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FRIDAY DECEMBER 27, 2024 • VOL. 54, NO. 52
Sing A Song Of Christmas
Smack Dab In The Middle: Design Trends Of The Mid-20th Century By Donald-Brian Johnson “Caroling, caroling, now we go, Christmas bells are ringing! Caroling, caroling through the snow, Christmas bells are ringing! Joyous voices sweet and clear, sing the sad of heart to cheer – Ding dong, ding dong, Christmas bells are ringing!” (Alfred Burt/Wihla Hutson, 1954) Remember Christmas caroling? Long ago (well, let’s say the 1950s), and far away (well, let’s say in your hometown), door-to-door Christmas caroling was as much a part of the holiday season as setting out cookies for Santa, or pretending you liked fruitcake. Sometimes the singers were members of a church choir. Sometimes, they were kids from the neighborhood, chirping out their best, in hopes of being offered a hot cocoa. More often than not, they were just assorted happy neighbors, gathered to musically welcome in the Yuletide (and perhaps get offered something a bit stronger than hot cocoa). Caroling. It was a Christmas tradition. And if the night was cold and crisp, with bright stars against a velvety black sky, and just a few snowflakes falling, so much the better. Ah. Now you remember. While angels are credited with the first Christmas carol, serenading sleepy shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem, more earthbound renditions can be traced to the 13th century, and St. Francis of Assisi. Music celebrating the spirit of Christmas had been around for centuries (the first actual “carol,” the “Angel’s Hymn,” dates from 129 A.D.), but was primarily confined to religious settings. And, it was in Latin, not the first choice for a community sing-along. Any secular holiday tunes bordered on the bawdy. Just right for your Christmas Francis had other ideas. In 1223, fol- cards: a “Choir Boys” felt wall banner/card holder. lowing a visit to the Holy Land, he came
up with the concept of a “living Nativity.” Locals took on the roles of the familiar Biblical figures. Shepherds and farmers supplied the livestock. All that was missing was music to frame the familiar story. Latin? No. Bawdy ballads? Certainly not. But how about words in the native tongue (in this case, Italian), set to the tunes of those well-known melodies? Definitely Continued on page 10 a keeper, as the hordes of villagers who flocked
Travel And Entertainment Themed Posters Took The Spotlight A Rare Pan Am Poster From 1961 Brought $18,750 Potter & Potter Auctions announced the results of their 646-lot Vintage Poster Sale held on Nov. 7. All prices noted include the auction house’s 20-percent buyer’s premium. The top lot was “Gateway to the World’s Fair / Pan Am.” Estimated at $1,000-$1,500, it realized $18,750. This rare, linen backed poster from 1961 was illustrated with renderings of the Pan Am Building beside the Unisphere sculpture of the New York World’s Fair and silhouettes of New York Airways Vertol helicopters. Leslie Ragan’s (1897-1972) “Chicago / New York Central Lines,” estimated at $4,000-$6,000, went Continued on page 3
Automaton Minute Repeater Pocket Watch Sells For $6,655 “An ancient and lovely custom is this singing of Christmas carols.” That’s how the John Hancock Life Insurance Co. introduced its pamphlet of familiar holiday tunes, distributed free of charge to customers in the 1930s.
Locati Holds Two Sales In November By Karl Pass Bucks County, Pa., online auction house Locati LLC is known for putting on a monthly curated sale of antiques and fine art. They held two diverse quality sales on Nov. 13 and 17. Among the newsworthy lots were a round brilliant 2.80-carat diamond ring bringing $9,378 and an automaton minute repeater pocket watch selling for $6,655. Returning to the fine jewelry category, an antique 14-carat gold Continued on page 7
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . Got any cocoa? A trio of chilly carolers graces the cover of the December 1953 issue of “This Day.”
They’re used to winter weather: a plastic lightup caroling snow duo.
Kids can get in on the fun too! As seen on a 1938 “Treasure Chest” carol book, complete with pictures in color.
starting on page 2
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . .
on page 4
EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR on page 6 AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . on page 8 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . . . . on page 8
FEATURE AUCTION: Milestone Auction’s January 4 Sale - Page 2
CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . on page 10