Known in the area Santa Spoons, Gary Spooner has shared some memories from a lifetime of helping collect children’s wish lists. A
Forced to step down earlier this year due to myelodysplastic syndrome, Spooner started his performances as Santa in the 1970s.
“My Santa performances started in 1970 when I was asked by a neighbor to pass out Christmas presents to his small children,” Spooner said. “The later Santa appearances started when my biggest advertiser, Grant City, needed someone to serve as Santa for a couple of weekends. I was having coffee with the store’s manager who said he had a Santa suit, hat, wig and beard. I told him I had the stomach for the job and I would do it for him. I had a ball with little ones asking me for a special Christmas gift. Little legs banging my shins was special and I loved it.
The stint led to being asked to appear as Santa at Head Start classes and some local small day care centers. Entering a Head Start classroom or a living room at a day care center made me feel like someone special. The kids adored Santa. For the first years I would rent a Santa suit and buy wigs and beards. Although the beards and wigs were itchy and would come off at the slightest turn of the head, I still persisted with them until I finally grew a beard of my own. Those years were mostly volunteer work and a great deal of fun.
“After ten years of providing bonus Santa work, I was engaged with a company that hired Santas to appear at house parties. The pay wasn’t great but the experience was worth it. I got some monetary tips from some of the events I attended. I developed an act that people found entertaining. I soon went out on my own and established a devoted following.
“Santas specialize in different ways. Some find their calling to be mall Santas. For instance, a mall Santa is hired by a photography company who makes arrangements with the owners of the mall to provide a Santa and have pictures taken that they can sell to the parents of the children who sit on Santa’s lap. I never hooked up with a mall photographer and don’t know how payment is worked, but I do know that the season can start in the middle of November and last until Christmas Eve. At one of our Santa conventions, I was offered a position with a well-known photo company to fly to Japan for a mall appearance. I did not like the idea of being away that long and a mall Santa only has seconds with the children because the purpose is to sell photographs. However, I liked and wanted the interactions I was having with the children at the events I was attending.
“I did work with three photographers in their studios. Each one of them had a good eye and had a different style. The photo’s taken were very professional I was with them for over fifteen years. The families were great, even though it took a couple of years for the young ones to warm up to Santa.
“There are Santa’s who have musical talents, storytelling, singing and humor who have developed an entertaining act that people seem to enjoy. Some even provide videos of the visit that can be shown over many years. This is a great way to see the children grow and the questions they ask from two years old to adulthood. My aim in each visit was to involve the adults in the fun by singing holiday while asking them to wear red noses. For the children that were shy or afraid of sitting on Santa’s lap, I asked them to hold and ring the sleigh bells during some of the songs. Later, when the event was longer, we might read “A Night Before Christmas” or “Marvin the Toot-Toot Elf”.
“Each visit has a price rate that includes time and travel. I started out at $150 an hour and increased if travel was over 50 miles round trip. If I was asked what I charged someone who could not afford my visit, I would tell them I would do it for a cup of coffee and a cookie. They got the same merriment that those who paid me received. After all, it is for the kids and some adults too. No matter what the age, the Santa Magic is ageless.
“I also contributed Santa visits to worthy causes. There were a number of holiday visits that were auctioned off for a charity or an event for someone who was having a medical difficulty. I was happy if I was asked to donate my time. Nothing can bring you back to reality when a youngster wants his dad to be healthy by Christmas as his only present, or the look on a parent’s face as their child asks for things they cannot afford. My wife used to say ‘Christmas comes anyway.’ I trust my answers helped the parents have hope.
“A Santa wardrobe can be costly. Depending on the type of suit wanted, a specially made outfit can cost a few thousand dollars, not to mention all the accessories like boots, belts, and hats. Specially made shoes can cost from $500 to $800.Some Santas are lucky to have a spouse who is well educated on making clothes. My late wife Judy, made most of my garments in the beginning of my professional career. She loved making the clothes and was excellent at doing it a well as covering the dining room in a layer of red velvet thread and dust. In later years I had a Santa clothing company in Michigan make the attire that I have been wearing the last twelve years.”
Invitations over the years to house parties as Santa have included many memorable exchanges, of which Spooner shares a few.
“Invitations to someone’s home entertain the children and adults can be a blast,” he says. “I always arrive on time and usually find a bag of gifts outside the door to bring in with me. They will be handed out just before I leave.
“The entrance of Santa is always a big occasion for the young ones. For me, I sometimes think they are seeing a rock star up close. I always tell the parents to be ready for picture or video taking because they would want to view the excitement from the beginning.
“After everyone is settled we sing some Santa songs. At some parties I also read a story. Then it is time for the kiddoes to tell me what they want for Christmas and pictures are taken.
Spooner went on to share some conversations he’s had over the years.
Santa: “Well, young man, what do you want for Christmas.”
Child: “I don’t know.”
Santa: “I have a whole warehouse full of ‘I don’t know’. They come in four colors. You can have one in red, blue, green or purple. What color ‘I don’t know’ would you like?”
Child: “I don’t know.”
Santa: “I don’t have that color. I only have red, blue, green or purple. Which color would you prefer?”
Child: “Purple.”
Santa: “You must be from Minnesota.”
Children who approach Santa are sometimes skeptical, as one children who thought to trick Santa.
“One young man approached me and thought he was going to trick me,” Spooner shares, leading to the following exchange.
Young man: “Santa, what’s my name?”
Santa: “You forgot your name?! Are your parents aware of this? Do you need a new one? I’ll call you Sigafoos.”
Also among memories was that of a girl who wanted a phone.
Young girl (About 10 or 11 years old): “Santa, I want a phone for Christmas.”
Santa: “The only reason a girl of your age would want a phone is to call your boyfriend. Do your parents know you have a boyfriend? Have you introduced him to your dad?”
Young girl: “No, I don’t have a boyfriend. I want to call my friends.”
Santa: “You can talk to your friends in school. If I give you a phone, who will pay for the service? I will have to confer with your parents about the phone.”
“That is also the answer I give when someone asks for a live animal,” he said. “I buy two-inch red noses by the hundreds. I get all attending grandparents up, hand them bells and a red nose. They have to serenade the grandchildren with a version of ‘Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer’. The kids get a charge out of this part of the program. Then I make sure that all pictures are taken. Then it is time to hand out the gifts.
“After the gifts are given out it is time for me to leave. I stand up and put on my coat or robe and start singing, “I wish you a Merry Christmas.’ There are two families I have been visiting for years who want me to stay for dinner. I never pass up an invitation to contribute to my ‘Dunlop’s disease’ where my stomach ‘dun lops over my belt.”’ These people are fantastic cooks.”
Among rewarding experiences for Spooner meanwhile has been visiting disabled children as Santa, of which he also shares cherished memories.
“A special visit to a child who is disabled is one of the most satisfying moments of being a Santa performer,” he says. “The impaired person is so glad to see you and their uncontrolled movements are a joy. Nothing upsets me more than seeing an adult mock or make fun of a disabled person. These people have feelings and a brain. They should be treated with the same attitude that I would have with any other child. The only difference is how they are touched.
“Because of their disability, I would ask about their impairment if it was not visible. I tended to be careful where I touched someone as not to cause discomfort. I made sure that we had fun and I listened to them. Most had a lot to say.
“I visited a little boy who was blind in the 1980’s. According to his parents he could only see shadows, his fingers became his eyes. In order for him to see me he had to touch all areas of my face. I felt, at the time, I did well. I did not want to destroy his imagination and I sat still and let him do his exploration. He said, “You’re Santa.”
“I was always impressed by the parents and siblings of a person who has been incapacitated in some way. They are very protective of their child or brother or sister. They make sure the person is comfortable and never put in a threatening situation.
“I spent 29 years on the 916 Education Foundation Board of Directors. Northeast Metro School District 916 is located in White Bear Lake. It has thirteen-member school districts and primarily educates the mentally and physical disabled students from the member districts. They have a dedicated staff who are well trained and educated to handle difficult students. I learned a great deal while serving on the board.
“Santa America is an organization located in Missouri that offers training to Santa performers devoted in appearing in hospitals, clinics, group homes and any other places that work with the disabled. I attended their seminars to gain more tools that would help me entertain the disabled.
The North Star Santa group is a local organization that provides back ground checks, insurance and education to Santa Performers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. They also provide a listings of Santa’s who are available to perform at holiday events.
I just wish I had devoted more of my time with them.”
Forced to step down from his role as Santa earlier this year due to health issues, Spooner says memory is good for the soul.
“Memories of the past are always good for the soul,” he says. “I have many of them and I will share them because it will give the reader an idea of the fun I have had over the years.
According to her parents, little Valerie, a toddler, was upset because she thought Santa was going into a blow-up air globe and freeze to death. She didn’t want me to even get close to the globe.
“I was invited to a senior day care center where I met a ninety-something year old black lady. She told me that she had never sat on Santa’s lap. I told her this was a good time to start. We reminisced about Christmas’ past and ended up harmonizing to “Go Tell it on The Mountain” with the help of my wife, Judy, who had a beautiful singing voice. Then we had a cupcake and a cup of coffee with more singing from the entire group of seniors and the staff. Great fun.
I was hired by photographer/producer/director, Kari Layland for photo shoots with her clients. She eventually decided to get into the short movie business and asked me if I would appear in a movie with her daughter, Annabelle, titled “Suzi Meet Santa.” Kari is a very talented and intelligent lady with a head full of ideas that entertain many people with her expertise. She made me feel comfortable and the movie was fun to do and contained an excellent message concerning belief in Santa. Too bad age got into my way or I would have gone to Hollywood.
“The Kabat family has had me humor their children and grandchildren for over twenty years. After finishing my visit, I am always invited to participate in the family dinner. “Shel” Kabat is a fantastic cook. I will always be grateful for the time I spent with them during the holidays.
Tonya and Travis Holt, owners of Primrose of Woodbury, have had me entertain their students since they opened in 2004. I have seen their children grow up over the years along with many other children who live in the south Washington County area. They run a highly praised early education center and having my picture taken with their students and families has been a joy and lots of memories that I will never forget. I thank them for inviting me to perform every year.
“Ken and Kathy Shearer have had me at their home with their family for a number of years. Kathy is a great baker and makes sure I take home some of her Christmas goodies each year. Here, again, is a family I have seen age very well and have a great deal of fun with them all.
I have been on Jana Shortal’s KARE 11 program a few times. In my other life as a newspaper publisher, I am always impressed with professional reporters, especially ones who are as intelligent as Jana. We had a great time conversing about Santa visits and answering questions from her audience. Her personality come across as being extremely friendly and understandable. I will always be thankful for being asked to participate on her program. She is one tough lady.
“I spent twenty-eight years as Santa at the ‘Breakfast with Santa’ event for the Cottage Grove Lions Club. I have had people show me pictures that they took with me back in the early 1980’s. Then they introduce me to their grand-kids. Makes an old guy feel older.
I also participated in “Breakfast with Santa” at the White Bear Yacht Club and at River Oaks Municipal Golf Club in Cottage Grove for many years.
“I found that having pictures taken with the same Santa every year enhances the child’s belief in the character.
“I am looking forward to the future. I will certainly miss all the fun I have had the past 55 years as a Santa performer. Health issues at my age are important. I have myelodysplastic syndrome. The condition is close to leukemia and involves taking chemotherapy shots over twelve months.
“I THANK everybody, including my daughters, Margie and Laura and my son-in-law, Eric Williams, who participated in my memories and wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
“Santa Spoons (AKA Gary Spooner)”