- Born
- Died
- Birth nameCharles Willis Howard
- Nicknames
- Charlie
- Dean of Santa Clauses
- Charles W. Howard was born on June 15, 1896 in Albion, New York, USA. He was married to Ruth G. Webster. He died on May 1, 1966 in Newfane, New York, USA.
- SpouseRuth G. Webster(? - May 1, 1966) (his death)
- First played Santa as a boy in a classroom play. As an adult he found himself asked to help out a friend and play Santa in a store front window in downtown Albion.
- Appeared on TV shows such as 'What's My Line', 'To Tell the Truth' and the 'Tonight Show'. He was featured in many magazines and newspapers including the 'Saturday Evening Post' and was hired as consultant for the 1947 movie 'Miracle on 34th Street'.
- Started the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in 1937. The school celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2017.
- Appeared as Santa Claus 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, he 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, he worked at Nieman Marcus in Dallas, Texas.
- International Santa Claus Hall of Fame Charter Member, December 2010.
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