ATV - Rita MacNeil's Christmas Special "Now The Bells Ring" December 17th 1990 (Original Broadcast)

Originally aired on ATV On December 17th, 1990, Now The Bells Ring is a Christmas television special featuring beloved Cape Breton singer Rita MacNeil with a host of special guests - Men of the Deeps, Matt Minglewood among others. Set against warm seasonal backdrops and shot entirely in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the program blends traditional Christmas music mostly from Rita's own catalogue, contemporary arrangements, and quiet moments of reflection that were a hallmark of MacNeil’s television presence. Rita MacNeil brings a distinctly Atlantic Canadian sensibility to the holiday season, one rooted in Cape Breton traditions, faith, and family. The special reflects the style of late-1980s and early-1990s network holiday programming, favoring simplicity, sincerity, and music front and centre. This broadcast is presented as originally aired, preserving the pacing, production style, and atmosphere of its time. The recording was tape-stop edited by the original VCR operator in real time in 1990 to remove commercials and as such displays clunky transitions during commercial break segments that simply add to the fun of these old recordings. A nostalgic look back at a classic Canadian Christmas special and one of the era’s most recognizable voices. #betamaxking #1980s #80s #1990s #90s #retrotelevision #retrocanada Channel contact email: [email protected]