Jason47's "Days of Our Lives" Christmas Retrospective

Featuring the complete first "Days" Christmas Eve episode from 1965...
clips of every "Days" Christmas since 1983...
and the exclusive scene-by-scenes of this year's Christmas episodes!

Horton Ornament History & Christmas Story History

"Days of Christmas Past": 1965

Here's how "Days of Our Lives" celebrated its first Christmas in Salem, 47 years ago this December!

Episode # 32...12/23/65...Recap:
Alice and Bill discuss his Christmas vacation from medical school, Christmas shopping and shopping for a Christmas tree. Craig brings Christmas gifts for the Hortons. They discuss Julie's gift (a china-silk cheong-seon). Bill opens his gift, which Craig says he got in Manila, Phillippines: a mohogany/ivory chest set; Alice opens her gift: an exquisite, gossamer-wool stole-length scarf; during the gift opening, Marie quietly leaves. Later, in Tom's Office at the hospital, he is listening to Christmas carols from his desk radio as Marie comes in. Tom tells her that he came into the office early because he couldn't stand the Christmas spirit...it reminded him of good times in the past. Marie still feels down, so Tom invites her to join him and Bill in getting the Yule log. Marie declines and leaves. Later, Bill and Tom discuss gifts and they leave to go get a tree. Deck the Halls is playing on the radio as they leave.

Episode # 33...12/24/65...Recap:
At a restaurant in Boston, Craig shows Tony a photograph of the snow in Salem. Tony says it looks like a Christmas card. Craig asks if Tony is coming home for Christmas. Tony says he can't afford it. Craig offers to pay for plane fare as an extra Christmas gift. Tony declines because he believes it's not the best idea right now. Craig insists that he not spend Christmas alone. Tony says he has a lot of work, but Craig tells him that Christmas is not for working, but rather for enjoying things that make life worth living...like relaxing with family, visiting friends, spending time with people you care about. Meanwhile, back in Salem in the Horton Living Room, Alice is putting the finishing touches to the decorated Christmas tree. She and Barbara discuss wrapping Christmas presents. Later, Mickey enters with half a dozen or more Christmas gifts. He offers to help Alice with Christmas tree decorating and expresses how beautiful the tree is. Below is video of that exact scene, featuring the first-ever look at a Horton Christmas tree...

This script page from the special 2001 Christmas episode details a portion of episode # 33, which was scheduled to air on December 23, but due to a preemption, aired on December 24, 1965:


Here is that scene from episode # 33, featuring Alice (Frances Reid) and Mickey (John Clarke),
and a first-ever look at the Horton Christmas tree:



The first "Days" Christmas Eve episode, # 34, was scheduled to air on December 24, but due to that same preemption mentioned above, it aired on December 27, 1965. Here is the first page of the script:


"Days of Christmas Past":  
The First Christmas Episode: 1965

Please enjoy watching the first-ever "Days" Christmas episode, featuring Macdonald Carey (Tom), Frances Reid (Alice),
Marie Cheatham (Marie), Dick Colla (Tony), David McLean (Craig) and Frances Spanier (Lil).

Part One


Part Two


Part Three

Frances Reid remembers the above scene (in color!) on the special Christmas 2001 episode,
followed by the script page:




