Frosty the Snowman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Frosty the Snowman" is a popular Christmas song written by Steve "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson in 1950. It was written after Gene Autry recorded "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and the single sold 2 million copies. Rollins and Nelson shipped the new song to Autry, who recorded "Frosty" in search of another seasonal hit. Like "Rudolph", "Frosty" was subsequently adapted to other media including a popular television special. Originally titled "Frosty The Snow Man" with label credit as: Gene Autry & The Cass County Boys, Orch. under the direction of Carl Cotner. Columbia 38907(78rpm) / 6-742(45rpm).
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[edit] The original song
The song is about a snowman who came to life thanks to a magical hat some children found; he then had playful adventures before he "hurried on his way". It has been covered by many artists over the years, including Nat King Cole, Ray Conniff, the Cocteau Twins, the Beach Boys, and countless other musical acts (including a 2005 recording of the song by famous Hollywood actor Burt Reynolds)
In 1954, the UPA studio brought "Frosty" to life in a three-minute animated short which appeared regularly on WGN-TV. This production included a bouncy, jazzy version of the song. It has been a perennial WGN-TV Christmas classic, and was most recently broadcast on December 24 and 25, 2005, as part of a WGN-TV children's programming retrospective, along with their two other short Christmas classics, "Suzy Snowflake" and "Hardrock, Coco and Joe".
- Frosty the Snowman
- Was a jolly happy soul
- With a corncob pipe and a button nose
- And two eyes made out of coal
- Frosty the Snowman
- Is a fairytale they say
- He was made of snow
- But the children know
- How he came to life one day
- There must have been some magic
- In that old silk hat they found
- For when they placed it on his head
- He began to dance around
- Frosty the Snowman
- Was alive as he could be
- And the children say
- He could laugh and play
- Just the same as you and me
- Frosty the Snowman
- Knew the sun was hot that day
- So he said let's run
- And we'll have some fun
- Now before I melt away
- Down to the village
- With a broomstick in his hand
- Running here and there all around the square
- Saying catch me if you can
- He led them down the streets of town
- Right to the traffic cop
- And he only paused a moment when
- He heard him holler stop
- Frosty the Snowman
- Had to hurry on his way
- But he waved goodbye
- Saying don't you cry
- I'll be back again some day
- Thumpety thump thump
- Thumpety thump thump
- Look at Frosty go
- Thumpety thump thump
- Thumpety thump thump
- Over the hills of snow
[edit] 1969 Rankin-Bass television special
In 1969, the Rankin-Bass company produced a thirty-minute animated television special of "Frosty" that featured the voices of comedians Jimmy Durante as narrator and Jackie Vernon as the title character. This special marked the first use of traditional cel animation for Rankin-Bass. Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass wanted to give the show and its characters the look of a Christmas card, so Paul Coker, Jr., a greeting card artist who would later be known for his work in MAD Magazine, was hired to do the animation. Rankin-Bass veteran writer Romeo Muller adapted and expanded the story for television as he had done with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1964.
In the special, a young girl named Karen (credited to June Foray, but actually voiced by an unknown) brings a snowman to life with a top hat discarded by inept magician Professor Hinkle (voiced by Billy De Wolfe). The snowman's first words after coming to life are "Happy Birthday!" Karen's friends suggest names for their new friend including "Oatmeal", and Christopher Columbus, but Karen's decides to call him "Frosty". When Hinkle learns of the magic power his hat actually possesses, he demands that Karen and Frosty return it immediately.
Frosty and the children elude Hinkle long enough to have some fun in town, including the confrontation with the traffic cop mentioned in the lyrics, but Frosty soon senses the temperature is rising and worries about melting.
With Hinkle in hot pursuit, Karen and Frosty flee together to the North Pole to get Frosty to a place where he will not melt. Helping them in their journey is Hocus Pocus, the professor's rabbit. When they can't afford a train ticket, the friends stow away aboard a refrigerated train car. Unbeknownst to them, Hinkle has also hitched a ride on the same train. Later Frosty, Hocus, and Karen jump off the train, leaving Hinkle behind once again.
