Charles W. Howard
Encyclopedia
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.
to William Asa and Martha Howard. He first portrayed Santa Claus when he was in the 4th grade, for a school play. 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. 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.
In 1937, at the suggestion of a local journalist, he opened a Santa Claus School in Albion, to disseminate his Santa philosophies and methods. 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. 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.
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
.
for over thirty years. 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor and teacher most famous for portraying Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to 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.
Biography
Howard was born in Albion, New YorkAlbion (town), Orleans County, New York
----Albion is a town in Orleans County, New York, USA. The population was 8,042 at the 2000 census. The town was named after a village in the town....
to William Asa and Martha Howard. He first portrayed Santa Claus when he was in the 4th grade, for a school play. 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. From 1948 to 1965, he was the featured Santa Claus in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
, perhaps the most visible Santa in the United States.
In 1937, at the suggestion of a local journalist, he opened a Santa Claus School in Albion, to disseminate his Santa philosophies and methods. 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
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
, which had space for his school's classroom and dressing room. 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
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to teach Santa Clauses there.
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
Midland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
.
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. ClausMrs. Claus
Mrs. Claus is the wife of Santa Claus, the Christmas gift-bringer in North American Christmas tradition.While Santa Claus himself emerged from the 1820s from a number of traditions of European folklore, Mrs...
for over thirty years. An attraction called "Santa House" is near the School and is themed as Santa's workshop.
Orleans County, New York
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
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.