Watch: Kate Gosselin Reveals How She Budgets Her 8 Kids' Christmas GiftsThe voice of Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, happy-and prolific-soul. While Jackie Vernon-who brought the character to life in the 1969 animated holiday special-welcomed three children with wife Hazel Vernon during his lifetime, the late stand-up comic allegedly fathered several kids that he kept hidden from other family members. Jackie's son David Vernon revealed he learned of his father's past during a surprise visit to his family home from an unexpected guest during his youth. "There was a woman there with a kid who was older than I was," David said on the Nov. 30 episode of Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia. "He was probably in his late teens and a little rough around the edges looking." When the woman asked to speak with Jackie, David told her that he was "on the road" at the time. The woman then demanded to speak with his mother, which led to a bombshell revelation.readThe 18 Hap-Hap-Happiest Secrets About Christmas Vacation Revealed"I heard a somewhat heated conversation going on, and then a couple of minutes later they left," he continued. "It finally kind of came out that before our family, my dad had been married at least three other times, which I was kind of shocked to find out." David also detailed the discovery of his dad's older kids, including one fact that seemingly bound them all.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Rankin/Bass Productions"From these marriages, he had sons, and he named them all Ralph after himself-after his original name, Ralph Verrone," David shared. "But he also abandoned all these families, moved on." As Jackie advanced in age, he battled depression and addiction, which David described as "a hard struggle" for the comedian. But in his final years before his death in 1987 at age 63, Jackie came to find joy in Frosty's evergreen quality. "One of the last Christmases that my dad was around, we all watched it together and he was so proud of it," David recalled. "He enjoyed it, he laughed at it. He was so happy he had done it and it became a very warm spot in his heart that I loved seeing that for him."For more Christmas classics to revisit this holiday season, keep reading...
Paramount PicturesWhite ChristmasIf you've ever dreamed of a white Christmas then you might have this iconic 1954 film to thank for it. White Christmas is one of the greatest holiday films ever made and 60 plus years after it came out fans are still singing along to songs like "Sisters," "White Christmas" and "Snow" as they decorate their tree and watch two song-and-dance team partners-Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kayne)-team up and fall in love with a sister act-Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera Ellen)-while putting on the greatest show Vermont has ever seen.
Moviestore/ShutterstockThe Santa ClauseAfter Santa falls off his roof and dies on Christmas Eve, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is recruited to take his place thanks to the Santa clause. Along the way his life changes in ways he never thought possible, his son becomes more and more obsessed with him and things get interesting as he prepares to take over as the big guy.20th Century Fox/Kobal/ShutterstockMiracle on 34th StreetWhen it comes to the holidays we fully support watching Miracle on 34th Street no matter which actors you prefer. The story of a lawyer and a sweet little girl trying to prove that a man who claims to be Santa Claus is the real thing has been brought to life twice and both versions are wonderful. In 1947, the first film premiered with Maureen O'Hara as Doris Walker, Natalie Wood as Susan Walker (the little girl), John Payne as Fred Gailey (the lawyer), and Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle. Then in 1994, the tale was brought back to life-this time in color-with Elizabeth Perkins as Dorey Walker, Mara Wilson as Susan Walker (the little girl), Dylan McDermott as Bryan Bedford (the lawyer) and Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle.20th Century Fox/Kobal/ShutterstockHome AloneHome Alone brought Macaulay Culkin to super stardom at the hands of John Hughes and the memorable story of an eight-year-old kid named Kevin McCallister who gets left home by accident when his family travels to Paris for the holidays. When his house falls victim to two burglars, he must do everything he can to protect his home, including set booby traps of flying paint cans, sharp ornaments on the floor and a blow torch. It's iconic and we can't help but love this movie. PS: Home Alone 2 is also worth a watch at Christmas.
Buena Vista PicturesThe Nightmare Before ChristmasWho says you can't have a Halloween and a Christmas movie all rolled into one? The Nightmare Before Christmas marries both holidays as the Pumpkin King Jack Skellington discovers that there are other towns, including Christmas Town, which he wants to incorporate into Halloween Town. The Tim Burton film of course gets a little dark and twisted as Jack tries to navigate changing his town and bringing Christ