Original subtitles

- You know, I think it could stand one more

right over there, Dave.

Yep, that's it.

- Looks pretty, doesn't it?

- Oh, it looks just beautiful.

Hello, I'm Harriet Nelson.

We hope you like our story tonight.

It's all about Christmas, naturally enough.

And we bring it to you along with the season's greetings

from our sponsors, the Lambert Company, makers

of Listerine antiseptic and Antizyme toothpaste.

Oh, by the way, there's a fine story and some wonderful color

pictures of all us Nelsons in the current issue of "TV

Guide."

We're on the cover, too.

[music playing]

- Listerine, the most widely used antiseptic in the world,

and Antizyme, the first all-day, anti-enzyme toothpaste,

present "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,"

starring the entire Nelson family.

Here is Ozzie, who plays the part of Ozzie Nelson.

And of course, his lovely wife, Harriet, as Harriet Nelson.

The older of the Nelson boys, David, appears as David Nelson.

And his younger brother, the irrepressible Ricky,

played by Ricky Nelson.

The Nelson's next door neighbor, Thorny,

is played by Don DeFore.

- Hi, there.

I hope you're having a nice Christmas Eve.

It's kind of quiet at our house.

Not quite the excitement there used

to be when Dave and Ricky were real small.

The boys are downstairs now with Harriet, trimming the tree.

I've been just sitting up here, sort of reminiscing a little.

- Oh, here you are.

I wondered where you were hiding.

Aren't you going to come down and help us trim the tree?

- Oh, well, I thought I'd wait till you

had most of the work done, then I'd

come down and add a little friendly criticism.

- You know, I'd laugh at that except that's

exactly what you did last year.

- Well, no, don't you remember last year

I added the comedy relief?

I came down and short circuited all the bulbs.

- That was the year before.

Last year you were putting the star up and fell into the tree.

- Now, you see how bad your memory is?

That was New Year's Eve.

And I wasn't putting the tree up, I was taking it down.

- You took it down, all right, and half the living

room with it.

- [chuckles] Well, you know me, anything for a laugh.

Can I help you with any of that stuff?

- No, the boys just wanted a little more tinsel.

- I'll be down in a few minutes.

- You will if you don't fall asleep.

[music playing]

- Yeah, Christmas is a wonderful part of the year, isn't it?

- Yeah, I don't think anything in later life

ever quite lives up to the thrill of Christmas Eve when

you're real small.

You're lying in bed, trying so hard to stay awake,

yet hoping you'll fall asleep so that Christmas morning will

get here that much sooner.

And then Christmas Day and the wonderful gifts

and the thrill of being happy and making somebody else happy.

Maybe I'm getting old or something,

but I must admit that the part of Christmas

I seem to enjoy most lately is Christmas afternoon, right

after dinner.

The hectic part of it is all over,

and the Christmas spirit is still in the air,

but you're kind of relaxed and comfortable.

Harriet always cooks such a wonderful Christmas dinner,

too--

turkey and cranberry sauce, and usually a delicious pie

for dessert.

[dreamy interlude]

Boy, that sure was a good dinner, Harriet.

- Sure was, Mom.

- Well, thank you both.

- I mean, I sure am full.

I couldn't have had another drumstick if you paid me.

- Darn right, you couldn't.

Who ever heard of a three-legged turkey?

- [laughs] Well, I guess we all had our share.

I want to spend the rest of the day just

leaning back, relaxing.

- Here, I'll get your slippers for you, Pop.

- Oh, that's a good idea, son.

Oh, thanks.

- More, Dave?

- Yeah, thanks, Mom.

That's enough.

- Boy, these sure are swell looking slippers.

- Yeah, I think they're fine, Rick.

- And they cost $5.95.

- Pop knows who gave them to him.

- Well, now, wait a minute, Dave.

I'm not so sure I do.

See, the card just says, "To Pop, From Santa Claus."

- Well, you didn't read the back of it, Pop.

- Oh.

"Also known as Old Saint Rick."

- Just to set the record straight,

that perfume Santa Claus gave me is very nice, Ricky.

