A Scrooge for the Ages

HISTORY This Week

The HISTORY® Channel | Back Pocket Studios

History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 22 December 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

December 27, 1853. On a freezing, snowy night in Birmingham, England, 2,000 people have lined up outside the town hall. They’ve braved the temperatures for a landmark performance, Charles Dickens’ first reading of A Christmas Carol. The tale will become an international sensation and beloved Christmas tradition. In this special episode of HISTORY This Week, we bring you a classic 1949 rendition of the story starring Vincent Price, so you can decide for yourself: What is it about A Christmas Carol that’s endured for over 150 years?

** This episode originally aired December 21, 2020.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, History This Week listeners. It's Sally here. As we are heading to the end of the year,
0:05.7	I just wanted to thank you all for sticking with us these last five years. We really do love
0:12.6	bringing these stories to you every week, and we cannot wait to keep it going in 2026. If you
0:18.4	like what you have been hearing, you can always support our work by subscribing
0:21.7	to History This Week Plus exclusively on Apple Podcasts. You can also get email notifications
0:27.6	and bonus content by signing up at History This Weekpodcast.com. And of course, you can follow us on
0:34.1	Instagram or Facebook. Thank you so much for listening. We could not make this show without you. This festive season of McDonald's get... Grinched deals every day. Okay, okay. With a sausage sandwich for just... Let's see, 9-9-N-P. Six chiggin-McNuggets for just... 9-N-A-P. Fine. Get Grinch deals every day in the McDonald's app. Hic-ha-ha-ha-ha. 18 plus, and ap. Fine. Get Grinch deals every day in the McDonald's app.
0:57.1	18 plus app only.
0:58.2	Ends 24th of December.
0:59.2	One use per offer.
0:59.8	Fee's apply to delivery.
1:00.6	Participation varies.
1:01.4	Teas and Cs apply.
1:03.6	History this week.
1:05.7	December 27th, 1853.
1:09.8	I'm Sally Helm.
1:12.7	Charles Dickens likes to prepare for a reading
1:15.9	with a series of rituals,
1:18.5	aimed at protecting his voice
1:20.1	and maybe loosening up for the performance.
1:23.0	For breakfast, he'll have two tablespoons of rum with cream.
1:27.4	At tea time, a pint of champagne.
	...

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