- Ah, ah, ah, don't touch that dial.

(soft upbeat music) Broadcasting from the Aragon Ballroom, high atop the Elysian Arms Hotel, KTWU and the Air Command Present our "Holiday Storybook," with drama, comedy, music, and romance, featuring the piano stylings of Randy Wills and the music of the Harmony Sisters.

And now, here's your host.

- Now's the time, radio audience, to don your gay apparel, fill your cup with hot buttered rum, call the family together and move in close to the glow of your radio dial for the music, comedy, and drama of the Air Command Radio Theatre's "Holiday Storybook."

And I can't think of anyone better to kick off our radio celebration than the ever popular Harmony Sisters.

Take it away, ladies.

♪ Up on the house top, reindeer pause ♪ ♪ Out jumps good old Santa Claus ♪ ♪ Down through the chimney ♪ ♪ With lots of toys ♪ ♪ All for the little ones' ♪ ♪ Christmas joys ♪ ♪ Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go ♪ ♪ Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go ♪ ♪ Up on the housetop ♪ ♪ Click, click, click ♪ ♪ Gonna be trouble for old St. Nick ♪ - Our first story, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clement Clark Moore.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, (mouse squeaking) not even a mouse.

(mouse squeals) The stockings were hung (fireplace crackles) by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds.

- You're kicking me.

- Be quiet.

- While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mama in her 'kerchief and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

(snoring) When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter.

(dogs barking) - Them dogs is clatterin' again.

- I hear 'em.

- Go shut 'em up.

I need my beauty rest.

- All right, all right.

- I sprang from my bed (springs) to see what was the matter.

Away to the window, I flew like a flash, (whistle blows) tore open the shutters, (wood clatters) and threw up the sash.

(papa retches) - Oh, I never shoulda eaten that sash.

- Told you not to stuff yourself.

- The moon on the breast- - (giggles) She said breast.

- Go back to bed.

- Go vision some sugar plums.

- Okay.

- Of the new-fallen snow (footsteps) gave a luster of midday to objects below.

When what to my wondering eye- (sleigh bells jingling) - You stay away from my husband with yer wanderin' eye!

He got a wanderin' eye, too.

- When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles, (wind whistling) his coursers they came, and he whistled and he shouted and called them by name.

- Now, Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen!

On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner- - Stay away from Donner's parties.

- I love parties.

- Okay, but don't touch the refreshments.

- You're supposed to be nestled.

Back to bed!

- Sorry.

- [Papa] I'm goin' downstairs.

(footsteps) (crash) (papa shouts) - To the top of the porch.

- And the bottom of the stairs.

- To the top of the wall.

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all.

- I could use an aspirin.

- As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle.

- Ouch!

(crash) - What happened?

- Met with an obstacle.

It's dark down here.

- Mount to the sky.

- [Papa] That's gonna leave a mark.

- So up to the housetop, the coursers they flew with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

(hooves prancing) - What's that racket?

- Hoofers.

- Make 'em stop.

We just had that roof re-did.

- [Papa] Take five, kids.

You too, Dancer!

- As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas (slide whistle "down") came with a bound.

(wood tumbles) - Ouch!

On fire, on fire!

(feet pattering) - I shoulda put out the fireplace afore bed time.

- He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

- (coughs) Dead birds, too.

And I think this used to be a raccoon.

- A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled.

(bells jingling) His dimples, how merry.

(giggles) - What's goin' on?

You got people down there?

- His cheeks were like roses.

- Somebody break in?

We got a burglar?

- His nose like a cherry.

- I'm gonna stop.

- His droll little mouth- - I'm callin' the cops!

- Was drawn up like a bow.

- Don't call the- - She always like this?

(laughs) - Pretty much, yeah.

- Yeah, I called the cops.

(footsteps) Who are these people?

- Well, this is the narrator.

- Just because the neighbors got a narrator, we don't need no narrator.

- We're tryin' to do a- - I ain't feedin' her.

- I'm not askin' you to.

- I got enough kids.

- We got milk and cookies.

- Oh, I like milk and cookies.

- And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.

- More like black.

- Yeah, clean your chimney.

(chuckles) - I brought the shotgun.

- What?

- We don't need a shotgun.

- Put up your hands!

- Watch where you point that thing.

- Hands up.

- You could put somebody's eye out.

- [Mama] Who is this?

- It's Santa Claus.

- You got any ID?

- My reindeer license is in the sleigh, if you'll let- - Hands up!

- Oh, hands up.

- The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth.

- Lost the pipe up in that dirty chimney somewhere.

(chuckles) Some of the teeth, too.

- And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.

- (coughs) Man, if it isn't the ashes and soot, it's the smoke.

- You should quit.

Maybe chew gum.

- Sugar's not good for the teeth.

- But you were gonna eat them cookies.

- I like cookies.

- He had a broad face and a little round belly.

- I'm working on it.

Could I put my hands down?

- All right, but I'm watchin' you.

- That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump.

- Okay, you made your point.

- He does like cookies.

- A right jolly old elf.

- Not feeling very jolly.

- How'd you get in here?

- I'm Santa Claus!

- I didn't ask your name.

I'll let the police beat it outta ya.

- What?

(siren blares) - He came down the chimney.

- The dirty chimney.

- And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

- So we got a burglar comin' down the chimney.

- A wink of his eye and a twist of his head.

- Youch!

(neck creaks) Hey, stop that!

- Soon gave me to know.

- Come out with your hands behind your head, and we won't shoot your roof cows.

- I had nothing to dread.

- Well, I certainly do.

This old lady terrifies me.

- He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

- Hello.

- Who are you?

- I'm the jerk.

- I told you to wait in the sleigh.

- Oh, that's too risky.

They're gonna shoot the roof cows.

