White Christmas (1954) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general. Director: Norman Krasna (written for the screen by), Norman Panama (written for the screen by) | 1 more credit » Stars: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 24 titles created 21 Dec 2010 a list of 29 titles created 18 Dec 2013 a list of 27 titles created 01 Dec 2015 a list of 37 titles created 04 Dec 2015 a list of 37 titles created 2 months ago Search for " White Christmas " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin.

Nominated for 1 Oscar. See more awards » Videos At an inn which is only open on holidays, a crooner and a hoofer vie for the affections of a beautiful up-and-coming performer. Director: Mark Sandrich A food writer who has lied about being the perfect housewife must try to cover her deception when her boss and a returning war hero invite themselves to her home for a traditional family Christmas. Director: Peter Godfrey An angel in human form enters the life of a bishop in order to help him build a new cathedral and repair his fractured marriage. Director: Henry Koster The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster. Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik A selfish, cynical T.V. executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve. Director: Richard Donner Rosemary Clooney talks about her memories of making White Christmas (1954). Stars: Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Dean Jagger A young widow is romanced by a sales clerk whom she inadvertently got fired. Director: Don Hartman An old bitter miser is given a chance for redemption when he is haunted by three ghosts on Christmas Eve...

Director: Brian Desmond Hurst Edit Storyline Having left the Army following W.W.II, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis team up to become a top song-and-dance act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful sisters (Betty and Judy) who also have a song-and-dance act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly, as the lodge owner. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the performers try to help the General. Written by Norman Cook <cook@ssdgwy.mdc.com> First and unforgettable picture in VISTAVISION See more » Genres: 14 October 1954 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Irving Berlin's White Christmas See more » Filming Locations: Mono (Western Electric Recording)| Perspecta Stereo (optical prints) Color: Did You Know? Trivia A myth persists that all of Vera-Ellen 's costumes, down to her robe and sleepwear, were designed to cover her neck, which had been damaged by anorexia.

See more » Goofs The railroad station and passenger cars are said to be in Vermont when in fact they are Southern Pacific Standard Design Station and SP Harriman coaches never used outside of SP service territory. See more » Quotes See more » Crazy Credits This film was the first feature to use the VistaVision Paramount logo. A new logo, created especially for wide-screen, this logo appears more realistic and features a shot of a canyon with trees around it. The sky is more distant in depth and is full of contrast. The Paramount logo is pretty much the same as before here. The screen credit "Paramount (with the "P" written in their corporate font) proudly presents the first picture in" first appears over the mountain, and then the VistaVision logo appears, then the Paramount logo plays as usual (with the final notes of the Paramount on Parade march, followed by a bell sound). The Paramount mountain, with minor variations until 1986, served as the basis for the company logo for more than 30 years. See more » Connections (North Carolina) – See all my reviews I absolutely ADORE this movie! Have since the first time I saw it! Sure...

some may classify it as simply a "feel-good" movie, but what's wrong with that? Some may also classify it as pure schmaltz, but the movie truly does have it's sad points... like the priceless look on General Waverly's face whenever he enters the room where everyone who had been under his division is awaiting his arrival! The movie has a truly wonderful musical score, not to mention some VERY kick butt dancing! Bing Crosby is charming as Bob Wallace, a calm and reserved, yet witty and delightful and wise-cracking, and somewhat cynical kind of guy. Bing truly performed to his greatest. And his vocal talent is enormous, not to mention evident throughout the entire movie! It's a real treat to see him crack up when he and Danny Kaye are performing their rendition of "Sisters"! Danny Kaye is hilarious as Phil Davis, the foil to calm and cool Bob. Phil, too, is full of wise-cracks, and very intent on getting Bob to settle down. Danny gave such a life to his character, portraying him like no other!

