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