KEYSER, W.Va. — One of America’s most enduring holiday songs—and the animated television specials it inspired—has roots that trace back to the snowy Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia.
Though its lyrics never name a place, "Frosty the Snowman" was co-written by a native of northern West Virginia, and its origins are closely tied to the winter landscapes of the Alleghenies, where snow, small towns, and long winters shaped everyday life.
A West Virginia Native Behind a Holiday Classic
The song’s lyricist, Walter E. “Jack” Rollins, was born in Keyser, a small city in northeastern West Virginia near the Maryland border. While “Frosty the Snowman” does not explicitly reference the state, Rollins’ early life unfolded in a region defined by cold winters and close-knit communities. This setting naturally lends itself to stories about snowmen and seasonal magic.
As a young man in Mineral County, Rollins helped care for his mother after she lost her eyesight to glaucoma. She was a poet and encouraged her son’s writing, according to Rollins’ grandson, James Busemeyer, who later shared the family story in an interview with journalist Doug Imbrogno.
After hearing her son’s verses, she urged him to go further. “Maybe you ought to put some music to it,” she told him, Busemeyer recalled. The encouragement left a lasting impression, and Rollins remained deeply influenced by her support throughout his career.
From Baggage Handler to Hit Songwriter
Rollins did not become a full-time songwriter until his 40s. At the time, he was working as a baggage handler in New York City, where he met composer Steve Nelson. The two began collaborating and quickly found success.
In 1950, they released Here Comes Peter Cottontail, which filled a gap in popular music at a time when Easter songs were rare compared with Christmas standards. The tune became a seasonal hit through radio play and recordings.
That same year, the pair followed up with “Frosty the Snowman,” a lighthearted alternative to the more sentimental Christmas songs of the era. Its story of a magical snowman who comes to life, delights children, and melts away — promising to return “someday” — resonated instantly with listeners.
From Song to Television Tradition
“Frosty the Snowman” was first recorded in 1950 by Gene Autry, helping propel it to national popularity. Over time, it was recorded by artists including Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald.
The song’s success eventually led to animated television adaptations, most notably the 1971 holiday special that became a staple of American Christmas programming. A separate animated special built around “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” first aired in 1971, turning the Easter song into a perennial favorite for families nationwide.
Hollywood, Smokey Bear, and a Lasting Legacy
After moving to Hollywood, Rollins also contributed lyrics to the U.S. Forest Service’s fire-prevention campaign featuring Smokey Bear. In a small but lasting change, Rollins added the word “the” to the character’s name — creating “Smokey the Bear” — because the original phrasing did not fit the rhythm of the song.
Rollins died in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1973 at age 66. Yet his story ultimately returns to where it began. He is buried at Queen’s Point Cemetery in Keyser, the town of his birth.
Each winter, as “Frosty the Snowman” plays on radios and televisions across the country, few listeners realize that the song’s cheerful spirit was shaped, in part, by a songwriter whose imagination was forged in the snowy mountains of Appalachia — a quiet West Virginia connection to an American holiday tradition.
Discover Facts: Frosty the Snowman
- Songwriter’s roots: Walter E. “Jack” Rollins, co-writer of Frosty the Snowman, was born in Keyser, West Virginia, in the Allegheny Mountain region.
- Year released: 1950
- First hit recording: Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys
- Break from tradition: “Frosty” stood out for its playful tone at a time when many Christmas songs were sentimental ballads.
- Famous lyric: The snowman promises to return “someday,” helping make the song timeless for children and adults.
- TV legacy: The song inspired animated television specials that became annual holiday viewing staples beginning in the early 1970s.
- Same songwriting team: Rollins and Steve Nelson also wrote “Here Comes Peter Cottontail,” now a classic Easter song.
- Unexpected credit: Rollins later helped shape the Smokey Bear fire-prevention song, adding the word “the” to fit the music.
- Final resting place: Rollins is buried in his hometown of Keyser, West Virginia.
- Why it matters: A song known nationwide for snowmen and winter fun traces its creative origins to Appalachia — a reminder that American pop culture classics often begin in small, unexpected places.
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