<Tr> <Th> Preceded by </Th> <Td> Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Followed by </Th> <Td> Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July </Td> </Tr> <P> The Year Without a Santa Claus is a 1974 Christmas stop motion animated television special produced by Rankin / Bass Productions . The story is based on Phyllis McGinley's 1956 book of the same name, illustrated by Kurt Werth . It was originally broadcast on December 10, 1974 on ABC . </P> <P> The film was Shirley Booth's final acting credit as she retired from acting after its completion . </P>

When was the year without santa claus made