Yule Log

[TheFugitive]

Some interesting stuff I came across regarding the Yule Log, that holiday TV tradition where they'll show a log burning in a fireplace accompanied by Christmas music for hours on end.

The original Yule Log aired on WPIX-TV in New York City in 1966.  The station manager thought it would be a nice Christmas gift to New Yorkers, most of whom lived in apartments that did not have fireplaces.  He thought it would bring some Holiday warmth into their homes.  The original Yule Log was shot on 16mm film and run as a loop with classic Christmas music in the background.  The music was simulcast on WPIX-FM (and would be until that station changed formats in 1988).

The log was filmed at Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York.  The screen in front of the fireplace was removed in order to provide a more clear view of the flames.  The result of this decision was that a spark escaped from the fireplace and set fire to an antique rug valued at $4000.

After four Christmases the color on the 16mm film was visibly faded.  WPIX asked Gracie Mansion for permission to film another log, but they were denied due to the destroyed rug.  So they scoured the country and found another almost identical fireplace in a private home in California.  They made arrangements to shoot a new 35mm version of Yule Log there (in August, making that man's house insufferably hot) and this was the version they'd use for many years.

WPIX stopped airing Yule Log in 1989 after the station manager retired and his replacement did not like airing that many hours of programming without commercials.  It returned twelve years later when the station decided that a New York shaken by the events of 9/11 could use a little video comfort food.

Yule Logs in some fashion now run on many broadcast and cable outlets around the world, as well as a number of streaming services.  The 1970 version from WPIX is available on YouTube.

The original 1966 version was thought to be lost, until it was rediscovered in the WPIX film archive in 2016.  It was found by the producer of a documentary who was searching the archive for clips of Donald Trump, as he was in the process of running for President and they were making a film about his run.

The home stadium of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders decided to run Yule Log on their video scoreboard and the mezzanine video boards that ran around the perimeter of the seating areas in 2012.  They had to discontinue the practice however after numerous 911 calls were made reporting that the stadium was on fire.