Original subtitles

[music playing]

- The Quaker Oats Company, makers

of fine foods for the whole family,

presents America's favorite family, the Nelsons:

Ozzie, Harriet, David, and Ricky.

And now, a word about one of the many fine

Quaker products, Quaker Oats and Mother's Oats.

- [VOICEOVER] I wonder what Ozzie would

like for breakfast tomorrow.

This morning, we had peach-blended oatmeal.

You know, sliced peaches blended right

in while the oatmeal cooked?

He loved that.

I know.

I'll try it with applesauce tomorrow.

And now, for that applesauce-blended oatmeal,

I just make our Quaker Oats the regular way.

Then while it cooks, I blend in the applesauce--

one cup for four servings of oatmeal.

And the nice tangy applesauce flavor blends

into every spoonful of the Quaker Oats.

There you are, men, applesauce in your oatmeal.

Good, huh? - Yeah.

How about pineapple?

- Yeah, that's a good idea.

- Or strawberries!

- Sure, we'll try 'em all.

We'll have a different oatmeal breakfast every day.

- Sure, try 'em all.

Delicious fruit-blended oatmeal, made

with nourishing Quaker Oats or Mother's Oats,

the same high-protein oatmeal.

Now, Quaker invites you to enjoy "The Adventures

of Ozzie and Harriet."

- Hi, there.

I hope you're enjoying the Christmas holidays.

We're having a wonderful time here at our house.

- We sure are.

I think the Christmas season is the best time of the year,

anyway.

For one thing, it always brings back such pleasant memories.

I can just close my eyes and see so clearly the little town

back in New Jersey where we spent

so many happy Christmases.

I can see the street where we lived.

It usually snowed around Christmas time,

and somebody always rigged up a horse and sleigh.

And, boy, that really made it seem like Christmas.

There was a friendly hustle and bustle about it, too.

The last-minute rush to get that present over to the friend you

almost forgot.

As you walk down the street, especially

in the early evening, just about every house on our block

seemed to be glistening with brightness, and happiness,

and Christmas hospitality, and good cheer.

- Our show tonight is really a story within a story.

We filmed it six years ago this week.

The scene starts in the den, and the boys

and I are seated around the Christmas tree.

It's the day after Christmas.

- Ho, ho, ho!

Merry Christmas, everybody.

Merry Christmas.

- Haven't you heard, little man?

Christmas is over.

- That's where you're wrong, my boy.

The spirit of Christmas lives all year long.

Ho, ho, ho!

- Ricky's right.

The spirit of Christmas should live all year round.

- Gee, sure was a nice Christmas, wasn't it, Mom?

- Oh, it certainly was.

I think your father made a wonderful Santa Claus, too.

- Yeah, the kids in the neighborhood

sure got a big kick out of him, especially when

he got stuck in the chimney. - [laughs]

- I got quite a boot out of him myself.

Ho, ho, ho, ho!

- Oh, so you were the one, eh?

- Oh, gee, Pop, I didn't know you were there.

- Oh, you got to watch me.

I sneak in on you and you don't know it.

What are you doing there, Harriet?

- Oh, David and I were just finishing the jigsaw puzzle.

- Yeah, there's a big piece of the sky missing, though.

- Oh, now what kind of eyesight do you have?

There it is, right over there.

- Where?

- Well, don't you see it?

There's the black sky with the stars right by the chair.

- Oh, you'd better look again, Dad.

That's a domino.

- Oh!

[laughs] I guess I had too many eggnogs.

- Here it is.

- Oh, look.

Isn't that pretty?

The wise men carrying their gifts

to Bethlehem on the first Christmas.

- Pop? - Yeah?

- How come the wise men were so sure that the Star of Bethlehem

would lead them to the Christ Child?

- Well, they just had faith.

- Where have you been, dear?

We missed you.

- Oh, I was just upstairs in the bedroom,

sitting there by the fire, thinking about some

of the Christmases back in Ridgefield Park when

I was a boy.

- Hey, that reminds me.

I wonder how come we didn't get our presents from Grandma

Nelson?

Think she forgot us?

- Oh, now you know better than that.

Remember they came late last year, too.

- Oh, sure.

Your Grandma Nelson wouldn't forget you at Christmas time.

Have a little faith in her.

Speaking of faith, it reminds me of a Christmas

when I was about your age, Ricky.

