December 24, 2009
— Ace Here's the, um, Yule Log.
According to the description..
The Yule Log aired every Christmas Eve in the 70's and 80's in the New York metro area on WPIX channel 11.
Yep. Every Christmas Eve.
And more from Wikipedia:
The Yule Log was created in 1966 by Fred M. Thrower, President and CEO of WPIX, Inc. Inspired by an animated Coca-Cola commercial a year earlier that showed Santa Claus at a fireplace, he envisioned this television program as a televised Christmas gift to those residents of "The Big Apple" who lived in apartments and homes without fireplaces. This also provided time for employees of the TV station to stay home with their families, instead of working for the usual morning news program.The original film was shot at Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York City John Lindsay. An estimated $4,000 (US) of advertising (along with a roller derby telecast that night) was canceled on Christmas Eve for the show's inaugural airing. Thrower, and WPIX-FM programming director Charlie Whittaker selected the music, largely based on the easy listening format the radio station had at that time, with the likes of Percy Faith, Nat King Cole, Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, Mantovani and The Ray Conniff Singers to name a few. During the shoot, the producers removed a protective fire grate so that the blaze could be seen to its best advantage. Unfortunately, a stray spark damaged a nearby antique rug valued at $4,000.
The program was both a critical and ratings success, and by popular demand, it was rebroadcast for 23 consecutive years, beginning in 1967. However, by 1969 it was already clear that the original 16 mm film was quickly deteriorating from wear and needed to be re-shot. (In addition, the original loop was only seventeen seconds long, resulting in a visibly jerky and artificial appearance.) Station producer William Cooper, a future recipient of a Peabody Award, again asked to shoot the loop at Gracie Mansion. However the mayor's office, remembering the mishap with the rug, refused permission. So in 1970, WPIX found a fireplace with similar andirons at a residence in California and filmed a burning log on 35 mm film there on a hot August day. This version's loop runs approximately six minutes and three seconds [1].
Sometimes they didn't play music. Sometimes they just played the log burning:
It was sort of crazy, but every Christmas Eve we'd have this Yule Log on tv, and usually we'd also have a real fire.
I don't know why the Yule Log was always on. It was just what was done. No one could really explain it.
Posted by: Ace at
09:43 PM
| Comments (96)
Post contains 447 words, total size 4 kb.
Posted by: El Duende at December 24, 2009 09:46 PM (ZWuDO)
Posted by: dogfish at December 24, 2009 09:52 PM (sGaoh)
Merry Christmas morons.
May your Value-Rite always be on sale and your dumpster diving productive
Thank you Ace for your blog and your guest posters.
Posted by: YIKES! at December 24, 2009 09:57 PM (/cfp9)
Being that I can detect no actual air quality problems, I'm figuring that it's just from a desire to be a killjoy.
Posted by: cthulhu at December 24, 2009 09:58 PM (u+gbs)
Posted by: Kevin in ABQ at December 24, 2009 10:00 PM (/RwSS)
Posted by: cthulhu at December 24, 2009 10:01 PM (u+gbs)
Posted by: wherestherum at December 24, 2009 10:01 PM (gofDd)
Posted by: CanaDave at December 24, 2009 10:01 PM (aXXtG)
"Being that I can detect no actual air quality problems, I'm figuring that it's just from a desire to be a killjoy."
Isn't that the left's entire reason for being?
Merry Christmas and peace on Earth towards men of good will.
YAY Jesus!
Posted by: Don Carne at December 24, 2009 10:02 PM (wSNS7)
Posted by: Rodent Liberation Front at December 24, 2009 10:03 PM (dQdrY)
It's the last fossil fuel you'll be allowed to burn.
Posted by: XBradTC at December 24, 2009 10:06 PM (y0E9v)
Posted by: Rodent Liberation Front at December 24, 2009 10:08 PM (dQdrY)
Posted by: garrett at December 24, 2009 10:08 PM (aT8vy)
It was sort of crazy, but every Christmas Eve we'd have this Yule Log on tv, and usually we'd also have a real fire.