- Go.

- All right, then, all right.

- Hands up!

(feet running) - Don't shoot the roof cows!

- Putting a finger inside of his nose- - Aside.

- Aside of his nose.

- Where'd you get this narrator?

- There was a sale at the narrator store.

- Oh, I'm done here.

- And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

(slide whistle "up") - He got away!

- He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle.

(whistle blows) And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

- Can you describe the perp?

- He had a round little belly.

- Anything missing?

- Some cookies.

- But I heard him exclaim, (sleigh bells ringing) ere he drove out of sight- - Happy Christmas to all!

And to all a good night!

(soft upbeat music) ♪ Toyland, Toyland ♪ ♪ Little girl and boy land ♪ ♪ Once you pass its borders ♪ ♪ You can ne'er return again ♪ - The year was 1897, and Ginny O'Hanlon came to her father with a very serious question.

He told her that she should write to his favorite newspaper, "The Sun," because it would always tell the truth.

And so she did.

- Dear Editor, I am 8 years old.

Some of my little friends say that there is no Santa Claus.

Papa says if you see it in "The Sun," it is so.

Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O'Hanlon.

(soft thoughtful music) - Virginia, (typewriter clacking) your little friends are wrong.

They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Alas, how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus.

It would be as dreary as if there were, as if there were no Virginias.

There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.

The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus?

Why, you might as well not believe in, in fairies!

You might get your Papa to hire men to watch all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus.

But even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?

Nobody sees Santa Claus.

Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn?

Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, or even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart.

Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond.

Is it all real?

Ah, Virginia, in all this world, there is nothing else as real and abiding.

No Santa Claus?

Thank God he lives and he lives forever.

A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

- William S. Porter, a bookkeeper at the First National Bank of Austin, charged with embezzlement and sent to prison for five years, started writing stories.

(lively music) ♪ If I were the only girl ♪ ♪ In the world ♪ ♪ And you were the only boy ♪ ♪ Nothing else would matter ♪ ♪ In the world today ♪ ♪ We would go on loving ♪ ♪ In the same sweet way ♪ - But his most treasured Christmas story was written after he began using the nom de plume O'Henry.

He called the story "The Gift of the Magi."

♪ If I were the only girl ♪ ♪ In the world ♪ ♪ And you were the only boy ♪ - James Dillingham Young was the name on the letter-box.

Now, behind that letter-box was an eight dollars a week furnished flat where, on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, Mrs. James Dillingham Young, (coins jingling) Della, sat counting the pennies she'd save over the months.

- A dollar and 60, 70, 80.

87 cents?

What could I possibly buy Jim with only a dollar and 87 cents?

- She swept the coins back into the little drawstring bag she'd kept hidden in the kitchen sugar bin, crossed the room and sat at her looking glass, combing out her auburn hair as it fell about her in rippling and shining cascade.

The James Dillingham Youngs took a mighty pride in two possessions.

One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's, and the other was Della's glorious hair.

- I can't buy anything he deserves with only a dollar and 87 cents.

(knock at door) Who could that be?

(door creaks) Oh, Mrs. Davis.

- Good afternoon, Della.

May I come in?

- Oh, of course, of course.

(door closes) - Woo, cold out there.

- It is.

- (gasps) Your hair.

- Oh.

I'm sorry, I should have- - Oh, no, no, it's glorious.

- Oh well, I- - I won't take up too much of your time.

The mister got excited about buying chestnuts from that, oh, that pushcart fellow who comes around.

You've seen him.

- Yes.

- A body can only eat so many roasted chestnuts, (laughs) so we thought you and Jim would like to have some of these.

Tradition, you know.

- That's so kind.

(Mrs. Davis chuckles) (clock strikes one) - Oh my, look at the time.

One o'clock, I'd better get back home.

I have a pie in the oven.

Merry Christmas.

(door opens) - Merry Christmas to you.

(door closes) - Della moved back toward the mirror, quickly doing up her hair.

- One o'clock?

Oh, there isn't much time.

My coat, where's my... Ah, there.

Oh, and my hat.

Oh, don't forget the money.

(coins jingling) (door opens and closes) Here it is.

(feet pattering) 910 Madison Street.

Excuse me.

- Hmm?

- I'm looking for Madame Sofronie.

- Yeah?

- The advertisement, Madam Sofronie, Hair Good of All Kinds, and it gives this address.

I thought- - Upstairs to the left.

Name's on the door.

- Thank you.

(climbs stairs) (door opens and closes) Excuse me.

- Yeah?

- Do you buy hair?

- I buy hair.

- Would you, would you buy mine?

- Take your hat off.

- Oh, here.

- Oh, all right then, 20 dollars.

- Do it quickly!

(scissors cutting) - The deed was done, and Della, with her precious 21 dollars and 87 cents, raced through the stores, searching for the perfect Christmas present for Jim.

- Yes, may I help you?

- I've been looking and looking and- - We'll be closing early, so you have just 15 more minutes by my watch.

- [Della] By your, by your watch!

Your watch!

It's his watch.

- No, I assure you- - It just has an old leather strap.

- It most certainly does not.

- Do you have a watch chain?

Silver, no platinum.

Platinum would be perfect for Jim's watch.

Something simple, but chaste.

- I've never heard of a chaste- - So anyone who sees it would know that it's even worthy of Jim's watch!

- I believe we have just such a fob chain here, manufactured by E.V.

Roddin.

You'll note the tasteful- - It's perfect.

- Oh, well let me tell you- - How much?

- (scoffs) 21 dollars, so I'm sure- - [Della] Gift-wrapped?

- Yes, we can certainly- - Sold!

- Back home, Della got out her curling irons and went to work.

Soon her head was covered with tiny, close-lying curls.

