate Derek Myers acquired a 16mm print.  We are currently in a project of upgrading the video via a Golden Eye III scanner.

12/24/1954.  Lost Christmas Gift
When a package containing a baseball glove for Ricky is misdelivered, the Nelsons visit a poor family and decide to bring them a wonderful Christmas.  If you didn't catch it, I'm looking for a good copy of this one.

1/7/1955.  The Fruitcake
Every year Thorny gives Oz a fruitcake for Christmas that he hates, while Ozzie gives hard candy that is equally appreciated.  Trouble ensues when they try to return the gifts to the same store clerk.

12/23/1955.  First encore showing of a Christmas show -- Lost Christmas Gift.

12/19/1956.  A Busy Christmas
One of the best remembered holiday shows as Ozzie commits to so many projects - buying presents, playing Scrooge and Santa Claus - that he can't find time to decorate the house.  When the show was repeated in 1964 a new epilog was shot with Rick and David's wives and kids while Rick sings "The Christmas Song."  You can watch this bonus in the video below.

12/26/1956  Day After Christmas
Christmas gifts lead to reminiscing about the good old days, but everyone is too busy to do things together anymore, until the whole family winds up at a skating rink by accident.

12/18/1957  The Christmas Tree Lot
Ricky and David sell Christmas trees to raise money to buy Ozzie a very special gift.

12/14/1960  Girl in the Emporium
Ricky and Wally take Christmas jobs at a department store to be near a cute clerk.

12/21/1960  A Piano for the Fraternity
Rick, Wally and his frat brothers acquire a needed piano while decorating for their annual Xmas party.

Meet all 8 Nelsons in this special 1964 Christmas epilog.

 
 Visit my websites at Festival Films and Lost & Rare.