Retro Crimbo 2020: a festive photo bonanza

Put one foot in front of the other: Kris Kringle and Winter Warlock go for a snowy stroll in Rankin/ Bass’s classic Holiday special, the 50th-anniversary-celebrating Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town   

Whichever way you slice it, 2020 has been a year unlike any other. And, for far too many of us around the world, it certainly hasn’t been anything like an oh-so sliceable, oh-so tasty chocolate Yule log. Plus, like it or not, the festive season hasn’t been immune from the ongoing disruption of this pandemic-afflicted annus horribilis; millions and millions of us are locked-down and spending the Holidays away from at least some of our nearest and dearest.

However, its not all bad news. Christmas is still Christmas, with its unbeatable spirit and all its terrific traditions, tinsel and razzmatazz. And speaking of traditions, this very blog’s playing its part, too, with this very post. Yes, it’s yet another seasonal celebration of the great and the good, the brilliant and the beautiful, the iconic and the unforgettable of lore, all snapped in festive scenarios and merry moments. So, if this post can provide you just a little comfort, peace and goodwill this Yuletide, then it – and George’s Journal – will have served its purpose as 2020 comes to a close.

Take care, keep safe and all the very best to all of you and yours…  

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CLICK ON the images for full-size

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Christmas crooner: Nat King Cole poses with his daughter and superstar-singer-to-be Natalie

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Leading ladies: Ava Gardner, Claudette Colbert and Bette Davis pose, hit the slopes and gather gifts 

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Jimmy and Mammy: James Stewart bears gifts and Hattie McDaniel decorates the tree 

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Fiddle-de-dee! Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman merrily get together in rom-com Indiscreet (1958) 

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Euro-ho-ho: Sophia Loren with her friends and family and Brigitte Bardot with snapping paps

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Sitting pretty: Janet Leigh and Shirley Jones advertise the many merits of Christmas decorations

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Festive fashionista: Audrey Hepburn pauses during the Alpine shoot of hit thriller Charade (1963) 

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Eight Holidays a Week: The Beatles snapped in Eskimo garb on December 23rd 1964 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, where they’re performing their showcase ‘Another Beatles Christmas Show’ 

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Leggy Christmas: Yvonne ‘Batgirl’ Craig braves the cold as she licks her ice lolly while sitting on ice cubes (top), while South Pacific’s Mitzi Gaynor demonstrates her boots are made for posin’ (bottom)

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Yule Britannia: George Best graces the cover of the January 1st 1972 edition of Shoot! magazine, while Faye Dunaway and Simon Dee switch on the Carnaby Street Christmas lights in November 1967

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The Happy-ning Christmas: Florence Ballard, Diana Ross and Mary Wilson looking ‘supreme’

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Thrifty at fifty: Albert Finney, as A Christmas Carol’s legendary anti-hero, leads a bunch of Victorian kids in song in the musical movie adaptation Scrooge, also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year

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Tree-fic Tiffany: Jill St. John, in costume as ditsy but luscious leading lady Tiffany Case, promotes the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, which opened in cinemas on December 28th 1971

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Joy-lie to the world: Julie Andrews in promotional shots for her 1972 and ’73 Christmas TV specials

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Twiggy and Kelly on telly: Twiggy in 1977’s Bing’s Merrie Olde Christmas (left) and Princess Grace of Monaco reading the Nativity for Yorkshire TV’s 1973-broadcast The Glories of Christmas (left)

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Merry melody makers: awesome pop foursome ABBA enjoy Christmas in a funky Swedish manner

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Seasonal angels: French screen siren Catherine Deneuve on the set of 1964’s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and star of US TV’s Charlies Angels, Farrah Fawcett, adds glamour to a ‘white’ Christmas 

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The funny and the furry: Carry On’s Sid James and Barbara Windsor (RIP) get into character for a 1973 TV Times shoot, while Sooty, Orville the Duck, Emu and Hacker T. Dog get the party going

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Do they know its Christmas? George Michael, Bob Geldof, Sting, Simon Le Bon (top), Jodi Watley, Francis Rossi and Banarama (bottom) pose to promote 1984’s iconic Band Aid charity single

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Do you see what I see? Mick ‘Santa Claus’ Jagger delivers models Iman and Paul van Ravenstein in his sack (left) and Jack Nicholson enjoys a devilishly good snowball fight (right)… probably

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Merry menaces: the Dennis and Gnasher story from the December 23rd 1989 edition of The Beano

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Venkman-tlers: Amy Adams and Bill Murray featuring in festive shots from Vanity Fair magazine

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And finally… happy Christmas (Star Wars is Over?): R2D2, C3P0 and (Santa) Yoda wish you all a…

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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A

HAPPY, HOPEFUL AND HEALTHY 2021! 

 

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