Where Do Santas Come From?
11/12/2012 § Leave a comment
In the early 60s, America’s “No.1 Santa” (of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade fame) set up shop in Albion, New York and created the country’s only school of its kind, to certify Santas for department stores. These photos, taken for Life Magazine by Alfred Eisenstaedt of the graduating class of 1961, were too good not to share. After paying $75 and attending a five-day course, newly-minted Kris Kringles received a Santa’s Helper degree, well-armed with the history of Santa Claus, practice applying makeup and selecting costumes, and how to be properly jolly — even if they found a crier or a beard-puller on their lap. If you’d like to read the original article the photos were shot for, you can find it here.
All photos via the Life Archive.
Dial MUrray Hill 8-2205 for Santa
25/12/2011 § 4 Comments
“Hello, Santa Claus. How you feel?” Jo Ann Ward, 3.
In December of 1947, New York children could dial MUrray Hill 8-2205 and be directly connected with Santa Claus, to discuss their Christmas lists and other such business. The phone number was actually answered by a small staff of Santas at the world-famous toy shop F.A.O. Schwarz, which did not employ a costumed Santa because they felt it might disappoint some children. So fascinated by the prospect of a chat with Santa, some children wanted to talk all day.
To view the original article, which appeared in the
December 15, 1947 issue of LIFE, head here.
The F.A.O. Schwarz Santas, hard at work.
Quite Continental 