Rankin/Bass goes off the rails in its last-ever stop motion animated Christmas special, 1985’s The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, based on the 1902 book by Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum, which explains a lot.  ****  ? Guests:  Paxton Holley (Cavalcade of Awesome, I Read Movies, Nerd Lunch, Cult Film Club, Hellbent for Letterbox, @paxtonholley).  Brandon Medley (@brandmed, Blessed Are the Geek).  ****  ? Topics & Tangents:  1. Santa Claus’s growth to manhood, from J.D. Roth to Mumm-ra, and the rest of the Thundercats are here, too!  2. L. Frank Baum’s original book on the Internet Archive, in ebook, PDF, and audiobook format.  3. Pax’s review of the book and Road to Oz, which also features Santa.  4. Baum’s sequel story, A Kidnapped Santa Claus.  5. King Awgwa looks like My Pet Monster.  6. “The Most Pagan Christmas Special You Will Ever See,” by Bayou Babylon.  7. That’s not Santa in Return to Oz. That’s the Shaggy Man.  8. A Doom Metal Tribute to The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.  ****  “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus” © 1985 Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc.Full show notes with links at adventcalendar.house.  Say hi on Twitter @adventcalhouse.