Marie Matthews 1934-2024

Sad news to report, Marie Matthews, the singing voices of Young Scrooge and the Cratchit daughter in Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, and the last surviving cast member, has passed away after a long illness.  She is most well known for her touching rendition of Bob Merrill's heartfelt lyrics in "Alone in the World" from the classic 1962 animated TV special.

Although this was her most famous role, her singing voice can also be heard in a number of films: Julius Caesar (1953), The Egyptian (1954), Bhowani Junction (1956), Counterfeit Traitor (1962) and The Singing Nun (1966).  Later she appeared on screen in the TV movie Weekend Nun (1976) and in the series, Angie (1976). 

During the research phase on my book on the making of the groundbreaking special, Marie proved to be the most difficult cast or crew member to find.  There were numerous Marie Matthews in California and I considered it no small victory when, after numerous dead end letters and calls, I asked the man on the other end of the line if this was the number for the Marie Matthews that had sung in Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.  Yes, it is, replied her husband, Wayne, ending a months long search.

From L to R, Jack Cassidy, Marie Matthews and Joan Gardner

Marie had a fascinating story of how she came to be part of the cast, which is recounted in my book. Although it had been 45 years before, she provided key details about the song recording session which helped to flesh out the events of that momentous day.

Shortly after the book was published in 2009, Roberta and Judy Levitow were in New York at The Paley Center for Media and somehow the fact that their father, Abe Levitow, directed Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol came up which quickly led to a request for a presentation and screening of the classic animated special that December at the Paley.  I was asked to bring a cast or crew member to participate in the event and I approached Marie about joining me.  She readily agreed and ended up performing "Alone in the World" live and on stage for an appreciative audience.

Unbeknownst to me, Marie had never been to New York City.  Adding to the specialness of the trip, we visited St Patrick's Cathedral, where her father had once played the organ.

A few years later, and fifty years after the recording session, in 2012, Marie, her daughter Melinda and I were treated to a tour of the Warner Hollywood lot and the soundstage where she sang "Alone in the World" and "Lord's Bright Blessing," which was the subject of a previous blog post here.

Many times over the years, we would get together for a Christmas lunch at The Smokehouse restaurant in Burbank, which once shared a parking lot with the UPA studio, where Marie auditioned for the part and where the special was actually produced.  It had become a part of my Christmas tradition.

One of the hardest parts about researching and writing a book isn't the actual process, although that's plenty difficult, it's becoming friends with the interview subjects and then having to say goodbye, sometimes just a few years later.  Most everyone who graciously participated in the book has now left us and I'm grateful to have met and spent time with each one of them as well as having been able to tell their stories.  Marie will be missed by her children and grandchildren as well as the millions of viewers who were touched by her singing in Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.  It goes without saying that I will miss her, too.  Thank you for everything, Marie.

Back in print!

 After 8 years of being out of print, I'm pleased to announce that my book on the making of the first animated Christmas special is back in print!  But wait, there's more!  This edition is softcover but instead of reprinting the 2009 book, this is a reprint of the 2012 deluxe slipcased 50th anniversary edition, which had 48 more pages than the original and over 200 more images.  This edition has the added bonus of 2 more pages with 6 more rare photos from the song recording session, photos that were uncovered years after the deluxe edition had sold out.  

To sum up, this printing has 180 pages vs the original edition's 128 pages and 439 images vs 232 in the original.  Because of the limited print run of the deluxe version (only 250 copies), very few people have seen the extra material.  If you only own the first printing, you owe it to yourself to get this version, it's the most complete edition ever printed.  Available online only from the usual suspects like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The making of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

Welcome to my 100th post on this blog!  It's been 6 years since I published the first edition of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol: The Making of the First Animated Special, which recounted the virtually lost story of two Broadway songwriters, Styne and Merrill, and the once cutting-edge animation studio, UPA, both of whom had an outsized impact on all future animated Christmas specials.  The book that no publisher would take on went through two sold-out printings and an out-of-print special commemorative 50th anniversary edition because I decided the story was compelling enough to publish it myself.

I'm sorry to say that the limited print runs have ensured that any edition of the book you can find from third party vendors will now likely be both rare and pricey.  However, if you're looking for a special Christmas gift or just want to get the book before it's gone forever, I recently discovered a few treasures in storage so here's your last chance.  This is a list of the final remaining inventory:

First printing of the book, signed by the author and 9 of the original cast and crew, #50 of 50: Marie Matthews, Laura Olsher, Jane Kean, Bob Singer, Gloria Wood, David Weidman, Bob Inman, Marty Murphy and Anne Guenther.  $199

50th Anniversary Collector's Edition, signed by the author,  #204 of 250, #248 of 250.  This edition was revised and expanded from the first edition with 48 new pages and over 200 more images.  Includes a separate Blu-ray/DVD with bonus material, which features the lost Overture and one of the song demos played and sung by Styne and Merrill.  $175 each. 

If you'd like to purchase any of the above items, send me an email at info@oxberrypress.com.  First come, first served.

To all my readers over the years, have a Merry Christmas!

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, live

Douglas Sills, who will be performing the role of Magoo/Scrooge.

It's been talked about for years, doing a live, theatrical version of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol and here's what might be the first step--a benefit concert featuring all the songs from the special sung by current Broadway performers.  The event happens December 15th in New York, details can be found here.  I understand it's being sponsored by Jule Styne's widow, Margaret Styne, with several other key players laboring behind the scenes for the last 18 months or so to bring it to fruition.  If any of you are fortunate enough (or well-off enough) to see it, write in with details.  Here's hoping it leads to a full-blown theatrical staging: an animated musical set on the Broadway stage actually being performed on the Broadway stage!

Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol song folio

It only took 49 years but now, for the first time ever, a collection of the sheet music from Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol is available from Alfred Music Publishing.  It's a bound and illustrated folio containing all of the songs and lyrics from the special in their complete versions, including the deleted middle section of the singing waiters from “It’s Great to Be Back on Broadway”.  The edition includes a foreword by yours truly and was monitored and approved by the Styne estate. It’s a great compliment to last year’s DVD release and song release.  This a small press run so if you’ve been wanting to play and sing these tunes at home or include "Lord's Bright Blessing" as part of your Christmas caroling, don’t wait.  It’s available here now and in music stores, retailing for $14.99.  Amazon also has it here.