[ music ] okay, we are back. Thank you, doctor. We have Jimmy Stewart with us tonight. Hodding carter iii. Im looking forward to meeting Hodding Carter iii. I admired him tremendously during his really difficult days right after the immediate seizure of the hostages. Where he had to go out everyday for the state department and the government and explain to all those reporters what was going on. You got to be fairly cool because they try to oh, yeah. Throw you some curves, knowing the press. Starting shopping yet . Not yet. You really i always like to wait until the last minute, yes. Wait until the last minute. I dont believe that you wait until the day before. You say you do, but how can you wait until the day before . A man can do you go to a store, you say wow. I want the following trinket. You ought to write that down. I want to put that on stone tablets a man can do what he wants to do. I go to certain stores theres certain shops you go to where they not only allow you to shop yes. But they also entertain you. What do you mean . Young ladies will come over and they bring you sustenance. Do they have those kind of stuff . Yes. I remember doing that one year in new york. Were we together then . We were together. We went in together. We went to one of those dont even you dont have to mention it. Its on 5th avenue. A lot of men dont shop. And psychologically, its very good. They get you bombed. Yeah. [ laughter ] they just come over and say, wont you have a glass of wine . And you say, yes, ill have one. Yes. And about two hours later we were buying i would like the case [ laughter ] is that i want one of those in every color yeah. But remember they bring the girls come in, wearing lovely negligees and lovely nightwear. Its a lovely way to shop. You dont do that anymore . No, no. Not anymore. Boy, have you changed. Now, this is something we have been doing for many years on this show. And this is great. Yeah, weve had Great Success with this. Its a chance for the people at home to really participate in what christmas is all about. Which really is for the children. The post office in new york, as you know not only the New York Post office, but probably all post offices they get letters addressed to santa claus that are addressed to the north pole. And i want the Young Children to know that the post office passes those along. Right to santa. Thats right. And they intercepted a batch and they passed them on to us. And they make the letters available to people who would like to help some child at christmas. Because a lot of these letters are very funny. Some this happens every christmas are a little bit sad. And so, if you really want to participate in this way, you can do it is let me give you the card now and then ill give it you later. Its called the Santa Claus Fund and the General Post Office is room 3021 new york, new york. Its on the screen now 10001. Or you can simply the same address and zip code. They will send you a letter. Because they have the childs name and address and you can send them a gift or something. It really makes christmas but i want to read you some of these letters. And then well give them back to the post office and people will come in but some of them are hysterical. These are all actual letters, as you can see. Look at some of the stuff they write on here. This is im not going to give you any last names. Heres one from andrew. Dear santa, so whats the story . [ laughter ] right to the point. So whats the story . I gave my father a letter to mail you and i hadnt heard from you. This time you better answer or ill do terrible things to you. Understand . [ laughter ] now, i want lots of toys this christmas and no junk good stuff. [ laughter ] also, give lots of things to my good buddy, john. And signed, andrew. But i loved that. So whats the story . Whats the story . [ laughter ] understand . Heres one from antonella little neck, new york. Dear santa. This is a 6th Grade Student writing to you. Dear santa, i think youre the best. Everyone at school makes fun of me because i believe in you. My brother makes fun of me, too. My mother thinks i should still believe you so i think ill stick with my mother. [ laughter ] for christmas, i would like a car. [ laughter ]i [ laughter ] i want it red outside and black inside. I want it to be a front and back seat. I would like a Steering Wheel to lock and key in windows. On the outside, i would like an eagle of gold. In the front, i would like a motor. [ laughter ] thats a corvette. I assume hes talking about yeah, a real car. A real car. Second grade. Well, maybe a kcar. [ laughter ] new corvette im not sure. We want you to come early this year because were going to florida for christmas. [ laughter ] we were