She studied her reflection in the mirror.

- Jim will say I look like a Coney Island chorus girl.

But I had no choice!

When he gets here, I'll put the chops on the stove, and we'll have the best Christmas Eve ever!

Oh, please, God, make him think I'm still pretty.

- She rushed to put away the curling irons and set the Christmas Eve dinner table.

- Della, I'm home.

(door opens and closes) Sorry I'm late, I had to stop to get this special... Ah.

- Jim, darling, don't look at me that way.

I had my hair cut off.

I sold it because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present, and I needed money for that.

- Your hair, you cut it off.

- Don't you like me just as well?

I'm me without my hair, aren't I?

Where are you going?

- You say your hair is gone.

- You needn't look for it, Jim.

It's not in the kitchen.

It's sold and gone.

But it went for you, Jim.

I did it because I love you, Jim!

More than anyone could count, more than the hairs on my head, more than- - I'm sorry, Della.

I was just thrown off for a moment.

Oh, come here to my arms, sweet one.

Such a day it must've been for you.

How you must have suffered to lose your lovely hair.

- For you.

- I never believed it possible that I could love you more.

- Oh, Jim, I hope- - [Jim] Della, if you'll unwrap this package I brought, you'll see why you had me going for a bit at first.

- This package?

- Open it.

(paper tearing) - And there were the combs.

- Oh!

- The beautiful jeweled set of tortoise-shell combs.

Her heart had yearned for them without the least hope of possession, and now they were hers.

But the tresses they would have adorned were gone.

- Oh, oh, Jim!

My hair, my hair grows, Jim.

It grows so fast.

- I know, I know.

- Oh, oh, your present!

Your beautiful present!

Here, here, open it, open it.

- Oh, Della, it's so beautifully wrapped.

- I had them wrap it special!

It's perfect, Jim.

It's perfect.

- Oh.

(paper tearing) - Isn't it a dandy, Jim?

You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now.

Give me your watch.

I want to see how it looks with your beautiful chain.

- Tell you what, let's cook those chops I saw on the stove and have a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner.

- Jim, your watch, we can- - [Jim] Dell, I sold my watch.

- You, you what?

But why?

- For the money to buy your combs.

- [Narrator] The magi were wonderfully wise men who invented the art of giving Christmas presents.

Here I offer the chronicle of two children in a flat who sacrificed for each other their greatest treasures.

Let it be said that of all who give and receive gifts, these two are the wisest.

They are the magi.

- With winter comes sleds and snow forts and snowball fights, and, of course, building a snow man.

And that is our next story.

Harmony Sisters, take it away.

(soft bouncy music) ♪ Girls and boys, come out to play ♪ ♪ The moon doth shine as bright as day ♪ ♪ Build your snowman and ride your sled ♪ ♪ Then run back home ♪ ♪ And it's off to bed ♪ (wind whistles) - The snowman was born in the big field, next to the small yard of the cozy house.

His eyes were two remarkably interesting stones, polished by the nearby creek.

His nose a carrot, his mouth a bent spoon handle.

And when the children were finished, the snowman was thoroughly satisfied with himself and with the field that was his world.

- This is good, I think.

But what's that big shiny thing in the sky?

- The dog, chained in the yard, was pleased for the company.

- That, my freshly fabricated friend, is the sun.

It will make you run into the gutters some day, just like you always do.

- Always?

But I'm new today.

- The children bring you back every year.

You're as certain as winter, as sure as the snow.

Usually takes you a while to remember, though you never remember all of it.

Oh, hold on.

I've got something here under the porch I saved for you.

- For me?

But I don't remember that we ever- - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you will.

Don't worry about it.

A gift from you to you.

Long story.

Try it on.

- Oh, a scarf.

I like it.

- You always do.

- How do I look?

- Just as you should.

- I don't understand, Mister?

- Yard Dog.

- Yard Dog.

- Yes.

The dog who stays in the yard.

Oh, I was a house dog once, a pretty little puppy with a name all my own.

I would lie so happy in my bed next to the fireplace in the house.

- What is a fireplace?

- It's the most beautiful thing you'll ever see.

A fireplace glows and crackles and lights up a room.

Sleeping near it is the best things ever.

- Well, that sounds wonderful.

- And they hang socks on it.

- Why?

- I have no idea.

- [Snowman] Okay.

- Strange and godlike are the ways of humans.

I loved it when I was with them inside the house.

- Why did you leave?

- It was not by choice.

You see, they have this, this tree inside.

- What kind of tree?

- One that's flowered in lights and shiny hanging moss and colorful boxes with ribbons all around it.

- Well, that sounds lovely.

- Oh, it is.

But once, about a year ago, when the people were out shopping- - [Snowman] Shopping?

- Shopping is about riding in the car.

I love riding in the car.

It's the most wonderful thing you will ever do.

You can put your head out the window and let your tongue loll in the wind, and your ears blow back behind you!

It's the most wonderful thing ever.

No, wait.

Tennis balls are the most wonderful thing ever.

But riding in the car is the second most wonderful thing ever.

You see, they thought the cat was outside, but he was inside and inside the tree.

And while the people were gone, the cat jumped out and tore the boxes to pieces.

- Oh my!

- There were things inside.

- Things?

- Including the most wonderful tennis ball ever.

When the people came back, they blamed me because I had the most wonderful tennis ball ever in my mouth.

So they sent me out here and chained me up like this.

(chains jingling) And even kept the most wonderful tennis ball.

- Ever?

- Ever.

- I'm sorry.

- I've been chained up outside ever since.

I just to sleep in this doghouse thing.

But no dog would want it.

Look inside, I dare you.

- It's quite cozy?

- Tiny.

The word is tiny and cramped and dark, and it has no fireplace to sleep beside.