I don't know why the Yule Log was always on. It was just what was done. No one could really explain it.
Us too. On "11 -alive"... the best was chiller theater though.
Marry Christmas Ace. And all the rest of yuz too.
Posted by: Hidden Imam at December 24, 2009 10:21 PM (9fjyr)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at December 24, 2009 10:21 PM (odbsy)
Posted by: Where is Publius at December 24, 2009 10:24 PM (pM8Gh)
Look at CNN's rating...they're talking to the hand these days. Pertty soon they'll be reduced to taking ads for Popiel's Pocker Fisherman, and do it yourself earth worm farming kits.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at December 24, 2009 10:26 PM (odbsy)
It's simple. The people living in the New York metro area are certifiably nuts.
Jeez, and they call us in New Hampshire "hayseeds".
Posted by: Mr. Peabody at December 24, 2009 10:31 PM (gxVc6)
Posted by: arhooley at December 24, 2009 10:40 PM (GKXA7)
Posted by: Where is Publius at December 24, 2009 10:47 PM (pM8Gh)
In the halcyon days of television, the Christmas Day videotape shift was rat-arsed by lunch time.
These days, not only is videotape extinct, but also the moxie which saw Board Room bar 'fridges de-doored.
Merry Christmas Morons.
Posted by: lotocoti at December 24, 2009 10:50 PM (NYcGY)
Posted by: Purity Republican at December 24, 2009 11:03 PM (muUqs)
And very Merry Christmas to the Head Moron.
Posted by: David in San Diego at December 24, 2009 11:34 PM (GF+6V)
Posted by: Christoph at December 24, 2009 11:53 PM (0fq7b)
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good Value-Rite."
Posted by: Pocono Joe at December 24, 2009 11:57 PM (L6fn8)
Posted by: Sassypants at December 25, 2009 12:46 AM (NFIi5)
Posted by: Pocono Joe at December 25, 2009 12:57 AM (L6fn8)
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful,
Counselor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.
On this day I wish to celebrate the joy that is felt whenever people all over the world contemplate the power and nobility of the Author of Creation writing his own Son into the story, in a chapter that would end with unspeakable painÂ… but turn the first page of a new book, describing a world of redemption and forgiveness.
Click here to listen...
Turn it up.
(Seriously, just listen, don't watch. It's German, so the music is fantastic but the visuals are just stupid.)
Posted by: Deety at December 25, 2009 01:06 AM (aVzyR)
I have no idea why my last post is all yellowy.
I thought that what doczero was important enough to crib.
Posted by: Deety at December 25, 2009 01:18 AM (aVzyR)
Posted by: cheshirecat at December 25, 2009 01:23 AM (8HRsX)
Thanks Ace and Merry Christmas to You..
On Christmas morning a cop on horseback is sitting at a traffic light, and next to him is a kid on his shiny new bike.
The cop says to the kid, "Nice bike you got there. Did Santa bring that to you?"
The kid says, "Yeah."
The cop says, "Well, next year tell Santa to put a tail-light on that bike."
The cop then proceeds to issue the kid a $20.00 bicycle safety violation ticket.
The kid takes the ticket and before he rides off says, "By the way, that's a nice horse you got there. Did Santa bring that to you?"
Humoring the kid, the cop says, "Yeah, he sure did."
The kid says, "Well, next year tell Santa to put the stupidity in the horse's brain instead of on his back."
Gotta love Christmas and Kids!
Posted by: sickinmass at December 25, 2009 03:12 AM (Dxfei)
Posted by: valr at December 25, 2009 03:19 AM (TCDY1)
(Sung to the tune of "Winter Wonderland")
Doorbell rings, I'm not list'nin',
From my mouth, drool is glist'nin',
I'm happy -- although
My boss let me go --
Happily addicted to the Ace.
