Shining Time Station: 'Tis A Gift
Encyclopedia
Shining Time Station: 'Tis A Gift is the Christmas special of the PBS
television series Shining Time Station
.
It takes place during the Christmas
season at Shining Time Station. The scene opens with Mr. Conductor (Ringo Starr
) with an axe over one shoulder, dragging a miniature evergreen along the top of a bench heading towards his home.
The station is filled with people trying to catch trains to take them to see their families. Even Schemer (Brian O'Connor) is in a good mood, because the Indian Valley committee is putting on a Christmas pageant and he is almost certain to get the part of Santa's helper. The kids, Matt (Jason Woliner
) and Tanya (Nicole Leach
), write letters to Santa Claus and Mr. Conductor sends them on their way. He then tells the kids the story of the time Thomas the Tank Engine
had a Christmas Party:
An old man, Mr. Nicholas (Lloyd Bridges
), enters the station carrying a Christmas tree with Harry's cousin Tucker Cupper (Ardon Bess
), and immediately knows everything about Stacy Jones (Didi Conn
) from when she was a little girl. Mr. Nicholas says he is there to catch the Northern Star, a train that doesn't run on that railway, but Mr. Nicholas is confident it will come.
Meanwhile, Stacy agrees to watch Claire's (Judy Marshak) daughter, Vickie (Rachel Miner), a bratty little girl, at the station. Matt and Tanya dislike her because of her attitude. She meets Mr. Nicholas who teaches her to be nice to people and it soon begins to work; Schemer's mom has made him a Santa's helper costume and he begins his campaign against Stacy by telling Midge Smoot (Bobo Lewis
), J.B. King (Mart Hulswit) and the Mayor (Jerome Dempsey) untrue things about her. Mr. Conductor tells the kids another story from the Island of Sodor:
Mr. Nicholas (actually Santa Claus
) is still waiting for the Northern Star. To everyone's surprise, the train pulls into the station as he had predicted. Meanwhile, the fighting continues over who will play the part of Santa's helper. Mr. Nicholas encourages Vickie to use her gift of song to quell the conflict. Her singing of the 1848 Shaker song "Simple Gifts" reminds them all of the true spirit of Christmas. Harmony is restored as all gather around the tree to celebrate the power of believing.
The second season casting change from Mr. Starr to George Carlin as Mr. Conductor would be explained by Starr's character having left Shining Time Station to go with Mr. Nicholas to the North Pole. While there is a brief encounter at the end of this program between Mr. Nicholas and Mr. Conductor, nothing in the story actually mentions Mr. Conductor's departure.
The snowy winter footage used for the opening and closing sequences was filmed at the Grand Canyon Railway
between Williams, Arizona
and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The final filmed scene of the title sequence shows the train pulling into the former Santa Fe Railway station at Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. The historic Bright Angel Lodge and El Tovar Hotel are in the background nearby. The steam locomotive shown is #18, a 2-8-0 type. Number 18 appears again during the third musical number, "It's Christmastime at the Railway Station" and also contributes the sound of its whistle, a Southern Pacific six-chime, for Mr. Nicholas's heard-but-not-seen "Northern Star." This locomotive now resides at the Mount Hood Railroad
in Oregon
.
The Jukebox Band
Ginny the farmer is not included in this special.
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
television series Shining Time Station
Shining Time Station
Shining Time Station is an American children's television series co-created by Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow. The series was produced by The Britt Allcroft Company and Quality Family Entertainment in New York for New York City PBS Station WNET, and was filmed first in New York and then in Toronto...
.
It takes place during the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
season at Shining Time Station. The scene opens with Mr. Conductor (Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
) with an axe over one shoulder, dragging a miniature evergreen along the top of a bench heading towards his home.
The station is filled with people trying to catch trains to take them to see their families. Even Schemer (Brian O'Connor) is in a good mood, because the Indian Valley committee is putting on a Christmas pageant and he is almost certain to get the part of Santa's helper. The kids, Matt (Jason Woliner
Jason Woliner
Jason Woliner is an American comedy director, writer, editor and also a former child actor. He is the non-performing member of the comedy group "Human Giant" and has directed the bulk of their output. The group, which also consists of comedians Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, and Paul Scheer, produced an...
