The Town Santa Forgot
Encyclopedia
The Town Santa Forgot is an animated television special produced by Hanna-Barbera
in 1993, narrated by Dick Van Dyke
and originally broadcast on NBC
. It is an adaptation of the poem Jeremy Creek, written by Charmaine Severson. Since then, it was frequently shown in Christmas marathons on Cartoon Network
until 2005, and is still shown annually on Boomerang
. It was also released on VHS in 1996 and featured on In2TV
in 2006.
, thinking only of the toys that he'll bring them. The grandfather sits down and tells them the main story. The story is of Jeremy Creek, a boy who knows nothing but greed. He throws temper tantrums any time he sees what he wants, and he wants everything he sees. After many complaints and a huge crack in the wall, Jeremy's mother and father inform him that he will get no more toys from them. Jeremy goes to his room and plays with the thousands of toys he already owns. He comes to a realization: If his parents wouldn't get him the toys, then he should ask Santa Claus
instead. With a red crayon and papers taped together to form a list half a mile long, Jeremy writes every toy he can think of on the list. He finishes and mails it in June and waits for Christmas
to come. July, August, and September pass, and he remains in his room waiting and waiting. By now, Santa has received the letter and, through his wisdom, believes the half-mile list has to come from a town, for no one boy could possibly want so much. So, looking at a Church-sized map, he and the elves look all over the world for the town of "Jeremy Creek." One elf finds it, and noted it wasn't on his route. Feeling guilty, Santa orders everything on the list, one for each boy and girl in the little forgotten town.
Halloween
and Thanksgiving
pass, and soon it is Christmas Eve
. When night falls, Jeremy goes up on the roof of his house and waits for Santa to arrive. Santa eventually comes, but Jeremy is devastated when Santa passes by him without stopping at his house, and he cries himself to sleep. When he awakens the next morning, he witnesses a report on television
stating that Santa Claus has brought holiday cheer to a swamp town that happens to share the same name as him. At first, Jeremy is resentful that the kids in this town got the toys he wanted, but when the kids on the TV state that they'd like to give a thank-you to whoever wrote to Santa telling him to visit their town, his cold heart melts and he realizes that this accidental good deed of his makes him feel better than any present ever could.
Immediately following Jeremy's newfound change of heart, Santa appears in a small size, telling him that he's come to grant the swamp town's hero whatever he wants. Jeremy replies that he doesn't really want anything, for he has learned that it is better to give than to receive. In the end, Santa makes Jeremy his assistant for helping him deliver Christmas presents, a task he lovingly accepts and continues to perform until he outgrows his seat in Santa's sleigh. Outside of Christmas, Jeremy becomes a more caring boy, sharing his toys with his neighbors. The special closes with the narrator and his grandkids, who have taken the story to heart and now don't care what they get from Santa. The old man then tells them that every few Christmases, Santa still picks out a little boy or girl to assist him in his annual journey. On the very last shot, some snow falls off the old man's mailbox to reveal the name "J. Creek", implying that the old man telling the story to his grandkids was actually Jeremy Creek.
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
in 1993, narrated by Dick Van Dyke
Dick Van Dyke
Richard Wayne "Dick" Van Dyke is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer with a career spanning six decades. He is the older brother of Jerry Van Dyke, and father of Barry Van Dyke...
and originally broadcast on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. It is an adaptation of the poem Jeremy Creek, written by Charmaine Severson. Since then, it was frequently shown in Christmas marathons on Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
until 2005, and is still shown annually on Boomerang
Boomerang (TV channel)
Boomerang is a 24-hour American cable television channel owned by Turner Broadcasting System, a division of Time Warner. Boomerang specializes in reruns of animated programming from Time Warner's extensive archives, including pre-1986 MGM, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises...
. It was also released on VHS in 1996 and featured on In2TV
In2TV
In2TV was a website offering ad-supported streaming video of classic TV shows in the USA only .The main appeal of the service was that it made available numerous old shows which were rarely, if ever, aired on broadcast television...
in 2006.
Plot
The special opens with a framing device focusing on an old man and his two grandkids. The grandkids are anxious for Santa ClausSanta Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
, thinking only of the toys that he'll bring them. The grandfather sits down and tells them the main story. The story is of Jeremy Creek, a boy who knows nothing but greed. He throws temper tantrums any time he sees what he wants, and he wants everything he sees. After many complaints and a huge crack in the wall, Jeremy's mother and father inform him that he will get no more toys from them. Jeremy goes to his room and plays with the thousands of toys he already owns. He comes to a realization: If his parents wouldn't get him the toys, then he should ask Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
instead. With a red crayon and papers taped together to form a list half a mile long, Jeremy writes every toy he can think of on the list. He finishes and mails it in June and waits for Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
to come. July, August, and September pass, and he remains in his room waiting and waiting. By now, Santa has received the letter and, through his wisdom, believes the half-mile list has to come from a town, for no one boy could possibly want so much. So, looking at a Church-sized map, he and the elves look all over the world for the town of "Jeremy Creek." One elf finds it, and noted it wasn't on his route. Feeling guilty, Santa orders everything on the list, one for each boy and girl in the little forgotten town.
Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
and Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
pass, and soon it is Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
. When night falls, Jeremy goes up on the roof of his house and waits for Santa to arrive. Santa eventually comes, but Jeremy is devastated when Santa passes by him without stopping at his house, and he cries himself to sleep. When he awakens the next morning, he witnesses a report on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
stating that Santa Claus has brought holiday cheer to a swamp town that happens to share the same name as him. At first, Jeremy is resentful that the kids in this town got the toys he wanted, but when the kids on the TV state that they'd like to give a thank-you to whoever wrote to Santa telling him to visit their town, his cold heart melts and he realizes that this accidental good deed of his makes him feel better than any present ever could.
Immediately following Jeremy's newfound change of heart, Santa appears in a small size, telling him that he's come to grant the swamp town's hero whatever he wants. Jeremy replies that he doesn't really want anything, for he has learned that it is better to give than to receive. In the end, Santa makes Jeremy his assistant for helping him deliver Christmas presents, a task he lovingly accepts and continues to perform until he outgrows his seat in Santa's sleigh. Outside of Christmas, Jeremy becomes a more caring boy, sharing his toys with his neighbors. The special closes with the narrator and his grandkids, who have taken the story to heart and now don't care what they get from Santa. The old man then tells them that every few Christmases, Santa still picks out a little boy or girl to assist him in his annual journey. On the very last shot, some snow falls off the old man's mailbox to reveal the name "J. Creek", implying that the old man telling the story to his grandkids was actually Jeremy Creek.