"Well, if that's love, somebody goofed."

A Very Vintage Christmas post #4

It's Saturday, December 8th, which means it's officially 17 days until Christmas!

White Christmas

1954

Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen

During Christmas/wintertime of World War II, Captain Bob Wallace (Crosby) and Private Phil Davis (Kaye) are in the same regiment. Bob, a previous Broadway entertainer before entering the war, is putting on a Christmas Eve show for his troops when they are attacked. Bob almost dies when a wall falls over, but before it can crush him, Phil pulls him out of the way to safety, injuring his own arm in the process. As he is recovering, Phil, who is an aspiring entertainer, guilts Bob into the idea of teaming up after the war as an entertainment duo. Bob agrees in his moment of weakness, and the rest of their friendship often involves Phil trying to manipulate Bob by bringing up the fact that he once saved his life.

Bob is as good as his word, and he and Phil join up after the war and become immensely popular as musical entertainers. While they are touring in Miami, they receive a letter from an old acquaintance from the war asking them if they could audition his two sisters, who are musical performers themselves. They go to watch the girls perform, more out of common courtesy than anything else, but they are somewhat impressed. Phil can't help but notice that Bob, who can never seem to find a woman who catches his eye, is smitten by one of the sisters. Once they are done performing their number the two girls, Betty (Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen), join Bob and Phil at their table. Phil automatically asks Judy to dance, so as to give Bob the chance to be alone with Betty and get to know her better. Things don't fare very well for the two of them, and they get into an argument shortly after they are left to their own devices. The other two, Phil and Judy, hit it off at once as they dance.

Phil soon discovers that the girls are in a bit of trouble. They are anxious to get out of Miami because their landlord is trying to have them arrested for destruction of property. Phil instantly wants to help them as soon as he learns of their troubles. So he convinces Bob to join in helping the girls escape out the back, and causing a diversion by performing in their place. Phil also gives the girls their train tickets, and they catch up with them later after Phil finally convinces Bob to travel with them to Vermont for the holidays.

They get to their destination, a lodge in Vermont, but are rather dismayed to see that there is no snow in sight and it is unseasonably warm. They also discover that the lodge is run by their old commanding officer, who is equally discouraged by the weather because it means bad business for the lodge, so chances are it will have to close.

Bob and Phil decide to call in all of their performing partners and cast mates, and eventually all of the guys from their old regiment as well, in order to put together a special Christmas broadcast as a surprise that will be guaranteed to bring business to the lodge. As they work on all of the plans and musical numbers, Bob and Betty start to fall for one another. They have some major bumps and setbacks along the way, but everything leads up to a successful performance of the Christmas special at the lodge on Christmas Eve, and it actually starts to snow.

White Christmas is another fantastic film to get you in the holiday spirit--it's a comedy and a musical and has a great reminder about giving to those who are in need.

Interestingly enough, the song White Christmas was written about ten years before the movie came out, yet it was written by Irving Berlin and Bing Crosby was the first singer to actually perform it in 1941. And, to this day, the version sung by Bing is the most popular and most well-known version of the song.

You can listen to it if you click on this link:

Bing Crosby White Christmas

Also, here is a link to the official film trailer if you're interested:

White Christmas official movie trailer

And, as always, if you're interested in giving this as a gift to somebody this holiday season, then you can buy or price it here:

Price/Buy White Christmas on Amazon

That is all for now, folks!

But please be sure to come back tomorrow and join us for another post.

And in the meantime, be sure to have yourselves a very merry, white, and A Very Vintage Christmas!

"Born that man no more may die!"

A Very Vintage Christmas post #3

It is December 6th, so it is officially 19 days until Christmas!

It is also Thursday, so it is time to get into the Christmas spirit with some music!

The classic Christmas carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing was written in the 1700s by Charles Wesley. He intended for the words he had penned to be a song, but we probably would not recognize it if we heard the original version. Charles was a very serious and straightforward kind of man, and he specially requested that the music or tune that would accompany his lyrics be slow and solemn.

The version of the song with the much more upbeat tune that we know and recognize today did not come about until the mid-1800s. Felix Mendelssohn was composing a cantata at the time for the celebration of the invention of the printing press, and then William H. Cummings adapted Mendelssohn's cantata music to fit the lyrics of the old hymn originally written by Charles Wesley.

"Hark! The herald angels sing,

'Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on Earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!'

Joyful all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With the angelic host proclaim:

'Christ is born in Bethlehem!'

Hark!The herald angels sing,

'Glory to the newborn King!'

Christ, by highest heav'n adored,

Christ, the everlasting Lord!

Late in time, behold Him come,

Offspring of a Virgin's womb

Veiled in flesh the godhead see

Hail the incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with man to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel

Hark!The herald angels sing,

'Glory to the newborn King!'

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace

Hail the Son of Righteousness

Light and Life to all He brings

Ris'n with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark!The herald angels sing,

'Glory to the newborn King!'"

In the classic or oldies music realm, Hark!The Herald Angels Sing has been sung by scores of people, including Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra.

