The 1956 Howdy Doody version of "A Christmas Carol" only runs about three and a half minutes. So, what do they manage to fit in?
They actually get a lot in there!
Buffalo Bob narrates the proceedings in song and the other characters speak a few lines here and there.
Bob Cratchit wishes Scrooge "Merry Christmas," but Scrooge says, Bah, humbug" and tells Cratchit that he won't give him a raise.
Scrooge receives a ghostly visitor, who tells him he needs to change his ways and that three other ghosts will teach him. Interestingly, this first visitor is not identified as the ghost of Marley or anyone else.
This makes me think of that 1953 novelty song "Ebenezer Scrooge," which also has an unnamed party warning him.
This ghost has kind of a wacky voice that sounds like it could belong to a character from the show, but it's not billed on the record.
The first spirit is not identified as such, but it's the Ghost of Christmas Past. She shows Scrooge Christmases from the past. We get a little taste of Fezziwig's party, but the twist here is that the ghost says that Scrooge was invited, but didn't go!
This ghost has just that one line, but she has a pleasant sounding voice. This does not seem to be a Doodyville character.
The Ghost of Christmas Present is identified in the song, but he actually doesn't get any lines.
He shows Scrooge Bob Cratchit's family and we hear Tiny Tim say his famous line. Bob then tells us about Tiny Tim and how he can use a raise.
That's all just from the minute and change on Side 1!
Side 2 starts with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, who shows Scrooge his own tomb and sings a little. He also has kind of a "character" voice, but is not identified.
Is this maybe the only version of any sort that has the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come speak, but not the Ghost of Christmas Present?
In any event, Scrooge reforms and says he'll give his clerk a raise. Bob comes back to tell us that he got his raise and Tiny Tim got well.
The song explains that Scrooge has a happy life ahead and knew how to keep Christmas well.
So, a whirlwind trip through the story in only two sides of a little yellow record!
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