Do you earn coal or kudos for Christmas movie test?

   I’ve been in the Christmas mood since I drove past Seneca Falls in early November, then discovered my oldies radio station already had switched to holiday music.

   Seneca Falls is no Potterville. It prides itself on hosting the annual It’s A Wonderful Life Festival and bills itself as an inspiration for the endearing Christmas movie.

    Last year, I tested you on your knowledge of Christmas music, but I used a movie theme to score it. You could rate yourself on A Christmas Story scale, from a miserable “shooting yourself in the eye’’ up to an excellent “the Red Ryder BB Gun is under your tree.’’

   This year, I’m questioning you on Christmas movies with a musical scoring basis. The Mariah Carey scale awaits you at the conclusion. Here goes:

BLACK AND WHITE DIVISION
  1946 – It’s A Wonderful Life
1. Why didn’t George Bailey serve in World War II?

2. Karolyn Grimes, the actress who played George’s youngest daughter, attends the festival each year. What role did she play?

3. When George comprehends that he was never born, he goes searching for Mary. Where did she work?

4. In the climactic scene, George opens a gift from his guardian angel, Clarence.  What was the title of the book?

1947—Miracle on 34^th Street

5. She starred later in West Side Story as Maria. Who played Susan Walker in Miracle?

6. Why did actor Edmund Gwenn get the role of Kris Kringle in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade?

7. The mail sorter at the post office sends bags of mail to Kris Kringle at the courthouse. He appeared in TV as Chico and The Man, a grandfather in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, and The Sunshine Boys on Broadway. Name him.

1951 – A Christmas Carol
8. This British actor played in more than 50 films but is best remembered as Ebeneezer Scrooge. Name him.

TV SPECIALS

1964 – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
9. Why was the Abominable Snowman so abominable?

1965 – A Charlie Brown Christmas

10. What Christmas carol does the Peanuts gang sing at the conclusion?

11. Name the jazz pianist who composed the music for this TV special.

1966 – How The Grinch Stole Christmas

12. Who was the horror film star who narrated this animated tale?

1969 – Frosty the Snowman

 13. How did Frosty come to life?

THE COLOR ERA
1983 — A Christmas Story

  14.  When Ralphie’s father unboxes the lamp leg adorned with a fishnet stocking, he exclaims “fra-gee-lay.’’ Finish the quote.

  15. Ralphie gets his mouth washed out with soap for swearing? From whom did he learn the curse word?

1989 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

16. This older brother, who played cousin Eddie, convinced his younger brother Dennis to pursue acting. Name cousin Eddie.

1990 – Home Alone

17. Where is the McCallister family planning to spend Christmas when Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is left at home?
18. What is the nickname of the pair of burglars who try to break into the McCallisters’ home?

1994 – The Santa Clause

19. Why must Scott Calvin, played by Tim Allen, take over the role of Santa Claus?

1996 – Jingle All The Way

20. Two rival fathers try to buy the last action figure before Christmas. Which former bodybuilder starred?

2000 – How The Grinch Stole Christmas

21. Comedian Jim Carrey played the title role and Anthony Hopkins narrated. What former childhood star directed?

2003—Elf

22.   Can you name three of the four main food groups for elves?

23. Which department store does Buddy get a job at?

24. What actor from the The Godfather played Buddy’s father?

 2004 – Polar Express

 25. What time did the Polar Express arrive at the boy’s house?

ANSWER KEY

1. The draft board passed on George Bailey because he was deaf in one ear.
2. Zuzu.
3. The Potterville Library.
4. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
5. Natalie Wood.
6. He subbed on a float for a drunken Santa.
7. Jack Albertson, winner of a Tony, Oscar and Emmy.
8. Alastair Sim
9. It suffered from a severe toothache.
10. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
11. Vince Guaraldi
12. He donned a magician’s hat.
13. Boris Karloff
14. “It must be Italian!”
15. His father, played by Darren McGavin
16. Randy Quaid
17. Paris
18. The “Wet Bandits”
19. Santa Claus dies after falling off his roof.
20. Arnold Schwarzenegger
21. Ronnie Howard from The Andy Griffith Show
22. Candy, candy corn, candy canes and syrup
23. Gimbels
24. James Caan
25. Midnight

SCORE YOURSELF ON THE MARIAH CAREY RUBRIC
12 or lower: “I don’t want a lot for Christmas’’ because you didn’t earn much

13-16 correct: “Underneath the Christmas tree’’ you might find a few things

16-20 correct: You are making a “wish come true’’

21 or more: “All I want for Christmas is you’’ and you achieved it

            Morristown native Jim Holleran is a retired teacher and sports editor from Rochester. Reach him at jimholleran29@gmail.com or view past columns under “Reflections of River Rat’’ at https://hollerangetsitwrite.com/blog/