And Uncle Al was about your age, Dave.

- Tell us about it, Pop.

- Well, are you sure you'd like to hear it?

It's kind of a long story.

- Oh, sure. - Oh, sure.

- I would.

- Well, as I say it was back in Ridgefield Park

when I was about Ricky's age.

Come to think of it, your Uncle Al and I looked a great deal

like you and Ricky, David.

I remember this particular Christmas,

we were a little disappointed because there was no snow

and we'd gotten skis.

Gee, I can see our home now.

We always had a nice big Christmas

tree, just like this one.

It was always gaily decorated with tinsel and popcorn

and all sorts of shiny Christmas ornaments,

and had a Star of Bethlehem right up on top,

just as our tree does here.

I think the decorations on our tree

back home might have been a little different in those days,

but the spirit of Christmas was just about the same.

We had a nice big living room, and mom always

had it fixed up so homey and nice.

I remember this particular Christmas day,

I was looking through one of those gadgets that

showed stereoptic in slides.

Oh, boy, this is pretty funny.

- Hmm?

- "How Biddy served the tomatoes undressed."

- Let me see that, son.

- I don't know, Pop.

You're pretty young.

- Come on.

Let me see it.

Oh.

[laughs] That's pretty funny.

"How Biddy served the tomatoes undressed."

Oh, what they wouldn't think up next?

- Wow!

Boy!

- Hmm?

What's that, son?

- Niagara Falls!

You want to see it?

- Uh, oh, no thanks.

I've seen Niagara Falls.

- Hi, Pop.

- Oh, hello, Alfred.

- Hi, Oz.

What have you got there?

- Oh, this is a silly little contraption somebody sent me

as a Christmas gift.

It's supposed to be a weather forecasting barometer.

- Oh, yeah, I heard about those.

They're pretty good if they work.

That one work, Pop?

- Oh, I don't imagine so, Alfred.

This looks more like a little toy of some sort.

See, the real instruments they have out at the weather bureau

cost thousands of dollars.

- Doesn't this one work at all?

- Oh, well, I really don't know, but I

don't imagine it's much good.

It might predict something like, oh,

a little colder or warmer or something,

but I think it's mostly a little joke.

Do you want to take it and put it over

on the mantelpiece, Ozzie?

- Yes, sir.

- Do you think it'll ever snow, Pop?

- Oh, I don't know, Alfred.

It's just possible we might go through the whole winter

without any snow.

- I hope not.

If it doesn't snow, we won't get to try out our new skis.

- Oh, that's right.

You fellas got new skis, didn't you?

Well, of course, the weather could change.

- If you boys are going to go play,

you'd better go change your good clothes.

- Oh, hello, Ethel.

The boys are just saying it's a shame there isn't any snow.

- Oh, yes, I was hoping we'd have snow during the holidays.

- Yeah, we've got new skis for Christmas

and there's no snow anywhere.

- Well, we may have some snow later on.

- Hey, look at this barmeter!

- Barometer.

- Whatever it is, it's pointing to snow!

- Hey, yeah, it is, Pop!

Look!

- Uh, boys, I hate to say this--

- Well, then don't, Pop! Look at it!

The barometer's pointing to snow!

- Yeah, it is, Pop!

- Well, look, fellas, I said before, I wouldn't

have too much faith in this.

After all, I'm sure this isn't very accurate.

- Yeah, I guess you're right.

If they work that good, everybody would have one.

- What do you mean?

The Mullers have one, so does Aunt May and Uncle Harry.

I saw it.

- Well, I know, dear, but what your father means

is that we don't want you to get your hopes too high on account

of this barometer.

We know you boys want snow, but we don't want

you to be too disappointed.

- Yeah, but sometimes having faith and confidence

can make things come true.

You know, you've told us that lots of times, Pop.

- Oh, yes, I know it is possible that this little barometer

could be right.

- You mean you think it might snow, Pop?

- Sure, if Pop has faith in the barometer

and you have faith in Pop, then it'll snow.

- Well, now wait a minute, Ozzie.

I didn't quite say that.

- How deep do you think it'll be, Pop?

Do you think it'll snow tonight or tomorrow morning?

- Well, I don't know.

It may snow tonight.

- Sure, I'll bet you it'll snow!

- In a minute, you're gonna have me believe in it.

- Sure!

Just have faith in Pop, Al, and then it'll snow.

Come on.

Let's see if it started.

- They really went out like 60, didn't they?

- How about that?

Ozzie thinks that because he has faith

in me that I can make it snow.

You know, I think Al's beginning to believe it, too.

- Yes, I think he is.

Oh, George, will you do me a favor?

- Sure.

- Well, as long as it's going to snow,

will you check all the storm windows

and make sure they're secure?

- Oh, yeah.

- If you don't stop pushing your face against that window,

you're going to have a flat nose.

- When do you think it's going to snow, Mom?

- Well, it doesn't look very hopeful, dear.

The stars are out.

- I hate to say it, but I doubt if it's going to snow at all.

- What's the matter with you, Al?

Don't you have any faith in Pop?

- Well, of course I have, but he can't just

walk outside and make it snow.

- Oh, hiya, boys. - Hiya, Pop.

- Hiya, Pop.

How's it look outside?

- Well, maybe it was my imagination,

but I kind of thought it turned colder

as I walked up Hackensack Road.

- Hey, what's that stuff on your lip, Pop?

- Hey, look!

It's snowing outside!

Pop's got snow on his face!

- Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, don't get excited, boys.

That's shredded pecan.

I stopped by the ice cream store and had a sundae.

- Better get ready for supper, George.

I'm going to put the things on now.

- OK, Ethel.

I'm practically ready right now.

- Gee, aren't there any signs of snow at all, Pop?

- Well, there are no definite signs, but you can't tell.

The signs may change, you know.

- Do you really think so?

- Oh, boy, that'd be swell.

- Now, look, boys.

I'm afraid you're jumping to conclusions here.

I didn't exactly promise you it was going to snow tonight.

Remember? - I know.

You said it'd probably snow tomorrow.

- Yeah, I can hardly wait.

- Boy, that'd really be the cat's pajamas.

We could go over to Straw Meyer's Hill

and try out our new skis.

- Heck, yeah.

What good are new skis if there isn't any snow?

Pop?

- Yeah?

- It is going to snow, isn't it?

- Yes, Ozzie, I think it is going to snow.

- Oh, boy! Come on, Al!

- I'm right behind you.

- Let's have supper.

- Wash your hands, Ozzie. - OK, Mom.

- You, too, Al.

- OK, Mom.

- George, supper's ready.

I said supper's ready, George.

- Oh, oh, oh.

Yes, dear.

- You know, I couldn't help overhearing.

Aren't you taking quite a chance?

- Well, what else could I say, Ethel?

I mean, the boys were looking up at me

with that complete faith and absolute confidence

of "if I want it to snow, it'll snow."

How could I refuse?

- Well, I know, dear, but it's such a beautiful night out.

There isn't a cloud in the sky.

- Well, I know, but it could happen.

You know something, Ethel?

I think it is going to snow tonight.

- It's all right, dear.

You'll feel better after you've had your supper.

- You mean it really started to snow, Pop?

- Well, I'll get to that part of the story a little later, Dave.

The important thing is that I had absolute faith in my dad.

He said it was going to snow, so I believed him.

- What about Uncle Al?

- Well, I think your Uncle Al started to believe

we might have some snow.

I went to bed very early that night.

My skis were right beside me so I

could go skiing the first thing in the morning.

I was almost asleep, when I heard

Uncle Al tiptoe into the room.

[WHISPERING] Is that you, Al? - [WHISPERING] Yeah, it's me.

Go back to sleep.

- What are you doing? - Never mind.

Just go back to sleep.

- Do you see any snow yet?

- No, not yet.

Who says I was looking for snow anyway?

- I wonder when it'll start.

- I don't know.

- I'm going to get up real early so I can be the first one down

to Straw Meyer's Hill.

You want me to wake you up?

- OK.

You'd better go back to sleep, Oz.

[thump]

- Hey, Al, I just heard some snow fall!

- That was my shoe.

Now go back to sleep.

- Do you really think it'll snow tomorrow?

- The paper didn't say it would.

Pop said it would, and Pop's barometer said it would.

That makes two against one.

- Yeah, but what do you think?

- Pop's always told the truth to us, hasn't he?

- Sure.

- Well, then.

- What are you doing?

- Getting my flannel night shirt.

You don't think I want to catch pneumonia, do you, when

all that snow starts falling?

