Different time in a different country. Both long gone.
This charming Christmas one they’ve played since the ‘70s (still pops up) on the Nashville CBS affiliate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Z09zMvqqU
And yet another from our local CBS affiliate (Merry Christmas in different languages) from the ‘70s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myx7s7gZkSQ
Rather ironic that CBS would air a holiday bumper featuring a Christmas carol with a religious message. Just a year before that bumper began running, network executives pitched a fit when Charles Schulz and Bill Melendez screened a “Charlie Brown Christmas” for them. They didn’t like the concept of using child actors to voice the Peanuts characters, they didn’t like Vince Guraldi’s jazz score, and most of all they hated Linus’s recitation from second chapter of Luke’s gospel.
Unfortunately for CBS, Schulz had creative control over the project and refused to make any changes. Additionally, it had been something of a rush to get the special on the air and by the time the executives saw it, there was no time to find a replacement special. And the sponsor (Coca-Cola) had no problems with the program, so CBS reluctantly aired a Charlie Brown Christmas.
You know the rest: huge ratings, a Peabody Award and program that became a Christmas classic. If the suits at CBS had their way, the program would have never aired.
Secularism at CBS (and the other networks) has been in vogue for much longer than most people realize.
I remember
The norelco sled cartoon
Marlboro
And Clydesdales
All stand out
Its all over now .....
Won’t come back short of blood
Heck, I’d be happy if they even used this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR6xGufBzbU
The only company that I know about that has used the word "Christmas" in its advertising the past few weeks is Wal Mart. Every other commercial is "Holiday" this and "Holiday" that. I even heard a local car dealership's commercial on the radio the other day use the phrase "Winter Holiday Deals."
Holiday presents
Holiday party
Holiday shopping
Holiday meal, etc etc etc.
It's damn obnoxious.
Look at old “TV Guide” listings from the week or weeks leading up to Christmas, back in the 1950s/1960s. And take note of the massive number of Christmas-themed shows. Not just variety shows, but ordinary sitcoms, anthologies, westerns and such. Even seemingly unlikely shows like “Have Gun Will Travel,” “77 Sunset Strip,” and “Dr. Kildare” would have episodes with a Christmas theme. Many had a strong spiritual message, others just utilized the seasonal backdrop, but the acknowledgment of the Holy day was huge on the networks.
In elementary school we always put up a Christmas tree with ornaments we made, decorated the classroom, drew names and exchanged inexpensive gifts. The true meaning of the holiday was on display, too. This was the late 50’s to early 60’s.
Thank you for calling back better memories!
TV networks are no longer limited as to how much advertising they can show. Therefore, the amount of time for actual programming has gotten preposterously scarce.
Oh, wow, thank you for posting this. I was 3 in 1966, but I know they showed this in later years, because I remember it.
I’ve looked all over for the one with the oil lamp. Was it a Santa or an elf? I recall an elf, but I could be wrong.
The one I would really love to see is the reindeer with the antlers which bloomed with poinsettias.
Our pastor’s latest missive was to inform us that there was no War on Christmas.
Of course, he works for a church where Christmas gets mentioned constantly (higher amounts of giving).
I work for the state. What Christmas?