A Family Circus Christmas - Part 1

My mum first taped this cartoon one weekday afternoon, along with many others that year, just before Christmas 1980 for my son to watch. However this particular cartoon stood out and quickly became a favourite. Since then it has become an annual event to watch it. Family Circus was, and still is, pretty much unknown in the UK. At first I thought it was one of the many US cartoons that had never made it onto UK screens but I later learned that it was actually a comic strip in a newspaper. Nevertheless with the advent of the internet and Youtube, I expected to see it appearing as an uploaded video. Strangely however this never happened and I was puzzled that when searching for any 'Family Circus' content all I could find were smug shorts made by people ridiculing the strip.

Like I say, I only have this particular cartoon to go by so i can only judge Family Circus by this one example. But this particular cartoon is one of the best Christmas cartoons I have ever seen, and certainly the best for capturing that aura of excitement that children experience in the build-up to the big day. To those who ridicule it, I can only say that you have forgotten what it is to be a child at Christmas, and hopefully that magic may return to me when you have chuildren of your own.

In honour of Tyne Tees Television, the local TV station who had the wit to televise this in 1980, I have left on the continuity link with the 'Birttday Greeting' slot. The announcer is the venerable Neville Wanless.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Family
• Circus

[Kitsuneranger]

I remember seeing this on The Disney Channel long before it turned into the unwatchable teeny-bopper suckfest it is today

[wow77777]

that lady looks great for 4 kids lol.why don't they show this any more? remember not me? lol.

[DeadRaymanWalking]

@Kitsuneranger Me too.

[Raretelevisiondvds]

I have this special from 1980 with original commercials,it comes with Jack Frost 1980 airing with original commercials-90 min

Mister Magoos Christmas Carol 1979 with original commercials

A Muppet Family Christmas uncut ABC Airing 1987 with original commercials-60 min

&More.

[Smartboy8877]

@Kitsuneranger

Yet another hostile remark about TV today! Making posts like this seems to be just about the most popular hobby around!

[nomadcowatbk]

@shadowspike99

probably because it's kid friendly, people between the ages of 12-50 hate it

[shadowspike99]

I've never understood why this comic is popular. It's terrible.

[odowdfan]

RIP Bill Keane. You were a talented man!

Thanks for sharing this.

[MycalFelps]

Produced by Edward Cullen?! Twilight has ruined everything!

[ddeaae]

This was a time when families were family....just plain and simple. When a childs view of the world was all about play, finding the hidden presents and dreams of things to come:) Oh, the love of Christmas and the joy of children..

[crosswalkX]

Sad news everyone Bil Keane has died this year. I liked his cartoon specials. May god bless Jeffy and his family. I hope to see this on dvd.

[onetalentdog]

for  the memory of bill keane