And it's got spiders!

I hate spiders!

So now I'm the dog who must stay in the yard.

- Yard Dog.

- Yard Dog.

- And you are the Snowman who stays in the field.

So at least I have company.

Goody.

- What about the cat?

- As soon as he could, he left to go out shopping.

- Shopping?

- For better humans.

- [Snowman] Oh.

- Loyalty wasn't in him.

He wouldn't sit or roll over.

Not a team player.

He'd complained that cats never get invited on hunting trips.

It's always the dogs.

But you can't count on a cat to retrieve a bird.

You say fetch to a dog, and he brings it back.

You say fetch to a cat, and he- - Brings it back.

- Ignores you.

Sometimes he gets the bird before you say fetch.

- Oh, oh, and brings it back.

- Eats it.

- Eats it.

Look, the house people are coming out.

- (gasps) I see them!

(car door slams) (engine whirring) They're gonna go riding in the car.

- I've heard it's the most wonderful thing.

- It is!

- Besides tennis balls, which are the most wonderful things.

- They are.

- And there they go.

- Without me again.

- Oh look, the door blew open.

- It didn't latch.

- I wanna see inside.

I wanna see the tree with flowering lights and hanging shiny moss and the fireplace that glows and crackles.

Wouldn't you like to see them again?

- Well, now that you mention it, let me take off this chain.

(chain jingles) - That seemed easy.

- Don't tell my humans.

- But then, why not just leave?

- I, I have to be where my humans are, where my family is.

I'm, I'm a dog.

- Come on, then.

- Do you think the most wonderful tennis ball is still there?

- Oh, you have to believe.

- You always say that.

- I do?

- Every time.

- Let's go.

- Oh, lots of snow blew in.

I'll get blamed for it.

- This is different from outside.

- Except for the tree.

- Oh look, a little snowman statue.

- Cookie jar.

- What's it for?

- Cookies.

- Sometime knickknacks, sometimes paper things.

(jar opens) - Looks like paper things.

- Now we know.

- I was hoping for cookies.

- Look out, you're gonna... (jar shatters) - Paper things all over.

- I'll get blamed for it.

- [Snowman] Oh!

There's the tree with flowering lights and shiny silver moss!

Inside trees are beautiful.

- They have their place.

- Where's the fire place?

- I don't think the fireplace would be a good idea.

- Ooh, sleeping near it is one of the best things ever!

- It is, but- - And they hang socks on the fireplace.

- They do, but- - What are socks?

- Well, they're these- - Never mind, I wouldn't understand anyway.

- You wouldn't.

- So where's the fireplace?

Oh, in this room over... Oh, here it is!

- I'd better stop him.

(nails scraping) (fireplace crackles) - It's bright and beautiful and dancing.

- Don't get too close.

- But you said that sleeping next to it is wonderful.

- For me.

- Not for me?

- Not for you.

- That's hurtful.

(dog growls) Hey, let go of my scarf!

- No, you let go!

- You want the scarf?

Fine, I'll let it go.

(dog barks) Oh!

(chair crashes) Oh, I'm sorry.

Are you all right?

- Didn't think you'd let go.

- You've broken that- - Chair.

- Chair.

- How could I leave the shopping money in the cookie jar?

- The door's open.

- Robert, there's snow all over the floor.

- Uh oh.

- [Edith] The cookie jar!

My money's scattered everywhere!

- Have we been robbed?

Edith, the dog's in here!

- What?

- And there's water all over the floor and a carrot?

(dog whines) What have you got there, boy?

- What is it?

- Here, look at it.

A scarf.

- It's not ours.

- I bet it belonged to the burglar!

- The dog must have chased him away!

- Protected the house!

- And the money!

- He's a hero!

Good boy!

(dog barks) - Good boy, good boy, Raffles!

- That's my name!

I got my name back, Snowman!

I got my... - Time passed.

Winter came round again, and the snowman returned.

Raffles, who was living in the house now with his most wonderful tennis ball, surprised the snowman with a gift, the scarf again, which he'd been saving again.

That winter was followed by more winters and more children, and the friendship continued until Raffles came no more.

But the snowman remembered because friendships, like tennis balls, are the most wonderful things ever.

(soft bouncy music) ♪ Jolly old St. Nicholas ♪ ♪ Lean your ear this way ♪ ♪ Don't you tell a single soul ♪ ♪ What I'm gonna say ♪ - "King John's Christmas," by A.

A. Milne.

♪ Christmas Eve is coming soon ♪ ♪ Now, you dear old man ♪ ♪ Whisper what you'll bring to me ♪ ♪ Tell me if you can ♪ - King John was not a good man.

He had his little ways.

And sometimes no one spoke to him for days and days and days.

- It's not fair, you know.

I'm not so bad, really.

Mostly.

Sometimes.

- And those who came across him when walking in the town, gave him a supercilious stare, or passed with noses in the air.

And bad King John stood dumbly there, blushing beneath his crown.

- Piffle.

- Pay him no mind.

- King John was not a good man.

- And no good friends had he.

- He stayed in every afternoon.

- But no one came to tea.

- And round about December, the cards upon his shelf which wished him lots of Christmas cheer- - And fortune in the coming year.

- Were never from his near and dear.

- But only from himself.

- King John was not a good man, yet had his hopes and fears.

They'd given him no present now.

- For years and years and years.

- But every year at Christmas, while minstrels stood about... ♪ Alas, my love, you do me wrong ♪ ♪ To cast me off and fly anon ♪ ♪ For though my smell is dreadful strong ♪ ♪ I'm not as rank as ripe King John ♪ (minstrel laughs) - Collecting tribute from the young for all the songs they might have sung, he stole away upstairs and hung a hopeful stocking out.

- It's filled with hope.

