December 18th, 1966 - Dr Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" airs for 1st time on CBS

The Grinch is the Christmas-hating main character of a 1957 Dr. Seuss cartoon book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. A popular animated version of the story first appeared on television in 1966 and has been broadcast annually on U.S. networks ever since. It follows the Grinch as he becomes annoyed with sounds of holiday cheer emanating from Whoville, in the valley below his hilltop home. He decides to put an end to the merry-making by posing as Santa Claus and stealing all the gifts and trappings of Christmas.

The TV special, directed by Warner Brothers cartoon veterans Chuck Jones and Ben Washam, debuted on 18 December 1966 on CBS. Actor Boris Karloff, best known as the monster in the 1931 movie Frankenstein, provided the narrator's and Grinch's voices. Its signature musical solo, "You're a Mean One, Mister Grinch," was done by professional singer and voiceover talent Thurl Ravenscroft, who also voiced Tony the Tiger in breakfast cereal commercials.


http://www.uvm.edu/~pzahn/wallpaper/images/grinch_evil.jpg

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch!!!

This is my second favorite Christmas special after "A Charlie Brown Christmas"! I love the message that even if you take away the gifts, decorations, and food you still can't take away Christmas because Christmas happens in our hearts. Even the Grinch realized that after his heart grew three sizes that day!

And even the Grinch served the Roast Beast!

:cool: :D

One of my favorites.

I remember the first telecast. I was a college student, and they were talking
about it the next day in one of my classes

Did you know that this cartoon show was the first time the Grinch appeared as green? In Dr. Seuss's book, the illustrations were in black & white. :)

My favorite scene is where all the Whos sit down to dinner and one has a casserole and opens the next one and another comes out and another until the smallest Who brings Cindy Lou her apple. To me, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is one of the best written cartoons and Boris Karloff's portrayal adds a lot to the show.