I'm 20 and i just recently became a fan of Andy Williams when I heard his version of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (which plays at 2:08, though I hear it every year) in my nearby ACME this past Saturday. Merry Christmas!
YOUTUBE might as well be called NOSTALGIATUBE because that's what the majority of us are doing here; sifting through the rubble of remembrance for a little comfort.
Williams had the best xmas shows. I'm 37 & love to watch them, although my mother is 63 & remembers when they were on & can't stand them & turns them off when the re-runs come on lol
Yeah, the "good old days"; 2 Kennedys assassinated, MLK assassinated, watts riots, Chicago democratic convention protests, segregation and beating of blacks in the south, civil unrest, hippies, and Vietnam. People remember what they want to remember.
@afrod1006 agree wit you on that one. My mother, who is 63, would say the same thing. I hear people talking about when things were the good old days pertaining to the 70s & 80s as well & just like the 60s they weren't the best of times either. We tend to forget the bad & focus only on the good for whatever reason & create a portrait that's more appealing. Everytime Lawrence Welk comes on my mother goes into how people watched that while guys died in nam & she gets upset all over again.
@afrod1006@afrod1006 Who said that the 1960's were perfect? That is not the point of this video.Despite all the terrible things going on then, wasn't it nice to watch some holiday, family shows like Andy Williams? Don't fret though, you blacks are making up for lost time now! Flash mobs in the streets and on the buses attacking whites, DoJ giving racist Black Panthers a pass for voter intimidation, and of course, a Marxist,crypto-Moslem half-black in the WH destroying America, HAPPY NOW?
@afrod1006 I dig what your saying, I'm a child of the 60's and every time a man of vision and peace came along they got snuffed. I think we need another revolution in this country- Occupy Movement is a damn good start but it's the tip of the iceberg(the ones that haven't melted). Once in a while though, I gotta tell ya, I have to put on my rose tinted glasses and try to go back to another simpler time. As ugly as things were, it's child's play to what we're looking down the barrel of now- Hxmas
Unfortunately, we live in a cynical, revisionist and PC world. These traditional, wholesome family value-type shows have been replaced by television programming that are geared to teens, gays, ethnics, and the so-called "reality" audience. It's all about money now, not entertainment.
@Lee05211 It's time we take tv back! It's called Youtube. Forget tv I watch what I want, when I want - choice is great. Let's teach the TV execs a lesson. Oh, BTW Merry Christmas!
@2012endofanerror I couldn't agree with you more! I watch Youtube all the time. I bought a DVD player and watch a lot of classics like Twilight Zone when I want. Merry Christmas to you too!
God the memories... a staple around the holidays at my house when I was a kid. If this was '65, I was 9. It started out as background noise with a house full of people but ultimately everybody took a seat and watched! Such an innocent time back then, not the commercial driven frenzy it is now. But here's the thing the youngsters won't understand--it was in COLOR! Color TV was just starting to take hold--I remember shows sprouting this fact--'The FBI-In Color', Batman-In Color..good ol' days
It's all a great shame, for TV history goes down the drain because of the syndications, they should write a law that after a certain amount of years it can be watched freely.
Great memories.My mom sure liked these Christmas shows.
I heard that musical variety shows were to expensive and complicated to get into syndication with so many people on the show and too many are deceased with wills and heirs to royalties. You may have to compensate all those involved.
The variety shows left the networks supposedly due to the fact they were too expensive; rehearsel,production,songs,royalties and sheer number of performers. Sure would beat the slop that is on tv today.
Why can't we have TV like this anymore? I was just watching the Best of Andy Williams Christmas Specials. My parents tell me i used to watch them as a kid but of course I don't remember them. I feel like I missed out on some great stuff. I wish they would release all his Christmas Specials on DVD
@ghendar I have a DVD called "The Best Of The Andy Williams Christmas Specials", which is where I got this clip. It's an amazing DVD....unfortunately, it's VERY hard to find!
