Rock Springs Park in Winter

"The Christmas Song" (commonly subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by musician, composer, and vocalist Mel Tormé (aka The Velvet Fog), and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer, “In an effort to stay cool by thinking cool."

"I saw a spiral pad on his piano with four lines written in pencil", Tormé recalled. "They started, 'Chestnuts roasting..., Jack Frost nipping..., Yuletide carols..., Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob (Wells, co-writer) didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics."

So perhaps, on this hot summer day, if we immerse ourselves in images of Rock Springs Park in winter, we can achieve the same effect.

View of Lower Park entrance in winter 1970, from the collection of Rich Brookes.  

Spring (left) and stairs in winter 1970, from the collection of Rich Brookes.

“On the Rocks” in winter 1970, from the collection of Rich Brookes.

Lower Picnic Park looking toward the lake in winter 1970, from the collection of Rich Brookes.

Rock Springs Park view of the Cyclone in winter 1946, from the collection of Sherry Emery.

Rock Springs Park view midway in winter 1946, from the collection of Sherry Emery.

Rock Springs Park view of the lower picnic park in winter 1946, from the collection of Sherry Emery.

Well, did it work? Here's my favorite version of the "The Christmas Song." Enjoy!