The Year Without a Santa Claus (TV Movie 1974)

The Year Without a Santa Claus: Directed by Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.. With Shirley Booth, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, George S. Irving. When a weary and discouraged Santa Claus considers skipping his Christmas Eve run one year, Mrs. Claus and his elves set out to change his mind.

“The Year Without a Santa Claus is a 1974 Christmas stop motion animated television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. The story is based on Phyllis McGinleyu0026#39;s 1956 book of the same name, illustrated by Kurt Werth. It was originally broadcast on December 10, 1974 on ABC.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis could be a sequel to u0026quot;Santa Claus is Coming To Townu0026quot; and it is in a spiritual way. Their is however isnu0026#39;t. The animation is different and the elves in this special are not the same elves we see in u0026quot;Santa Claus is Coming to Townu0026quot;. It is however produced by the same company (Rankin/Bass) and Mickey Rooney voices u0026quot;Santau0026quot; in this special as well.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNow in this film u0026quot;Santau0026quot; decides to not deliver presents this year because he sees that people no longer have u0026quot;Christmas Spiritu0026quot; and no longer believe in Santa.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn an effort to save Christmas Mrs. Claus dispatches two elves out into the world to prove to Santa wrong. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNow this special has the now classic songs from u0026quot;The Heatmiseru0026quot; and u0026quot;Mr Snowu0026quot;. There is however 2 other songs that should of been cut or re-worked. Then again that is just my opinion u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis special is a true classic. To call it u0026quot;One of the crown jewels of Holiday Programmingu0026quot; would not do it justice. It is one of the finest programs ever produced for TV. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis special really gained a huge following once it hit Home Video. ABC held the rights for TV broadcast for years but seldom aired the special. After it became obvious that this special was loved by millions ABC began running it again on u0026quot;ABC FAMILYu0026quot; and the u0026quot;ABC Networku0026quot;. The same thing happened with u0026quot;Santa Claus is Coming to Townu0026quot; that special was also returned to the ABC Network because of its huge following. That special was syndicated for years. ABC has now re- gained broadcasting rights.”