Chicago Christmas Classics: Frosty, Suzy Snowflake, Hardrock, Coco and Joe

Hardrock, Coco and Joe, Suzy Snowflake and Frosty the Snowman have been dazzling the children of Chicago for more than 50 years. Each year, the populace of the Windy City holds its breath in rapt anticipation of annual viewings of three quirky Christmas cartoons. In this video, we'll go behind the scenes and learn just where these classics came from before they ended up on Garfield Goose and The Bozo Show.

[@stephsmith9911]

I am from Chicago, originally, and Hardrock and Coco & Joe will make me tear up to this day!(I am 53!) It seems outside the Chicago area it is unknown.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Doesn't surprise me it didn't become a national treasure outside Chicago. Still they tried.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@Steph Smith I basically meant when WGN went national with its "superstation" feed. That gave the rest of the country exposure to these films after the 70's.

[@marcezaragoza1851]

Johnstown, PA, shows them every year!

[@luv2fly745]

@@marcezaragoza1851 yes, I remember these very fondly from my childhood. We knew the excitement of the holiday season was in full force when these three videos started playing on WJAC, if I remember correctly?

[@timward3116]

Hi Steph. I'm grew up in Chicagoland but spent the rest of my life far away from Chicago. I am more than a decade older than you. I used to watch these animations on Garfield Goose (they only began to show them on Bozo later). You knew it was Christmas when Suzie Snowflake came a knock, knock, knocking on your window pain. It was a cherished part of my childhood there. I don't get teary-eyed, but I do find myself (even NOW) humming, whistling, and even singing those songs!

[@TheChippewa77]

I grew up in Gary Indiana and not only Bozo, but so many other shows are locked in the fondest of my memories. Thank you for putting this compilation together. I still think that Garfield goose should be the king of the United States. He couldn’t do a worse job than others.

[@tommarquette9706]

Suzy Snowflake poped into my head. I remember seeing them in 50s on Garfield Goose. Turning 70 next year, but songs are Crystal clear in my memory. Right up there with yearly airing of the Wizard of Oz. A more gentler time. Thanks.

[@DMosesRN]

I was born & raised in Chicago I am 60+ and grew up with Bob Bell as my Bozo. I can now introduce my grandchildren to my Christmas traditions .Thank You

[@MrTmac1951]

We moved from Chicago to libertyville Illinois in 1955, I remember our first TV, and I never missed Garfield Goose. Around September the Sears Christmas catalog would come in the mail, and I would look forward to Hard Rock Cocoa and Joe. People don’t know what they are missing, I had the best childhood possible.

[@hoborock007]

I was just a kid when we lived in Chicago and went to church in the Libertyville / Mundelein area.. I remember watching Bozo and Family Classics.. I have a scant memory of a few places ...have you ever heard of Diamond Lake or Zion roller rink or Fish Lake Beach... just wondering ..these are childhood memories

[@MrTmac1951]

@@hoborock007 Bill Pub was my favorite pizza place, it was in Diamond Lake.

[@hoborock007]

@@MrTmac1951 COOL 🍕 ...thanx for sharing that

[@donaldclay9535]

Thanks for the Memories, 3 -13 yrs old I Love the 1960s. (smile)

[@jackbest6677]

I'm over 70 and live in western PA and remember these cartoons.😊

[@Lockbar]

Thank you for this presentation on our home town christmas classics.

[@cindysalter1665]

I Was 8 yrs. Never Missed A SHOW!!! NOW 58yrs. Hard rock, Co-co, Joe... Still MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS HIT!!!

[@Nothingman4life]

I was born and raised in Texas, and I have fond memories of seeing these cartoons every Christmas during my childhood. This was the early-80s, so we only had, like, six TV channels, but one of them was Superstation WGN. I remember seeing them on “The Bozo Show,” and I’m pretty sure I remember WGN also playing a clip of Bob Hope & Marilyn Maxwell singing “Silver Bells” from the film “The Lemon Drop Kid” throughout the Christmas season. Wonderful memories. Thank you for helping keep them alive.

[@catman3552]

If you grew up in chicago illinois,this was a yearly Christmas tradition. ⛄❄🎄🎀

[@mrs.brunke443]

My sister and I watched Garfield Goose and loved when these cartoons came on every year.

[@bigbustfkr]

Forever a Part of my Childhood and Love all of these Holiday Favorites! 😀

[@kathykristelli4029]

Getting ready to watch these cartoons (my Christmas eve tradition). Enjoying your telling of the backstop and factoids! I'm 68, and thanks to KZbin I can take a trip down memory lane any time.

[@tyrannosaurusburke]

This is a fascinating and well-researched video. I'm from New England, and I never saw this animated short nor ever heard the song "Hardrock, Coco & Joe". Now I can't get the song out of my head.

[@user-mn4kg3jb4j]

I was born in the late fall of 1978 in Central Kentucky. I just saw the Castle movies of Frosty the Snowman, Suzy Snowflake and The Three Little Dwarfs: Hardrock, Coco and Joe for the first time two weeks ago! The posting was without the negative and snide commentary! The animation on Frosty the Snowman is excellent! The chorus is excellent and pitch perfect! Th voice actors and actresses are excellent! It is exactly what Frosty the Snowman should look like! It is perfect! The 1969 animated colored Frosty the Snowman copied the children from this classic Frosty the Snowman film which is perfect! The stop animation for Suzy Snowflake is excellent! Frosty the Snowman in the Suzy Snowflake movie is just what Frosty the Snowman is supposed to look like! The Corus is pitch perfect and harmonizes perfectly together! The Three Little Dwarfs Movie Hardrock, Coco and Joe with the stop animation is excellent! The chorus is pitch perfect! The Chorus harmonizes perfectly together! The narrator is excellent! I completely disagree with the commentary about the simple animation! It is not simple! It is art!

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

That stop motion animation was made here in the good old U.S.A. at a time when we took pride in what we made.

[@theresazingery7760]

Brings back fond memories of my childhood with fun new facts.

[@lamb4443]

Suzy Snowflake popped in my head today and here I found it along w/Bozo ( I sat on Mr. Ned’s lap when we finally got tickets in 1960), Hardrock, Coco and Joe. Thank you for this trip down memory lane.

[@mamacass757]

I used to watch "Bozo's Circus"; "Garfield Goose & Friends" and "The Ray Raynor Show" when I lived in Danville, Illinois back in 1969.

[@fayekramer8314]

I am from Pennsylvania and these videos bring a tear to my eyes too, esp. Suzy and the little men. Merry Christmas to you from Winky Peaches my beautiful black female fluffy kitty. I love you Jesus!

[@Chgojerr]

Oh I agree so very much!

[@Chgojerr]

Merry Christmas to you and yours this Christmas season and a Happy new year for 2021!

[@janicesmith6891]

Amen 🙏

[@fayekramer8314]

@@janicesmith6891 and to you too! It's all about the baby in the manger.

[@fayekramer8314]

@@Chgojerr the best to you for 2022!

[@frankolsen5317]

Fifty-plus years later I learn something new after watching your Channel. Thank you!

[@destroyitall247]

Ever since i was a kid born in 1985 from Pa. I've watched these 3 classic christmas songs played on national TV. Which most ppl forget are a classic family tradition to watch. You don't have to be from Chicago to enjoy it that's silly? They broadcasted them to every state during Christmas since I can remember.

[@4687878]

I was born in 1961 and I lived on the southside of Chicago where I watched these 3 cartoons every year and they were my favorite cartoons for that time of year !!! I watch them every time I get the notion, because they're on youtube,..and I even have them on my Iphone music library !!!

[@vickinoeske1154]

I grew up in Chicsgo and watched Bozo always. My favorite, Here Comes Suzy Snowflake. I just turned 65.

[@michaelaiken6482]

Thank you for bringing history on this. What was once great is always great with me. These have been a big mystery for me. I found a movie projector in a storage room..and these were on film strips. They were kind of creepy to me which got me to like them even more. They have been with me for three decades. Nice we have KZbin where we can watch stuff like this.

[@erinschnaedter6172]

I've enjoyed watching these animations ever since my family who grew up in Chicago introduced me to them, but I never really knew their history. This was interesting, thanks! :-D

[@bethstott4848]

Such memories. I actually got a Cuddley Duddley dog for my 2nd Christmas. He was bigger than I was. I loved that dog and watched Bozo every day. Thanks so much for doing this video.

[@jonbanks3143]

I had a Cuddly Dudley dog too. Yes, he was big! LOL

[@cherylfournier3937]

I had a Cuddley Duddley too!

[@claudettetooley]

Thanks so much for the back story on these old favorites! ♥️

[@sonnieaaron]

Thank you vvery much!! COVID interrupted the party at which we screened these three classics. Though I'm Bozo & Garfield OG, I don't remember seeing them until I first attended the party. The bottom line is, despite the lack of memory, even the first time I watched I got an enviable nostalgia jolt!

[@KentKaliber]

OMG MEMORY UNLOCKED!!!! I saw these cartoons via WGN on national Cable TV! I grew up in Louisville, KY but we LOVED WGN!

[@fernymagic]

Great Video!....I'd watch these cartoons on Bozo in the morning before school...grew up in Rogers Park. Luckily, you can find these cartoons on KZbin!

[@carolynhotchkiss4760]

Being a child of the very early 60s in the northern suburbs of Chicago, these three cartoons always signalled that Christmas was truly upon us! In fact, as a four year old watching Garfield Goose, I had a very important job, and that was to alert my mother in the kitchen when Hardrock, Coco and Joe came on, because she loved it so!

[@jv59nik]

Great memories from my childhood

[@davidnieve6444]

Thanks for posting this again. Every year I pull up these toons and listen to them until May! Merry Christmas!

[@williamlindner3984]

WJAC in Johnstown Pa ran these cartoons at 5:55 PM just before the 6 o'clock news throughout the holiday season in the 1960s . Great memories!!!

[@DB-ck4bj]

watched Johnstown tv in WV. loved these!

[@josephbennett3482]

WJAC still does every year , all season long starting sometimes on Black Friday and they run daily all the way till January.

[@markherron1407]

Happy 70th Anniversary Rosemary Clooney brought me here Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@markherron1407]

I was born in Chicago!

[@frankolsen5317]

My grandmother wanted tickets for my uncle, 14 years later I got to go because my uncle was a lot older. He did not want to go. Quite the experience in the early 70s.

[@Stoked_magic]

I never got to see the bozo show or any of these for years until now. I actually watched all three of these before watching this believe it or not.

[@UNKNOWNPERSON-kk9kd]

1968, my family moved to Chicago as a 4 year-old. I'm certain they showed these old cartoons during the Ray Rayner show in the mornings, not on the Bozo show.

[@MovieManEric]

They started out on Ray Rayner, but, by the time I was a kid, they were on Bozo.

[@Mark.G475]

I lived in Lagrange in the 1970s, I thought it was played on Garfield Goose.

[@marthageppert5865]

Love the back stories! Thank you!

[@wjcorrinne4052]

Every Christmas Season growing up in Wash., D.C. area in the 1950s these 3 cartoons would be played on our local TV station. There were only 4 back then and come midnight there’d be the National Anthem and they’d shutdown until the following morning. I always looked forward to these three cartoons because I knew Christmas wasn’t far behind. I saw them once in the past 10 years or so ago, again on a local TV station. Only this time on a Quad City’s station, and they always played in a row. Nostalgia from years gone by.

[@ambulocetusnatans]

When I was a kid, I had a life size Cuddley Duddley plushie.

[@frankolsen5317]

WGN was my entertainment in my early years I miss those simpler times

[@ul7185]

Bozo, Gar and Ray: WGN TV Classics Only

[@meganshaw1949]

The voice of Joe sounds like the famous singer and voice-over-artist Thurl Ravenscroft, who was highly popular from the early 1940s until the mid 1990s. Thurl Ravenscroft often worked in voice-over roles, tv, tv specials, film, albums and theme park projects involving Dr. Seuss, the Peanuts and was very closely linked with the Walt Disney company and with the group The Mellowmen, a group who were also known for working with other artists like Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby. Sometimes they were also credited as either The Mello Men or The Mellow Men. Thurl was well-known for his extremely deep and distinctive vocals and was the most well-known voice of Tony the Tiger for Frosted Flakes. And you can still hear his deep and distinctive voice when the famous Dr. Seuss song You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch is played on the air or preformed during the animated special Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas, at Christmastime. So, it wouldn't surprise me if it turned-out that Thurl was the voice of Joe (and maybe even Hardrock and Coco too) seeing as how deep his voice was and given his history with voice over work, tv and specials. However, while there is a chance that I could be wrong, I'm 87 percent sure that it is Thurl.

