Uploaded December 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Santa and the Three Bears is a 1970 animated featurette, which aired on television regularly during the holiday season. It was later released on video in 1992 by Kids Klassics and distributed by GoodTimes Home Video in the VHS format with the original live-action sequences at the beginning and end of the film edited out.
Originally this 46 minute feature contained live-action sequences which ran for 2 minutes at the beginning of the film, and 2 minutes at the end of the film. These live-action sequences featured actor Hal Smith and two young children (Brian Hobbs and Beth Goldfarb) sitting in a cabin and conversing by the fireplace and Christmas tree, and a short montage of mechanical toys, Christmas decorations, and a pet kitten during the opening and closing credits.
The film was originally pitched to TV networks, who rejected it as it lacked a villain, but was then shown in theaters instead. This special has been rerun on TBN, USA Network, FOX Family (Now Freeform), and on KTLA channel 5 in Los Angeles.
Two young bears, Nikomi and Chinook, know nothing of Christmas until the local park ranger tells them about the legend, and they become curious to meet Santa Claus. Their mother, Nana, is preparing for Winter hibernation and cynically tells her children that there is no Santa, but they are determined to believe. Mother finds it impossible to begin their sleep, since the young cubs wish to stay awake until Santa arrives.
Oh what a wonder of Christmas time
The happiest time of the year
When children are waiting
Intently debating if Santa will ever appear
They're expecting a wonderful Christmas time
And it's ever so easy to see
That the first sign of Kris Kringle
All hearts will ring
Jing-a-Ling through his jolly whole rhyme
And the wonder of Christmas time
Oh what a wonder of Christmas time
The Holly good season we know
And isn't it fun just pretending you're one
Of the kids as they play in the snow
There'll be times when you think of
This Christmas time
Many years many years from today
And I hope you remember
This day in December
As warm letters warm yours and mind
'Cause to me it's a wonder
The wonder of Christmas time
Santa and the Three Bears is a 1970 animated featurette, which aired on television regularly during the holiday season. It was later released on video in 1992 by Kids Klassics and distributed by GoodTimes Home Video in the VHS format with the original live-action sequences at the beginning and end of the film edited out.
Originally this 46 minute feature contained live-action sequences which ran for 2 minutes at the beginning of the film, and 2 minutes at the end of the film. These live-action sequences featured actor Hal Smith and two young children (Brian Hobbs and Beth Goldfarb) sitting in a cabin and conversing by the fireplace and Christmas tree, and a short montage of mechanical toys, Christmas decorations, and a pet kitten during the opening and closing credits.
The film was originally pitched to TV networks, who rejected it as it lacked a villain, but was then shown in theaters instead. This special has been rerun on TBN, USA Network, FOX Family (Now Freeform), and on KTLA channel 5 in Los Angeles.
Two young bears, Nikomi and Chinook, know nothing of Christmas until the local park ranger tells them about the legend, and they become curious to meet Santa Claus. Their mother, Nana, is preparing for Winter hibernation and cynically tells her children that there is no Santa, but they are determined to believe. Mother finds it impossible to begin their sleep, since the young cubs wish to stay awake until Santa arrives.
Oh what a wonder of Christmas time
The happiest time of the year
When children are waiting
Intently debating if Santa will ever appear
They're expecting a wonderful Christmas time
And it's ever so easy to see
That the first sign of Kris Kringle
All hearts will ring
Jing-a-Ling through his jolly whole rhyme
And the wonder of Christmas time
Oh what a wonder of Christmas time
The Holly good season we know
And isn't it fun just pretending you're one
Of the kids as they play in the snow
There'll be times when you think of
This Christmas time
Many years many years from today
And I hope you remember
This day in December
As warm letters warm yours and mind
'Cause to me it's a wonder
The wonder of Christmas time
