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alcalavicci · 4 years

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Jill’s timeline of Dean, 1936-1979. She said something about working on an 80s timeline too but I didn’t find it:

Robert Dean Stockwell was born on March 5, 1936, at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles.

His father was Harry Baylis Stockwell, age 30, an 'artist' employed by motion picture studios. His original birthplace was Missouri. His mother was Elizabeth Margaret Veronica, age 24, a 'housekeeper' employed at home. Her original birthplace was New York. This was her second child. [Me: Jill somehow got his birth certificate. I guess this was in the days before they got a lot more secure about who got birth certificates?? Either way, it’s not really something I approve of because that’s applying genealogical methods to a living person, which genealogists generally frown on doing.]

1953 - 1956: The mystery years. Jill: “Dean left college in the spring of 1953, and disappeared for awhile until he showed up doing live television in 1956. When interviewers asked him what he had been doing, he spun quite a fanciful tale. There is no way for any of us to know how much is true, and how much he was making up. According to him, he changed his name several times, and began an odyssey of traveling across country doing odd jobs and living with the laborers of the land (Woody Guthrie, anyone? Bob Dylan also made up his own past when he hit New York. Must have seemed quite romantic at the time). “Dean says that he worked in the mailroom of a large company in New York....but when people began to figure out who he was, he hit the road. Worked on the railroad in Texas....in Mexico.....worked as a fruit picker.....worked in a bakery in New Orleans.....eventually ended up in New York again, and decided to try acting once more.

Jill: “Here are a few facts I've been able to find: Dean attended the University of California in Berkeley from 1952 to the spring of 1953, when he dropped out. His brother Guy was attending the university at the same time, and when Guy graduated (probably 1954), he became a schoolteacher in northern California. A former pupil of Guy's recalls Dean coming into the classroom occasionally to read Shakespeare to them (how cool would that be?). Also, Dean himself has stated that he was in 'northern California' when James Dean was killed in an automobile accident (which was the fall of 1955).

“Because of these few facts, I get the feeling that Dean was with Guy during a lot of these 'lost years.'

“However, he definitely was in New York during 1956, as that is where the live TV shows were originating from that he appeared in. He attended a few classes at the Actor's Studio, which is where he met Suzanne Pleschette. Since she is a real person, I will take that fact at face value.

“The rest is a mystery.” [K: I think there’s some truth to Dean’s claims- he was in NYC during the summer of 1955 and acted in a religious show, The Wise in Heart, to get money to go back to LA, according to Nature Boy. Nature Boy’s author confirmed this was pulled from a magazine interview with Stockwell. So, between the summer of 1955 and up to fall/winter 1955 at the earliest, spring 1956 at the latest, he was with his brother in Northern California, working as a logger, before going back to LA. Between spring of 1953 and the summer of 1955? I’m sure he found work elsewhere, was recognized there, moved, changed jobs, and that’s why he went through so many, but he may have exaggerated as well. After moving to LA, Dean soon met Berman. They had certainly met well before 1957- Dean wrote a poem that mentioned Berman’s son Tosh blowing out the candles on his 21st birthday cake.]

1957: A new adult Dean Stockwell emerges. Sometimes Dean says he went back to Hollywood in 1956, but another time he stated he returned to Hollywood on his 21st birthday, in order to collect the money that had been held in trust for him (it wasn't very much.......I'm thinking around $25,000, but I'd have to look that up). Dean turned 21 on March 5, 1957.

This is the period when Roddy McDowall took that photo of Dean's that shows up on the mantel in the QL show "M.I.A." [Me: Dean doesn’t look that young in the picture, based on his hair. I’m thinking the picture that’s in Roddy’s art book was taken around this time, while the MIA picture was taken in the early 1960s.]

There is so much happening between 1956 and 1957, that I have a feeling he was traveling between New York and Hollywood, rather than staying put in one place. He makes his first film as an adult, a western, titled "Gun for a Coward." "The Careless Years" will follow that one, plus countless appearances on TV dramas, plus a run in a Broadway play "Compulsion" with Roddy McDowall from late 1957 to early 1958 (while rehearsing for Compulsion, he appears in live TV dramas from New York........he was busy!).

Also, in 1957, he began to hang out with the beatniks living in Topanga Canyon, above Los Angeles. His address is listed as an apartment building in Hollywood (there's a photo of that building in our Files section), but he eventually buys his own home up in the canyon (I have no idea what year).

Dean states in the recent Neil Young biography that he spent a lot of time with the artist Wallace Berman and his family, and that Berman's revolutionary way of thinking was a profound influence on him. Berman was an avant-garde artist who worked with collages and symbols, often incorporating Hebrew letters (having to do with the Kabbala). When Berman's art exhibition was closed down due to obscenity, it was Dean Stockwell who bailed him out of jail (this was still 1957).

