User Reviews

I've been looking for this for years, but didn't know the title. I heard the familiar voice on a TV program and made note of the name--Alexander Scourby. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I found out the title and that it was available on DVD. Like a previous poster, I saw this every year as a child in elementary school. It was something I looked forward to each year. The puppetry was so impressive to a younger child back then--waaaaay before all the overdone CG effects of contemporary entertainment. Even now the puppet work still looks good. Both segments have such a simple charm. The puppets are costumed as live actors would be---this is far from a shoestring production! This is a timeless classic--required Christmas season viewing.

I remember seeing this show in the 1950's when I was a child in Lancaster Pennsylvania,brought to us by the "Bell Telephone Company."

When my family moved to New Jersey in 1961 my beloved Christmas Show was not broadcast by New York stations.

When I would visit friends in PA I would mention the show and anyone raised in PA remembered it,and hoped it would be available on tape or DVD,SO FAR NO LUCK!

I mentioned it to a friend and he sent me a tape of "The Spirit of Christmas" and I was elated,it even included the commercials.

Despite the grainy tape quality I was able to make a DVD.

Hopefully it is made for wide release soon,it's a treasure.

I loved watching this magical program as a child. I was mesmerized by those puppets!

According to the TV section of the Philadelphia Inquirer from that year, "The Spirit of Christmas" was first broadcast on December 22, 1951 and was aired 5 times that holiday season. The Wikipedia article and the blog source it quotes are wrong.

This special was made years before I was born. Watching Christmas Theme Programming daily (From August-December) I found this Television Program produced in 1952 a delight. There have been many advancements in Animation since this was produced however there is something so elegant about seeing a story told with marionettes.

In this special we get 2 stories told in just 30 minutes. The first is "The Night Before Christmas" and the 2nd is "The Nativity"

Both specials are made with TLC and the makers of this film made this for children but its so well done that adults will love this as well!

This Special would be perfect to watch on Christmas Eve before your children go to bed!

This has a special "MAGIC" to it. Its almost like a storybook come to life. BUY IT!

Growing up in Philadelphia in the '50s this was on TV every night for at least a week prior to Christmas. Somehow my sister and brothers and I never got tired of it. Even back then we could see that it was pretty primitive - you could almost see the hand making the camels 'walk' as they carried the Wise Men to Bethlehem. That was part of the charm, I think.

For the longest time it disappeared from the screen, and as I married and had children of my own I regretted that they would not be able to see it and enjoy it as I had. Then somehow our local PBS affiliate got ahold of it and started playing it during pledge drives at Christmas and offering it as an incentive to contribute a donation. That's how I got my copy. My kids were all under ten at the time and I showed it to them. After viewing it a time or two they labeled it as old fashioned and weren't interested in seeing it after that. I was somewhat disappointed, but came to the conclusion that the MTV / Nintendo generation couldn't appreciate it for what it was.

The funny thing is, last evening I was watching TV with my middle daughter - now 19 - and a notorious channel changer, and SHE had the remote. This usually means seeing maybe 5% of 20 programs instead of one whole one. Well, she switched and found The Spirit of Christmas during the Nativity segment, stopped, and we both watched it to the end - no interruptions! I didn't say anything to her about it, but it made me happy to think that maybe it reminded her of when SHE was little. I hope so.

The last thing that gets me is the unnamed host of the show with his inch wide necktie and dark suit saying that this was a gift from 'your phone company'. Pray, whatever phone company is that? Have you seen anything from MCI, Sprint, or Verizon that doesn't have an underlying "buy from me" subliminal message? No? Didn't think so! Don't hold your breath! I should know - I work for one of these guys.

One of the Greatest all time films of Christmas. this immortal classic is a story which is in two parts. The First is - The Night Before Christmas and the second is - The Nativity. both stories are beautifully recited and are staged with a musical background in classic and traditional style. The Marionettes are created for this 1950's TV Christmas classic probably represented the cuttingedge of creativity in puppeteering.These classic Christmas tales will be enjoyed by young and old alike. A Christmas must see. this puppteering may have provied inspiration for future successes like Howdy Doody, Kukla Fran & ollie, and much later, the Jim Henson family of characters. You and your family will rediscover the warmth and charm of these classic.

Doing research on this special I saw there is two dates. Some people states its from 1653 others 1950. I am willing to be the real date is 1953.

The Spirit of Christmas is a Christmas television special performed by marionettes. It first aired in 1953 in the United States.[1] Its half-hour showing time is divided into two segments, one dramatizing "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (AKA THE NIGHT BEFORE Christmas) and one telling the story of the Nativity.[1] The live-action part of the film features Alexander Scourby, who narrates and also plays Clement Moore in the Visit from St. Nicholas segment. The jacket of the DVD version calls it "The Philadelphia Holiday Classic," which refers to the region of the United States where it was originally broadcast. The jacket also describes it as a "50s TV Christmas classic, which has led it to being mis-dated as first being shown in 1950.