Nothing else, though.

- King John was not a good man.

He lived his live aloof.

Alone he thought a message out while climbing up the roof.

- Oh my!

(wind whistles) It's a bit scary up here.

(birds chirping) (wings flapping) Shoo birdies, shoo!

Oh!

That's sure to stain.

- He wrote it down and propped it against the chimney stack.

- (clears throat) To all and sundry, near and far!

Father Christmas in particular.

- And signed it not Johannes R., but very humbly, Jack.

- (clears throat) I want some crackers.

And I want some candy.

I think a box of chocolates would come in handy.

I don't mind oranges and I do like nuts.

And I should like a pocket-knife that really cuts.

And, oh, Father Christmas, if you love me at all, bring me a big red India-rubber ball.

- King John was not a good man.

He wrote this message out, and gat him to his room again, descending by the spout.

- Whoops!

(slide whistle blows) - And all that night he lay there, a prey to hopes and fears.

(trash can clangs) - Oh, I think that's him a-coming now!

(cat meows) Perhaps not.

- Anxiety bedewed his brow.

- He'll bring one present, anyhow.

The first I've had for years.

Forget about the crackers and forget about the candy.

I'm sure a box of chocolates would never come in handy.

I don't like oranges and I don't want nuts, and I have got a pocket-knife that almost cuts.

But, oh, Father Christmas, if you love me at all, bring me a big red India-rubber ball.

- King John was not a good man.

Next morning when the sun rose up to tell a waiting world that Christmas had begun, and people seized their stockings and opened them with glee, and crackers, toys and games appeared, and lips with sticky sweets were smeared, King John said grimly.

- As I feared, nothing again for me.

I did want crackers and I did want candy.

I know a box of chocolates would come in handy.

I do love oranges and I did want nuts.

I haven't got a pocket-knife, well, not one that cuts.

And, oh, if Father Christmas had loved me at all, he would have brought a big red India-rubber ball.

- King John stood by the window and frowned to see below the happy bands of boys and girls all playing in the snow.

Awhile he stood there watching and envying them all, when through the window big and red, there hurtled by his royal head and bounced (ball bounces) and fell upon the bed an India-rubber ball!

- And, oh, Father Christmas!

My blessings on you fall for bringing me a big red India-rubber ball.

(soft bouncy music) ♪ O Hanukkah, O Hanukkah ♪ ♪ Come light the menorah ♪ ♪ Let's have a party ♪ ♪ We'll all dance the hora ♪ - Hanukkah begins at sunset, and Dan, Becky and the children are driving across the desert to spend the holiday with the twins' grandparents in Henderson, Nevada.

(engine whirs) ♪ Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel ♪ ♪ I made it out of clay ♪ ♪ Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel ♪ ♪ Then dreidel I shall play ♪ ♪ It has a lovely body ♪ ♪ With legs so short and thin ♪ ♪ And when it gets all ♪ - Hey, I can't sing this by myself.

- You're right, you can't.

- We noticed.

- It's a dumb song.

- It has gotten old.

- Whose side are you on?

- There are sides?

- Hey, that's mine!

- Is not!

- Is too, gimme!

- No!

- Don't make me stop this car.

- She hit me!

- Cry baby!

- If you two don't stop that back there, I'll give you something to cry about.

- Okay.

- We'll behave.

- The turn off to the old highway's coming up in just a few minutes.

- Then we'll get to the filling station.

- Not a moment too soon.

- And I'll get a Grapette!

- And Orange Crush.

- Right, an Orange Crush for Rhoda and a Grapette for Abby.

- And asprin for me.

- And then we'll be off again.

- Whoop di doo, Hanukkah with the grandparents.

- Zayda does stupid card tricks.

- And he steals our noses.

- Yeah, right, I haven't fallen for that one in years.

- Wait, that isn't real?

- And Bobeh gives us more dreidels.

- And socks.

- And pajamas.

- With pictures of dreidels on 'em.

- Do you children even know why we have Hanukkah?

- Because the other kids have Christmas?

- Time for a story.

- Not another one of your stories.

- Everything's a story with you.

- You got a choice.

I tell a story, or we sing "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel" again.

- Story.

- Story.

- Okay, good.

Now sit back and listen.

(clears throat) Goldilocks is walking through the forest when- - Boring!

- Goldilocks is stupid.

- Couldn't even tell that the wolf wasn't really her bobeh.

She deserved to get eaten.

- Okay, how about this.

Unlike all her sisters, the little mermaid always- - No, I'm tired of that one!

- Me too, way tired.

Way, way tired.

- I was going to tell them about Hanukkah.

- Better idea.

Go ahead.

- Okay.

Um, hmm, long ago- - Before you were born?

- Yes.

- Were there dinosaurs?

- No, no, dinosaurs.

- Do you want to hear this story or not?

- Not if there aren't any dinosaurs.

- [Dan] All right then, we can just sing.

♪ Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel ♪ - No, go on, story!

- Story, story.

- [Dan] I am shocked.

- Well then, long ago, even before your grandparents were alive, the land of Israel was ruled by a Greek king named Antiochus.

Now, Antiochus was in favor of everyone in his kingdom having religion, as long as it was his.

He wouldn't allow Jewish people to have their own religion and he had his army invade their temple and fill it with garbage.

- I bet that smelled bad.

- They set up altars to worship Greek gods.

- Like Zeus!

- They smashed the jars of special olive oil used to light the flames of the menorah.

- Our menorah has candles.

- The menorahs in this story have little cups that contain oil.

And without the special oil, they could not light the menorah.

- What'd they do?

- Well, there was this guy named Judah Maccabee.

- Maccabee means hammer.

So we'd call him, in English, Judah the Hammer.

- He looked like a hammer?

- No, dumbhead, it's symbolic.

