Most of us had favorite Christmas specials we would watch as kids. Mine was Rudolph, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch, and this one was fourth…Frosty The Snowman. These four would get me primed and ready for Christmas…as if I needed anything else.
“Frosty the Snowman,” debuted in 1969. It was by Rankin/Bass Productions, the same company that produced many holiday specials.
Narrated by the legend Jimmy Durante, the special involves a magic hat that transforms a snowman, Frosty, into a living being. The magician who owned the hat wanted it back now that he knew it contained actual magic, so the kids had to get together and find a way to bring Frosty to the North Pole to keep him from melting. However, once there, Frosty sacrifices himself to warm up the little girl, Karen, who took him to the North Pole. He melts, but Santa Claus explains that Frosty is made out of special Christmas snow and thus can never truly melt. Frosty then comes back to life and everyone has a Merry Christmas.
The song was written in 1950 by Walter “Jack” Rollins and Steve Nelson. They wrote it for Gene Autry, especially, after Autry had such a huge hit with “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” the previous year. It was later recorded by Jimmy Durante as we hear in this wonderful cartoon.
This wasn’t the only animation of Frosty…
In 1954, United Productions of America (UPA) brought Frosty to life in a short cartoon that is little more than an animated music video for a jazzy version of the song. It introduced the characters mentioned in the lyrics visually, from Frosty himself to the traffic cop. The three-minute, black-and-white piece quickly became a holiday tradition in various markets, particularly in Chicago, where it’s been broadcast annually on WGN since 1955.
The complete Frosty The Snowman
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It still makes me laugh to think that Jackie Vernon voiced Frosty. His act was very blue. You gotta wonder about the flubbed takes and stuff said while recording….I bet it is blue and hilarious
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I wonder if they exist? That would be great to listen to
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The original Frosty was unmistakably the work of Robert Cannon, who also directed Gerald McBoing Boing (which won the 1950 Academy Award for Best Animated Short). Definitely worth watching. I grew up listening to the record and accompanying book (with sounds to tell you when to turn the page) but didn’t know of the cartoon until later.
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I love the look of the original. Another blogger a few years ago told me about his original…I’ve liked it ever since.
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My second favorite Christmas special after Charlie Brown. We got a few inches of magical Christmas snow on Friday. Going to enjoy it because next Sunday it’s supposed to be 50 and rain!
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I so wish we would get some…a few inches would shut us down which I love.
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Rankin-Bass had a great way with making kids’ classics!
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Ready to watch the ‘Big 4’ Christmas shows of our childhood ‘Frosty’ included. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, Frosty, Rudolph & the Grinch tomorrow night. Nice work Max!
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Cool dude! Enjoy
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Another perennial favourite in our household.
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Happy boithday! Always liked this one…
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lol!
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There IS a distinct musical similarity between Rudolph and Frosty- now I know why. Another oldie but a goodie.
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I watched this every year as a child! It would not be Christmas without it!
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Awesome! Merry Christmas Max!❤️🥂🎄🎁
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