Honestly, if you grew up in the seventies or eighties, your entire concept of Christmas lore probably didn't come from the Bible or even old European folklore. It came from a small studio called Rankin/Bass and a bunch of jerky, charming puppets. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 1970 is the definitive origin story for the big guy in red, and even though it's over fifty years old, it remains a bizarrely complex piece of television. It isn't just a kids' show. It’s a weirdly political, slightly psychedelic, and surprisingly emotional look at how a foundling baby becomes a world-renowned legend.
Most of us remember the basics. We remember Fred Astaire’s smooth-as-silk voice as S.D. Kluger, the mailman who decides to answer children's letters about why Santa does what he does. But when you actually sit down and watch it as an adult, you realize how much work went into making this "mythology" stick.
It starts with a baby. Just a nameless infant left on a doorstep in a blizzard.
The stakes are high immediately. This isn't a cozy fireplace scene. It's a survival story. The baby is rejected by the Burgermeister Meisterburger—one of the greatest villains in animation history, mostly because his hatred of toys is so hilariously specific and bureaucratic—and ends up being raised by a family of elf toy-makers, the Kringles. This is where the name Kris Kringle comes from, at least in this universe.
The Politics of Sombertown and the Meisterburger Regime
Let's talk about the Burgermeister. He is essentially a caricature of a mid-century European dictator, but with a weird obsession with public safety. After tripping on a toy duck, he bans toys entirely in Sombertown. This is the central conflict of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 1970. It’s not about "saving Christmas" in a general sense; it’s a story about civil disobedience. Kris Kringle is essentially a smuggler. He’s a guy who looks at an unjust law and decides that breaking it is the only moral option.
It’s actually kind of radical.
Kris grows up among the Kringles, specifically under the matriarch Tante Kringle. They teach him the trade of toy-making, which had been stagnant because they couldn't get their goods across the Mountain of the Whispering Winds. Why? Because of the Winter Warlock. This is where the show leans into that classic Rankin/Bass "scary but manageable" vibe. The Winter Warlock starts as a genuine threat—a literal icy necromancer—and turns into a lonely old man who just needs a little kindness.
The transition of the Winter Warlock is one of the most famous scenes in the special. Kris gives him a toy—a simple wooden train—and the Warlock's icy exterior literally melts away. This leads into the song "Put One Foot in Front of the Other." It’s a catchy tune, sure, but it’s also a surprisingly deep metaphor for redemption and change. You don't become a good person overnight; you just start walking.
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Why the Animation Style Still Works
Rankin/Bass used a process they called "Animagic." It’s stop-motion, but it has a specific texture that modern CGI just can't replicate. The puppets in Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 1970 have this tactile, felt-and-wood quality. You can almost feel the cold of the snow and the warmth of the Kringle cottage.
There’s a reason this style persists. It feels handcrafted.
In 1970, the technology was limited, but the creators used those limitations to create a dreamlike atmosphere. The way the characters move is slightly unnatural, which actually helps the fairy-tale logic. If it looked too real, the idea of a flying reindeer or a magic Warlock might feel jarring. But because everything looks like a toy, the logic holds.
The Voice Cast That Defined an Era
You can't talk about this special without mentioning Mickey Rooney. He is Kris Kringle. Rooney brought a youthful, energetic, and slightly rebellious spirit to the role. This isn't the portly, elderly Santa we usually see. This is a young man with red hair and a drive to do good. He sounds optimistic, even when he’s being hunted by the Sombertown guards.
Then you have Fred Astaire. His narration provides the "hook" that keeps the story grounded. By using a mailman as the framing device, the writers found a clever way to answer the "frequently asked questions" of the Santa mythos:
- Why does he wear a red suit? (The Kringles' traditional color)
- Why does he go down chimneys? (To avoid the Burgermeister's locked doors)
- How do the reindeer fly? (Magic acorns from the Winter Warlock)
- Why the beard? (To hide his identity as a fugitive)
It’s basically a massive retcon of Christmas history, and it works perfectly.
The Darker Side of 1970s Holiday Specials
One thing that sticks out when re-watching Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 1970 is how genuinely high the stakes feel. Kris Kringle is literally a wanted criminal for a large portion of the special. He spends time in a dungeon. The Burgermeister burns toys in the town square. There’s a scene where the guards are actively hunting Kris through the woods.
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It has a bit of a "Robin Hood" vibe.
This darkness makes the eventual victory feel earned. When Kris finally marries Miss Jessica (the schoolteacher who turns against the Burgermeister), it’s not just a romantic moment; it’s a moment of cultural shift. The old, grey, joyless world of Sombertown is being replaced by something colorful and vibrant.
Jessica’s song, "My World is Beginning Today," is a total 1970s psychedelic pop ballad. It’s got these kaleidoscopic visuals and a very "flower power" sentiment. It marks the moment the special moves from a traditional folk tale into something contemporary for its time. It’s a weird tonal shift, but somehow it fits the experimental energy of Rankin/Bass.
Cultural Impact and Why It Ranks Every Year
Every December, Google searches for this special spike. People aren't just looking for nostalgia; they're looking for the "logic" of Santa. Kids are smart. They ask why Santa does what he does. This 1970 special provides a cohesive, if fantastical, explanation.
It also established the "Red Suit" as the official uniform. While Coca-Cola's ads in the 1930s helped popularize the image, Rankin/Bass solidified the "origin" of the suit in the minds of millions of children.
The special also features some of the most underrated music in the holiday canon. Everyone knows the title track, but the incidental music and the smaller character songs have a charm that stays with you. Paul Frees, who voiced the Burgermeister (and about a million other characters in his career), gives a masterclass in voice acting here. He makes the villain hateful but also pathetic, which is a tough balance to strike.
Addressing the Common Misconceptions
People often confuse this special with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) or The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974). While they share the same stop-motion style, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 1970 is the only one that functions as a true biography.
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Some viewers also wonder about the "lost" scenes. Depending on which network is airing it, certain songs or sequences are often cut for time to fit in more commercials. For instance, the song "If You Sit on My Lap Today" is frequently edited out because it's seen as a bit dated or time-consuming. However, seeing the full, uncut version is essential to understanding Kris’s development from a simple toy-maker to a folk hero.
The special also takes some liberties with the "North Pole" concept. In this version, Santa moves to the North Pole not just because it's snowy, but because he's a fugitive from the law. It’s a practical move. He needs to go somewhere the Burgermeister’s influence can't reach. It adds a layer of "outlaw" grit to the Santa story that you don't see in modern interpretations.
How to Enjoy the Special Today
If you’re planning a re-watch, keep an eye out for the small details. Look at the textures of the puppets’ clothes. Notice the way the lighting changes when they enter the Winter Warlock’s woods. There is a level of craftsmanship here that is often overlooked because we categorize it as "just a kid's cartoon."
Honestly, the best way to watch it is to lean into the weirdness. Accept that a mailman is singing to you. Accept that a Warlock can be bought off with a toy train. The special operates on "heart logic," and in 1970, that was more than enough.
Actionable Ways to Share the Tradition
If you want to introduce this to a new generation or just want to dive deeper into the Rankin/Bass world, here are some things you can actually do:
- Find the Uncut Version: Look for the Blu-ray or a high-quality digital purchase. Television broadcasts often trim 5-8 minutes of footage, including crucial character beats.
- Contextualize the History: If you’re watching with kids, explain that this was made before computers. Show them how stop-motion works by taking a few photos on your phone and moving an object slightly in each one. It makes the "magic" of the 1970 special even more impressive.
- The "Origin" Game: After watching, see if they can remember how the special explained different Santa tropes. It’s a great way to see how effective the storytelling actually was.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: The music stands alone. It’s great background music for decorating, especially the orchestral versions of the main themes.
The legacy of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 1970 isn't just about the puppets or the songs. It’s about the idea that even the most powerful legends have a beginning. It’s about the power of a small gift to change a heart, and the idea that sometimes, you have to break a few rules to do what's right. Whether you're in it for the nostalgia or the surprisingly deep plot, it remains a cornerstone of holiday media for a reason. It has a soul. And in a world of polished, hyper-processed entertainment, that felt-covered puppet with Mickey Rooney's voice still feels more real than most.