Hardrock, Coco, and Joe, The Three Little Dwarfs

[melikeymakemusic]

The happier they get, the more oriental they get.

[50zcarsman]

I can't help but think that if this were remade today everything would move at lightning speed, no scene would last more than 3 seconds, a loud techno soundtrack would play throughout, Santa would fling a rope tied to a batarang-type thing down the chimney, the elves would all be wearing muscled outfits that showed them real buff, and multi-camera perspectives would be everywhere -- a shot up the chimney, pan-out from Blitzen's eye, a 360-deg. shot, and the simple, heartwarming narrative lost.

[Christheatheist1]

OMG! I was a kid in the 50s an this took me all the way back. Thanks!

[snarkus63]

I 've gotta admit,I'm curious about how the creators of this came up with the elfin name "Hardrock"....which,in 1956,didn't have the same connotation it has today.

[terrio777]

Seattle you are so correct. Only our generation can enjoy this and it brings back such fond memories.

[parkman35]

Santa looks like he's on an acid trip...

[normbreyfogle]

I remember this one from 40 years ago, and how I thought it strange that Santa appears oriental. : )

[buttonguy76]

@normbreyfogle If you read the description under the video..a Japenese artist designed the characters and worked for Disney..that's my guess.

[timstv75]

thanks for posting this. it isnt christmas till i hear this.

[ronv11]

yes yes yes yes yes

[tikibongo99]

I just bought the three dwarves dvd from the museum. Even on the dvd, they had the nerve to put their stupid mbc logo constantly on the screen. Plus, the quality is low grade, much worse than what you see here. The mbc is a scam ! 

[V3n0mCarna93]

thumbs up if Paul Dini brought you here..

[bikamper]

I found a copy of this about 15 years ago and for Christmas I had the whole fam damily over to the house. My wife and I asked our respective siblings to sit on the couch with us to watch something on TV. When this started playing, all us forty-somethings started singing with it. Our teenagers thought we were nuts and our folks chuckled a bit but us middle agers were 6 years old again. Funny that we all had tears in eyes when it was over.

[rcarmes1941]

Far better than anything made today. I grew up with this on Garfield Goose in Chicago, it was the best, it shows an artistry lost today never to come again, for all computer advances, the handmade artistry of these puppetoons, is unequaled!!!!!!!!!

[timstv75]

@rcarmes1941 so true. this took work. those images are real unlike computer animation

[creedm00r69]

Must you mar every video by branding it with your logo? You don't own the rights to this cartoon or any of the other shorts you steal and imply ownership of. This is about preserving the shorts for all to see, not hyping the museum of self-promotion.

[revcounselor]

Thank you so much for posting these. I showed them to my daughter and told her this was what we saw when we were her age (9) at Christmas time. She laughed hysterically at the simplicity and cheesiness of the production. It brought back to me some very warm and happy memories of my youth in Chicago. Garfield Goose and Ray Raynor. My poor children will never understand.

[jacksonreiahnna]

I notice that santa looks Chinese

[TheMesquiter]

Looking at this cartoon almost 60 years later I realize how "corny" it has to seem to most viewers, but when I was a kid in Chicago in the early 1950s it was my absolute favorite along with "Suzy Snowflake". I used to watch these on Garfield Goose. I loved Frazier Thomas.

[elmntl1]

Thank you Broadcast Museum for the post our group was just remembering this and Suzy Snowflake and thanks to them both being here I was able to share a piece of our childhood!

[wheresthebeeph]

Thanks for posting. Some really great memories from that and Suzy too!

[TheLesathacker]

just simply a part of my good memories as a child, each time i see it, i feel so happy again, When i sheared this with my grand daughter, the smile she gave made me cherish the memory more

[powwowdoc]

I love this old stuff. So gentle and sweet. Santa does look a bit Oriental which, given China's growing world position of economic dominance, seems quite appropriate.

[PirateElleWench]

My mom made us watch this on WGN today... I totally respect the graphics and whatever but I'm sorry it still horrified by it haha. To me, Santa looks like he has fangs

[240ups]

Yes Santa isn't Asian, He's a Chinaman! ....Yeah I said it CHINAMAN!

[heine71]

"Now go to bed early on this Christmas eve..."

