HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL (TV)
Summary
One in this series of special presentations sponsored by Hallmark. This holiday production begins with an ice-skating sequence, "The Ice Princess," the tale of a beautiful princess imprisoned in a castle made of ice by a jealous witch. Skater Dick Button plays the prince who saves her with his love on Christmas Day. Next, the Obernkirchen Children's Choir sings a selection of traditional Christmas Carols including "The Cling Song," "The Happy Wanderer," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and "Silent Night." Also included is a dramatization of Ludwig Bemelmans' "The Borrowed Christmas" about a rich, spiritually bankrupt businessman who dies on Christmas Day, goes to hell, and begs for a chance to come back for a few moments in order to talk to his grandson about what really matters in life. Finally, French artist AndrŽ Girard's "paintings on light" depict the Nativity, as Judith Anderson narrates from the Bible the story of the birth of Jesus. Includes commercials and promos. (This is a black-and-white copy of a color telecast.)
("Hallmark Hall of Fame" aired on NBC from 1952 to 1978; network affiliation varies after 1978.)
(Beginning with the live telecast of the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on December 24, 1951, Hallmark has sponsored a series of dramatic specials which, since 1952, has aired under the title "Hallmark Hall of Fame." From 1952 to 1955 Hallmark also presented "Hallmark Hall of Fame," a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology series hosted by Sarah Churchill. The first program, "Dr. Serocold," was televised in January 1952 under the title "Hallmark Television Theatre." This series also ran under the title "Hallmark Summer Theatre" in July and August 1952.)
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: December 13, 1959 Sunday 5:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:52
- COLOR/B&W: B&W copy of a color telecast
- CATALOG ID: T:31284
- GENRE: Music/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music/Variety; Christmas; Specials
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1951-1978
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark Christmas cards
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark gift wrap
- TV - Promos - "Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Tempest" (voice only)
- TV - Promos - "Journey to Understanding" (voice only)
CREDITS
- For "Hallmark Hall of Fame: A Christmas Festival":
- George Schaefer … Producer, Director
- Albert McCleery … Director
- Lee Vines … Announcer
- Hiram Sherman … Cast, the Narrator
- Obernkirchen Children's Choir … Choir
- For "The Ice Princess":
- John Morris … Music by
- Herbert Ross … Choreographer
- Dick Button … Cast, the Prince
- Ellie Sommers … Cast, the Princess
- Florence Rae … Cast, the Witch
- Billy Castle … Cast, the Cold Man
- John Pappas … Cast, the Tall Man
- Charles Bolender … Cast, the Fat Man
- For "The Borrowed Christmas":
- Ludwig Bemelmans … Writer
- Joseph Schrank … Adapted by
- Philip J. Lang … Music by
- Walter Slezak … Cast, Mr. Reallybig
- Jules Munshin … Cast, the Manager
- Alice Pearce … Cast, Miss Talmey
- David Francis … Cast, Billy
- John C. Becher … Cast, Officer Flannelly
- For "The Story of the Nativity":
- Judith Anderson … Narrator
- Hiram Sherman … Narrator