@musicguy64 I think "The Best Of The Andy Williams Christmas Specials" DVD was maybe only sold through PBS, in exchange for donations to public broadcasting stations, during PBS pledge drives. Is that how you obtained your copy of the DVD? Or did you purchase it on-line, or possibly at a brick & mortar retail store?
In any event, I wouldn't be surprised if it's available at Amazon dotcom and/or at Andy's website, through his Branson, Missouri theater.
@musicguy64 Why don't you just upload the entire DVD here, in parts, so others may download and save to their hard drives, copy onto DVDs if they wish?
Many do this with TV series' and specials all the time. If you're concerned about proprietary issues, post a disclaimer, and a non-obtrusive (bottom-right corner, preferably) watermark, identifying your You Tube channel on each uploaded part?
@musicguy64 By the way, PBS also aired "The Best Of The Andy Williams Show" for years, during its begging sprees (which now seem to be 24/7 and 365), just as PBS had done with its doo-wop and Peter, Paul & Mary specials.
I watched Andy's show sometimes, in the early-to-mid 1960s, and recall comedian Jonathan Winters appearing on the program frequently. I think the show aired on either Monday or Tuesday evening.
@musicguy64 The last or next-to-last Christmas (so 1968 or '69) before my mother died, when she was only 55 years old (in 1970), my father bought her a color TV set, the first one in our home. Playing on the TV when my mom arrived home was the Christmas edition of "The Andy Williams Show." My mom was positively thrilled!
@musicguy64 At least in Andy's later years on NBC (Williams took a break for a few years between his two NBC series'), the Christmas program would just air in the time slot of Andy's weekly variety series, I think.
As Andy's show aired on Saturday evenings in the late '60s and early '70s, and as I recall that Christmas show on my mom's then-new color TV set airing on a Saturday evening, I think that was the case.
@musicguy64 Andy and his ex-wife, Claudine Longet, had been good friends of the late Senator Bobby Kennedy and his wife, Ethel. Andy sang "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic" and "Ave Maria" at the funeral of Bobby Kennedy in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York, on June 8, 1968..A 45 rpm recording of those songs was released on Columbia, Williams' label for many years, and I bought a copy.
@musicguy64 Not long after Bobby Kennedy's death, Joan Kennedy, the first wife of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, had played piano on the Williams' program.
Joan Kennedy had been studying classical piano for several years, and so her performance on Wiliams' program served as both a kind of public recital and the return of a musical favor, for Andy having sung at Joan's brother in-law's funeral..
@musicguy64 Andy and Claudine were with Ethel at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles when Bobby Kennedy died June 6, 1968.
The Williamses also rode in the funeral train with Bobby Kennedy's casket, as thousands lined railroad tracks along the eastern corridor to say good-bye to Senator Bobby that hot summer Saturday of June 8, 1968.
@musicguy64 I shall never forget that image of two Little Leaguers (still in their team uniforms, from a game or practice), perched atop some roof along the funeral train's route, ball cap's held respectfully over their hearts, as a gesture of tribute to Senator Bobby.
@musicguy64 Like the image of young John-John Kennedy saluting his daddy's horse-drawn casket as it passed by him in the state funeral cortege, on that grim autumn day of 1963, I may still be moved to tears whenever I see that film footage or a photo of those two Little Leaguers saluting Bobby Kennedy on his final ride.
@musicguy64 It is also, somehow, fitting that a man whose signature song is "Moon River," the ballad of Truman Capote's waif-like dreamer, "Holly Golightly" (in the film of Capote's "Breakfast at Tiffany's"), would also have paid a musical homage at the funeral of his friend, an internationally-prominent figure who was also a dreamer.
@musicguy64 Andy Williams was a good guy. And his Christmas TV specials were like musical greeting cards of Norman Rockwell paintings, telling American families it was Christmas time again!
Can we ever be this innocent again? Perhaps not. But I see from the comments posted here there is a sincere longing to return to those good times, when families and TV viewers gathered 'round the warm glow of the cathode rays of the TV tube to sing Christmas carols with Andy (Bing & Perry, too).
