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"Today, as a mother of a three-year-old daughter, I am reliving the memories of seeing the "Grinch" for the very first time..." |
Boris Karloff, whom one would normally only associate with Halloween, is also well remembered at Christmas time thanks to a run-in with Dr. Seuss...let's take a look at what happens when...
(Note: Next to the Tim Burton animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), the perennial TV special How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1964) is the best-loved on the very short list of creepy Christmas classics. Two generations have grown up on Boris Karloff's voice as that meanie, The Grinch, and a third generation is just beginnings its sentimental journey to Whoville. Ursula Adams, wife of Ron "Monster Bash" Adams, provided us with her perspective on the Grinch...as seen through her little daughter, Paisley's, eyes.)
By URSULA ADAMS Dr. Seuss's classic Yuletide tale How The Grinch Stole Christmas will always be a holiday favorite of mine. Christmas just isn't Christmas until the Grinch discovers "that magical holiday feeling" that expands with love for all. Perhaps, it is particularly special for me because years ago (we are not going to discuss how many years)...Miss Pratkanis, my third grade teacher, had chosen me to be the narrator of the stage version of the "Grinch" for our school's Christmas program.
Yes, I had to recite and memorize all those lines for a crowded auditorium of parents, friends and family members. Luckily, I had Boris Karloff as a mentor. I still recall Eddie Strausser was the Grinch, Jimmy De Filippi was his dog, Max. Eddie made a great Grinch ...but he couldn't whistle. So, those ever-creative third grade teachers, had the best whistler in the class, Korinda Dickey, make the sound effect of the Grinch calling his dog, Max. Oh, I remember it well!
Today, as a mother of a three-year-old daughter, I am reliving the memories of seeing the "Grinch" for the very first time. Her excitement at the show's open of the large snowflakes floating down on a world of joyful people. Who couldn't rejoice in their carols of love and joy...never mind that " Fa Ooo Foris..." or whatever...is nonsense...but, it's happy nonsense. She is instantly dancing and singing along. The first viewing of the Grinch...he frightened her with his snarls and mean glares.
But it wasn't long after she was enjoying the musical phrases of "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch." She really related to Cindy Lou Who...one of her kind. She may only be three, (two at her first viewing) but I truly believe that the message of the tale reached her as well. Because , in the end..she realized that the Grinch had changed. He was transformed by the Whos' happiness and he was no longer fearsome but friendly. She knows the Grinch's heart gets bigger. Does she know why? I'd like to think so. After that, she requested to see the "Grinch" again (and again, and again, and again..you know what I mean if you've ever lived with a toddler). He's not so scary anymore...I guess because she knows that a happy ending awaits her. Now she can recite many of Karloff's lines by heart....I guess she'll be ready for her third grade Christmas play. We are still working on the whistling.
Thanks, Ursula, for the Yuletide memories of Karloff, Whoville, and the Grinch. John-John, you better mind yourself this year or you're going to get coal in your stocking! Cheers! Article copyright Ursula Adams and John-John |
they're
sleeping. He and that dumb dog grab everything, even stuff I wouldn't snag, like
Christmas trees, and stuff, and they beat feet back to this place high in the hills.
Well, the Grinch was kind of cool that way, but I knew what was going to happen--it
always happens in these kiddie movies (this is a real short movie, by the way...Uncle
Renfield said it was on TV, so I guess it's not a movie)--the guy that don't like
Christmas gets all weepy and sloppy and decides he does like Christmas after all.
Well, that's what happened, and the Grinch gave everything back and all, and everybody was
singing at the end just like in about a thousand other Christmas videos. I was kinda
hoping the Grinch would keep the stuff. When I told Mom and Dad that, Dad said any
more out of me and he'd be the Grinch himself and take away my Christmas.
Well, of course, he didn't, I got everything I wanted (and some things I didn't want, like
new shoes), so it was kind of like Whoville after all, I guess, except that Mom had a
headache and Dad ripped his thumb trying to put together my new bike that I couldn't ride
anyway until next Spring. But if I were those Whos, I'd lock my doors on Christmas
Eve from now on, anyway. 
