Christmas Comes But Once a Year
Encyclopedia
Christmas Comes but Once a Year is a 1936 animated short produced by Fleischer Studios
and released on December 4, 1936. It is part of the Color Classics
series.
, where the orphans are all asleep, awaiting Christmas morning. Just then, the clock chimes, a puppy
in the place of the cuckoo clock
jumps out, then slides down a ramp and licks on one of the orphans. The first orphan to wake shouts to the others, "Merry Christmas, everybody!" as all the orphans jump out of bed and head to the hall, singing the title song. They grab the toys
from their stockings, and get ready to play with them. However, they discover that the toys are already broken and fall apart completely when played with because the toys are old and worn. The children are traumatized and begin to cry.
Meanwhile, Professor Grampy is out riding through the snow in his motor-driven sleigh, singing the title song to himself. He soon hears crying from inside the orphanage, so he parks the sleigh, runs to the door and peeps through the window to see the orphans still sobbing and heading back to their bedroom. Grampy is discouraged and starts to think of a way to give the orphans a better Christmas. He puts on his thinking cap, and shortly, the lightbulb on the cap blinks, meaning he has an idea. He sneaks in through the kitchen window and starts making new toys out of household appliances and other kitchen paraphernalia (a washboard, a roller shade, the works of an old alarm clock, etc.)
Finally, he dresses up as Santa Claus
(with black stove
pipes
as the boots, a red table cloth as the jacket, a pillow
for the weight
, a strop as the belt
, a picture frame
as the buckle
and a red purse
as the hat
), grabs a dinner bell
, and surprises the orphans by ringing the bell and shouting, "Merry Christmas, everybody!" The orphans brighten up instantly as they all rush out excitedly to play with their new toys. Grampy completes the scene by making a Christmas tree
out of green umbrellas. He decorates it, places it on top of a phonograph
turntable, gathers all the orphans together and they all sing the title song one last time. As they sing, a giant 1936 Christmas Seal
stamp
appears on the screen, showing Santa Claus and a "Holiday Greetings" message.
, it starred Jack Mercer
as the voice of Grampy
from Betty Boop
fame.
Along with many of the other Color Classics, Christmas Comes But Once a Year is today in the public domain
. The film was animated by Fleischer Studios
and released on December 4, 1936. It was distributed by Paramount Pictures
. On various video
copies of the film, it is released with Hector's Hectic Life, and a few other productions by Famous Studios
, including Snow Foolin'. Certain prints also contain Jack Frost, a 1934 cartoon produced by Ub Iwerks
and released through Celebrity Productions.
Fleischer Studios
Fleischer Studios, Inc., was an American corporation which originated as an Animation studio located at 1600 Broadway, New York City, New York...
and released on December 4, 1936. It is part of the Color Classics
Color Classics
Color Classics were a series of animated short subjects produced by Fleischer Studios for Paramount Pictures from 1934 to 1941 as a competitor to Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies. As the name implies, all of the shorts were made in color, with the first entry in the series, Poor Cinderella, being the...
series.
Summary
The short begins in an orphanageOrphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
, where the orphans are all asleep, awaiting Christmas morning. Just then, the clock chimes, a puppy
Puppy
A puppy is a juvenile dog. Some puppies may weigh , while larger ones can weigh up to . All healthy puppies grow quickly after birth. A puppy's coat color may change as the puppy grows older, as is commonly seen in breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier...
in the place of the cuckoo clock
Cuckoo clock
A cuckoo clock is a clock, typically pendulum-regulated, that strikes the hours with a sound like a common cuckoo's call and typically has a mechanical cuckoo that emerges with each note...
jumps out, then slides down a ramp and licks on one of the orphans. The first orphan to wake shouts to the others, "Merry Christmas, everybody!" as all the orphans jump out of bed and head to the hall, singing the title song. They grab the toys
Toys
Toys is a 1992 comedy film directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robin Williams, Michael Gambon, Joan Cusack, Robin Wright, LL Cool J, and introducing Jamie Foxx as Baker. The film failed at the box office at the time of its release, despite its impressive cast and lavish filmmaking. Levinson was...
from their stockings, and get ready to play with them. However, they discover that the toys are already broken and fall apart completely when played with because the toys are old and worn. The children are traumatized and begin to cry.
Meanwhile, Professor Grampy is out riding through the snow in his motor-driven sleigh, singing the title song to himself. He soon hears crying from inside the orphanage, so he parks the sleigh, runs to the door and peeps through the window to see the orphans still sobbing and heading back to their bedroom. Grampy is discouraged and starts to think of a way to give the orphans a better Christmas. He puts on his thinking cap, and shortly, the lightbulb on the cap blinks, meaning he has an idea. He sneaks in through the kitchen window and starts making new toys out of household appliances and other kitchen paraphernalia (a washboard, a roller shade, the works of an old alarm clock, etc.)
