The Voice of Christmas - original airdate 12/19/69 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Bachu · 12-19-2009, 10:46 AM

http://www.youtube.com/user/Retrotee...33/w5wdsChiukc

The first time I saw this was on Christmas day about 18 years ago during the first run of TBB on Sky One (at the time they were airing season 5 so this episode really stood out).

This is just what I want from a Christmas episode; the house is decorated and we even see it being decorated and the whole story has a Christmas feel to it.

When the episode starts we see Mike and Alice at a foldaway table in the family room. At first I remember thinking why aren't they just using the normal round table that they have in the family room. After checking back a couple of episodes it seems that that table has yet to appear (perhaps it appeared in season 2 onwards???).

This episode marks possibly the first and only time we see the double front doors both open when Mike helsp the kids with the tree. It also results in a blooper. We see Mike push one door to so it closes but the other one is left open as no one is seen shutting it. Moments later as the tree is moved about the living room the door is suddenly shut (perhaps a gust of wind closed it

). Also, the double chest of drawers that the infamous Brady horse sits on is wheeled away as room is made for the tree.

Alice is seen looking into the new wardobe with the sliding doors that appeared only an episode or two back.

At the start of the scene where Cindy tells Carol she will get her voice back, as we are just fading into that scene Cindy is seen picking some cards up and in the process knocks a bauble onto the floor in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

My favourite seen is the one in which Greg is listening to Santas progress on the radio. The sad music played as he leaves the room to go and look at the tree is lovely.

I have heard that you can here someone or something off camera cue Carol to start singing in the bedroom at the end. Speaking for myself, I just cannot hear it.

Madame X · 12-19-2009, 05:55 PM

It is strange how the boys were left alone to pick out the tree. How did they get it home?

Bachu · 12-19-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame X

It is strange how the boys were left alone to pick out the tree. How did they get it home?

Good point. It was 1969 though and they were all out together under Greg's supervision. Perhaps they brought it home on that cart you sometimes see with the 4 wheels and and the long handle. It would have been better to take it around the back of the house though as there are steps at the front of house. Perhaps they were tired from lugging it home

At the same time, Mike did leave Cindy (aged 7?) alone in a queue to see Santa. Perhaps the other kids saw Santa on another occasion...

catlover79 · 12-23-2009, 07:55 PM

This was the only Christmas episode of the original show, right? (I'm not counting A Very Brady Christmas here.)

gidgetgrape · 12-24-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

This was the only Christmas episode of the original show, right? (I'm not counting A Very Brady Christmas here.)

Yes.

catlover79 · 12-25-2009, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

Yes.

I thought so - thanks for confirming that!

jehobden · 01-07-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I thought so - thanks for confirming that!

According to my oldest book about the show, "The Brady Bunch Book", this ep was also rerun during the 2nd season on Christmas night 1970. I would have to check out old TV Guides to be sure, but it's likely that this ep was the only one skipped during the 1st season rerun cycle of spring-summer 1970. This was the season w/ the most original eps, 25, so there barely would've been time to rerun them all during the normal rerun cycle, considering that the show was most likely preempted on 12/26/69 and perhaps another week or two during the spring & summer.

catlover79 · 01-07-2010, 10:40 PM

I'm surprised they never did another Christmas episode while the show was originally on. "The Voice of Christmas" was so good, you would think they'd do another Christmas show. Alas, we wouldn't see another Brady Christmas until 1988!!

Marvo301 · 01-07-2010, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I'm surprised they never did another Christmas episode while the show was originally on. "The Voice of Christmas" was so good, you would think they'd do another Christmas show. Alas, we wouldn't see another Brady Christmas until 1988!!

It's not unusual for sitcoms to stay away from doing Chritmas/seasonal episodes. I think the concern of many producers is that when the show goes into reruns any seasonal episodes would likely end up being shown outside the appropriate season. Obviously they didn't take into account those of us who watch TV shows on DVD and pull out those eps at the apprpriate time of year!

catlover79 · 01-08-2010, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

It's not unusual for sitcoms to stay away from doing Chritmas/seasonal episodes. I think the concern of many producers is that when the show goes into reruns any seasonal episodes would likely end up being shown outside the appropriate season. Obviously they didn't take into account those of us who watch TV shows on DVD and pull out those eps at the apprpriate time of year!

That's true - but Bewitched had 4 or 5 Christmas episodes in its 8-year run, so who really knows?

Marvo301 · 01-08-2010, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

That's true - but Bewitched had 4 or 5 Christmas episodes in its 8-year run, so who really knows?

I think in the 1950's and 1960's producers weren't thinking about their shows going into reruns nearly as much so holiday themed episodes were more common then.

sixfingers · 05-06-2010, 12:17 PM

Happy Days kept showing the same Christmas show for years!

12-19-2009, 10:46 AM	#1
Bachu Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 10, 2005 Posts: 810	The Voice of Christmas - original airdate 12/19/69 http://www.youtube.com/user/Retrotee...33/w5wdsChiukc The first time I saw this was on Christmas day about 18 years ago during the first run of TBB on Sky One (at the time they were airing season 5 so this episode really stood out). This is just what I want from a Christmas episode; the house is decorated and we even see it being decorated and the whole story has a Christmas feel to it. When the episode starts we see Mike and Alice at a foldaway table in the family room. At first I remember thinking why aren't they just using the normal round table that they have in the family room. After checking back a couple of episodes it seems that that table has yet to appear (perhaps it appeared in season 2 onwards???). This episode marks possibly the first and only time we see the double front doors both open when Mike helsp the kids with the tree. It also results in a blooper. We see Mike push one door to so it closes but the other one is left open as no one is seen shutting it. Moments later as the tree is moved about the living room the door is suddenly shut (perhaps a gust of wind closed it ). Also, the double chest of drawers that the infamous Brady horse sits on is wheeled away as room is made for the tree. Alice is seen looking into the new wardobe with the sliding doors that appeared only an episode or two back. At the start of the scene where Cindy tells Carol she will get her voice back, as we are just fading into that scene Cindy is seen picking some cards up and in the process knocks a bauble onto the floor in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. My favourite seen is the one in which Greg is listening to Santas progress on the radio. The sad music played as he leaves the room to go and look at the tree is lovely. I have heard that you can here someone or something off camera cue Carol to start singing in the bedroom at the end. Speaking for myself, I just cannot hear it.

12-23-2009, 07:55 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	This was the only Christmas episode of the original show, right? (I'm not counting A Very Brady Christmas here.)
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

12-19-2009, 05:55 PM	#2
Madame X Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,831	It is strange how the boys were left alone to pick out the tree. How did they get it home?

01-07-2010, 10:40 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	I'm surprised they never did another Christmas episode while the show was originally on. "The Voice of Christmas" was so good, you would think they'd do another Christmas show. Alas, we wouldn't see another Brady Christmas until 1988!!

05-06-2010, 12:17 PM	#12
sixfingers John Alan Elson Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2008 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,491	Happy Days kept showing the same Christmas show for years!