CBS - Bill Plante Christmas/Santa Story - 1970

the annual visit to Santa Claus an institution for millions of American children has taken on a new dimension of programmed efficiency at this Cleveland department store in most of the places where Santa appear there are children hanging from weary parents lined up for hours Happy Kids Sullen kids frightened kids smart Alle kids they wait forever for a brief but Magic Moment on Santa's lap once there they giggle cry pull the old man's whiskers in short it's tactical fulfillment run wild not here in the snowflake theater here children can see and hear Santa on the stage behind a big simulated television screen a 100 of them every 45 minutes or so hello Santa Santa can you hear us I can hear you fine when you started wishing for me I didn't know who on Earth it was by Santa that was the boys and girls here in Snowflake theater in Cleveland wishing I thought so hello boys and girls Francis a Koy president of the May Company Cleveland store is pleased with this departure from the traditional Mr Coy has Santa Claus become a casualty of the electronic age no we think Santa Claus is being aided by the electronic age uh we were looking for some way to give the children a real uh closer personal feel of Christmas and we all associate Christmas with the North Pole and with Santa Claus and this gives the children an opportunity to see Santa where he lives rather than having Santa come see them where they live a few of these kids are able to talk to Santa but not in person want to tell Santa Claus your name Mary is that Mary yes Lou a long way away how are you Mary fine have you been good little girl this year yes I knew so what would you like for Christmas Mary I don't know we got some surprises for you too how's that fine reactions were mixed but then all children today seem much more sophisticated than when we were very young last year did you come and talk to Santa Claus uh did you tell them what you wanted for Christmas yes how was it last year was it like this was he on TV no how was it he was sitting down oh sitting down and uh everybody went up and talked to him yeah is this better than that yes how come I don't know how about you John you must have seen Santa before yes which way do you think it's better uh sitting down how come because I uh all the other uh it's amusing when the the kids sit on them do you like seeing Santa better this way on TV or sitting down in a chair I like it any you like it anyway the legend of St Nicholas has been handed down through many centuries surviving Skeptics and changing times and one would suppose that it will survive the electronic Revolution as well Bill plant CBS News Cleveland for