Album Santa Claus in Vintage Photos from Alan Mays

Santa Claus with Boy and Donkey (Full Version)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 04:58:02 +0000

A real photo postcard of a boy sitting on a donkey as he poses with Santa Claus. See also a cropped version of the photo.

Santa Claus with Boy and Donkey

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 04:58:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of holiday happenings — any kind of end-of-year holiday gathering, celebration, or decoration.

A vintage photo of a boy sitting astride a donkey — it's fake (or stuffed?) and mounted on wheels — as he poses for a picture with Santa Claus. Santa's eyes seem to be closed — he must have blinked as the photo was taken.

This is a divided-back real photo postcard with an Azo stamp box design (four corner triangles pointing up) on the other side. This type of stamp box indicates that the photo may date to sometime between 1907 and 1918.

Printed on the other side: "The Fair Studio, Chicago."

See also the full version of the photo.

Not So Merry Christmas

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 01:27:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of Christmas in July (why wait until December? post a photo for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, or any other similar holiday celebration).

An undated color snapshot. I guess Santa didn't bring that kid what he wanted!

A Giant among Santas

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 02:45:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of with Santa.

"Merry Christmas."

Two girls and a man pose for a photo next to a remarkably tall Santa Claus. This real photo postcard has a "Devolite Peerless" stamp box on the other side, and it's likely that it dates to the 1950s.

Season's Greetings, 1950

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 16:56:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Seasons Greetings, 1950." Handwritten signature on the other side of this photographic greeting card: "The Weidman's."

For the Weidman family Christmas card from 1949, this young girl posed with Santa outside on the porch instead of inside on the stairs. See Season's Greetings, 1949—From Our House to Your House.

Season's Greetings, 1949—From Our House to Your House

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 16:56:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of boots (high button boots, rain boots, farm boots, etc.).

"Season's Greetings, 1949. From Our House to Your House."

A young girl, who's decked out in winter clothes and boots, poses with Santa Claus (or a reasonable facsimile), who's also wearing boots.

The girl posed with Santa again in 1950 for another photographic Christmas card. See Season's Greetings, 1950.

Two Santa Clauses in Naples, Italy, January 1, 1962

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 15:32:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Second of two in a series of two or more photos that tell a story (number them, if appropriate) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard: "Naples, January 1, 1962."

Janet, Kit, and George Buck pose with two Santa Clauses in Naples, Italy, on New Year's Day in 1962. These two Santas, with their masks, slightly different clothing, and one holding a cane, seem to me to be rather mismatched and maybe even a bit creepy, but Kit is smiling broadly and looks happy.

Janet and Kit previously had their picture taken with a giant Santa in Athens, Greece, on or before December 30, 1961.

Based on the note that Janet wrote on the back of that first photo, the family was continuing to travel and expected to arrive in Germany by January 6, 1962. These two photos provide a glimpse into what must have been a busy and fun-filled European trip.

Santa Claus in Athens, Greece, December 30, 1961

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 15:32:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

First of two in a series of two or more photos that tell a story (number them, if appropriate) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

This is a real photo postcard addressed on the other side to "Mrs. Mollie Neperiny, Lacrosse, Kansas USA." There's no stamp or postmark, however, so it was evidently sent in an envelope rather than mailed separately as a postcard.

Handwritten note on the back: "30/12/61. Aboard the ship San Georgia. Bound for Napoli. We are in Athenia now. Expect to arrive in Germany about 6 Jan. 62. Will send Xmas present then. Too many thefts at Turkey in mail. Will explain in letter. Received your pkg. George, Jan, Kit."

As far as I've been able to determine, George, Janet, and Kit (or Katherine?) Buck were traveling in Europe--from Turkey to Greece and then on to Italy and Germany--in December 1961 and January 1962.

Janet and Kit are posing in front of a giant Santa located on a square in "Athenia" (Athens), Greece. The blurred figures of the pedestrians behind them suggest that the camera was set to a slow shutter speed--perhaps it was a cloudy day. The building in the background on the left appears to be under construction. The one on the right has shops on the first floor, and a sign with Greek letters is partially visible on its roof.