All night long, I sit clicking,
Unaware time is ticking,
There's beard on my cheek,
Same clothes for a week,
Happily addicted to the Ace!
Friends come by; they shake me, Saying, "Yo, man!
Don't you know today's Christmas Day?"
With a listless shrug, I mutter "No, man;
I just discovered Ace-o-Spades-dot-com!"
I don't phone, don't send faxes,
Don't go out, don't pay taxes,
Who cares if someday
They drag me away?
I'm happily addicted to the Ace!
Happ-ilyyyyy, ad-dict-eeeed to the Aaaaace!!! (Yeah!)
Posted by: sickinmass at December 25, 2009 03:19 AM (Dxfei)
Posted by: s☺mej☼e at December 25, 2009 03:44 AM (22if9)
Posted by: Corona at December 25, 2009 03:50 AM (woZIc)
The Yule log was always on because that was The One True Way of Christmas.
And Sandy Becker was the shiznit.
Posted by: MDH3 at December 25, 2009 04:04 AM (H7xm7)
52 When growing up on L.I. my family would always have the Yule Log on from WPIX 11 (unless WOR 9 happened to be playing World At War which my Dad watched religiously). WNEW 5 was the best back when the Sandy Becker show was aired.
Hambone
Posted by: Pocono Joe at December 25, 2009 04:07 AM (L6fn8)
Posted by: RB at December 25, 2009 04:21 AM (DHDwY)
Goofy? Guess who got a lump of coal in their stocking this morning?
Posted by: Santa Claus at December 25, 2009 04:24 AM (7Gws3)
Posted by: Ken at December 25, 2009 04:46 AM (wAPXD)
And, yes, sometimes it burns.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Posted by: Kensington at December 25, 2009 04:50 AM (BlBnA)
Isn't the Yule log supposed to be burned on the solstice, December 21st?
Posted by: Amy Winehouse at December 25, 2009 05:17 AM (Ylv1H)
Good times.
Posted by: VKI at December 25, 2009 05:17 AM (LZK9H)
Merry Christmas All
Paul B. CPO USCG (ret)
Posted by: Paul at December 25, 2009 05:43 AM (ogVU3)
Posted by: lawrence lewis at December 25, 2009 05:59 AM (GkYyh)
Awesome. And it's funny because it's true.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Posted by: (Sotto Voce) at December 25, 2009 06:11 AM (QIqHB)
growing up never remember people saying "happy holidays". They always said "merry Christmas" no matter what religion they were. And they didn't seem to be upset, instead they seemed happy and joyful and caring for you... And when it was their holiday you said "happy whatever it was to them"...not "happy holidays" which takes the spriti out of Christmas..
Posted by: curious at December 25, 2009 06:24 AM (p302b)
Posted by: eddiebear at December 25, 2009 06:48 AM (levG1)
I confess I had some fun with that this year.
Lady at sub shop: "Happy Holidays!"
Me: "And a Happy Beethoven's Birthday to you!"
Clerk at grocery store: "Happy Holidays!"
Me: "Yes, Happy Bill of Rights Day!"
Anyone can play, just look up "today in history" before you go out and pick something you like. Tomorrow is Boxing Day, to get you started. Just don't do it in a restaurant until after they've served all your food/beverages.
Posted by: HeatherRadish at December 25, 2009 06:50 AM (6USny)
Posted by: curious at December 25, 2009 07:03 AM (p302b)
Posted by: eman at December 25, 2009 07:06 AM (ttigb)
Yeah, it's the SF Bay Area where the Fire Fascists have declard a "spare the air" day, i.e. you are FORBIDDEN to have a fire in your own home because some "neighbor" 10 miles away has asthma.
Know what? I have four boxes of wood and I am going to burn it all today. I have seven people coming for prime rib and we are going to have a big ass fire.
