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Christmas classics

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty began as a song written to follow a hit. After Gene Autry's success with Rudolph, Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson wrote Frosty the Snowman, and Autry recorded it in 1950.

Shop Frosty the Snowman shirts Kids & adult sizes

Christmas classicsDebut 1950animationtelevision

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First appearance
Frosty the Snowman (song) (1950), Hill and Range Songs
Created by
Walter "Jack" Rollins, Steve Nelson
Also known as
Frosty
Universe
Frosty the Snowman
Appears in
animation, television

Who is Frosty the Snowman?

Frosty began as a song written to follow a hit. After Gene Autry's success with Rudolph, Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson wrote Frosty the Snowman, and Autry recorded it in 1950. The song is about a snowman brought to life by an old silk hat, who plays with children and then leaves town promising to return, and it has never mentioned Christmas — which is why Frosty works as a winter character as well as a holiday one. Rankin/Bass made an animated television special in 1969, using traditional drawn animation rather than their stop-motion style, with character designs by the Mad magazine artist Paul Coker Jr., narration by Jimmy Durante and Jackie Vernon as Frosty. Like Rudolph it has been shown every year since. On a shirt Frosty is a coal-eyed snowman with a corncob pipe, a button nose and the black top hat that gives him life, which makes the hat the single most important element of the design.

Frosty the Snowman: the details

First appearance
The song Frosty the Snowman, 1950
Written by
Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson
First recorded by
Gene Autry, following his success with Rudolph
No mention of Christmas
The lyrics describe a snowman and a winter day, not the holiday
The television special
Rankin/Bass, 1969, in drawn animation rather than stop-motion
Designed by
Paul Coker Jr., known for his work in Mad magazine
Voices
Jimmy Durante narrated; Jackie Vernon voiced Frosty

Why Frosty the Snowman endures

A song-born snowman whose 1969 special became an annual broadcast, and a winter character as much as a Christmas one.

What Frosty the Snowman looks like on a shirt

Signature motif: Snowman with a black top hat, corncob pipe and red scarf

White figures need a dark or coloured ground. The top hat and scarf give contrast, and designs built on those survive on lighter fabric.

Works through winter, not only December. White figure on navy, red, green or heather. Good family-matching choice across all sizes.

Frosty the Snowman T-shirts

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Buying from outside the United States? Prices shown are amazon.com in US dollars. Links redirect international readers to their local Amazon, where pricing, sizing and availability are shown in local terms.

Price and availability are taken from Amazon at the time shown and can change. The price on Amazon at the time of purchase applies.

Sizes: kids to adult

These links run a live Amazon search for Frosty the Snowman shirts in each US size band. Amazon shows what is currently listed; availability in a particular size is confirmed on the product page, not here.

BandAgesUS sizesSearch
Toddler 2–4 years 2T, 3T, 4T Search toddler sizes
Kids 4–7 years XS (4/5), S (6/7) Search kids sizes
Youth 8–14 years M (8), L (10/12), XL (14/16) Search youth sizes
Adult 15+ S–3XL Search adult sizes

US sizing shown. Cut and measurement vary between brands — see the size guide before ordering, especially for youth sizes. Base search: Frosty the Snowman t-shirt.

Who has played Frosty the Snowman

PerformerProductionYearType
Jackie VernonFrosty the Snowman1969Voice

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Frosty the Snowman T-shirts: common questions

Who created Frosty the Snowman?

Frosty the Snowman was created by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson, first appearing in Frosty the Snowman (song) in 1950 (Hill and Range Songs).

What does a Frosty the Snowman T-shirt usually look like?

Snowman with a black top hat, corncob pipe and red scarf. Works through winter, not only December. White figure on navy, red, green or heather. Good family-matching choice across all sizes.

Are Frosty the Snowman T-shirts made for children?

Yes — Frosty the Snowman appears on our kids pages, and shirts are commonly made from US toddler 2T up through youth XL.

Who has played Frosty the Snowman?

Frosty the Snowman has been voiced by Jackie Vernon (Frosty the Snowman, 1969).

How much does a Frosty the Snowman T-shirt cost?

Frosty the Snowman shirts we currently track start from around $17.99 on amazon.com. Every price on this page is dated, because they move.

This profile was compiled from published reference material about Frosty the Snowman — first appearance, creator credits and production history — and is a secondary source rather than a substitute for the original publication. Where a detail could not be corroborated it has been left out. We do not physically test garments; see how we work for what that means and what it does not.

Reference. This profile was compiled from published sources; no single authoritative article covers this character. Our method and limitations are stated in full.

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