The Spirit Of Christmas (1950) "The Night Before Christmas" (Mabel Beaton Marionettes)

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A Visit From St. Nicholas or 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1950) The puppets were created by Mabel and Les Beaton Marionettes and I personally wanted to learn more after having this for so long. In my searching for info on this film, I found that she wrote a book "The Complete Book of Marionettes" and ordered it. You can find it here: http://amzn.to/MabelBeaton

Produced by the Bell Systems Telephone Company, usually along with their other production of "The Nativity". Seems to have been most popular in Pennsylvania. That is all the info I could find on this fantastic piece of puppetry. Unfortunately I do not have much info on this short, as there was no title or credits. I had to add and enhance the picture and audio, and added the title and closing as it was not edited properly.

"A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as "The Night Before Christmas" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" from its first line) is a poem written by Clement Clarke Moore, first published anonymously in 1823. It is largely responsible for the conception of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today, including his physical appearance, the night of his visit, his mode of transportation, the number and names of his reindeer, and the tradition that he brings toys to children. Prior to the poem, American ideas about St. Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors varied considerably. The poem has influenced ideas about St. Nicholas and Santa Claus all over the world. THE FULL POEM ...

"'A Visit From St. Nicholas"

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winters nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

"Spirit of Christmas" now on DVD! ► http://amzn.to/XmasSpiritDVD

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Film & Animation

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[raymondlang]

Never seen classic..wonder if it's available on DVD with other great vintage Christmas animation????

[XmasFLIX]

@raymondlang it's now available on DVD! I linked the DVD and book in the text under the video. I will have to buy it. I had to create the title sequence and edit this. I would assume the DVD version is great. If anyone has it, let us know how it is!

-- XmasFLIX.com

[xxw00tw00txx]

This seems to be the one I watched in the 50s' followed by The Nativity, but, why is it in color ? I know it was black and white back in the day. I believe it was shown every Christmas Eve and then we went to sleep to wait for Santa to come. I believe that the phone company( Bell Telephone ?) sponsored it.

[XmasFLIX]

@xxw00tw00txx Produced by the Bell Systems Telephone Company. Check the descriptive text under each of my videos. Enjoy!

XmasFLIX.com

[deadlyshoesalesman]

What a charming film!... I wonder how long it's been since Santa was allowed to smoke a pipe.

[ramblerclassic400]

I saw this numerous times as a kid in the '60s; haven't seen it since. I never knew it was in color, as we didn't have a color TV in the house until 1975.

[oct2258]

I recall watching this in elementary school every year, back in the mid '60s. Such a great memory!

[kendallsmum8]

Yes so did i. However I only remember this and the nativity in color. I'll be 66yrs old.

[kendallsmum8]

@candomaxbar No not true. i am going to be 66 and I remember it in color.

[kendallsmum8]

@ I don't remember it being in black and white. I always remember it in color. And yes you're right. It was brought to us by the "Bell Telephone Company"

[chookiechooks]

Wow! Never thought I'd see this again. We watched it year after year as kids in the 60s. Thanks so much for posting this! What memories!

[rmadara]

Hope you finally got the DVD. :)

[holdchipformy2cents]

Merry Christmas!

Yuletide Praise

[rmadara]

It's on WHYY in Philly on 12/24/10 at 7:30 PM EST