"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964): It's been 50 years since Rankin/Bass's animated "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" premiered on NBC, and it's still just as beloved. It doesn't quite feel like the holidays until we spot this old-school stop-motion special on TV, and it's hands-down one of our holiday favorites. Here are nine more seasonal TV shows and movies that are must-sees every December.
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965): It's not uncommon to get the blues amid all the Christmas cheer, and if anyone knows that well, it's Charlie Brown. This story of bypassing the commercialization of the holidays in favor of something more uplifting has become adored by generations and will celebrate its own 50th anniversary next year.
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (1966): No offense to the 2000 film, but when we want to see an adaptation of this Dr. Seuss classic, we stick with the original, animated version.
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (1970): With Fred Astaire narrating and Mickey Rooney voicing Kris Kringle -- a.k.a. Santa Claus -- this 1970 special never fails to make us nostalgic. And just like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," it's done in Rankin/Bass' quaint stop-motion style.
"Frosty the Snowman" (1969): For a lot of kids, the dream of seeing a hand-crafted snowman come to life can be traced directly to another Rankin/Bass special, "Frosty the Snowman."
"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946): It doesn't matter how often you rewatch "It's A Wonderful Life"; that fantastic, emotional ending's going to get you every time. Beyond being a tradition during the holiday season, this is also a sparkling example of top-notch movie-making.
"A Christmas Story" (1983): This enduring '80s comedy has taught us three things: 1. Never lick a flagpole. 2. "You'll shoot your eye out!" 3. We're incapable of celebrating the holidays until we've watched this movie at least once. OK, more like twice.
"Miracle on 34th Street" (1947): After so many decades, this is still a mainstay each holiday season. (And that's even after a 1994 remake.) Starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne and a young Natalie Wood, this story never loses its magic.
"Home Alone" (1990): If you think about it, this definitive Macaulay Culkin film is really kind of disturbing. What family gets so busy that they forget a kid over the holidays?! But what it lacks in human decency, "Home Alone" more than makes up in charm and humor. Plus, it's educational -- who among us hasn't tried to pull off some of those robber-catching traps?
"The Preacher's Wife" (1996): This heartwarming movie had us at Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston, but the story's really good, too. Washington plays a suave angel who shows up to help a struggling preacher (Courtney B. Vance) who has disconnected from his wife (Houston) and young son during the Christmas season.
- The beloved 'Rudolph' special turns 50 this year
- It's the longest-running holiday special
- The story has become a fan favorite
(CNN) -- The longest-running holiday special still has a very shiny nose.
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" premiered on television December 6, 1964, and is now one of the holiday season's perennial favorites. The story of the reindeer who saves Christmas is beloved among children and adults alike.
The Rankin-Bass animated film production company used Japanese puppets and stop motion to tell the tale, bolstered by a soundtrack featuring Burl Ives' rendition of the theme song.
In the story, Santa's reindeer Donner and his wife have a son, Rudolph, who has the distinction of a nose that glows. He runs away after being made to feel an outcast and links up with an elf who dreams of becoming a dentist and an adventurer seeking silver and gold.
After ending up on the Island of Misfit Toys and wandering for a while, Rudolph goes on to save his loved ones from the Abominable Snow Monster and guides Santa through a blizzard that threatens to ruin Christmas.
In 2006, the New York Times reported that fans drove for miles to see the Rudolph and Santa Claus puppets at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. The pair were thought to be the last of the surviving production puppets. They had been taken home by a production company employee and given to her children after filming was completed.
"In 2005, the nephew of the original rescuer found the puppets in a family attic and brought them to be appraised on the PBS series 'Antiques Roadshow,' " the Times said. "Created for about $5,000 each in 1964, they were valued at $8,000 to $10,000 for the pair. The family sold both figures to Kevin A. Kriess, the president of TimeandSpaceToys.com and a lifelong fan of the Rankin-Bass films."
The special has been shown every year since it premiered, which gives it a leg up over other beloved shows like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Frosty the Snowman" and makes it the longest-running program of its type. And viewers still love it.
One fan posted on social media, "I love watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer...and remember our tv that was like this growing up. Of course our picture was black and white. Lol. #rudolphrocks #thosewerethedays."
