Green Christmas - Stan Freberg (1958)

A classic CHRI$TMA$ song from 50 years ago and the message still applies today. I threw in some pictures to make it more interesting that have nothing to do with the song. For those curious the Ground Round is in West Chester, Pa and was a favorite hangout of mine years ago. The building was recently leveled

Category:

Music

Tags:

• green
• christmas
• stan
• freberg
• 1958
• ground
• round
• west
• chester
• pa

[chelelev]

Glad to see some pictures of old Ground Round.  Remember it well.

[hotskel2546]

@chelelev Glad you enjoyed the photos of Ground Round. Some posters haven't been so kind thinking it was stupid. This GR was torn down right after I took the pictures.

[demonsbutterfly]

This still knocks me out, i heard it first in 1982 as a cynical 19 year old. Loved it ever since......51 years ago!!! you legend Stan.

[Vodka25]

I've never noticed this until now, but Stan Smith's voice (from American Dad) kind of reminds me of Stan Freburg's.

[disneyfan81]

My favorite part has always been "We Wish You a Merry Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, And Please Buy Our Beer!" LOL!!

[JustVaMe]

@seadaawg2 Bang Gunlee (sp?) US Marshal Fields

[OrezThegrey]

Handn't heard this in YEARS. Googled it under "amalgamated cheese".....that did it.

[Kingscrib]

@ lensuniverse: Stan Freberg was all about PARODY! If you don't get it, I feel sorry for you. As a 10 year old when this came out, I understood the message. Try learning about someone before condemning them, okay? Stan Freberg hated the crass commercialism of Christmas and thus this. :)

~We wish you a Merry Christmas!

[lensuniverse]

video?- this is Stan Freberg ...sacrilege!

[seadaawg2]

Does anyone remember what the Stan Freberg quote "Yep, somebody sure cut through that fence, all right." comes from?

[Tracymmo]

@nealbfinn Thanks for the extra info! So fun hearing Freberg's stuff.

[nealbfinn]

For those who weren't around during the late 50's, in the Tiny Tim Chestnut ad, there are numerous references to commercials that were all over tv and radio to a point of saturation.

"This invisible shell, protects the nut" was based on the Gleem toothpaste ad, as was "for people that can't roast after every meal". ("for people that can't brush after every meal")

"And ...they are mild" was the tag line for the Pall Mall cigarette ad of the day

[GrizzledGeezer]

"Green Chri$tma$" was controversial because it attacked the commercialization of Christmas. Radio stations refused to play it, because advertisers would refuse to pay their bills. Freberg was a genius at offending people with G-rated matieral.

Note the very brief appearance of June Foray.

Some things have changed. "Xmas" is no longer considered offensive. And as discounting wasn't common, there was no Black Friday, so the crack "Don't you make enough the rest of the year?" carried weight.