This copy is on the cheapo Genius Products DVD--which for some strange reason lists three Christmas episodes, but actually has just two "Late Christmas Gift" and "Busy Christmas", with "David 17th's Birthday" thrown in (and is actually a better version than the lame-o version on the official Shout! release).

Busy is one of my favorite holiday episodes of any show. And of course the ending part, since this is a reworked flashback version of an earlier episode, Rick singing "The Christmas Song" and seeing the rare sight of all the Nelsons (at the time) together on one scene.

This copy is on the cheapo Genius Products DVD--which for some strange reason lists three Christmas episodes, but actually has just two "Late Christmas Gift" and "Busy Christmas", with "David 17th's Birthday" thrown in (and is actually a better version than the lame-o version on the official Shout! release).

Busy is one of my favorite holiday episodes of any show. And of course the ending part, since this is a reworked flashback version of an earlier episode, Rick singing "The Christmas Song" and seeing the rare sight of all the Nelsons (at the time) together on one scene.

I've always wondered what was edited out from the original version for enough time to allow "The Christmas Song" in the rerun version and wondered how come the public domain dvd releases never have a copy of the original.

I wonder that myself.......same for "David 17th Birthday" and "Late Christmas Gift"--they are reworked later season episodes that use earlier shows as flashbacks.

I've always wondered what was edited out from the original version for enough time to allow "The Christmas Song" in the rerun version and wondered how come the public domain dvd releases never have a copy of the original.

Of course....I don't know why I never thought of that...it's so obvious - I guess some things can completely elude you when they're right under your nose. Nevertheless, this version is still very delightful and is one of those eps I can watch many times over...& always during Xmas Season. Now you have me wondering...just WHAT WAS cut out? (Oh well, most of an ep is better than none at all I suppose)

At least Bewitched fans, got the reworked season 1 episodes, that were part of season 2 with new introductions filmed, put on DVD, since these were never part of the syndication package.

I have a lot of reworked eps from the early years that were edited to include a song from Rick. I'd prefer to see the original versions, but Busy Christmas is a good one. I can still hear Ozzie singing his bass part "deck the halls with holly fa-la-la-la-la" :lol:

I did enjoy hearing Rick perform "Glory Train" on the tag for "David's 17th Birthday"--funny how a public domain issue has this, but the official release doesn'?? And the official release episode clocks in at barely 17 minutes!

I love David's 17th Birthday just because I love watching their old home movies.

I wish they Nelsons would something as the Arnaz kids did with the Lucy and Desi home movies. I'd love to watch the Nelson family home movies. They had some nice ones included in Dave's documentary, Rick Nelson a Brother Remembers. Some cute ones of Rick and his kids when they were little.

One Day I need to see that documentary.....I wonder if I can get it at Netflix?

One Day I need to see that documentary.....I wonder if I can get it at Netflix?To my knowledge, it's never been released on dvd or vhs. The one Gunnar and Matthew hosted in 1987, "A Tribute to Rick Nelson", is available on video from Rhino, and is excellent viewing, with many of Rick's famous friends contributing.

Thanks Dan.......David should really let the sons handle more of the TV/music product and get it out there to the fans!!

Thanks Dan.......David should really let the sons handle more of the TV/music product and get it out there to the fans!!Agreed. It's my understanding that Dave is basically retired now, but someone needs to get more Nelson stuff on the market - while us fans are still alive! I see every other show coming out with complete season dvd sets, why not O&H? David's special is nice, too. He talks to Harriet, Tracy, Gunnar and Matthew, and includes a lot of home movies and outtakes from the series. No reason this should be collecting dust in a vault somewhere.

David should take a cue from Lucy's kids....

Agreed. It's my understanding that Dave is basically retired now, but someone needs to get more Nelson stuff on the market - while us fans are still alive! I see every other show coming out with complete season dvd sets, why not O&H? David's special is nice, too. He talks to Harriet, Tracy, Gunnar and Matthew, and includes a lot of home movies and outtakes from the series. No reason this should be collecting dust in a vault somewhere.

absolutely. Nothing would make me happier than to have all 435. But at least I have enough to have a nice flavor of the show thru the years. As far as I'm concerned the more of the Nelson family we get to see, thru the eps, documentaries, movies the better.

I bought a 206 episode set on sell.com. I've watched about 20 so far, and the quality is very good. Most I've watched have the Nelsons doing the Kodak commercials, and have the Coke, or Quaker Oats commercials also, which is a nice touch.
I haven't remembered any of the episodes so far.
The family goes next door to the Randolph's to watch movies, and the boys, Ozzie, and Joe, are all dressed in suits for the occasion!
Every time I see that, I'm reminded of what a different era that was.