After its initial 1953 showing and into the 1960s, this special was aired multiple times per Christmas season, without commercial interruptions except for opening and closing remarks by "your telephone company" (Bell Telephone). It was also available as a 16mm film licensed to schools for showings to students.

It is very unusual for its time in that it was made in color at a time when there were no color TV sets in existence, so viewers of the time saw it in black-and-white.

This is a very special program. Yes its done with puppets but there is depth. You can tell this was made with MAJOR TLC.

Now the DVD that I have has a making of feature and its very informative. What would be nice that whoever owns this film would have is restored to its original color brilliance.

This is well worth watching. On Christmas Eve you should gather everyone around and watch it with your family and close friends. The special is magic. It is the perfect way to end the night.

This Christmas program is not going to please many people because it lacks a huge WOW FACTOR in terms of visuals. What it does so wonderfully is that it lets you use your imagination. Mabel Beaton uses puppets in this program to great effect.

The story is pace beautifully. The film is made "WITH GREAT LOVE" which is apparent.

The way this program was made and produced I am sure was the inspiration for the well know "Rankin-Bass" Christmas Specials. If you have kids watch this with them during the holidays.

It may play on some PBS stations but it is however worth buying.

Trust me it is GREAT.

My memories of this fantastic Christmas special are the same as most others. Christmas in the 1950's was officially here when we saw the Bell Telephone special, "The Spirit of Christmas" shown not only at our school (Ingomar Elementary), but we also got to see it again on TV.

Every subsequent Christmas was missing something without being able to see this special memory from my childhood. I was so happy to find that it is now available on DVD.

My question is: Does anyone know of a version of this special that includes the original introduction, intermission and ending with the Bell Telephone operator speaking? To me, this helped to make this special what it was.

Thanks for any help. Bob Eich, Pittsburgh, PA

Growing up in Havertown,Pa in the 50's + 60's, this Christmas special was much anticipated. I do not recall it playing more than once per season and we anxiously waited for it's showing.In the 60's and 70's many animated Christmas shows were aired and this one was forgotten.I was past 40 when I finally saw it again and was shocked to see it was in color!!! What a wonderful taste of my childhood this has given me.Enjoy it's simplicity. I have purchased several copies on DVD and sent them to family and friends. If you know of anyone from the Philadelphia area in their 50's , they would probably love this as a gift.They are not expensive and are,of course, inexpensive to send by first class mail.Now I'm showing it to my grandchildren.Time marches on,Merry Christmas.

I agree wholeheartedly with Tom' comments. This is what children suchas myself grew up on, not the sub adequate shows on TV today. The localstation here in Phila only shows the Spirit part of the marionetteprogram, but not the Nativity scene, which I guess is just a sign ofour times. However, it is a treat to see this, even if only for once ayear! Alexander Scourby, who starred and was the voice over for both the shows, was the perfect choice. As a bit of trivia, he appeared years later in a role as an older businessman on (I believe) General Hospital. His was a voice that, once heard, was never mistaken for another. My grandaughters now watch this show with me every Christmas season, so I guess this is a nice legacy to pass down

I like so many others grew up watching The Spirit of Christmas in Pittsburgh. It was broadcast every year for a long time and then seemed to disappear. Two years ago, I was searching the internet for it which took a long time, because I didn't have a clue as to what it was called. I found a web site called TV Party that had a reference to it, and found a TV station in Philadelphia that gave it away as a promotion for a donation. Now here's the great news for us all, it's been released on DVD and even has extras! Type in The Spirit of Christmas on your search engine, and look for a site that says released on October 11, 2005. You can order it for $9.99

Enjoy! Rich P.

This short Film has been shown by local TV for years in the 1960's. Which it became a stable for our family at the Holiday Season. This Wonderful story of The Night before Christmas is a delight for everyone in the family. The second part is the nativity of which some call - The Greatest Story ever Told is skillfully performed beautiful by marionettes.You and your family will rediscover the warmth and charm of these family classy stories.It's only to bad this film is not available on DVD or Video tape. if the would be available I would not just buy one for myself but to make it as a Christmas gift to all my friends and family. which this film should be a collectible because of its timeless nature and a joy to all who watch it.

Wonderful when I was a kid. I loved it and watched it year after year

I grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Each year from 1960 to 1968, I remember all of the elementary classes being herded to the movie room in the basement of the school and watching The Spirit of Christmas. The clatter of the reel to reel projector and the slightly skipping film didn't interfere with the entertainment set before us, We all sat there silent and wide eyed as the puppets paraded before us on the screen. Amazed as the marionettes moved so smoothly, as if they had a life of their own. I knew Christmas was fast approaching when we got to see these films. Memories I will never forget. I plan on buying a copy and even though half of my children are grown, we will all watch it together. And my 2 grand-kids can see though their eyes, what I saw, as a child.