OT: Reflections on this Christmas Eve

[Alaskawildkat]

Despite our many diverse beliefs and backgrounds, the love we share for those Purple-suited "young men" who give their all on Saturday's to entertain us unites as a singular community. This holiday season similarly brings a commonality of shared sentiment.

Earlier this past week as I listened to the remarks of those celebrating the life of Football Coach Mike Leach I was impressed to learn of how his Faith helped him to meet the challenges he faced. A friend shared how this "most interesting man in college football" (as he has been described in the press) had just the week before shared with him the importance of a Bible verse he had read. Subsequently I found this reporting, "Leach went on to say that he reads 10 pages of the King James version before games, It. brings 'a relaxation, a calmness and clarity' to his thoughts, along with a big-picture life perspective, Leach said."

Later in the week I was being interviewed for a podcast with regard to my recollections of the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, an event that for me, even as a teen-ager, provided a "big-picture life perspective." My teen-age interviewer caught me by surprise when she asked, "What effect did the earthquake have upon you?" I offered that it made me feel how small and insignificant we are, sort of like how one feels when looking up into the night sky and ponders the multitude of stars."

On this Christmas Eve as I reflect upon how the Spirit of Christmas unites all of us, regardless of Faith, and adds a measure of meaning to our mortal existence I sense a partial answer to the Psalmist's question from Psalm 8:4, "What is man that You are mindful of him?"

May I join in wishing a Merry Christmas to all, or as they say here in Hawaii where I find myself today, "Mele Kalikimaka."

 

[FanatiCat]

Wonderful reflections, thank you! And Merry Christmas to all.

 

[docrugby1]

Is that McGarrett ?

 

[drewjin]

Good eye, docrugby!!! Jack Lord, that is exactly who it is!

 

[ubercat]

AKA Stoney Burke

 

[StreamCat]

Despite our many diverse beliefs and backgrounds, the love we share for those Purple-suited "young men" who give their all on Saturday's to entertain us unites as a singular community. This holiday season similarly brings a commonality of shared sentiment.

Earlier this past week as I listened to the remarks of those celebrating the life of Football Coach Mike Leach I was impressed to learn of how his Faith helped him to meet the challenges he faced. A friend shared how this "most interesting man in college football" (as he has been described in the press) had just the week before shared with him the importance of a Bible verse he had read. Subsequently I found this reporting, "Leach went on to say that he reads 10 pages of the King James version before games, It. brings 'a relaxation, a calmness and clarity' to his thoughts, along with a big-picture life perspective, Leach said."

Later in the week I was being interviewed for a podcast with regard to my recollections of the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, an event that for me, even as a teen-ager, provided a "big-picture life perspective." My teen-age interviewer caught me by surprise when she asked, "What effect did the earthquake have upon you?" I offered that it made me feel how small and insignificant we are, sort of like how one feels when looking up into the night sky and ponders the multitude of stars."

On this Christmas Eve as I reflect upon how the Spirit of Christmas unites all of us, regardless of Faith, and adds a measure of meaning to our mortal existence I sense a partial answer to the Psalmist's question from Psalm 8:4, "What is man that You are mindful of him?"

May I join in wishing a Merry Christmas to all, or as they say here in Hawaii where I find myself today, "Mele Kalikimaka."

Beautiful. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

 

[TheC]

Merry Christmas fellow posters!

 

[AstroCat]

Lovely pictures, especially when viewed from a place where it is currently 12 degrees (F).

During the various Advent and Christmas services, you often hear this text from Isiah: "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light." While it is not a fit comparison, our fans have probably felt like the people walking in darkness for the last two years. Hopefully, we will see a great light soon.

Merry Christmas to all,

- Astro

 

[Figrating]

 

[Alaskawildkat]

View embedded media

Thanks all for the varied responses and to Figrating for the Christmas Song addition.

The first line referencing “Silver Bells” brought to mind a posted thread here from several years ago. When I get access to my laptop I’ll try to include it.

Hope all had a Merry Christmas despite the challenges of the Christmas snow storms and subzero temperatures faced by many here.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

OK, here is an attempt to post the above referenced regarding "Silver Bells."

