When Christmas Came Through the Television Screen
Ah, November has arrived!
We’ve turned our clocks back an hour, the days are getting shorter, and the calendar hanging on the wall reminds us that Christmas isn’t too far away.
Now, I realize Thanksgiving comes first, and I certainly wouldn’t want to overlook a holiday that brings family together around the dinner table. But there is something about those first few days of November that gets us thinking about Christmas.
Perhaps it’s the cooler weather. Maybe it’s the Christmas decorations beginning to appear in the stores. Or it could be the familiar Christmas music that seems to find its way into our homes earlier each year.
Of course, some folks don’t need a calendar to tell them when to start listening to Christmas music.
One of our daughters listens to it all year long!
I suppose when you enjoy something that much, there’s no reason to put it away with the Christmas decorations.
Around our house, my bride has another way of welcoming the season. She begins searching through the DISH television programming, looking for Christmas movies and specials to record.
And believe me, she takes this responsibility seriously.
By the time Christmas arrives, we’ll have enough holiday programming saved to carry us well into next year.
Where would we be without the Hallmark Channel?
Although I must admit, somewhere between the small-town Christmas celebrations, the unexpected snowstorms, and the handsome stranger who always seems to arrive at just the right moment, I occasionally wonder whether I’ve seen the movie before.
My bride assures me I haven’t.
I’m not entirely convinced.
But as much as we enjoy those newer Christmas movies, there’s something about the programs we watched as children that no amount of modern television magic can replace.
For me, those memories take me right back to Grandma Cooper’s house.
Before Christmas Came the November Chores
November at Grandma Cooper’s wasn’t necessarily about Christmas decorations or holiday shopping.
There was work to be done.
The garden needed attention before winter settled in. The yard had to be cleaned up, and the fallen leaves weren’t going to rake themselves.
I can still remember the smell of burning leaves drifting through the neighborhood.
Back then, gathering leaves into a pile and burning them was something many families did. That distinctive smell became as much a part of autumn as the changing colors of the trees.
Of course, today we understand the health and environmental concerns associated with burning leaves, and many communities prohibit the practice. But memories have a way of holding on to the sights and smells of another time.
We would get up early, sometimes just as the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon.
There were leaves to rake, garden beds to prepare, and whatever other chores Grandma had waiting for us.
And Grandma always seemed to have something waiting.
By the time the afternoon shadows began stretching across the yard, we were ready to call it a day.
Inside, we’d wash our hands, clean up for dinner, and settle into the warmth of the house.
There was something especially comforting about coming inside after spending most of the day outdoors in the chilly November air.
Dinner tasted a little better.
The house felt a little warmer.
And if we were fortunate, there might be something worth watching on television.
You see, television was different in those days.
We didn’t have hundreds of channels, streaming services, or the ability to watch nearly anything whenever we pleased.
If you wanted to watch a particular Christmas program, you needed to know when it was scheduled.
And you had better be sitting in front of the television when it started!
There wasn’t a pause button waiting for you if someone needed another glass of grape juice.
But perhaps that’s part of what made those programs so special.
We looked forward to them.
We planned around them.
And when they finally appeared on the television screen, we watched together.
The Christmas Stories We Grew Up Watching
When I think about Christmas television during the 1960s, several familiar stories come to mind.
Some were already old movies by the time we watched them. Others were brand-new television specials that would eventually become Christmas traditions for generations of families.
Funny how something we watched as children can still bring back memories more than sixty years later.
Miracle on 34th Street — Could He Really Be Santa Claus?
I don’t know about you, but I always enjoyed a Christmas story that left a little room for believing.
Miracle on 34th Street, released in 1947, tells the story of a department store Santa Claus who insists he is the real Kris Kringle.
Naturally, not everyone believes him.
A practical mother and her young daughter have their doubts, and before long, the question of whether this kindly gentleman is actually Santa Claus becomes a matter for the courtroom.
Imagine that!
Having to prove you’re Santa Claus in front of a judge.
But underneath the humor and courtroom drama is a story about faith, kindness, and the possibility that not everything wonderful in life can be explained.