"Days of Christmas Past":  1971

 Episode # 1545
Air Date: December 23, 1971

PROLOGUE

In the Horton Living Room, it's the night before Christmas Eve: tree trimming night for the Hortons. Tom comes downstairs with his pipe and notices that he doesn't have tobacco. He sees his family assembled in the living room and is filled with pride. Tom heads to his study where Sandy is using Tom's medical books to study. She talks to him about learning all this stuff...how impossible it is. He tells her that she's the fourth generation of Hortons to say the same words. He tells her that his father was a doctor too and tells her that it's his desk. They talk about Sandy being so busy and even busier with her internship to start in July. They have a proud moment as Alice calls everyone to the living room. Mickey enters from the front door and is greeted by Bill and Tommy. Tom comes from the study with his pipe lit. Tom feels old seeing his grown sons. Alice tells him that they are going to get the tree. Tom mocks that he used to get the tree and feels older now that his sons are going to do that job. She tells him that she needs him at the house. They all go to the living room discussing which type of tree to get: table-top, metal tree- pink, purple or even plastic? Alice says that she wants a real green tree. Bills jokes about getting a good deal on a tall tree and they just have to cut a hole in the ceiling. Alice jokes about getting Tom out of "tree retirement." Tommy tells his dad to watch out for Alice spiking the punch bowl.  She tells him she better not catch any one of them spiking the punch! The Horton boys leave to get the tree. Alice and Tom put their arms around each other and talk about being happy that their sons are here for Christmas.

ACT ONE:

Tom plugs in the Christmas tree lights. Marie, Addie and Alice bring in the last boxes of ornaments. Alice spreads out a tree skirt for the tree. Marie gets the tree stand. Tom makes a comment about the lights looking like a bunch of snakes and then he looks at Marie (who helped him uncoil the lights). Marie hands him the stand. He jiggles the stand and doesn't know what to do with it so he puts it down. Marie and Alice are opening the boxes and see dust. One box has the tinsel. Addie opens another box and finds the Horton ornaments that Grandma Horton made for everyone just before she died. All gather around the box, looking at the ornaments for the family. Each ornament has a name: Tom, Alice, Mickey, Tommy, Addie, Bill and Marie. Marie, Addie, Tom and Alice are remembering Grandma Horton. Addie says that she used to tell her, "pretty is as pretty does." Alice remembers her working on the ornaments even with her failing eyesight. Addie tells Marie that she was a tomboy, climbing trees. Addie remembers Ben, who told her that he married her because she reminded him of Grandma. Alice wishes Steven could have made it to Salem. Addie does too. Alice points out that she has Julie and her family here. They stare at the ornaments: Mickey's then Tom's then Bill's. Marie talks about the time that she and Bill went to the roof to clean it for Santa and had to call the fire department. Addie recalls the time she was a Christmas angel and Tommy hid the wings behind the fireplace and Tom decided to have a fire in the fireplace that night. They look at each other as the Horton men come back with the tree. Alice sees the tree and thinks it's the most beautiful tree ever. Tommy says that she says that every year. She tells the boys where she wants it. Alice goes and gets some water for the tree stand. Marie and Addie open more boxes of ornaments. Tom comments that it took them a long time to come back with the tree. Mickey says it wasn't the tree that took a long time, it was finding a liquor store that was open. They all smile.  

ACT TWO 

The boys are trying to level the tree. They comment about the women vanishing as there's work to be done. Tommy says that they went to the kitchen to make sandwiches. He then asks Mickey what time Laura and Mike are showing up. Mickey says that it should be any time now. They talk about Mike's wish for a motor scooter and Laura's objections. Mickey says maybe Mike can get it for his birthday. They talk about Julie, Scott and David being late because of last minute shopping. Tom enters the room with some popcorn. They talk about perfect timing and spiking the punch. When the doorbell rings, Bill goes to get it: it's Laura and Mike. They have a "moment." Mike wishes Uncle Bill a Merry Christmas. They hear the men in the living room laughing and Mike runs into the living room as Bill and Laura stay by the door. Laura asks about everyone being here and Bill tells her that Julie will be late. She notices the gifts in the hallway and Bill tells her to take them to her place. She asks why he doesn't come over Christmas Day? He says he thinks that he won't be able to make it. Laura now notices that he doesn't want to be at her home with Mickey there. Laura tells him that he should give his godson, Michael, his present. Bill thanks her and they go to the living room.