Fearing that Karen can't survive the cold weather, Frosty asks Hocus Pocus who might be able to help them. Hocus suggests (and acts out) the President of the United States and the US Marines, before suggesting Santa Claus. Frosty agrees, and promptly takes credit for the idea himself. The forest animals build a campfire to keep Karen warm until they can locate Santa Claus. Hinkle again arrives and blows out the fire. Frosty and Karen are again forced to flee, this time with Karen riding on Frosty's back as he slid head-first down a hill. At the bottom of the slope, Karen and Frosty discover a greenhouse filled with poinsettias. Against Karen's advice Frosty steps inside the warm greenhouse, suggesting that he could afford to lose a little weight, but Hinkle again catches up to Frosty and locks him and Karen in the greenhouse.
Hocus brings Santa Claus (voiced by Paul Frees) to the greenhouse only to find Karen in tears and Frosty melted on the floor. Santa explains to Karen that Frosty is made from Christmas snow, and that he can never completely melt away. With a gust of cold wind through the open greenhouse door, Frosty is brought back to life and again exclaims "Happy Birthday!" Hinkle again arrives on the scene and demands the return of his hat. He relents only when threatened with being removed from Santa's Christmas list for the rest of his life. Santa returns Karen home and Frosty exclaims as he rides off in Santa's sleigh, "I'll be back again someday!"
The special's popularity led to several television sequels over the next 20 years:
[edit] Frosty's Winter Wonderland
In this 1976 sequel by Rankin-Bass, also written by Romeo Muller, narration is provided by Andy Griffith. Jackie Vernon reprised his role as the voice of Frosty. Lonely at the North Pole, Frosty returns to meet his friends. Jack Frost (voiced by Paul Frees) sees the fun that the children are having with Frosty and becomes jealous. Despite the fun he has, Frosty ends up feeling lonely again. His friends make a wife named Crystal (voiced by Shelley Winters) for him, but she isn't alive like he is. The children try placing a ladies' hat on her head, but to no avail. Late that night, Frosty presents his stationary sweetheart with a bouquet of frost flowers. His gift of love brings her to life, and she immediately says his trademark line: "Happy Birthday". The two joyously frolic through the snow, until Jack Frost uses a gust of icy wind to blow off Frosty's hat, which lands into Jack's icy hand. As he taunts Crystal with cries of "No more Frosty! No more Frosty!", she refuses to believe that her frozen fiance is truly gone for good. Sculpting a corsage out of snow, she places it on Frosty's chest and gives him a kiss which immediately brings him back to life with his usual cheerful birthday cry. Jack Frost is befuddled at Frosty's reanimation, and the snow-couple begins to slide down the slope of the hill they were on. Angered, Jack throws Frosty's hat, which returns to its rightful place on the snowman's head. Frosty and Crystal run through the town shouting their wedding announcement to the children. The children gather together with Parson Brown, the local preacher, in tow to marry the snowpersons. Parson Brown says that he can't perform the ceremony, as he can only legally marry REAL persons. Everyone is dejected until Parson Brown suggests they build a "snow parson". After the minister is constructed from snow, Parson Brown states that "A parson is not a parson 'til he holds the Good Book in his hand." He places a Bible into the snow parson's hand, and he is immediately vivified (And once again, stating the "Happy Birthday" line). Jack Frost witnesses this and decides to spoil the wedding with a blizzard. Crystal decides to reason with him and pleas for him to stop the blizzard. He complies, and she asks for him to be the best man at the wedding (After all, the whole wedding should be wintery, and so it would only be appropriate for him to be the best man). Finally feeling appreciated, Jack Frost agrees and the wedding goes on without a hitch.
The snowpersons and Jack Frost have fun with the children all winter, but they notice the weather is starting to grow warm again. Jack Frost decides to make it so that winter never ends and Frosty and Crystal can stay. As the overly long winter continues and worries adults, Parson Brown decides to talk with everyone. He tells that winter can never last forever, or the trees will never sprout leaves and flowers will never grow. Jack Frost and the Snowpersons are saddened, but acknowledge it's time for them to leave. They once again head for the train to the North Pole (But not before one last skate through town and one more scare for the local policeman). All traces of winter melt away, but with the promise to return next year.
[edit] Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
This 1979 Rankin-Bass sequel was filmed in stop-motion animation in the style of their classic 1964 Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Where Rudolph was 60 minutes, and all of the other Frosty specials were just 30 minutes, this ambitious special was feature length, at 97 minutes long. Paul Frees, Jackie Vernon, and Shelly Winters reprised their roles and Billie Mae Richards again provided the voice of Rudolph. Mickey Rooney provides the voice of Santa Claus. Red Buttons and Ethel Merman also provide voices. This film is the last film that Jackie Vernon would be the voice of Frosty before the eventual takeover of the voice of Frosty by John Goodman in 1992 (see Frosty Returns)
In this special, evil wizard Winterbolt wakes from a magic sleep cast upon him by Lady Boreal. In her final act of magic, Boreal transfers the last of his power into Rudolph's red nose, which will stop glowing if it is ever used for evil. Winterbolt learns of this and planned to not only dipose of the only power to stop him, but reclaim his territory from Santa Claus. For that Winterbolt took advantage of Frosty and his family.
Winterbolt offered Frosty magic amulets that will prevent his family from melting at a Fourth of July Circus Rudolph was to star, but only until the end of the event. Santa and Rudolph agree to pick up Frosty and Crystal, but Winterbolt has his dragons blow up a blizzard to prevent Santa from arriving. Winterbolt also recruits an evil reindeer named Scratcher (voiced by Alan Sues) to try to get Rudolph to turn, or at least look evil in the eyes of his friends. With the blizzard keeping Santa from getting to them, time was not on the side of Frosty and family.
Scratcher, taking adventage of Rudolph's kindness, steals money from the circus and set up Rudolph to take the blame after making a deal with Winterbolt, who extended the powers of the amulets Frosty's family wears for an infinite time in exchange. Frosty's family were outraged at Rudolph and his nose stops glowing. Only Frosty knew the truth and wanted to restore Rudolph's nose, Winterbolt took advantage of Frosty as well by lying that he'll do it in exchange for Frosty's hat, with intentions use the magic powers of Frosty's hat to create an army of snowmen at his disposal. Ruldoph managed to steal back the hat, with his nose regaining its glow, and returned to Frosty. But once Winterbolt was no more, all of his magic spells were negated. However, Jack Frost, the villain from the previous Frosty's Winter Wonderland (but in the "animagic" form from another Rankin/Bass special called Jack Frost), arrived to rescue his former nemesis & family as they were whisked back to the north pole by Santa.
[edit] Frosty Returns
This 1992 half-hour special is not truly a sequel to the 1969 classic, as it was produced not by Rankin-Bass but by CBS. The characters, setting, and voices are different; the animation (by veteran Peanuts director Bill Melendez) is vastly different; and the overall feature pales in comparison to the originals. However, it is commonly billed as the sequel to the 1969 classic, shown back-to-back with Frosty each Christmas season on CBS and has been bundled on DVD with the R-B original.
Jonathan Winters - in anthropomorphic cartoon form - narrates and John Goodman provides the voice of Frosty.
Frosty arrives in the town of Beansboro and meets young Holly DeCarlo (voiced by Elisabeth Moss). Meanwhile, evil Mr. Twitchell (voiced by Brian Doyle-Murray) is the inventor of "Summer Wheeze", an aerosol spray that instantly melts snow. The town of Beansboro falls head over heels for it. Frosty is concerned about his safety and Holly is concerned about the environmental impact of the untested product (this is true, as aerosols release fluorocarbons into the atmosphere, which deplete the ozone layer) Holly gets Frosty to appear at the annual Beansboro Winter Carnival to persuade the townspeople to rethink their newfound hatred of snow. Explaining the joy of winter to the town, Frosty is declared king of the carnival, a title that Mr. Twitchell had hoped to win thanks to Summer Wheeze. Holly and Frosty, however, allow Mr. Twitchell to still wear the cape and ride the sled of the carnival king.
The plot of this particular special is markedly more political than its predecessors and successors, alluding to climate change, environmentalism, and corporate enterprise.
[edit] The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
Frosty returned again in 2005 with a made-for-video animated film produced by Classic Media (the current rights holder for the original Rankin/Bass special and the remainder of their pre-1974 library). This movie has also been bundled with the original 1969 Rankin/Bass special and the CBS sequel. Narrated and sung by Burt Reynolds, with veteran actor/voice artist Bill Fagerbakke in the role of Frosty, this new chapter in the saga revisits Frosty many years after he shouts out his first “Happy Birthday!”, when he appears in a little town where magic, silliness, and nonsense of all kinds are strictly against the rules.
At the beginning of the story, we see Frosty’s hat escape from a locked chest in an attic, fly out a window, and descend on the picture-perfect town of Evergreen. Frosty first reveals himself to Tommy Tinkerton (Kath Soucie), the son of the town’s impossibly upbeat but no-nonsense mayor, Mr. Tinkerton (Tom Kenny). But Tommy doesn’t dare accept Frosty’s invitation to play outside in the snow, because he’s afraid of disappointing his father. So Frosty instead befriends Tommy’s best friend, Walter Wader, who shocks everyone, especially his very strict mother, by breaking curfew and flying, sledding, and snowball-fighting with Frosty.
