![]() A DJ from the local radio station reads a short story about Richard Smith and points to the songwriter’s childhood home, where a lighted Christmas tree sits in his bedroom window. Every year, the Greater Honesdale Parnership (a local business group) has an Annual Santa Parade that starts at Main Street and ends at Central Park. The Wayne County Historical Society placed a marker outside Richard Smith’s childhood home on Church Street, in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Other reports say Richard Smith lived long enough to hear Guy Lombard and his orchestra, the Royal Canadians, perform his song the Christmas before he died. Some reports say he died before he could hear the music Felix Bernard made for “Winter Wonderland”. Sadly, Richard Smith died in 1935, at the age of 34. (Many Christmas songs were written and/or composed by Jewish musicians.) He set out to compose a melody to go along with the poem. He was a Jewish musician who was touched by Richard Smith’s poem. In 1934, Richard Smith showed his “Winter Wonderland” poem to his friend Felix Bernard. At the time the poem was written, parsons traveled through the country performing interdenominational services and ceremonies when no one else was available to do so. A parson was an independent priest of the Protestant faith who was not associated with any specific parishes or churches. He was a made up character intended to represent parsons. “Winter Wonderland” mentions Parson Brown. ![]() The money from the stamps went to National Tuberculosis Association. In the 1920’s and 1930’s, people bought Christmas Seals (stamps) that had images of Santa Claus on them. It was the most common cause of death throughout the 19th century. It was a highly contagious disease that primarily affected the lungs but also caused other body tissue to waste away. Tuberculosis was also called consumption. Smith, claimed her brother was inspired by the beauty of the freshly fallen snow in the park when he wrote the “Winter Wonderland” poem. While being treated, he entered contests for jingles and ads for companies. He was in the West Mountain Sanitarium being treated for tuberculosis. A local man named Richard Smith wrote a poem in 1934. The origins of “Winter Wonderland” start in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The story behind “Winter Wonderland” is one that not everyone is aware of. It is a familiar song that your relatives may have sung while Christmas caroling, or you might have sung in a school choir. ![]() In 2011, ASCAP announced that the song was the third most played holiday song that year, behind " Sleigh Ride" and " Winter Wonderland.One of the most well known Christmas songs is “Winter Wonderland”. In 2006, ASCAP announced that it was the most-played holiday song of the previous five years, and while many artists had recorded it, Cole's version was still by far the most popular. The song became more popular than ever in the '00s, as radio stations in a variety of formats added it to their holiday playlists every year. In the UK, the song was released several times, reaching its peak chart position of #69 in 1991. Cole recorded another version (this time in stereo) in 1961, and this one was issued as a single in 1962, making #65 in the US. Capitol Records released it again in December of 1960 as part of Cole's Christmas album The Magic of Christmas. Cole recorded it again in 1953 with Nelson Riddle, who was an ace arranger at Capitol famous for his sessions with Frank Sinatra. The no-strings version was shelved (later released in 1989 on a Rhino compilation called Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits 1935-1954), and the strings version issued - it made #3 in the US and hung around the charts even after Christmas. They were the big act on Columbia Records, who had them re-record the song with a string section - the first time the trio used strings on a record. When it snows, aint it thrilling, Though your nose gets a. In the meadow we can build a snowman, And pretend that hes a circus clown Well have lots of fun with mister snowman, Until the other kiddies knock him down. ![]() Nat King Cole recorded this for the first time in 1946 with his group The Nat King Cole Trio. Gone away is the bluebird, Here to stay is a new bird Hes singing a love song, As we go along, Walking in a winter wonderland.
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