[verobeachbob1]

Uhm, the "queer" mention was intended to mean "peculiar," not fags. Santa looked Asian as the animator was Wah Ming Chang, a Chinese artisan who later was acclaimed for sculptures and props for "Star Trek." We loved this as kids in Chicago t-v land in the 50s-60s.

[sylart57]

@verobeachbob1 He also designed the "Time Machine" from the original movie, starring Rod Taylor.

[NCPilot]

Why is Santa Asian?

[heine71]

@NCPilot Santa's not Asian, he's closing his eyes or something like that.

[tomite472123]

i grew up waiting for these.

wasn't the holidays until they came on.

i am so gald that someone saved them and posted them.

thanks

[holbrooke7]

It's not Christmas for me until I see this. LOVE THIS.

[atavus82]

Has this fallen into the public domain, or does another company own the rights to it?

[pyewakat]

I grew up in Racine, WI and watched this and suzy snowflake every year on either ray raynor or garfield goose... just love it...

[maanderson8]

my absolute favorite Christmas cartoon growing up in the Chicago suburbs!

Garfield Goose and Friends was the BEST!

[bcakapinky]

@maanderson8 Does that include "Suzy Snowflake" and "Frosty," too?

[johnredhd]

I grew up in Hampshire, IL which is about 50 mi. from Chicago. Gosh, I remember watching this on Ray Raynor. I remembered the words immediately when I saw it again. Wow.....I still remember it after 40 some years.

[SubtleSavage]

This brings back so many memories. I love it!

[websetups]

Me too. I'm from gary. I wonder.... do kids care for this? My sibs and I waited daily to see these. Thanks.

[renegadedean]

@websetups I'm 26 so not sure if I count as a kid, but I saw this quite a few times the past few years and I love it. I remember my mom singing it when I was younger so seeing the actual short is wonderful.

[luvsawyeronlost]

Grew up in Northwestern Indiana and loved this little cartoon! Thank you so much for posting it...brings back wonderful childhood memories.

[paulsonian]

They slaughtered and ate two reindeer while santa was gone!

[Luv2Hula34]

This little cartoon used to thrill me when I was a little girl. It is just as enchanting now. I never thought I'd see it again. Thanksto the Broadcast Museum for saving it.

[801arctic]

This is AWESOME ! Reminds me of my days as a kid living near Chicago. They played this every year on WGN Channel 9 around Thanksgiving and Christmas, on the Garfield Goose show as I remember. I have been looking for this on DVD forever. My daughters just love it !! It was a time of innocence in this country before all the crap we deal with now. Didn't worry about stupid terrorists then as we shouldn't now. Live FREE and LOVE it !!

[amadeus1756]

I am from Johnstown, PA and the local NBC affiliate, WJAC, always plays this during Christmas along with Suzy Snowflake. Classics!!

[MCARE17]

@amadeus1756 I grew up in Johnstown. I was a kid in the early 60s, long before CGI, Blu-Ray, and digital animation. This was always my favorite! I knew it was Christmastime when I saw Hardrock, Coco, & Joe!

[leslieb127]

@MCARE17 me too! This was my favorite Christmas tune, and to this day, remember the line "I'm Hardrock, I'm Coco, I'm Joe". :-)

[Kelski1998]

I will bet that this is on again Christmas Eve in Chicago on WGN Ch. 9!

[mceccato]

@Kelski1998 Actually, it'll be on at noon on Thanksgiving per the WGN America website.

[Kelski1998]

@mceccato

WGN Chicago usually shows it 3 times in the year Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day. The Eve showing usually comes on if Scrooge isint AND before Midnight Mass at Holy Name Cathedral!

[MrRocketmike]

I looked forward to this every mourning during the Christmas season,when I was a kid.

[gotbm]

i used to watch this with my grandma back in south chicago on 87th street

[DaydreamBeliever1983]

I`m from the Pittsburgh area, and this (along with Suzy Snowflake) would air every Christmas. The yodeley part is my fave. :)

[Drstonewater]

What a wonderful childhood memory. We lived in Franklin Park, Il in the 60's and would watch this just before leaving to go to Grandma's house on Christmas Eve. I really feel sorry for kids today that they do not have the same wholesome entertainment that we did.

[fanofangela89]

Where I live NBC Channel 6 WJAC TV plays this every year along with Frosty and Suzy Snowflake. My parents watched this every year too. :-)

[shawMay64]

@fanofangela89 I grew up with this back in CherryTree, PA and watched this on channel 6 too.

