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The Spirit of Christmas
This Christmas film, created as a special for television broadcast throughout the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania viewing region, was produced by puppeteer Mabel Beaton and her husband Les for Bell Telephone Company and first aired in 1953. Following a short live-action opening portion, featured are two extended marionette segments, the first dramatizing Clement Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas", the second reverently telling the Nativity story; the two stories are staged in classic, traditional style. From 1953 onward, for several years, The Spirit of Christmas was broadcast in the intended region multiple times per holiday season. It was also available as a 16mm film licensed to schools for showings to students. This film often is misstated to have originally been broadcast in 1950.
| Release : | 1953 |
| Rating : | 8 |
| Studio : | Stringtime Productions, |
| Crew : | Director, Writer, |
| Cast : | Alexander Scourby |
| Genre : | Animation Family |
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Cast List
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Reviews
Simply Perfect
One of the best films i have seen
Just what I expected
Good movie but grossly overrated
My memories of this fantastic Christmas special are the same as most others. Christmas in the 1950's was officially here when we saw the Bell Telephone special, "The Spirit of Christmas" shown not only at our school (Ingomar Elementary), but we also got to see it again on TV.Every subsequent Christmas was missing something without being able to see this special memory from my childhood. I was so happy to find that it is now available on DVD.My question is: Does anyone know of a version of this special that includes the original introduction, intermission and ending with the Bell Telephone operator speaking? To me, this helped to make this special what it was.Thanks for any help. Bob Eich, Pittsburgh, PA
I've been looking for this for years, but didn't know the title. I heard the familiar voice on a TV program and made note of the name--Alexander Scourby. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I found out the title and that it was available on DVD. Like a previous poster, I saw this every year as a child in elementary school. It was something I looked forward to each year. The puppetry was so impressive to a younger child back then--waaaaay before all the overdone CG effects of contemporary entertainment. Even now the puppet work still looks good. Both segments have such a simple charm. The puppets are costumed as live actors would be---this is far from a shoestring production! This is a timeless classic--required Christmas season viewing.
I remember seeing this show in the 1950's when I was a child in Lancaster Pennsylvania,brought to us by the "Bell Telephone Company."When my family moved to New Jersey in 1961 my beloved Christmas Show was not broadcast by New York stations.When I would visit friends in PA I would mention the show and anyone raised in PA remembered it,and hoped it would be available on tape or DVD,SO FAR NO LUCK!I mentioned it to a friend and he sent me a tape of "The Spirit of Christmas" and I was elated,it even included the commercials.Despite the grainy tape quality I was able to make a DVD.Hopefully it is made for wide release soon,it's a treasure.
This short Film has been shown by local TV for years in the 1960's. Which it became a stable for our family at the Holiday Season. This Wonderful story of The Night before Christmas is a delight for everyone in the family. The second part is the nativity of which some call - The Greatest Story ever Told is skillfully performed beautiful by marionettes.You and your family will rediscover the warmth and charm of these family classy stories.It's only to bad this film is not available on DVD or Video tape. if the would be available I would not just buy one for myself but to make it as a Christmas gift to all my friends and family. which this film should be a collectible because of its timeless nature and a joy to all who watch it.