1957 - 1959: This is the period of time that Dean is hanging out at Jazz clubs, and is referred to as a Hollywood Hipster (with the likes of another child star, Bobby Driscoll), when he's not being compared to the late James Dean. He shows up in a documentary about the 'Beats' in California (a film I would love to get my hands on. :-) It's also the time when Dean's name is being connected to quite a few Hollywood starlets (Janice Rule, Diane Varsi, Ina Balin, Suzanne Pleschette, Sandra Dee).

1959 - 1962: At this point, almost every interview/article about Dean Stockwell centers on his relationship with another quirky personality, Millie Perkins. They were young, they were different from the mainstream, they were 'hip' without being obnoxious, and they made a cute couple. It's difficult for me to even figure out what else Dean was doing at the time, because everything centers around his marriage to Millie (1960 - 1962), and their efforts to hide from the press. They are married shortly after he finished "Sons and Lovers" and are going through a divorce by the time of "Long Day's Journey Into Night."

A brief glimpse into Dean's character is provided by Katherine Hepburn, during the filming of Long Day's Journey - he showed up for filming on the first day, an outdoor scene, without a coat during cold weather. That bothered Kate so much, she went out and bought him a coat, and had it there for him the following day. The director stated that Kate Hepburn had a soft spot for heavy drinkers. Apparently Dean arrived for work with a bottle of vodka close at hand. Sounds like he was getting a bit of a reputation.

1963: This is when Dean runs into Dennis Hopper again (they first met in New York in 1957, through their mutual friend Roddy McDowall). They become lifelong friends. Dean is mentioned in 'Andy Warhol's Diary' as being one of the guests at a party at Hopper's house, with Russ Tamblyn and Suzanne Pleschette. [Me: According to Semina Culture, this is also around the time when Dean met his longtime girlfriend Toni Basil.]

A photo of Dean from these days was taken by Dennis Hopper, and can be found in our Files, as well as in the Photo Album on our Website. [Me: That picture- with the egg on Dean’s face- was taken in 1965.]

1965 - Makes frequent appearances as a continuing character on the TV series "Dr. Kildare." Stars in a black and white film shot in France, titled "Rapture."

1966 - creates a short art film titled "Moonstone" with his artist friend George Herms

1966 and 1967 - in a sense, we can call these 2 years as 'lost years' or 'mystery years' also. Only called that because Dean's life at the time cannot be discerned by movies or TV appearances. Instead, we find Dean creating collages for Art Showings, living in Haight-Ashbury (verified by the beatnik poet Charles Plymell, who became a friend of his at the time), and perhaps sojourning in London for awhile. While in Haight-Ashbury, he attends parties at Plymell's apartment with the likes of Neal Cassady and Allen Ginsberg. [Me: There was Mr. Paracelsus, Who Are You? early around this time, but after that, nothing until late 1967.]

1968 - appeared in the psychedelic hippie movie "Psych-Out"; according to sources, the only actor in the film who actually lived in the Haight district at the time. But not for long, because now he's reappearing in Topanga Canyon with Russ Tamblyn, and eating breakfast at the local restaurant there. He befriends the female owner, who introduces him to her new boyfriend - Neil Young.

Also starred in a British TV mystery drama (which puts him in London, if only briefly). [Me: This was Thirty-Minute Theatre: Before Breakfast.]

Also made appearances on The Danny Thomas Show, and FBI.

Finishes the decade by performing (most charmingly) in a Bonanza episode....... and writing a screenplay titled "After the Gold Rush." Introduces George Herms to the music of Neil Young during an acid trip.

1970 to 1973 = Dean continues to make short art films with his friend George Herms. Also makes a short documentary about the making of "Breakaway," which was an art film created by the artist Bruce Connor, starring Dean's girlfriend at the time, Toni Basil.

1970 = stars in the film "Dunwich Horror" with his friend from the 1950's, Sandra Dee. Asks George Herms to paint the hieroglyphics on his torso for a scene in the film.

1971 = Joins his friend Dennis Hopper and other "Misfits of Hollywood" in Peru for the making of Hopper's film "The Last Movie." LIFE Magazine does a cover story about Hopper down in Peru, and stories circulate about the wild times on the set. Hopper spends a year editing the film, but Universal refuses to distribute it. The title of the film is almost prophetic regarding Hopper's career. [Me: His stepmother Nina Olivette passes away this year.]

Also in 1971, Dean stars in two television movies - "Paper Man" and "The Failing of Raymond."

1972 = stars in a low-budget biker-on-the-road flick titled "The Loners." The press release for the film states that Dean Stockwell has 'been living in England.'

1973 = Stars in "The Werewolf of Washington." Dean later says that the script was funny, but he knew by the very first day on the set that he was in a stinker.

1974 = Appears in a play in Albuquerque called "Relatively Speaking," and tells an interviewer from the local paper that he is tired of being typecast as a murderous lunatic who guest stars on television dramas. He would like to try comedy. [Me: There’s a 1972 newspaper article about Win Place or Steal that says he’d love to do more comedy, but I think his first comedic role as an adult was in his 1964 episode of Burke’s Law.]

