The Santa Claus Man

The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

By: Alex Palmer

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Before the charismatic John Duval Gluck, Jr., came along, letters from New York City children to Santa Claus were destroyed, unopened, by the US Post Office. Gluck saw an opportunity and created the Santa Claus Association. The effort delighted the public, and for 15 years money and gifts flowed to the only group authorized to answer Santa's mail. Gluck became a Jazz Age celebrity, rubbing shoulders with the era's movie stars and politicians, and even planned to erect a vast Santa Claus monument in the center of Manhattan - until Gotham's crusading charity commissioner discovered some dark secrets in Santa's workshop. The rise and fall of the Santa Claus Association is a caper both heartwarming and hard-boiled, involving stolen art, phony Boy Scouts, a kidnapping, pursuit by the FBI, a Coney Island bullfight, and above all, the thrills and dangers of a wild imagination. It's also the larger story of how Christmas became the extravagant holiday we celebrate today, from Santa's early beginnings in New York to the country's first citywide Christmas tree and Macy's first grand holiday parade.

©2016 Alex Palmer (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

" The Santa Claus Man is a warmhearted and informative history, and a luscious tale besides." (Andrew Burstein, author of The Original Knickerbocker)

Interesting Story

If you have an interest in American Christmas history at the turn of the century, this book is worth a read. While it focuses on the story of one man there are many details about Christmas culture in general back in that era that are interesting.

ok

This is history and it's sad.
it's an ok listen. But don't look for something Christmassy.

Great story and fun break from typical Christmas yarns

Found this on Audible. Great look at Christmas in early 20th century, the rise of what we all know as Christmas today. Mr. Gluck, while a bit shady had an interesting life. Worth the read!

Good story but too long

I liked reading about this era in NYC and America. The story and the side tangents were interesting but it dragged at times. About a thief could’ve been removed about the Santa org and its dealings.

fascinating history

greatly enjoyed this look at a con man, as well as historical background of many American Christmas traditions. someone should make a movie about this!

Great history lesson

I really enjoyed this well-written historical account of NYC’s first real Santa man. I was pleasantly surprised to find out at the end that the author is a distant relative. Just a fun read.

The Santa Claus man

This book was tediously boring. The author failed to describe the characters adequately. It was merely fact after fact.