[jdl139]

Me too from Altoona. I look for them every xmas. I LOVE Them

[carribeankiddd]

I used to watch these too. I used to live in the Pittsburgh area (Vandergrift) and WJAC-TV was part of our viewing area.

[chipmaster86]

The Chicago Alleys for sledding, Or sceeching on the back bumpers of cars in Chicago. We tried sledding with what we had on 47th and Hermitage back in the 70's. And this one to was part of all our memories. Sometimes we even hung on the outside on the back bumper of the CTA bus to get to school. Was so much fun! I would do it all again!

[ddbyers]

I grew up in Chicago watching WGN: Ray Rayner and friends..along with The Bozo Show. It just wasn't Christmas until they played these cartoons that Friday before X-mas school vacation. These cartoons are very nostalgic to me. Thanks for posting these memorable classic cartoons!

[ginia01]

This is one of my fondest memories, growing up near Chicago. Each year we would wait with great anticipation Suzy Snowflake, Rudolf and the rest to come on 'Garfield Goose'. An innocent time for kids during the growing chaos of the 1960's.

[Pamsmith59]

My brother and sisters and I would likely have watched this on WGN after having stomped into the house soaked to the skin from sledding down the ALLEY (yep, thats right - it was the best for sledding - sometimes would even be frozen solid), having had a snowball fight with all the neighbor kids, or even having ice skated on the neighbors frozen backyard rink created by his dad, who else but a Chicago fireman he knew how to use a hose! Good times wonderful memories!

[wyvernsc]

Unbelievably lame! I showed this to my kids and they begged me to stop!

[SeattleOrganMan]

Sorry you found it lame, wyvernsc. And yeah...with all the computer graphics and sensory overload kids are subject to nowadays...it's little wonder they disliked it. But for those of us who grew-up with it...it's a priceless and nostalgic memory. So how about a little tolerance and respect for other people's past and for their right to like it?

[frndsplz]

@SeattleOrganMan , you are so right! This is priceless! Brings back wonderful memories of Christmas's as a kid. Love it!

[F1315NJ]

@wyvernsc You have no heart and soul for nostalgia...

[maureencora1]

I Love this video sense I was 5 in 1962. Joe on bass vocals is great and Santa Claus looks Eskimo? But its Cool. Merry Christmas Ya'll from Texas. P.S. Remember Jesus is the reason for the season... Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all Men and Womenfolk. Amen. I Love Chicago!

[cardealerone]

It doesn't get any better than this, if you are from the Chicagoland area, and 40 years old plus!

[wolphintv]

It's funny I heard the "Tingles the Christmas Tension" song (from "Saturday Night Live", I think) before this and had no idea it was a parody of anything.

[schmeckendeugler]

"Old santa has really no need for Joe, but takes him 'cause he loves him so."

Sounds like a codependent relationship! Joe is just using Santa, man.

[maureencora1]

Yo, Lighten up it's Xmas Peace on Earth Goodwill to all men and Womenfolk, man.

[atarian2049]

I'm probably among the last generations of people who remembers seeing Hardrock, Coco, and Joe as a child with fond memories. This toon (along with Suzy Snowflake and Frosty The Snowman) remained in steady rotation on WGN during the holiday seasons in the 1980s and 1990s, which made it great sources of nostalgia for me (being born in 1980, and growing up watching Bozo every morning). Their timelessness have definitely created indelible memories watching these 'toons 20 years ago. :)

[jimmysudar]

i recently told a friend of mine that i felt lucky that i grew up in a time when something this simple thrilled us as youngsters; he told me he showed this (and suzy snowflake) to the kindergarten kids he currently teaches. he said they were transfixed and delighted. so, things change, but much remains the same i'm happy to say.

[al1936ful]

@atarian2049 I'm not sure, but I think it was also shown on "Captain Kangaroo". I know "Suzy Snowflake" was.

[regularjoe99]

That is a scary looking Santa Claus!

[maureencora1]

Yo, Lighten Up so he looks Eskimo Big Deal.

[truenorthcompass]

ok ....imagine this video being introduced by a guy in a sort of andy frain usher outfit talking to the King of the United States. Romberg Rabbit was the smartest one of the bunch.

Frazier Thomas rocked!