@Robert4770 I agree most of the tv programmes are not for me nowadays I preferr to listen to music and watch my favourite films and dvds and youtube.In other words love and comfort is not to be readily found on tv at the moment it seems but it can and hopefully will change please God.Happy Christmas to all
@ghendar Hi I was looking on amazon last eve and I found a few Andy Williams Christmas shows of the 60's and 70's but not of the 80's if that helps.He also has his own website ok
I was just a kid back in '65, but when I think back to all the cultural and artisitic innovations of those times, all I can think is "How the hell did they cram so much good stuff into one year?!"
I was ten when this show played at Christmas, back then variety shows were all over tv, today no music, no comedy, and tv is poloarized to a certain group. all we have is gory killing shows, and sex related sitcoms, someone should start a cable channel that shows nothing but the great variety shows of the 50's, 60's 70's.
@humbleradio I am hoping someone cares, and can, the channel would in my fantasy show all the music shows from the half hour shows from the 50's like Nat king Cole, comedy like Jack Benny, then onto the hour long formats of the 60's, 70's, along with film musicals from the 30's tru the 70's, I think it would work.
Agreed! If TVLand would get back to it's roots and provide programming other than the same reruns of 'Bonanza' and 'Sanford & Son', it could be one of the hottest cable channels. They could easily run weekend programs like The Andy Williams Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Danny Kaye Show, The Red Skelton Show, Hee Haw, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Sonny & Cher, etc. and people would be coming back for more! I'd sure watch it!
@jupitr2 You're correct. But since the broadcast television networks are also abandoning their long-time formats to air more reality series', TV Land has been doing a juggling act of airing some of its most popular classic TV series' (dramas and sitcoms), as well producing its own sitcoms, the kind that used to be done far more by broadcast TV networks.
@jupitr2 Check out Antenna TV or MeTV, if either of those classic TV networks have affiliates in your area. If not, then write your local broadcasters to request they affiliate with one of them through their digital sub-channel capabilities.
Antenna TV and MeTV program the types of shows TV Land did in its heyday, which also means specials during holidays.
@redheadedgolem Yeah, he looks a bit like the scientist puppet on Thunderbirds! But hey, this was the 60s, everyone didn't have to look like GQ cookie cutter droppings back then.
The funny thing is that in the 60s this would be considered rock and roll. now its more like pop
howardkevinm 2 months ago
Thank you for taking the time to share and upload this
hugecashfan 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I'm 20 and i just recently became a fan of Andy Williams when I heard his version of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (which plays at 2:08, though I hear it every year) in my nearby ACME this past Saturday. Merry Christmas!
RareMusic42 2 months ago
Comment removed
RareMusic42 2 months ago
YOUTUBE might as well be called NOSTALGIATUBE because that's what the majority of us are doing here; sifting through the rubble of remembrance for a little comfort.
fritzquarar 2 months ago 3
Williams had the best xmas shows. I'm 37 & love to watch them, although my mother is 63 & remembers when they were on & can't stand them & turns them off when the re-runs come on lol
Anglynn74 2 months ago
Cheap special effects, but what great memories!
johnnylakis 3 months ago
Yeah, the "good old days"; 2 Kennedys assassinated, MLK assassinated, watts riots, Chicago democratic convention protests, segregation and beating of blacks in the south, civil unrest, hippies, and Vietnam. People remember what they want to remember.
afrod1006 3 months ago
@afrod1006 agree wit you on that one. My mother, who is 63, would say the same thing. I hear people talking about when things were the good old days pertaining to the 70s & 80s as well & just like the 60s they weren't the best of times either. We tend to forget the bad & focus only on the good for whatever reason & create a portrait that's more appealing. Everytime Lawrence Welk comes on my mother goes into how people watched that while guys died in nam & she gets upset all over again.