Have to question if the song would have maintained the same popularity if its lyrics had been "Tinkle Bells" as originally drafted:





Christmas songs and Christmas stories help to add to the special spirit of the season making it a "favorite time of the year." Here is my story about a Christmas song that, by sharing it, will hopefully add a special meaning for you as well. As recounted below, each time I hear the song "Silver Bells" it takes me back to a fortuitous encounter in San Antonio as I watched the graciousness of Bob Hope as he not only sung the song with his co-star, but also demonstrated the spirit of Christmas in his kindness to his wife Dolores and those of us present.


I became partial to "Silver Bells" when by chance in 1992 I got to watch Bob Hope and Phylicia Rashad (the Cosby show mom) serenade each other in a boat on San Antonio's River Walk during the filming of the last "on the road" Bob Hope Christmas Specials. (It was also the last one where he went to visit "The Troops" as he included a visit to nearby Kelly Air Force Base where he was honored as "a four star hero." (The name of the Christmas Special was, "Four Star Christmas Fiesta.")

I was in San Antonio on business and had my video camera with me back before camcorders were common-place. I was allowed to video tape the multiple takes and somewhere I still have the footage on tape. Although it was still Fall, the whole Riverwalk had been lit up with Christmas lights for the taping of the Special.

One of the things about that magical evening that has stayed with me over the years was watching Bob Hope escort his wife Dolores over the arched bridge that crossed the waterway in front of their hotel on the Riverwalk. Despite their evident impaired mobility it was touching to see them ascend the arched bridge together arm in arm.

Another thing that impressed me was how gracious Bob Hope was to the film crew when the cameras were turned off. He was more concerned about their comfort and well being than his own on that somewhat chilly evening. His eyesight was so poor at that point that the cue cards contained at most two or three words on each one so that the words could be big enough for him to read them.
In watching a recording of the Bob Hope Christmas Special years later, I was actually able to identify myself as an unintended "extra' lined up along the banks of San Antonio's River Walk.

So when I now hear "Silver Bells" it takes me back to that memory of a man from "The Greatest Generation" (as so termed by Tom Brokaw,) and how he exemplified the Christmas Spirit on that enchanted evening.

The song itself was first performed in 1951 when Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell sang it in the Christmas movie, "The Lemon Drop Kid." Over the years it was a mainstay of multiple Bob Hope Christmas Specials. Below is a YouTube link to his performance of "Silver Bells" with his wife Dolores at their home in Palm Springs as it was included in his "at home" Christmas Special the following year in 1993.

As the song is sung cameo flash-backs are included of the 17 other times that Bob Hope sang "Silver Bells" duets with various others on his Christmas Specials. One of those included is the one I was at where he and Phylicia Rashad serenade each other while a mariachi band on the shore where I stood provided the accompaniment.

Here is a link:

And for a YouTube link to the 1951 original performance in the movie, "Lemon Drop Kid:"
https://youtube.com/watch?v=UNwGVgfkcgI

And for some added history regarding the Christmas Classic "Silver Bells" it is interesting to learn that its original composers (Jay Livingston and Ray Evans) had initially titled the song, "Twinkle Bells" which got changed to "Silver Bells" after Ray's wife pointed out that "Twinkle Bells" at the time had an unfavorable slang connotation.

Also notable is the fact that the film for which the song was written was filmed in July and August of 1950 and prior to its 1951 release the song "Silver Bells" was first sung by a William Frawley and became even more popular when it was first recorded by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards on September 8, 1950.

This now popularity of the song itself prompted the movie directors to call back Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell at the end of the year to do a more elaborate version of "Silver Bells" for the "Lemon Drop Kid" movie prior to its March, 1951 release.


A screenshot from the 1992 Bob Hope Christmas Special filmed on the San Antonio River Walk where I watched and heard Bob Hope and Phylicia Rashad sing "Silver Bells" from their boat as I stood on the river bank as an unintended "extra."

 

[StreamCat]

OK, here is an attempt to post the above referenced regarding "Silver Bells."

