Here's what Christmas meant to Lucille Ball, Mike Connors and more in 1973

Here's what Christmas meant to these six celebrities, guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit!

The Everett Collection

For celebrities such as Lucille Ball, Mike Connors and Mary Tyler Moore, Christmas has many meanings. From spending time with family to holiday shopping and giving back to the community, there is a little Christmas spirit in each of them. 

Let's take a look at what these six celebrities said in an 1973 interview with a Kingsport Times and a 1981 interview with The Modesto Bee when asked "What does Christmas mean to you?"

1. Mary Tyler Moore

 

Image credit: The Everett Collection

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

"Christmas to me means family - family and presents and wrapping paper and ribbon; a tree and lights and holly and all sorts of decorations, indoors and out. (It means) tripping over the dogs and keeping them away from the cookies; Christmas cards on the piano and the mantel and new names hastily added to old lists; and a big, big family dinner - that's what Christmas means at our house."

2. Lucille Ball

 

Image credit: The Everett Collection

I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show

"Christmas means getting to gather with the kids and all the family, at home or in Snowmass, Colo., where I have a condominium. Ironically, I broke my leg skiing right after I bough this place, but the mishap hasn't kept me off skis. I get everyone together and we go cross-country skiing. I just love it. I pack picnic baskets and away we go! This year... we'll gather at home in Beverly Hills and have an old-fashioned Christmas dinner with turkey, cranberry sauce and persimmon cake."

3. Mike Connors

 

Image credit: The Everett Collection

Mannix

"To me, Christmas means a time when love of family and friends is more openly expressed. The tragedy of the American family is that the emotion of love is usually buried and only surfaces during the Christmas season. Let's hope the philosophy of the present Love Generation rectifies all that!"

4. Dennis Weaver

 

Image credit: The Everett Collection

Gunsmoke

"I attend the Church of Self Realization, and I have come to understand that an individual's peace is carried within him. The object of our senses doesn't have the power to make us happy. For example, you see a hat and you buy it. Then you're happy, you say. But when you get it, almost immediately the pleasure begins to fade away. If it had the power within itself to make happiness, then it would do so for everybody. But it doesn't. So you see, it's what's within you that creates peace and breeds gentleness. And that's the way I feel about Christmas - it's a time to get in touch with the feelings within you."

5. Lynda Carter

 

Image credit: The Everett Collection

Wonder Woman

"Games are a good bet for gifts, because they encourage families to interact - something that isn't done enough today. My favorite gifts to buy are the ones for needy children. I usually buy about 200 toys. But my real reward is hearing from them afterward, and knowing how much the gifts mean to them."

6. Erik Estrada

 

Image credit: The Everett Collection

CHiPs

"I'm really into health and fitness - and I'm always trying to win over new recruits - so I do a lot of my Christmas shopping at a good sporting goods store. Try it, you'll like it."

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29 Comments

Runeshaper 29 days ago
This was an excellent article! I really enjoyed the insight into reading what Christmas 🎄 means to the celebs. Thanks, MeTV 📺!
Avie 29 days ago
I don't think that Erik Estrada quite grasped the nature of the question posed to him. Or, just as likely, it may be that the person culling old press clippings for this piece went looking in the wrong place.
Sooner 30 days ago
The real meaning of Christmas. . .
BuckeyeBeth 1 month ago
I really like Mike Connors philosophy about the whole thing. I agree with him that it’s a shame that lots of families only consider the holidays as a time to reconnect and show their affection with their extended family.

And in my personal opinion I think the Lynda Carter quote wasn’t quite explained correctly. Granted I don’t know the woman personally so I can’t say but to me it read more like she was trying to say she likes hearing from the children who she gave gifts to so she knows they actually enjoyed the gifts versus just getting the children’s praises for her ego. That the important thing was making the kids happy with whatever present it was versus herself ❤️
JHP 1 month ago
Mr Weaver - are you a kin to me? My thoughts are lock step with yours:)
bdettlingmetv 26 months ago
Ah Mike and Dennis; you ol' hippies, you! Definitely a surprise to me to read about their philosophies. Well stated by each, though. I agree with PacificSun's assessment on Lucy, Lynda, and Erik.
gracefulgiraffe 26 months ago
It's a shame and so sad that none of these mentioned the real reason for Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ.
I’m not sure if Jesus would actually agree with you on that one. That it’s only to celebrate his birthday. Personally I would think he would be pleased that it’s a season to remember to do for others and to connect back again with our own families, which I don’t think we do enough during the year.
When you get hyper-fixated on only the actual birth (wrong time of year anyways) and completely forget about the rest of the feelings of Goodwill and charity to others it seems a bit short sighted.
tootsieg 26 months ago
Christmas is a special time and it was nice to read how some of the stars feel about Christmas.
Runeshaper 26 months ago
Thanks for sharing, MeTV! This article provides good insight into how some of these famous actors and actresses think and feel about Christmas (-:
Pacificsun 26 months ago
I found all of their reactions uniquely individual and surprising. MTM was expected and seems to represent her personality and the kind of roles she played. Sounds like a loving, traditional holiday celebration. I was fascinated by Mike Connor's and Dennis Weaver's sort of philosophical reactions. I assumed MC was tight with his Armenian heritage. Lynda Carter and Erik Estrada, either didn't understand the question or might be a different faith or tradition; yet thoughtful, charitable and giving. Lucille Ball seemed to have a knack for expressing affluence combined with family values.

An interesting insight into all of them. Thanks MeTV Staff for a creative and timely Story. You've been spoiling us lately with lots to read!!
MrsPhilHarris 26 months ago
I wonder if Lucy invited Desi to Christmas dinner? 🤔
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Pacificsun Moverfan 21 months ago
I couldn't find any image pairings as such.

But I didn't know that he and Tim Conway were such close friends, who (by his Facebook) posting mentions they had dinner every week.
JHP MrsPhilHarris 1 month ago
yeah but he made arroz con pollo (one of my all time favs)
JHP Pacificsun 1 month ago
that's Charlie Rich :)
cperrynaples 26 months ago
Both Lynda Carter & Erik Estrada were unknown in 1973! I would accept 1977 but not 1973!
Michael cperrynaples 26 months ago
And wasn't Dennis Weaver McCloud by then?
BrittReid cperrynaples 26 months ago
Lynda Carter was Miss World USA in 1972. Hardly unknown.
cperrynaples Michael 26 months ago
Dennis Weaver was McCloud, but MeTV doesn't show it now!
Bricat2001 cperrynaples 26 months ago
McCloud is on cozi now on saturdays
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