1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Ephemeral production of I Heart three D audio for full exposure. 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: Listen with that phones. It's officially that time of year 3 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: when it's impossible to miss the decorations going up in 4 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: display windows, jingles trumpeting from department store speakers, and classic 5 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: Christmas specials dancing across the TV. Somewhere along the way, 6 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: you're almost guaranteed to run into a Rank and Bass production. 7 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,919 Speaker 1: You know them, the retro stop animated sing alongs from 8 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 1: the nineties sixties, such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. 9 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: He's got a shiny nose. Shiny I'd even say in 10 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: glow Frosty the snow Man, Happy Birthday, that had brought 11 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: Frosty to life? It must be Magi or the Little 12 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: Drummer Boy, A Little Drummer Boy? Are those animals dancing 13 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: been in it? But what you maybe don't know is 14 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: that one man was responsible for creating and writing each 15 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: of those holiday favorites and many more. His name was 16 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: Romeo Mueller, and his impact on the modern myth of 17 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: Christmas is unparalleled. He was like a real Santa Claus, 18 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 1: and I became really close friends with his brother Jean, 19 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: who wanted to see his legacy live on, and I've 20 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: tried to do that in my books. I always donate 21 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: time to Romeo because he was the basis of every special. 22 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: You have to have good writing for these to have 23 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: the longevity that they have. My name is Rick Goldschmidt, 24 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: and I'm the official Ranking Bass historian biographer, and I've 25 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 1: written six books about Arthur Ranking and Jules Bass and 26 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: work on a lot of the projects associated with the 27 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: classic TV holiday specials like Brewed Up the Red Nose Reindeer, 28 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, the Little Drummer Boy, etcetera. Well. 29 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: Ranking Bass is primarily known for their iconic holiday specials. 30 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: They also produced a number of other influential works that 31 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: don't get mentioned as often. They're also known for the 32 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: hobbit I would speak with the King's Great does come 33 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: upon you all? An army of goblins with claim to 34 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: the Trasier comes from the north ThunderCats. I could probably 35 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: handle him myself, Yes, lionelh No, please call the other ThunderCats, 36 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: bunder thunder, bundercuts, silver Hawks like the moon Star shined 37 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 1: into my cell and you will be rewarded with wealth, 38 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: the odwealth our dead A monstar we know exactly what 39 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: will happen if you ever see the moon Star again. 40 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: A lot of Saturday morning television like the Jackson five Show. 41 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: I'm Michael Jackson and a couple of years ago near 42 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: my big brother Marlin, Jermaine, Tito and Jackie. It's kind 43 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: of square quite that home in Gary, Indiana. And one 44 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: day Mr Diana Ross herself came to town to sing 45 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: a concert and the Osmond Show. Jimmy, you know, mom 46 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: and Dad don't want you to do these late concerts. O. Hey, 47 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: we better take him back to the hotel. Yeah, but 48 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: we'll never get through that. Mama ends out there. And 49 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: some feature films like King Kong Escapes, Beat the Last Unicorn. 50 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: I tell you there is one unicorn neft in the world, 51 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: and as long as it lives in this forest, we'll 52 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: find no game to hunt here. Mad Monster Party. It's 53 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: a come as you are, a party that's out of 54 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: this world. You don't get invited if he'll get commented. 55 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: It's a psychedelic scaret. Who with the groove is Googles 56 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: of all kind. They were in business for about thirty 57 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: years and produced some of the most memorable, especially holiday entertainment, 58 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: which is still on the networks today. It's been over 59 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 1: fifty years, actually over fifty five years now, so they 60 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: have a longevity that most animation studios don't have. To 61 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: become a production company, Soul Biographer is no small undertaking. 62 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,239 Speaker 1: We asked Rick what drew him to the Ranking Bass 63 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: Specials and what he loves about them. The thing that 64 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: attracted me to Ranking Bass was the look of everything, 65 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: because I'm an artist and illustrator, so first and foremost 66 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: for me, it was always the look of the puppets 67 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: and the look of the cell animation. As a musician, 68 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 1: I also loved the music of Maury Laws and the arrangements, 69 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: which are always so happy and upbeat, very holiday ish, 70 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: you know, with glockenspields and all kinds of fun accents 71 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: to their music. And Jules Bass wrote the lyrics to 72 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: all of the great songs like the Miser and Snow Miser. 73 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: Remember at check up, Frances, whatever, I poke one ft 74 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: in front of the other, one on in front of 75 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: the other, and soon you'll be walking across the floor. 76 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 1: There's a lot of classic Christmas songs that came out 77 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: of the Ranking Bass Specials as well, but for them 78 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: to last this long, you have to have good writing. 79 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,280 Speaker 1: Most of the time, it was Romeo Mueller who wrote 80 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: with a lot of heart and warmth. Theater five has 81 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: presented Toby's Wonderful Egg, written by Romeo Muller, produced and 82 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: directed by Ted Bell. In the cast John McGovern, Betty 83 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: Guard Robert. Romeo Mueller had a storied career that made 84 00:06:55,600 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: him a perfect fit for ranking bass Well. Romeo Mueller 85 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,719 Speaker 1: was a writer out of the New York area High Falls, 86 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: New York and wrote for a lot of the great 87 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 1: comedians of the early days of television, like Jack Benny. 88 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: I would like to tell you one Joe. This about 89 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: two drunks that were standing at a bar and one 90 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: drunk said to the other, you know where I got 91 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: for my wife the other day. The other drunk said, no, 92 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: what did you get for your wife the other day? 93 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: So the first drunk said, a poodle. So this other 94 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: drunk said, I wish I could make a trade like that. 95 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: That's the end of the job. And Red Scalton, I 96 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: think everybody's so nice here since I've been in town. 97 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: They can't seem to do enough for me. They gave 98 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: me a big car to drive around, a big rules Royce. 99 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: See my wife says, let me drive that thing. I 100 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: can stop it on a dime. She did. He also 101 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: wrote as who would have thought that kindly old Dr 102 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: Segwick was in reality a mad scientist. That's strictly off 103 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: the record. You understand at one print of thing, but 104 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: you said you'd worked out a plan to destroy Superman 105 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: Max Max Max Good Guys plan Bad Guy's ski. So 106 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: he had a great knowledge of how to put a 107 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: story together, and he was actually hired by Arthur Ranking 108 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: for the first ranking best television special Returned to Oz 109 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: total Do you remember Oz? That wonderful land? We went 110 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: too far, far away, halfway to yesterday and back. Returned 111 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: to Oz was like the first time that the Wizard 112 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: of Oz was revisited, that there was any type of 113 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: sequel to the original MGM movie, which was being shown 114 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: every year on television. So they thought that would be 115 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 1: a huge hit, you know, because of the longevity of 116 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: the Wizard of Us. But his second script was Rudolph 117 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: the Red Nose Reindeer. Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer had 118 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: a very shiny no and if you ever saw it, 119 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 1: you would even say a lot of people don't realize 120 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: that the story book written by Robert L. May and 121 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: the song written by his brother in law Johnny Marks, 122 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: just had basically a germ of a story. You know, 123 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 1: there was this reindeer with the red nose that everybody 124 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: made fun of it, and you know Santa asked him 125 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: to pull his sleve. That was it. So Romeo wrote 126 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: Hermi the Dentist. I just don't like to make toys. 127 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 1: Hermi doesn't like to make toys. Herb, he doesn't like 128 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: to make toys. Someday I'd like to be a dentist. Dentist, 129 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 1: you can't, Cornelius, you can fresh fit that away. Who 130 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: are you? Who am I? The names? You can't Cornelius 131 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: the greatest prospector in Lenore Island to misfit toys. I'm 132 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: the official center of the Island of misfit toys at 133 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: Jack in the Box or a center is. My name 134 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:35,439 Speaker 1: is don't Jolly Jack, no Charlie. That's why I'm a 135 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: business toy. My name is all wrong. No child wants 136 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: to play with a Charlie in the box. So I 137 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:44,959 Speaker 1: had to come here. And he based a lot of 138 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: the story off of friends and relatives he had a 139 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: friend that was named Clarice. Something wrong with your nose? 140 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:59,079 Speaker 1: I mean, you talk kind of funny. What's the fudy 141 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: both way? I don't well, don't get I agree, I 142 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:11,319 Speaker 1: don't mind you old. My name is Clarie Hi. My 143 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: ave Rudolph Hi. He had another friend that dreams stories 144 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: of a monster peeking over cliffs, like the bumble Shot. 145 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: So he put all of that into his scripts, and 146 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: he did it in such a way that it draws 147 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: you in. No matter how old you are, you could 148 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: be a little kid, you could be a grandparent. Everything 149 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: about it is heartwarming, and you just want to watch 150 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 1: these things over and over and over again. So eventually 151 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 1: he went on to write all of these other shows 152 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: which were basically based on a song like Santa Claus 153 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: has come into town. You better not woman, And then 154 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: he would come up with these backstories to the son. 155 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: In the case of Frosty the Snowman, he put in 156 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 1: Professor Inkle and so I put the magic eggs into 157 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: my hat aboca dab to coin the phrase at Wala, 158 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: the eggs have turned into miss miss missing. All these 159 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: things that we associate with the character came from the 160 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: mind of Romeo Muller, so in that regards, he was 161 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: a genius. He was like the Stan Lee of the 162 00:12:55,760 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 1: Ranking Bats universe. You know, he was the writer and 163 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: then the designer was Paul Cooker Jr. Most of the time, 164 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 1: who would have been the Jack Kirby of the Marvel universe. 165 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: So he was a really important ingredient in the whole 166 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: universe of Rank and Bass productions. There's no doubt that 167 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: Mueller is considered one of the first great writers of 168 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: family oriented television. We asked Rick what stylistic choices made 169 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: Mueller so iconic. The quintessential Mueller is the fact that 170 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:45,079 Speaker 1: the main characters usually were the underdog. You know, they 171 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: either had something wrong with them, or they they felt 172 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: like they didn't fit in, or something that they had 173 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: to overcome to get to a happy ending. And the 174 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: villains usually were reformed, which is always more satisfying than 175 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:10,119 Speaker 1: if they're just killed off. The villains, like the Winter Warlock, 176 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: would you know, see that they were wrong and find 177 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: a way to help and fit in. Shoot you, I've 178 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: always wanted funny. What's that my artsy heart? It's melting? Well? 179 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: Look Mr Warlock, please please call me Winter Winter. Yes, yes, 180 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: suddenly my whole outlook has changed from bad to good great. 181 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: You know, the people at Pixar early on when they 182 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: were a company before they were taken over by Disney, 183 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: they recognized that that was a more satisfy rying way 184 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: to tell a story than to kill off a villain, 185 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: and they mimicked the scripts of Romeo Muller and tried 186 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: to go for the look of the Ranking Bass productions. 187 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: So I think that's why the early Pixar films were 188 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: so successful is that they paid close attention to the script, 189 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: which doesn't happen today. Unfortunately, in today's modern entertainment, all 190 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: they care about is making money and it doesn't matter 191 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: how they make it. But Ranking Bass they were more 192 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: concerned about the quality of the project. That's why they 193 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 1: hired Romeo Muller and stuck with them for so long. 194 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: And Romeo was a lover of the classic comedies and 195 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: the classic films. He was a film buff, and he 196 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: knew what quality was from the love of the passion 197 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: he had for classic film and classic comedy. So it 198 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: really had that feel to it. You know, everything that 199 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: rankin Bass did, very few things were failures. They were 200 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: all high quality productions. With great stories, and you know, 201 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: Romeo was a big part of it. Romeo would say 202 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 1: that his favorite was The Little Drummer Boy. Well, the 203 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: Little Drummer Boy is basically the story of what Christmas 204 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: is all about. My lamb has been injured. You must 205 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: save him. He is near death. Oh Lad, there is 206 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: nothing I can do but but you are a king, 207 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: immortal king only. But there is a king among kings 208 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: who would save your little frightened the babe. But I 209 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: do not understand. He's not necessary that you understand. Go 210 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 1: to him, but I I have no gift to bring. 211 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 1: Look about the new Born Key. It doesn't get aired 212 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 1: as much today, but it had a magical quality to it. 213 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: I remember early on, when I was a little kid 214 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 1: and I went to C c D, they would tell 215 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 1: you to watch it, and I was always wanting to 216 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: watch it because we used to have little Nativity scenes 217 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:42,959 Speaker 1: that we were given as gifts, so it was a 218 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:49,159 Speaker 1: more common religious type special everybody knew that it was, 219 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: you know, the telling of what Christmas is all about, 220 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: but we've kind of lost that over the years. And 221 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 1: I think Romeo really liked Chris Us a lot, you know, 222 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: and since this was really the Telling of Christmas. That 223 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: would be his favorite special, and it's a lot of 224 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 1: people's favorite special. And what surprised me about it was 225 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 1: the song One Star in the Night was written by 226 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: Jules Bass and Maury Laws, and Maury told me that 227 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: it was some music that they had written prior to 228 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 1: the special, not particularly for the special. And when you 229 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 1: watch it, it seems like it's some kind of a 230 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: classic song that would have been written a hundred years 231 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: before that special. It has that quality to it that 232 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 1: it seems like a traditional Christmas song, but they actually 233 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 1: wrote it. Romeo Mueller is still best known for his 234 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 1: Rank and Bass contributions, but when he eventually moved on, 235 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: he continued to write on other beloved programs even after 236 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: Ranking Bass. He wrote Strawberry Shortcake, You're just in time. 237 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: Strawberry Shortcake and all her friends are getting ready for 238 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: their first annual garden Party, a celebration of the most 239 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: frequently delicious berries in the whole world. The Little Rascal's 240 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: Christmas Special. We all live up at the North Pole. 241 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 1: You believe it or not, these are roast ho ho ho. 242 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: This is just as well as Christmas. Ever. One of 243 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: his last films post Ranking Bass was called Noel, and 244 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: it was a special one. Not to mention my personal 245 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 1: childhood fa friend is Noel. And it came out in 246 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: the form of a kid's children's book and was about 247 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 1: an ornament. Here's a good spot for you, little fella. 248 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: I get it. What a neat idea. Hey, look at me. 249 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: It's been years since I watched it, but I know 250 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: that he went on radio, and he also went into 251 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:37,959 Speaker 1: actual schools and told the story every Christmas. It was 252 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 1: like a tradition for him to tell the story of 253 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: Noel in the New York Hi Falls area. What's happening 254 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: now this it's become a thing called Christmas Eve, the 255 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 1: reason you were made and I was born. It feels 256 00:20:55,600 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: like magic. As Rick briefly mentioned, Mueller loved to read 257 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,639 Speaker 1: his stories on radio, but he never voiced any of 258 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:10,639 Speaker 1: his characters in the Rank and Bass specials. However, he 259 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 1: did appear in other places. I know he made a 260 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: cameo appearance in uh Marco, which is a NY three 261 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: movie starring Zero Mostel and Desi Arnez Jr. At the 262 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:31,159 Speaker 1: beginning of the film, Desi Arnez is flying on a 263 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: kite in Romeo's running underneath in a costume yelling at 264 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: the kite. So it was kind of neat that he 265 00:21:46,400 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: made a little cameo in the movie. Romeo Mother's relationship 266 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 1: with Ranking Bass would get complicated after he left the company. 267 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: When Romeo branched out and started writing other shows for 268 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: other producers and other television things like The Little Rascal's 269 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 1: Christmas Special, he started talking about how he created the 270 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: Ranking Bass holiday specials, and for some reason that caused 271 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 1: a bit of friction with Arthur Ranking. He felt like 272 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 1: Romeo was taking too much credit and there was sort 273 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 1: of a fallout with Ranking Bass Productions. But when I 274 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: wrote my first book, The Enchanted World of Ranking Bass, 275 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 1: and early on when I contacted Arthur Ranking, he had 276 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: called me right after he went to Romeo's memorial, and 277 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 1: I think they patched things up before where he passed. 278 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 1: He was an important person to Arthur on a personal 279 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:09,199 Speaker 1: level too. But as you worked with someone for a 280 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: long time, you know like you could have a falling 281 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: out at some point, and that's what happened. Romeo Moller 282 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: died on Wednesday, leaving behind an unfinished film project. It 283 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: was called The Twelve Days of Christmas. One Partridge two 284 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 1: Turtle Doves, three French Hands, four Calling Birds, five Golden Rings, 285 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: six Gisa Lang, seven Swansea, Swimming by My Sword, Princess 286 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: silver Bell has some strange desires. And there was some 287 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 1: business partner involved with that, and that was released, and 288 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:56,200 Speaker 1: that caused a lot of friction between his brother Jean 289 00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: and the producer of that, and they never got their 290 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 1: money from it either. So it was like a kind 291 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 1: of a bad ending to what was always a very 292 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 1: positive life for Romeo. By the time Rick started writing 293 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 1: about Rank and Bass, Mueller had already passed away, but 294 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: Rick did get to meet Romeo's brother, Jeane Muller. I 295 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: wish I could have talked to Romeo, but I was 296 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: glad I developed the friendship with Jean. Jean gave me everything. 297 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: He gave me romeo scrapbooks, he gave me all the 298 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 1: records that he had. He really opened up Romeo's archives 299 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: to me when I wrote my books, So I'm grateful 300 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: for that. Throughout his many books, Rick has painted a 301 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 1: vivid picture of Romeo Mueller's life and the greater impact 302 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: he had on storytelling in America. We asked Rick what 303 00:24:54,880 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: he sees as Mueller's greatest legacy overall, Romyo created classic television, 304 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:08,159 Speaker 1: but it goes beyond that. It's become part of the 305 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 1: Christmas Holiday or the Easter Holiday or whatever holiday the 306 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: specials were written for. We're only talking about a few 307 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:22,920 Speaker 1: Christmas specials in this day and age. The only ones 308 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:28,159 Speaker 1: that have survived besides the Rank and Best holiday specials 309 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:33,440 Speaker 1: that Romeo wrote are How the Grinch Stole Christmas and 310 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:38,199 Speaker 1: Charlie Brown Christmas, and that's basically it. And Rank and 311 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: Bass Productions holds more of that pie because they were 312 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 1: successful with several television specials and all of them were 313 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: written by Romeo. So when you look at the grand 314 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 1: scheme of the entertainment industry over the last seventy five years, 315 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:02,199 Speaker 1: we're still talking about out Rootolph the Red Nose Reindeer 316 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:08,119 Speaker 1: and Frosty the Snowman. There's several Ranking Bass specials that 317 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: Romeo wrote that our favorites of everyone's. And what you 318 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: see happening now is a MC has a weekend marathon 319 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 1: of the specials, and so does free Form Television, and 320 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:29,640 Speaker 1: then they're still on the networks. So you're seeing more 321 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:33,719 Speaker 1: exposure of them over time, and I'm sure they'll be 322 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:40,360 Speaker 1: streaming and Blu ray and DVDs will be getting better hopefully. So, 323 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 1: I mean there's a big market of the holiday stuff 324 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 1: and most of it is what Romeo wrote one special 325 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: treat for our listeners. In Atlanta, the Center for Puppetry 326 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 1: Arts has a new exhibit featuring the puppets from the 327 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: Ranking Bass specials, well sort of the Santa and Rootolph 328 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: puppet that they have, which actually I helped to restore 329 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: and I also appeared with them for several years. They're 330 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:17,399 Speaker 1: not the ones that were used in the Ranking Best 331 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: Rootolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Special. What they were created 332 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 1: for was for publicity purposes. So in other words, they 333 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:30,920 Speaker 1: created a set of puppets that they sent from Japan 334 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: to New York so that they could take the publicity 335 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:41,880 Speaker 1: photos for the NBC Holiday General Electric Theater. What they 336 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 1: did was they stuck them in a glass case at 337 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: NBC in the Rockefeller Center in New York, and they 338 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:55,199 Speaker 1: had them there for several years, and a lot of 339 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:59,120 Speaker 1: people remember seeing them, whether they were on school trips 340 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 1: or just taking a tour of NBC. But to this day, 341 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: I haven't found a photo of that display, so I 342 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:11,679 Speaker 1: don't know exactly what puppets were in there, but I 343 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 1: have a feeling they're the ones that were only featured 344 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 1: in the publicity photos, and there was only a handful 345 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:23,880 Speaker 1: of those. All of these puppets have had some wild adventures, 346 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 1: being passed around over the years without much of a record. 347 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: All in all, the publicity puppets are lucky to have survived, 348 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: and there's a wild story behind the fate of the 349 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: puppets used on screen. I know everyone involved with these 350 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:45,240 Speaker 1: two particular puppets. I know Barbara Adams who was the 351 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: secretary that took him home, and then she gaven to 352 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 1: her nephew, and some of them were in the attic 353 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 1: and got you know, melted together, and they had to 354 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: get rid of them because they were no good anymore. 355 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: So Santa and Rudolph were the only two that survived 356 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,160 Speaker 1: out of that batch. And I know the people that 357 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:11,080 Speaker 1: bought them from the nephew, and I helped restore them. 358 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 1: Like I said, I know the people that restored them. 359 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 1: So these two puppets have a history, But the really 360 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 1: interesting history are the ones that were used in the 361 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: actual specials. Some of them are in in the US. 362 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 1: I used to own two from the first Christmas. You know, 363 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 1: I had all their eyes and mouths and you could 364 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 1: tell they were the actual puppets that were used in 365 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 1: the animation. But most of the state in Japan they 366 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 1: still have King Kong it from Mad Monster Party in 367 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:54,720 Speaker 1: this tad Moshinaga exhibit, and they have other puppets like 368 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: from Willie McBean and his Magic Machine, and all kinds 369 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 1: of Rear Rank and Bass puppets. I would say of 370 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 1: the puppets stayed in Japan, and five percent came to 371 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 1: the States for one reason or another. Arthur rankin want 372 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 1: and to give to somebody or just to put in 373 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: the office. And those are the ones that that I've 374 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: appeared with, like I've appeared with Red Skelton from Rudolph's 375 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:28,960 Speaker 1: Shiny New Year. Father Time for the passing of time 376 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:33,640 Speaker 1: is all inspiring. It's the one certain thing in all 377 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 1: the universe. In a way, it's like an old king 378 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 1: stepping down and a new one taking its place. Smokey 379 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: the Bear from the Ballot of Smokey the Bear. Smoke 380 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:48,720 Speaker 1: He started up by being just a normal bear, young 381 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: and happy playing games. He never had a care Mamma 382 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: used to worry. That is friendly trusting way would get 383 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: him into trouble. So she said to me one day 384 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 1: and big Bear, she said, knowledge's anny young Fred, so 385 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 1: try to keep an eye on him. He needed brother band. 386 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 1: When I said, Mom, don't worry. God believe it all 387 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: to me. I never thought our simple life would change. 388 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:15,760 Speaker 1: So suddenly I've had him at shows. So there's only 389 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:18,560 Speaker 1: a few that are in the US, but most of 390 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:22,960 Speaker 1: them are in Japan. Still, you can find a selection 391 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 1: of surviving puppets now at the Center for Puppetry Arts. 392 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 1: Rick says he hopes the exhibit will help keep the 393 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 1: spirit of the Ranking Bass Specials alive for years to come. See. 394 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:39,080 Speaker 1: The focus at the museum over the years has been 395 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 1: on Rudolph. They do a puppet show every year like 396 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 1: a marionette show. That's been successful for them for a 397 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:52,800 Speaker 1: long time. So the focus is just done Rudolph, not 398 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:57,000 Speaker 1: so much the enchanted world of Ranking Bass, but Rudolph 399 00:31:57,080 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 1: the Red Nosed Reindeer. Ranked in Bass is route up 400 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 1: the Nose Reindeer. And they only have the two puppets. 401 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:08,239 Speaker 1: But I think they're gonna make a nice display with 402 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:12,280 Speaker 1: the images that I gave them and the actual history 403 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 1: of them. You know, all the puppets need to be 404 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 1: in museum so everyone can see them. They shouldn't be 405 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:23,760 Speaker 1: in at any private collection in my opinion, and I'm 406 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 1: probably one of the biggest private collectors there is, and 407 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 1: I have a lot of things. My home home is 408 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:35,360 Speaker 1: a museum, but I think things like this, you know, 409 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 1: Puppets Center from Iconic TV specials should be in a 410 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 1: museum and I'm I'm glad the Center for Puppetry Arts 411 00:32:44,040 --> 00:33:03,280 Speaker 1: has them. Jingle, Ingle Ingle. This episode of Ephemeral was 412 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 1: written and assembled by Trevor Young, produced with Max and 413 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 1: Alex Williams, and is dedicated to Romeo Maller. Rick Goldschmidt 414 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:15,240 Speaker 1: is the official biographer of Frank and Bass and you 415 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:17,959 Speaker 1: can find all of his books online or keep up 416 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:21,400 Speaker 1: with him at Rank and Bass dot com. And we 417 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 1: implore you to check out the new Routolph exhibit at 418 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:28,040 Speaker 1: the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. Find more in 419 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 1: everything you heard here at our website Ephemeral dot Show. 420 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:41,960 Speaker 1: No Wait, Kingle Bill time is a swell time to 421 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: go gladden in the want horse Lane, Canny a Kingle 422 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 1: hard pick up, Jingle down the Car, the Kingle and 423 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:03,840 Speaker 1: Jingle Bell jingle bell jing