Walter’s rule-breaking gets all the kids of Evergreen talking, but it greatly upsets Principal Pankley (Larry Miller), who is even more adamantly opposed to magic than Mr. Tinkerton. Principal Pankley uses the arrival of Frosty to sow doubts among the townspeople about Mayor Tinkerton’s leadership, and little by little he begins to take over the town.
But once magic is stirred up, it isn’t easily contained. One by one, Frosty wins over the other kids of Evergreen, including Sara Simple (Tara Strong) (a sharp, independent girl who tells her mom, “I don’t want to be a princess—I want to be an urban planner”); Tommy’s brother, Charlie Tinkerton; and Sonny, Sully, and Simon Sklarew. Frosty befriends each of them through the simple means of believing in them, which inspires them to begin to believe in themselves.
Increasingly desperate to deny the existence of Frosty and keep Evergreen magic-free, Principal Pankley tricks Walter Wader into helping him lure Frosty for some ice-skating fun, then tricks Frosty into venturing onto thin ice. Before Walter can save his friend, Frosty falls through the ice and melts, and Principal Pankley captures Frosty’s hat, which is the key to his magic.
As all of this unfolds, Tommy Tinkerton, who was the first one to whom Frosty appeared, has been sitting on the sidelines, watching his best friend, his brother, and his would-be sweetheart experiencing adventure and magic in which he could share. But he has held back, even though he yearns to meet Frosty, out of loyalty to his dad (because he knows his dad would disapprove of him acknowledging the existence of magic).
Everything changes, though, when Tommy finds a secret room beneath the library, in which he discovers a comic book filled with secrets about Frosty. At first, most of the comic book is blank. Each time Tommy checks it again, new panels appear. Over the course of several scenes, Tommy learns that Frosty’s magic is in his hat; that his dad (Mr. Tinkerton) met Frosty when he was a boy, and did believe in magic once upon a time; and that Principal Pankley, a childhood friend of his father’s, took Frosty’s hat and hid it away in an attic (the same attic from which the hat escaped at the beginning of the story), causing young Mr. Tinkerton to lose his faith in magic. The comic book also reveals to Tommy what Principal Pankley has just done (with Walter Wader’s unwitting help) to recapture Frosty.
All this time, Tommy has held back from befriending Frosty out of loyalty to his dad, who has always told Tommy not to believe in magic. But now Tommy sees that his dad once believed in magic, too, but was tricked into losing faith. And Tommy realizes that the most loyal thing he can do is not to hide from magic, but to help his dad rediscover that magic is indeed real.
Tommy explains what’s really going on to Charlie, Sara, Walter, and the Sklarew triplets, and leads a daring rescue of Frosty’s hat in which all the kids help out. A climactic series of scenes follows in which Principal Pankley tries and fails to recapture the hat, then tries to deter the townspeople (including Mr. Tinkerton) from going into the woods to see what all the ruckus and noise are about. But Mr. Tinkerton refuses to be deterred, and Tommy is able to reintroduce his dad to the old friend, who Mr. Tinkerton had long since stopped believing in.
Meanwhile, the other parents are confused and angry: why are their kids out at night? And can this magical snowman they’ve been hearing about be real after all? Principal Pankley tries to stir them up to regain control of the situation, but Walter Wader breaks the spell by throwing a snowball at Principal Pankley. And one by one, the other kids and parents join in, until the town of Evergreen, which had forgotten how to have fun, gives itself over joyously to a “snowball-fighting, horseplaying, lark of a good time.”
A brief epilogue shows us Evergreen transformed — with Mr. Tinkerton doing magic tricks, Charlie Tinkerton playing football, Tommy Tinkerton skateboarding, and Sara Simple reading a book about urban planning.
All along, the story has been narrated (à la “Our Town”) by a warm, wise, seemingly omniscient old man, who appears periodically and comments on the events unfolding in Evergreen. In the final scene of the movie, the narrator reveals that he is Tommy Tinkerton, all grown up and now married to Sara Simple; and he has been telling us his own story.
[edit] External links
- Frosty the Snowman at Keyframe - the Animation Resource
- Frosty's Winter Wonderland at [[Keyframe - the Animation
- [http://CandyCaneLanes.tripod.com
Resource]]
