Best Christmas TV Programming Ever: ‘The Yule Log’
• The program was created by Fred Thrower, then general manager at WPIX (Ch. 11), who wanted to give his station employees time off for Christmas Eve and bring the traditional fireplace experience to viewers in New York apartments.
• “Yule Log” first debuted as a three-hour program on Christmas Eve in 1966, and consisted of a 17-second filmed loop that was shot at Gracie Mansion, the New York City mayoral residence.
• After four years, the original 16 mm film had become worn, and WPIX decided to reshoot the footage on 35 mm film — but the mayor’s office wouldn’t let them return to Gracie Mansion because the crew had previously damaged an antique rug. An identical fireplace was found in California, where the current seven-minute loop was filmed.
• WPIX canceled “The Yule Log” in 1990, citing the cost of airing the broadcast without commercial interruption. It was revived in 2001 thanks to a fan campaign started by Lawrence F. “Chip” Arcuri and Joe Malzone. The original film was found at the station’s New Jersey archives — mistakenly filed in a “Honeymooners” canister — and digitally remastered (it was converted to HD in 2003).
“The Yule Log” now has its own Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
34 responses to Best Christmas TV Programming Ever: ‘The Yule Log’
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Um Cara December 25th, 2014 at 10:35
Ack! Public airwaves & something with a whiff of religion?!?!? Surely that’s as horrifying to nitwits as nativity scenes? (Personally I love kitties, Christmas, harmless pagan celebrations, Nativity Scenes, misfit Satanists, AND nitwits)
Nitwits, what say you? Ready to fire up some righteous indignation to keep us all warm on this cool Christmas morning?
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 10:41
You seem to have this handled. :)
Edit: Merry Christmas, Troll
Um Cara December 25th, 2014 at 11:02
Merry Christmas, subtle nitwit ;^)
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 11:07
poor little troll got called on a stupid attempt at trolling and calls me a nitwit?
LOL. Merry Christmas.
SMH.
Um Cara December 25th, 2014 at 11:20
Should have said ‘subtle nitwittery’ – I don’t know you well enough to know whether it’s chronic. Apologies.
And it’s not trolling, for the past four Christmas seasons on Alan’s site I’ve been trying to understand the mind of the kind of person who gets all twisted up over folks enjoying the holidays. Said research has shown chronic nitwittery to be the underlying condition leading to such behavior.
I’m just curious as to how far this condition extends. I appreciate your contributions to this important scientific research. If yule log tv displays on public airwaves rattle you, I’d appreciate your explanations of the symptoms you experience. Either way, Merry Christmas & have a happy & healthy new year!
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 11:50
“Said research has shown chronic nitwittery to be the underlying condition leading to such behavior.”
– said no scientist ever
Um Cara December 25th, 2014 at 12:10
You clearly have gotten behind on the various journals, Lump. Chronic nitwittery has been linked to such diverse conditions as tea party joining, nativity scene protesting, and Obama derangement syndrome (the last only when combined with acute racism).
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 12:13
My science background, degree and career tells me otherwise.
But by all means, keep representing “science”
Um Cara December 25th, 2014 at 12:21
LOL
You’ll find no bigger lover of science than myself. If you think I was being serious re: published research & links to nitwittery & the topics I discussed, you might be silly enough to join forces with those protesting nativity scenes.
Fight it, Lump! If you start getting the nervous sweats when you see a nativity scene or other blatent displays of Christmas cheer, just ask yourself WWRBD? (What would Roger Bacon do)
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 12:26
The only one who’s mentioned getting mad at nativity scenes has been you.
If you think I’m taking you seriously, well, then who’s the Nitwit?
By the way, way to flag me for using the word “ignorant”. Trolls with thin skins make me laugh more than anything.
Dwendt44 December 25th, 2014 at 12:34
Point of order: Um Cara is hardly a troll. Cara has been posting here for years, until recently in any case.
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 12:37
It may be that he has been posting here for years, but his behavior indicates otherwise.
troll is as troll does, but thank you for the clarification.
Jaz December 25th, 2014 at 21:20
Um Cara is not a troll. You just don’t understand his wit or his brilliant mind.
