The Amazing Kreskin, above, had his name legally changed from
George Joseph Kresge. He had a syndicated TV series from 1971
to 1975 (The Amazing World of Kreskin) and appeared on the
Tonight Show with Johnny Carson 61 times from 1970 to 1980.
Kreskin is active today performing live and appears regularly 
on television in New York City.

Kreskin is seen here, on the right, with Johnny Carson and  
Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show. 

The popular Christmas carol was composed by Franz
Xaver  Gruber, an Austrian primary school teacher and
church organist. The lyrics were written by Rev. Joseph
Mohr, pictured below.

Ariana Richards played Lex Murphy and Joseph Mazzello
played her brother Tim  in the 1993 film Jurassic Park. Both
are seen here with director Steven Spielberg.

 
                   Ariana Richards (31)
   

               Joseph Mazzello (27)

The first Christmas Seals went on sale December 7, 1907
at the Wilmington, Delaware post office. Emily Bissell,
pictured below, was and active member of The American
Red Cross and had considerable experience with fund
raising. She was asked by her cousin, Dr. Joseph Wales
to help keep a sanitarium in operation through the winter.

Emily got the idea for the stamps from Denmark where a
group had raised money to help people with Tuberculosis.
She talked the local post office into selling the stamps in
the lobby for 1-cent. Bissell spent the remaining years
of her live promoting Christmas Stamps and helping
eliminate TB. She died in 1948.

                                 Emily Perkins Bissell

         Conducting the first sale of Christmas Stamps.

 

 The premier of “See It Now” was on this date in 1951. The TV
news magazine and documentary was created and hosted by
veteran newsman Edward R. Murrow. It aired weekly on CBS
from 1951 to 1958. The series won four Emmy Awards and
was nominated for three. It  also won a Peabody Award.

Murrow’s show focused on controversial issues in the 1950’s,
but was best remembered for it’s segment on Senator Joseph
McCarthy. This probe of the McCarthy-led anti-communist era
is the focus of the 2005 film…good night, and good luck.

                                   A scene from the movie.