Library of Congress - American Memory

[RadioJonD]

This one ought to keep us busy for a while:

From the Library of Congress - American Memory Collection

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html

Type "Christmas" in the Search All Collections box at top right. There are 2,418 Christmas items over 121 pages at the time of this post.

Let's get started, shall we?

[sheepsnot]

Let me tell you, I spent a couple hours yesterday looking at pictures and listening to radio clips and watching film clips. That is an amazing collection. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. I look at those old pics and wonder, "Why does everyone always wear black?" :o

[RadioJonD]

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell y'all that the site would be addictive!

[lpstong]

Ok The second one listed that came up for me was "Santa Clause Hides in your picture." I was just dying from this audio clip. Glad you gave us this link to have hours of fun and ideas.

Edit: Ok I need to go read somewhere else. Spending to much time exploring the things over there. Cant stop - help! lol

[RadioJonD]

Seems to me like that audio clip of Santa would have scared the daylights out of little kids back then and even now. He sounds like a deranged man.

The clip and more vintage Christmas musings is actually available on CD.
http://www.dawnofsound.com/html/voices_of_christmas_past.html
Voices of Christmast Past CD
23 original vintage recordings from 1898 to 1922 featuring the voices of recording pioneers: Cal Stewart, Henry Burr, Harry MacDonough, John McCormack, Haydn Quartet and many more!

I have this in my collection and highly recommend it for the Christmas history associated with these old gems. One of the tracks similar to the one above is "Uncle Josh Plays Santa Claus" - by Cal Stewart. One gets a glimpse of the Spirit of Christmas that existed back during the time period.

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

:-) Ho Ho Hello!
I am on holidays. Got a minute to use the laptop seems to be a hot item with the ten children gathered for the BBQ.
They are outside running off the blueberries and ice cream.

Thanks for the links RJD. It has been a bit since I have listented to some great Christmas music reflective of the days gone by.

When I get back home, I plan on turning up the speakers and enjoying your offerings as part of my Christmas in July celebration.

:) Thanks again for the links. Hope to get a bit of time to join in the Chat tomorrow night.

[sheepsnot]

The man who portrays the Santa in your phonograph also sang a song called, "The Farmer Took Another Load Away." Best line: Mary had a little lamb; the butcher killed it dead. And now she takes the lamb to school between two hunks of bread." You want a guy like that playing Santa! :lol:

[RadioJonD]

Now that Is creepy Sheepsnot! Where did you hear that one?

[digbugsgirl]

Thanks for this site! It is very interesting!

Brandy

[sheepsnot]

I just Googled the guy's name. Can't remember it now. He did a lot of funny stuff as well as Santa.