Eric Trommater December 25th, 2014 at 21:37
Um Cera is a posting legend here at LL and while, yes, he does live under a bridge and ever so occasionally eat children he would never reduce himself to internet trolling.
jasperjava December 25th, 2014 at 23:59
It’s somehow fitting that a post about the Yule log ignited a flame war…
Jaz December 25th, 2014 at 21:12
Merry Christmas Um Cara…
Um Cara December 25th, 2014 at 11:35
Ack! Public airwaves & something with a whiff of religion?!?!? Surely that’s as horrifying to nitwits as nativity scenes? (Personally I love kitties, Christmas, harmless pagan celebrations, Nativity Scenes, misfit Satanists, AND nitwits)
Nitwits, what say you? Ready to fire up some righteous indignation to keep us all warm on this cool Christmas morning?
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 11:41
You seem to have this handled. :)
Edit: Merry Christmas, Troll
Um Cara December 25th, 2014 at 12:02
Merry Christmas, subtle nitwit ;^)
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 12:07
poor little troll got called on a stupid attempt at trolling and calls me a nitwit?
LOL. Merry Christmas.
SMH.
Um Cara December 25th, 2014 at 12:20
Should have said ‘subtle nitwittery’ – I don’t know you well enough to know whether it’s chronic. Apologies.
And it’s not trolling, for the past four Christmas seasons on Alan’s site I’ve been trying to understand the mind of the kind of person who gets all twisted up over folks enjoying the holidays. Said research has shown chronic nitwittery to be the underlying condition leading to such behavior.
I’m just curious as to how far this condition extends. I appreciate your contributions to this important scientific research. If yule log tv displays on public airwaves rattle you, I’d appreciate your explanations of the symptoms you experience. Either way, Merry Christmas & have a happy & healthy new year!
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 12:50
“Said research has shown chronic nitwittery to be the underlying condition leading to such behavior.”
– said no scientist ever
Um Cara December 25th, 2014 at 13:10
You clearly have gotten behind on the various journals, Lump. Chronic nitwittery has been linked to such diverse conditions as tea party joining, nativity scene protesting, and Obama derangement syndrome (the last only when combined with acute racism).
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 13:13
My science background, degree and career tells me otherwise.
But by all means, keep representing “science”
Um Cara December 25th, 2014 at 13:21
LOL
You’ll find no bigger lover of science than myself. If you think I was being serious re: published research & links to nitwittery & the topics I discussed, you might be silly enough to join forces with those protesting nativity scenes.
Fight it, Lump! If you start getting the nervous sweats when you see a nativity scene or other blatent displays of Christmas cheer, just ask yourself WWRBD? (What would Roger Bacon do)
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 13:26
The only one who’s mentioned getting mad at nativity scenes has been you.
If you think I’m taking you seriously, well, then who’s the Nitwit?
By the way, way to flag me for using the word “ignorant”. Trolls with thin skins make me laugh more than anything.
Dwendt44 December 25th, 2014 at 13:34
Point of order: Um Cara is hardly a troll. Cara has been posting here for years, until recently in any case.
Lumpy December 25th, 2014 at 13:37
It may be that he has been posting here for years, but his behavior indicates otherwise.
troll is as troll does, but thank you for the clarification.
Jaz December 25th, 2014 at 22:20
Um Cara is not a troll. You just don’t understand his wit or his brilliant mind.
Eric Trommater December 25th, 2014 at 22:37
Um Cera is a posting legend here at LL and while, yes, he does live under a bridge and ever so occasionally eat children he would never reduce himself to internet trolling.
jasperjava December 26th, 2014 at 00:59
It’s somehow fitting that a post about the Yule log ignited a flame war…
Jaz December 25th, 2014 at 22:12
Merry Christmas Um Cara…
Jaz December 25th, 2014 at 21:13
I wasn’t sure were to post this. It’s funny as hell and should be shared.
Have a cigar.
Obama Sends Cuban Cigars To Republican Leaders For Christmas
http://dailycurrant.com/2014/12/22/obama-sends-cuban-cigars-to-republican-leaders-for-christmas/
Jaz December 25th, 2014 at 22:13
I wasn’t sure were to post this. It’s funny as hell and should be shared.
Have a cigar.
Obama Sends Cuban Cigars To Republican Leaders For Christmas
http://dailycurrant.com/2014/12/22/obama-sends-cuban-cigars-to-republican-leaders-for-christmas/