- Oh, thanks, Mom.

Well, David?

- Don't look at me.

I'm sending my thanks to the North Pole.

- Oh?

Yeah, I see what you mean.

- Well, I think we all had a wonderful Christmas

and should be very happy about it.

- I think so, too.

- I just wish it wasn't over.

- What are you complaining about?

You spent all morning opening Christmas presents.

- Who's complaining?

I just said I wish it wasn't over.

Come on, David, let's throw the baseball around.

I'll show you my curve.

- What do you mean, your curve?

You always play the outfield.

- Not when it's my baseball.

- Why don't you put on some ice skates

and make that outfit complete? - Are you kidding?

That'll look silly.

Come on.

- Don't forget to change your clothes, Dave.

- I won't, Pop.

- Well, that Ricky sure gets into some weird costumes,

doesn't he?

- Oh, yeah, he sure does.

You know, maybe it's my imagination, Harriet,

but doesn't it seem to you as if the boys are missing

the real spirit of Christmas?

All they seem to be interested in

is the number of presents they receive.

- Oh, I'd say that was fairly normal for boys their age.

- Oh, yeah, I suppose so, especially for kids that

get as many things as they do.

You don't think maybe we're spoiling the boys, do you?

- Oh, no.

I'm sure they're very appreciative of everything

they get.

Everyone says what nice boys they are.

- Oh, yeah, they're swell kids.

Oh, before I forget it, may I say

that this is just about the finest mince pie

you've ever made in your life?

- Oh, thank you, dear.

That's always nice to hear.

- Um, uh, however, no matter how good a mince pie is,

nobody should eat as many as three pieces at one sitting.

[laughs] - Three?

I didn't know you had that many.

- Oh, sure, the two I had at dinner,

and the one I'm going to have right now.

[music playing]

- Oh, Merry Christmas, Oz.

- Thanks.

Merry Christmas to you, Thorny.

You look mighty comfortable there.

Look as if you're trying to make up your mind

whether to fall asleep or not. - Yeah.

[chuckles]

- [laughs]

- I must admit, I think I had a little too much

of Catherine's plum pudding.

I'm trying to work up enough ambition to walk it off.

Want to take a little walk with me?

- Oh, no, thanks.

I had too much dinner for that.

Now, how far are you going?

- What'd you say?

- I say, how far are you going?

- Oh, I think this is about far enough.

I don't want to overdo it.

[laughs]

- I know just how you feel.

Apparently, we both had a full day in more ways than one.

- Oh, Oz, mine was wonderful, the best ever.

- Had a real good Christmas, eh?

- I'll say.

I didn't receive a single necktie.

- Well, good for you.

- I got six tie clasps.

[laughter]

- Oh, that's the way it goes.

- Well, I see you got one necktie.

- Oh, yeah.

- That ball of fire you got around your neck there's

got to be a Christmas present. [laughs]

- Isn't this a beauty?

Wally Dipple gave this to me.

- You mean, you really like it?

- Well, what else can I say?

I gave it to him last year.

[laughter]

I wonder which one of us bought this originally.

- I don't know.

But if you ever give it to me, I'll burn it.

[laughter]

- Oh, this wasn't the only tie I got.

In fact, I'll trade you three neckties for three tie clasps.

- [laughs] Oh, let's face it, Oz,

the best part of a man's Christmas isn't waiting for him

under the tree.

- Well, it is in one way.

I got a big kick out of just watching

the boys open their presents.

How did your wife like the little rag doll?

- Rag doll?

- Yeah, didn't she get a rag doll at Joe Randolph's party

the other night?

- Oh, no, no, no, that was Betty Williams.

Catherine got the roller skates.

- Oh, oh, yeah.

[laughs] Joe sure looked silly in those rompers, didn't he?

And riding that kiddie car?

- Look who's talking.

How long have you had that moth-eaten Santa Claus

suit you came in?

- Well, I got that when Dave was about four years old.

See, I used to pretend I was Santa Claus,

and he used to pretend he believed me.

[laughter]

- Sure was a nice party, though.

Cute idea of Joe's, too.

- Yeah, it was.

Although, Ricky still can't understand

how come Harriet came home with one of those little toy irons

and where I got that rubber duck that honks.

[laughs]

Uh, what was it you got, again?

- Oz, I'd rather not say.

Besides, whoever heard of a toy tie clasp?

[laughter]

[music playing]

- Well, it was a good party.

Christmas is just about over, that is, the excitement.

Nothing left now except to sit around and wait for supper.

- Say, how would you like to come in the house and have

a nice piece of mince pie and a Coca-Cola with me?

- Oh, no, thanks, Thorny.

It sounds appetizing, but it seems to me

we could figure out something more

in the spirit of the occasion.

- OK.

Well, what do you say we go in for a little snooze,

and I'll snore you a chorus of "Jingle Bells."

[laughs]

- That doesn't sound very intriguing.

I had in mind, living it up a little.

Hey, I have an idea.

- What?

- Uh, come on in my house and we'll honk my rubber duck.

[laughter]

- Hi.

How was the baseball game?

- Oh, we have to quit.

Ricky's poor little hands are too tender.

- Well, what do you expect?

Throwing a ball as hard as you can,

all I have is a pitcher's mitt.

- Well, why didn't you use your new catcher's mitt?

- What catcher's mitt?

- Now, don't tell me you got so many Christmas presents

you don't remember them all.

- I sure don't remember getting a catcher's mitt.

I wanted one most of all, too. - I know it.

That's the reason we bought you one.

- I don't think I saw him open it, Mom.

- Well, it must still be under the tree then.

- I sure don't see it.

- Well, it must be here someplace.

- Oh-- [chuckles] well, this is a nice Christmas greeting.

- Oh, hi, Pop.

- Have you seen my catcher's mitt, Pop?

I can't find it.

- Oh, now, don't tell me you've lost your new catcher's

mitt already.

- Well, I haven't even found it in the first place.

- Well, it's got to be around here someplace.

- Maybe it's over here.

- Did you wrap it, Harriet?

- No, I had them gift wrap it at the store,

and they sent it out with some things

yesterday, at least I'm pretty sure they did.

Hey, Pop, here's the tie you got from Grandma Hilliard.

- Oh, oh, oh--

I-- I was just, uh, putting it under there.

It had a few wrinkles in it.

I thought I'd, uh, press it.

Uh-- oh--

- Oh, uh, say, Dave, uh, why don't you

look in the dining room there.

It may be in there.

- I don't think so, Pop.

But I'll look anyway.

- I could've sworn I put it right under the tree here.

Oh, it-- it-- it's not in there, Rick.

I already looked.

- Hey, here's that tie again, Pop.

- Oh, I'll take care of the-- the tie, son.

- It wasn't in there, Pop.

- Oh?

Uh, Harriet, you say you're sure you

put the glove under the tree?

- Well, I thought I did.

- Maybe they sent it to somebody else by mistake.

- Oh, I hardly think so, Dave.

- Say, David may be right.

Remember that dress I ordered in the Emporium last month?

- What dress was that?

- Well, you know, the one they delivered to the wrong place

by mistake?

They sent it to another Nelson on the other side of town.

- Oh, you mean that woman that went out the drugstore

and phoned us, and I went over to her house and picked it up?

- That's right.

- Yeah, I bet you they did the same thing again.

I'll get my coat, Pop. You get the car.

- No, no, Rick-- now, wait a minute, son.

That doesn't make any sense.

I'll take you over there tomorrow.

You can wait till then, can't you?

- We aren't even sure it was delivered to her.

- Oh, of course not.

You can't disturb people like that on Christmas night.

They're liable to have company or something.

- You can guess you're right, Pop.

- Sure.

You'll feel kind of silly barging

in there saying, "Did you get a catcher's mitt by mistake?"

Besides, it's pretty near dark out.

- Was it a pretty nice catcher's mitt?

- Oh, yeah.

[stammering] Regulation.

You know, regular big league.

[music playing]

We'll go the first thing tomorrow.

Besides, as I say, it's practically dark out.

It's-- it's much too late.

- Well, when you finally give in, dear, be sure

you wear something warm.

[music playing]

- This is kind of an old house, eh, Pop?

- Well, this isn't exactly the newest part of town, son.

[rings doorbell]

- Hey, that's pretty neat.

You don't even need electricity.

I sure hope they have my catcher's mitt.

- Good evening.

- Oh, uh, good evening, Mrs. Nelson.

I'm sorry to bother you.

Uh, my name is Nelson, too.

Ozzie Nelson?

- Oh, of course.

You stopped by about a month ago to pick up a package.

- Yes, that's right.

This is my son, Ricky. - Hello.

- Hello, Ricky. Well, won't you come in?

It's kind of chilly outside.

- Oh, well, thanks a lot.

- I hope you'll forgive the appearance of the house,

but I just got the children to bed

and I've been doing a little mending.

- Oh, sure.

I'm-- I'm sorry to barge in on you like this,

but we ordered a catcher's mitt from the Emporium for Ricky

for Christmas, and it wasn't delivered to our house,

and we thought they might possibly have delivered it here

by mistake. - A catcher's mitt.

- Oh?

Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Ricky,

but nothing like that's been delivered here.

That's a shame.

It must have spoiled your Christmas.

- Oh, well, not really.

He got a lot of other things.

- I was kind of counting on it, though.

- Oh, well, of course.

That's too bad, Rick.

- Who's that talking down there?

- Oh. [chuckles]

- It's just some company, honey.

Now, you go back to bed like good children.

- Mommy, I want to see the people.

- Me, too.

- Me, too.

- All right.

But just for a minute, now.

I hope you don't mind.

- Oh, no, I don't mind.

[music playing]

[chuckles] Well--

- The whole get up, eh?

- How about this?

What's your name? - Tony.

These are my sisters.

They are girls. - [laughs]

- This is Cathy, and this is Laurie.

- Oh, well, how about this?

Did you have a nice Christmas?

- Yes.

- What'd you get?

- Shoes. - Oh.

- Hey, those are pretty sharp! Where'd you get those?

- Santa Claus.

And I got a hat, too. - Oh.

- [laughs] Santa Claus got the hat a little large so he could

grow into it.

- Oh, how about that?

Isn't this a wonderful family?

I'll bet you and your husband are very proud of them.

- Oh, thank you.

My husband passed away about a year ago.

- Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

- He went up to Heaven.

- Well, I'm sure he did.

- Say, I have an idea.

Why don't you take Rick out in the kitchen

and give him some of those cookies we made.

- Hey, that sounds great. - Oh.

- Come on, Rick.

- Hold my hand, Ricky.

- Hey, how about this?

A beautiful girl. [music playing]

- What about me?

- Yeah, you too, Tony.

- [laughs] Oh, they're wonderful.

I bet you had your hands full today.

- Yes, I did.

But it was fun.

They got such a big kick out of it.

Each of the girls got a sweater and a doll.

And you saw what Tony got.

And he insisted on wearing the hat and shoes to bed.

- Oh, gee, how about that?

Well, kids do get such a big kick out of Christmas.

- Gee, you sure make good cookies, Mrs. Nelson.

Thanks a lot.

- Oh, I'm glad you liked them, Rick.

Of course, I can't take all the credit.

The girls helped me stir the batter.

- I licked the bowl.

- [laughs] Well, good for you, Tony.

- Can Ricky stay here and play with me?

- Oh, well, I'm sorry, I'm afraid he can't now.

We have to get back home.

- Gee, thanks a lot, Mrs. Nelson.

I hope we didn't disturb you too much.

- Oh, don't be silly. I'm so happy to stopped by.

It's been a real treat for the children.

- Well, it's been a real treat for us.

- Well, come on. Well, good night.

And good night, kids. - Good night.

- Goodbye. - Bye.

- Bye.

- I know it's a little late, but Merry Christmas.

- Well, thanks. - Thank you.

- Merry Christmas, to you. Bye-bye.

- Bye. - Bye.

- Bye.

[music playing]

- Oh, you guys were gone quite a while.

Did you have any luck?

- Well, they didn't have the catcher's mitt,

if that's what you mean.

- They didn't have hardly anything.

- Oh, really? - Yeah.

They had a little Christmas tree.

The kids had hardly any presents.

- Oh, isn't that a shame?

- Yeah.

They seemed to be having quite a struggle.

She's a widow with these three little children-- a little boy

and two little girls.

You know, the cutest kids you ever saw.

- You should have seen them, Mom.

- Well, I wonder how she gets along.

- Uh, well, from the looks of things,

I think she takes in sewing.

She's a real nice person, though.

She wasn't complaining.

But it was pretty obvious they had kind of a dismal Christmas.

- Oh, isn't that too bad?

- We sure are lucky with all the Christmas presents we got.

- Maybe we can do something for them.

- Well, I thought of that, Dave, but what are you going to do?

You don't like to embarrass people.

Besides, the stores are all closed.

- You say the children didn't have many toys?

- No.

She mentioned something about a couple of dolls,

but I didn't see any toys at all, Harriet.

- Hey, I got an idea.

Why don't we give them this?

- Hey, yes, that's a wonderful idea.

- Why, sure it is.

And I could give the girls the little toy

iron I got at the party.

- Well, uh, Catherine and Thorny got toys.

Why don't we get them?

- Well, everybody at the party got toys, didn't they?

Why couldn't we go around and collect them all?

- Hey, that's a swell idea.

I'll start lining the people up. [music playing]

- I'll go get the car.

- I'll make out a list of the people who were at the party.

- Hey, this is going to be fun.

[no speech]

- How did you do?

- Oh, fine.

I got hold of just about everybody.

What have you got there?

- Oh, just a few things of mine I thought she'd like.

I got so much for Christmas.

You don't mind, do you?

- Oh, I think that's wonderful, Harriet.

- I thought I'd gather some of the ribbons and things

to wrap the toys in.

- You know the nicest part of all this is that it

wasn't our idea but David and Ricky's.

- Ozzie, look.

- Well--

- It's Ricky's catcher's mitt!

It must have been under the tree all the time.

- How is that possible?

We all looked there.

- I know it.

It's strange, isn't it?

How could we have missed it.

It was practically in plain sight.

- Well, I don't know why we didn't see it.

- Well, there's one thing I do know.

Because we didn't see it, three little children

and their mother are going to be a lot happier this Christmas.

- We have the car loaded with all the stuff.

And I bet you we got about 25 presents.

- Oh, it's wonderful, Rick. - Oh.

- Mrs. Dunkle sent along a big box of candy.

- And Mrs. Thornberry gave us a big bottle of perfume.

And Mr. Thornberry threw in a beautiful Indian blanket.

- Oh?

- He said it was an old one he didn't need.

But he wasn't fooling us any.

- Well, we've got a surprise for you too, Rick.

- [chuckles] Yeah.

- We found this while you were gone.

It's got your name on it.

- Oh, boy, a catcher's mitt, the thing I wanted most of all.

- Uh-huh. - Gee, where'd you find it?

- Right under the Christmas tree.

It was there all the time. - Well, that's impossible.

We looked under there about five times.

- [chuckles] - Well, I agree.

But there it was.

- How about that?

- Well, I hate to break this up, but don't you

think we'd better take the presents over now?

- Oh, yeah. I'll get my coat.

- Pop--

- Yeah?

- Oh, never mind, I guess.

- [chuckles] Oh, come on, if you've got an idea,

let's hear it, Dave.

- Well, I was just thinking, while we're picking up

those toys, do you think it'd be too corny if I

put on that Santa Claus suit and sort of played

Santa Claus for the kids?

- Well, no.

I think that'd be a wonderful idea.

- I thought maybe that Mrs. Nelson could tell the kids

that Santa Claus had an awful lot of stuff to deliver

and was just a little late getting there.

- Yeah, that's swell.

- Why don't you go upstairs and put it on, David?

- OK, I'll be right back.

- It's in my closet, Dave.

[music playing]

- What's all this stuff, Mom?

- Oh, well, these are some things of mine

I'm taking over to Mrs. Nelson. I'll put them out in the car.