Also around this time he is showing up in Taos quite a bit, getting drunk and stoned in bars with Dennis Hopper. But even though he was getting quite a reputation in Taos (and not a good one - Dean quotes, with good humor, a person saying "I always thought Dennis Hopper was the biggest asshole in Taos - until I met the other guy....,"), that isn't his entire existence. He is also still living in Topanga Canyon above Los Angeles, and the magazine "Fighting Stars" does a cover story on Dean about his newfound interest, Stickfighting.

Dean comes across in the interview as an eager, enthusiastic man, younger than his stated age (the photos that accompany the article look like a man in his 20's instead of a man approaching 40), who has discovered the martial art Stickfighting after appearing in a low-budget film in the Phillipines. He is so involved with this sport that he brings his instructor over from the Phillipines, Remy Presas, to stay at his house. He also tells the interviewer that he really doesn't care if he never acts again, as long as he can be involved in this martial art.

At the same time, though, Dean is happy to give his blessing to an official Fan Club, started by a woman named Geordie James (whom our member Claire was corresponding with at the time). Dean even telephoned Ms. James when he returned from the Phillipines, and he sounded just as eager and enthusiastic over the phone as he comes across in the magazine interview. Alas, there was a fire at the home of Ms. James, and the Fan Club never got off the ground.

1975 = stars in another low-budget film, this time a comedy, titled "Win, Place or Steal," with his friend and Topanga Canyon neighbor Russ Tamblyn. [Me: This was filmed around 1972.]

Also in 1975, spends a fastpaced summer with his friend David Bowie, who was living in Hollywood at the time. Bowie recalls making the club scene with Dean and Dennis; Iggy Pop remembers them visiting him in the mental hospital.

1976 = Does the photography/artwork for the cover of Neil Young's album "American Stars 'N Bars" (9 years earlier, Dean had contributed a photo of the artist Wallace Berman for the cover of the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" album).

Also, in 1976, Dean and his girlfriend Toni Basil accompanied Dennis Hopper to the Cannes Film Festival for a showing of the independent film "Tracks," which both Dean and Dennis had appeared in. According to the gossip columns, there were parties on the beach from dusk to dawn, and it was here that Dean meets his future wife, Joy Marchenko. They begin a 5 year correspondence.

1977 to 1978 = Toni is very active in the punk rock scene, and the artist Bruce Conner makes a documentary about punk rock clubs in California, with her in it. Toni introduces Dean to the band Devo. Dean makes a tape of their music and gives it to Neil Young. Then Dean takes Neil to a club to see them.

1978 = Probably the beginning of the breakup with Toni, as she begins an affair with Devo's bass player. Dean moves in with Russ Tamblyn, still up in Topanga Canyon. During a frisbee game with Russ and Neil, the idea for "Human Highway" takes shape. Joined by Dennis Hopper and Devo, they begin filming a movie which will ultimately take 5 years to complete, and will end up being completely different than the original conception.

Stories circulate about the wild times on the set, which began as simple outdoor shots filmed around Taos, New Mexico, but which will end up being a very expensive studio set created by Neil Young's imagination.

1979 = Dean appears in Las Vegas doing comedy dinner theater ("Come Blow Your Horn"). Also directs an avant-garde play in Los Angeles called "Man With Bags," starring Russ Tamblyn (this is where our member Claire gets to meet him). A few weeks later she gets to meet him again at an art exhibition of George Herms' work, which includes a showing of Dean's film creation "Moonstone." A good time was had by all.

#stockwell sassies

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papermoonloveslucy · 6 years

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GINGER ROGERS COMES TO TEA

S4;E11 ~ November 22, 1971

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis

Synopsis

Ginger Rogers leaves her purse in a movie theatre where she's gone incognito to see one of her films for the first time. Lucy and Harry discover the purse and hope to get to meet the star in person by inviting her to tea.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter)

Guest Cast

Ginger Rogers (Herself) was born Virginia Katherine McMath in Independence, Missouri on July 16, 1911, just one month before Lucille Ball. As a singing and dancing actor, Rogers was mainly know for her partnership with fellow singer / dancer Fred Astaire in ten films. It was said that “Ginger did everything that Fred did, except backwards – and in heels!” During the 1930's Lucille Ball did five films with Rogers, whom she considered a mentor. By the 1970s Rogers had entered semi-retirement. Lucie Arnaz has said that Rogers may have been a distant cousin of Lucille Ball's. She won an Oscar in 1940 for Kitty Foyle, a rare dramatic role. Rogers died in 1995.

William Lanteau (Spike, Ginger Rogers' Secretary) first appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960). In addition to an episode of “The Lucy Show,” Lanteau did four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” He is best remembered for playing Charlie the Mailman in the play and the film On Golden Pond (1981).

Lanteau wears a toupee and eyeglasses for the role.

Shirley Anthony (Theatre Patron, uncredited) makes her second screen appearance and the first of her 13 episodes of “Here's Lucy.”

Bob Harks (Theatre Patron, uncredited) Extra, stand-in, and double Bob Harks was born on September 20, 1927. Harks appeared in his first film in 1968 and was seen in the background of Mame (1974). In 1970 he popped up on his first television show and was seen in more than a dozen episodes of “Here's Lucy.” He died at age 83 in 2010.

Eugene Jackson (Theatre Patron, uncredited) gained fame as Farina’s older brother, Pineapple, in six of Hal Roach’s “Our Gang” serials (1924-25). He appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1963 film Critic’s Choice as well as an episode of “The Lucy Show.” He was seen in a previous episode of “Here’s Lucy” guest-starring Sammy Davis Jr.

Victor Romito (Theatre Patron, uncredited) was seen as the Bartender in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10). He also appeared in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Romito was an extra in the 1960 Lucille Ball / Bob Hope film Critic’s Choice.

The other Theatre Patrons are played by uncredited background performers.

This episode was filmed without an audience due to an imminent actor strike. As a result, the canned laugh track is noticeably missing Gary Morton's usual loud guffaws. The episode was filmed in mid-July 1971 with only two days of rehearsal as Lucille Ball wanted to make sure it was completed before the strike. The strike was averted when the Actors Guild signed a three-year contract on July 14, 1971.

During the 1930s, newcomer Lucille Ball was coached by Ginger Rogers' mother, Lela, at the little theatre on the RKO lot. Inspired by this Lucy also mentored young actors at a little theatre when she bought the studio for Desilu.

At the start of the episode, Harry is looking to hire party staff for an (unseen) client named Mrs. Metcalf. Metcalf was the surname given to the Fire Department Captain played by Patrick McVey in “Lucy and Viv are Volunteer Firemen” (TLS S1;E16), also written by Madelyn Davis and Bob Carroll Jr.

Instead of working late, Lucy tells Harry that she wants to go to a Ginger Rogers Film Festival. They are showing Tender Comrade (1943) and Flying Down To Rio (1933), two films made at RKO, which eventually became Desilu.

Lucy claims to be Ginger Rogers' biggest fan alive, seeing every picture she's ever made, some of them several times. This is a claim made by Lucy Carter about most celebrities, as well as by Lucy Ricardo and Lucy Carmichael.

In the office, Harry and Lucy improvise singing and dancing to “Cheek to Cheek” a song written by Irving Berlin in 1935 for the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat.

Trying to impugn the taste in films of the mystery woman (a disguised Ginger Rogers), Lucy tells her to try back next week and they might be showing Beach Blanket Bingo. This was the fourth of the light comic films set on the California beach starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. It was released in 1965. Two years later, Avalon appeared (not as himself) in “Lucy and the Starmaker” (TLS S6;E4). He will also play himself on “Here’s Lucy” in 1973.

According to the hotel key in her purse, Ginger Rogers is staying at the Bel-Air Hotel. This is probably meant to be the Hotel Bel-Air, located just outside Beverly Hills and Westwood. Hotel Bel-Air has regularly housed celebrities including Robert Wagner, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly, who frequented the hotel so regularly she had a suite named after her.

Rogers tells Lucy she has done 73 movies. Rattling off some of Rogers' hits, Lucy adds a sugar cube to Ginger's tea for each title: Top Hat, Roberta, Flying Down To Rio, Follow the Fleet, Shall We Dance, and The Barkleys of Broadway. When Lucy realizes she's put six lumps of sugar in Ginger's tea, Rogers says she only wanted Top Hat and Roberta (two lumps).

Rogers mentions having a meeting with David Merrick to discuss starring in his new musical. In August 1966 Rogers had taken over the role of Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway produced by David Merrick.

When Kim returns with photos of Ginger Rogers for the star to sign, she accidentally grabbed a photo of Lassie. Canine star Lassie was the hero of both movies and television. Lassie was first mentioned by Lucy Ricardo in “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20) twenty years earlier. The dog made an appearance in “The Desilu Revue” in 1959.

Kim, Lucy and Ginger Rogers all dance the Charleston in this episode. Lucy reminds Rogers that she was the Texas State Charleston champion. A portion of the dance routine was originally choreographed for Lucie Arnaz by Jim Bates on “The Kraft Music Hall” which aired on NBC on February 4, 1970. It also starred Desi Sr. and Jr. (above). Bates had taken over for choreographer Jack Baker on “Here's Lucy.”

After dancing the Charleston with Lucy and Kim, Lucy asks Rogers to do a scene from Kitty Foyle, Ginger’s Oscar-winning role. Rogers graciously declines, asking Lucy to become a Katherine Hepburn fan instead!

In “The Dancing Star” (ILL S4;E27) Lucy Ricardo got to dance with another one of her idols, Van Johnson. Johnson and Ginger Rogers had starred together in 1945's Week-End at the Waldorf. Irving Bacon (who played Ethel’s father, Will Potter) was also in the MGM film.