Like Superman, the man of steel.

- Oh!

Or Doc Savage, man of bronze!

- Or maybe because his weapon of choice was a big hammer.

- Like Thor!

- So Judah Maccabee brought together an army, and they fought Antiochus and his troops and won.

- Hooray!

- Hooray!

- But when they went into the temple, they discovered that all the oil for the menorah was dirty.

And you can't light a holy lamp with dirty oil.

- But then, there was a miracle.

- There aren't real miracles.

It's just a story.

- Yeah, like "Goldilocks."

- Or "The Little Mermaid."

- Gas gauge says we're empty.

- It's always low before we get to the filling station.

- It's never said empty, though.

- Well, I, I ran a few errands before we left.

We'll make it.

Just watch for the exit to the old highway.

- 'Cause the filling station's on the old highway.

We stop, get gas- - And Grapette.

- [Rhoda] And Orange Crush.

- And back onto the new highway.

- And pretty soon we hit Henderson city limits.

And two more miles, for a grand total of ten miles, and we're at the grandparents' house.

- Thank Heaven for the filling station.

- There's another one once we hit town, but we won't need it.

- You should've topped off the tank after your errands.

- Praise the Lord and pass the admonition.

Here's the turn off.

(soft thoughtful music) - We might be the only people who still use this old highway.

(engine sputters) There it is.

- The filling station!

- And we're out of gas.

- [Becky] Timing is everything.

- And we glide in.

Hmm.

(gas stations bell dings) Where's the gas pump guy?

- I don't think anyone's here.

I don't see any lights.

(car doors) - [Dan] Hello?

- Hello!

- There's a man!

- Here he comes.

- Hi there.

Oh, hey, I'm Dan Lieberman, and this is my wife Becky- - Hi.

- And our kids Abby and Rhoda.

- Hello.

- Hi.

- Gideon Jacobson.

- Good to meet you, Mister Jacobson.

We'd like to- - Just call me Gideon.

- Okay, good, Gideon, we- - Everybody does.

- Ah.

Hey, Gideon, we need gasoline.

- Oh, station's been closed down a couple years now what with that new highway up there.

- Do you still have a soda machine?

- [Gideon] Oh, one just inside.

- Hooray!

Oh, could I have a nickel?

- Me too!

- Sure, here.

(coins jingling) - Thanks!

- Race you.

Last one there's a rotten egg!

- No fair, you cheated.

(footsteps running) - Hey, um, Gideon, what are the chances there'll be another car come by?

- Oh, probably be another one by in a week or two.

- [Dan] A week or two!

- You goin' to Henderson?

- We are.

We should call the folks.

We're gonna be late.

- Phone booth down there on the corner.

Pay phone.

See it?

- I gave my change to the kids.

- I've got change in my purse.

It's in the car.

- They worry when we're late.

(car door opens) You know how old people are.

- Oh, I do.

- Oh, I didn't mean to- - Nah, I'm used to it.

I been old for a long time.

(car door closes) - Here we go, one nickel.

All I have.

- All we need.

Come on Beck, let's make a call.

- Would you watch the kids?

- Oh sure.

They'll wanna drink their pop.

They won't be no trouble.

(footsteps running) - Look, it had Grapette!

- And Orange Crush!

- Well, imagine that.

- Where are they goin'?

- Over to that phone booth.

- Callin' our grandparents.

We gotta go see 'em for Hanukkah.

- And sing that dreidel song.

- Gets kinda old.

- And hearin' about some hammer guy.

- Judah Maccabee?

- You know that one?

- Intimately.

- They didn't finish tellin' it, anyway.

- How far'd they get?

- Up to where they couldn't find any clean oil for the menorah.

- Hmm.

Well here, you two sit with me and drink your pop.

- Okay.

- Hey, you know what's weird?

- [Gideon] What's that?

- There were only two bottles left in the soda machine.

- Grapette.

- And Orange Crush.

- (chuckles) Imagine that.

- Sort of a miracle.

- No such thing as miracles.

- Oh, world's full of miracles.

You just gotta notice.

Hey, you wanna hear the end of that story?

- You know it?

- Sure!

- All right then.

So all the bottles of special oil were broken and spilled out and dirty.

But then they found one that was still sealed and pure.

- A bottle with the cap still on!

- [Gideon] Uh huh.

- Still had the bubbles.

- Like Grapette!

- Or Orange Crush!

- Maybe so.

- What happened then?

- Well, they wanted to rededicate the temple and they knew that that was gonna take a while.

But one bottle wouldn't be enough for the new dedication of the temple.

- So could they send out for more oil?

- They could, but it would take eight days to get it.

- (scoffs) Yeah, the mail at our house is slow, too.

- So what'd they do for the dedication?

- Well, they used that one bottle to light the menorah, and well, you guys don't really care about this old story.

- No really, tell us.

- You can't leave us just hangin'.

- (chuckles) All right then.

Hard to believe, but that menorah burned for eight whole days, until a new supply came.

- How'd that happen?

- Maybe a miracle.

- Pshh, there aren't any miracles.

- You, my little poppet, are way too young not to believe in miracles.

- What?

- Well, just trust me, it was a miracle.

Oh, and one more thing.

The Hebrew word for dedication is Hanukkah.

- So that's why it's called Hanukkah!

- Well, that was a wasted effort.

Phone doesn't work.

- Doesn't even have a receiver.

- Now what?

- You could try the gas pump.

- They drained that big tank in the ground, but I guess there could still be a tiny bit in the pump.

Maybe enough to get you up to the highway for some help.

- It's either that or walk.

- I should've worn better shoes.

- Unscrew that gas cap.

Let's see what this pump has in it.

(cap scrapes) Turn the crank on the side there to take the tally back to zero.

