By the end of the sixties , the production squad of Arthur Rankin , Jr. and Jules Bass had a well - established recession in the annual vacation video schedule . Their “ Animagic ” stop - apparent movement animation specials likeRudolph the Red - Nosed ReindeerandThe Little Drummer Boywere eagerly anticipated each December and were well on their fashion to “ classic ” status . In 1969 , the Rankin / Bass squad precede yet another holiday - themed special based on a song , Frosty the Snowman . The special premier on Sunday , December 7 , follow the meshwork ’s annual revival of 1965’sA Charlie Brown Christmas . Here are a few things you might not have have intercourse about the fabled animated special .
1. IT WAS A HIT SONG LONG BEFORE IT WAS A TV SPECIAL.
The song “ Frosty the Snowman ” was written by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson in 1950 ( with a melody that isstrikingly similarto 1932 ’s “ Let ’s Have Another Cup of Coffee ” ) specifically as a means of capitalise on the succeeder of Gene Autry ’s “ Rudolph the Red - Nosed Reindeer . ” The record was n’t as vast as “ Rudolph , ” sale - wise , but Frosty ’s story was nevertheless perpetuated viaLittle Golden Booksand Dell Comics .
2. RANKIN/BASS WASN’T THE FIRST TEAM TO ANIMATE FROSTY.
In 1954 , United Productions of America ( UPA ) brought Frosty to sprightliness in a short animated cartoon that is little more than an animated music video for a jazzy version of the song . It introduce the persona remark in the lyrics visually , from Frosty himself to the dealings bull . The three - minute , black - and - white piece apace became a vacation custom in various marketplace , particularly in Chicago , where it ’s been broadcast annually on WGN since 1955 .
3. FROSTY WAS VOICED BY A NOT-SO-FAMILY-FRIENDLY STAND-UP COMEDIAN.
Deadpan funny Jackie Vernon was be intimate for his“slideshow ” routines , where he ’d recount playground slide ( unseen by the audience ) and “ change ” them with a handheld clicker . Quite often his routines terminate with a graphic verbal description of some sexual sexual perversion that he ’d innocently stumbled onto via the passport of some stranger , about whom he ’d always comment “ … and I thought , ‘ Gee , what a tasteful hombre ! ’ ”
4. THE NARRATOR WAS UNIVERSALLY REGARDED AS A NICE GUY.
Jimmy Durante was a jazz pianist , vocalizer , and comic whose career cross a little over 50 year . In the 1950s , he was a unconstipated not only at Las Vegas ’ Desert Inn , but also at the Guardian Angel Cathedral , where he stand outside and greeted fellow parishioners with the priest after Sunday tidy sum each week . Durante loved children , and is famous for turning down a performance fee at the Eagles International Convention in 1961 . When asked by the organizers , “ What can we do , then?”Durante repliedin his trademark Brooklynese : “ Help da kids . ”
5. LEGENDARY VOICE ACTORS JUNE FORAY AND PAUL FREES WERE REPLACED AFTER THE ORIGINAL AIRING.
The original film featured June Foray performing the spokesperson of both the school teacher and young Karen , who keep company Frosty to the North Pole . Paul Frees was the Traffic Cop and Santa Claus , and the two fuse to vocalize the remaining schoolchildren . For reason nameless ( even to Foray herself ) , nearly all the fry ’s voices — include Karen’s — wereredubbedby unidentified child actors for the 1970 public exposure . All subsequent goggle box show and video releases bear this newfangled soundtrack . The original is only available on the 1970 soundtrack LP and a 2002 cadmium release by Rhino .
6.FROSTYWAS PARTIALLY MADE IN JAPAN.
Frosty the Snowmanwas the first Rankin / Bass Christmas special to utilize traditional animation ( versus the stop - motility method used in their other projects ) . Paul Coker , Jr. , a foresightful - timeMADMagazine illustrator , cater both the main character and backdrop drawing off . The animation was done by Mushi Studio , the Japanese society founded by Osamu Tezuka to produceAstro BoyandKimbathe White Lioncartoons .
7. FROSTY’S HOMETOWN IS ARMONK, NEW YORK.
Lyricist Steve Nelson lived in nearby White Plains and loved to call in the historical crossroads of Armonk as a young military man . The Village Square mentioned in the lyrics of the call is now the Armonk Historic District in the town of North Castle . Local historians also claim that the traffic cop who beef “ Stop ! ” is based on former chief of policeJohn Hergenhan . Armonk hosts an annualFrosty Dayparade and celebration that is officially listed as one of the “ 10 Best Things To Do in Westchester County . ”
8. FROSTY HAS MAGIC FINGERS AS WELL AS A MAGIC HAT!
Watch cautiously when Frosty attempt to count to 10 : He has five fingers on one hand for a brief moment , then when he clasp his hand and flexes his digit , he ’s down to four fingers . Maybe that devolve under the family of “ invigoration blooper ” rather than “ magic . ”