I Had A Dream! The passage of time while the theatre patrons are watching Flying Down To Rio is marked by the use of a wavy screen and harp glissando, techniques that usually indicate a dream sequence, not the mere passage of time.

Where Do I Live? Lucy gives her home address as 4863 Valley Lawn Drive. Both Harry and Lucy have given this address as their own in previous episodes.

"Ginger Rogers Comes to Tea” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

Ginger Rogers shows just what a good actress she was here, despite just two days rehearsal. Not having a studio audience didn’t bother Ginger, who was at home on a closed set. William Lanteau (Spike) creates an interesting secretary character - borderline gay but never over-the-top (except for that bad toupee). Although many might site the dance sequence with Lucy and Lucie as the highlight, I prefer watching Ginger Rogers the actress - especially in her disguise at the film festival!

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sleepykittypaws · 7 years

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2017 Holiday Classics

Where to watch classic holiday movies, animated specials and my made-for-TV favorites this season. (NOTES: Only initial seasonal airing is noted here, but channels frequently re-air holiday classics multiple times during the season; check local listings for potential additional dates. Network or basic cable aired films may be edited for content or time)

Updated: December 10, 2017

ABC

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973 animated special) - Nov. 22

This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers (1988 animated special) - Nov. 22

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970 Rankin-Bass animated special) - Nov. 24

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 animated special) - Nov. 30

Shrek the Halls (2007 animated special) - Dec. 7

Toy Story That Time Forgot (2014 animated special) - Dec. 7

Mary Poppins (1964 Disney classic movie starring Julie Andrews) - Dec. 9

Frozen (2013 animated Disney movie) - Dec. 10

Disney Prep & Landing (2009 animated special) - Dec. 14

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003 animated special) - Dec. 16

The Sound of Music (1965 movie musical classic starring Julie Andrews) - Dec. 17

Prep & Landing 2: Naughty v Nice (2011 animated special sequel) - Dec. 19

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (1985 animated special) - Dec. 26

Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976 animated special) - Dec. 26

NBC

A Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving (2016 Thanksgiving-themed clip show) - Nov. 22

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 animated special) - Nov. 24

It’s a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra’s 1946 classic starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed) - Dec. 9 / Dec. 24

CBS

Frosty the Snowman (1969 animated special) - Nov. 24

Frosty Returns (1992 animated special) - Nov. 24

Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire (2002 animated special) - Nov. 25

Robbie the Reindeer in Legend of the Lost Tribe (2002 animated special) - Nov. 25

The Story of Santa Claus (1996 animated special) - Nov. 25

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964 animated special) - Nov. 28

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (2000 animated special) - Dec. 1

Freeform

Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976 animated special) - Nov. 18

Jack Frost (1998 movie starring Michael Keaton) - Nov. 18

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974 animated special) -Nov. 18

Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009 animated movie starring Jim Carey) - Nov. 18

Home Alone (1990 movie starring Macaulay Culkin) - Nov. 18

Elf (2003 movie starring Will Ferrell) - Nov. 19

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989 movie starring Chevy Chase) - Nov. 19

Jack Frost (1979 animated special) - Nov. 20

Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979 animated special) - Nov. 20

Arthur Christmas (2011 animated movie) - Nov. 20

Snowglobe (2007 made-for-TV movie starring Christina Milian) - Nov. 27

Four Christmases (2008 movie starring Reese Witherspoon) - Nov. 28

The Mistle-Tones (2013 made-for-TV movie starring Tori Spelling) - Nov. 28

Eloise at Christmastime (2003 movie) - Nov. 30

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993 stop-motion animated movie directed by Tim Burton) - Nov. 30

Snow (2004 made-for-TV movie starring Tom Cavanagh) - Nov. 30

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974 Rankin-Bass animated special) - Dec. 1

Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976 Rankin-Bass animated special) - Dec. 2

Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983 animated movie) - Dec. 2

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999 animated compilation) - Dec. 2

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 live-action film, starring Jim Carrey) - Dec. 2

The Polar Express (2004 animated movie starring Tom Hanks) - Dec. 2

Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town (1970 Rankin-Bass animated special) - Dec. 3

The Santa Clause (1994 Disney movie starring Tim Allen and Martin Short) - Dec. 3

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006 Disney movie sequel starring Tim Allen) - Dec. 3

Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004 animated compilation) - Dec. 4

The Toy Story That Time Forgot (2013 animated special featuring the character’s from Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story movie series) - Dec. 8

The Bells of Fraggle Rock (1985 animated episode of the Fraggle Rock Henson puppet series) - Dec. 11

The Little Drummer Boy (1968 Rankin-Bass animated special) - Dec. 11

Nestor, the Long Eared Christmas Donkey (1977 Rankin-Bass animated special) - Dec. 12

Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979 Rankin-Bass animated special) - Dec. 13

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974 animated special) - Dec. 13

Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1975 Rankin-Bass animated special) - Dec. 13