Anglynn74 2 months ago
@afrod1006 @afrod1006 Who said that the 1960's were perfect? That is not the point of this video.Despite all the terrible things going on then, wasn't it nice to watch some holiday, family shows like Andy Williams? Don't fret though, you blacks are making up for lost time now! Flash mobs in the streets and on the buses attacking whites, DoJ giving racist Black Panthers a pass for voter intimidation, and of course, a Marxist,crypto-Moslem half-black in the WH destroying America, HAPPY NOW?
Lee05211 2 months ago
@afrod1006 RACIST MORON!!!
Lee05211 2 months ago
@afrod1006 I dig what your saying, I'm a child of the 60's and every time a man of vision and peace came along they got snuffed. I think we need another revolution in this country- Occupy Movement is a damn good start but it's the tip of the iceberg(the ones that haven't melted). Once in a while though, I gotta tell ya, I have to put on my rose tinted glasses and try to go back to another simpler time. As ugly as things were, it's child's play to what we're looking down the barrel of now- Hxmas
fritzquarar 2 months ago
Unfortunately, we live in a cynical, revisionist and PC world. These traditional, wholesome family value-type shows have been replaced by television programming that are geared to teens, gays, ethnics, and the so-called "reality" audience. It's all about money now, not entertainment.
Lee05211 3 months ago 2
@Lee05211 It's time we take tv back! It's called Youtube. Forget tv I watch what I want, when I want - choice is great. Let's teach the TV execs a lesson. Oh, BTW Merry Christmas!
2012endofanerror 2 months ago in playlist Christmas
@2012endofanerror I couldn't agree with you more! I watch Youtube all the time. I bought a DVD player and watch a lot of classics like Twilight Zone when I want. Merry Christmas to you too!
Lee05211 2 months ago
Some might call this corny, but at this time we didn't lock our doors. It was peaceful at home, and a great time to be child. I miss these times.
rubbing2001 3 months ago 3
PBS shows the best of Andy Williams christmas specials every year.
IKSIRB68 3 months ago
God the memories... a staple around the holidays at my house when I was a kid. If this was '65, I was 9. It started out as background noise with a house full of people but ultimately everybody took a seat and watched! Such an innocent time back then, not the commercial driven frenzy it is now. But here's the thing the youngsters won't understand--it was in COLOR! Color TV was just starting to take hold--I remember shows sprouting this fact--'The FBI-In Color', Batman-In Color..good ol' days
theuncletodd 3 months ago
i want to meet the blonde next to him on the sled . . .
hydropolite 4 months ago
Comment removed
fscap811 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@hydropolite you realize that she's 46 years older than the video...
fscap811 3 months ago
WOW Merci!
tychaton08 6 months ago
It's all a great shame, for TV history goes down the drain because of the syndications, they should write a law that after a certain amount of years it can be watched freely.
LastTree 10 months ago
Great memories.My mom sure liked these Christmas shows.
I heard that musical variety shows were to expensive and complicated to get into syndication with so many people on the show and too many are deceased with wills and heirs to royalties. You may have to compensate all those involved.
The variety shows left the networks supposedly due to the fact they were too expensive; rehearsel,production,songs,royalties and sheer number of performers. Sure would beat the slop that is on tv today.
MrSpringtime22 1 year ago
They should release ALL of the Andy Williams Christmas shows on dvd. Classic entertainment.
dflartist 1 year ago
A Classic! Even in 2010!
GEMINITREKKER 1 year ago
Why can't we have TV like this anymore? I was just watching the Best of Andy Williams Christmas Specials. My parents tell me i used to watch them as a kid but of course I don't remember them. I feel like I missed out on some great stuff. I wish they would release all his Christmas Specials on DVD
ghendar 1 year ago 13
@ghendar I have a DVD called "The Best Of The Andy Williams Christmas Specials", which is where I got this clip. It's an amazing DVD....unfortunately, it's VERY hard to find!
musicguy64 1 year ago 2
@musicguy64 I like this video,I will have to check e-bay.
