Cartoon-O-Rama Presents:


The Magical Works Of RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS!

I have created this special page to salute the cartoon producers who have give children of all ages the fondest holiday memories: Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass!


For info on the R/B Holiday Specials, see Page 1 below!

For info on the Rankin/Bass TV series, go to R/B Page 2 by clicking here!

For info on the Rankin/Bass Movies, go to R/B Page 3 by clicking here!

To visit other great Rankin/Bass websites click here!



(Click here to hear some of the famous Rankin/Bass songs on our friend the Toon Tracker's Christmas Page)

RANKIN/BASS HOLIDAY SPECIALS:


Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (1964) Stop-motion animated special based on the song made famous by Gene Autry and written by Johnny Marks. Narrated by Burl Ives and featuring the voices of Billie Richards as Rudolph and Stan Francis as Santa. Rankin/Bass Productions' best loved holiday special still airs every year on network television at Christmas time, making it the longest running holiday special of all time. Songwriter Johnny Marks, who wrote "Rudolph" in the late '40s, was a friend of Arthur Rankin and wrote many new songs ("Holly Jolly Christmas," "Silver And Gold," "We're A Couple Of Misfits," etc.) just for the special. Perhaps the best loved Christmas special of all time.

Cricket On The Hearth (1967) Based on the story by Charles Dickens. Starring Danny Thomas, Marlo Thomas, Hans Conreid, Paul Frees, and Roddy McDowall as the Cricket

The Mouse On The Mayflower (1968) Thanksgiving special done in cel animation. Narrated by Tennessee Ernie Ford and featuring the voice of Eddie Albert as Miles Standish.

The Little Drummer Boy (1968) Stop-motion animated Christmas special featuring the voices of the Vienna Boys Choir, Jose Ferrer, Paul Frees, June Foray, and Miss Greer Garson.

Frosty The Snowman (1969) Cel animation Christmas special based on the famous song by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins. Narrated by Jimmy Durante and starring the voice of Jackie Vernon as Frosty.

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (1970) Stop-motion special based on the song by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Narrated by Fred Astaire and featuring the voices of Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle, Keenan Wynn as Winter, and Paul Frees as Burgermeister Meisterburger. The song "Put One Foot In Front Of The Other" is one of the best remembered songs from the Rankin/Bass holiday shows. The concept of the everything (and everyone) in Meisterbeurger's town being rendered in black and gray was borrowed for Tim Burton's vision of New York City at the end of the 18th century in his recent "Sleepy Hollow".

Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971) Stop-motion animated Easter special based on the song by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins. Narrated by Danny Kaye and featuring the voices of Casey Kasem as Peter, Paul Frees as Santa, and Vincent Price as Irontail. Unique in the fact that, even though this is obviously an Easter special, Peter visits many other holidays throughout the year.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas (1974) Cel animated special based on the famous poem by Clement Moore. Featuring the voices of Joel Grey, Tammy Grimes, and George Gobel.

The Year Without Santa Claus (1974) Stop-motion Christmas special based on the book by Phyllis McGinley. Starring the voices of Shirley Booth as Mrs. Claus, Mickey Rooney as Santa, Dick Shawn as Snow Miser, and George S. Irving as Heat Miser. This special has tripled in popularity in just the last few years, and now is close to surpassing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" as the third best remembered R/B special after Rudolph and Frosty. Arnold Schwartzeneger sang the Snow Miser song as Mr. Freeze in the "Batman & Robin" movie.

The First Christmas (1975) Stop-motion animated special featuring the song "White Christmas" by Irving Berlin. Starring the voices of Angela Lansbury as Sister Theresa and Cyril Richards as Father Thomas.

The First Easter Bunny (1976) Cel animated Easter special featuring the song "Easter Parade" by Irving Berlin. Narrated by Burl Ives as The Great Easter Bunny, and starring the voices of Robert Morse as Stuffy, Stan Freberg as Flops, and Paul Frees as Zero and Spats.

Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976) Cel animation Christmas special featuring the song "Winter Wonderland" by Dick Smith and Felix Bernard. Narrated by Andy Griffith and starring Shirley Winters as Crystal, Dennis Day as Parson Brown, Paul Frees as Jack Frost, and Jackie Vernon as Frosty.

Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976) Stop-motion Christmas special. Starring the voices of Red Skelton as Father Time, Frank Gorshin as Sir Tentworthree, Morey Amsterdam as One Million B.C., Paul Frees as Santa, and Billie Richards as Rudolph.

