Editor’s note: This is part 2 of a Christmas week series from local writer Peggy Keener on Christmas carols with research taken from a presentation by Sweet Reads owner Lisa Deyo.

Read part 1 here: The pilot is wearing a red suit

Did you know that “White Christmas” was written … not by a Christian musician, but instead by the Jewish songwriter, Irving Berlin? (Who knew? Maybe it was after a particularly fun and emotional bar mitzvah!) Mr. Berlin originally wrote this beloved song for a Broadway musical that was never produced. All was not lost, however, for the song was later picked up by a group of Hollywood producers who used it in “Holiday Inn,” a 1942 film starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.

Then in 1957, a cocky young upstart bombarded his way into the holiday music scene. Who other than Elvis Presley? Religious folks the world over who cherished their beloved (and no-touch sacred Christmas carols) were incensed. Who did this hip-swiveling- degenerate-twit think he was, anyway?  To give you some idea of why they were so enraged, get this. Elvis described his first Christmas album as ranging from “traditional Christmas carols to sexy rock ‘n’ roll.” (Nice going, Elvis!)

The holiday album included “Peace in the Valley,” “I Believe,” “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” and “It Is No Secret.” It was also no secret that the album included Elvis’ version of “Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Silent Night,” a denigration the likes of which folks had never heard.

And when they learned Elvis had also included “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Here Comes Santa Claus” along with their holiest of sacred carols, it was too much. Even Elvis’ strongest fans were angered.

But what really imploded the patience of the Christmas music lovers was that Elvis had the nerve to include in his album his own sexy, rock-it-up renditions of “Santa Claus Is Back In Town,” “Santa Bring My Baby Back,” “Blue Christmas” and “White Christmas!”  One can only imagine Irving Berlin’s outrage when he discovered his “white” Christmas had been coupled with Elvis’ “blue” Christmas!

Berlin was so hysterically upset, he tried his best to get Presley’s version of “White Christmas” banned from the radio. Unfortunately he wasn’t very successful in doing this. Elvis’ Christmas music long outlived both of them, still with us fifty-nine years later!

But, here is an even more titillating “White Christmas” tidbit. During the Vietnam War, the American Armed Forced Radio played the song in April of 1975 as a covert signal for our soldiers to implement the evacuation of Saigon. Irving Berlin was still alive at that time. One has to wonder how he felt over the bizarre use of his creation?

“White Christmas” was originally recorded in 1942 on Decca Records by Bing Crosby when the movie “White Christmas” was filmed. It went on to be the biggest selling single of all time. Even Elvis didn’t possess the old fashioned charm of that beloved crooner!

Moving on to a truly weird and unexpected Christmas song, how about the oddness of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”? (And here all along you thought Scrooge was the guilty party!) Even though the famous Boris Karloff narrated this Dr. Seuss classic, the horror film veteran had a little secret. He did not sing the song. Why? Because he could not sing!

Instead it was recorded by the voice actor, Thurl Ravenscroft. You may know him from his numerous Disney recordings, one being Buff in the “Country Bears Jamboree.” Ravenscroft’s best known recording, however, was the TV mascot, Tony, in the “Tony the Tiger” commercials made for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes. Think about it … doesn’t “they’re grrrrrrrrreat” sound exactly like the Grinch?

There are actually two versions of Mr. Grinch, both of which can still be heard today. The original TV rendition features the sound effects of crashes and booms as the Grinch bulldozes his way through the children’s homes, liberating the Christmas gifts. Another quieter “clean” version was made for the radio.

Ravenscroft’s recording of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was unknown for many years. Because no credit was given him for his singing, people believed it was Karloff who knocked the song out of the park! Perhaps here in today’s Herald, we’ll set the record straight. Wouldn’t that be grrrrrrrrrreat!