I bought a 206 episode set on sell.com. I've watched about 20 so far, and the quality is very good. Most I've watched have the Nelsons doing the Kodak commercials, and have the Coke, or Quaker Oats commercials also, which is a nice touch.
I haven't remembered any of the episodes so far.
The family goes next door to the Randolph's to watch movies, and the boys, Ozzie, and Joe, are all dressed in suits for the occasion!
Every time I see that, I'm reminded of what a different era that was.

I'll have to look into that set. It's bound to have some eps I don't have. And yes IT SURE WAS a different era. I remember when electronic typewriters were THE BIG NEW surge in technology. Now you almost never see one. And no cell phones or blackberries. Just people actually visiting with one another instead of texting texting texting texting.

It really was, in many respects, a charming era. I so love this series!

This 206 episode set....is this a private collector selling these or what?

This 206 episode set....is this a private collector selling these or what?


Out of the many vendors on sell.com, and IOffer.com, selling just about any tv series you can think of, one of these sellers, I get most of my stuff from. I believe his user name is Lawnmanatr. Very fair prices.
I started a new thread listing the episodes in this set.

I bought a 206 episode set on sell.com. I've watched about 20 so far, and the quality is very good. Most I've watched have the Nelsons doing the Kodak commercials, and have the Coke, or Quaker Oats commercials also, which is a nice touch.
I haven't remembered any of the episodes so far.
The family goes next door to the Randolph's to watch movies, and the boys, Ozzie, and Joe, are all dressed in suits for the occasion!
Every time I see that, I'm reminded of what a different era that was.
Even while working in the yard, Ozzie often had a tie on :rolleyes:

I always find it intersting looking at the first episodes to the last episodes just how much the formality had changed. While formality was always there and they were still in their ties and jackets a lot at the end; they weren't nearly as formally dressed as in the beginning. The manner in which they spoke was also much more formal in the early days as well. But no matter what the formality, the Nelsons always felt to me a lot more comfortable and easy going at home than a lot of the other shows of that era.

And one of the things that made the show SO SPECIAL was that they were an actual family. Somehow that always came through, even with all the yes sirs, no ma'ams, pressed shirts, and the, ties ties ties - even for taking out the garbage! (oh well, if June Cleaver could wear pearls for slicing carrots, then I suppose anything goes) Guess the clothing formality was just one quirks of this TV era.

I love in the intro, how Harriet has on gloves. It's not obvious, but look real closely...you see them as she's reaching for Ozzie's hand.

So sweet.

I wish life was like that now. :(

I love in the intro, how Harriet has on gloves. It's not obvious, but look real closely...you see them as she's reaching for Ozzie's hand.

So sweet.

I wish life was like that now. :(


Indeed. The show was most charming in its own right, but a sm. part does seem attributable to the 50s sitcom family formula of idyllic, unflawed, ALWAYS crisply pressed no matter what - and looking as if they never went to the bathroom. BUT notice I said small- because Adv. O & H stood on its own two feet very nicely--it DID suceed in conveying the intimacy of family and the value of human interaction better than other 50s sitcoms imho -this is ONE key reason I like it so much. In addition to the ultra talented Ricky who could do it all.

Don't know if you feel this too, but I fault our uber technology for what seems a retreat away from actual human contact (texting texting texting texting and using cell phones any and all times like the punishment is being struck dead if you are not on it 17 hrs a day)

Yes, there is a halycon quality to the show, sans the cells, texts, computers -- just a good old fashioned bridge game, cake and coffee in the kitchen with your pal, a teen record party - such lovely socializing vehicles that seem to have mostly fallen by the wayside.

Yes, as previously mentioned, the formality wasn't just isolated to the Nelsons. The Cleavers would always be dressed up, just to go to the restaurant. When one of the boys went to a party, ALL the boys would have on suits.
Always a suit when taking your date out. Always a dress for the girl. I think most programs from that era reflected the formality in everyday life. O & H did an outstanding job reflecting these values.

Here's something I noticed on another program
I was watching Perry mason, an episode from '58, or '59. He had to fly somewhere. He got on his commercial airliner, sat down, pulled out his cigs, and lit one up. Right there in his seat. Wow, I'm glad THAT stuff doesn't happen anymore.

One area in which O&H led the way - actually being able to show a married couple in bed together. I mean, they really were married! But now everybody on tv is jumping into bed with each other! I like the old ways better. I know, I sound like one of those old geezers "when I was a kid..." but I really do think O&H is better than anything on tv today. The Nelsons and their neighbors were such a likeable bunch, the kind of people you'd like to have as friends or relatives (yes, even Wally :lol: ). I do believe our modern toys often take us away from interaction with other people (and here I am proving it :rolleyes: ), it seems like so many of us are in some kind of race to see who can accumulate the most stuff, gotta have the newest/latest gizmo's on the block, and meanwhile the house on the corner is in foreclosure...but I digress :(

One area in which O&H led the way - actually being able to show a married couple in bed together. I mean, they really were married! But now everybody on tv is jumping into bed with each other! I like the old ways better. I know, I sound like one of those old geezers "when I was a kid..." but I really do think O&H is better than anything on tv today. The Nelsons and their neighbors were such a likeable bunch, the kind of people you'd like to have as friends or relatives (yes, even Wally :lol: ). I do believe our modern toys often take us away from interaction with other people (and here I am proving it :rolleyes: ), it seems like so many of us are in some kind of race to see who can accumulate the most stuff, gotta have the newest/latest gizmo's on the block, and meanwhile the house on the corner is in foreclosure...but I digress :(

Well I don't about Wally or Joe Randolph, but the rest of them absolutely.

