10 Classic 1970s Christmas TV Specials for Free on YouTube

Below are 10 classic Christmas TV Specials from 1970-1979 currently available for free on YouTube. I don’t know about you, but one thing I miss about 21st century Christmastime is the lack of those wonderfully cheesy TV specials featuring Dean Martin and the Golddiggers or Andy Williams and the NBC kids. Thankfully, through the treasure that is YouTube, we can re-live these moments every season.

Why I Love Holiday TV Specials

I asked myself in preparing this post what exactly it is about these admittedly corny and hokey specials that appeals to me. I think it’s probably a combination of things.

First and foremost, they take me back to a time when things seemed a bit more innocent. I was born in 1973, so even the specials that pre-date me have a wonderfully nostalgic quality to them.

It is also enjoyable for me to see the odd combination of celebrities and to watch them being themselves (or pretending to be themselves) rather than portraying characters. I know there are still Christmas specials that come out nowadays, but they’re not quite the same as those that came out from the 70s to the 90s.

10 Christmas Specials from the 1970s on YouTube

Here are 10 Christmas specials, one from each year of the 1970s, that you can find for free on YouTube. When available, I have embedded the clip here so you can just sit back, watch and enjoy.

1) THE JOHNNY CASH CHRISTMAS SHOW (1970)

Originally Aired: December 25, 1970

Host: Johnny Cash

Guest Stars: The Statler Brothers, Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers and the Cash family

2) BING CROSBY AND THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS (1971)

Originally Aired: December 14, 1971

Host: Bing Crosby

Guest Stars: Robert Goulet, Mary Costa, Mitchell Singing Boys and the Crosby family

3) DEAN MARTIN CHRISTMAS SHOW (1972)

Originally Aired: December 21, 1972

Host: Dean Martin

Guest Stars: Lynn Anderson and Dom Deluise

4) JULIE’S CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (1973)

Originally Aired: December 14, 1973

Host: Julie Andrews

Guest Stars: Dougie Squires 2nd Generation, the Treorchy Male Voice Choir, Peter Ustinov and Peggy Lee

CLICK HERE TO WATCH JULIE’S CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

5) PERRY COMO’S CHRISTMAS SHOW (1974)

Originally Aired: December 17, 1974

Host: Perry Como

Guest Stars: Peggy Fleming, The Carpenters and Rich Little

6) CHER CHRISTMAS SHOW (1975)

Originally Aired: December 21, 1975

Host: Cher

Guest Stars: The Lennon Sisters, The Hudson Brothers, Redd Foxx and Chastity Bono

7) THE LAWRENCE WELK CHRISTMAS SHOW (1976)

Originally Aired: December 25, 1976

Host: Lawrence Welk

Guest Stars: various

8) BING CROSBY’S MERRIE OLDE CHRISTMAS (1977)

Originally Aired: November 30, 1977

Host: Bing Crosby

Guest Stars: Twiggy, David Bowie, Ron Moody, Stanley Baxter and Trinity Boys Choir

9) THE CARPENTERS: A CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT (1978)

Originally Aired: December 19, 1978

Hosts: Karen & Richard Carpenter

Guest Stars: Gene Kelly, Kristy McNichol, Jimmy McNichol, Georgia Engel and Peter Pit

10) JOHN DENVER AND THE MUPPETS – A CHRISTMAS TOGETHER (1979)

Originally Aired: December 15, 1979

Hosts: John Denver and The Muppets

Did any of these specials bring back any particular memories? Are there other holiday specials that have become a part of your annual holiday celebration? Share your memories with us below.

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