Guest post by Nathan Arizona
This song was almost called “Tinkle Bells” until the wife of one of the writers explained that “tinkle” has certain connotations. So they changed it to “Silver Bells” and found themselves with what would be one of our most popular Christmas standards.
Jay Livingston and Ray Evans wrote the song in 1950 for the Bob Hope movie ”The Lemon Drop Kid,” based on a Damon Runyon story about a shady racetrack-tout who goes to New York City to find money to pay back a threatening gangster in Florida. When he sees all the coins being tossed into Santa Claus kettles he finds his own Santa suit and kettle then waits for the free money to pour in. He wasn’t collecting for George Costanza’s “Human Fund,” but he might as well have been.
Hope and Marilyn Maxwell perform the song as they stroll the festive city streets of a Hollywood back lot. But not before Fred Mertz (uh, William Frawley) has a crack at it. They hear him growling out the song as another Santa and decide to take over, ringing their silver bells along the way. The urban setting is kind of rare for a Christmas song.
Bing Crosby and Carol Richards recorded the song in 1950 after the movie was shot but before it came out. That version was so successful that Paramount went back and shot a more elaborate version of the scene for the film’s release in 1951.
Here’s the movie scene.
Here’s a short clip of William Frawley’s non-mellifluous version.
And now Der Bingle, who scored one of his many hits with it.
https://youtu.be/0GBuR9I9DuM