His best one liner was when a young blonde with voice like nails on a chalk board says to him (after his phoney engagment to Judy) "I sure wish it would happen to me!") to which he replies "So do I!" Rosemary Clooney is absolutely riveting as Betty Haynes, the older of the two Haynes sisters. She is the most calm and most subdued. She is looking for her "knight on the white horse" in life. Rosemary played Betty to the fullest, making her every bit as believable as you could imagine! And that voice... GOLDEN! A gift from God! It's a true treasure to see her in her solo "Love (You Didn't Do Right By Me)". She's absolutely marvelous and extremely talented. Vera-Ellen is refreshingly delightful as Judy Haynes, the younger and more naive Haynes sister. Judy is also the dreamer of the two. Vera-Ellen does a wonderfully through job of portraying Judy! She is a perfect foil to her older sister. And those dancing stems... to see her dance in numbers like "Mandy" and "Choreography" is a real treat! How ANYONE could ever dance as well as she is beyond me!

She really did a great job in this movie, even better than her performance in "On The Town" with Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Betty Garrett. A GREAT MOVIE!!!! GREAT CAST CHEMISTRY!!!! GREAT MUSIC!!!! GREAT DANCING!!!! WATCH IT AND YOU WILL SOON BE DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!! 68 of 79 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes White Christmas (song) | Christmas Specials Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Publisher: Irving Berlin Music Co. "White Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Irving Berlin , reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide. Accounts vary as to when and where Berlin wrote the song. One story is that he wrote it in 1940, poolside at the Biltmore hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. He often stayed up all night writing — he told Norman Wisdom, who added to the lyrics and claimed co-authorship, "Grab your pen and take down this song.

I just wrote the best song I've ever written — heck, I just wrote the best song that anybody's ever written!" The first public performance of the song was also by Crosby, on his NBC radio show The Kraft Music Hall on Christmas Day, 1941 and the recording is not believed to have survived. He recorded it with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers for Decca Records in just 18 minutes on May 29, 1942, and it was released on July 30 as part of an album of six 78-rpm songs from the film Holiday Inn . At first, Crosby did not see anything special about it. He just said "I don't think we have any problems with that one, Irving." Contents [ show ] Bing Crosby version The song initially performed poorly and was overshadowed by the film's first hit song: "Be Careful, It's my Heart". By the end of October 1942, however, it topped the "Your Hit Parade" chart. It remained in that position until well into the new year.

(It has often been noted that the mix of melancholy — "just like the ones I used to know" — with comforting images of home — "where the treetops glisten" — resonated especially strongly with listeners during World War II. The Armed Forces Network was flooded with requests for the song.) In 1942 alone, Crosby's recording spent eleven weeks on top of the Billboard charts. The original version also hit number one on the Harlem Hit Parade for three weeks, Crosby's first-ever appearance on the black-oriented chart. Re-released by Decca, the single returned to the #1 spot during the holiday seasons of 1945 and 1946 (on the chart dated January 4, 1947), thus becoming the only single with three separate runs at the top of the U.S. charts. The recording became a chart perennial, reappearing annually on the pop chart twenty separate times before Billboard Magazine created a distinct Christmas chart for seasonal releases. Following its prominence in Holiday Inn, the ong won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. In the film, Bing Crosby sang it as a duet with actress Marjorie Reynolds, though her voice was dubbed by Martha Mears.

This now-familiar scene was not the moviemakers' initial plan; in the script as originally conceived, Reynolds, not Crosby, was to sing it. The familiar version of the song most often heard today is not the one Crosby recorded in 1942. He was called to Decca studios on March 18, 1947, to re-record the track; the 1942 master had become damaged due to its frequent use. Efforts were made to exactly reproduce the original recording session, and Crosby was again backed by the Trotter Orchestra and the Darby Singers. Even so, there are subtle differences in the orchestration, most notably the addition of a celesta and flutes to brighten up the introduction. Crosby was dismissive of his role in the song's success, saying later that "a jackdaw with a cleft palate could have sung it successfully." But Crosby was associated with it for the rest of his career. Another Crosby vehicle — the 1954 musical White Christmas — was the highest-grossing film of 1954.

Cover versions Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra & chorus recorded the song at Manhattan Center, New York City, on July 15, 1952. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4910 (in USA) and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10779 and JO 420. The Drifters' 1954 cover of the song showcased the talents of lead singer Clyde McPhatter and the bass of Bill Pinkney. Their recording of it peaked at #2 on Billboard’s R&B chart in December 1954, and returned to the same chart in the next two years. In December 1955, it became the Drifters' first of 34 singles to register in the mainstream Hot 100 chart. For decades, the Drifters' version was primarily heard on R&B radio stations, getting little exposure elsewhere.