(turns on gas pump) Now we put the hose end (bell dings) into the gas tank and we pull the trigger.

(metal scrapes) Ooh, and that's it.

(bell dings) - Not even a gallon.

- Not even a quart.

- A half a pint or less.

- Sure won't get us eight miles along.

- Maybe a mile.

- [Dan] You kids are sure quiet.

- (chuckles) They've got some thinkin' to do.

- Yeah.

- Thinkin'.

- [Dan] Well, hop in the car.

Let's see if this thing'll start.

(car doors slamming) (engine starts) It did!

- Hooray!

- Hooray!

- (chuckles) You're wastin' gas.

Get goin' while you can.

- Ah, yes.

Thanks so much.

- It's a mitzvah.

- So what happened then?

- You'll never believe it, Mom.

We got up all the way into town.

- On half a pint of gasoline.

- A miracle!

- Don't say that in front of the kids.

They don't believe in miracles.

- They seem excited about lighting the menorah.

- They do.

- Mom, Dad!

(feet running) - Whoa, whoa, whoa!

No running in the house.

- Tell 'em!

Tell what you did, Grandpa!

- I just found some coins in their ears.

- He did!

And they turned into chocolate!

- It was a miracle!

(chuckles) And he got my nose.

You can't breathe without your nose.

- You can't!

- But he gave it back.

It was another miracle.

(chuckles) - So now you believe in miracles?

- We didn't have enough gas, but we got here anyway!

- A miracle!

- What's this?

- Oh, they stopped at that station on the old highway.

- Why, the e's nothin' left there anymore.

Roof fell in years ago.

It was in the newspaper.

- But it didn't.

- We went in.

We got pop.

- Grapette.

- And Orange Crush.

- A man there helped us.

- [Rhoda] Gideon!

- That old gas pump still had gas in it.

Less than a pint, but somehow we- - We made it all the way to the filling station on the edge of town.

- Eight miles on what amounted to be about a mile's worth of gas.

- It was a miracle!

- It was!

Let's play dreidel.

- Yes, dreidel, dreidel!

- Let's sing!

- What do you wanna sing?

- The dreidel song.

- Yeah, the dreidel song.

- Wait a minute, all of a sudden you wanna sing- ♪ I have a little dreidel ♪ ♪ I made it out of clay ♪ ♪ And when it's dry and ready ♪ ♪ Oh, dreidel I shall play ♪ ♪ It has a lovely body ♪ ♪ With legs so short and thin ♪ ♪ When it is all tired ♪ ♪ It drops and then I win ♪ ♪ Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel ♪ ♪ I made it out of clay.

♪ ♪ Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel ♪ ♪ Oh dreidel I shall play ♪ ♪ Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel ♪ ♪ I made you ♪ - Oh, sorry, catchy song.

Well, the holiday season just wouldn't be the same, would it, without a story from Hans Christian Anderson.

And so, once again, the Harmony Sisters.

(soft heartfelt music) ♪ O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree ♪ ♪ How lovely are thy branches ♪ ♪ You dazzle with your candles bright ♪ ♪ And fill the room with love and light ♪ ♪ O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree ♪ ♪ How lovely are thy branches ♪ (wind whistles) - It was bitterly cold, growing dark, and snow was falling.

The little match girl trudged on, watching the lights shining in every window, and smelling the aroma of roast goose drifting out into the streets.

No one had bought a match all day long, and then- - Little girl!

You there, little girl.

- Oh, I wasn't watching.

Matches, good lady, matches, two for a penny.

- You don't even have the common sense to wear shoes in the snow.

- I had shoes.

Somebody took them.

I've wrapped my feet with rags, so I can- - Why not just buy more shoes, hmm?

You see how stupid your little excuse is?

- But please, I- - I won't be a party to your whining self-pity.

You people are all alike.

- So cold.

Maybe it'll be warmer here between the buildings out of the wind.

(wind lessens) (dog barks) Oh, hello little doggie.

(dog barks) Are you cold, too?

(dog barks) Your little paws are freezing!

Oh, I know.

I can keep you warm.

And you can keep me warm.

Come here, snuggle up.

(dog whines) That's good.

I'll call you Pip.

Do you like that?

(dog barks) Oh, here comes a... Matches!

Matches, good sir, matches!

- Matches, eh?

- Yes sir.

- Well, as it happens, I am fresh out of matches.

How much?

- Two for a penny.

- Here's a penny, then.

- Oh, thank you, sir!

- That your dog?

- That's my friend.

(dog barks) - He looks cold.

- Yes sir.

- You should take him inside and feed him.

He looks hungry.

- Yes sir.

- So do you.

- Yes sir.

- Go inside, get warm, eat.

A little surprised you didn't think of it yourself.

- I'll try to do better, sir.

Good.

Spend that penny wisely, little girl.

- Yes sir.

I will sir.

(dog whines) Let's try to get warm, Pip.

There we are.

Snuggle.

Oh, you're so cold and, and I can't feel my fingers.

(dog whines) I know, my matches!

(dog barks) I can't use up too many.

But one match couldn't hurt.

One match will make a small fire, and a small warm...

But it's something.

I'll scratch it here on the wall and... (strikes match) (dog barks) Oh, it's growing bigger.

(wind chimes chiming) It's magic!

(fire crackling) You see that, Pip?

It's a big iron stove.

(dog barks) So warm.

Oh, it's gone.

The match burned out.

It's cold again.

(dog whines) You're trembling!

Poor little doggie.

Another match.

(strikes match) (wind chime tinkles) Look Pip, a holiday table.

(fire crackling) Such a beautiful white cloth and fine china.

Smell that, Pip!

(dog barks) Roast goose.

Would you like some?

There's a knife and fork, I can... Oh, it's gone.

(dog whines) I'll bring it back.

Another match!

(strikes match) (wind chime tinkling) Look, Pip, look!

(fire crackling) A Christmas tree!

A real Christmas tree!

(dog barks) It's beautiful.

And candles on every branch.

It's so warm.

(dog barks) And the tree growing, growing so tall, and the candles going up and up and, oh, turning into stars!

Beautiful stars!

And oh, a shooting star!

(dog barks) Pip, Grandmother told me about shooting stars.

Oh, I miss her so much.

She was the only one that was ever kind to me.

She was, she was... Grandmother said that a shooting star means that- - It means that someone's soul is going to Heaven.

- Grandmother!

(dog barks) - My dear little one, come, let me wrap you in my apron and keep you warm.

- But when the match dies, you'll leave me, and I'll be cold again!

I know.

I'll burn them all.

All of them!

We can be together for a long time.

We... - Snow's so deep, Charlie.

(snow crunching) (wind blowing) I can't see the pavement.

- We need to get home before- - Is that a policeman on our front stoop?

- What's the problem, officer?

- We've got a body here.

- Dead?

Wrapped in newspaper?

- Yeah, from the rubbish bin over there.

Trying to stay warm.

- How sad.

- Do we know who it is?

- We'll know as soon as we tear away all this newspaper.

(paper tearing) - Here, let me help you with that.

- Yes sir, thank you, sir.

- Why it's- - It's a little girl.

Oh, the poor thing.

- Froze to death.

- Oh my.

(wind chime tinkling) - Where are we going, Grandmother?

- Up, up to the light.

- To the stars?

- Yes, sweet girl, up to the stars.

(paper tearing) - She's holding something.

- Oh my!

- A little dog.

- She was trying to save him.

(wind chimes chiming) - Pip!

Come, Pip!

(dog barks) Pip, we're going up to the light, to the stars!

To the stars, Pip, to the stars!

- And now, our "Holiday Storybook" finale, featuring the piano stylings of Randy Wills and the magic of radio sound effects.

(soft festive music) ♪ On the first day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ A partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partridge calls) ♪ On the second day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ (dove coo) ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partridge calls) ♪ On the third day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ Three French hens ♪ (chicken clucks) ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ (doves coo) ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partridge calls) ♪ On the fourth day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ Four calling birds ♪ (phone rings) - Hello, hello, hello, hello?

♪ Three French hens ♪ (chicken clucks) ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ (doves coo) ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partridge calls) ♪ On the fifth day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ Five golden rings ♪ (xylophone rings) ♪ Four calling birds ♪ - Hello, hello?

♪ Three French hens ♪ ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partridge calls) ♪ On the sixth day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ Six geese a-laying ♪ (geese honking) ♪ Five golden rings ♪ (xylophone rings) ♪ Four calling birds ♪ - Hello?

♪ Three French hens ♪ ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partidge calls) ♪ On the seventh day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ Seven swans a-swimming ♪ (waster splashes) ♪ Six geese a-laying ♪ (horns honking ♪ Five golden rings ♪ (xylophone dings) ♪ Four calling birds ♪ - Hello?

♪ Three French hens ♪ ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partridge calls) ♪ On the eighth day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ Eight maids a-milking ♪ (cow moos) ♪ Seven swans a-swimming ♪ ♪ Six geese a-laying ♪ (geese hoonking) ♪ Five golden rings ♪ ♪ Four calling birds ♪ (xylophone dings) - Hello?

♪ Three French hens ♪ ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ (doves coo) ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partridge calls) ♪ On the ninth day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ Nine ladies dancing ♪ (wooden dancers) ♪ Eight maids a-milking ♪ ♪ Seven swans a-swimming ♪ ♪ Six geese a-laying ♪ ♪ Five golden rings ♪ (xylophone dings) ♪ Four calling birds ♪ - Hello?

♪ Three French hens ♪ ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ (doves cooing) ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partridge calls) ♪ On the tenth day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ Ten lords a-leaping ♪ ("boing") ♪ Nine ladies dancing ♪ ♪ Eight maids a-milking ♪ (wood clanging) ♪ Seven swans a-swimming ♪ ♪ Six geese a-laying ♪ (horn honks) ♪ Five golden rings ♪ (xylophone dings) ♪ Four calling birds ♪ - Hello?

♪ Three French hens ♪ ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partridge calls) ♪ On the eleventh day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ 11 pipers piping ♪ (bagpipe squawks) ♪ Ten lords a-leaping ♪ ♪ Nine ladies dancing ♪ ♪ Eight maids a-milking ♪ ♪ Seven swans a-swimming ♪ ♪ Six geese a-laying ♪ (horn honks) ♪ Five golden rings ♪ (xylophone dings) ♪ Four calling birds ♪ - Hello?

♪ Three French hens ♪ ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree ♪ (partridge calls) ♪ On the twelfth day of Christmas ♪ ♪ My true love gave to me ♪ ♪ 12 drummers drumming ♪ (drums banging) ♪ 11 pipers piping ♪ ♪ Ten lords a-leaping ♪ ♪ Nine ladies dancing ♪ ♪ Eight maids a-milking ♪ ♪ Seven swans a-swimming ♪ ♪ Six geese a-laying ♪ (horn honks) ♪ Five golden rings ♪ ♪ Four calling birds ♪ (xylophone dings) - Hello!

♪ Three French hens ♪ ♪ Two turtle doves ♪ - And one horrid stinking little scum-sucking partridge in a pear tree!

(partridge calls) - You have been listening to the Air Command Radio Theatre "Holiday Storybook," from the Aragon Ballroom, high atop the Elysian Arms Hotel, produced by KTWU Public Television.

And now we sign off wishing you Happy Holidays,