Sam Spangles
Sam Spangles (also known as Spangles the Gangster) is a supporting antagonist in 1979 Christmas television special Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July. He is a crooked businessman who is out to take over the Circus by the Sea, which is in deep financial trouble.
He was voiced by the late Don Messick.
Role
When Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer shows up offering to help out the situation by becoming the guest star attraction, he sees his chances of buying out the circus fading. When he later meets the jealous reindeer Scratcher, he agrees to help him in Winterbolt's plan to conquer the holidays, after being assured that the pay-off for his participation will be to take over the circus and get their money to boot.
Part of the scheme involves Scratcher tricking Rudolph into giving the circus' vast takings for the evening to the traitorous gangster named Sam Spangles, disguised as a policeman whom the naïve reindeer is told has come to take the money to the bank. When the villains later reveal to Rudolph how he has been tricked into committing a crime, knowing that he cannot tell the truth without dooming his friend Frosty the Snowman, Spangles prepares to buy out the circus using their own money.
However, in the nick of time, Rudolph manages to clear his name and expose Spangles' part in the crime, for which he is arrested and carted off to jail after being made to give the circus their money back.
Gallery
Trivia
- Spangles bears a physical resemblance to Professor Hinkle from the 1969 Christmas television special Frosty the Snowman.