It received a boost in the early 1990s, when it was prominently featured in the film Home Alone during a scene in which Kevin, the lead character, is applying his father's aftershave while mouthing the lyrics. Radio stations formats as diverse as oldies, adult contemporary, Top 40, and country began playing the Drifters' version. It was later featured in the film The Santa Clause . Andy Williams charted on the Christmas Singles chart in 1963 (#1) and 1967 (#22) with his version. The B-Side was his version of The Christmas Song . Michael Bolton covered the song on his 1992 album Timeless: The Classics. In 2000, Linda Ronstadt recorded the song for A Merry Little Christmas. Appearances in Christmas specials "White Christmas" 1954 Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye - YouTube "White Christmas" 1954 Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now.

Please try again later. Published on Dec 16, 2012 "White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide. Accounts vary as to when and where Berlin wrote the song. One story is that he wrote it in 1940, in warm La Quinta, California, while staying at the La Quinta Hotel, a frequent Hollywood retreat also favored by writer-producer Frank Capra, although the Arizona Biltmore also claims the song was written there.He often stayed up all night writing — he told his secretary, "Grab your pen and take down this song.

I just wrote the best song I've ever written — heck, I just wrote the best song that anybody's ever written!" White Christmas [Original Soundtrack] - Bing Crosby | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic White Christmas [Original Soundtrack] google+ AllMusic Review by William Ruhlmann White Christmas, or, as the songwriter who instigated the project would have it, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, was the big holiday movie of 1954 (and, ultimately, the highest grossing picture released during that year). It was certainly a familiar entertainment, distinctly reminiscent of Holiday Inn (1942), with which it shared not only that setting at an inn in New England and the song "White Christmas," but also a full song score by Berlin combining newly written numbers and old standards. The big difference was that Bing Crosby , again leading the cast, was paired not with Fred Astaire , but with Danny Kaye . Their romantic interests, respectively, were Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen (her singing voice dubbed by Gloria Wood ). Typically for the time, this soundtrack album consists not of recordings taken directly from the film itself, but of studio recordings made separately.

Not so typically, there has been a major substitution in the cast. Clooney , an exclusive Columbia Records recording artist, was contractually prohibited from appearing on the album (she made her own solo disc of the songs), and Decca Records instead had Peggy Lee fill in. Lee provides an interesting contrast. For example, her "Love You Didn't Do Right by Me" has much more of a blues feel than Clooney 's. But Clooney , who coaxed her retired sister Betty Clooney back to duet with her on the witty "Sisters," has it all over the double-tracked Lee , whose version has none of the humor of the Clooney Sisters ' rendition, and doesn't even make much sense. Crosby is forced to sing "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" alone (it was a duet with Clooney in the film), but manages. Kaye is his usual zany self on the novelty tune "Choreography" and partners with Crosby well on a couple of medleys. The new "Snow" and the inevitable title song, done as quartets by Crosby , Kaye , Lee , and Trudy Stevens (who replaced Wood on the recording), give the score its holiday flavor.

The album does not represent the best efforts of any of these talented artists, but it is a solid, reliable piece of entertainment, just as the movie it accompanies is. Track Listing The Jews Who Wrote Christmas Songs - InterfaithFamily The Jews Who Wrote Christmas Songs By Nate Bloom December 2006 Note: this article was updated, December 2012, with new information. You can find the additions throughout, clearly marked. This article is updated and revised annually. Other versions can be found here: 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009 , 2010 , 2011 and 2012 . Every year, in early December, the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) compiles a list of the 25 most popular holiday songs as determined by radio air play. The ASCAP list changes a bit from year-to-year. Every now and again, a new song makes the list. More often, a popular new version of an old Christmas favorite propels that old favorite onto the list and pushes another song off.