ACT THREE 

Laura and Bill walk into the living room as Mike is giving his opinion on the lopsided tree. Mickey embraces Laura. Mike mentions how lovely they were when he gave them the mistletoe. Bill is watching them as Mike makes these comments. Addie, Marie and Sandy enter the living room. Sandy also comments on the tree being lopsided. Mike asks who is putting up the lights? They all look at Tom, who tells everyone that Marie's the expert. The Hortons all get into the ornament boxes and start trimming the tree. Laura asks about Alice and Addie tells her that she's in the kitchen guarding the punch bowl. 

In the Horton Kitchen, Alice is putting the finishing touches on the sandwiches as Laura enters. Alice tells her that she's too late to help. Alice says that she had too much help and she asks Laura if they have started on the tree trimming. Laura says that they have. Alice asks Laura about her and Mickey's New Year's Eve anniversary. She asks if she can throw them a party. Laura thinks that's very considerate of her but she thinks they should have a low key celebration. Alice expected this answer and tells her maybe next year.

Mike and Bill go to the hallway. Bill gives Mike his Christmas present. He tells him that he wont be about to come to his house for Christmas. Mike is sad and questions him as to why? Mike tries to get him to change his mind by telling him that he picked out a great present for him. He's sad but thanks him for his gift. Bill stares at his son and asks for a Christmas hug. Laura sees this tender moment between father and son.

ACT FOUR

Some time has passed and the tree is half decorated. Alice and Tom are in the foreground, with Bill, Mickey, Laura, Tommy, Sandy, Marie, Addie, and Michael behind. As Alice holds the box with the special ornaments, we feel the beauty of this moment. Each Horton will step forward individually to select his or her ornament and hang it on the Christmas tree. Alice asks everyone to remember Grandma Horton. Tom hugs Alice. She calls out Mickey's name and he comes to get his ornament and hangs it on the tree. He kisses Alice and puts his arms around Laura. Addie steps forward as Alice call her. She selects her ornament and hangs it. She thanks her parents for letting her come home again. Tommy picks out his ornament. He thanks them for sharing their lives with him and his daughter. He goes to Alice and kisses her on the cheek. Tommy looks at Sandy as she moves close to him. Alice gets emotional. Tom calls out Marie's name. She goes up to hang her ornament. She looks at Tom and Alice and touches Alice softly on the cheek. She says that she's truly blessed. Alice calls Bill. He hangs his ornament up and looks at his parents. He thanks them for putting up with him for another year. Tom tells Alice it's her turn. Alice selects her ornament and hangs it, as Tom hangs his at the same time. Tom then lightly kisses Alice as there is a moment of lovely silence, then the children applaud. Individual shots: Mickey, Laura and Michael; Tommy and Sandy; Marie and Addie side-by-side; only Bill is alone. Now Alice, dabbing at her eyes, goes to a box she's put aside, and holds it facing all the Hortons. Alice opens the box to other ornaments that she has made for the rest of the family. All crowd forward to look. A tight shot of the box is shown: Alice has made ornaments for all those who don't have them: Laura, Sandy, Michael, Julie, Scott, David, Doug, etc. "Ooohs" and "ahhs" are heard from all. Alice calls for Laura to hang her ornament. She tells Alice what a beautiful thought and kisses her. Alice next calls Sandy. Sandy takes her ornament, and with tears in her eyes, looks at Alice and hangs her ornament as Tommy watches. Alice then calls Michael's name. He says "Boy, Grandma. Thanks!" As Mike is hanging his ornament, Bill and Laura are shown looking proud. Tom takes the box and puts the other ornaments aside until the others get there.  He stands next to Alice to admire the tree.

Alice gives a speech: "The ornaments Tom's mother made for us and for our children, they have, though the years, become a very special part of our Christmas. I hope and pray the ones I've made will live on and on, for future generations. And that at this time of year, for one magic moment, you will always share a memory of love...and togetherness."

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
        



December 22, 2009 Soap Opera Weekly: Happy HoliDays


Thanks for all the Christmas memories, Mac & Frances!