Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas

It's hard for me to believe that this came out in 1977 and I didn't see it until we bought the DVD last year. Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas is sweet without being schmaltzy, telling the story of Emmet and his mother making it the best they can after "Pa's" death some years earlier. They both try to win the big talent competition to get the money to buy the other one a much-wanted Christmas present. They lose the contest but there's a happy ending in spite of that. The muppet/puppets are fun, and the detail is unusual. I'm so glad we found this little treasure.