The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 28

THE PANTAGRAPH, BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1949. TWENTY ElGiir Santa Claus Gets Warm Welcome in Bloomington i feteMV yPtl -HE -a SANTA CLAUS COMES TO TOWN. Christinas season was ushered in by Santa Claus himself here Friday morning. The biggest crowd of excited children seen downtown since last Christmas waited for him to appear. Preceding Santa in the parade was Miss Merry Christmas (Miss Mary Koos) on this Lions club float.

The Lions club is sponsoring Santa's visit. THE SANTA CLAUS float bore the red-suited old gentleman past throngs of children and grownups who lined the streets from the depot to Santa Claus village on the courthouse lawn. He rode this sled drawn by cardboard reindeer on the float. It was built by students of Illinois Wesleyan university. This picture was taken at the Washington-Center street corner.

T- l. mi in Mini in imiimm ii i fiv ATT, 4 ikJ 'r; 4 STANDING up in the parade, Santa tosses out a handful of candy to the mobs of children. Six clowns following Santa helped him distribute 25,000 pieces of hard, wrapped candy. WINNERS among the children who dressed for the Santa Claus parade pose for pictures which Santa will autograph later. The bunnies nearest Santa are Mike and Walter Graville.

Left to right from the clown are: Roy Jacob, hobo; Marilyn Armstrong, hobo; Shirley Ammerman, Little Red Riding Hood, and under the peppermint candy stick, Byron Tucci. Each received $5. THE PATH to Santa's house on the courtyard was jammed Ionr before the parade was over. Children line up here to enter th little house where they talk to Santa Claus. ii sir wjwu 7 -y' Sa 5.

f. Wail? i-S I-1'-'' (te fc llibi is illSiiiii' -'m APPARENTLY on friendly terms with Santa Claus, Carol Curley, 907 North Roosevelt avenue, perches confidentially on his lap. She wasn't bashful said A WINDOW fall of faces greeted Santa jvhen he stepped inside the house. He waved; then spoke to the children over a loud speaker. He ordered a bottle of milk to show Santa Claus drinks milk too.

PUSHED BACK to the wall of Santa's village by the crowd, awe-stricken children watch Santa. Against a cold wind, children wore ear muffs, mittens, and battled runny noses. Little boy chewing his mitten seemed worried about his standing with Santa Claus. she just wanted a "bunch of dolls" for Christmas. PHOTOS.