ASCAP's title, "holiday songs," might just be a better term than "Christmas songs," although most people would probably refer to these popular tunes (like "White Christmas" or "Let it Snow") as "Christmas songs." Six years ago I was editing a site on famous Jews when I first saw the annual ASCAP holiday song list. I became intrigued about which of the songwriters on the list were Jewish. Also, at that time, I was just getting seriously interested in the music of what is now referred to as the "Great American Songbook," that is, the popular songs and songwriters of the period 1920-1965, the period of the "great standards." (Most of the most popular holiday songs were written during this same period.) First, I've reproduced the ASCAP list. Second, I've followed it up with detailed information on the Jewish background of writers of the songs. As you will see, 12 out of the 25 most popular songs were written or co-written by "verified" Jewish composers. I've followed this with a brief essay offering my theory on why so many holiday songs are written by Jewish composers.

Finally, I share a "bonus track" — a story about a famous Christian songwriter who wrote Hanukkah songs. 25 Most Popular Holidays Song of 2008 as Determined by Radio Airplay and Compiled by the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) Each song is followed by the writer and performer of the version that receives the most current radioplay. Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith Performed by: Eurythmics Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells Performed by: Nat "King" Cole Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin Performed by: The Pretenders Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish Performed by: The Ronettes Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie Performed by: Frank Sinatra Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne Performed by: Michael Bublé Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W.

Johnson Performed by: Elvis Presley Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman Performed by: Perry Como Written by: Tommie Connor (PRS) Performed by: John Mellencamp Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman Performed by: Elvis Presley Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich Performed by: David Foster (instrumental version) Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS) Performed by: Band Aid Written by: Donny Hathaway, Nadine McKinnor Performed by: ASCAP has not named the top performer "Winter Wonderland" This is the second year in a row that "Winter Wonderland" has topped the list. While "Winter Wonderland" has appeared on the list since its inception, it owes its number one status to relatively new versions of the song by the Eurythmics, Air Supply and Jewel. 2007 was the first year “Winter Wonderland" headed the ASCAP list. Richard B. Smith and Felix Bernard wrote "Winter Wonderland" in 1934 and it quickly became a hit for bandleader Guy Lombardo.

In 1946, new versions by the Andrew Sisters and Perry Como helped make the song a perennial Christmastime favorite. I know very little about lyricist Richard B. Smith (1901-1935) other than he was born in Pennsylvania, died young, and that "Winter Wonderland" was his only big hit. Bernard (1897-1944) also died young, and there isn't that much biographical information available on him. However, last year I was able to verify that he was Jewish. Bernard was born Felix Bernhardt in Brooklyn. In the 1920 census, Felix's father, Charles Bernhardt, lists his birthplace as Germany. Felix's mother, Anna, lists her birthplace as Russia (another government source says her maiden name was Zindel). Both his parents told the census taker that their mother tongue was Yiddish . Given that information one can safely assume that Felix Bernard was Jewish. Charles Bernhardt was a professional violinist and Felix's early musical studies were with his father. Felix had a varied musical career. He toured as a pianist on the American vaudeville circuit and in Europe.

He worked as a pianist for music publishers and eventually formed his own dance band. He also wrote special musical programs for leading singers of his day, including Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor , Al Jolson, and Nora Bayes (all of whom were Jewish). In 1919, he had his first major hit as the co-composer of the music for "Dardanella." Some sources say that it was the first tune to sell a million copies on record. He wrote some other popular songs, but they are rarely played today. Bernard is buried in a non-denominational cemetery in Los Angeles. His gravestone bears his original name (Felix Bernhardt) and the inscription on the stone simply describes him as a husband, son and brother. Not long ago, a site visitor who declined to give his name posted the following comment on the 2007 version of this article. I've been dealing with the public via the web since 1999, and I've acquired a pretty good sense of when someone is making something up about being related to a famous person. This posting, repeated here, has the strong air of veracity.

