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Santa, Christmas and
the Phonograph
December 6 and 25
By Doug Boilesen, 2020
At the end of the nineteenth century
when the phonograph was being marketed in the United States as a home
entertainment device the phonograph industry joined other products
and used Christmas and Santa Claus as part of their advertising campaigns.
The phonograph, it was advertised, "Brings Christmas Cheer All
the Year." And Santa could deliver that gift which exceeded all
other gifts as the "Ideal Christmas Present." It could be
a gift for the whole family and for the children it could be "the
best present" and "better than toys."
Munsey's Magazine,
December 1897
Besides Santa Claus becoming the bringer
of Christmas presents in the 19th century to United States homes on
December 25 there are other cultures which use Saint Nicholas, Sinterklass,
and others to bring gifts on December 6.
"Santa Claus, also known as
Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply
Santa, is a legendary character originating in Western Christian culture
who is said to bring gifts on Christmas Eve of toys and candy to well-behaved
children, and either coal or nothing to naughty children...The
modern character of Santa Claus is based on traditions surrounding
the historical Saint Nicholas, the English figure of Father Christmas
and the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas." Wikipedia
The following describes a few examples
of the competition between Santa Claus and Sintgerklass and the gift-giving
activities of December 6 and December 25:
In the Netherlands and Belgium,
the character of Santa Claus competes with that of Sinterklaas,
based on Saint Nicolas. Santa Claus is known as de Kerstman in Dutch
("the Christmas man") and Père Noël ("Father Christmas") in French.
For children in the Netherlands, Sinterklaas remains the predominant
gift-giver in December; 36% of the Dutch only give presents on Sinterklaas
evening or the day itself, 6 December,[12]
while Christmas, 25 December, is used by another 21% to give presents.
Some 26% of the Dutch population gives presents on both days.[13]
In Belgium, presents are offered exclusively to children on 6 December,
and on Christmas Day all ages may receive presents. Wikipedia
(12-22-2023)
December 6th,
of course, is the birthday of Edison's Phonograph so for Friends
of the Phonograph it's a day which can also be celebrated with
presents and "Santa" connections.
December 6 and December 25 are
combined on this page as one Phonographia gallery connecting Santa,
Christmas and the phonograph.
"Christmas" Ads and the
Phonograph
The following phonograph advertisements
are examples of phonograph marketing which use Santa, Christmas and
the Phonograph -- a gift that could literally say "Merry Christmas."
"A Merry Christmas Says the
GRAMOPHONE."
Munsey's Magazine, 1896
The Cosmopolitan, 1896
"The most interesting,
amusing and instructive of all gifts." Munsey's Magazine,
January 1897
Munsey's Magazine,
December 1897
The Edison Phonograph is
the best present...Better than Toys. December 1903
Everybody's Magazine,
December 1905
Edison newspaper ad, The
Talking Machine World, November 1905
Edison newspaper ad, 1905
Pearson's Magazine,
December 1906
Harper's Magazine,
1907
Victor Talking Machine
Co., 1909
Make this Christmas
last all winter - Columbia the one ideal gift for all the family for
all the year around, 1911
Christmas Wish for every
boy and every girl. Edison ad, 1911
Victrola Advertising Brochure,
1915
Victrola Advertising Brochure,
1916
Columbia Records Catalogue,
December 1919
Columbia Grafonola, The
Ladie's Home Journal, December 1919
Sonora Advertising Postcard, November
1920
"Give your family a Columbia Grafonola
with Columbia Records for Christmas." Music right at your fireside.
Pictorial Review, December 1920
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year
"The World's Musical Instrument"
Brings Happiness Entertainment and Education To all Mankind. The
Talking Machine World, December 15, 1920.
The Talking Machine
World, December 15, 1921
"The finest gift of
all!" "The gift that keeps
on giving -- Victrola" 1924
"What shall we give
the children for Christmas?"
"Are You Ready, Mr.
Santa Claus?" The General
Phonograph Mfg. Co., November 1926
"Yuletide Music"
- General Electric Radio-Phonograph Combination, 1930
GE radio-phonograph newspaper
ad, 1941
Emerson Phono-Radio magazine
ad, January 1941
Decca - Listen to Christmas...on
Decca Records, magazine ad, 1946
RCA Radio-Phonograph Combination
- Clear as Carols on Christmas Eve, The Saturday Evening Post,
1947
This Christmas..."Give
the gift with a lift...a genuine Philco, 1947
Westinghouse Radio-Phonograph
magazine ad, 1947
Stromberg-Carlson Radio-Phonograph
for Christmas, 1947
Admiral radio-phonograph
newspaper ad, 1948
Admiral Triple-Thrill Home
Entertainment - Radio-Phonograph-TV, 1948
Santa Picture Record, Voco,
Inc., 1948
Emerson "All Clear
for a Merry Christmas" 1950
Santa Picture Record by
Scotty MacGregor, 1950
"Three Generations
have said Merry Christmas with an RCA Victor," 1951
Admiral "Yours for
a Truly Wonderful Christmas" 1952
Philco for the gifts you'd
give yourself! Life magazine, November 1955
Decca Records ad, The
Twelve Days of Christmas, Los Angeles Times Home Magazine,
December 4, 1966
Santa, the Phonograph and Christmas
Tree Decorations
Rudolph and Santa Record Player Christmas
Tree Ornament - Hallmark Magic
Light and Sound Ornament, Nello Williams, Sculptor 2020
Rockin' with Santa Record Player Christmas
Tree Ornament - Hallmark Magic
Music and Light Ornament, Sharon Visker, Hallmark Keepsake Artist
2005 (FP1317)
 
Cool Yule Record Player Christmas Tree
Ornament - Hallmark Magic Music
and Light Ornament, Sharon Visker, Hallmark Keepsake Artist 2006.
Select a Record and play "Jingle Bells," "We Wish You
a Merry Christmas" and "Jolly Old St. Nickolas." (FP1323)
Santa, the Phonograph - Post Cards
and Greeting Cards
Embossed Merry Christmas
postcard, December 23, 1900 (PM-0486)
"Christmas"
and the Phonograph in Popular Culture - Cartoons
Rose is Rose by Pat Brady, Brenda
Lee's' Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree playing on the turntable,
The Lincoln Journal, December 23, 2023
MULTIMEDIA EXTRAS
LISTEN to Ring
Out the Bells for Christmas Edison Record No. 9806 (1907)
accompanied by phonograph ephemera.
WATCH A
Christmas Carol
- A dramatized presentation featuring illustrations from
"A Christmas Carol" print editions (1844–1915) and the recording
of “The Awakening of Scrooge” on Edison Amberol Record No. 12378 (1911)
performed by Bransby Williams as Ebenezer Scrooge as he awakens on
Christmas Day.
Wikipedia Citations (Referenced
Above and in Wikipedia
source article)
[12] - Davis, Derek H. (18 November
2010). The Oxford Handbook of Church and State in the United States.
Oxford University Press. pp. 334–. ISBN 9780190208783. Archived from
the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
[13] -"Nibud Pers, persberichten" (in
Dutch). NIBUD. 2003. Archived from the original on 14 December 2009.
Netherlands budget institute table showing money spent by households
categorised into those that give gifts only on Sint (36%), only on
Christmas day (21%), on both days (26%)
Phonographia
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