Music:
Did you know? The first song broadcast from space was Jingle Bells on December 16, 1965 from Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Walley Schirra.
The 60’s was prolific with great Christmas music. The Beach Boys, The Temptations, The Everly Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis and the list goes on, released Christmas albums. Some of them such as Jonny Mathis and Andy Williams remain popular today.
Top Christmas albums:
1961, and one of my favorites! Remember the bouncing ball on Mitch’s TV show?
Mitch Miller And The Gang – Holiday Sing Along With Mitch - full vinyl album
Originally released in 1958, this Jonny Mathis album was a top seller through 1962.
Johnny Mathis ~ Christmas Album
1963 and 1964 best seller, classic Andy Williams!
Andy Williams 1963 The Andy Williams Christmas Album
Best seller 1965, Little Drummer Boy (written in 1941 as Carol of the Drum) was originally released in 1958.
The Little Drummer Boy (1965 Version)
Another best seller from Andy Williams, 1966
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
1967, Christmas as only Barbara can sing it.
1- "Jingle Bells" Barbra Streisand - A Christmas Album
1968, released the year before the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.
Glen Campbell 1968 That Christmas Feeling
1969, who could forget Gomer Pyle!
Jim Nabors Jim Nabors Christmas Album Full Album
Top 40 Christmas hits
TV:
While Christmas books and movies were not that prolific in the 60’s, TV was a treasure trove of classic specials that we still enjoy today. Because taping a show wasn’t possible, families would comb the TV Guide to see when the specials would air so they could plan their evenings.
Mister Magoo Christmas Carol, 1962. This was the first animated Christmas program produced especially for TV.
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, 1964. The first appearance of a Mrs Claus on TV.
A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965. Network execs were not happy with this show. They didn’t like the children’s voices, the religious message, and the music. If it wasn’t for funding by Coke it would not have happened. The program took only 6 months to complete. The night it debuted 1/2 of America was watching.
How the The Grinch Stole Christmas, 1966
Narrated by Boris Karloff.
The Little Drummer Boy, 1968. First released in Canada.
Frosty the Snowman, 1969. Narrated by Jimmy Durante.
Not only were the 60’s known for its classic animation specials but also a number of variety Christmas specials each year. All our favorite stars would have a special with singing, dancing and corny jokes that the entire family could enjoy.
Bob Hope/ USO Christmas shows. For 40 years Bob Hope entertained deployed troops at Christmas time all over the world.
Bob Hope Special January 16th, 1969
Christmas as only Dean can do!
The Dean Martin Christmas Show 1968 - FULL EPISODE
There’s nobody like Andy
The Andy Williams Christmas Show (1966)
You can’t have Christmas without Bing!
Hollywood Palace 6-12 Christmas Show: Bing & Kathryn Crosby (co-hosts), Glen Campbell
And who can forget the Christmas commercials!
https://fb.watch/kS62Qv56Ij/?mibextid=IVRVuA
Did you know?
The Yule Log was first shown on TV in 1966. WPIX, New York, aired a 17 second loop of a burning log for 3 hours with holiday music.
Tomorrow: Trees, ornaments and gifts.
Did you know? The first song broadcast from space was Jingle Bells on December 16, 1965 from Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Walley Schirra.
The 60’s was prolific with great Christmas music. The Beach Boys, The Temptations, The Everly Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis and the list goes on, released Christmas albums. Some of them such as Jonny Mathis and Andy Williams remain popular today.
Top Christmas albums:
1961, and one of my favorites! Remember the bouncing ball on Mitch’s TV show?
Mitch Miller And The Gang – Holiday Sing Along With Mitch - full vinyl album
Originally released in 1958, this Jonny Mathis album was a top seller through 1962.
Johnny Mathis ~ Christmas Album
1963 and 1964 best seller, classic Andy Williams!
Andy Williams 1963 The Andy Williams Christmas Album
Best seller 1965, Little Drummer Boy (written in 1941 as Carol of the Drum) was originally released in 1958.
The Little Drummer Boy (1965 Version)
Another best seller from Andy Williams, 1966
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
1967, Christmas as only Barbara can sing it.
1- "Jingle Bells" Barbra Streisand - A Christmas Album
1968, released the year before the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.
Glen Campbell 1968 That Christmas Feeling
1969, who could forget Gomer Pyle!
Jim Nabors Jim Nabors Christmas Album Full Album
Top 40 Christmas hits
TV:
While Christmas books and movies were not that prolific in the 60’s, TV was a treasure trove of classic specials that we still enjoy today. Because taping a show wasn’t possible, families would comb the TV Guide to see when the specials would air so they could plan their evenings.
Mister Magoo Christmas Carol, 1962. This was the first animated Christmas program produced especially for TV.
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, 1964. The first appearance of a Mrs Claus on TV.
A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965. Network execs were not happy with this show. They didn’t like the children’s voices, the religious message, and the music. If it wasn’t for funding by Coke it would not have happened. The program took only 6 months to complete. The night it debuted 1/2 of America was watching.
How the The Grinch Stole Christmas, 1966
Narrated by Boris Karloff.
The Little Drummer Boy, 1968. First released in Canada.
Frosty the Snowman, 1969. Narrated by Jimmy Durante.
Not only were the 60’s known for its classic animation specials but also a number of variety Christmas specials each year. All our favorite stars would have a special with singing, dancing and corny jokes that the entire family could enjoy.
Bob Hope/ USO Christmas shows. For 40 years Bob Hope entertained deployed troops at Christmas time all over the world.
Bob Hope Special January 16th, 1969
Christmas as only Dean can do!
The Dean Martin Christmas Show 1968 - FULL EPISODE
There’s nobody like Andy
The Andy Williams Christmas Show (1966)
You can’t have Christmas without Bing!
Hollywood Palace 6-12 Christmas Show: Bing & Kathryn Crosby (co-hosts), Glen Campbell
And who can forget the Christmas commercials!
https://fb.watch/kS62Qv56Ij/?mibextid=IVRVuA
Did you know?
The Yule Log was first shown on TV in 1966. WPIX, New York, aired a 17 second loop of a burning log for 3 hours with holiday music.
Tomorrow: Trees, ornaments and gifts.
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