“And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore.”

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was broadcast for the first time on this date in 1966. It was on CBS.

Boris Karloff, June Foray, and Thurl Ravenscroft provided the voices for the Chuck Jones-animated film, but due to an error, only Karloff’s name appears in the credits. Ravenscroft, who was also the voice of Tony the Tiger and many other characters, sings “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

Dr. Seuss is said to have tried to remedy the acting credits oversight single-handedly with many letters to newspapers.

Karloff won a Grammy in the Spoken Word category for the soundtrack to the film; remarkably, it was the only performing award Karloff ever received in his long acting career.

“This sound wasn’t sad. This sound sounded glad!” A clip (after the jump):

 
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Jack “Legs” Diamond died 85 years ago today. Bobby Jones died 45 years ago today. Chris Farley died on this date in 1997. Kirsty MacColl died on this date in 2000. “They Don’t Know” from 1979, written and performed by Kirsty MacColl (Tracey Ullmann scored a hit with this a few years later):

 
Joseph Barbera died 10 years ago today.

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Paul Klee was born on this date in 1879. Ty Cobb was born on this date in 1886. Robert Moses was born on this date in 1888. Abe Burrows was born in 1910 on this date. Betty Grable was born 100 years ago today. Ossie Davis was born 99 years ago today. Bobby Keys was born in 1943 on this date. Steve Biko was born on this date in 1946.

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Attorney General Ramsey Clark is 89 today. Jacques Pépin is 81. Keith Richards is 73 today. “Hate It When You Leave,” live:

 
Steven Spielberg is 70. Leonard Maltin is 66. Ray Liotta is 62. Ron White is 60. Charles Oakley is 53. Brad Pitt is 53. Rob Van Dam is 46. Katie Holmes is 38. Christina Aguilera is 36.

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