But today I give to you the version by that famous crooner, Nat King Cole:

If you like Nat King Cole and you love Christmas music, or if you know someone who does, then you can price/buy his Christmas album if you click this link:

Purchase Nat King Cole Christmas CD

Stay tuned for another special post this Saturday.

A very merry and A Very Vintage Christmas to you!

Who is coming to town?

A Very Vintage Christmas post #2

And, to keep you updated, it is 24 days til Christmas!

The tradition of Santa Claus is one that most cultures around the world share. And I know that especially here in America, the average child grows up reading stories about Santa Claus, singing songs about him, and putting out milk and cookies for him on Christmas Eve. We're all familiar with the big, jolly man in the red suit with his reindeer and elves, passing out toys to good little girls and boys.

But who is he really?

Where did he come from?

The story of the founding of Father Christmas is actually an interesting one if you haven't heard it before. And even if you have, it's good to be reminded.

Saint Nicholas was actually a real person, also known as Nikolaos of Myra. He was a Greek bishop who was born in the modern day area of Turkey during the 300th century A.D.

He was known for his overwhelming generosity that he showed to people less fortunate than himself. There are many accounts of him giving gifts to those in need. He was a devoted orthodox Christian throughout his entire life, which is what he contributed his own spirit of generosity to. Other people of religious backgrounds throughout Europe were greatly inspired by Saint Nicholas, and they respected and revered him, so it was only natural that he would show up in many different artistic portrayals of saints and other religious figures. When he was artistically portrayed, he was usually depicted as an older, bearded man wearing red, canonical robes. You can see where this is going...

The Dutch, in countries like Belgium and the Netherlands, were some of the first to really develop the modern idea of Santa Claus. They referred to Saint Nicholas as Sinterklaas, who was an elderly, graceful, stately man with a long, white beard, and who dressed in a traditional white and red bishop's alb.

In their stories, Sinterklaas had his own book of right and wrong, in which was kept a record of children in the country who have been good and are therefore deserving of a reward, or who have been bad. His special helpers aid him in passing down gifts to good, sleeping children through people's chimneys or fireplaces. His helpers also carry willow canes and bags in order to snatch up naughty children.

Sinterklaas spread fairly quickly throughout other countries such as Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland, but each country tweaked the presentation to better fit their own customs and traditions. While it is easy to see the similarities between Sinterklaas and our modern day portrayal of Santa Claus, another similar character would come to life during the 17th century.

Father Christmas was Great Britain's take on Saint Nicholas. And it is from this redrawing of the traditional figure that we specifically get the temperament of Santa Claus. Father Christmas was a round, jolly, happy man. As far as looks go, one of the best representations of Father Christmas is Charles Dickens' depiction of the Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol.

So how did we end up with our version of Santa Claus?

Well, he was/is a combination of all of the above figures--Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, and Father Christmas. The particular elements of Santa Claus and his sleigh, reindeer, etc. were brought about through published short stories and poetry that became very popular. An artist and cartoonist by the name of Thomas Nast drew the Santa Claus that we know today, and he is also largely given credit for coming up with the theory that Santa Claus resides in the North Pole.

And the rest is history. The story of Santa Claus and his generosity has not only been kept alive but has also grown through many pieces of literature, short stories, children's stories, poetry, etc. And of course, marketing and advertising have also helped as the twentieth and twenty-first centuries have progressed, keeping Saint Nicholas a tradition that we still know and love.

I love this video that I'm going to share with you. There is a famous piece of writing entitled Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus that was written as a response to a girl who sent in a letter asking if Santa was real in 1897. In this clip, Virginia herself reads the response to the letter she wrote as a child to a group of children.

That is all until Thursday, December 6.

So, be sure to check back with us then so you can start building your classic Christmas playlist with our first Christmas song choice of the season.

Until then, have a very happy, and A Very Vintage Christmas!

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets it's wings.."

A Very Vintage Christmas post #1

It is officially the 1st of December, and therefore A Very Vintage Christmas starts RIGHT NOW!

And for the benefit of your knowledge, it is officially 25 days until Christmas.

It's A Wonderful Life

1946

Starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, and Henry Travers

George Bailey (Stewart) is an all-around genuinely good man. He is a loving husband, a doting father, an efficient and hardworking business man, and he always loves his neighbor as himself. He lives in a small town--the kind of town where everybody knows everybody else and their mother. Yes, George Bailey is your average, good man. But on Christmas Eve in 1946, prayers are sent to heaven asking God to help George who has found himself in a bit of trouble and is in desperate need of help and encouragement. So, after he is briefed on George, his background, and his situation, an angel by the name of Clarence Odbody (Travers) is sent to help him.

Clarence arrives just in time--as a dispirited, discouraged, and fearful George is just about to jump off of a bridge on the outskirts of town. Clarence comes out of nowhere and jumps into the freezing water instead, knowing that a man with a good heart like George will make it a priority to help someone else in need, despite his own troubles. That's exactly what happens. George pulls Clarence out and the latter informs him that he is George's guardian angel, sent to earth to help him and hopefully earn a set of wings in the process. George naturally doesn't believe it and thinks it much more likely that Clarence is some loony, old man. George is more dispirited than ever and he audibly wishes that he had never been born. Knowing that George does not understand the severity of his wish, Clarence grants it for a time, just to show George how different life would be and how his loved ones would fare if he had never existed at all.

