"Lost" Christmas Specials

James,

A nice list there.  Do you happen to remember The Night the Animals Talked?  I haven't seen that one in probably twenty, if not almost thirty, years.  I just checked, and it first aired in 1970.

Here's a good one: 

The Great Santa Claus Switch (1970)

This was a lavishly produced "Muppet" special, starring Art Carney as St. Nick, and of course, various Muppets in the supporting roles. Perhaps part of the reason it's never come out on home video is because the "regular" Muppets such as Kermit are not in it. I only saw it ONCE and 40 years ago at that--I remember it being very, very good. But if you want to see it today, it's actually got a bootleggy version going on youtube.

Apparently it was run as a "special episode" of the Ed Sullivan Show, and Sullivan narrated it. Fans surmise that the show's unavailability is due to the fact that it's tied up in rights hell because it's considered part of that program, and not a stand-alone special. That's a pity--go have a look; it should have been rerun once a year and it would be a Christmas tradition by this time, instead of an egregiously forgotten classic.

I haven't seen this much on television (Though I think it did air last year), but 'The Night They Saved Christmas' from 1984 seems to be somewhat forgotten. Also has Art Carney as Santa Claus.

Don't think it's ever recieved a DVD release.

You mentioned a 70s Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus, but I remember a TV movie about the letter on sometime in the early 90s staring Charles Bronson (I think). Dunno if that's on DVD, but I wouldn't mind seeing it again.

This aired in 1991 and also starred Richard Thomas and Ed Asner. It was also very, very good! It's not available on dvd in the U.S.; I checked around; the fans seem to believe it received a German-language release, but not in English (I can't find it one way or the other).

The cartoon version was a half-hour special that originally aired in 1974. It stars the voice of Jim Backus. It was directed by Bill Melendez of "Peanuts" fame. The animation wasn't very good IMO, but I remember the story as being very moving; there shouldn't be a dry eye in the house after watching this cartoon!

And as long as we're strolling down memory lane, does anyone else besides me remember a TV version of The Best Christmas Pagent Ever? Have no idea when it originally aired, but I think it was around the mid-80s.

This is a favorite of mine. I transferred a mint VHS to DVD last year. My mom taped it from TV when I was a kid too. The tape is almost worn out, but it contains a scene not present in the commercial VHS tape - Ted walks into a church in the city. It's right after he arrives in the city and right before he walks into the parade/band.

 

This deserves a DVD release. I spent a TON of time last year trying to track down who actually owns it. I'm going to try again. ;)

Another childhood favorite that I watch each year. It has been released on DVD R2 in the UK. I picked it up from Amazon UK. LINK

You'll be happy to learn the "The Gathering" and "The Gathering II" are being released by the Warner Archives' movies-on-demand program on December 15th.  Information here:

http://www.wbshop.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-WB-Site/default/Product-Show?pid=1000124851&adid=WACDec09Eml

I always loved "A Cosmic Christmas" from the 70's

Little Drummer Boy Book II, has also escaped a dvd release. I finally transferred my vhs to dvd. You mentioned the Australian animated Christmas Carol, I'm glad someone else remembers this. This is one of my favorite animated versions. I have a PD quality vhs tape that I tried to copy to dvd but had some tracking issues, so it didn't come out so well. I'm thinking about buying another tape to see if the quailty is any better. I remember watching this growing up, and also the Kenner sponsorship. It really got me into the Christmas spirit! I really wish it was on dvd.

And I just received this packaging of the two GATHERING movies from Warner Archives today. As I left from home, the UPS man was heading up the walk with it, so I brought it along to work. With just a quick sampling of them on my computer, I can say that THE GATHERING looks better than I've seen it since its original network broadcast.  Warner did a nice job restoring it.

I've had both VHS tapes and the LaserDisc of this title for years - every year at Christmastime we watch it.  Both the tape and the LaserDisc were so-so transfers at best.  The cheap VHS releases from places like Goodtimes were plagued with slow recording speeds and poor tracking problems.  The LaserDisc suffered from a somewhat faded print and really poor scratchy, muddy sound.

Now, the movie looks vibrant again, colorful, the way a Christmas-themed movie should look.  The sound is also very nicem from what I can tell on the computer.  No more of the murky soundtrack that plagued the LaserDisc.

Oh, and I should mention that some "lost" footage has been restored.  As originally presented, there was an opening teaser showing scenes from the film (including at least one alternate take), and that teaser footage has been restored to the front of the movie.  There was also a scene missing from the LaserDisc where Ed Asner as Adam Thornton goes to a bookcase and grabs a copy of Clement Clark Moore's THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS to read to his grandchildren.  He then sits down, announces the reading and begins regaling the children with the opening of the poem.  After a verse or so, he then turns the chore over to his son-in-law.  For some reason, this was excised from the LaserDisc and some syndicated prints, but it's fully restored here.

I've not seen the sequel since it aired originally back in '79, so that will be at least interesting to watch.  Looking quickly at it, it's not a restored print but looks at least acceptable.

Harry

I guess "The Man in the Santa Claus Suit" with Fred Astaire had yet to see a dvd release. I don't know how well it holds up now but I remember really enjoying it when it first aired.

I'm surprised no one has thought of the original, Emmy-winning version of Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory with Geraldine Page!  I have posted a thread regarding the apparent vanishing of this film- the only place one can see it now is at the Paley Center.  Back in the 80s it was shown on PBS stations, so I am sure there must be a master print or negative somewhere.

Am I the only one who read this thread title and thought, "They did a LOST Christmas special?!"

no thats exactly why i came on here  

 Well, of course, there's always the Star Wars Holiday Special.

But I also have fond memories of Mrs. Santa Claus from 1996.  Though I normally detest Angela Landsbury, I thought the music was pretty good in this.  I don't think it's been on TV for a few years.

Anybody remember "It Happened One Christmas"? It's a 1977 tv-movie remake of "It's a Wonderful Life", with Marlo Thomas in the Jimmy Stewart role, and Orson Welles as Mr. Potter!

Although the Origional 1947 Version BLOWS IT AWAY! I'd still like to see the 1973 version of Miracle on 34th Street be made available on DVD.

I watched The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas on Hulu.com a couple weeks ago.  It was the first time I had watched it in ages.  Other specials I'd like to see on DVD are Christmas Comes To Pac Land and the Smurfs specials.