As children, we didn’t spend much time analyzing the message.
We simply wanted to know whether everyone would finally believe in Santa.
And perhaps that’s exactly how a Christmas movie should be enjoyed.
A Christmas Carol — A Visit from Three Unusual Guests
Now, here’s a story that has been around considerably longer than television.
Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843, and people have been enjoying different versions of it ever since.
Ebenezer Scrooge wasn’t exactly the sort of fellow you’d invite over for Christmas dinner.
He was wealthy, unpleasant, and had very little patience for anyone who enjoyed the holiday.
Then came those three Christmas spirits.
The Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
As a child, I remember that last visitor being particularly unsettling.
There was something about seeing what might happen in the future that made you sit a little closer to the person beside you.
But the ending was worth waiting for.
Scrooge discovered that life was about considerably more than money, and that kindness and generosity were gifts he could share with others.
I suspect Grandma Cooper appreciated that lesson.
She certainly understood that a person’s value wasn’t measured by what they owned.
And I think she would have agreed that it’s never too late to become a better person.
It’s a Wonderful Life — Sometimes We Forget How Much We Matter
George Bailey had dreams.
He wanted to travel, see the world, and accomplish things beyond the little town of Bedford Falls.
But life kept getting in the way.
There were family responsibilities, financial troubles, and people who needed his help.
Does any of that sound familiar?
It’s a Wonderful Life, released in 1946, follows George through some of the happiest and most difficult moments of his life.
Eventually, he becomes so discouraged that he begins to believe the world might have been better without him.
That’s when Clarence, an angel hoping to earn his wings, enters the picture.
Clarence gives George an opportunity to see what life would have been like if he had never been born.
And what a difference one person can make.
I believe that’s one of the reasons this movie has stayed with me.
We don’t always recognize the influence we have on other people.
Sometimes it’s something as simple as offering a helping hand, sharing a kind word, or being there when someone needs us.
George Bailey didn’t become the world traveler he once dreamed of being.
But he discovered that the life he had lived was pretty wonderful after all.
I wonder how many of us could say the same if we took a moment to look around.
Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol — A Different Kind of Scrooge
Now, here’s one I haven’t watched in quite some time.
Does anyone remember Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol?
The animated Christmas special first aired on December 18, 1962.
It was the first animated Christmas special produced specifically for television, and it introduced Charles Dickens’ familiar story to children in a rather unusual way.
Mister Magoo, the famously nearsighted cartoon character, took on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in a musical production.
Imagine a Christmas story presented as a Broadway show, complete with songs, colorful animation, and Mister Magoo’s unmistakable personality.
It was entertaining, but it also carried the same message of kindness and generosity found in Dickens’ original story.
I wonder how many children were introduced to A Christmas Carol for the first time through Mister Magoo.
Perhaps more than we realize.
I can’t remember the last time I saw it on television.
And that’s a shame, because I’d certainly enjoy watching it again.
A Charlie Brown Christmas — That Little Tree Had Something to Say
If there’s one Christmas television special that reminds me of being a child in the 1960s, it might be A Charlie Brown Christmas.
It first aired on December 9, 1965.
Charlie Brown was having a difficult time understanding Christmas.
Everyone around him seemed caught up in decorations, presents, and the excitement of the season.
Even his dog Snoopy had become rather enthusiastic about decorating his doghouse.
Charlie Brown wanted something more meaningful.
When he was asked to direct the neighborhood Christmas play, he decided the production needed a Christmas tree.
And what a tree he brought home!
That poor little thing barely had enough branches to hold an ornament.
The other children laughed at it.
But Charlie Brown saw something worth saving.
Then Linus stepped forward and reminded everyone of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke.
I have always appreciated that moment.
There was no elaborate production, no fancy decorations, and no need for anything more than a child sharing the story of Christ’s birth.
And that little Christmas tree?
Well, with a little attention and care, it turned out to be something special.
Isn’t it interesting how often we overlook something simply because it doesn’t look the way we expected?
Grandma Cooper had a way of recognizing value in things other people might have passed by.
