Frosty the Snowman

Producers Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass wanted to create a TV show based on the song Frosty the Snowman, first performed  by Gene Autry in 1950.  They hired Paul Coker Jr., a greeting card artist, as they wanted to give the production the image of a Christmas card.  Romeo Muller expanded the story for television.  Jimmy Durante was hired to narrate the  show and Jackie Vernon to play the title character.

Shortly before Christmas, a school hires a magician, Professor Hinkle, to perform for the students. Hinkle's assistant, the rabbit Hocus Pocus, steals his hat and puts it on Frosty who in turn comes to life.  Once Hinkle discovers the hat's magic powers, he wants it back.  In the meantime, Frosty realizes that if he doesn't travel north, he will melt.  The snowman, the rabbit and their new friend Karen, parade through the town to the train station, to the astonishment of the townspeople.

The train brings the trio to the North Pole where Frosty is quite comfortable, but Karen is freezing. Unbeknowst to the trio, Hinkle has sneaked aboard the train, determined to get his hat back.  Frosty finds a greenhouse full of poinsettias where he brings Karen to warm up.  Hinkle discovers the trio and attempts to steal the hat.  But Santa arrives just in time to catch Hinkle in the act.  He warns the magician that if he doesn't apologize, he won't get any more presents for Christmas.  Frosty's last words are "I'll be back on Christmas Day!"

http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/%E2%98%83%E2%98%86-2015-ign-holiday-movie-tourney-%E2%98%86%E2%98%83-r1-m24-58-frosty-the-snowman-1969-vs-71-xmas-in-ct-1945.454636027/

Rudolph: As Beloved as Caroling and Putting out Cookies for Santa

"Fifty years later, the tradition seems to be as beloved as caroling and putting out cookies for Santa." http://mashable.com/2014/12/06/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-tv-special-facts/#EymBOUVggkqP

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_the_Red-Nosed_Reindeer

Christmas just wasn't Christmas without watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on TV.  The childhood images come flooding back to me:  Rudolph flying in the sky and then plummeting to the earth, all to impress the does...Clarisse batting her long curly eyelashes at Rudolph...the narrator snowman gliding across the snow in his plaid vest and top hat...the misfit toys that nobody wanted...the Abominable Snow Monster who scared me as a youngster...the elf explaining that he really wanted to be a dentist...Yukon Cornelius chopping away at the block of ice...Mrs. Claus pleading with her husband:  "Eat, Santa, Eat!"

http://museu.ms/event/details/117809/film-rudolph-the-rednosed-reindeer

Although Rudolph first appeared in a booklet in 1939 published by the Montgomery Ward Department Store, and although the song debuted in 1949, the character did not take off (literally) until the TV show premiered in 1964.

                                

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Ctt8TfaXU

Here are some interesting facts about the production:

• More than 200 puppets were carved for the TV show.
• Rudolph stood only 4 inches tall.
• The special took 18 months to complete.
• Twenty-two room-size sets were used in the production.
• Animators spent two days observing deer to create Rudolph.
• The original narrator, Larry Mann (Yukon Cornelius), adopted a New York accent for the role.
• The elf who wanted to be a dentist was named Hermey, not Herbie.
• It took 24 frames to create one second of filmed animation.
• Silver & Gold was originally recorded by Yukon Cornelius.
• No one was allowed to touch the puppets except the puppet maker and the animator in order to preserve them.  

Source: http://mashable.com/2014/12/06/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-tv-special-facts/#EymBOUVggkqP 

Burl Ives with the puppets courtesy 

http://miserbros.com/shop/posters/burl-ives-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-publicity-photo/.