Dr. Suess’s classic ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ has been a staple of holiday television, and for almost 55 years, and has remained there, despite two full remake movies. How did a curmudgeony green mountain creature that hates everyone find his way into the heart of the Christmas season and stay there for half a century? Let’s talk a little about the history of the Grinch.
Back in 1955 the Grinch made his first appearance in a women’s magazine called “Redbook.” It was a 32-line poem by, Theodor Seuss Geisel, called “The Hoobub and the Grinch.” Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, published ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ with Random House in 1957.
in 1966, Chuck Jones directed and co-produced an animated version of ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ It is based on the book. They added the Grinch’s green color, his dog Max, and a slew of super-catchy songs that have become holiday anthems. (Thurl Ravenscroft, aka Tony the Tiger, was the bass vocalist on “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”.)
In 1977, a Halloween prequel titled Halloween Is Grinch Night aired with the Grinch voiced by Hans Conried.
The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat television special crossover was released in 1982.
In 2000, the infamous live-action feature film starring Jim Carrey hit theaters. The film, directed by Ron Howard, grossed over $345 million worldwide. This year also saw the release of an atrocious video game called ‘The Grinch’.
In Hollywood decided we needed another remake, so we got a computer-animated film starring Benedict Cumberbatch, called ‘The Grinch’. This one grossed $511.8 million worldwide, and only cost Illumination Studios $75 million to make.
Then in 2020, ‘Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical Live!’ became a thing. A live television musical adaptation of the story with Matthew Morrison as the title character.
67 years the Grinch has been a part of holiday pop culture, and it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere.
What’s your favorite version of the Grinch’s story?
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