Photos, videos and docs of Alan Mays, with the keywords: "Santa"

A Giant among Santas

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

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

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"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

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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

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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's Up on the Housetop!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 06:34:02 +0000

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Looks like good ol' Santa Claus and his reindeer are up on the housetop with lots of toys for all the girls and boys!

This is a Victorian-era sample of an advertising trade card.

"Christmas Card—Card No. 3. 3 colors."

Santa Sends a Wireless Message of Christmas Cheer

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 02:42:11 +0000

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"Santa sends you a message of Christmas cheer."

Santa Claus always stays up to date with the latest technology. Here he is in the early part of the twentieth century using wireless telegraphy (also called radiotelegraphy) to tap out a Morse code message on a telegraph key. The boy is using a crystal radio set to listen to the dots and dashes of Santa's message. Judging by the smile on the kid's face, I'll bet that he found out that he's on Santa's Nice List.

Santa has also been an early adopter of other communication and transportation technologies, including telephones, typewriters, airships, biplanes, and other kinds of airplanes.

Dear Santa, Please Pause Here—The Claus That Refreshes

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 05:36:29 +0000

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A 1950s Christmas display at the National Christmas Center near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, features Jimmy, his sister, and Santa Claus. The jolly old gent is looking closely at Jimmy's note—"Dear Santa, please pause here"—which refers to the bottle of Coca-Cola ("the pause that refreshes") that Jimmy left for Santa on the mantelpiece.

The kids are so surprised at seeing Santa that they haven't even noticed the unwrapped toys, including a Blockhead! party game box, that he's left for them underneath the Christmas tree.

A Happy Christmas?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 03:04:09 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

John Grossman included this puzzling postcard in his book Christmas Curiosities: Odd, Dark, and Forgotten Christmas (Stewart, Tabori and Chang, 2008), p. 110. He suggests that the actions of this mean Santa Claus derive from earlier European traditions like the Krampus, a devilish figure who punished misbehaving children and sometimes carried them away in a bag or basket (see Grossman's book for illustrations).

By the early twentieth century when this German postcard was published, however, most American Santas were depicted as benevolent fellows who rewarded--not punished--children.

My copy of the card is unused with no address, message, or postmark on the back.

Identify the Christmas Songs from the Pictures

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 02:58:02 +0000

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This rebus puzzle sheet is left over from the time when photocopiers and fax machines were the technologies used to share jokes. This specific version of the sheet dates to December 17, 1998.

Although the days of photocopy humor and faxlore are long gone, Rick Archer has attempted to trace the origin of this piece. He first encountered a slightly different version of the Christmas rebus puzzle in 1996, and he has compiled his findings about its history on his Original Christmas Puzzle Web page (he also posted an answer sheet).

See below for the answers to the rebuses on this photocopy:

Identify the Christmas Songs from the Pictures - Answers

1. Jingle Bells
2. Walking in a Winter Wonderland
3. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
4. Joy to the World
5. Up on the House Top
6, O, Come All Ye Faithful
7. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
8. What Child Is This?
9. We Three Kings of Orient Are
10. Deck the Halls
11. I Saw Three Ships
12. O Christmas Tree
13. O Holy Night
14. The First Noel
15. The Twelve Days of Christmas
16. Away in a Manger
17. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
18. All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
19. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
20. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
21. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
22. Silent Night
23. O Little Town of Bethlehem
24. Silver Bells

Merry Christmas from the Hughes, 1963

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 16:28:34 +0000

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"Merry Christmas. The Hughes. 1963."

For another photographic Christmas card from the Hughes, see A Chorus of Christmas Greetings for 1962:

Greetings from Our House to Your House

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

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

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

Hooray! Let the Christmas Cooking Begin!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 04:25:32 +0000

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In this undated slide, two exuberant women commence Christmas cooking in the kitchen.

Santa Claus decoration on the wall: "Merry Christmas. Happy New Year."

Hello, Is This Santa? Merry Christmas!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 04:22:34 +0000

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"Hello - Merry Christmas."

An early twentieth-century postcard featuring cutting-edge candlestick telephone communications technology.

See also Hello, Merry Christmas! Operator, Can You Help Me, Help Me If You Please.

Santa Claus and His Harley

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

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

A found photo, date and location unknown.

Krampus on Sputnik

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 16:50:58 +0000

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Den Krampus soll der Sputnik holen,
Weil er die Kinder hat bestohlen!

I'm not sure of the exact translation of the rhyming lines on this Austrian postcard (dated 1961 on the back), but I believe the general idea is that Krampus is making his getaway on Sputnik (which evidently can refer to a rocket as well as a satellite) because he has just taken the children's pretzels and other treats, ones that St. Nicholas gave to them.

Santa Unmasked

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

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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:

Santa's Workshop, North Pole, New York

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 17:32:20 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A fairground or amusement/theme park photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Or more concisely, a theme park photo for the Theme Park!

Santa Claus poses with some of his friends at Santa's Workshop, an amusement park located in North Pole, New York. The group is gathered around an imitation North Pole--the white base of the pole is visible to the left of Santa's boots, and the "North Pole" sign at the top is partially hidden behind Santa's cap.

For another Christmas theme park with its own North Pole, see Shivering at the North Pole, Santa's Village, Jefferson, N.H., 1969.

Simplex Typewriters, Santa's Favorite, 1908

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 20:47:10 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Simplex Typewriters, Santa's Favorite, 1908

Sample of work of Simplex No. 1, $1.00: This machine will delight any boy or girl and older folks find it useful.

Sample of work of Simplex No. 2½, $2.50: A neat little note size typewriter that will please Glays or Joe, or Mama for social correspondence.

Sample of work of Simplex No. 5, $5.00: It will write a letter like this on wide business paper like Father's.

Simplex Lithograph Co., New York.

See also the front of this die-cut Santa advertisement:

Santa's Favorite Simplex Typewriters, 1908

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 20:47:12 +0000

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"Simplex Typewriters, $1.00, $2.50, $5.00. The most instructive and useful gift possible to give any child, boy or girl. Come at once to see them demonstrated at E. Schneider & Sons Co., 80 Bergenline Ave., Hudson Hill, N.J."

If you have any interest in the history of typewriters—or vintage ads, photos, and ephemera related to typewriters—then you may want to track down a copy of the recently published book, The Typewriter: A Graphic History of the Beloved Machine (Calgary, Alberta: Uppercase Publishing, 2015), by Janie Vangool (full disclosure: my name appears in a list of supporters at the back of the book just because I preordered a copy).

I don't believe that this Simplex Santa makes an appearance in The Typewriter, but there are photos of a couple of Simplex (Toy) Typewriters (one dated 1910), along with Christmas magazine advertisements, Valentine cards, letterheads, postcards (including a copy of this one, p. 123), manuals, instruction books, certificates, touch typing charts (a colorful example similar to this one appears on pp. 86-87), die cuts, ribbon tins, and other delights.

Here's the other side of this die-cut Santa advertisement: