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It's Christmas in July
July 23, 2003
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Almanac Transcript
It's Christmas in July, this week on the Oklahoma Audio Almanac.
Hello, I'm Steven Knoche Kite.
Every year it's the same wonderful thing: the weather gets a little cooler, leaves fall off the trees,
and radio stations begin playing all of your favorite Christmas classics. Of course sometimes, like all
things done to excess, certain songs get a bit tiresome and irritating. There is, however, at least one
exception. Usually, one of the last songs to get on my nerves and the one that least often makes me reach
for the off switch is the classic Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. There
is nothing campy, kitschy, commercial, or cutesy about this song, and it's not some kid blurting out what
they think about Santa Claus or some want-to-be diva demonstrating how long they can hold out the world
"Noel." It's just a nice song wishing you a merry Christmas, not a giant glitzy glamorous Christmas but
a merry "little" Christmas.
This most relaxing of all Christmas songs entered the world at the hand of a man born this week in
1914 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Ralph Uriah Hunsecker went through school in Broken Arrow and Tulsa school
systems before moving on to Northwestern University and then New York City. Once in New York he changed
his name to the more marquee-friendly Ralph Blaine and began a long career in song writing. Blaine, at
various times, worked with Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and Harry Warren during his more
than 50 years in the business. During the 40s, 50s, and 60s Blaine wrote or co-wrote the scores for dozens
of movies and Broadway productions including My Dream is Yours, The
Girl Most Likely, Meet me in St. Louis, and Sugar
Babies. Blaine finished off his career in 1990 as a lyricist for the film Home
Alone. Following his work on Home Alone, Blaine retired back to Broken
Arrow passing away there on November 13th, 1995. At the time of his passing, the music licensing company
ASCAP had over 500 songs registered to the Native Oklahoman.
So this week as you wipe the sweat from your face, curse the humidity, and reach for your icy beverage
think instead of little Ralph Uriah Hunsecker entering the world in this week of 1914 in Broken Arrow
and of the cool Christmas song that was his creation.
Ralph Blaine makes it big this week on the Almanac.
The Oklahoma Audio Almanac is a joint production of the Oklahoma State University
Library and Oklahoma's Public Radio.
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