Have to question if the song would have maintained the same popularity if its lyrics had been "Tinkle Bells" as originally drafted:





Christmas songs and Christmas stories help to add to the special spirit of the season making it a "favorite time of the year." Here is my story about a Christmas song that, by sharing it, will hopefully add a special meaning for you as well. As recounted below, each time I hear the song "Silver Bells" it takes me back to a fortuitous encounter in San Antonio as I watched the graciousness of Bob Hope as he not only sung the song with his co-star, but also demonstrated the spirit of Christmas in his kindness to his wife Dolores and those of us present.


I became partial to "Silver Bells" when by chance in 1992 I got to watch Bob Hope and Phylicia Rashad (the Cosby show mom) serenade each other in a boat on San Antonio's River Walk during the filming of the last "on the road" Bob Hope Christmas Specials. (It was also the last one where he went to visit "The Troops" as he included a visit to nearby Kelly Air Force Base where he was honored as "a four star hero." (The name of the Christmas Special was, "Four Star Christmas Fiesta.")

I was in San Antonio on business and had my video camera with me back before camcorders were common-place. I was allowed to video tape the multiple takes and somewhere I still have the footage on tape. Although it was still Fall, the whole Riverwalk had been lit up with Christmas lights for the taping of the Special.

One of the things about that magical evening that has stayed with me over the years was watching Bob Hope escort his wife Dolores over the arched bridge that crossed the waterway in front of their hotel on the Riverwalk. Despite their evident impaired mobility it was touching to see them ascend the arched bridge together arm in arm.

Another thing that impressed me was how gracious Bob Hope was to the film crew when the cameras were turned off. He was more concerned about their comfort and well being than his own on that somewhat chilly evening. His eyesight was so poor at that point that the cue cards contained at most two or three words on each one so that the words could be big enough for him to read them.
In watching a recording of the Bob Hope Christmas Special years later, I was actually able to identify myself as an unintended "extra' lined up along the banks of San Antonio's River Walk.

So when I now hear "Silver Bells" it takes me back to that memory of a man from "The Greatest Generation" (as so termed by Tom Brokaw,) and how he exemplified the Christmas Spirit on that enchanted evening.

The song itself was first performed in 1951 when Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell sang it in the Christmas movie, "The Lemon Drop Kid." Over the years it was a mainstay of multiple Bob Hope Christmas Specials. Below is a YouTube link to his performance of "Silver Bells" with his wife Dolores at their home in Palm Springs as it was included in his "at home" Christmas Special the following year in 1993.

As the song is sung cameo flash-backs are included of the 17 other times that Bob Hope sang "Silver Bells" duets with various others on his Christmas Specials. One of those included is the one I was at where he and Phylicia Rashad serenade each other while a mariachi band on the shore where I stood provided the accompaniment.

Here is a link:

View embedded media

And for a YouTube link to the 1951 original performance in the movie, "Lemon Drop Kid:"
https://youtube.com/watch?v=UNwGVgfkcgI

And for some added history regarding the Christmas Classic "Silver Bells" it is interesting to learn that its original composers (Jay Livingston and Ray Evans) had initially titled the song, "Twinkle Bells" which got changed to "Silver Bells" after Ray's wife pointed out that "Twinkle Bells" at the time had an unfavorable slang connotation.

Also notable is the fact that the film for which the song was written was filmed in July and August of 1950 and prior to its 1951 release the song "Silver Bells" was first sung by a William Frawley and became even more popular when it was first recorded by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards on September 8, 1950.

This now popularity of the song itself prompted the movie directors to call back Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell at the end of the year to do a more elaborate version of "Silver Bells" for the "Lemon Drop Kid" movie prior to its March, 1951 release.


A screenshot from the 1992 Bob Hope Christmas Special filmed on the San Antonio River Walk where I watched and heard Bob Hope and Phylicia Rashad sing "Silver Bells" from their boat as I stood on the river bank as an unintended "extra."

I'm a big fan of The Lemon Drop Kid which was based on a Damon Runyon story. I'm also a fan of his.