wondering if you could stop here on december 12th or the 13th. [ laughter ] [ applause ] and then she goes down the list. Santa doesnt work, andrea, i dont think on the 12th or the 13th. I think they have a guest santa yes. That comes on. [ laughter ] dont you love kids . You could not make these letters up. Dear santa and mrs. Santa, we would like you to know how are your reindeer and also the penguins . [ laughter ] i hope you havent been cooking too much, mrs. Claus. And id like to think that youre taking good care of the reindeer. Jensen wrote this. Should we tell him . Go ahead. I dont know what i should tell him. All right, go ahead. I understand mrs. Claus got a little blitzed the other night and cooked the reindeer. [ laughter ] we thought she did. No. Now, heres a kid that does not fool around ryan from new york. He didnt take time to write a letter. All he did he just clipped out the ads. [ laughter ] theyre stapled together here there must be 50 different toys and he just took them and dropped them in an envelope that says santa claus. No let [ laughter ] work it out what . Work it out work it out why should i write . Dear santa, how are you feeling . And hows mrs. Santa. I love you. Ive been a very good girl. Im doing good in school. I hope you would be good to me this year. I would like one i took licken from the chicken, beware of the spider game, quick jump skunk, operation game, clydes car crusher, chips helmet set, holly hobbie bake over, sew perfect sewing machine, baby grows up beauty salon, dustpan and apron talking telephone, dishes, pot and pan, viewmaster, stuffed animals, snoopy ice maker, perfume maker, adorable dolls, stop sign mickey mouse watch [ laughter ] she says, say hello to your reindeer and have a nice flight. [ laughter ] have a nice flight . Hes not even going to get off the ground with all the stuff you asked for. Stephanie. Dear santa, i wasnt too good this year, but ill try harder next year. But i only really want one thi that thing im talking about is a telescope. Can i have one, please, please, pretty please with sugar on top . Telescope with sugar on top . [ laughter ] thats what gabriel wants. Dear santa, i would like army shirt, pants, canteen, helmet, pistol holster and a. 44 luger. [ laughter ] like the one on tv. Brian, i think [ laughter ] sounds steamed. Call out an airstrike on you. Dear santa claus, ive been a good girl. Please bring me some sexy panties and a slip. [ laughter ] obviously, the good girl stuff is over. [ laughter ] and a nightgown, good for you, brooke. [ applause ] youve been a good girl, its time to loosen up. Dear santa, thank you for all of things ga that i never thanked you for. If you could please include a little present for scruffy, my new hamster, in his stocking. Nice. Dont see many hamsters wearing stockings. [ laughter ] dear santa. All the things i did, im very sorry for. On the other hand [ laughter ] hes going to be a lawyer yeah. On the other hand, how are you feeling, mrs. Claus . Is mrs. Claus getting the christmas suit ready . The questions they come up with. Im not going to show you the last name. But it is personalized stationery. Dear santa, i really believe in you. And i have a huge christmas list. This year i have a cat, but dont be surprised if you dont see her because shes very scared of people thats shes never seen before. My address is so forth. And so forth and so on. But can you imagine a child writing in with her own personalized stationery. Personalized stationery. Dear santa, this yeam the fake santas lap. [ laughter ] this is from jenna from jenna. You know the one who get your pictures with . His knees are too bony. Plus, he is not the real one. My list for christmas is on the back. I want to chit chat on this page. [ laughter ] so how is the reindeer . I hope you dont catch a cold. You know, with the snow and all. I have a baby girl cousin whos having her first christmas. Shes very cute i by the way, last year, my dad had beer in the freezer. Did you drink it . [ laughter ] well, i know you wont this year because im making cookies and chocolate and strawberry milk. Poor dad. [ laughter ] yeah. Hes got to drink a lot of strawberry milk to get a buzz on. [ laughter ] dear santa, please get the toys on this list. [ laughter ] there was one in here im going to going on too long here. Heres a kid that says, christmas is coming and i want to buy something for me to play with. So im asking you for 10. 00. I would like to tell you, theyre going to tax it. [ laughter ] i had one in here i got to get to it which another one. Dear santa, how are you feeling . How are you this year . We all hope youre feeling fine and also your little elves. Now, lets get to the point of this letter. I think marvin and his last name has been very good this year. And its from marvin. [ laughter ] but i love that, he says, lets get to the point. Dear santa jennifer. Please bring me for christmas two ankle bracelets made of gold and with all different colored jewels and gold shiny slippers with blue beads and turquoise beads. Also, a ruby necklace with a gold chain and a ruby. Please bring daddy, if possible, a down coat and a house in the country and a new ca would you settle for some playdoh and an apple. I mean this is [ laughter ] anyway, theres a lot of ones that are very funny in there. I got a few. Now, these are the ones that we were talking about for christmas. And they all run in kind of the same category. And its interesting when these children write. They not only some write for themselves so much, they write for their mother or somebody else in the family. It says, my name is sylvia and im 8 years old. Im so happy that christmas is coming soon. Though, this year, my mother has told me and no presents. I know what i would like very much for christmas. Ive been good all year round and i also run errands for my mother and so forth. And bring something for my little brother. It always its kids like this. Dear santa, im a handicapped child. My mom is poor and she has asthma. I would like to hear the things these kids ask for a winter jacket. You know, where most kids ask for toys and stuff, they ask for clothing and stuff like this. Dear santa, we ask our mother if youre going to come this year and she said no because dad is not working. I have two 11 year old sisters and one brother i would like to surprise. Ask for nothing for herself, again. Heres one from donna. How are you feeling . Im happy youre in town again. I like that. Could you help my mommy . This is the first time i am asking for your help. But i really feel that my mommy needs you this year. Not for me. But for my brothers and sisters. She cannot buy nothing for them because we have a lot of bills to pay. My daddy is not working. And it goes on and on with letters like this. Heres that address again. Because there are thousands of letters like this from youngsters. Santa claus fund, the General Post Office, room 3012 in new york, new york. Or you can actually go down to the post office in new york city, which is at what 30 whats the address in new york . Thirtyfourth and fortysecond and fifth. Is it fortysecond and fifth . Yeah. And go down there and pick up a couple of letters and it will really make christmas what its all about. So i want to thank the postmaster for sending these letters. What . [ applause ] thats the library . Not the library youre giving me the address to the library. Anyway, contact the post office because the have hundreds of these letters. Well be back in a moment. Jimmy stewart will be with us and Hodding Carter tonight. [ music ] thank you, doc. Heres one of the [ applause ] one of the nicest people in the entire world in motion pictures. And jimmys going to be seen in a Television Special called, mr. Kruegers special, which airs on the 22nd. Would you welcome Jimmy Stewart [ music ] [ applause ] all right, jimmy. Yeah. [ cheering ] thank you well, well, well, well how are you . [ laughter ] happy holidays. Im im im im fine. Do you go out do you go out Christmas Shopping this time of year . No. Do you really . Im a terrible shopper. Me too. Are you i swear, i dont how to [ laughter ] i panic. I cannot make a decision when im in a store. I went with gloria this morning. I followed her around like a dog. [ laughter ] and she said, is that fine . And i said, fine. She said, how do you like that . I said, yeah. She said, what do do you like everything or do you wish we [ laughter ] i dont know what to do. You just want to get off the hook, right . Right. What would you like, if somebody said, i want to buy Jimmy Stewart something for christmas. Gloria asked me that last night. Oh, yeah. I dont know. I dont what do you a present . I really im stuck. Yeah. Nothing at all . An exotic trip someplace . No, maybe not. Yeah, i dont know what to say either. Because they always say, youre difficult to shop for. Yep. Maybe get me a good part in a picture. [ laughter ] thats what youd like, huh . You have all the family together this year . Yeah, theyre all going to sort of end up the twins are coming and be with us for christmas. And then the twins are going over and see the son and his wife and the grandchildren. Thats great. Which we saw them last week. So, well all be sort of together. See, thats great. Are you signaling to doc that we got to cut away for a minute . Yes, we should. All right, well take a break. Were going to come right back because we got a little back up. Were going to sit here and do all kinds of things. [ music ] were talking to Jimmy Stewart. [ applause ] right . What do you play in this . You dont play santa claus, do you . No, no, its not. As a matter of fact, i did it for the mormon church. And its a sort of an interesting story. Its a christmas story but its this christmas story and sort of the real reason that we celebrate christmas the birth of christ. Right. And its all told through the dreams and through the imagination of an old, who lives in the basement and has a cat named george. He but hes a dreamer and he for instance, hes sitting there in the basement, hes listening to an old phonograph record of the mormon tabernacle choir and he starts sort of he starts leading it and suddenly the fade in and im leading the mormon tabernacle choir. Now, if you dont think thats something [ laughter ] if you dont think stand up and yeah, in Salt Lake City up and stand up in front of the 350 boys. And you do this and they start to sing. Well, i would [ laughter ] thats power. Thats power. And its called mr. Kruegers christmas and then of course, another vision of his, it even goes to bethlehem and even goes to the manger and joseph and mary and the wisemen and the shepherds and everything. But its through his eyes. Yeah. He that sounds lovely. And i think its kind of a nice thing. It will be here, i think, the 22nd but i guess its playing i think its syndicated around yeah around the country. All the places around the country. But its kind of a nice story. Yeah, you said you play an elderly person . You feel do you feel elderly . Sure. Oh, you do . [ laughter ] i thought you were going to say, no, no, no its sort of everybodys opinion. You cant really ask advice on this. You have to make up your own mind. I dont think that i think you ought to act your age and i just think i look in the mirror and i say, well, youre old. [ laughter ] youre old. I dont make a thing of it. And i but i dont make a thing of trying to be a kid. Yeah. Because i dont think and i people sort of the things that happen to you. You know, you have a belly ache and you cant hear very well. I dont like the people that sit there in a conversation and they somebodys talking and then at the end of the talking, they say, what did you say . And then you and guys going again and he said, what did you say . I can stand so much and then i say, look get one [ laughter ] they work [ applause ] big deal. What did you say . [ laughter ] put that in put that back here what did you say . Were you im going to wait until you get that. Oh, excuse me. [ laughter ] oh, yeah. Let me ask you a question, now. Were you reluctant for a while to get that . Yeah, yeah, of course, thats a natural thing. But i noticed it. Around gloria a couple years and i noticed i found that gloria was always and she didnt say anything about it the thing is, i didnt hear it. Didnt hear the telephone. So i went to a doctor and he said, well, yeah. How do you know that your hearing is gone . And i said, well, i cant hear the telephone bell and my wife has to answer the telephone. He said, well, get a louder bell on the telephone. [ laughter ] and this worked for a while. Yeah. Except, we started waking the neighbors. [ laughter ] when it started sounding like big ben, that was too much. Yeah, so i so i cut that out. So i went to a fellow and its been all right. Yeah, i understand you have and you have given them before you have another poem for us. Well, i have a poem you have to explain it a little. Yeah, it needs a little gloria and i and our twin daughters, judy and kelly, and gloria and i take still picture. We have a lot of them from our trips to africa. And we thought maybe wed get a moving camera for the twins. Right. And so i got one this was quite a while but eastman had a thing called super 8. Oh, yeah. Eight millimeter film. Right. Well, we went to africa and the twins loved it and they really got it with the it was good weather and everything. They got a wonderful thing we got up real early to get the sunrise and i couldnt find the movie camera. And finally, judy said, oh, im afraid i left it outside. I had it in a leather case and she left it outside. And the hunters said immediately, okay, so you left it outside. So we formed a ring around the camp and went through the grass and sure enough, judy found it. Was the zipper and a hook on it and the lens was broken off the camera. And there were teeth mark it sort of looked like leather on the side there were teeth marks on the side. A hyena and this made sense because a hyena lots of times they wander through the camp and ive heard them brush up against the tent. They sort of go and i really thought i heard one ha ha ha laughing once, but