Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Frosty . . .You know them and probably love them. Names that are synonymous with Christmas entertainment. We travel back to December 12th, 1969, when the CBS television network aired the oddest and creepiest Christmas themed special of all time.
No. Not that one.
Creepy? Yes. But we're talk'n about . . .
CBS took flack. The show's lone sponsor, General Foods, took flack. Singer Roberta Flack took flack. . . and she didn't even appear in the special. The backlash, which was predictable and inevitable caused heads to roll. The Zodiac Christmas Special aired only once and has since disappeared from all media outlets. Impossible to see unless you have a time machine. Like us.
Here is the gun down:
The special begins on snowy outdoor set. Gentile piano music plays. The sound of laughter is in the air. Two children, dressed warmly, are putting the finishing touches on a snowman. Their mother calls them in for dinner. The camera dollies around from the back of the snowman to reveal that the children were making a Zodiac Killer snowman.
The credits begin as ciphers that transform into the star's names.
The Zodiac dancers, twelve curvaceous ladies with glistening smiles, appear in the opening and closing musical numbers.
Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks fame, sings "All I Want for Christmas is a Cipher from You"
Comedian Avery Schreiber introduces the AP All-America Football team.
Edgar Buchannan appears as his character, Uncle Joe Carson, from Petticoat Junction, sitting in a rocking chair on the Shady Rest hotel front porch reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks fame, sings "All I Want for Christmas is a Cipher from You"
Comedian Avery Schreiber introduces the AP All-America Football team.
Edgar Buchannan appears as his character, Uncle Joe Carson, from Petticoat Junction, sitting in a rocking chair on the Shady Rest hotel front porch reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
A young Zodiac tells a befuddled Santa what he wants for Christmas.
A decoding expert from the US Army breaks down and solves a special holiday cipher from the Zodiac.
This is the Zodiac speaking. I've decided to take some time off from hunting and killing people to send a message of peace and love. This is my favorite time of the year. The crispness in the air, the lights and decorations, a joyful spirit exuding from all and the Sears Christmass Book. I ordered a Pro Style toboggan, a deluxe decorator vanity and a new hunting rifle - I couldn't resist.
Zodiac: 4 Santa: 0
It is unknown if the real Zodiac killer watched his special.
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