The TV adaptation of the book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has aired for so many decades that people who watched it when they were children can do so again with their grandkids.
And whatever the generation, the green, pointy-headed Dr. Seuss creation maintains a high level of holiday popularity.
On Dec. 2, Monroeville Public Library welcomed fans of all ages to Grinchmas, a celebration of all things Grinch. The event was full of fun activities, including showings of the original — are you ready for some Grinch trivia? — CBS animated special from 1966, as narrated by Boris Karloff.
In case it comes up as a category on Trivia Night, let’s keep going:
• In 1957, Random House published “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel (1904-91). The story appeared in Redbook magazine the same year as the book.
• Redbook carried a Seuss poem, “The Hoobub and the Grinch,” in 1955. The character, though, is portrayed as a fast-talking salesman rather than someone with a grudge against the citizens of Whoville.
• Seuss’ “Scrambled Eggs Super!” (1953) mentions a Beagle-Beaked-Bald-Headed Grinch bird, among the many whose eggs Peter T. Hooper collects to make breakfast. Incidentally, the book is among the six withdrawn by Dr. Seuss Enterprises in 2021, for portraying certain characters in an unflattering light.
• Listen to “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” on the TV special, and then think of Tony the Tiger pitching Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, year after year. Both are the voice of Thurl Ravenscroft (1914-2005).
• Chuck Jones (1912-2002), who co-directed the special, was the animator behind many of the Warner Bros. classic shorts starring the likes of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Porky Pig, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.
• June Foray (1917-2017), the original Cindy Lou Who, had a career as a voice actress spanning more than 80 years. In fact, she worked for Jones as Granny, the owner of Tweetie the canary and Sylvester the cat.
• Karloff, whose real name was William Henry Pratt, died in 1969 at age 81. He joins everyone else on this list in making it to becoming an octogenarian.
Perhaps a secret to longevity, then, is a connection to the Grinch. Jim Carrey, take heart.