Jerome Coopersmith also wrote screenplays for TV movies and specials which aired on the major networks in the 1970s and 80s. His first feature film of this era, ""Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside"", was originally planned as a series pilot, and was produced by Philip D'Antoni (""The French Connection"") in 1973. The movie starred Tony LoBianco and Hal Linden as cops thwarting a gang of diamond smugglers. In 1973, Coopersmith wrote the screenplay for ""'Twas The Night Before Christmas"" an animated adaptation of Clement Moore's classic poem ""A Visit From Saint Nicholas"". The Rankin/Bass production featured voices by Joel Grey, George Gobel, Tammy Grimes,
Saint Nicholas faithful, as was common for early Christian saints, and his legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus ("Saint Nick") through Sinterklaas. Very little is known about the historical Saint Nicholas. The earliest accounts of his life were written centuries after his death and contain many legendary elaborations. He is said to have been born in Patara, Lycia in Asia Minor to wealthy Christian parents. In one of the earliest attested and most famous incidents from his life, he is said to have rescued three girls from being forced into prostitution by dropping a