[@joeybaseball7352]

I am from New York. And up until recently, we used to get WGN here. So I saw a lot of Chicago television growing up watching that channel. Including Bozo. We had our own Bozo in NY, but the Chicago Bozo was better. It's a shame that WGN America rebranded as News Nation. So now I have to watch this stuff on youtube since I don't live in Chicago.

[@anneoboyle8447]

I ❤️LOVE 💕Garfield 💓Goose!!! And Chicago 🍀 & WGN!🏆💐

[@billphillips2643]

I grew up watching The Bozo the clown show on WGN Tv Channel 9 especially when he did the Christmas classic movie Hardrock and Coco and Joe and Santa Claus every Christmas since 1980

[@kosh2001]

NW Indiana here too and here for Hardrock Coco and Joe since Xmas is around the corner.

[@richardbromund2655]

Hey I want to thank you so much cuz that really brings back great memories of my childhood back in Chicago as well as my sisters and brother ,now I have access look forward to seeing more of this every Christmas

[@krist6687]

I always said Santa looked well Chinese ( Asian ) thank you I finally got my answer and I was born and raised in Chicago and I did too make it to the bozo show ok the Chicago blizzard of 79 !! I was six !! We were to look like a cast of thousands , there were 50 of us ( four of which weee my two friends and my mom ) brave women we took the CTA bus and L the only way to get there sue to the storm !! My grandmother took pics of the tv to show how they made us look in four spots then panned the camera to make us look like a large audience !! You got to love it !! Thank you for this !!

[@garbewoodworks1620]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for finding the background story and making this video!!! I am definitely going to share it with family and friends from Illinois...they will love it!! Indeed, All the kids I knew would be glued to the TV while watching Garfield Goose and/or Bozo to see those cartoons...particularly Hardrock, Coco, and Joe. Of course, they usually showed it towards the end of the show. Back then we didn't have video cameras so this was the only way we could see the cartoons...again and again. This also explains the Asian features on Santa! Thanks again!! :)

[@MovieManEric]

Thank you for watching it!

[@Chgojerr]

I must agree, if I didn't find your video, I wouldn't have known that th ed news stations carry this every year. I sure hope they play it again for Christmas 2020

[@Chgojerr]

Merry Christmas to you and yours and a very special Happy New Year for 2021. Stay healthy and Virus free

[@Chgojerr]

@@MovieManEric Merry Christmas to you as well and may 2021 be special for you!

[@Mark.G475]

Thank you for the history. Good fun.

[@mathildeebersole7060]

Gréât film clips

[@pamczech5984]

I remember on Garfield Goose they had hobbies and Fraser Thomas and his family took a trip to England and was showing the place where king arthor of the round table was supposed to have lived I barely remember it they show this rock on the ground with a name plate on it talking about king arthor

[@a1wireless1964]

The only Bozo for me is Bob Bell, also you knew it was officially Christmas in Chicago when you saw these air on WGN, and you went down to watch the massive window unveiling at Marshall Field's the famous Christmas window displays and visit the toy department check out the giant tree in the Walnut Room

[@missirritated4872]

What a great little channel I found tonight! Blessings from Indiana

[@ronz101]

I watched your video all the way through before commenting: I had no idea this was all tied toghther however loosely. I do remember the cartoon presentations in local programming here in Baltimore in the early to mid 1950's. Stu Kerr and Royal Parker did a lot of Kid's shows here and it is from those programs my memories of these cartoons evolve. Thanks for your contributions.

[@33Donner77]

Thanks for the history. The Garfield Goose show also had Russian cartoons that can be found on KZbin. When I contacted WGN about the early Russian cartoons, they had no knowledge of them.

[@williammielenz3752]

A waiting list more than a decade for tickets to the circus

[@Mark.G475]

So when my neighbors finally got there tickets the kids were 17, and no way we're they going on the show in 1971. I was in 1st grade in Lagrange so... My Mom and went.

[@edjeffreys2296]

These are played on our local network in Pennsylvania since I was a kid

[@shemp308]

I understand your younger then I am. However Hardrock Coco and Joe and Suzy snowflake started on Garfield Goose and friends. In addition Cuddly dudly started out on Ray Rayner. And your right on two things it does bring a tear to the eyes and that I and my family would wait to see Hardrock Coco and Joe and Suzy snowflake every year. To us and many other Christians season didn't start before we seen them! And in some ways it still doesn't to this day!

[@debbiesimane710]

Good memories

[@aberj]

Man that was super cool that you got a chance to go! Thank you for posting this.

[@susanadams7704]

Also very popular in and around Johnstown PA

[@rubrumlily]

Love this grew up to these

[@rmelcornelious8847]

OMG 😂I remember ALL OF THESE from GARFIELD GOOSE AND FRIENDS, THE RAY RAYNER SHOW, then BOZO's 🎪

[@ul7185]

Cuddly Dudley’s First Episode of The Bozo Show (1981) (American Circus Day Special)

[@ul7185]

0:35 The Bozo Show Version Of Cuddly Dudley

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

Wah Chang also made the dreaded 'Zanti Misfits' for 'The Outer Limits' as well, You over looked that.

[@josephbennett3482]

You failed to mention that these Christmas short films first appeared on WJAC-TV here in Johnstown PA and then later in Chicago at a later time , they're still shown to this day every Christmas season starting thanksgiving and going all the way till January. The cartoons are the most beloved cartoons here and when the radio station and news station starts playing the songs that's one way everyone knows that the holiday season has arrived.

[@Mark.G475]

How do know when local TV station started showing them?

[@josephbennett3482]

@@Mark.G475 they announce when they will start broadcasting them , the first one is usually either Later Thanksgiving Day around the night time news segment or start them the next day on Black Friday at 5 pm

[@Mark.G475]

@@josephbennett3482 ok, I thought you meant the year they first appeared on the two channels. Example - WGN Chicago 1958

[@josephbennett3482]

@@Mark.G475 it aired first here in johnstown on our WJAC-TV news back in 1951 and then on Chicago's news station several years later , it has been a massive hit ever since and every single one of them are shown every day during the holiday season.

[@Mark.G475]

@@josephbennett3482 cool, your on top of it. I grew up in Chicago land, western suburb Hinsdale in the 1970s. Thanks for the answers. Cheers From Milwaukee

[@Mark.G475]

Cuddle Duddly was on Ray Rayner, I think not Bozo. I lived in La grange and Hinsdale in the 1970s.

[@MovieManEric]

Cuddly Duddly started out on Ray Rayner, but moved over to the Bozo Show in the 80s, which is where I saw him as a lad.

[@Mark.G475]

@@MovieManEric 1960s and 1970s classic Bozo!! I was on the show in 1971 or so. Great channel, thanks for replying. Mark in Milwaukee 🍻

[@barbaragdisis4606]

@@MovieManEric cuddly was my best Xmas gift ever

[@brendawalton5036]

I watched it on Ray Raynor

[@maureencora1]

I Wish They Colorize All Three Xmas Classic.

[@billp3914]

I remember the Bozo show but not the

[@kevindalby520]

You can find two of these on Stormy Weather's "Doo Wop Yule Pop"

[@blpinnow66]

Anyone have this on a Spotify play list. I'd love the audio

[@DB-ck4bj]

is there a suzy snowflake anywhere that's not so distorted? i haven't found it. i know it's old...

[@carolmiles2351]

Ahhhhh.......

[@LauraGeralynKline]

💙🔥💙🎄🎅🎄 #ILoveSuzySnowflakeTapTapTappingOnMyWindowPane

[@JeffWolfhope]

What happens to two of the reindeer in HCJ?Why does no one ask this?!? There are missing reindeer people!

[@bradleycotton3237]

Reindeer games?

[@awalkthrustorms]

Did anyone else think they saw Antonio Banderas at 3:52?

[@foxmolnar6258]

Am I crazy....or was there a third type of commercial jingle about Jack frost type character. in the same style around the same time? a mischevious elf of sorts? I vaguely remember the look but not the song or concept fully. Anyone know?

[@user-mn4kg3jb4j]

Iwas born in the alte

[@georgebalsamo1011]

I'm sure I'll get some flak for this, but I think these shorts should be colorized. Clearance should not be a problem, as the copyrights have expired. This could bring renewed interest in these works, as they would be more appealing to generations accustomed to watching everything in color.

[@michaeltb6276]

Great work! This was informative. I saw the cartoons on WGN via cable in Tennessee in the mid-80s. My cohort always loved the Bozo Show and these cartoons as well.