So, Clarence serves as a kind of Ghost of Christmas Past and takes George to view his life without his presence. George is devastated by what he sees. He is forced to open his eyes and see that, no matter what troubles he is facing now, he still has so many blessings that outweigh them, and he has done so much good to so many other people. George sees that it was wrong to have contemplated taking his own life, because he still has a purpose. He becomes desperate to go back to the way things were, and to return to his life and his family, knowing that it will be worth it no matter what consequences he has to face.

His prayer is answered and he is granted his life once again. Overjoyed, he runs home through the snow-covered town. Authorities are at his home to arrest him when he arrives for the financial difficulties he was facing, but he is so happy to be reunited with his family that he does not even care--he just runs around the house, kissing his wife Mary (Reed) and their four children. And then, George fully realizes how wonderful his life really is when all of the townspeople arrive at his home with enough money to help him avoid his arrest.

The whole town, all gathered together in the Bailey house, begins to sing a Christmas carol and a bell is heard ringing, signifying that an angel somewhere has earned his wings.

If you are looking for a feel-good holiday movie to help you really get into the generous and grateful spirit of Christmas, then this is the perfect film for you. It is simple and sweet, with romance and humor, and just like every good Jimmy Stewart movie, it has a lesson to be learned.

If you would like to watch this movie right now, in it's entirety, please click on this link:

It's A Wonderful Life Full Movie

And, since Christmas is also the gift-giving season, if you're interested in pricing or buying this film then please click on this link:

BUY NOW: It's A Wonderful Life

Please check back with us again tomorrow afternoon for a post on a classic Christmas tradition.

And be sure to have yourselves A Very Vintage Christmas!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Happy Holidays, everyone!

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday.

This post is just a reminder that A Very Vintage Christmas starts exactly one week from tomorrow, on December 1st. We are so excited for another successful year of our Christmas campaign, and we hope you will join us for it.

We do have a schedule set up for it and it is much like last year:

Thursdays will be for classic Christmas tunes.

Saturdays and Sundays will be for Christmas films.

And there will be other posts in between on Christmas literature and traditions.

So, as you can see, we went ahead and changed the layout on out homepage (here) and our Twitter and Facebook pages (links below), just to give you a little teaser of what you have to look forward to this Christmas season.

With that, we'll be signing off for another week, because I think we all need to rest and recover from Thanksgiving festivities.

But we hope to see you back here next Saturday, December 1st, for A Very Vintage Christmas!

Click here to view and like our Facebook page!

Click here to view and follow our Twitter account!

Happy Day of Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I'd like to keep this post short and to the point, because I know I've got some wonderful friends and tasty turkey waiting for me, and I'm sure you do as well.

"...Ah! On Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West,

From North and from South comes the pilgrim and guest;

When the grey-haired New Englander sees round his board

The old broken links of affection restored,

When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,

And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before,

What moistens the lip and brightens the eye?

What calls back the past, like the rich pumpkin pie?..."

-Excerpt from "The Pumpkin" by John Greenleaf Whittier

We truly do hope that you have a wonderful thanksgiving, with fantastic food, and the even better opportunity to be surrounded by people you love.

And we'd also like to remind you to truly meditate on what you are thankful for, because no matter what you are going through, grace always abounds.

Not only that, but we'd like to share a challenge with you: today, when you sit down at your table for your Thanksgiving meal, look around you at all of the people sharing this day with you, and don't just be thankful for them, but love them as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

May I have your attention please...

If you've been a follower of Think Classic for the last year or so then you will be familiar with what we're about to share with you, and if you're new or just joining us then by all means, tag along.

This week is Thanksgiving week, if you are from the United States or Canada, and I know many of you are not, but regardless, we will do a blip of a post later this week in honor of Turkey Day, and then a week from Saturday, December 1, will be the official start of our second annual seasonal special, A Very Vintage Christmas.

We ran A Very Vintage Christmas last year with enormous success, so we have decided to do it again. For those of you who do not know, A Very Vintage Christmas is everything Christmas combined with everything you want that is classic, or antique. We do songs, movies, TV shows, radio programs, etc.

Last year we set up a kind of tentative schedule for our Christmas special, and this year **we will be sticking to a schedule.** I know that the first version of this announcement said there would not be a set schedule, but everything runs much more smoothly if there is one, so there will be a schedule, and it will be more or less the same as last years'.
That means that on Thursdays, there will be posts on classic Christmas music/songs/or albums.
And on Saturdays and Sundays there will be posts on classic Christmas films, and then there will also be posts on classic Christmas traditions and their origins and some classic Christmas literature as well, meaning that there will be a total of 12 posts for A Very Vintage Christmas throughout the month of December.

So, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and if you do not celebrate Thanksgiving then we hope you have a wonderful week doing whatever it is that you do. We will see you on December 1st!

And be sure to check our Twitter, Facebook, and the Think Classic homepage for a Very Vintage Christmas theme once Thanksgiving has passed!

Thanks! And happy holidays to you and yours,
Anna Snell
Think Classic Administrator