The Living Nativity

214: The Living Nativity

Preview:

Airdate

December 12, 1992

Last Aired

Date Recorded

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Recorded at

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Album

16: Flights of Imagination
Christmas Classics
Ultimate Christmas Collection

Cassette No.

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Length

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Theme

Religion

Genre

Christmas

Scripture

Romans 13:1-7

Written By

Marshal Younger

Directed By

Phil Lollar

Produced By

Bob Luttrell

Executive Producer

Chuck Bolte

Post-Production

Bob Luttrell

Engineer

Bob Luttrell

Music By

John Campbell

Songs By

Unknown

Inventions Used

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Rating

Current user rating: 89% (36 votes)

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Family Store

Best Intentions

The Living Nativity

Caroling, Caroling

Summary

When Bart Rathbone sees that the Living Nativity display is hurting his business, he tries to shut it down by bringing up the Constitutional 'separation of church and state'.

Plot

When the nativity display on City Hall grounds is vandalized and destroyed, Whit and the gang come up with a wonderful solution. They decide to do a “living nativity.” It will be complete with narration, costumes, Connie as the virgin Mary, and Eugene as a donkey. Everyone in town thinks it is a smashing success, everyone, that is, except Bart and Rodney Rathbone.

The display is near King's Appliance Cave and is taking customers away from the Electric Palace. Bart decides the living nativity must go! He calls the mayor and files a formal protest, upon which Mayor Bill Jenkins has no choice but to act. The police shut down the display.

Whit comes up with a solution, though: Instead of celebrating just Christmas, use the city hall lawn to celebrate all of the cultural events that take place in December as well, such as Hanukkah. It isn’t the perfect solution, but it is one that’s legal and one that satisfies almost everybody.

Discussion Questions

1. Why did Bart and Rodney want the living nativity stopped?
2. Is it illegal to have a nativity display on city hall property?
   • Why or why not?
3. Do you think Whit’s solution was a good one?
   • Explain.

Cast

Characters	Actors
Bart Rathbone	Walker Edmiston
Bill Jenkins	Phil Lollar
Connie Kendall	Katie Leigh
Eugene Meltsner	Will Ryan
John Whittaker	Hal Smith
Mr. King	Bob Luttrell
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz	Genni Long
Patrick O Ryan	Will Ryan
Rodney Rathbone	Steve Burns

Notes

• The controversial nature of this story launched an hour-long debate among the actors in the studio about the First Amendment and the true meaning of “separation of church and state.” While the discussion was healthy, it sure ate up a lot of studio time!
• This episode was Marshal Younger's writing debut
• Those responsible for the vandalism of the Nativity Scene have never been identified. One theory is that it's the Bones of Wrath.

Reviews

• The Town of Odyssey Message Boards: Read

Quotes

Bart Rathbone: There's something going on around here, and I am going to find out what it is.
Rodney Rathbone: Meaning you're gonna make me find out what it is.
Bart Rathbone: Exact-a-mundo!

---

Lucy Cunningham-Shultz: We also have six shepherds and four wise men. So we'll be giving Jesus gold, frankincense, myrrh and a pen-and-pencil set!
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