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Holiday Specials on Television, 1939-2021

Holiday Specials on Television, 1939-2021

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  • More about Holiday Specials on Television, 1939-2021

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was the first known holiday special broadcast on NBC's W2XBS in 1939, and it was a precursor to the now-famous American tradition of holiday television specials. This book covers 1140 holiday television specials in the US from 1939 to 2021, including variety shows, comedic performances, and musical spectaculars, with three appendices covering lost specials and Christmas and Halloween-themed episodes of popular series.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 20 January 2023
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc


In November 1939, a fledgling television station, NBC's W2XBS, made history by broadcasting the first-ever holiday special, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Despite its limited viewership at the time, as very few TV sets were in existence, this experimental telecast laid the foundation for a beloved American tradition: the holiday television special.

This comprehensive book delves into the rich history of holiday television specials in the United States, spanning from 1939 to 2021. It showcases a diverse range of programs, including variety shows, comedic performances, musical spectaculars, and much more. From iconic classics like 1964's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to quirky one-offs like 1985's He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special, the 1140 programs are organized alphabetically, providing detailed information about performance casts, production credits, and storylines for each.

In addition to the main content, the book includes three appendices that shed light on lost holiday specials, as well as Christmas and Halloween-themed episodes of popular television series. This extensive coverage offers a comprehensive perspective on the evolution and cultural significance of holiday television specials in American television history.

Whether you're a fan of classic specials or curious about the lesser-known gems, this book is a treasure trove of information and entertainment. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, television enthusiasts, and anyone interested in exploring the festive and heartwarming world of holiday television programming.


Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476689692

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