Finally, he dresses up as Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
(with black stove
Stove
A stove is an enclosed heated space. The term is commonly taken to mean an enclosed space in which fuel is burned to provide heating, either to heat the space in which the stove is situated or to heat the stove itself, and items placed on it...
pipes
Pipes
Pipes may refer to:*Pipe, a cylindrical conveyance*PIPES *Yahoo! Pipes*Pipeline *Bagpipes or Uilleann pipes*PIPE deal or private investment in public equity*Pipes , a Transformers character...
as the boots, a red table cloth as the jacket, a pillow
Pillow
A pillow is a large cushion support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair. There are also throw pillows , which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort...
for the weight
Weight
In science and engineering, the weight of an object is the force on the object due to gravity. Its magnitude , often denoted by an italic letter W, is the product of the mass m of the object and the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration g; thus:...
, a strop as the belt
Belt (clothing)
A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing.-History:...
, a picture frame
Picture frame
A picture frame is a decorative edging for a picture, such as a painting or photograph, intended to enhance it, make it easier to display, or protect it.-Construction:...
as the buckle
Buckle
The buckle or clasp is a device used for fastening two loose ends, with one end attached to it and the other held by a catch in a secure but adjustable manner. Usually overlooked and taken for granted, the invention of the buckle has been indispensable in securing two ends before the invention of...
and a red purse
Purse
A purse is a small bag that may refer to:* Coin purse, in British English* Handbag, in American English* Money bag* WalletPurse may also refer to:...
as the hat
Hat
A hat is a head covering. It can be worn for protection against the elements, for ceremonial or religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status...
), grabs a dinner bell
Bell
-Sound and music:* Bell , a percussion instrument, usually cup-shaped* Bell * Bell cymbal* Bell effect, a musical technique* Bell Orchestre, a six-piece instrumental band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
, and surprises the orphans by ringing the bell and shouting, "Merry Christmas, everybody!" The orphans brighten up instantly as they all rush out excitedly to play with their new toys. Grampy completes the scene by making a Christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
out of green umbrellas. He decorates it, places it on top of a phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
turntable, gathers all the orphans together and they all sing the title song one last time. As they sing, a giant 1936 Christmas Seal
Christmas Seal
Christmas Seals are labels placed on mail during the Christmas season to raise funds and awareness for charitable programs.They have become particularly associated with lung diseases such as tuberculosis, and with child welfare...
stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
appears on the screen, showing Santa Claus and a "Holiday Greetings" message.
Production
The orphans were all animated based on a template of one of them, whose toy soldier falls through the sock. The short was directed by Dave FleischerDave Fleischer
David "Dave" Fleischer was an American animator film director and film producer, best known as a co-owner of Fleischer Studios with his two older brothers Max Fleischer and Lou Fleischer...
, it starred Jack Mercer
Jack Mercer
Jack Mercer was an American animator, storyman and voice actor. He is best known as the voice of cartoon character Popeye the Sailor...
as the voice of Grampy
Grampy
Grampy is an animated cartoon character appearing in the Betty Boop series of films produced by Max Fleischer and released by Paramount Pictures....
from Betty Boop
Betty Boop
Betty Boop is an animated cartoon character created by Max Fleischer, with help from animators including Grim Natwick. She originally appeared in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures. She has also been featured in...
fame.
Along with many of the other Color Classics, Christmas Comes But Once a Year is today in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
. The film was animated by Fleischer Studios
Fleischer Studios
Fleischer Studios, Inc., was an American corporation which originated as an Animation studio located at 1600 Broadway, New York City, New York...
and released on December 4, 1936. It was distributed by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
. On various video
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
copies of the film, it is released with Hector's Hectic Life, and a few other productions by Famous Studios
Famous Studios
Famous Studios was the animation division of the film studio Paramount Pictures from 1942 to 1967. Famous was founded as a successor company to Fleischer Studios, after Paramount acquired the aforementioned studio and ousted its founders, Max and Dave Fleischer, in 1941...
, including Snow Foolin'. Certain prints also contain Jack Frost, a 1934 cartoon produced by Ub Iwerks
Ub Iwerks
Ub Iwerks, A.S.C. was a two-time Academy Award winning American animator, cartoonist, character designer, inventor, creator of Mickey Mouse, and special effects technician, who was famous for his work for Walt Disney....
and released through Celebrity Productions.
External links
- Christmas Comes But Once a Year at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....