Vintage Christmas TV Classics - Volume 1

THE RED SKELTON SHOW:

In the episode "Freddie and the Yuletide Doll", Red Skelton is performing in his beloved "Freddie-The-Freeloader" persona. Freddie finds himself alone on Christmas Eve in a public park. Finding an old tattered Raggedy Ann doll, he imagines it to be his dream date and the doll comes alive.

In O. Henry's "The Cop and The Anthem" Freddie-The-Freeloader is determined to get locked up in jail for 90 days to pass the harsh winter. But try as he might, Freddie is unable to get arrested.

THE JACK BENNY SHOW:

This New Year's Eve variety show features surprise guest star Jayne Mansfield. The Sportsmen Quartet and gravel-voiced Eddie "Rochester" Anderson perform a spirited musical number about New Years in Trinidad. "The Landrews Sisters" (not to be confused with The Andrews Sisters) provide the perfect foils for Jack's cutting wit.

In "The Christmas Shopping Show", Jack and Rochester are in a busy department store seeking last minute gifts. This episode features a hilarious performance from Mel Blanc, best known as the voice of the Looney Tunes cartoon characters and always a highlight of Jack's programs.

THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES:

"Christmas at the Clampetts" finds our favorite rustic family receiving California-themed gifts from the snooty Drysdales, who want to keep the Hillbillies and their 25 million dollars from returning to their Ozark geyser of black gold.

In a later Yuletide edition, "Home For Christmas", the Clampetts take a first-class trip home to visit kinfolk (played by Paul Winchell and Bea Benaderet.) Marking their first time on a plane, the unsophisticated Clampetts confront modern technology with hilarious results.