He stole the candy canes, the wreaths, the trees, the
wuzzles and puzzles! He made off with
the presents, the Who Hash, the light bulbs, poinsettias, rugs and the window
sash! He filled sack after sack with
bicycles and ribbons and bows! He
purloined the wreaths and bizzel binks, the camera, the film, the candy, its
wrappers, quite possibly even the kitchen sinks! (Pictured: a paste-up for a model sheet of drawings by Chuck Jones used in the creation of his 1966 Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas.)
The film of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
popularity may be unsurpassed today, but when Chuck Jones set out to bring it
to the screen he was unable to find a sponsor and eventually ended up pitching
the story 26 times. Chuck Jones recounts, “In those days, the
network wouldn’t accept something unless you had a sponsor,” he said. “So, I went to every one of the people who
were logical: the breakfast food and
chocolate people. I had done the
storyboards, there were seventeen hundred drawings and I went over that thing
again and again. It got to the point
where I could almost shut my eyes and say it!
At last, in the depths of my despair, success came from the most
unlikely source of all: the Foundation
of Commercial Banks!”
I am SO glad Chuck found a sponsor. I can't imagine Christmastime without the Grinch!
Posted by: Kimberley | November 30, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Yes, we are glad that bank group saw the value in sponsoring this wonderful holiday classic.
Posted by: Robert Patrick | November 30, 2009 at 02:25 PM
It's honestly one of the few things I still love about Christmas, but sadly we get Santa commercials and the Grinch only appears on the 25th.
Posted by: Niki | November 30, 2009 at 07:20 PM
Truly the best animation ever done for television. BEAUTIFUL stuff!!
Posted by: Thad | December 01, 2009 at 10:33 AM