However, if the person who posted this info wishes to contact me at middleoftheroad1@aol.com , I would love to hear from you: Felix Bernard (Bernhardt) was Jewish. He is my great-uncle (in-law) married to my great-aunt Lillian [nee Cooper (a German-Jewish last name)]. I frequently visited with her when in my early 20's. She told me about him. I also heard about him from my grandmother (Lillian Cooper Berndard's sister-in-law). In the early 1930's the Cooper family all lived together in a large apartment on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. The Cooper family included: Mrs. Cooper (widowed mother-in-law of Felix); Felix Bernard and his wife Lillian (Cooper daughter); Jesse Cooper (Felix' brother-in-law); Felix' brother-in-law Albert Cooper and his wife, young daughter & son. My father does remember his uncle Felix and has told me about him. Update Since this article was first written, I was able to conclusively verify that Bernard was Jewish.

"The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" This song was written in 1945 by Mel Tormé (1925-1999) and Robert "Bob" Wells (born 1922) — both of whom are Jewish. Tormé, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, is most famous as a jazz vocalist, but he did write about 250 songs, mostly with Wells. Tormé wrote the music for "The Christmas Song" and Wells penned the lyrics. Ironically, this song was written in July, in the hot desert. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" I don't know if either of the late songwriters Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin were Jewish. My guess is no. Update In the 2010 version of this article , I noted that Hugh Martin was a devout Christian. Sadly, Martin passed away in March, 2011, age 96. "Sleigh Ride" Composer Leroy Anderson wasn't Jewish, but lyricist Mitchell Parish (1900-1993) was.

Parish was born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky in Lithuania, but his family moved to Louisiana and settled in Shreveport when he was an infant. (I don't know if living in Louisiana inspired the name change to "parish" — the term used for counties in Louisiana.) An odd sidenote I stumbled upon: Jewish actress Kitty Carlisle Hart (1910-2007), who once dated George Gershwin, was the granddaughter of Lousianian Ben Holtzman. Holtzman was the mayor of Shreveport, La., when Parish's family settled there in 1900. Holtzman, who was active in the Jewish community, was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War and was a gunner on the Merrimac, the first ironclad warship. I wonder if Hart and Parish, who moved in the same New York show biz circles, ever realized their strange Southern connection? Back to our story: Parish's family moved to New York City when he was about 6, and he went to college in New York. For decades he was a leading lyricist.

According to ASCAP the most popular recording of this song is the version sung by the Ronettes, the famous '60s all-girl singing group. The Ronettes version of "Frosty the Snowman," the number 16 song on this list, is also the most popular version according to ASCAP. I wrote about Ronnie Spector , the lead singer of the Ronettes. I said that Ronnie, who was not born Jewish, often refers to herself as Jewish (although it is unclear if she formally converted). "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" Back when I first wrote on the subject, I caught a newspaper reference to a university seminar in which one of the professors reportedly said that Fred Coots, co-writer of the song, was Jewish. I reported that Coots was Jewish. However, upon reflection, I am not sure that this newspaper source is unimpeachable and haven't been able to find a reliable independent source that confirms the newspaper's information. Update In the 2010 version of this article , I reported that I had confirmed, through newspaper and personal sources, that Fred Coots was of non-Jewish, Irish-American background. "Let It Snow! Let it Snow!

Let it Snow!" This song was written in 1945 by the Jewish songwriting team of lyricist Sammy Cahn (1913-1993) and composer Jule Styne (1905-1994). In the '50s, probably half of all Americans would recognize the names of this songwriting duo. Previews of coming movies would sometimes say the film featured a Cahn/Styne tune — and that tune would usually end up high on the "hit parade." Cahn won the Oscar for best song four times: once with Styne, and three times with composer Jimmy Van Heusen, who wasn't Jewish. Cahn was born Sammy Cohen on the Lower East Side of New York, the son of Polish Jewish immigrants. He changed his name from Cohen to Kahn to Cahn — to avoid being confused with a popular entertainer of the day with a similar name and, then, a songwriter with a similar name. Styne was born in London to Jewish parents from the Ukraine. His family moved to Chicago when he was 8. He is best known as a top Broadway and movie musical composer and the list of the great shows he wrote is staggering.