- Now, I realize that this barometer is just a toy,

but it keeps pointing to snow.

If only there were some way of our finding out.

- Why don't you telephone the weather bureau?

- Hey, that's an idea.

Sure.

They could give us the official word on it.

- You know the number?

- Well, no, but I'm sure I can get it in a jiffy.

- Number, please?

- Uh, hello, Central.

I wonder if you could connect me with the weather bureau.

I don't have the number.

- Oh, sure.

I'll ring it for you.

- I'm sorry to put you through all this trouble.

- Ish Kabibble!

That's what I'm here for.

[SINGING] How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm,

after they've seen Paris?

- She's getting the number?

- Yes, and she's giving me a little concert, too.

Must be the Nora Bayes of the telephone company.

- Weather bureau.

- I'd like to get some weather information.

Do you expect snow tonight?

- Oh, yes, indeed.

We expect snow about midnight.

That is, in Portland, Oregon, Montreal, Canada,

and Frozen Monkey, Montana.

- I wonder if it could be possible

that this little barometer is right

and the weather bureau wrong.

It keeps pointing towards snow.

- Hey, Al!

Al! Come on!

Wake up!

It's snowing like 60!

- Oh, boy!

- Goodness sakes, boys.

What's all the yelling about?

- It's snowing outside, Pop!

- Well, so it is!

- How'd you do it?

- Oh, that's a secret.

I'm not going to tell you.

Ethel, look!

It's snowing out! - I know it is.

The weather bureau phoned three times

and wanted to buy your barometer.

And Charlie Thornberry's snowed in up there.

- Oh, how about that!

- Come on, Ozzie, let's get dressed.

- I put your clothes in the bathroom, boys.

It's warmer in there.

- Thanks for the snow, Pop!

- That's all right, boys.

Any time at all.

Uh, look, I'm not the kind of person who says "I told you so,

Ethel," but you didn't think this would happen, did you?

- No, I must admit you're right, George.

I guess I underestimated a boy's faith in his father.

- Yeah, it just goes to show you what it can do.

Of course, the funny thing is I never

would have known it was going to snow if it hadn't have been

for this little barometer here.

Gosh, it's turned out to be a wonderful little instrument.

- Yes, there's no doubt about that.

- Look, it's pointing right at snow,

and there it is snowing like 60 out.

- Yeah.

It was pointing to snow yesterday,

and it'll still be pointing to snow next 4th of July.

- What do you mean by that?

- Have you tried to move the needle?

You can't. It's fastened there.

Turn it over and read what it says on the other side.

- "Merry Christmas.

The north wind will blow, and we shall have snow.

Now is the time to order your coal from the Brewster Coal

and Fuel Company."

- Boy, that sure was a swell story, Pop.

- Yeah, it sure was, Pop.

- Well, thanks, fellas.

- Was it true?

- Oh, yeah, sure.

- I hope you boys got the point of it.

- Oh, I did, Mom.

I don't know about Ricky.

- Sure, I did.

What do you think I am, a dope or something?

- I think it's time to turn in, fellas.

- Golly, Mom. So soon?

- Mhm. It's getting late.

Come on.

I'll turn down the bed.

- Well, it sure was a swell Christmas, Pop.

- Yeah, sure was, Pop.

- Oh, thanks, fellas.

I enjoyed it, too.

- Hey, David. - Yeah?

- I was just wondering about something.

Do you think Grandma Nelson forgot to send us our present?

- Of course not.

Didn't you get the whole point of Pop's story?

- Sure.

- Well, what is it?

- It's about snow.

If your father says it's going to snow,

then it's going to snow.

- Wait and see.

- Hey, David.

Let's go ask pop to make it snow tomorrow.

- Pop can't make it snow, Ricky.

- What's the matter with you, David?

Didn't you listen to the story?

Just a second.

I'll go ask Pop.

Pop?

- Mhm?

- Do you think there'll be snow around here tomorrow?

- Mhm.

- No kidding!

Do you think it'll be deep enough to ski in?

- Mhm.

Come on, Rick. Go to bed, son.

It's kind of late. - OK.

Thanks a lot, Pop.

- You're welcome.

- Did you hear that, wise guy?

Pop said it's going to snow tomorrow.

- Oh, swell.

We'll get up real early and make Eskimo pies for breakfast.

- Oh, yeah? You'll see.

