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!

Image credit: 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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20 Comments

bdettlingmetv 23 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 23 months ago
It's a shame and so sad that none of these mentioned the real reason for Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ.
tootsieg 23 months ago
Christmas is a special time and it was nice to read how some of the stars feel about Christmas.
Runeshaper 23 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 23 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 23 months ago
I wonder if Lucy invited Desi to Christmas dinner? 🤔
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Pacificsun MrsPhilHarris 23 months ago
Don't you guess it must've been so hard for two intelligent, extremely creative talents to work together by day. Both as Entertainers and Studio Executives. And then as loving partners all the rest of the time. I think they loved what they did about each other. And the other parts just drove them crazy. Lucille Ball was a control freak. No denigration intended, but she was a personality far from being zany Lucy.
MrsPhilHarris Pacificsun 23 months ago
Yes I heard she wasn’t nice like Lucy Ricardo. Richard Keith said he would be over at their house and it was Desi who was nice, not Lucy. Also Desi cheated On Lucy at every opportunity so the marriage was doomed.
Moverfan Pacificsun 19 months ago
Speaking of pictures, is that Michael Constantine in the shot with Mike Connors?
Pacificsun Moverfan 19 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.
cperrynaples 23 months ago
Both Lynda Carter & Erik Estrada were unknown in 1973! I would accept 1977 but not 1973!
Michael cperrynaples 23 months ago
And wasn't Dennis Weaver McCloud by then?
BrittReid cperrynaples 23 months ago
Lynda Carter was Miss World USA in 1972. Hardly unknown.
cperrynaples Michael 23 months ago
Dennis Weaver was McCloud, but MeTV doesn't show it now!
Bricat2001 cperrynaples 23 months ago
McCloud is on cozi now on saturdays
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