Among them are Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Peter Pan, Bells are Ringing, Gypsy and Funny Girl. Cahn and Styne also wrote "The Christmas Waltz." That tune has appeared in past years on the ASCAP top 25. Update In 2008 , for the first time, the version of this song by Canadian singer Michael Bublé is the most played version. In recent years Aaron Neville’s version was the most popular. "White Christmas" Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" is the historical biggie of popular Christmas songs. Its incredible success inspired scores of other songwriters to try and write a Christmas song. However, this tune has been gradually slipping down the ASCAP ranks. It dropped two notches since 2007. I suspect that's because singer Bing Crosby, who did the original and still the most popular version of the song, has now been gone a long time. Berlin, one of the most famous songwriters in American history, was born Israel Baline in what is now Russia, or possibly Belarus. He came to the States in 1891.

His father is alternately reported to have been a cantor or rabbi but didn't work in either capacity when the family moved to America. His father's death, when Irving was 13, forced Irving Berlin to find work — like singing in the streets — just so he and his family could eat. Berlin's early dire poverty fits the stereotype of the successful Jewish American songwriter — but not quite the reality. Most top Jewish American songwriters, especially those who worked in the Broadway theater, were from families that fit in an income range from upper working class to upper middle class. Also, most Jewish Broadway composers were American-born and not immigrants. Berlin certainly never hid the fact that he was Jewish, even though he changed his name (he adopted "Berlin" because that was how his last name, Baline, was misspelled on the cover of the sheet music for his first published song). Despite his rabbi father, Berlin was never a religious man, although he supported Jewish causes like the State of Israel. He was very much an American patriot — and "God Bless America" was a sincere statement of his beliefs. (The royalties from that song go to the Boys and Girls Scouts.) For Berlin, personally, Christmas was not a happy time.

His second wife, and the love of his life, was a Catholic. While Berlin remained a secular Jew, he allowed his children with his second wife to be raised as Episcopalians. One of their children, a son, died very young on Christmas day in the '20s. Berlin celebrated Christmas with his wife and his surviving children when those children were young but was always reportedly sad on that day. He did not celebrate the holiday at all once his surviving children grew up. Update In 2009, I wrote a long article about Berlin and his interfaith marriage . It greatly expands on what is written above. In 2012, another Berlin Christmas song, "Happy Holiday," made the list of the top 25 Billboard magazine holiday songs. Also in the 2012 version of this article , you can view a video of Irving Berlin, himself, singing. "Jingle Bell Rock" I don't know much about co-writers Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe beyond the place and dates of their births. This was the only hit for these songwriters.

"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" Johnny Marks (1909-1985), who was Jewish, was an interesting man, but his main claim to fame is writing three of the most popular Christmas songs of all-time. Marks was born in a New York City suburb and graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., before going off to Paris to study music. Besides writing songs, Marks was a prominent radio producer. He had a heroic World War II combat record, winning the Bronze Star and four battle stars. Marks also served as President of ASCAP and my friend, composer Ervin Drake, got to know him in that capacity (Drake served as ASCAP president some years after Marks). Drake confirmed to me that Marks was Jewish — and he helped me with a few other songwriters on this list that he knew personally and knew to be Jewish. The full story of how "Rudolph" came to be is laid out in detail in this article . In short, Marks' brother-in-law, Robert May, who I think was Jewish — but I am not sure — invented Rudolph.

In 1939, May wrote a poem about a red-nosed reindeer named Rudolph while working as a copywriter for Montgomery Ward Department Stores. The poem became popular as a Montgomery Ward give-away and Marks turned it into a song. He then pestered a reluctant Gene Autry to record it — Autry finally agreed — and it was a hit of monumental proportions in 1949. Update In 2011, I wrote a long article, “Shining a Light on the Largely Untold Story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," for InterfaithFamily about Robert May and Johnny Marks. It contains biographical material not found in any other source. As noted in the article, Robert May was Jewish, too (at least by birth). Almost certainly, you’ll be surprised at the back story behind the creation of Rudolph. "Little Drummer Boy" I know that Katherine K. Davis, writer of the original 1941 version, was not Jewish, but I don't know about Henry V. Onorati or Harry Simeone, who adapted the song for the Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra in 1958.

