A Very Special Christmas, Part 1
Rick Retro’s Realm, Project #4: 2025 Christmas Tour – The advent of the Christmas special in the 1960s produces three classics.
Project #4: 2025 Christmas Tour – The advent of the Christmas special in the 1960s produces three classics.
As our 2025 Christmas Tour leaves the post-war era, we enter the 1960s where the new trend is the TV Christmas special. There are three that have been the most enduring to this day and landed on most of the “Best Christmas Movies Ever” lists that I checked, even though one could dispute whether or not they are “movies” that should be compared against feature films. That said, our first and third stops were on nine of the ten lists I checked, and the second was on all ten.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964)
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964) — Now, new and improved in HD! Don't be too cool to watch this again as an adult!
A+^
Family Suitability
+ ✅4️⃣ OK for younger kids. (Grades K+) | Approved
Alignment with Judeo-Christian Values
+ ❎3️⃣ Very Good/Strongly Favorable
Notably, all three of these specials are appropriate for the whole family, even the younger children. They also all align very well with Judeo-Christian values, most notably this second stop that shares the Christmas message straight from the Gospel of Luke.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965)
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) — 1960s shocker! Network TV actually broadcasts the true meaning of Christmas!
A+^
Family Suitability
+ ✅4️⃣ OK for younger kids. (Grades K+) | TV-G
Alignment with Judeo-Christian Values
+ ❎4️⃣ Excellent/Very Strongly Favorable
All three of these Christmas specials register high on the Whimsy scale, and while the first two have enough Dark to be considered Dark Whimsy, this final stop is Pure Dark Whimsy from Dr. Seuss, a master of Dark Whimsy, beloved by children of all ages.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966)
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966) — Spoiler Alert: By abusing his poor little dog, that's how!
A+^
Family Suitability
+ ✅4️⃣ OK for younger kids. (Grades K+) | Approved
Alignment with Judeo-Christian Values
+ ❎3️⃣ Very Good/Strongly Favorable
After visiting all three, feel free to comment in the post below with your opinion as to which of these specials is best in a variety of categories. And definitely visit the post to vote in the poll for overall best!
Rudolph vs. Charlie Brown vs. The Grinch: Who's The Best?
Rick Retro’s Rankings #1: The Big Three Christmas TV Specials. Rudolph vs. Charlie Brown vs. The Grinch: Who’s The Best?
Tomorrow our tour takes us to the second tier of Christmas TV specials, sitting just below the Big Three in stature, but still more renowned than all the rest.
Don't forget the popcorn!
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