- Well, that's all right.

Rick and I can take these out, Harriet.

- Pop-- - Yeah?

- It sure was funny the way my catcher's mitt just

seemed to turn up.

- Oh, yeah.

It sure was, wasn't it?

- Well, you know how you and Mom are always

saying how fast I'm growing, you can hardly believe it?

- Yeah.

- Well, I know little Tony is only about five or six,

but if it's OK with you, I'd like

to give him my catcher's mitt.

- Oh, gee, that's very generous of you, Rick.

But don't you think he's kind of a small guy

for such a big glove?

- Oh, he'll grow.

And besides, I was having a swell Christmas

even before I got the mitt.

The way it turned up, it just doesn't

seem that it belongs to me.

- Well, I think that's just a wonderful idea, Ricky.

Here, you put it in the box, and I'll put a card on it.

- Oh, gee, thanks, Mom.

I know he'll like it.

- Well, I'm sure he will, Rick.

Gosh, that's a real Christmas spirit, son.

- Here, Pop, I'll take these.

- Hurry up, Dave!

- You know, Ozzie, I have an idea

our boys are growing into young men, very nice young men.

[music playing]

- I have an idea you're right.

Remember you said a while back that because of that lost

Christmas gift, four people are having

a nicer Christmas this year?

- Yes.

- Well, I think you were too conservative because I

know four more people right here in our family

and a lot of wonderful neighbors of ours

will never have a nicer Christmas.

- Merry Christmas, everybody.

Merry Christmas.

[music playing]

[music playing]

- It's getting pretty late.

We better get to bed.

- Boy, those kids sure were happy with all our presents,

weren't they? - Oh, they sure were.

- Did you see the way Tony grabbed for my catcher's mitt?

- [laughs] Yeah.

- You know, I think he liked that best of all.

- So do I. It was darn nice of you to give it to him, Rick.

You know, I have a hunch that the store downtown might just

possibly have another catcher's mitt just like it

for a certain Mr. Ricky Nelson.

- Oh, thanks anyway, Pop.

But I think it'll spoil my Christmas now.

I'd rather not.

- Oh, suit yourself, son.

- Pop-- - Yeah?

- I just happened to think, it sure wouldn't

spoil my next birthday.

- [laughs]

[music playing]

[dreamy interlude]

- Ozzie?

Ozzie?

Ozzie?

- Oh-- uh, sorry, I must have dozed off.

Oh, uh, do you want me to help you trim the tree?

- No. No, thank you, dear.

The boys and I finished that hours ago.

They're in bed.

- Oh.

I did sleep.

They didn't open their presents yet, did they?

- No, they wanted to wait until morning.

And that's what I came up to ask you about.

I've got the boys presents all under the tree,

but I can't find Ricky's catcher's mitt anywhere,

and I know the store delivered it this morning.

- Oh.

[music playing]

Well, I wouldn't worry about it.

- Well, that's the one present he wanted most of all.

- Yeah, I know.

But I have a hunch we'll find it.

It might take until tomorrow evening, but we'll find it.

[MUSIC - "JOY TO THE WORLD" [INSTRUMENTAL]]

[applause]

Thank you, very much.

[music playing]

On behalf of all of us--

Harriet, Dave, Ricky, Thorny, and myself--

we want to say, Merry Christmas.

In addition to our regular cast tonight, we

want to say a word of thanks to little Tony Montanaro,

who played the part of Tony; to our sister-in-law Barbara

Nelson, who played the part of Barbara Nelson;

and her two young daughters who made their debut

this evening, Kathy Nelson, age 4, and Laurie Nelson, age

2, our little nieces.

So on behalf of all of us, Merry Christmas, everybody.

Merry Christmas.

- Next week, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,"

starring the entire Nelson family--

- Ozzie. - Harriet.

- David.

- Ricky.

- --will be brought to you by Hotpoint.

- And remember, Hotpoint changes your viewpoint--

- Automatically.

[chime]

- A portion of the Listerine antiseptic commercial

was dramatized.

This is Verne Smith speaking.