By the way, "cooking fires" are exempt from this ban. I therefore have purchased two bags of marshmallows to "cook" on my fire.
Be gone, fire fascists, you have no power here.
Posted by: Scott at December 25, 2009 07:17 AM (PZCvc)
#76
Scott, You da man!
Eggnog for all!
What is your favorite beverage for the nog?
Canadian Club? Bourbon? Rum?
What say you morons? NOT valu rite, for sure.
Posted by: Kemp at December 25, 2009 07:43 AM (2+9Yx)
Posted by: CoolCzech at December 25, 2009 07:50 AM (QECjC)
It was sort of crazy, but every Christmas Eve we'd have this Yule Log on tv, and usually we'd also have a real fire.
Dirty pagans.
Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie at December 25, 2009 08:05 AM (BDH94)
I was just looking for something Christmas-y on tv and wishing for this very Yule log! And I grew up in the Bay Area, not NY, but it was still on there.
Be gone, fire fascists, you have no power here.
LOL.
Merry Christmas all, from a sleep deprived but cheerful moron-ita.
Posted by: Mama AJ at December 25, 2009 08:29 AM (Be4xl)
Posted by: Chris R at December 25, 2009 08:42 AM (AO4qz)
Up here in Canada we have our own version of the yule log that the cable networks start playing around the beginning of December. Hugely popular. We put it on every year when the regular networks go into teh sux rerun mode.
Merry Christmas everybody. 2009 was kind of a rough one. 2010 looks kinda grim too, but chin up. It's not the end of the world. That's 2012.
Posted by: Marty at December 25, 2009 08:50 AM (c+sVx)
@78 a Paul-on-the-Road to Damascus moment
Sadly for us all, it'll be a Wile-E.-Coyote-Going-into-the-Tunnel moment.
The Warner Brothers metaphors of DeathCare are compelling.
What's up, Doc? That's all, Folks.
Posted by: comatus at December 25, 2009 08:51 AM (/VEEI)
Oh man, I was just about to tell the one about how in Canada they put a tuner and volume knob on the fireplace and pretend it's a TV.
Then I remembered that in Kalpurnia they have remote controls for fireplaces, and turn on the AC when they're using them, and decided to STFU.
Posted by: comatus at December 25, 2009 08:54 AM (/VEEI)
Let's not forget the TV sign-off spot where you see a high-flying USAF fighter and hear a famous poem. Posted by: eman at December 25, 2009 11:06 AM (ttigb)
HIGH FLIGHT
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941
Posted by: The Chicken at December 25, 2009 09:06 AM (3IZGh)
On the other hand, Ralphie looked fine over on WTBS.
Posted by: John at December 25, 2009 09:10 AM (/lWMb)
Posted by: rj at December 25, 2009 09:48 AM (cXVgO)
Posted by: teri at December 25, 2009 09:49 AM (dE2vf)
Happy (choose the answer that best fits you):
a. Christmas
b. Hannukah
c. Kwanzaa
d. Festivus
e. Solstice
f. none of the above
Enjoy!
Posted by: Ragnarokpaperscissors at December 25, 2009 09:50 AM (l8HqE)
Even though I was raised Jewish I liked the Yule Log on WPIX...would drop a tab or a microdot and stare at the frigging thing until the station signed off for the night (no infomercials back then). Great stuff, thank you for the flashbacks...er, memories.
Posted by: Ragnarokpaperscissors at December 25, 2009 09:53 AM (l8HqE)
Posted by: Freida Lay at December 25, 2009 10:35 AM (ax4Qo)
Posted by: Pocono Joe at December 25, 2009 11:06 AM (L6fn8)
That yule log was way too green to be burning...
It was spitting and popping way too much!
Posted by: TXMarko at December 25, 2009 12:15 PM (j9eJa)
Posted by: moi at December 25, 2009 02:09 PM (0vfcs)
Posted by: blooch at December 25, 2009 06:15 PM (QjSgY)
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