Charles W. Howard

Charles Willis Howard (June 15, 1896 – May 1, 1966) was an American actor and teacher most famous for portraying Santa Claus in department stores and parades. In 1937, he established the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School which today is the oldest continuously-run Santa school in the world. Early life Howard was born in Albion, New York to William Asa Howard and Martha Haight. As a young boy he showed exceptional creative ability and was provided with a coping saw by his aunt. At the age of seven, he used this tool to fashion toy furniture and wagons for friends and neighbors to purchase as gifts. Around this time, his mother sewed a Santa Claus suit for him as he was a "short fat boy." He was given a "false face" and as a result, was deemed quite proficient in playing the role of Santa. Although his blue eyes were always merry, the false face frightened fellow children and he stopped wearing it. As he grew older, Howard observed other men portraying Santa Claus in local stores and decided that he would like to attempt this as well. One day, he finished his farm chores and ventured off to John B. Merrill's Furniture Store in downtown Albion and suggested that they hire him to play the role of Santa. Merrill suggested that Howard set up shop in the storefront window and manufacture toys. Although he did not like the window idea, he agreed to the job at $15.00 per week. He would construct a workbench and provide his own tools to complete the work. As he worked in the front window, a line of children would gather to watch Santa make toys, giving him time to interact with the observers. Howard would wake early in the morning to complete his farm chores, take several cans of milk to a dealer in town, then don his Santa suit until noon. He would then venture home, eat a quick lunch, complete his noon farm chores, and hurry back to the store for more work as Santa.