) and Tanya (Nicole Leach
Nicole Leach
Nicole Leach is an American actress and singer. She attended Montclair High School. Leach attended Brown University, where she studied anthropology....
), write letters to Santa Claus and Mr. Conductor sends them on their way. He then tells the kids the story of the time Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
had a Christmas Party:
- The story is called Thomas' Christmas Party.
- Mrs. Kyndley, and old friend of Thomas' who lived by the railway, had once stopped Thomas just in time before he got into a nasty accident and Thomas realized the other engines: Gordon, James, Henry, Edward and Percy have never thanked her properly so Thomas proposes they throw a Christmas party, but then Sir Topham HattThe Fat ControllerThe Fat Controller is the head of the railway in The Railway Series of books written by the Rev. W. V. Awdry. In the first two books in the series he is known as The Fat Director...
had bad news: Mrs. Kyndley was snowed in and had to be rescued, so Thomas, Toby and Percy head out to do just that and are successful and when they return to the shed, they have their Christmas party!
An old man, Mr. Nicholas (Lloyd Bridges
Lloyd Bridges
Lloyd Vernet Bridges, Jr. was an American actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. Bridges is best known for his role of Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt, the most-popular syndicated American TV series in 1958...
), enters the station carrying a Christmas tree with Harry's cousin Tucker Cupper (Ardon Bess
Ardon Bess
Ardon Bess is a Canadian actor best known for appearing in a Heritage Moment television commercial about the 1958 Springhill mining disaster portraying survivor Maurice Ruddick...
), and immediately knows everything about Stacy Jones (Didi Conn
Didi Conn
Didi Conn is an American film, stage and television actress.-Personal life:Conn was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of a clinical psychologist. "Didi" was her childhood nickname...
) from when she was a little girl. Mr. Nicholas says he is there to catch the Northern Star, a train that doesn't run on that railway, but Mr. Nicholas is confident it will come.
Meanwhile, Stacy agrees to watch Claire's (Judy Marshak) daughter, Vickie (Rachel Miner), a bratty little girl, at the station. Matt and Tanya dislike her because of her attitude. She meets Mr. Nicholas who teaches her to be nice to people and it soon begins to work; Schemer's mom has made him a Santa's helper costume and he begins his campaign against Stacy by telling Midge Smoot (Bobo Lewis
Bobo Lewis
Barbara "Bobo" Lewis was an American comedic actress of film, musical theatre, stage and television.-Stage roles:...
), J.B. King (Mart Hulswit) and the Mayor (Jerome Dempsey) untrue things about her. Mr. Conductor tells the kids another story from the Island of Sodor:
- The story is called Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree.
- It was almost Christmas on Sodor. Thomas went to get a Christmas tree but got stuck in a bank of snow. Donald and Douglas saved him and when they come to the big station, they have a Christmas party!
Mr. Nicholas (actually Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
) is still waiting for the Northern Star. To everyone's surprise, the train pulls into the station as he had predicted. Meanwhile, the fighting continues over who will play the part of Santa's helper. Mr. Nicholas encourages Vickie to use her gift of song to quell the conflict. Her singing of the 1848 Shaker song "Simple Gifts" reminds them all of the true spirit of Christmas. Harmony is restored as all gather around the tree to celebrate the power of believing.
The second season casting change from Mr. Starr to George Carlin as Mr. Conductor would be explained by Starr's character having left Shining Time Station to go with Mr. Nicholas to the North Pole. While there is a brief encounter at the end of this program between Mr. Nicholas and Mr. Conductor, nothing in the story actually mentions Mr. Conductor's departure.
The snowy winter footage used for the opening and closing sequences was filmed at the Grand Canyon Railway
Grand Canyon Railway
The Grand Canyon Railway , is a passenger railroad which operates between Williams, Arizona, and Grand Canyon National Park South Rim.-Santa Fe Ownership:...
between Williams, Arizona
Williams, Arizona
Williams is a city in Coconino County, Arizona, United States west of Flagstaff. Its population was 2,842 at the 2000 census; according to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,094. It lies on the route of Historic Route 66, Interstate 40, and the Southwest Chief Amtrak...
