It’s not every day that a magician gets to help Santa deliver a little more magic to children. And to get to do that in the historic spot where some of the most iconic images of Santa were created is, well, magical.
A couple of years ago I was contacted by a friend here in Tucson who is arguably the best Santa in Arizona and undoubtedly one of the best in the U.S. He holds an annual symposium of Santas from around southern Arizona sponsored by The Southern Arizona Nocturnal Toymakers Association (SANTA). The symposium is an opportunity for networking and sharing all manner of performance, costuming, and marketing techniques. He asked if I’d be willing to teach the “jolly old elves” some simple magic tricks. Of course, I said yes, especially when I learned that the symposium was to be held at Westward Look Resort in Tucson. You may not know the resort, but if you grew up anywhere between the 1930s and 1960s you definitely know the images of Santa that were painted there – each one etched into our childhood psyches, signaling that the magic of the Christmas season was upon us. The iconic Coca Cola ads featuring Santa Claus were created by illustrator Haddon Sundblom beginning with his first ad in 1931. It was his Santa – the rotund, jolly man with rosy cheeks, long white hair with matching beard, a smiling face, donning a red suit trimmed in white fur, wide leather belt, and heavy boots – that endures as the iconic image of the Christmas Eve visitor to this day.
Sundblom often stayed at Westward Look for extended visits. In the early 1950s the then owners of the resort had two daughters named Lani and Sansy who were used as Sunblom’s models for several of the ads. For balance, one of the girls was depicted in the ads as a boy – both delighted that Santa was enjoying their gift to him of a refreshing Coke.
Having the opportunity to teach a few simple magic tricks to Santas in such an appropriate and historic setting was made even more special to me because my Dad was a Christmas aficionado, particularly partial to Santa. He and I had, for years, collected antique Santa postcards printed shortly after the turn of the 20th Century. After teaching the Santas (and several Mrs. Clauses) some tricks, I had the privilege of sharing with them a few century old pieces from our collections. My Dad would have been pleased.
Rod Robison is a Tucson, Arizona based mentalist, magician, author and speaker who helps companies and organizations create unforgettable events for their employees and clients. www.TucsonMentalist.com
