81 Rudolph’s Television Debut
Like his song, Rudolph’s introduction to TV was the product of relationships and proximity. Join us on Facebook, get lots of Christmas info on Twitter.com/XmasStocking, and check us on Google+. Everything Christmas Stocking is on MyChristmasStocking.net.
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Featured music:
“Christmas Waltz” by Tom Grant and Rebecca Kilgore from “Winter Warm” (Nu-Wrinkle Records)
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Background music:
“Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer” by Tema Digital Media from “Instrumental Christmas” (Tema Digital Media)
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“This Christmas Day (Hui Cox)” by Mary Starr, Hui Cox from “This Christmas Day” (TIK / MAGIC CITY RECORDS)
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“Winter Wonderful” by Tony Evans & His Orchestra from “I Love Christmas” (Tema International)
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More information:
The Archive of American Television interviewed Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Lots of Rudolph fans contributed to the Wikipedia article, it seems.
A full cast list and other tidbits can be found on IMDb.com.
Ifyou can’t get enough Rudolph or Rankin/Bass, you may enjoy the book, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Making Of The Rankin/Bass Holiday Classic
69 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
From Christmas 2011: Merry Christmas! We know Rudolph’s story, more or less, but how did his story come to light? We’re here all year on Facebook, Twitter.com/XmasStocking, and Google+. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.net and keep coming back to MyChristmasStocking.net whenever you need some Christmas.
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Featured music:
“Silent Night” by Sounds Of Blackness from “The Night Before Christmas 2” (Atomic K Records)
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Background music:
“Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer” by Tema Digital Media from “Instrumental Christmas” (Tema Digital Media)
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“Jolly Old St. Nicholas/Jingle Bells” by Bill Cunliffe, Clay Jenkins, Larry Koonse, Joe La Barbera, Tom Warrington from “Snowfall” (Jazz Compass)
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“Joy to the World” by Bing Futch (from MacJams.com)
More information:
Snopes.com debunks a myth (that I don’t mention), and has lots of good info. And Wikipedia has even more.
57 “A Visit From St. Nicholas” by Clement Clark Moore
From Christmas 2010: Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy it. Stay in touch on Twitter.com/XmasStocking and our Facebook page. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.net. Other ways to communicate and a lot more are at MyChristmasStocking.net.
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Featured music:
“Santa’s On His Way” by The Pipettes
from “Santa’s On His Way”
(Fortuna POP)
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Background music:
“A Silent Night” by Bernd Rover (from MacJams.com)
“Christmastime” by illuminati (from MacJams.com)
“I Saw Three Ships” by The Manor House String Quartet from “I Saw Three Ships and Other Carols”
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by Joemy Wilson from “Gifts – Traditional Christmas Carols”
(Dargason Music)
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“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by TennesseeVic (from MacJams.com)
More info:
Several versions of the poem, including four published in the 19th century, are on Wikisource.org
56 About “A Visit From St. Nicholas”
December 19, 2010
Filed under Christmas, Episode, Holiday, Podcast, Xmas
Tags: Christmas, Clement Clark Moore, Episode, History, Holiday, Podcast, Poetry, Santa, Santa Claus, St. Nicholas
From Christmas 2010: Travel with me to the busy workshop in the North Pole, where we discuss Clement Clark Moore’s classic work with a special guest! I love getting mail. Email’s good, too: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.net. All the ways to get in touch are at MyChristmasStocking.net. For instance, click the Call Me button and put in your phone number. My voicemail will call you. The Christmas Stocking’s Facebook page has a good group of people, so you’ll fit right in. And follow us on Twitter.com/XmasStocking.
Click here to download the show to your device.
Featured music:
“Coventry Carol” by The Noel Project (from MacJams.com)
Background music:
“Winter Whimsy” by Shay MacKay (from MacJams.com)
“Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee” by Von Ives Orchestra from “Merry Christmas”
(TMG)
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More information:
Wikipedia.com has an article about the poem and Clement Clark Moore himself, About.com’s Urban Legends page will tell you more about Moore and the poem. Even more on Mr. Moore (that never gets old) from merrycoz.org.
The New York Institute for Special Education is proud to have had Clement Moore on their board of managers.
The St. Nicholas Center discusses the poem and much more about St. Nick.
Donald Wayne Foster says Henry Livingston wrote the poem. Here’s his Wikipedia page, a New York Times article about his assertion and supporting evidence, a timeline supporting this view, and an excellent refutation by Stephen Nissenbaum from UMass.
51 Christmastowns, USA
From Christmas 2010: We tour the country for just a few of the communities with names inspired by, or sometimes just coincidentally named for, Christmas things. Tell us what you really want for Christmas at MyChristmasStocking.net. Find the Call Me button and enter your phone number. My voicemail will call you for free; and you can mark your number private. Or email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET. Join us on Facebook. And follow us on Twitter.com/XmasStocking.
Click here to download the show to your device.
Featured music:
“I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” by The Victorian Singers from “Songs Of Good Cheer”
(Clarity Sound & Light)
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Background music:
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” byBrian Bunker Christmas (from GarageBand.com)
“I Saw Three Ships” by The Columba Minstrels from “Christmas – Celtic Traditions”
(Classic Fox Records)
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More information:
Here’s a nice master list of Christmassy towns.
