Once upon a time, in the psychedelic world of Cheech and Chong, a holiday story unfolded. It all started when Cheech and Chong stumbled upon a mysterious bottle of magical dust. They had no idea how powerful this dust was, but being the adventurous duo that they were, they decided to give it a try. As soon as Cheech sprinkled the magical dust in the air, a burst of colors and sparkles filled the room. The room suddenly transformed into a winter wonderland, with snowflakes gently falling from the ceiling. Cheech and Chong couldn't believe their eyes - they were transported to a magical holiday realm.
In “Santa Claus and His Old Lady,” Cheech is trying to write a song about Santa Claus, but Chong confuses Santa with a local musician. So Cheech enlightens him. “Once upon a time, about five years ago, there was this groovy dude, and his name was Santa Claus, you know?” Cheech tells how Santa Claus and his old lady moved up north with a bunch of midgets to eat brownies and drink tea, and to start a business delivering toys to kids around the world. Santa Claus delivers in a sleigh driven by “flying reindeers,” Cheech says, “On Donner, on Blitzen, on Chuy, on Tavo,” landing in “Chicago, L.A., Nueva York, Pacoima, all those places, you know?” Chong believes it all, except for the flying reindeers part—until Cheech explains that what makes them fly is “magic dust.” “Oh, magic dust!” says Chong. But Santa doesn’t do the toy bit anymore, Cheech says. He got strip-searched at the border, and down South, people cut his hair and shaved his beard. “Everywhere he went, he ran into too much recession.” Chong says, “No, you mean he ran into too much repression, man.” “Recession, repression, it’s all the same thing.” The bit ends with Cheech saying Santa has gone underground and appears only in disguise now, ringing a bell next to a kettle downtown. “Hey!” Chong says, “I played with that cat last year!” “Santa Claus is not a musician, man!” “I’m hip, man. That cat didn’t know any tunes!”
Cheech tells how Santa Claus and his old lady moved up north with a bunch of midgets to eat brownies and drink tea, and to start a business delivering toys to kids around the world. It made Billboard s Christmas singles chart for the week of December 25, but it doesn t get a review or any other mention in the magazine during either November or December 1971, and it shows up on only a couple of local radio surveys.
Cheech and Chong couldn't believe their eyes - they were transported to a magical holiday realm. In this enchanted land, Cheech and Chong encountered talking reindeer, mischievous elves, and a jolly old man in a red suit, who happened to be Santa Claus. The atmosphere was filled with holiday cheer and laughter, and everyone seemed to be in high spirits.
Tale of a Groovy Dude
By 1971, comedy acts had done big business on the record charts for years, but the comics who did the best tended to be your Bill Cosbys and Bob Newharts, the ones whose routines were fit for TV and hotel showrooms. Even George Carlin and Richard Pryor worked clean enough for The Ed Sullivan Show as they were coming up. “Underground” comedians like Lenny Bruce made albums too, but they didn’t become hits the same way Cosby and Newhart albums did. And there was little or no comedy that came directly out of baby boomer culture and experiences. Not until Cheech and Chong came along.
In 1971, Cheech Marin was 25 and Tommy Chong was 33. That summer, they released a self-titled album of character sketches and parodies full of stoner slang and other references that only counterculture-savvy listeners would get. It took a while for the album to catch on, finally peaking at #28 in the winter of 1972. They were still over a year away from their great commercial breakthrough, the albums Big Bambu and Los Cochinos, and the singles “Basketball Jones” and “Sister Mary Elephant.” But that’s getting ahead of today’s story.
During the sessions for their debut album, Cheech and Chong recorded a six-minute bit called “Santa Claus and His Old Lady,” which didn’t appear on the album. It was released as a single in time for Christmas 1971, but it landed very quietly. It made Billboard‘s Christmas singles chart for the week of December 25, but it doesn’t get a review or any other mention in the magazine during either November or December 1971, and it shows up on only a couple of local radio surveys. KLIV in San Jose Diego charted it on December 15, 1971, alongside other hits of the moment, “American Pie,” “Brand New Key,” and the like. It’s also shown on a 12/27/71 listing from KWFM in Tucson, a progressive rock station—the kind of station far more likely to play such a thing than a station that played “American Pie” and “Brand New Key.” A handful of Top 40 stations would chart it over the next four Christmases.
In “Santa Claus and His Old Lady,” Cheech is trying to write a song about Santa Claus, but Chong confuses Santa with a local musician. So Cheech enlightens him. “Once upon a time, about five years ago, there was this groovy dude, and his name was Santa Claus, you know?” Cheech tells how Santa Claus and his old lady moved up north with a bunch of midgets to eat brownies and drink tea, and to start a business delivering toys to kids around the world. Santa Claus delivers in a sleigh driven by “flying reindeers,” Cheech says, “On Donner, on Blitzen, on Chuy, on Tavo,” landing in “Chicago, L.A., Nueva York, Pacoima, all those places, you know?” Chong believes it all, except for the flying reindeers part—until Cheech explains that what makes them fly is “magic dust.” “Oh, magic dust!” says Chong. But Santa doesn’t do the toy bit anymore, Cheech says. He got strip-searched at the border, and down South, people cut his hair and shaved his beard. “Everywhere he went, he ran into too much recession.” Chong says, “No, you mean he ran into too much repression, man.” “Recession, repression, it’s all the same thing.” The bit ends with Cheech saying Santa has gone underground and appears only in disguise now, ringing a bell next to a kettle downtown. “Hey!” Chong says, “I played with that cat last year!” “Santa Claus is not a musician, man!” “I’m hip, man. That cat didn’t know any tunes!”