"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" I don't know much about Edward Pola, who wrote the lyrics for this 1963 hit, but the Jewish composer, George Wyle (1917-2003), was born Bernard Weissman in New York City, got his start playing piano in the Catskills and moved to Los Angeles in 1946 to write and conduct music for the Alan Young Radio Show. He is also famous for writing the music to the theme song for Gilligan's Island, the endlessly popular '60s TV show. The lyrics to that tune were by Sherwood Schwartz, the show's Jewish creator. Wyle's grandson is Adam Levy, a very talented guitarist who is best known for playing guitar in singer Norah Jones' band. He is also a composer and recording artist in his own right. His grandfather, he says, was an important influence on him. Update Early in December 2012, I corresponded with the daughter of Eddie Pola and she confirmed her father was Jewish. For more info, see the 2012 version of this article for a biographical sketch of Eddie Pola.

"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" Johnny Marks wrote this in 1958. See " Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," above. "Silver Bells" This song was written in 1951 for The Lemon Drop Kid, a Bob Hope movie. Jay Livingston, who wrote the music, and Ray Evans (1915-2007), who wrote the lyrics, were a famous Jewish songwriting team with many big hits to their credit. Livingston (1915-2001) was born Jacob Levinson in a small industrial suburb of Pittsburgh. Evans was born in 1915 in Salamanca, a small city not that far from Buffalo, N.Y. He went to the University of Pennsylvania, as did Livingston, and the two met when they joined the university dance band. They formed their songwriting partnership in 1937 and it endured until Livingston's death. (By all accounts, these two guys were like brothers and Evans was absolutely devastated by Livingston's death.) According to ASCAP the most popular version of "Silver Bells" is the one by saxophonist Kenny G, who is Jewish.

"l'll Be Home For Christmas" Walter Kent, who wrote the music, and Buck Ram, who co-wrote the lyrics with Kim Gannon, were Jewish. "I'll Be Home," like "White Christmas," was first sung by Bing Crosby and released (1943) during World War II. Like "White Christmas," it hit a nerve among those separated from their loved ones and was an instant hit and holiday classic. There is a legal dispute over this song. In short, Ram, who was born Samuel Ram, wrote a poem — later a song — with the title "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Maybe Kent and Gannon saw Ram's version before they wrote their song and maybe they didn't. In any event Kent, and Gannon wrote the song we all know — which bears little relationship to the song Ram wrote, except for the title. But Ram felt he deserved a writing credit, sued and got a co-writing credit. Kent (1911-1994) was born Walter Kauffman in New York. He was a practicing architect, an orchestra leader, and a composer. Most of his composing was for films.

His other big hits were "The White Cliffs of Dover" and "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die." He is buried in a Los Angeles area Jewish cemetery. Ram (1907-1991) was also born in New York. Very bright, he graduated from high school at 15 and eventually finished law school but did not practice. His real fame came as a rock n' roll music writer and producer in the '50s, most notably with the Platters, a group he created. He is credited as the writer of such hits as "The Great Pretender," "Only You," "The Magic Touch" and "Twilight Time." "Feliz Navidad" Written in 1970, this is one of the few "newer" songs to break into the top 25. Its writer, José Feliciano is not Jewish. "Frosty The Snowman" I couldn't find any useful biographical material on writers Steve Nelson and Walter E. Rollins. However, there are articles that say following the success of "Rudolph," the duo figured they could also invent a new Christmas folkloric figure — and they did.

"A Holly Jolly Christmas" 1954 – White Christmas – Bing Crosby White Christmas (1954, Paramount, color) As “Bob Wallace” Cast: Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, Dean Jagger, Mary Wickes. Director: Michael Curtiz Producer: Robert Emmett Dolan Screenwriters: Norman Krasna, Melvin Frank & Norman Panama Summary: Army buddies Crosby and Kaye boost the popularity of a resort run by their ex-general. With the singing Haynes sisters (Clooney & Ellen) in tow, the spirit of the season shines throughout this perennial holiday favorite featuring Irving Berlin’s memorable musical numbers. Featured Songs: “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me” “White Christmas” “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing” “What Can You Do With A General” “Gee, I Wish I Was Back In The Army”

Question: Who wrote the songs for the 1954 film White Christmas?
Answer: Irving Berlin