[belly3]

Gosh! Haven't seen this in years! Yes, this was a MUST growing up in Chicago in the 50s, 60s. I remember rushing to the TV to watch this! I was in awe! The musicality was unbelievable....still remember the words! What "catchy" words! The "ol" times were simple. We didn't need all that technology and background noise and fireworks going off to have a great video!

Watching this &Suzy Snowflake brought tears to my eyes...life was so much simpler & enjoyable as a kid back then!!!

[Freyja1133]

aand the 70s

[bruceme357]

If you grew up in Chicago in late 50's - early 60's - you grew up on this and Susie Snowflake - Your right, wasn't Christmas time until you heard the singing. Have to admit, Santa is very scary looking - but as a child in early 60's this was a delight! Whoever did these were way ahead on video's....made way for MTV and all the others kids now a days watch. To Garfield Goose and Ray Rayner - I'll never grow up! Merry Christmas everyone.

[Freyja1133]

bruce, these holiday cartoons also were shown during the early  70s

[danb1a]

I tell people about this they are just stumped. When I was a child, x-mas didn't start the day after labor day, it was about dec. 10th that's when they would air this on WGN, in Chgo, we would wake up and rush to TV so we wouldn't miss it, ONLY then did we know it was the x-mas season...this brings back such great memories.

[DrHeathenScum]

That is because American Idol is a joke that caters to the masses of idiots with no clue

[tedzodd]

American Idol should just die!

[DanRobSo]

Anyone notice the acapella vocals? These folks are DEAD on pitch! Try getting any of those American Idol "singers" to do that! Pop singing like this is a thing of the past!

[cinemasolo]

Those vocals are wonderful, and the arrangements are a delight. Same for Suzy Snowflake.

[robertwmartens]

Totally charming!

[youlldietrying]

It turned me into tears. OMG, i'm so old

[cinemasolo]

I know what you mean. The first time I saw this on the Internet, I hadn't seen it in 40 years. the memories!

[MPZFS921]

Why is the Santa Chinese?!?!?!?!?

[nterp1965]

thats not Santa Claus its Santa Crause

[IrishHippie]

I'm in love with this clip

[j0ames]

I HAVE WATCHED THIS FAR TOO MANY TIMES

[Kelski1998]

Growing up in the 80's I was at the tail end of great growing up years I know they played this till 1984 or 5? When Frazier Thomas died. Then no more Suzy Snowflake Frosty The Snowman and Hardrock Coco And Joe. I swore they showed it on Bozo might have been Family Classics. GREAT CHRISTMAS MEMORIES!!!!!!

[Freyja1133]

kelsi, do you mean no more garfield goose?

This was the kids show that the three little dwarfs &suzy snowflake were  showm on

[Kelski1998]

Garfield Goose was gone by and large by 1981 when Ray Raynor retired to Arizona. Cuddly Duddly was the only one who was brought onto Bozo with Bob Bell and later Joey D'Auria good chance might be because I think Roy Bown (Cookie) did Cuds voice

[Freyja1133]

I agree with you,kelski

I didn't like  cud at all

[powbiffbang]

I remember seeing this on the Bozo show in the mid '80s, too.

[manga12]

they did on a holiday special haveing a look back three years ago called bozo gar and ray. this animation was one of the last segments of that special.

I remember seeing this when I was a kid in the 80s

[mermaid00]

This is a beloved memory of my childhood, growing up in the Chicago area. Watching it again gave me a nice warm fuzzy feeling, like hot chocolate with extra marshmallows.

[Freyja1133]

I own a dvd on which the japanese loused the colorization process on Snow Queen

The skin color in that cartoon is green both on Kai( the boy ) & Gerda ( the girl)

[Freyja1133]

this was a american cartoon

I own a dvd on which the japanese loused the colorization process on Snow Queen

The skin color in that cartoon is green both on Kai( the boy ) & Gerda ( the girl)

[no1cfielder]

Thanks for posting this. I've always loved it! By the way, long ago I noticed that there are eight reindeer at about 1:20, but only six at the end....

[Dramphooey]

It's a long trip. They stop twice for a bite to eat and the Christmas eve menu is venison!

[no1cfielder]

A great a capella recording!

[moneyman877]

This is an awesome video! I love Joe!

[heine71]

Did Thurl "Tony the Tiger" Ravenscroft sing the "I'm Joe" ling?