Considering how well-remembered it is, it seems likely that the progressive or underground station in your town eventually played “Santa Claus and His Old Lady,” if not in 1971, then certainly in years to come, as Cheech and Chong’s profile grew. I didn’t hear it until I got to college, and one of my older classmates busted it out one December, in 1978 or 1979.
How funny you’ll find “Santa Claus and His Old Lady” to be depends on how funny you find Cheech and Chong in general. For me, the humor is in the wordplay—Chuy, Pacoima, repression—and in the characterizations that would become so familiar over the course of Cheech and Chong’s career. After 50 years, “Santa Claus and His Old Lady” remains a holiday favorite among old stoners, and their hipper descendants.
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Considering how well-remembered it is, it seems likely that the progressive or underground station in your town eventually played “Santa Claus and His Old Lady,” if not in 1971, then certainly in years to come, as Cheech and Chong’s profile grew. I didn’t hear it until I got to college, and one of my older classmates busted it out one December, in 1978 or 1979.
As they explored this magical world, Cheech and Chong realized that the dust had granted them the ability to spread joy and happiness wherever they went. They discovered that by sharing their laughter and positive energy, they could make even the grumpiest of creatures smile. Cheech and Chong decided to make it their mission to bring holiday cheer to every corner of this magical land. They traveled from village to village, entertaining the inhabitants with their hilarious jokes and comedic routines. The magical dust seemed to magnify their comedic talents, making their audience laugh harder than ever before. Word of Cheech and Chong's antics spread quickly, and soon they had become the stars of the holiday season. People from all over the land flocked to see their performances, eagerly awaiting the laughter and joy that Cheech and Chong brought. However, as the days passed by, Cheech and Chong began to realize that their time in this magical world was limited. The effects of the dust were starting to wear off, and they knew their stay would soon come to an end. With heavy hearts, Cheech and Chong bid farewell to the enchanted land and its inhabitants. Although they were sad to leave, they knew that they had brought happiness and laughter wherever they went. The magical dust had been a gift that allowed them to spread love and joy during the holiday season. As Cheech and Chong returned to their own world, they cherished the memories they had made and the people they had met. The experience had taught them the true spirit of the holidays - the power of laughter, kindness, and spreading joy to others. From that day on, Cheech and Chong made it their mission to bring holiday cheer to their own world, using their comedic talents to make people laugh and brighten their spirits during the holiday season. The magical dust had shown them that true magic lies in the ability to bring happiness to others, and they were determined to do just that..
Reviews for "A Hilarious and Magical Holiday Story: Cheech and Chong's Dust Adventure"
1. John - 1 star
I was highly disappointed with "Cheech and Chong Holiday Story Magical Dust." I have always been a fan of Cheech and Chong's comedy, but this movie lacked the humor and wit I was expecting. The jokes were stale, the plot was weak, and the characters seemed forced. It felt like they were just trying to cash in on the holiday season without putting any effort into the script. I would not recommend this movie to anyone looking for a good laugh.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Cheech and Chong Holiday Story Magical Dust" given my love for their previous films. However, I found this movie to be a major disappointment. The humor was crude and juvenile, lacking the cleverness that made their previous works so enjoyable. The storyline was predictable and the characters were one-dimensional. Overall, it fell flat and failed to capture the charm and comedic genius of Cheech and Chong.
3. Mike - 1 star
"Cheech and Chong Holiday Story Magical Dust" was a complete waste of time. The jokes were tasteless and relied heavily on tired stereotypes. The writing felt lazy, and the movie lacked any real substance or originality. I couldn't connect with the characters and found myself looking at my watch, waiting for it to end. I have always enjoyed Cheech and Chong's humor, but this film was a huge disappointment. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
4. Emily - 2 stars
I was excited to watch "Cheech and Chong Holiday Story Magical Dust" as it seemed like a light-hearted holiday comedy. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The jokes were repetitive and relied too heavily on drug humor. While I understand that it's a significant part of Cheech and Chong's act, it became monotonous and lacked creativity. Overall, it was an average movie that failed to deliver the laughs I was hoping for.
5. Tom - 1 star
"Cheech and Chong Holiday Story Magical Dust" was a complete disaster. The humor was tasteless and offensive, relying on offensive stereotypes instead of wit and cleverness. It seemed like the filmmakers were more interested in shock value than actually making a funny and enjoyable movie. It's disappointing to see such talented comedians resorting to lazy and offensive humor. I would not recommend this movie to anyone.