Post office and studio hope `Grinch' is a hit

Cards and letters are turning up in mailboxes across the country stamped "Happy Who-lidays from the U.S. Postal Service," part of a promotional campaign designed to bring a little Whoville--and an array of new products for sale at local post offices--to every town and village this holiday season.

The promotion, which began Nov. 1 and continues through Jan. 7, is the result of an agreement between the postal service and Universal Studios surrounding the holiday film "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

The postal service usually holds an annual holiday promotional campaign that not only highlights its products and services, but also urges people to send their cards and packages early to avoid the crush of last-minute mailers at the post office, said spokesman Tom Gaynor.

"The Whoville post office is one of the key locations in the film. Postal employees embody the spirit of Whoville and the Who-lidays," Gaynor said. "As the post office is the center of everybody's holidays, with the shipping of holiday letters and holiday packages, it's a natural tie-in with the movie's theme."

This holiday season's promotional campaign has included television and print ads in addition to an array of mail products and movie-themed gifts for sale, ranging from Whoville phone cards to "Grinch" gifts and stationery.

The film's popularity could mean a very "Happy Who-liday" at the post office, too, Gaynor said. "We don't get a tax subsidy; the postal service makes

its revenue on products and stamp sales. That's why we try to encourage people to use the postal service, (and) that's why we're involved with Whoville this year. We're hoping it becomes the most successful movie this season." (It has already grossed $212 million, this year's highest grossing movie.)