- Thanks a lot for sending them to bed?

- What the heck are you doing?

- I'm going to make sure I have plenty of blankets, boy.

- You don't really think he's going to snow, do you?

- Pop said it would.

Heck, if his father could make it snow, then why can't Pop?

Pop and his father were related, you know?

- Oh, thanks for telling me.

- You sure you don't want a couple extra blankets, too?

- No, thanks.

I think I'll risk it.

- Golly, I just thought of something.

If we were going to go skiing, how could we?

We don't have any skis.

- Well, we could borrow some.

Now, roll over and go to sleep.

And stop thinking about snow.

- Hey, David?

- What?

- Turn on the light, will you?

- What's the matter?

- Just turn on the light.

- What's the matter?

- Give me a push.

I got so many blankets on, I can't roll over.

- Why don't you take some of them off?

This is silly.

It's not going to snow anyway.

Now roll over and go to sleep.

- Oh, hi, Rick.

- Hi, Pop.

- You guys are late for breakfast.

- Sorry, Mom.

- What's the idea of the long face on such a beautiful day?

- That's the trouble.

It's a beautiful day.

- Well, I don't get that.

- I tried to tell you, Ricky.

- OK, OK.

- Wait a minute.

What's this all about?

- Gee, Pop, where's all the snow you promised us?

- Oh!

You were thinking about the story I told you last night.

I didn't promise you any snow.

- Sure, you did.

I asked if it was going to snow, and you said yes.

- I don't recall saying anything of the sort.

- Well, you said "mhm."

That's the same thing as saying "yes."

- Oh, I'm sure your father didn't mean to tell you

it was going to snow, Rick.

- Hi, everybody. - Oh, hi, Thorny.

- Oh, come on in, Thorny. - Hi, Mr. Thornberry.

- Don't just sit there wasting time, boys.

Come on.

Get your heavy clothes on.

We're going skiing.

- What the heck are you talking about?

- Snow, Oz, beautiful snow.

Catherine's father just called.

There's three feet of snow up at Mountain View Lodge.

I think the boys and I can make it up there

in a couple of hours.

- Hey, that's terrific!

Can we go, Pop?

- Well, you certainly don't expect me to promise you snow

and then not let you go skiing, do you?

Of course you can go.

- I hate to mention this, but the boys don't have any skis.

- That's right.

- Hey, when you were a boy, you had skis and no snow.

Now here we've got snow and no skis.

[doorbell rings]

- Oh, I'll get it.

Oh!

What have we got here?

- Does David and Ricky Nelson live here?

- Yes, they do.

- I've got a delivery from Henderson's for them.

- Oh, thank you.

- Thank you, and Happy New Year.

- Same to you.

David!

Ricky!

- Oh, boy, skis!

- Hey, just in time!

- And they're from Grandma Nelson.

- Gee, how did she know we wanted skis?

- Well, you know what your dad said.

Have a little faith in Grandma Nelson.

- Hurry up now, fellas.

I'll be back for you in 10 minutes.

- Just a second, Thorny.

Harriet and I are going too, you know.

- Wonderful. I'll tell Catherine.

- Good. - Wait a minute, Oz.

You don't have any skis, do you?

- Well, that's OK.

I'll find something to slide on.

- Here, Mom. Hold these, would you, please?

Come on, Ricky.

Let's go put on our Arctics. - Arctics?

What are they?

- I don't know, but Pop used to wear them when he was a boy.

- Boy, that David.

He sure takes a fur-lined bathtub.

[ending theme]

- "Ozzie and Harriet" have been brought to you tonight

by the Quaker Oats Company.

Quaker, producers of more than 50 foods for the family.

Next time you shop, try one of the many fine products

of the Quaker Oats Company.

- Do you know that each time you place

Christmas seals on your holiday cards,

you strike a blow against the nation's number one

infectious killer, tuberculosis?

A blow that may help save someone you

know, someone near to you?

- Here's a man putting Christmas seals on his holiday gift.

And what's so noteworthy about that?

Well, by putting Christmas seals on all his cards,

all his packages, this man is helping to fight TB.

Those tiny patches of holiday cheer

helped pay for important weapons in the fight

against tuberculosis.

- So make sure you have Christmas seals

on every card, every package.

Christmas seals to help save lives.

The true spirit of Christmas giving.

- This has been an ABC Television Network film

presentation.