Charles W. Howard
“Dean of Santa Clauses”
Albion, New York
1896 – 1966
International Santa Claus Hall of Fame Charter Member – December 2010
In his early career Howard caught the train next to his farm in Albion and commuted to Rochester and then Buffalo to be Santa in department stores. It was about this time he started to develop the idea for a “school” for Santas. Howard’s first school was in the fall of 1937.
Howard also appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1948 through 1965. Oddly, he never worked as Santa in the New York City flagship store. From 1948-1964, Howard flew from New York City to Kansas City, Missouri to be the Santa at the Macy’s store there. In 1965, his last Christmas season, Howard worked at Nieman Marcus in Dallas, Texas.
Additional Information
The Official Charles W. Howard Website
Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School