GEMINITREKKER 1 year ago
@GEMINITREKKER If you can find an original copy, they run about $75.00. If you go on ioffer.com, copies are available there for about $15.00.
musicguy64 1 year ago
@musicguy64 Can you put some more clips up?
screenwriter44 2 months ago
@musicguy64 I think "The Best Of The Andy Williams Christmas Specials" DVD was maybe only sold through PBS, in exchange for donations to public broadcasting stations, during PBS pledge drives. Is that how you obtained your copy of the DVD? Or did you purchase it on-line, or possibly at a brick & mortar retail store?
In any event, I wouldn't be surprised if it's available at Amazon dotcom and/or at Andy's website, through his Branson, Missouri theater.
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 Why don't you just upload the entire DVD here, in parts, so others may download and save to their hard drives, copy onto DVDs if they wish?
Many do this with TV series' and specials all the time. If you're concerned about proprietary issues, post a disclaimer, and a non-obtrusive (bottom-right corner, preferably) watermark, identifying your You Tube channel on each uploaded part?
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 By the way, PBS also aired "The Best Of The Andy Williams Show" for years, during its begging sprees (which now seem to be 24/7 and 365), just as PBS had done with its doo-wop and Peter, Paul & Mary specials.
I watched Andy's show sometimes, in the early-to-mid 1960s, and recall comedian Jonathan Winters appearing on the program frequently. I think the show aired on either Monday or Tuesday evening.
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 The last or next-to-last Christmas (so 1968 or '69) before my mother died, when she was only 55 years old (in 1970), my father bought her a color TV set, the first one in our home. Playing on the TV when my mom arrived home was the Christmas edition of "The Andy Williams Show." My mom was positively thrilled!
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 At least in Andy's later years on NBC (Williams took a break for a few years between his two NBC series'), the Christmas program would just air in the time slot of Andy's weekly variety series, I think.
As Andy's show aired on Saturday evenings in the late '60s and early '70s, and as I recall that Christmas show on my mom's then-new color TV set airing on a Saturday evening, I think that was the case.
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 Andy and his ex-wife, Claudine Longet, had been good friends of the late Senator Bobby Kennedy and his wife, Ethel. Andy sang "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic" and "Ave Maria" at the funeral of Bobby Kennedy in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York, on June 8, 1968..A 45 rpm recording of those songs was released on Columbia, Williams' label for many years, and I bought a copy.
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 Not long after Bobby Kennedy's death, Joan Kennedy, the first wife of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, had played piano on the Williams' program.
Joan Kennedy had been studying classical piano for several years, and so her performance on Wiliams' program served as both a kind of public recital and the return of a musical favor, for Andy having sung at Joan's brother in-law's funeral..
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 Andy and Claudine were with Ethel at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles when Bobby Kennedy died June 6, 1968.
The Williamses also rode in the funeral train with Bobby Kennedy's casket, as thousands lined railroad tracks along the eastern corridor to say good-bye to Senator Bobby that hot summer Saturday of June 8, 1968.
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 I shall never forget that image of two Little Leaguers (still in their team uniforms, from a game or practice), perched atop some roof along the funeral train's route, ball cap's held respectfully over their hearts, as a gesture of tribute to Senator Bobby.
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 Like the image of young John-John Kennedy saluting his daddy's horse-drawn casket as it passed by him in the state funeral cortege, on that grim autumn day of 1963, I may still be moved to tears whenever I see that film footage or a photo of those two Little Leaguers saluting Bobby Kennedy on his final ride.
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 It is also, somehow, fitting that a man whose signature song is "Moon River," the ballad of Truman Capote's waif-like dreamer, "Holly Golightly" (in the film of Capote's "Breakfast at Tiffany's"), would also have paid a musical homage at the funeral of his friend, an internationally-prominent figure who was also a dreamer.
gymnastix 2 months ago
@musicguy64 Andy Williams was a good guy. And his Christmas TV specials were like musical greeting cards of Norman Rockwell paintings, telling American families it was Christmas time again!
Can we ever be this innocent again? Perhaps not. But I see from the comments posted here there is a sincere longing to return to those good times, when families and TV viewers gathered 'round the warm glow of the cathode rays of the TV tube to sing Christmas carols with Andy (Bing & Perry, too).
gymnastix 2 months ago
@ghendar Sadly its been replaced with hatred, reality television and moronic sitcoms,
Robert4770 2 months ago 2
@Robert4770 I agree most of the tv programmes are not for me nowadays I preferr to listen to music and watch my favourite films and dvds and youtube.In other words love and comfort is not to be readily found on tv at the moment it seems but it can and hopefully will change please God.Happy Christmas to all
hugecashfan 2 months ago
@ghendar Hi I was looking on amazon last eve and I found a few Andy Williams Christmas shows of the 60's and 70's but not of the 80's if that helps.He also has his own website ok
hugecashfan 2 months ago
Great costumes!
creolelady182 1 year ago
I was just a kid back in '65, but when I think back to all the cultural and artisitic innovations of those times, all I can think is "How the hell did they cram so much good stuff into one year?!"
Sunfried1 1 year ago
These have been THE Christmas songs for me all my life. :)
breakoutworkout 1 year ago
I was ten when this show played at Christmas, back then variety shows were all over tv, today no music, no comedy, and tv is poloarized to a certain group. all we have is gory killing shows, and sex related sitcoms, someone should start a cable channel that shows nothing but the great variety shows of the 50's, 60's 70's.
htrrz 1 year ago 17
@htrrz You said it! We're trying. We're trying!
humbleradio 1 year ago
@humbleradio I am hoping someone cares, and can, the channel would in my fantasy show all the music shows from the half hour shows from the 50's like Nat king Cole, comedy like Jack Benny, then onto the hour long formats of the 60's, 70's, along with film musicals from the 30's tru the 70's, I think it would work.
htrrz 1 year ago
Agreed! If TVLand would get back to it's roots and provide programming other than the same reruns of 'Bonanza' and 'Sanford & Son', it could be one of the hottest cable channels. They could easily run weekend programs like The Andy Williams Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Danny Kaye Show, The Red Skelton Show, Hee Haw, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Sonny & Cher, etc. and people would be coming back for more! I'd sure watch it!
jupitr2 1 year ago 13
@jupitr2 I totally agree with you. TV Land is just another station playing mindless and meaningless "reality" TV. Bleah!
theatomicmom 1 year ago
@jupitr2 You're correct. But since the broadcast television networks are also abandoning their long-time formats to air more reality series', TV Land has been doing a juggling act of airing some of its most popular classic TV series' (dramas and sitcoms), as well producing its own sitcoms, the kind that used to be done far more by broadcast TV networks.
gymnastix 2 months ago
@jupitr2 Check out Antenna TV or MeTV, if either of those classic TV networks have affiliates in your area. If not, then write your local broadcasters to request they affiliate with one of them through their digital sub-channel capabilities.
Antenna TV and MeTV program the types of shows TV Land did in its heyday, which also means specials during holidays.
gymnastix 2 months ago
In Living Color on NBC
Robert4770 1 year ago
Thanks for posting this! It reminds me of Christmas when I was little!
ilovewhisperers 1 year ago
Jackson!
CaseyMacB4T 1 year ago
look at the guy on the left at 1:00 loooooooool
knutfheifer 2 years ago
@knutfheifer Don't laugh - at least he gets to sit up front.
redheadedgolem 1 year ago
@redheadedgolem Yeah, he looks a bit like the scientist puppet on Thunderbirds! But hey, this was the 60s, everyone didn't have to look like GQ cookie cutter droppings back then.
humbleradio 1 year ago
@knutfheifer
I'm sure the guy on the left scored tons of ass!!!!!!!!!
flipwiggins 1 year ago
I love it... 5 STAR!!! *****
burtmurdoch 2 years ago