As Janet wrote in her note to her mother Mollie, the family was bound next for "Napoli" (Naples, Italy). Take a look at the second photo to see the Santas they encountered there.

Santa Claus and His Harley

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:53:09 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Looks like the jolly old gent is already revving up for the holiday season!

A found photo, date and location unknown.

Kiddie and Dog Christmas Card, 1971

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 15:11:20 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo of a dog or cat with toy for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

This photographic greeting card, dated "Christmas 1971" on the back, features smiling kids and a dog in a little playpen. The dog doesn't seem too happy, however, even though it has a doll to play with.

Horsing Around with Santa

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 20:18:12 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An undated real photo postcard.

Merry Christmas from Santa (Folder)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 20:09:35 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The cover and inside page of a "Merry Christmas from Santa" folder containing a photo taken during this fellow's visit to see Santa Claus (see below for an enlargement of the photo).

For another big kid who went to see Santa, take a look at And What Would You Like for Christmas, Soldier? (below).

Merry Christmas from Santa

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 20:09:37 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Even the big kids tell Santa what they want for Christmas!

This picture is from the inside of a "Merry Christmas from Santa" photo folder (see below for the cover and inside page).

Merry Christmas from the Boat of Us

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 21:45:58 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An outdoor seasonal photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park (seasonal - indoors or out - if you have both, feel free to post 2 photos).

Santa and his loyal dog Rudolph prepare to depart in their speedboat to deliver presents to the good boys and girls who live along this street.

Or at least that's what seems to be happening in this otherwise puzzling photographic Christmas greeting card.

St. Nick's Animals, Home of 1000 Animals, Lake Placid, N.Y.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:31:14 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

This photo showing some of "St. Nick's Animals" was taken at the "Home of 1000 Animals," which was a tourist attraction that was part of the Sterling Alaska Fur and Game Farms, with locations in Lake Placid (as seen here) and Ausable Chasm, New York. As the signs suggest (see text below), visitors could purchase food in order to feed Angora goats, several varieties of deer, and other animals.

For another photo, see Home of 1000 Animals, Lake Placid, N.Y., 1969.

St. Nick's Animals, Lake Placid

Notice. Deer will eat from your hands. Buy food from machines and get good pictures.

Angoras climb the mountain. Feed 'em on top. Get a good picture.

Here are . . . brown Japanese, white European, Dama dama, [and] Indian spotted deers.

Greetings from Our House to Your House

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 06:00:22 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Greetings from Our House to Your House. The Herr's."

A family posing with holiday decorations for a photographic Christmas card.

Merry Costumed Christmas

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 02:12:44 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A bunny, a tiger, and Santa?

"Merry Christmas, Cynthia, David, Betty, and Don."

Mr. Santa Claus Outhouse, Santa Claus, Arizona

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 01:42:09 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Mr. Santa Claus. Santa Claus, Ariz., on Hiway 93. Gallup Photo."

Stamped on the back of this real photo postcard: "Santa Claus, Arizona, via Box 373, Kingman."

See Wikipedia's Santa Claus, Arizona article for the story of what is now an "uninhabited desert town" and how it used to be a Santa-themed tourist attraction.

Bring Me the Head of Santa Claus!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 20:42:34 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A disembodied heads photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Could this be a surreal scene from some horror film? Has some mutant creature from the North Pole dropped the head of poor Santa Claus into the laps of these gloating family members with their sickening smiles?

Or is it just some silly Santa mask that they're using as a prop for their Christmas photo?

You'll have to decide for yourself!

While you're making up your mind, here's a bona fide Santa mask for comparison:

Santa Unmasked

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 13:41:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Posted on the day after the U.S. presidential election as a reminder that Santa Claus isn't always who he seems to be, and he may not bring the presents we expect to receive.

Here are a couple of other Santa masks, along with a masked Santa: