The Year Without a Santa Claus premiered 50 years ago on ABC, showing what Christmas could look like in stop-motion animation if Santa Claus decided to take a break. The creators of classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town—Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr.—produced this holiday staple.
Mickey Rooney, who voiced Santa Claus in Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, made a comeback to play the same role in The Year Without a Santa Claus, while Shirley Booth did Mrs. Claus. Dick Shawn and George S. Irving were behind two other important characters, Snow Miser and Heat Miser.
‘The Year Without A Santa Claus’ turns 50 years old
The classic was based on a story by Phyllis McGinley, who won a Pulitzer Prize for Times Three: Selected Verse from Three Decades. She first published it in Good Housekeeping in the mid-50s before it was adapted as a picture book, with Boris Karloff narrating it years later.
In summary, Santa decided to take a hiatus from his annual job because he felt underappreciated. Mrs Claus attempts to save the day by sending two elves, Jingle and Jangle, to confirm if the Christmas spirit is still alive, and they encounter two fighting brothers heat miser and snow miser.
Heat Miser and Snow Miser made ‘The Year Without Christmas’ so much better
According to Rankin/Bass historian Rick Goldschmidt, Romeo Muller created Heat Miser and Snow Miser, who were both introduced via song. Paul Coker Jr designed the characters in vaudeville style, noting that Romeo described them in a way that was easy to understand.
Heat Miser and Snow Miser took on a life of their own, especially because they were a deviation from the usual Christmas characters and storyline. You can still find Christmas sweaters, ornaments, and decorations inspired by them decades after their debut.