The Little Drummer Boy, Book II (1976) Stop-motion Christmas special. Narrated by Greer Garson and starring the voices of Zero Mostel as Brutus, David Jay as Aaron, and Bob McFadden as Plato.

The Easter Bunny Is Comin' To Town (1977) Stop-motion Easter special. Narrated by Fred Astaire and featuring the voices of Skip Hinnant as Sunny The Easter Bunny and Bob McFadden as Chugs.

Nestor The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977) Stop-motion Christmas special based on the song by Gene Autry. Starring the voices of Brenda Vacaro as Tillie and Paul Frees as Olaf.

The Stingiest Man In Town (1978) One hour cel animated Christmas special based on "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Starring Tom Bosley as B.A.H. Humbug, Walter Matthau as Scrooge, Dennis Day as Fred, Paul Frees as The Ghost Of Christmas Past, and Debra Clinger as Martha.

Jack Frost (1979) One hour stop-motion animated Christmas special featuring the songs "Me And My Shadow" by Billy Rose, Al Jolsen, and Dave Dryer and "The Christmas Song" by Mel Torme and Robert Wells.Pinocchio's Chrstmas (1980) Stop-motion animation special based on the classic fairy tales by C. Collodi. Featuring the voices of Alan King, George S. Irving, Robert McFadden, and Todd Porter.

The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold (1981) Stop-motion animated special. Featuring the voices of Art Carney, Peggy Cass, Robert McFadden, and Ken Jennings.

The Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus (1985) Stop-motion Christmas special. The final R/B holiday special, based on the story by "Wizard Of Oz" creator L. Frank Baum.

Non-Holiday Rankin/Bass Specials

The Ballad Of Smokey The Bear (1966) The follow-up to "Rudolph." Rankin/Bass and General Electric again teamed up to produce this hour long stop-motion special for NBC. "Rudolph" composer Johnny Marks provided music and lyrics again. Narrated by James Cagney. Featuring the voices of Barry Pearl, William Marine, Rose Marie Jun, Herbert Duncan, and others.

The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians (1970) 30 minute cel animated special featuring animated versions of famous comics Groucho Marx, Jack Benny, George Burns, Henny Youngman, The Smothers Brothers, Flip Wilson, Phyllis Diller, Jack E. Leonard, and George Jessel, all of whom provide the voices for their own characters. Paul Frees provided the voices for Harpo and Chico Marx, as well as W.C. Fields. Although not remembered by the general public, at the time it gave R/B their highest ratings ever, even better than Rudolph!

The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye (The Emperor's New Clothes) (1972)

Mad, Mad, Mad Monsters (1972) Aired as part of ABC's Saturday Superstar Movies.

Willie Mays and the Say-Hey Kid (1972) Another Saturday Superstar Movie.

The Red Baron (1972) Another Saturday Superstar Movie.

That Girl In Wonderland (1974) Another Saturday Superstar Movie featuring the voice of Marlo Thomas. An animated Ann Marie (Thomas's character from her "That Girl" sitcom) daydreams herself into popular fairy tales such as Wizard of Oz, Snow White, and Cinderella.

The Hobbit (1977) 90 minute cel animated adaption of the J.R.R. Tolkien classic fantasy story. Featuring the voices of Orson Bean, Richard Boone, Hans Conreid, John Huston, Otto Preminger, Cyril Ritchard, Paul Frees, Don Messick, and John Stephenson. "The Greatest Adventure" sung by Glen Yarbrough.

Return Of The King (1980) Two hour cel animated TV movie. The sequel to 1977's "Hobbit." Featuring the voices of Orson Bean, William Conrad, John Huston, Roddy McDowall, Paul Frees, Don Messick, John Stephenson, and Casey Kasem.

The Coneheads (1983) Cel animation special based on the characters from Saturday Night Live. Featuring the voices of Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman. Written by SNL writers Al Franken and Tom Davis.

The Flight Of Dragons (1986) Two hour cel animated special based on the books "The Dragon & George" by Gordon R. Dickson and "The Flight Of Dragons" by Peter Dickson. The theme song is sung by Don "American Pie" McLean. Featuring the voices of John Ritter, Harry Morgon, James Earl Jones, Victor Buono, and Larry Storch.

For info on the Rankin/Bass TV series, go to R/B Page 2 by clicking here!

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Updated December 11, 1999

© 1997 paulec1@aol.com


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