The Grinch and Max.

Theodor Dr. Seuss Geisel wrote the book "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" in 1956.



For some reason, the years 1964-1970 were the Golden Age of television Christmas animation. Dr. Seuss' "How The Grinch Stole Christmas!" was made into an animated Christmas television special in 1966. That animated special, "Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" (1966), has become one of the most renowned and replayed pieces of animation ever made.



The "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" special is one of four "holiday classics that runs every year on broadcast television, usually in late November or early December. Aside from "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" these are:

• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
• Frosty the Snowman (1969)

Of course, there are many, many other Christmas animated specials such as "The Year Without a Santa Claus" (1974), “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” (1989), and "Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town" (1970). However, they don't have quite the eternal reputation of these four.


While "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is probably the most famous of the perennial Christmas specials, the character of the Grinch is probably the single defining animated character of the holiday season. Everybody knows what a Grinch is, and they also know The Grinch from "How The Grinch Stole Christma!" It's just one of those things that everyone knows.



While Boris Karloff voiced The Grinch, he did not sing the song about his character, which is known as "The Grinch Song." That was sung by Thurl Ravenscroft. Ravenscroft was a famous voice man who, if you grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, you heard incessantly.



If you are old enough to remember, you would recognize Thurl from voicing Tony the Tiger in the Kellogg's Frosted Flakes television commercials: "They're grrreat!" Now that is fame.

Thurl Ravenscroft in 1967.

You also would recognize Thurl's voice if you like to visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World. He does work at The Haunted Mansion, Country Bear Jamboree, The Mark Twain Riverboat, Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland Railroad, and Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Thurl passed away in 2005, but his voice is still used.

Anyway, watch the classic version of "The Grinch Song" in "Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!" Accept no imitations. Below are two separate copies, in case one gets deleted.




The music in "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" was composed by Albert Hague. The song's lyrics describe the Grinch as being foul, bad-mannered and sinister using increasingly creative metaphors and synonyms, beginning with the opening line "you're a mean one, Mister Grinch". The song has six verses. Incidentally, Thurl lived a very long life, dying at the age of 91, so there is nothing dangerous about the song. :)



Pick up a copy of Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" if you have kids. They love it!


2018