The Gay Man Who Imagined Santa Claus

J.C. Leyendecker's Santa

Is Santa Gay? No, not the original St Nick, Nicholas of Myra, whose propensity was for leaving coins in shoes left out for him. (Slightly more suspicious is that he’s the patron saint of sailors, and we all know about sailors.)

No, the Santa I’m talking about is the iconic, white-haired bear in the red and white suit whose iconic appearance was perfected by a gay man: Joseph Christian (J.C.) Leyendecker, America’s foremost early 20th century illustrator and the man who popularised art in advertising.

MCV – Melbourne Community Voice for Gay and Lesbian Readers – Last Word: J.C. Leyendecker – MCV – Melbourne Community Voice for Gay and Lesbian Readers

Today’s Christmas Playlist

I put my Christmas songs into playlists by albums, but I do not have full albums to these individual songs. So I made a playlist. This is what I’m listening to right now.

1    It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Andy Williams
2     Christmas in Jamaica Brent Dowe
3     Run Rudolph Run Chuck Berry
4     Zat You, Santa Claus? Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem Band
5     On Santa’s Way Home Marc Broussard
6     Jingle Bells James Taylor
7     Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow Michael Bublé
8     Step Into Christmas Elton John
9     Christmas Wrapping The Waitresses
10     Christmas Blues Traveler
11     Same Old Lang Syne (Album Version) Dan Fogelberg
12     Christmas Song Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds

(silence – 30 seconds)

13     (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays Perry Como
14     Better Days Goo Goo Dolls
15     Santa Baby Madonna
16     Merry Christmas Baby Chuck Berry
17     Baby, It’s Cold Outside Margaret Whiting And Johnny Mercer
18     Winter Wonderland Johnny Mercer
19     Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Gene Autry
20     Do You Hear What I Hear? Andy Williams
21     Ding Dong! Merrily on High Chanticleer
22     Christmas Eve In Washington US Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants
23     O Holy Night Kurt Herbert Adler, Luciano Pavarotti & National Philharmonic Orchestra of London
24     Silent Night Sarah McLachlan