Evening star., 1954-12-12
GIobaI Search
Ends; Pageant
Gets Reindeer
North Pole On. "
Sending Team for
EIlipse Festival
By Harry Bocos

Santa Claus would open the
show after all---with eight REIN
deer straight from the North
Pole.
In fact. he will open the shop
Iaan hour before President Eisen-
hover switches on the lights at
| 5 pm, Saturday on the coni-
munity Christmas tree In the
Ellipse.
Plans for Santa Claus and his
reindeer were rudely jolted
last week when early arrange
ments for the team Of eight blew
up completely.
Scandinavia Fails.
The pageant committee had
lined up air transportation all
the way from Norway to bring
in the reindeer promised by that
country. When the Norwegians
confessed they couldn't round up
all eight animals from the snowy
heights, committeeman turned
elsewhere.
They decided to accept an
earlier offer from Denmark, but
Denmark also came up short
of the needed eight reindeer.
Finland similarly admitted to q
shortage.
A Wisconsin native on the
pageant committee persuaded
Senator Alexander Wiley of that
State to cali the Wisconsin De-
lpar5raent Of Conservation last
week about the problem. Wis
consin. it turned out. had plenty
OF reindeer available, but none
were tame enough to be put
into sleigh traces.
It took Ed Kelly, head of
National Capital Parks and a
key man on the pageant commit
tee, to hit on the solution.
He called the North Pole.
Calls North Pole.
North Pole, it happens, is a
post office in New York. It is also
the business address of Howard
Fortune, a man who runs a firm
called The Santa Claus Work
shop. He charges some $4,000 a
week for the rental of his eight
flrelnde dee sleigh and Santa Ciaus.
nd Kelly convinced Mr.. For
tune that his team was never
more needed than in Washing
ton Mr.. Fortune saw the point
and agreed to- furnish the whole
show for nothing. except the cost
of transportation.
His Santa Claus--a man with
a real white beard--Will drive the
sleigh. which is equipped with
concealed wheels in the runners.
into the "Children's Corner" on
the Ellipse at 4 pm. sharp next
Saturday.
That jingling entrance will be
the first act In a three-week pro-
gram which will continue with
day and night events through
January s. or Twelfth Night.
L The focus of the unprece-
dented Christmas celebration
will be large cross-shaped park
set in the Ellipse, which has been
re-named "The Presidents Park
for the occasion, following an
early city planners designation.
Around the central tree. Ma
tional Capital Parks is laying
out the children's corner, space
Tor a life-sized nativity scene,
exhibition booths and a 20-by.
40-foot stage for concerts, re-
ligious services and dramas.
Washington's Catholic, jew
ish and Protestant congrega-
tions will play a large part ii
the three weeks of programs. Re-
hgious services are scheduled
for the noon hour virtually ev-
cry day.
Foreign embassies and lega-
tions are also programmine
many events. More than 20 have
already agreed to decorate
trees along a Pathway oil
Peace" at the north end OF the
park in the manner and colors
OF their individual nations
Guatemalan Band.
To insure his country's par
ticipation. the Guatemalan AM
bassador flew home and ar
ranged for Guatemala "best
n1arimba band" to be brought
here by military aircraft to take
| part.
Governors of the As States
| and the territories were wired
last week and by yesterday &c
had replied Offering q decorated
/ tree to be set up in the pageant's 4
State Row."
Edward M. Kirby, Washing
ton Board of Trade staff mem
her and co-ordinator Of the
pageant. stressed that all par
ticipation is voluntary and all
events win be open to the public
without charge.
| Patrick Hayes, chairman oi
the pageant's committee on the
arts. has estimated that II the
| show had to be bought and paid
for, the cost would run easily te
half q million dollars.
A feature of the children's cor
ner Will be an international
short-wave radio setup. The
Pentagon is moving to the Ell
lipse the headquarters of Its
Military Affiliated Radio Serv-
ice, which links UP ham, radio
operators In this country and
abroad and servicemen who have
amateur short-Wave equipment
at their assigned posts.
| The radio center VIII relay
Christmas messages from chill
dren and families Of servicemen
land women on duty in the
United States and overseas.
Among musical organizations
which win sing Ar play ut nu.
merous concerts during the pag-
40 ~ e,,.e -. f,,ssY. x,.f1sfa,.v eo,-x,ts.e