The creative team of Rankin and Bass have produced some of the most enduring, nostalgia-producing Christmas specials in television history. Historian and biographer Rick Goldschmidt joins Brian to tell the story of how an art director and an ad jingle writer became "the kings of Christmas."

Links

• More info about Rankin/Bass and Rick Goldschmidt
• Rick's books about Rankin/Bass

Music in this episode

• "Kettled" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive
• "Soft Piano" — Anastasia Kir, via Pixabay
• "O Holy Night (Solo Piano)" — 23843807, via Pixabay
• "Wish Background" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetec

Connect with Me

• Links to all the things https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links
• Email: [email protected]

Books

Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past (2025, Lyons Press and Recorded Books) It's Christmas as you've never seen it before, and it makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life.

Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions (2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)