More Magoo, More Christmas Carol Delight

If you live near Santa Monica, you might want to hop on a one-horse sleigh (or at least hitch a ride on a surfboard) because the animated classic Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol will be screened on Saturday December 19, 2009—and that means you can experience in an even better way than those TV viewers who originally saw it in living color on NBC in 1962—with an audience and in high-definition. Several members of the cast and creative team will be on hand for a panel discussion on the creation of this landmark Christmas special, as will artist, director and animation historian Darrell Van Citters, the author of the brand-new and brilliant book, Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol: The Making of the First Animated Christmas Special, which I wrote about here. If you are anywhere in Southern California you will want to be part of this festive event—but please be aware, you'll have to bring your own razzleberry jelly.

A Book Both Glorious And Grand

Yesterday I posted about Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol, the 1962 spectacular that was TV's first prime-time animated special. Things get even better today, for here's a wonderful Christmas gift for all appreciators of animated artistry: Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol: The Making of the First Animated Christmas Special. A work of art unto itself, this magnificent tome was researched, published and written by the ever-dapper Darrell Van Citters. This newly-published book is really the news of the holiday season, for it gloriously celebrates an unfortunately underrated animated jewel. An authentic Christmas Carol confection of production art, designs, storyboard drawings and background paintings, and rare historical photos, this making-of volume was beautifully designed by Amy Inouye under Darrell's stewardship. Included in the wonderfully written text are newly uncovered details such as the recording sessions (incredibly, there were only two), full biographies of the voice talent including Jim Backus, the story behind the Broadway-worthy songs and score, the selling of the show to NBC and sponsor Timex (and the show's initial backer, Kellogg's) —and if you're wondering why the book is written with an insider's understanding of animation production, that's because Darrell is an acclaimed animator and director himself, as well as being a heavy-duty animation historian. I received my copy of this overstuffed Yuletide pudding a few days ago, and I can't stop reading and re-reading it and looking at the colorful and fascinating artwork—but if you don't want to take my word for it, check out the back cover of the dust jacket, where animation powerhouses John Lasseter, Brad Bird, John Musker, Chris Buck, and Michael Giaimo (who Darrell credits with being the one behind the book's creation) all heartily endorse Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol: The Making of the First Animated Christmas Special. Be sure and visit the book's website for a closer glimpse of this holiday treat—you'll want to order a copy for yourself and for everyone on your gift list.

The Lord's Bright Blessing

Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol debuted on NBC on December 18, 1962. The very first animated special, this cartoon spectacular spawned a slew of other holiday specials (A Charlie Brown Christmas and Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas! were still in the future). As NBC was in the midst of heavily promoting color TV we can imagine that the peacock network jumped at the chance to showcase this colorful retelling of the classic holiday tale. (Remember the Christmas episode of 1960s-set The Wonder Years in which Kevin Arnold [Fred Savage] was longing for his family to purchase a color TV specifically so he could watch a rebroadcast of Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol in living color?) The special—it truly was special, one of the best adaptations of the Dickens novel ever produced, before or since, with Broadway-caliber songs by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill (with Walter Scharf orchestrations)—was a smash and its proud sponsor Timex eagerly presented the show for the next few Decembers. Here is the ad and the "Close-Up" from TV Guide covering the orginal 1962 colorcast. A quick look at the credits reveals not only animation perennial Paul Frees (then at the peak of his form as Ludwig Von Drake on Walt Disney's Wonderful of Color, also on color conscious NBC) as Mr. Fezziwig and several other characters, but also Royal Dano, soon to be the voice of Walt Disney's Mr. Lincoln at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, as the voice of Marley's Ghost. Be sure and drop by Tulgey Wood tomorrow for another holiday treat all about Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol.