From Christmas Specials Wiki
Synopsis
In an adaptation of the famous song, a group of children build a snowman which comes to life. Frosty's life, in this version, springs from a magic hat rejected by Professor Hinkle, a frustrated magician who performed at the school Christmas party. Hinkle seeks to regain the hat. Meanwhile, Frosty, with the help of his friend Karen, tries to get to the North Pole before he melts.
Songs
Cast
Trivia
- June Foray originally recorded the part of Karen, but was replaced by an unknown actress; Foray recalled her experiences in the book The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass: "I was called in to voice the little girl Karen. I was disappointed to learn later that my work for the Karen character was replaced by another actress. To this day I am unsure of the reason, but I still enjoy the special."
- From 2002 through 2005, Nickelodeon ran a parody of Frosty the Snowman during the commercial breaks at Christmastime, titled Patrick the Snowman and featuring Patrick Star from Spongebob Squarepants in the title role. Coincidentally, Patrick's voice actor, Bill Fagerbakke, would voice Frosty himself a few years later in The Legend of Frosty the Snowman.
- In addition to narrating the special, Jimmy Durante sang the song "Frosty the Snowman", recording it for the second time. He is one of the few recording artists to release the song with both its classic lyrics, as originally written by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson, and the modern lyrics that are more familiar today.
Television Rights
CBS has broadcast this special in the USA since its' debut on December 7, 1969, even when the pre-1974 Rankin-Bass library was sold first to Broadway Media, then to Golden Books and currently with Classic Media, an division of the British-owned Entertainment Rights company. In Canada, CBC holds broadcasting rights.
