Manufacturers used holidays to promote early color
 

Before color programs became the norm, tv manufacters used the holidays to help sell those expensive color sets. If you look at some of the promotional brochures from Rca and others the thrill of the holiday season coupled with the new color technology made for an opportunity for stores to demonstrate color and what it can bring to viewing enjoyment.

I think Amahl and the night visitors was one of the early holiday specials broadcast on the NBC networks.

1955 was the first year RCA did so (I'm sure you've seen the White Christmas CTC-4 ad), but Amahl was in black & white that year, apparently a consequence of its sponsorship that season. There were a few other holiday-themed color shows though.

Yeah, but I THINK I remember Amahl being in color when I was a kid...they coulda re-done it though, I guess. Most of the Christmas specials I missed as a kid, 'cause we ALWAYS had something going on at the Church around that time of the year...And my Mom was one of those who believed if the doors of the Church we OPEN, WE were gonna be there-Period. End of discussion. For the 10-days-2 weeks before Christmas, I bet I had my young arse drug to Church a couple dozen times, in a scratchy-ass wool suit, tie,the whole dreadful business. But all my buddies were in the same boat, Christmas was sorta a PITA in a lot of ways.

Boy, I can identify with that!

Deck the Malls with Shoppers, by Golly!

fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Tis the Season to be Greedy!

fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Fight for That Parking Space!

fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Max Out Those Credit Cards!

fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noel! Froelich Weichnacten!

I just don't understand all the madness. Black Friday has become more scary than Halloween. I'll be hiding in my bunker until it goes away. It really does frighten me to see people so desperate.

FYI: "Amahl and the Night Visitors" was first telecast in color on NBC on Dec. 20, 1953. Followed by a Christmas special "Season's Greetings" telecast in color on Dec. 22, 1953 also on NBC.
ON Dec. 24, 1953 NBC telecast a Christmas episode of "Dragnet" on 16mm color film. This just days after the FCC ok'd commercial compatible color broadcasts. Of course there were no consumer color receivers available to the public. These color broadcasts were viewed by RCA/NBC engineers & executives as well as other manufacturers on prototype color sets. It also offered good experience for the presentation by production personel & video engineers in staging live color programs.

-Steve D.

True. The first color set to be offered to the public would be by Admiral on Dec. 31, 1953.

"Wreck the Malls this Christmas Season-Fa la la,etc. Blow your cash for no good reason...Push your chargecard to the limit...Checkbook now has nothing in it...Wreck the Malls w/my friend Charlie...Ride thru Walmart on his Harley...Tamper w/their Muzak system..Play something by Twisted Sister...Wreck the Pet Store do some damage...Send the beagles on a rampage...Acting in an uncouth manner..Drop yr Pants & Moon that Santa...Fa la lal la lah, La lala LAH !"

:lmao::yes::banana::guitar::rockon::finger:

Sandy G, modern Christmas as we Southerners now know it. Not enough smileys for that Christmas tune.

I actually put a Twisted Sister cassette in a "Teddy Ruxpin" bear a colleague gave his kids for Christmas...

Westinghouse, wasn't it, followed by the CT-100?

Might be in reference to this webpage:

http://www.tvhistory.tv/advertising3.htm

Deck the halls with boughs of Holly.
 

I actually put a Twisted Sister cassette in a "Teddy Ruxpin" bear a colleague gave his kids for Christmas...

You've not heard Christmas until Bob Dylon's "Christmas In the Heart" plays loud and clear.