Yes I too would take O & H over 99.9% what I see on TV today. Actually, I watch very little "current" TV except for the news. I just crack out my DVDs of shows from the good old days ( Ozzie and Harriet, I Love Lucy, Bewitched, Barney Miller, Little House on The Prairie etc.)

Don't know if you feel this too, but I fault our uber technology for what seems a retreat away from actual human contact (texting texting texting texting and using cell phones any and all times like the punishment is being struck dead if you are not on it 17 hrs a day)

Yes, there is a halycon quality to the show, sans the cells, texts, computers -- just a good old fashioned bridge game, cake and coffee in the kitchen with your pal, a teen record party - such lovely socializing vehicles that seem to have mostly fallen by the wayside.

I agree to both statements! I've read that a lot of modern, mental health problems are caused by loneliness. Not that loneliness is a new problem, Dale Carnegie wrote about it, but it's worst now. Twitter, MySpace, etc. are for many people faux and superficial connections. I also blame pills. Now, don't get me wrong, some people need to be medicated (regularly!), but many problems could be solved by going outside and meeting other people.

I swear Nick at Nite and reruns of Ozzie and Harriet on The Disney Channel in the 80s have ruined me for modern life. :lol I'm glad I can come here and talk about Ozzie and Harriet and other 50s shows without feeling stupid. I know things weren't perfect then, but at least people tried to be civil.

I agree to both statements! I've read that a lot of modern, mental health problems are caused by loneliness. Not that loneliness is a new problem, Dale Carnegie wrote about it, but it's worst now. Twitter, MySpace, etc. are for many people faux and superficial connections. I also blame pills. Now, don't get me wrong, some people need to be medicated (regularly!), but many problems could be solved by going outside and meeting other people.

I swear Nick at Nite and reruns of Ozzie and Harriet on The Disney Channel in the 80s have ruined me for modern life. :lol I'm glad I can come here and talk about Ozzie and Harriet and other 50s shows without feeling stupid. I know things weren't perfect then, but at least people tried to be civil.

Totally. Computers are a wonderful way to connect to others but they are no substitute for actual real contact. IMO, the best way to meet others, sans computers, is to get involved in a hobby. Or do volunteer work. Volunteer work is a great way to meet other high quality people; I've met so many great people through my volunteer efforts. Or political work if you have ardent beliefs about a particular party or candidate. This is another way to meet interesting and stimulating people (actually its sort of a subset of volunteerism.)

As for me, I LOVE being around people, and I'm in a job thats not 9-5 that emphasizes heavy social contact through business gatherings - a big part of my job is serving as an "ambassador" for my department and company. So one day at home, shoes off, watching DVDs or posting is therapeutic for me. Or doing it for 1/2-1 hour a day. But my whole life on a computer. NO WAY!

I love the old shows too and am glad there's a nice place to discuss them with other fans. SO is basically the only place I post - its extremely well run and where anti-social cyber behavior, like trolling, isn't tolerated and is addressed firmly.

I've got a friend like Joe Randolph. Never in a hurry to get anywhere. I missed the sports spectacular because of him! Maybe I should 'tweet' him to let him know how ticked off I am!

" GOSH DARN THAT JOE RANDOLPH!!"

:lol:

And don't forget that gosh darn Will Thorburry! Remember the ep with the birthday cake? "Well darn that Thorny anyway!":crazy:

" GOSH DARN THAT JOE RANDOLPH!!"

:lol:

You (and Ozzie!) got that right! IMHO, Joe R was just one big giant mooch. Bet when he opened his wallet moths flew out of it LOL!

Can you tell I just watched "A Lawnmower for Ozzie"? :lol: that was a brand new episode for me :)

Can you tell I just watched "A Lawnmower for Ozzie"? :lol: that was a brand new episode for me :)

Did you buy the Alpha DVD? Yes this was a nice ep and a good example of Mr. Moocher at his finest - and cheapest. Jack Benny had nothing on Joe Randolph!

Yep (I told you that in the last post of the special cake thread :lol:)

Joe Randolph was unbelievable! "Here you go, Oz...........a brand new hacksaw!"

Why that no good gosh darn Joe Randolph!!!!!!! :D

do you know if the other Alpha DVDs have any other episodes not widely put out?