Behind the True Story Biography of a Log

If you grew up within viewing distance of New York City television, you know The Yule Log. For forty years (except for a small 11-year gap from 1990 to 2000), WPIX-TV has run a three-hour loop showing a burning fireplace. While soothing holiday music tinkled, the fire crackled on. It’s a hypnotic, mesmerizing show that gets even more hypnotic if you happen to be college-age and have something burning on your side of the screen, as well. Watch the log burn. Try to figure why it doesn’t burn out. Look for the tape edit…

The Yule Log always wins its time slot. And now, like the true star it is, it’s getting the Biography-Behind The Music-True Hollywood Story treatment.The WPIX Yule Log: A Log’s Life will air on WPIX Channel 11 Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. The hour-long special tells a history of the log and its scandals– including the one during its first (1966) Christmas season in the fireplace at NYC’s Gracie Mansion, when a producer removed the fireplace grate to give a better view of the flames, let a burning ember escape and ruined a $4,000 rug (there’s also the fact that future logs were filmed in Palo Alton, California–in the middle of the summer). The special also includes an interview with the son of Fred Thrower, who came up with the Yule Log idea as a gift to New Yorkers who lived in apartments without fireplaces.

The Yule Log has been available nationwide though WGN-TV and its Superstation. And there’s even a downloadable portable version, in case you’re on the road and in need of a fireplace.

(We’ve heard the Yule Log tape repeats itself every three seconds or so…)

–Tabloid Baby