Charles W. Howard

Charles W. "Charlie" Howard (June 15, 1896 – May 1, 1966) was an American actor and teacher most famous for portraying Santa Claus in department stores and parades. In 1937, he established the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School which today is the oldest continuously-run Santa school in the world.[1][2]

Biography

To say there is no Santa Claus is the most erroneous statement in the world. Santa Claus is a thought that is passed from generation to generation. After time this thought takes on a human form. Maybe if all children and adults understand the symbolism of this thought we can actually attain Peace on Earth and good will to men everywhere.

“
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— Charles W. Howard [3]

Howard was born in Albion, New York to William Asa and Martha Howard.[4] He first portrayed Santa Claus when he was in the 4th grade, for a school play.[5] He kept playing Santa and his reputation grew; he soon became one of the most sought-after Santas in the area, and then the whole nation.[5] From 1948 to 1965, he was the featured Santa Claus in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, perhaps the most visible Santa in the United States.[6]

In 1937, at the suggestion of a local journalist, he opened a Santa Claus School in Albion, to disseminate his Santa philosophies and methods.[5] He initially held classes in his own home. In the late 1940s, he developed Christmas Park adjacent to his house, an attraction for children from throughout Western New York, which had space for his school's classroom and dressing room.[6] New Santas could get practice interacting with children by portraying Santa and his helpers at the park. Department stores across the country sent Santas and executives both to his school, and he once traveled to Australia to teach Santa Clauses there.[6]

Howard died in 1966 near his home in Albion. Christmas Park, which had attracted 80,000 visitors yearly at its peak, closed, and his Santa Claus School was moved to Midland, Michigan.[7]

Legacy

Today, the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School continues running in Midland, Michigan, under Tom and Holly Valent, who themselves have portrayed Santa and Mrs. Claus for over thirty years.[7] An attraction called "Santa House" is near the School and is themed as Santa's workshop.

Orleans County, New York held a special event, Charles W. Howard Day, on September 25, 2010 (three months before Christmas), with the hopes of making it a yearly event.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Tina Susman (October 30, 2011). "Claus and effect: The ultimate Santa school". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ↑ "The Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School". Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  3. ↑ Charles W. Howard - Santa Claus Oath
  4. ↑ "Charles W. Howard - Growing Up". Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  5. 1 2 3 "Charles W. Howard - Santa Claus School". Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  6. 1 2 3 Wentz, Phillip L. "Phillip L. Wentz Remembers Charles W Howard". Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  7. 1 2 Montemurri, Patricia (2009-11-29). "Santa hones his ho-ho-hos at a school in Michigan". Detroit Free Press. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  8. ↑ Charles W. Howard Day, Albion, NY, September 25, 2010 at the Wayback Machine (archived March 13, 2012)
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