WBBM Channel 2 - A Merry Olde Christmas (Part 2, 1984)

Here's Part 2 of A Merry Olde Christmas, a look at Christmas celebrations in and around London, England that was hosted by Bob Wallace and aired on WBBM Channel 2. From the original master tape. Includes:

"We now return to A Merry Olde Christmas" bumper (voiceover by ??)

Shots of double-decker buses passing by London streets, traffic travelling on two-way streets whose directions are the reverse of U.S. streets, police "bobbies," pigeons in Hyde Park and a pageant parade in and around Buckingham Palace which represent London for most of the year.

This leads to shots of various London churches ringing Christmas bells, Bob walking the streets among the crowd, Christmas displays and children looking at the various toys inside the windows.

Various children are interviewed about their favorite aspects of Christmas, and their answers range from getting off school to getting presents (notice one interviewee wanting a Cabbage Patch Doll). Another child is asked about his favorite Christmas memories.

More shots of window displays of Christmas toys (including what appears to be a replication of a scene from the Disney cartoon "101 Dalmations"), local department stores, crowds of people on the streets, children transfixed by the window displays, and street vendors (or "grafters") selling sheets of wrapping paper.

Bob at the Covent Garden marketplace, where various festivities from Henry Birch's Christmas Fun Fair ("Opens 7th-23rd Dec. - Daily 11am-10pm") are shown including a ride resembling a smaller Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, Christmas balloons, flower displays (upon which Bob cites the "My Fair Lady" story and the Eliza Doolittle character's Covent Garden base), and old-fashioned handmade wooden toys. One fairgoer explains the appeal of such toys ("they last for years") as opposed to the more modern battery-operated variety. Bob samples hot chestnuts that are sold. A Punch-and-Judy puppet show which enchants children closes out this segment.

Next is a segment from Harrod's, "England's most famous department store," which is lit for the holidays with 11,000 light bulbs (or was then; these days, they're probably LED's ;-) ). Scenes from among the three giant rooms of their Toy Kingdom are shown, including Bob next to a rocking horse whose size is roughly the same as the real variety; then we see him sampling the marbles that are sold, showing us a small gasoline-powered Volkswagen convertible with its own caravan (the British terminology for what he called a "camping trailer," and which these days would be called a recreational vehicle or RV), a TV screen showing "Thomas the Tank Engine" which, in toy form, will be below many a Christmas tree (funny to think of Thomas as only being a British phenomenon), and a department-store Santa Claus (with a British accent, and called "Father Christmas") meeting and greeting children.

Then we go to Dunn's Bake Shop where Christmas puddings and cakes, chocolate Santas, and other goodies are sold, with Bob perusing them all. Scenes of such mouth-watering delicacies being made in the kitchen are shown, including the making of a Christmas cake with flaked almonds and of Father Christmas mince pies with raisins, sugar, brandy, beef suet, lemons and other assorted fruits, and Bob interviewing the respective chefs who make each of these treats. In the course of this, Bob explains the history of mince pies and the Christmas holiday traditions associated therewith.

Bob then segues to the preparations of Christmas turkey (courtesy of Norfolk farms) for serving at many a dinner table (with brief references to pheasant and goose). One of the turkey preparers is interviewed.

This leads into a shot of people dressed in 19th-century attire of the time of Charles Dickens, going off in a horse-drawn carriage at night from Dickens' old home to a local church where a performance of his "A Christmas Carol" is given.

"We'll return to our program after these messages" bumper (voiceover by ??)

This aired on local Chicago TV on Saturday, December 22nd 1984 during the 6:30pm to 7pm timeframe.

The program was also aired twice more; on Saturday, December 14th 1985 at 6:30pm and Saturday, December 13th 1986 at 12:00 Noon.

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