Miss Velma's "Christmas In America"

It doesn't get "kitschier"  than this.  Frankly, there are not words.

Some of you who live in So Cal might remember this. 

Every Christmas, the "Universal World Church" ran their "Christmas in America" special featuring "Miss Velma" (who was a crack shot).  Miss Velma's husband was Dr. O. L. Jaggers, who was some sort of Pentecostal evangelist with a gazillion fake degrees, and an act like Elvis. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jaggers claimed to have discovered the secret to eternal youth (of course, both looked haggard and old, and are now dead and gone).  They built the "Golden Altar of Incense Prayer" in their church in downtown LA and for a time attracted a large following.

For many years, Miss Velma's "Christmas in America" special ran late at night on Christmas Eve.  An employee of mine video taped it.  The old CURE gang watched it after a White Horse Inn taping to howls of laughter.  Nothing like explaining Miss Velma to Rod.

Someone at church mentioned it on Sunday, and since it is available on YouTube, I couldn't resist.

Be sure to watch some of the other snippets of Miss Velma's "Christmas in America" on YouTube as well ("Christmas in America").  The Christmas turtle is my favorite.

Comments

[R. Scott Clark]

My favorite line: "After this Miss Velma will play the hand organ." Yes. Right. Exactly. After sharpshooting comes the hand organ. Yes.

They don't make 'em like that any more.

[Michelle]

I'm trying to watch this at work without drawing attention to what I'm doing...it's very difficult. Oh my goodness...

[Paul L.]

"Miss Velma" vaguely reminds me of "Uriel" who was the elderly leader of the UFO cult known as "Unarius Academy of Science" in El Cajon.

Someone needs to do a book or documentary explaining the origins of religious eccentricity in Southern California.

[Michelle]

Youtube has a vast collection of Miss Velma videos for your viewing pleasure. Keep tissue handy...

[Mark]

This reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite.

[Lloyd I. Cadle]

I haven't heard an organ that bad since some of my fellow insurance agents and I would go to lunch at the old Clifton's Cafeteria in W. Covina, CA.

Miss Velma must be smoking some of new medical marijuana that was approved by the voters here in Arizona. I'm sure that Miss Velma got her prescription from "Dr." Fred Price.

[hb]

Ah, sweet memories indeed!!!

[Charles S]

looks like a hostage video....the opening act was Third Eagle of the Apocalypse singing Doom and Gloom.

[nancy]

After spending so much money on stringed instruments for my children, I feel bad that it is not until this video that I received divine revelation--- they should all learn to play the hand organ! It's obviously the road to being blessed.

Are there implications here for church worship music? After all, who needs a pipe organ? The money we save by using a hand organ can be sent to further advance quality Christian broadcasting such as "Miss Velma".

[Patrick Yamada]

Yea, verily. When I was overseas contemplating the essence of Christmas in America, my New World Yuletide Trinity consisted of Native Americans, sharpshooting, and electric hand organs. Now that I am back in the States, it's too the point where if I see ONE MORE commercial hawking some cheap toy, food, or service featuring Native Americans, pistol shooting, and hand organs I'm going to scream! Show some respect for the real meaning of Christmas!!!!