Christmas with the Kranks (2004 movie starring Tim Allen) - Dec. 16

Disney’s Prep and Landing (2008 animated special) - Dec. 17

Disney’s Prep and Landing: Naughty vs Nice ( 2011 animated special, sequel to Prep and Landing) - Dec. 17

Frozen (2013 Disney animated movie) - Dec. 17

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (2000 animated special) - Dec. 21

Holiday in Handcuffs (2007 made-for-TV movie starring Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez) - Dec. 21

TCM

The Glenn Miller Story (1954 movie classic starring Jimmy Stewart) - Nov. 22

Little Women (1933 movie classic starring Katherine Hepburn) - Nov. 23

Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938 movie classic starring Mickey Rooney) - Nov. 23

Susan Slept Here (1954 movie classic starring Debbie Reynolds) - Dec. 2

The Shop Around the Corner (1940 movie classic starring Jimmy Stewart) - Dec. 3

In the Good Old Summertime (1949 movie classic, a remake of The Shop Around the Corner, starring Judy Garland) - Dec. 3

A Christmas Carol (1951 movie classic starring Alastair Sim) - Dec. 8

Scrooge (1935 movie classic starring Seymour Hicks) - Dec. 8

It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947 movie classic starring Victor Moore) - Dec. 9

A Visit to Santa (1963 short film) - Dec. 9

Holiday Affair (1949 movie classic starring Robert Mitchum) - Dec. 10

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944 movie classic starring Judy Garland) - Dec. 10

A Christmas Carol (1938 movie classic starring Reginald Owen) - Dec. 16

Meet John Doe (1941 movie classic directed by Frank Capra) - Dec. 16

Bundle of Joy (1956 movie classic starring Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher) - Dec. 16

Christmas in Connecticut (1945 movie classic starring Barbara Stanwyck) - Dec. 17

The Bishop’s Wife (1947 movie classic starring Cary Grant) - Dec. 17

Little Women (1949 movie classic starring June Allyson) - Dec. 22

The Bell’s of St. Mary’s (1945 movie classic starring Bing Crosby) - Dec. 24

A Pocketful of Miracles (1961 movie classic starring Bette Davis and Glenn Ford) - Dec. 24

Meet John Doe (1941 Frank Capra-directed movie classic starring Gary Cooper) - Dec. 25

Hallmark Channel

Holiday Engagement (2011 made-for-TV movie starring Bonnie Somerville) - Nov. 3

The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014 made-for-TV movie starring Brandon Routh) - Nov. 5

A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004 made-for-TV movie starring Kelli Williams and Patrick Muldoon) - Nov. 5

My Christmas Love (2016 made-for-TV movie starring Meredith Hanger) - Nov. 5

Snow Bride (2013 made-for-TV movie starring Katarina Law) - Nov. 6

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle (2009 made-for-TV movie starring Doris Roberts and James Van Der Beek) - Nov. 2

A Family Thanksgiving (2010 made-for-TV movie starring Daphne Zuniga) - Nov. 5

The Christmas Card (2006 made-for-TV movie starring Ed Asner) - Nov. 8

TBS

The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story (2011 animated special) - Nov. 18

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 animated special) - Nov. 18

24 Hours of A Christmas Story (annual 12 back-to-back airings of the 1983 Christmas classic) - Dec. 24-25

Lifetime

Christmas with the Kranks (2004 movie starring Tim Allen) - Nov. 23

The Holiday (2006 movie starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz) - Dec. 4

CMT

The Holiday (2006 movie starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz) - Nov. 12

Love, Actually (2003 movie starring Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson) - Nov. 13

HBO Comedy

This Christmas (2016 movie starring Gabrielle Union and Danny Glover) - Dec. 5

Ovation

Peter Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Dutch-centric production by Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling performed by the Dutch National Ballet) - Dec. 12

The Nutcracker: Semperoper (based on the libretto by Maria Petipa, focusing on the work’s fairy-tale elements; choreography by Aaron S Watkin and Jason Beechey) - Dec. 13

The Nutcracker (classic production from the Berlin State Opera) - Dec. 14

INSP

Andy Williams Classic Christmas Special (classic holiday variety show) - Dec. 3

Bing Crosby Classic Christmas Special (classic holiday variety show) - Dec. 10

Perry Como Classic Christmas Special (classic holiday variety show) - Dec. 17

Danny Kaye Classic Christmas Special (classic holiday variety show) - Dec. 24

Ebenezer (1997 made-for-TV movie with a Wild West take on A Christmas Carol, starring Ricky Schroder and Jack Palance) - Dec. 24

Blizzard (2003 movie starring Brenda Blethyn, Christopher Plummer and Whoopi Goldberg) - Dec. 25

The Movie Channel

Love the Coopers (2015 movie starring Diane Keaton and John Goodman)- Nov. 19

Starz Kids

Home Alone 2 (2009 made-for-TV movie starring Macaulay Culkin, sequel to Home Alone)- Nov. 17