and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The final filmed scene of the title sequence shows the train pulling into the former Santa Fe Railway station at Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. The historic Bright Angel Lodge and El Tovar Hotel are in the background nearby. The steam locomotive shown is #18, a 2-8-0 type. Number 18 appears again during the third musical number, "It's Christmastime at the Railway Station" and also contributes the sound of its whistle, a Southern Pacific six-chime, for Mr. Nicholas's heard-but-not-seen "Northern Star." This locomotive now resides at the Mount Hood Railroad
Mount Hood Railroad
The Mount Hood Railroad is a heritage and shortline freight railroad located in Hood River, Oregon, east of Portland, Oregon, United States....
in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Cast
- Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
as Mr. Conductor - Didi ConnDidi ConnDidi Conn is an American film, stage and television actress.-Personal life:Conn was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of a clinical psychologist. "Didi" was her childhood nickname...
as Stacy Jones - Brian O'Connor as Schemer
- Jason WolinerJason WolinerJason Woliner is an American comedy director, writer, editor and also a former child actor. He is the non-performing member of the comedy group "Human Giant" and has directed the bulk of their output. The group, which also consists of comedians Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, and Paul Scheer, produced an...
as Matt Jones - Nicole LeachNicole LeachNicole Leach is an American actress and singer. She attended Montclair High School. Leach attended Brown University, where she studied anthropology....
as Tanya Cupper - Lloyd BridgesLloyd BridgesLloyd Vernet Bridges, Jr. was an American actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. Bridges is best known for his role of Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt, the most-popular syndicated American TV series in 1958...
as Mr. Nicholas - Ardon BessArdon BessArdon Bess is a Canadian actor best known for appearing in a Heritage Moment television commercial about the 1958 Springhill mining disaster portraying survivor Maurice Ruddick...
as Tucker Cupper - Jerome Dempsey as Mayor Floppdinger
- Mart Hulswit as J.B. King Esquire
- Judy Marshak as Claire
- Rachel MinerRachel MinerRachel Miner is a Broadway, film and television actress, born in New York City.-Personal life:A third generation Miner in show business, she is the daughter of director and teacher Peter Miner and the granddaughter of director/producer Worthington Miner and actress Frances Fuller...
as Vickie - Bobo LewisBobo LewisBarbara "Bobo" Lewis was an American comedic actress of film, musical theatre, stage and television.-Stage roles:...
as Midge Smoot
The Jukebox Band
- Jonathan Freeman as Tito
- Olga Marin as Didi
- Vaneese Thomas as Grace
- Alan Semok as Tex
- Craig Flegemacher Marin as Rex
Trivia
- On the TV version the Thomas stories were Terence the Tractor and Thomas' Christmas Party. But on the VHS version they were Thomas' Christmas Party and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree.
- On the VHS version, when the Thomas story Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree was shown, it was actually the UK version, but with the lines mentioning Sir Topham HattThe Fat ControllerThe Fat Controller is the head of the railway in The Railway Series of books written by the Rev. W. V. Awdry. In the first two books in the series he is known as The Fat Director...
removed. (Sir Topham Hatt is known in the UK as "The Fat Controller"; since this was the U.S. version of the episode, it would have required redubbing the lines to change the name.) - On TV, the Thomas story Terence the Tractor was taken from the episode Agree to Disagree.
- This special is dedicated to all those who have helped build Shining Time Station.
- The tune Mr. Conductor is singing before being interrupted to say hello to the station's resident kids is the opening to Monty Python's "Lumberjack Song".
- This episode marked the beginning of a two-episode change in cast members. It followed season one; in the first episode of season two (Scare Dares, the Halloween episode), Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
and Leonard JacksonLeonard Jackson (actor)Leonard Jackson is an African-American stage, film, and television actor, perhaps most widely known for his roles in several PBS television series for children as well as his roles in films such as The Brother from Another Planet, Car Wash, and The Color Purple.-Early years and stage...
were replaced by George CarlinGeorge CarlinGeorge Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
and Tom JacksonTom Jackson (actor)Thomas Dale Jackson, OC , is a Canadian born Métis actor and singer perhaps best known for the annual series of Christmas concerts, called the Huron Carole, which he created and starred in for 17 years...
, respectively. Scare Dares featured both the children from season one and the new children that would remain throughout the series' run. - The music video, The Hobo Song, was originally going to be cut out as the producers felt it would be too emotional for younger viewers, but the final decision was made that it would be kept in as it conveyed an important message.
Ginny the farmer is not included in this special.