This informative post will be posted on Saturday along with my usual writing.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

The 22nd and 24th U.S. President had the same parents, but they were not brothers.  How could this be?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

Today’s post features six of my favorite Christmas movies.  They will be listed in chronological order from the oldest to the most recent.  If you feel like sharing your favorite Christmas movie, please leave a comment for other readers to see.  Merry Christmas!

“It’s a Wonderful Life”  (1946)

Starring:  James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore

An angel was summoned to save George Bailey, a frustrated businessman.  The director was Frank Capra, and this film was one of his favorites.  The screenplay was based upon a short story, “The Greatest Gift.”

“Miracle on 34th Street”  (1947)

Starring:  Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, John Payne

The setting was New York City, and Macy’s Department Store became the center of much of the film’s story.  A very young Natalie Wood played the six year-old daughter.  Of course, Santa stole the show in the end.  

“Holiday Affair”  (1949)

Starring:  Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey

This romantic-comedy followed the life of a young widow and her son as she must choose between her “boring” attorney and a down on his luck vagabond.  The screenplay was based upon the story, “Christmas Gift.”

“White Christmas”  (1954)

Starring:  Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen

A successful song and dance duo assisted two sisters in saving a failing Vermont Inn as Christmas approaches without any snow on the ground.  Bing Crosby sang the classic Irving Berlin song of “White Christmas” as the film’s finale, but he had previously sung the song in two other films:  “Holiday Inn” (1942) and “Blue Skies” (1946).

“A Charlie Brown Christmas”  (1965)

This made for TV movie was the first attempt of cartoonist George Schulz to bring his characters to life on the silver screen.  Most of the children’s voices were those of real children.  

“The Christmas Card”  (2006)

Starring:  Ed Asner, John Newton, Alice Evans, Lois Nettleton

This modern-day Hallmark movie brought an American soldier to a small town, guided by an inspirational Christmas card.  The movie was filmed on location in Nevada City, California and Park City, Utah.  

Below are single images from each film (courtesy of Pinterest).  Starting from the left and going clockwise:  Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart, Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood, Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum, Bing Crosby joined by Rosemary Clooney with Vera-Ellen and Danny Kaye, the Peanuts cast, and John Newton and Ed Asner.

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

They were the same man–Grover Cleveland, the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms.