The Making of Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town and the Daydreamer

Book excerpt: One of the crown jewels in the Rankin/Bass Special Holiday Television library is Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, which still airs on network television to this day. Why has it lasted for half a century? Take a look inside this book to learn about the special people assembled by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass to make this magical Animagic television special.Hollywood stars, Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney and Keenan Wynn, along with Robie Lester as Jessica and Paul Frees as Burgermeister Meisterburger and Grinzley, lead a mostmemorable Holiday cast. One that would not be forgotten for many years to come.Also included is a look at one of Rankin/Bass' most ambitious feature films called TheDaydreamer. This film combines a star studded cast of both live-action and Rankin/Bass' famous Animagic puppet animation to create a memorable, but lesser known feature. Released in 1966, the live-action segments were filmed on the New York World's Fair Belgian Village. Included is Don Duga's storyboards used by the Japanese Animagic crew for the final animation.