[BryhenBea]

Love, love, LOVE... Frazier Thomas...Garfield Goose, Suzy, Ray, Bozo, Hardrock-Coco & Joe...and "Family Classics" was THE best! Being a young kid in Chi in the 60's was grrrreat!

[66iceman66]

Saw this on a retrospective of Bozo and the like just today! What a trip! Why does Santa look like an evil caricatured version of a Japanese person?

Cool video, though! Lots of hard work went into that!

[Freyja1133]

66, Santa in fact is based on Odin (Norse Mythology)

[Freyja1133]

this was a japanese cartoon

I own a  dvd on which the japanese loused the colorization process on Snow Queen

The skin color in that cartoon is green both on Kai( the boy ) & Gerda ( the girl)

[kimosabi6180]

Santa reminds me of Arnold from "Happy Days"

[voodoo1966]

Omg very true! lmao!!

[catiefromsavannah2]

Boy does this bring back memories. How old is this? I'm in my 40's and remember watching this on Frazier Thomas' Garfield Goose show. 

I also forgot how scary Santa was; no wonder I was afraid of him.

[carlosdent]

Put this code &fmt=18 behind URL to this video for watch in high quality

[greentreetwo2]

thanks for tip, boy what a difference it makes.

[UnderMan1965]

Santa looks scary when he smiles.

[daisey6869]

Thank you for all your nice memories everyone. I grew up in Oregon and am now 40. The video is as nice to watch as the comments are to read. I miss being young.Sometimes wish you could go back in time. This was the first time today I have seen this show.

[crabshaw]

I like the part where they are flying along & the singers sing that Santa never looks back but... Santa DOES look back at Joe. The best part is when Joe gets beamed with a snow ball. I saw that & I tried it on my sister. I got me a Whooopping. This video brings back PAINFUL memories for me.

[cavie18]

One of the greatest Christmas video shorts of all time! I remember watching this almost every lunch hour during the winter months when I was young. After 40 years still a catchy tune.

[tipsana]

Does anyone also remember another in the vein of Suzy Snowflake and Hardrock, Coco, and Joe that featured Jake Frost? Thanks for posting such sweet WGN memories!!

[nibsc]

What great memories and chills to think of such wonderful times growing up in the great city of Chicago. Thanks for posting and thanks WGN.

Just a couple of minutes of great childhood memories when we had no worries in the world takes you away from the madness and the sad turn out of what this world is becoming.

Thanks again and God Bless

[hdjhfp]

I love this!! It was such a thrill to watch it from when I was a little girl to now with my children. Thank you for this !!!

[byronbenguche]

OMG!.I used to watch this when i was a kid they use to show this during the Ray Rainer and Bozo on Chirstmas on WGN.

[Freakgrl04]

This reminds me of my old science teacher in high school! He said this was his favorite cause they looked like they where having fun. R.I.P. Mr. Maust, we miss ya lots!

[brinkmandarren]

This was one of my favorites, in the 60's and 70's, I still sing it to this day, and I'm 43.

[chaosvegeta666]

i love this song. my grandma sed "This is the 1st video i've seen, were santa was Japanese"lol. but he looks it lol.

p.s. nutin rong w/ japanese ppl just pointin it out.

[pbarrett]

A childhood flashback! I am back huddled around the Zenith watching WGN.

[Freakgrl04]

Out here in South Western PA, we watched this on FOX..lol I know I remember watching these as a kid and remebering that when these videos came on Winter/Christmas time was around the corner! I'm 23 now..lol

[dleameadow]

Loved this since I was a little kid thanks for posting! Never see these in VA!

[luvmycarpet69]

Our local station airs 3 of these: Frosty, Suzy Snowflake and this one. I know they were orig done by a station in Chicago. Does anyone know if there any others that were done by that station at the time ?

[AceMasterBeanSkin]

sweeet. i love youtube.

[bwacho]

Thank you SO much for posting this. I have remembered the chorus of this song for 40 years. Now I know have the whole! Thanks!

[DCMBClarinet09]

Also a good classic, I look forward to watching this every Christmas.

[hopsingrocks]

Gteat oldie

Always wondered why Santa looked chinese.

[amykozak3339]

definitally the best picture on any of these videos i`ve seen. the sound`s a little low, but there`s a perfect picture, so i don`t even care. 5/5.