Santaland at Miller & Rhoads
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11 X 14 print by Sandra Jett Ball
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Santaland at Miller & Rhoads Department Store in Richmond Virginia began in the early 1940's. Bill Strother, a Hollywood stunt man, used techniques he learned in his trade to create a unique Christmas wonderland where Santa called each child to his side by name.
Santa's daily arrival down the chimney as well as his Christmas Eve exit up the chimney, his lovely Snow Queen, and the faithful little elf that sat by his side all made the magical land enormously popular for decades. It was not uncommon for families to spend the entire day shopping and spelling each other waiting in the Santa line. Folks came from all over the East Coast to be a part of this delightful holiday experience.
Joyfully, my family has a history of trips to Santaland almost from its inception to the end. In what turned out to be the last year of the Miller & Rhoads Santaland, as Richmond's landmark department store was closing, our family decided to give something back to Santa and so I painted Santa at Miller & Rhoads. The original 24x16 pen and ink drawing colored with gouache shows the entire set from the clock with its hands pointing to a few minutes before midnight to Santa's hat slung over the top of his chair back.
A 14x11 print was created the next year so that everyone might have an opportunity to remember one of their favorite Christmas traditions. I hope you enjoy your copy of Santa at Miller & Rhoads and remember, "Santa loves you!"
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Santaland links