Info on Christmas, MI, Santa Claus, IN (plus a little more, and even more), North Pole, AK, and Nazareth, PA.
You can get the Noel, MO, postmark on your cards.
Find out about the Santa Land ruins in Santa Claus, AZ.
44 Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
From Christmas 2009: The New York Sun may no longer be around, but this editorial may live forever. A little background about the editorial and Virginia, and of course we will hear it, too. If you’d like to be on the Christmas Stocking, go to MyChristmasStocking.net, click the Call Me button and enter your phone number. My voicemail will call you for free. Join us on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.com/XmasStocking.
Click here to download the show to your device.
Featured music:
“The Christmas Song” by Stacey Kent from “The Christmas Song” (Candid Productions)
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Background music:
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Randy Klein from “Here Comes Santa Claus” (Rock Candy Music)
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“Simple Gifts” by Amy Marie from “Simple Gifts” (Spiritwood Music)
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“Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy” by Berlin Symphony Orchestra from “Christmas Remixed 2” (Christmas Chill)
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More information:
Read the editorial for yourself on Wikipedia
41 The Yule Lads
From Christmas 2009: What could be scarier than Scrooge’s ghosts? The Yule Lads could be! By suggestion from Megan on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.com/XmasStocking. Email me at TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET. And you can wish someone Merry Christmas or share your Christmas memory at MyChristmasStocking.net. Just click the Call Me button and enter your phone number. My voicemail will call you for free.
Click here to download the show to your device.
Featured music:
“Oh Come All Ye Faithful” by Sirens from “River City Christmas” (Arbor Records Ltd.)
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Background music:
“Highway to Wenceslas” by Brian Bunker Christmas (from GarageBand.com)
“Christmas Time is Here” by Thomas Marriott, Bill Anschell, Jeff Johnson, John Bishop from “The Cool Season – An Origin Records Holiday Collection, Vol. 2” (Origin Records)
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More information:
About.com has a personal reflection on the Yule Lads, with lots of info.
Of course, Wikipedia has an article full of history.
23 “Miracle on 34th Street”
December 24, 2007
Filed under Christmas, Episode, Holiday, Xmas
Tags: Christmas, Christmas movie, Film, Holiday, Kris Kringle, Miracle on 34th St., Miracle on 34th Street, Movie, Podcast, Santa, Santa Claus, St. Nicholas
From Christmas ’07: My family’s favorite holiday movie is the original Miracle on 34th Street. I love Santa Claus. There’s a lot you may not know; you’ll get the info in this episode. Tell us about your miracle at MyChristmasStocking.net. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET . Oh, yes–Merry Christmas!
Click here to download the show to your device.
Background music:
“Jingle Bells” by The Eden Symphony Orchestra (from “A Philharmonic Christmas”)
(Classic Fox Records)
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“Joy to the World” by Simon Leyton (from “Classical Christmas – Classical Interpretations Of Christmas Favorites”)
(Classic Fox Records)
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Featured music:
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by The New Bethlehem Ensemble (from “A White Christmas”)
(Ultraviolet Productions)
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More information:
imdb.com has all kinds of info.
Wikipedia.com has a pretty good article.
Here’s the Amazon.com link, which has a very in-depth review with lots of info on the extra’s (and from the extras).
19 Santa’s Letter to Suzy Clemens
December 8, 2007
Filed under Christmas, Episode, Holiday, Xmas
Tags: Christmas, Holiday, Mark Twain, Podcast, Samuel Clemens, Santa, Santa Claus, Story, Xmas
From Christmas ’07: A change of pace this episode. Suzy Clemens, the daughter of Mark Twain, received at least one letter from Santa Claus. Can you imagine? That would be so cool! We will look over her shoulder and read it. Let me know what you think of this special episode at MyChristmasStocking.net. Or email me: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET .
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Background music:
“Variations on a West Country Carol” by USAF Concert Band and Singing Sergeants (from “Make the Season Bright”)
(Altissimo!)
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“Away in a Manger” by Frank McConnell (from “Christmas Guitar – Warm And Intimate Christmas Favorites”)
(Classic Fox Records)
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Featured music:
“Snow” by The von Trapp Children (from “Snow – New Songs of the Season”)
(IMI)
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More information:
If you would like a copy for yourself, maybe to read to your child…
10 Santa Claus and the Christmas Stocking
From Christmas ’06: Santa is coming soon, and one of his Christmas elves, Norman, spills some secrets about him! Plus, a great barbershop version of “Jingle Bells.” MyChristmasStocking.net. Email: TopElf at MyChristmasStocking.NET.
Click here to download the show to your device.
Background music includes:
Birth to the Savior by Rejoice (from GarageBand.com)
“Jingle Bells” (mp3) by Chris Goddard from “An Acoustic Christmas with Chris Goddard” Milomix Productions
- Buy at iTunes Music Store
Featured song:
“Jingle Bells” by the Groove Barbers from “Kids’ Club – Holiday Fun Volume 1” (a compilation featuring many artists, including Lisa Loeb)
Rock River Music
- Buy at iTunes Music Store
The Christmas Stocking 