Being that the holidays are right around the corner, I will continue in my yearslong quest to prove that I’m not really a Grinch by sharing with you some photos of a trip I took to the Grinch exhibit (Ironic, isn’t it?) at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, NY.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas! is a 1966 animated TV special directed by legendary animator Chuck Jones. You might know that I am a huge fan of animation and cartooning (I dabble in it myself) so getting to see behind-the-scenes of this production by the co-creator of Bugs Bunny was not to be missed!
Original Grinch TV Guide ad from December 17th, 1966
The animated special was based on the 1957 children’s book of the same title by Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss.) pictured above with director Chuck Jones and Boris Karloff, the voice actor who portrayed the Grinch and also did the narration. You might recognize Karloff from his most famous role, as the creature in the 1931 film Frankenstein.
Just don’t call him Frankie
Fantastic rough pencil sketches
Looks like there’s gonna be rumble in Whoville tonight!
A wonderful sequence of animation cels
He might look evil, but the Grinch hopes you have a wonderful holiday!
So there you have it! I think you should put this animated special on your watch list this holiday season, I promise it’ll make your heart grow with Christmas spirit!
“And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say – that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!”
Hey there! I’m Mike, an indie artist and writer. Check out my books or my store! Or just peruse my portfolio. Thanks for hanging out!
Continuing in my efforts to be less Grinchy and more Holly Jolly this month, I wanted to talk to you briefly about Thurl Ravenscroft.
“What or who is Thurl Ravenscroft?” I can hear you saying, “He’s from Lord of the Rings, right? No wait, Game of Thrones! Is it Game of Thrones?”
Nope!
“Is it some sort of Nordic death metal band?”
Negative. Although…
You might be on to something there.
The Thurl Ravenscroft I’m referring to was a singer and a voice actor who might best be known(or maybe not) for singing the classic “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from the 1966 TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
This song really hit me, because I too have garlic in my soul. I should probably have that checked out.
After a recent viewing, I was shocked to learn that Thurl wasn’t credited in the animated special.
Did they expect us to believe that the narrator, Boris Karloff, provided the vocals?
Dr. Seuss himself felt terrible about the situation and later tried to remedy it with a letter-writing campaign to various influencers of the day, giving credit to Thurl.
I imagine it went something like this:
While doing my brief bit of research I’ve found that people have been asking Google this question: “Did James Earl Jones sing the Grinch?”
That’s a pretty good guess. But no, James Earl Jones did not sing the Grinch, it was Thurl Ravenscroft.
If only there was some way this confusion could have been avoided from the start.
While you’re still here, let’s take a quick look at the lyrics to “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch”
Verse 1
You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch, you really are a heel
You’re as cuddly as a cactus, as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch! You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel!
Verse 2
You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch, your heart’s an empty hole Your brain is full of spiders, you’ve got garlic in your soul Mr. Grinch.
I wouldn’t touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half-foot pole
Verse 3
You’re a vile one, Mr. Grinch. You have termites in your smile You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch! Given a choice between the two of you… I’d take the seasick crocodile!
Verse 4
You’re a foul one, Mr. Grinch, you’re a nasty wasty skunk Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk Mr. Grinch! The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote:
“Stink, stank, stunk!”
Verse 5
You’re a rotter, Mr. Grinch, you’re the king of sinful sots Your heart’s a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots Mr. Grinch! Your soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable… Mangled up in tangled up knots!
Verse 6
You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch, with a nauseous super “naus”! You’re a crooked dirty jockey and you drive a crooked hoss, Mr. Grinch! You’re a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich… With arsenic sauce!
I love that line about the “three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce”
James Earl Jones grinch. James Earl Jones Mr Grinch. Chuck Jones the Grinch. Doctor Seuss Art. Dr Seuss Artwork. You re a mean one mr grinch lyrics thurl ravenscroft.
M. R. KESSELL 