The Santa Tapes (1976)

• 80%
• 1976
• Scott Jacobs

His Name is Art Baldwin and, according to the Chicago Tribune, he was "the only authentic State Street Santa Claus." For three decades, he presided over Santa's Cozy Cloud Cottage in Marshall Field & Company's flagship store, led the annual Christmas parade and brought joy to thousands of children. Warm and compassionate, blunt and irascible, he leads us here through his preparations for a day in "The Chair." In a remarkable and revealing conversation, he gives us an inside look at the hard life of a department store Santa including his unexpurgated opinions on kids, gold, Grammas, Mexican women, bad knees, good friends and money. It is a bittersweet view from the other side of The Cozy Cloud Cottage -- touching, maddening and joyful. This is a portrait of Santa you've never seen before and will never forget.