I think she would have liked Charlie Brown’s little tree.
Perhaps she would have even found a place for it in her own home.
Popcorn, Grape Juice, and Grandma Cooper
Of course, watching Christmas television at Grandma Cooper’s involved more than simply sitting in front of the screen.
There was popcorn.
And there was grape juice.
I don’t know exactly when that combination became part of our family tradition, but it’s one we’ve continued to enjoy.
Even today, when my bride and I settle in to watch a Christmas movie, there’s a good chance we’ll have a bowl of popcorn and a glass of grape juice nearby.
Just like Grandma Cooper taught us.
It’s funny how certain foods become connected to memories.
A bowl of popcorn isn’t particularly fancy.
Neither is a glass of grape juice.
But put them together with a familiar Christmas movie, and suddenly I’m remembering those evenings when the family gathered around the television.
We weren’t concerned about what was playing on another channel.
We weren’t checking our phones.
We didn’t have phones to check!
We simply enjoyed being together.
Sometimes I think that’s one of the things I miss most about television in those days.
There was something special about knowing that families all across the country were watching the same Christmas program at the same time.
The following morning, you could talk about it with your friends.
Everyone knew which movie you meant because they had watched it, too.
Today, we have more entertainment available than we could possibly watch in a lifetime.
Yet I wonder whether having so many choices has taken away a little of that anticipation.
Or perhaps I’m simply getting older.
That’s entirely possible, too!
Where Have All Our Christmas Favorites Gone?
Last Christmas, I remember looking for Miracle on 34th Street and not finding it among the programs we normally watched.
Now, I can’t say for certain that it wasn’t available somewhere.
With so many channels and streaming services, it’s entirely possible I simply missed it.
But I remember being disappointed.
And that got me thinking about some of the other Christmas programs we used to enjoy.
When was the last time I watched Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol?
I really couldn’t tell you.
Perhaps these classics haven’t disappeared at all. Maybe they’re simply harder to find among the endless choices available today.
Still, I hope they continue to find their way into our homes.
Not because every old Christmas movie was better than what we have today.
There are some wonderful newer Christmas stories.
But those older programs carry something the newer ones cannot give us.
Our childhood memories.
They remind us of the people we watched them with, the homes where we gathered, and the traditions that became part of our lives.
For me, they bring back Grandma Cooper.
The November chores.
The warmth of the house after a long day outside.
And, of course, the popcorn and grape juice.
Final Thoughts: Some Christmas Traditions Are Worth Keeping
I suppose every generation has its own Christmas favorites.
Our children have theirs, and our grandchildren will undoubtedly have movies and television specials they remember long after we’re gone.
That’s the wonderful thing about family traditions.
They don’t have to remain exactly the same to continue being meaningful.
We can enjoy something new while holding on to the things that brought us happiness years ago.
My bride will continue recording Christmas movies, and I’m sure we’ll enjoy watching more than a few of them before the season is over.
Somewhere along the way, I hope we’ll find time for George Bailey, Charlie Brown, Kris Kringle, and perhaps even Mister Magoo.
And when we do, there will be popcorn.
There will be grape juice.
And there will be memories of Grandma Cooper.
I think she’d be pleased to know that something as simple as an evening watching Christmas television could become a family tradition that has lasted more than sixty years.
Maybe that’s one of the nicest gifts we receive as we grow older.
The opportunity to remember the people who made ordinary moments extraordinary.
And to pass a little of that happiness along to the next generation.
What Christmas Shows Do You Remember?
Before you go, I’d love to hear about the Christmas television programs and movies you remember from childhood.
Was A Charlie Brown Christmas a favorite in your home? Did your family gather around to watch It’s a Wonderful Life?
Perhaps you remember a Christmas special I’ve completely forgotten.
Share your favorites in the comments below.
Who knows? You might remind someone of a Christmas memory they haven’t thought about in years.
And wouldn’t that be a wonderful gift to share?
Until our next Cooper Shortcut,
The Cooper Shortcut Camping Journey Trio 😊 PlusOne!
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