Island of Lost Christmas Specials: Maureen O'Sullivan in "Lamb in the Manger" (1953)

Christmas Eve, 1962 newspaper ad for "Lamb In The Manger" starring Maureen O'Sullivan

"Lamb In the Manger"
Lost Nativity Christmas Special produced by Hal Roach and starring Maureen O'Sullivan.
Syndicated beginning December 1953; distributed 1953 - c. 1965.

“The Lamb In The Manger” was a Christmas special "as told by Maureen O’Sullivan to her children" that was syndicated to numerous TV markets in the United States for at least 12 years, before disappearing.

Around 1951 the Hal Roach Studios famous producers of the Our Gang/Little Rascals and Laurel And Hardy comedy series, made a TV show pilot for children called “The Children’s Hour”. Each episode would feature four segments, one of which would have been a Bible story, all hosted/narrated by actress Maureen O’Sullivan (1911-1998), still recognizable today for her years as Tarzan’s Jane. There were a number of press releases announcing this series between 1951 and 1953, but I have found no proof that this series actually aired. However fragmentary elements reportedly existed in one public library.

Beginning in 1953, a Christmas special also produced by Roach and starring Miss O’Sullivan called “The Lamb In the Manger” was syndicated around the country. All that is known is about it is that O'Sullivan narrated the story of the birth of Christ to a group of children, with some advertisements claiming that they were her own. Originally distributed by Comet Films, it was later syndicated with other Christmas films like “A Christmas Carol” (1949, the one narrated by Vincent Price) as part of a package by (NTA) National Telefilm Associates.

Unlike the 1949 "Christmas Carol", and several other vintage 1950s Christmas specials which have survived to this day in public domain prints, the "Manger" special has not been seen in decades. From examining TV listings across the continental United States this special was seen in many broadcast areas until it disappeared after 1965. It is very obscure and is not even included in either Maureen O’Sullivan’s or Hal Roach’s filmography. A print is not listed in any known archives catalog. As a syndicated film it is hoped that a copy may turn up eventually.

If you remember this lost Christmas classic, or are aware of an existing print, I would love to hear from you. Please email archivebuilder@gmail.com with the subject heading "Lamb In The Manger".

Sources for this article include multiple press releases and TV schedules printed between 1953 - 1965.

"Island of Lost Christmas Specials", a mythical place where many film reels and audio recordings could be found.