I shared this picture about ten years back! I see it is making the rounds again on social media

Sunday 🎨

General Electric signage circa 1964

GE financed all of the Rankin/Bass TV specials under their entertainment division, known as Tomorrow Entertainment.  This signage is circa when GE sponsored Return to Oz and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 

THANKSGIVING is....

SMOKEY BEAR DAY ON NBC!
 

http://metronews.ca/scene/1230872/rudolph-christmas-special-celebrates-50-years/

RANKIN/BASS' THE BALLAD OF SMOKEY THE BEAR aired on Thanksgiving day 1966

c. 1966 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES

THE GENERAL ELECTRIC FANTASY HOUR

RANKIN/BASS began their long run of TV Specials on THE GENERAL ELECTRIC FANTASY HOUR with RETURN TO OZ in 1964, followed by RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER and then THE BALLAD OF SMOKEY THE BEAR in 1966. It is wonderful to view these programs as they appeared originally on NBC!

RANKIN/BASS' RETURN TO OZ February 1965 Ads

Love these! THANKS Dale!

Original end credits c. 1964 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES

R/B PACKAGE!

A few RUDOLPH treasures

Alfie Scopp (Charlie-in-the-box)

Paul Soles (Hermey The Elf)

Larry D. Mann (Yukon Cornelius)

RANKIN/BASS' THE BALLAD OF SMOKEY THE BEAR (1966)

One of our favorites!

c. 1966 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES

RANKIN/BASS' RETURN TO OZ

c. 1964 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

What a Voice! Back to Susan Morse....

RANKIN/BASS' RETURN TO OZ premiered on NBC's THE GENERAL ELECTRIC FANTASY HOUR in February of 1964. It was the first RANKIN/BASS TV Special Produced in a long line of TV Specials. I have Romeo Muller's original script for this special in my collection. I had no idea that the wonderful signing voice of Dorothy in the special was different than the speaking voice of Susan Conway Mitchell. Susan Morse did the singing for Dorothy and it is something to hear! The special is available on DVD from www.amazon.com and I recommend it! GREAT quality and a great cover too.

Susan and her Mom in Chicago. She was touring with the SOUND OF MUSIC shortly before she landed the signing gig for RANKIN/BASS' RETURN TO OZ! It is unfortunate that this performance went un-credited until now :)

c. 1964 RANKIN/BASS PRODUCTIONS/RICK GOLDSCHMIDT ARCHIVES

We have both the 1964 and 1967 versions with commercials.