FXX

Simpson’s Christmas Week (every night at 6 PM, FXX will play classic Simpson’s holiday episodes, culminating with a 12-episode marathon on Christmas Day)- Dec. 18

Simpson’s New Year’s Eve (12-hour Simpson’s marathon starting with the The Simpson’s Movie) - Dec. 31

Me TV

A Very Brady Christmas (1988 movie based on the classic 1970s series)-Dec. 3

Alf’s Special Christmas (1987 special episode of the series, one of the weirdest Christmas specials ever) - Dec. 10

Scrooge (1970 musical version of A Christmas Carol, starring Albert Finney) - Dec. 24

Get TV

Secret of Giving (1999 made-for-TV movie starring Reba McEntire) - Nov. 23

The Johnny Cash Christmas Show (1977 musical special featuring Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis) - Nov. 23

The Christmas Gift (1986 made-for-TV movie starring John Denver) - Nov. 24

A Town Without Christmas (2001 made-for-TV movie starring Patricia Heaton and Ernie Hudson) - Nov. 24

Yes, Virginia There Is A Santa Claus (1991 made-for-TV movie starring Richard Thomas, Ed Asner & Charles Bronson) - Nov. 26

The Christmas Wish (1998 made-for-TV movie starring Neil Patrick Harris and Debbie Reynolds) - Nov. 27

Vanessa Williams & Friends: Christmas in New York (1996 musical special featuring Luther Vandross) - Nov. 28

The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990 made-for-TV movie starring Cicely Tyson and Sammy Davis, Jr.) - Nov. 28

The Sons of Mistletoe (2001 made-for-TV movie starring Roma Downey and Doris Roberts) - Nov. 29

Christmas with the King Family: 50th Anniversary (50th anniversary presentation of the classic 1967 variety special) - Nov. 29

Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas (1971 musical special) - Nov. 30

Miracle in the Wilderness (1991 made-for-TV movie starring Kris Kristofferson and Kim Cattrall) - Dec. 1

A Christmas Carol (1999 made-for-movie adaptation of the Dickens classic starring Patrick Stewart) - Dec. 3

Christmas on Division Street (1991 made-for-TV movie starring Fred Savage and Hume Cronyn) - Dec. 4

Perry Como’s Christmas in Austria (1976 musical special) - Dec. 5

I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1997 made-for-TV movie starring Ann Jillian, Jack Palance and Robert Hays) - Dec. 5

Johnny Cash Christmas (1983 musical special featuring Ricky Skaggs and Merle Haggard) - Dec. 7

Mac Davis Special: The Music of Christmas (1983 musical special featuring Gladys Knight, Barbra Mandrell and Ronnie Milsap) - Dec. 7

Father Knows Best: Home for Christmas (1977 made-for-TV movie starring Robert Young, based on the long-running 1950s series) - Dec. 8

Once Upon a Christmas (2000 made-for-TV movie starring Kathy Ireland) - Dec. 15

Twice Upon a Christmas (2001 made-for-TV movie starring Kathy Ireland, sequel to Once Upon a Christmas)

Netflix

Bad Santa (2003 movie starring Billy Bob Thornton and Lauren Graham) - available now

Bad Santa 2 (2016 movie starring Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates) - available now

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001 movie starring Rene Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth) - available now

The Christmas Card (2006 made-for-TV Hallmark Christmas movie, starring Ed Asner)

Christmas with the Kranks (2004 movie starring Tim Allen) - available now

The Corpse Bride (2005 stop motion animated movie directed by Tim Burton) - available now

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (2009 animated movie) - available now

Earnest Saves Christmas (1988 movie starring Jim Varney) - available now

Get Santa (2014 British Christmas movie starring Warwick Davis and Jim Broadbent) - available now

Good Luck Charlie It’s Christmas (2011 Disney Channel original movie based on the Disney Channel series of the same name) - available now

Gremlins (1984 movie) - available now

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 live action film, starring Jim Carrey) - available now

Holiday Engagement (2011 made-for-TV movie starring Bonnie Somerville) - available now

Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010 animated special) - available now

The Legend of Frosty the Snowman (2005 animated sequel to the classic special) - available now

Love, Actually (2003 movie starring Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson) - available now

Mariah Carey’s Merriest Christmas (2015 musical special) - available now

Magic Snowflake (2013 animated movie) - available now

Merry Madagascar (2009 animated special; packaged with other Dreamworks holiday shorts as “DreamWorks Holiday Classics”) - available now

Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House of Mickey Mouse (2001 animated Christmas compilation) - available now

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999 animated compilation) - available now

Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004 animated compilation) - available now

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993 stop motion animated movie directed by Tim Burton) - available now

Pee Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special (1988 special) - available now

Pete’s Christmas (2013 made-for-TV Christmas movie starring Bailee Madison) - available now

Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation (2009 animated special; listed as episode 21 of season 2) - available now

The Ref (1994 movie starring Dennis Leary and Kevin Spacey) - available now

Radio City Christmas Spectacular (2007 special featuring the NYC Christmas show tradition) - available now

