Day 3 – The Best Familyman Christmas Videos

Hey Dad,

Back when I was a kid (think 60’s-70’s green shag carpet and a black and white console television) one of the highlights of my holiday season was the weekly, television Christmas special…usually accompanied by a Dolly Madison commercial.

Early in the week, we’d consult the TV section of the newspaper and map out our week. After all, we only had one chance…no reruns, pauses, or replays. One shot. The night of the special, we’d warm up the TV and take our places so as not to miss even a minute. Then the commercial would fade, the familiar music would play, and Charlie Brown and his gang would skate across the screen.

He wasn’t alone. There was Rudolph, Frosty, the Little Drummer Boy, and at least a half dozen others. Those times were magical. That’s why I still carve out plenty of time for good old fashion Christmas video watching. In fact, we have a list of about 30 videos that we try to squeeze into the month.

Last night we saw a brand new one – Arthur’s Christmas. Now, if you’re the anti-Santa type, this isn’t for you (it’s about Santa, his father, and his two sons). Just so you know who you’re dealing with, we’re not Santa believers. We’ve never played the “game” with our kids and try to avoid the jolly elf. That said, we still watch movies with Santa as the star.

Some would say, it’s confusing to our children, but I don’t think it’s any more confusing that allowing your children to watch a movie about talking cars. We’ve treated them like fun movies for which they are…nothing more.

Anyway, Arthur’s Christmas was a lot of fun with high tech gadgetry, a mother-ship sleigh, 50,000 elves, and a bumbling young man who really loves Christmas. Plus it is has some hilarious moments…and it’s warm. So, we’ll probably add it to our list of great Christmas movies.

Interested in my list? Here they are in no particular order:

A Christmas Carol – old version
Scrooge – Albert Finney
A Muppets Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol – George C Scott
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
An American Christmas Carol – Henry Winkler
A Christmas Carol — 2009 Jim Carrey
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Animated TV classic)
Charlie Brown Christmas
Frosty the Snowman
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (animated TV special)
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (TV classic)
The Year without a Santa Claus (TV classic)
The Little Drummer Boy (TV classic)
Small One (Disney animated classic)
Nester the Long Eared Donkey
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The House without a Christmas Tree
Eloise Christmas (live action)
Polar Express
The Grinch – Jim Carrey
Home Alone I & II
The Walton’s Homecoming
It’s a Wonderful Life
The Santa Claus (2 & 3) – they get progressively worse
Ernest Saves Christmas
The Christmas Box (Hallmark Special)
Christmas Shoes (sad ending)
While You were sleeping (great couples video)

Miracle on 34th street (old version)
Miracle on 34th street (modern version – great couple’s video)
White Christmas
Holiday inn
Christmas in Connecticut
Meet me St. Louis — Judy Garland
The Lemon Drop Kid – Bob Hope
Bells of Saint Mary’s – Bing Crosby
It Happened one Christmas — Marlo Thomas
One Magic Christmas
Jack Frost – For some reason I don’t like this one
Christmas Vacation — I’ve only scene a edited TV version which was funny…but I’m sure that the unedited version is not fit for…anyone.
Elf – Never seen it but others seem to like it
Christmas with the Kranks
Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus (TV Special)
The Bishop’s Wife — Cary Grant
The Preacher’s Wife — Denzel Washington
A Christmas Story – A Classic (with some bad language)
Babes in Toyland — Laurel and Hardy

Emmet Otter and the Jug Band Christmas

Arthur’s Christmas

Oh, one more thing, never assume that every Christmas movie is family friendly. I’ve had some recommended that our NOT family friendly at all ( a few are on the list above). Check them out so you won’t have any surprises. Case in point…Christmas Vacation. I’ve turned it off twice within the first five minutes. Later I saw an edited version and it was hilarious…but was only about 40 minutes in length after all the bad stuff was cut out.

You ‘da Dad,

Todd