Coke Santa, by commercial illustrator Haddon Sundblom (image may be subject to copyright)
Chicago commercial illustrator, Haddon Sundblom didn’t create the modern version of Santa Claus, but in 1931 Coke hired him to do a series of Santa’s (inspired in large part by Clement Clark Moore’s 1822 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”) that over time have become some of the most popular images of the jolly old man. From 1931 to 1966, Sundblom created 40 Santa Claus paintings for Coca-Cola, and since Sundblom wintered in Tucson at the Westward Look Resort, the story goes that many of these painting were created here in Tucson. Click here to read more about the Santa image that many of us grow up with was born, in part, here in Tucson.
Now that it’s the day after Christmas, I share the following — might this be your house?
‘TWAS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house
All the fam’ly was sleeping, yes, even my spouse.
The stockings were tossed by the chimney with flair
Some turned inside out, to make sure nothing’s there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
Nintendo DSes tucked under their heads;
And I in my bathrobe, MacBook on my lap,
Was happy to know there were no gifts to wrap.
When out from the kitchen there rose such a clatter,
I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter.
I waded my way ‘cross a floor filled with trash
To a kitchen heaped high from our Christmas Eve bash.
The sun through the window, it gave quite a glow:
(Los Angeles Christmas: We never have snow),
It shone on the remains of the Christmas day cheer,
The leftover cheese ball, the dregs of the beer.
The un-put-away brownies as hard as a fossil,
And o’er on the stove, it shone down on the wassail.
. . . read more of this poem by Janet Batchler.
kenne
Related articles
- Haddon Sundblom (1899 – 1976, American) (iamachild.wordpress.com)
- Santa Claus and Coke. (envisioningtheamericandream.com)
- Coca-Cola’s Iconic Santa Claus Ads by Haddon Sundblom (photovide.com)
- Coke Lore: The History of the Modern Day Santa Claus (givemeliberty01.com)
- Holiday Advertising from Coca-Cola (business2community.com)
- Santa the Coca-Cola Claus (loopdoodle.wordpress.com)
- MERRY CHRISTMAS from Coca-Cola (Throughout the Years) (dailyrehashblog.ora.tv)
Nice post and blog.
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Thank you.
I read the entire poem and it’s excellent:) Hope you had a happy Christmas:)
Glad you like the posting on this day after Christmas — yes, we had a very nice Christmas.
Love the nostalgia. Of course, if that was painted today we’d ridicule it as a commercial way to feed a corporate giant – of course, it was but it’s also a great painting and the history helps.
When I was growing up living with my grandparents, my granddad has a “filling-station” and at Christmas time the Coke Santa’s were all over the store — I remember it well.
Great Santa from days gone by and funny poem for the Day After Christmas. Hope your New Year is filled with happy moments and beautiful photographs.
Thank you — right back at you.
Reblogged this on Becoming is Superior to Being and commented:
A Christmas post from five years ago — you might enjoy the history. — kenne