Looking at the December 15 1962 Seattle TV Guide

These days if you’ve got even basic cable you can pretty much watch Christmas programs 24 hours a day from Thanksgiving onwards. So I thought it might be interesting to look at a week of December television programming from Seattle’s six-channel days (4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13) with an eye toward Christmas.

Saturday, December 15
8:00 AM, Channel 5:
Telaventure Tales
The Book Explorers from the Magnolia Library discuss “Best Christmas” by Kingman.
9:00 AM, Channel 7:
Captain Kangaroo
Jean Jacques Perrey, today’s guest, performs on a musical instrument he invented—the ondioline. Musical numbers: “Santa’s Toy Shop” and “March of the Christmas Toys.” (60 min.)
12:00 PM, Channel 7:
Highways—Discussion
12:30 PM, Channel 7:
All America Wants to Know
12:45 PM, Channel 5:
Industry on Parade
1:00 PM, Channel 7:
Youth Speaks Out
1:30 PM, Channel 4:
Dentistry Today
3:00 PM, Channel 11:
Box 11, R.F.D.—Farm News
3:30 PM, Channel 4:
University Research
Prof. Peter Misch, geologist, guests.
3:30 PM, Channel 11:
These Are Yours—Education
[Just a sample of the excitement of Saturday afternoon programming.]
7:30 PM, Channel 7:
Jackie Gleason—Variety
Joe the Bartender and Crazy (Frank Fontaine) discuss the evils of Christmas shopping. In another segment, Jackie and Frank pantomime men who come into a house to lay new linoleum. June Taylor dancers, Sammy Spear. (60 min.)
[Linoleum pantomime! All right! Maybe next week there'll be a puppet show about plumbers or a monologue about furnace installation!]
9:00 PM, Channel 4:
Lawrence Welk--Music
Christmas music is featured tonight. Highlights include “Silver Bells,” “Susie Snowflake,” “Winter Wonderland,” “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” and “Raggedy Ann Doll Dance.” Lennon Sisters, Jim Roberts, Norma Zimmer, Dick Dale, Bob Burgess, Barbara Boylan, Jo Ann Castle, Larry Hooper, Aladdin and the Lawrence Welk orchestra. (60 min.)

Sunday, December 16
8:30 AM, Channel 7:
Look Up and Live—Religion
“How Jesus Came,” Part 3 of “Children and Christmas,” is rerun.

Monday, December 17
11:00 AM, Channel 4:
Jane Wyman—Drama
“The Night After Christmas.” Marley: John Dehner. Secretary: Bartlett Robinson.
3:00 PM, Channel 5:
Christmas Tree Ceremony
SPECIAL President Kennedy lights the White House Christmas tree and offers a brief Yuletide message. Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall introduces the President. Providing Christmas music is the U.S. Marine Band.
8:00 PM, Channel 9:
Shepherds and the Magi
SPECIAL Students from St. Martin’s College in Olympia present a 13th-century liturgical Christmas drama.

Tuesday, December 18
7:15 PM, Channel 9:
Triptych For Christmas
1.An angel tells the story of the shepherds through the paintings of Peiro della Francesca. 2. The Nativity is illustrated. 3. Van der Goes’ view of the Wise Men.
7:30 PM, Channel 5:
Magoo’s Christmas Carol
SPECIAL COLOR “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol,” an animated version of the Dickens classic. For details see the Close-up below. (60 min.)
“Laramie” will not be seen tonight.
[This was the first showing of what is undeniably the greatest of all Christmas television specials, featuring the saddest song ever written, “All Alone in the World.” (A hand for each hand was planned for the world/Why don’t my fingers reach/Millions of grains of sand in the world/Why such a lonely beach/Where is the voice to answer mine back/Where are two shoes to click to my clack/I’m all alone in the world…)]
8:00 PM, Channel 7:
Lloyd Bridges—Drama Lloyd Bridges’ eight-year-old daughter Cindy makes her acting debut in tonight’s drama. As Christmas draws near, little Cathy O’Connell hears “The Sound of Angels” and she delights everyone with her story of their heavenly music. Adam and Fred: Lloyd Bridges.
Guest Cast
Cathy…………..Cindy Bridges
Julie……………...Nancy Gates
[Lloyd played Adam AND Fred? Or one character named “Adam and Fred”?]

Wednesday, December 19
3:00 PM, Channel 5:
Wunda Wunda—Children
“Why Santa Chose Reindeer.”
8:00 PM, Channel 9:
Christmas Paintings
The struggles of an artist who is commissioned to paint Christmas.
8:30 PM, Channel 7:
Dobie Gillis—Comedy
“Will the Real Santa Claus Please Come Down the Chimney.” Maynard still believes in Santa Claus, and Dobie and his folks decide to cure him of his childish outlook. Dobie: Dwayne Hickman. Herbert: Frank Faylen. Maynard: Bob Denver.
9:00 PM, Channel 5:
Perry Como—Variety
COLOR Joining Perry for a Christmas songfest are Burr Tillstrom, Fran Allison and puppets Kukla, Ollie and Beulah Witch. Also on hand are the wives and children of Perry and the whole staff. (60 min.)

Thursday, December 20
7:00 PM, Channel 11:
Cimarron City—Western
“Cimarron Holiday.” The townspeople of Cimarron City get together to produce a Western version of Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol.” Matt: George Montgomery. Avery: Tim Hovey. (60 min.)

Friday, December 21
9:30 PM, Channel 7:
Fair Exchange—Comedy
“’Twas the Fortnight Before Christmas.” Tommy and Eddie decide—simultaneously—to surprise each other with a transatlantic trip. Eddie: Eddie Foy jr. Dorothy: Audrey Christie. Patty: Lynn Loring. Larry: Flip Mark. Tommy: Victor Maddern. Sybil: Diana Chesney. Heather: Judy Carne. Neville: Dennis Waterman. (60 min.)
10:00 PM, Channel 5:
Jack Paar—Variety
COLOR Jack’s guests include singer Sally Ann Howes and comedians Buddy Hackett and Vaughn Meader. Jack narrates films showing celebrations of Christmas Eve around the world. (60 min.)
[So, no made-for-TV Christmas romantic comedies, only one animated special, a few Christmas episodes of regular series, and some oddball public television (Channel 9).]