Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub The "Official Santa" arrived at our local Oak Park Mall in Kansas in a red BMW convertible courtesy of Baron Auto.And when Santa is in town he always stays at the new apartments right across the street.Has the corporate world invaded your local Santa mall yet?
Originally Posted By jdub Jeez, at my mall I don't think a single apartment would have ROOM for Santa--the guy seems to change hue every couple of hours!
Originally Posted By mawnck MMC - I suggest you do some research on our Spirit of Christmas friend. The whole image of Santa as a big fat lifesize guy in a red suit lined with white fur (as opposed to being a "jolly old elf . . . dressed all in fur from his head to his foot") is courtesy of the Coca Cola company's long-running ad campaign. He's as corporate as they come, and has been since at least the 1930's.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I will post this, keeping in mind that there are little one's that may read... I "know this guy" who volunteers to "help" Santa come to a certain elementary school in our area, where I live. This guy is in charge of "getting out the suit" and "bringing Santa" to the school. Anyway, when "Santa" was at the school seeing the kids, he noticed that every kid in line was bringing a dollar bill with them, and placing it in a basket, and then hoping up on Santa's lap to ask for whatever he wanted...blah blah blah... Anyway, about halfway through, "Santa" asked one of the helpers what the dollar thing was all about... thinking well it MUST be for a charity or something. No. It was for the lunchroom lady, who came in on Saturday to set up and clean up after. hehehehehehe.... "Santa" who comes from a very large family of his own (wink wink nudge nudge) was a little more than pissed. For Santa was donating Santa's own time...FREE. After the thing was over, I noticed that Santa had a few words with said organizers. I overheard something about someone getting coal for Christmas...
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Oh and Santa saw 226 children that day. I also forgot to mention that said lunchroom lady's own three children sat on the lap that day.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost My thought is that Santa actually is a corporate retail image so why wouldn't it be natural to have corporate sponsorship? He kinda does already anyway. There used to be another reason, other than Santa Claus, to celebrate Christmas. What was that? Gee, I can't seem to remember. Some birthday or something? Oh, well, I'm sure it will come to me.
