The mid-1960s was a golden time for animated Christmas specials. In a span of three years, three of the greatest seasonal specials debuted, and they are still holiday traditions today. Thankfully, it’s even easier now to view these classics with the aid of streaming services, cable networks, and DVRs. It is much better today than in the one-and-done days when a missed show would mean a year of waiting.
Of course, the three classics are Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966). These gems are 60 years old, but it isn’t a holiday season without watching these all-time favorites. Let’s take a look at these viewing traditions that have stood the test of time.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Ah, the one that started it all. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and his shiny nose. The tale is about Rudolph, a reindeer born at the North Pole. He is the son of Donner, one of Santa Claus’ trusted reindeer. It is assumed that little Rudy will eventually help Santa on his Christmas journey until a terrible accident happens.
It turns out that Rudy has a bright, shiny red nose that makes him the mockery of all his peers. Worse yet, Santa has no use for a reindeer with such a bright presence. So Rudolph decided to escape and create his own life away from his detractors.
Along the way, he meets Hermy, the Elf dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, who is in search of silver and gold. While seeking their fame and fortune, they continually cross paths with the dangerous Bumble, an abominable snow monster. They believe they have reached safety when they land on the Island of Misfit Toys.
But they are tasked by King Moonracer, the leader of the toys, to return to the North Pole so that Santa can deliver these unorthodox toys to children around the world. But when the trio returns to see Santa, they discover that Donner, Rudy’s mom, and Clarice, his girlfriend, have set out in the storm to bring Rudolph back. They eventually find all three as Bumble is threatening them. But our heroes devise a plan to spring his loved ones from the lair, and they all return to the North Pole. Even Yukon and Bumble in a dramatic scene saved for late in the show.
Because of the storm, Santa is going to call off Christmas, but he has a stroke of genius and realizes Rudolph, with his nose so bright, can lead his entire team through the dark and stormy night. A nice Burl Ives soundtrack wraps up this classic in a nice little bow.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Poor Charlie Brown. All he wants is to find the true meaning of Christmas. He seeks out a psychiatrist, Lucy, for the answer, but he is disappointed by her response. He talks to his sister Sally, but her only contribution is regaling him with her expansive request list for Santa Claus. Even his loyal dog Snoopy has cashed in on the money side of Christmas. Isn’t there anyone who can cut through the crass commercialism of the holiday season?
His friend Linus tells him they do not have a director for their Christmas play, and perhaps taking on that task would help him find the answer he is looking for. They arrive at the school to find a rowdy bunch of dancing peers led by Schroeder, the piano-playing Beethoven lover. Charlie attempts to organize the group with mixed results when it dawns on him that what this play needs is a Christmas tree. So, he and Linus set off for the lot to find the perfect tree.
Ignoring the request to buy a big fake tree, Charlie decides to buy a small, downtrodden tree against Linus’ suggestion. He returns and is mocked by his friends. He asks if anyone knows the real meaning of Christmas. Linus brings down the house lights and recites the annunciation to the shepherds, which restores Charlie’s faith in Christmas. He leaves the school to celebrate Christmas the non-commercial way.
When he arrives home, he attempts to decorate the tree, but the weight of the bulb causes it to fall to one side. Exasperated, Charlie walks off with an anguished yell. Unbeknownst to him, his friends, feeling bad for how they treated Charlie, had followed him back from the school to apologize. When they arrive at his tree, they realize it wasn’t so bad after all, and they proceed to decorate it until it resembles a regal Christmas tree. Charlie returned a happy man, and they ended the show with the group singing, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
That Grinch. He’s a mean one. He hates Christmas. The only thing he hates more than Christmas is the sounds coming up Mt. Crumpit of the Whos’ celebrating Christmas Day. He can’t stand that noise. He thinks about how to stop the Whos’ from having a joyous Christmas. But when he sees his dog Max with snow on his face, he gets a perfectly evil idea.
He will dress like Santa Claus, drive his sleigh down to Whoville on Christmas Eve, and steal all their toys and decorations. This will make them go boohoo, and there will be no singing on Christmas Day. So he loaded his sleigh with bags for his loot, put Max in front of the sleigh, and snapped a whip to make him go forward. Now you ask, Why would the Grinch want to do such an awful thing? It turns out that he was born with a heart that was “two sizes too small.”
So, with much difficulty and several delays, the Grinch and Max enter Whoville, where everyone is fast asleep. The Grinch goes from house to house, stealing all the Whos’ decorations, gifts, and food. He even steals the roast beast. Everything is going nicely for the Grinch until Cindy-Lou Who catches him crawling up the chimney with the goods. The sly old Grinch gives her milk and cookies and tucks her into bed. He then grabs everything else in Whoville, including crumbs too small for mice to eat.
Then he and Max headed back up the mountain, waiting to hear the silence from Whoville. But something unexpected happened. He heard the joyous singing from all the Whos, and an amazing thing occurred. His heart grew three sizes, and he and Max climbed aboard the sleigh to return all the items to the village below. After almost losing the haul and Max off a cliff, they cheerfully glided into Whoville amidst cheers and whistles.
The Grinch gets to cut the roast beef for dinner, including a big piece that Cindy-Lou Who gives to Max. And to top all of this off, there is wonderful narration by Boris Karloff as the Grinch.
Take some time this holiday season to watch these classics with your whole family. They are timeless.