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964 Rankin-Bass animated special) - available now

Santa Buddies (2009 Disney movie) - available now

The Search for Santa Paws (2010 Disney movie) - available now

Stick Man (2015 BBC animated special; starring Martin Freeman, based on the book by Julia Donaldson) - available now

12 Dates of Christmas (2011 ABC Family made-for-TV Christmas movie starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Amy Smart) - available now

A Very Murray Christmas (2015 variety special starring Bill Murray) - available now

White Christmas (1954 movie classic starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney) - available now

Dreamworks: Trolls Holiday - (holiday special starring Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake and Zooey Deschanel, featuring characters from the 2016 Dreamworks feature film) - Dec. 6

Hulu

Becoming Santa (2013 documentary about the Santa Claus culture) - available now

Caillou's Holiday Movie (2003 animated movie, based on the children’s series) - available now

The Christmas Dragon (2014 animated movie) - available now

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002 animated film) - available now

The Holiday (2006 movie starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz) - available now

A Holiday Tale (2008 movie starring Catherine Deneuve) - available now

Home for the Holidays (1995 movie starring Holly Hunter) - available now

Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas (1992 animated special) - available now

Love, the Coopers (2015 movie starring Diane Keaton and John Goodman) - available now

Noel (2005 movie starring Penelope Cruz and Susan Sarandon) - available now

One Magic Christmas (1985 Disney movie starring Mary Steenburgen and Harry Dean Stanton) - available now

A Snow Globe Christmas (2013 made-for-TV movie starring Alicia Witt and Christina Milian) - available now

A Very Brady Christmas (1988 movie based on the classic 1970s series) - available now

Yes, Virginia (2009 animated special) - available now

Amazon Prime

A Christmas Carol (1969 animated special, originally aired on NBC) - available now

Abbott & Costello Christmas Show (1955 Christmas special) - available now

An American Girl Story, Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas (2016 original movie) - available now

Annoying Orange: Christmas is for Giving (2010 animated special) - available now

The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas (1973 animated special) - available now

B.C. A Special Christmas (1981 animated special) - available now

B.C. The First Thanksgiving (1973 animated special) - available now

Bob Hope Christmas Special (1967 variety special) - available now

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales (2002 animated special) - available now

A Child’s Christmas (2008 British animated special, narrated by Matthew Rhys) - available now

The Christmas Carol (1949 TV telling of the classic Dickens tale narrated by Vincent Price) - available now

A Christmas Story Documentary: Road Trip For Ralphie (2008 doc about the classic Christmas film) -available now

The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t (1966 Italian movie, avant garde take on A Christmas Carol) - available now

The Christmas Wife (1988 made-for-TV movie starring Jason Robards) - available now

A Christmas Without Snow (1980 made-for-TV movie starring John Houseman and Michael Learned) - available now

Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976 Rankin-Bass animated special) - available now

If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie (2016 original animated special) - available now

The Great Rupert a.k.a. A Christmas Wish (1950 movie starring Jimmy Durante) - available now

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (1985 animated special) - available now

A Hobo’s Christmas (1987 made-for-TV movie starring Gerald McCraney) - available now

The Holiday (2006 movie starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz) - available now

Holiday Engagement (2011 made-for-TV movie starring Bonnie Somerville) - available now

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003 animated special) - available now

Jack Frost (1979 Rankin-Bass animated special) - available now

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1976 Rankin-Bass animated special) - available now

The Little Christmas Burro (1977 animated special available as part of Christmas Classics Vol. 2) - available now

Merry Christmas from Funny or Die (2010 special featuring Ryan Gosling and Will Ferrell) - available now

A Merry Friggin Christmas (2014 movie starring Robin Williams) - available now

Mr. Bill's Christmas Special (1994 Canadian special) - available now

Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1961 animated special) - available now

Pinocchio’s Christmas (1980 Rankin-Bass animated special) - available now

Red Skelton Christmas Classics (1955 variety specials highlights) - available now

Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979 Rankin-Bass animated special) - available now

Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1975 Rankin-Bass animated special) - available now

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964 camp classic) - available now

Scrooge (1935 movie classic starring Seymour Hicks; colorized version) - available now

Scrooged (1988 movie starring Bill Murray) - available now

Shower of Stars: A Christmas Carol (1954 TV presentation featuring Basil Rathbone and Fredric March) - available now

The Snowy Day (2016 original animated special, based on the classic children’s book) - available now

The Snowman (1982 animated special based on classic children’s picture book) - available now

The Snowman and the Snowdog (2014 animated special sequel to The Snowman) - available now

This is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers (1988 animated special) - available now

Story of the Christmas Toys (animated special narrated by Mel Torme)

A Thanksgiving Tale (1983 puppet special from the producers of Alf) - available now

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974 Rankin-Bass animated special) - available now

Yo Gabba Gabba: A Very Awesome Live Holiday Show! (2014 special) - available now

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