News Bulletin staff shares favorite holiday music and movies

When I was a kid, my mom killed our record player by piling so many Christmas albums on it that the poor ol’ belt just couldn’t spin the turntable any more. (I think the, ahem, record-breaker was 11 albums.) Mitch Miller and the Gang, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Perry Como were as much a part of my Christmases past as visits from our Philadelphia cousins and the blue candy dish with the solidified mound of hard candy stuck in it.

Years later I added favorites of my own: Mannheim Steamroller, Nancy LaMott, Julie Andrews, Vince Guaraldi and a growing collection of Christmas tunes from musical theatre cast albums and film soundtracks joined old family favorites on my Christmas-mix 8-tracks, and, subsequently, cassettes, CDs and finally my iPod.

At the News Bulletin, we all have our favorites and some of us thought we’d share our top-five lists with you, our readers. To our favorite songs we each added our two favorite holiday movies, TV shows or specials. Maybe you’d like to expand your own playlist with some of these this year!

GREG ALLEN

Production Manager

Songs: Little Drummer Boy (Jars of Clay version), O Holy Night, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Do You Hear What I Hear, and You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Six Pence None the Richer version)

Videos: The Nightmare Before Christmas and Die Hard (“It’s a Christmas movie!” Greg insisted.)

RANDY BEARD

Sales Manager

Songs: Jingle Bell Rock, White Christmas (the Bing Crosby  version, natch), Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (Bruce Springsteen version) and Santa Baby

Videos: It’s a Wonderful Life (“I watch it every year with my baby,” Randy said.) and Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

RENE BELL

Typesetter/ Community Events

Songs: Little Drummer Boy, We Three Kings, Jingle Bell Rock, O Holy Night, and Angels We Have heard on High

Videos: Scrooged (with Bill Murray, “dark, sarcastic, hilarious and touching, awesome cast,” Rene said) and Lethal Weapon (“just because it has Jingle Bell Rock at the beginning,” she added)

DENISE CADENHEAD

Receptionist

Songs: Jingle Bell Rock, O Holy Night, The First Noel, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing and Here Comes Santa Claus

Videos: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Elf

BRIAN HUGHES

Arts & Entertainment Editor/ Staff Writer

Songs: Just in Time for Christmas (by Nancy LaMott, who put up a brave fight before succumbing to cancer), Schlittenfahrt (“Sleigh Ride,” recorded by Marlene Dietrich for the OSS at the end of World War II; sung to the tune of Surrey with the Fringe on Top), It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Andy Williams’ version), Christmas Time is Here (Vince Guaraldi Trio version) and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Mannheim Steamroller version)

Videos: The Lion in Winter (original film version) and A Christmas Story (I’d watch it every year with Dad. He’d say, “Let’s watch ‘Ralphie Parker’” because he could never remember the name of the film.)

ANN SPANN

Photographer

Songs: Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Silent Night, Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (“I’m big on reindeer,” Ann said) and Away in a Manger.

Videos: A Christmas Story and Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

SHERRIE STANLEY

Receptionist/Circulation Assistant

Songs: All I Want for Christmas is You, Winter Wonderland, O Holy Night and Jingle Bells

Videos: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Elf

MELISSA TEDDER

Media Consultant

Songs: Santa Baby, Al I Want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan (Kenny Chesney), Smokey Mountain Christmas (Dolly Parton), Christmas Shoes (“This one is such a sad one,” Melissa said. “I don’t know who sings it but it’s about a little boy trying to get his mom Christmas shoes before she dies.”) and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Videos: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and The Santa Clause