Mall Santas pt. 1 with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'

American Hysteria

W!ZARD Studios

Society & Culture

4.4 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 15 December 2025

⏱️ 82 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For this two-part holiday special, I tell Sarah Marshall all about the history of the American mall Santa Claus from the 1800s into the present day. For part one, we will learn about the eccentric men who created the look and vibe of the department store Kris Kringle, mass producing a jolly army of Santa proxies to whom kids could disclose their heart’s holiday desire. For part two, I will explain how the Mall Santa became a surprising symbol of societal change and guerrilla protest. That's coming next week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus content Or subscribe to American Hysteria on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get some of our new merch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠americanhysteria.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, all profits go to The Sameer Project, a Palestinian-led mutual aid group who are on the ground in Gaza delivering food and supplies to displaced families. Leave us a message on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Urban Legends Hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Producer and Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Miranda Zickler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Associate Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Riley Swedelius-Smith⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional editing by Kaylee Jasperson Hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Arrival, extraordinary!
0:07.0	Have you heard of the arrival of good Santa Claus with his wonderful budgets and bundles and cases?
0:13.0	He is here, and the best is he puts up at Macy's.
0:28.5	Load up the station wagon.
0:36.3	The big, happy American hysteria family is going down to our favorite corporate department store to sit on an old man's lap.
0:40.9	For this two-part Christmas special, I tell Sarah Marshall, host of the podcast you're wrong
0:46.6	about, all about the history of the American mall Santa Claus, starting back in the 1800s and continuing into the present day.
0:57.4	For part one, I'll be painting a pretty wholesome picture of the eccentric men who over the
1:04.2	years created the look and vibe of the department store Chris Kringle, mass-producing a jolly army of Santa proxies to whom kids could
1:15.1	disclose their heart's holiday desire. For part two, I will explain how the mall Santa
1:22.2	became a symbol of societal change and guerrilla protest. From the Lady Santas who had to take his
1:30.5	place during World War II, to the Black Santa revolutionaries of the civil rights movement,
1:36.5	to the activist gay Santas, who fought quite creatively against the stigma of HIV. That's coming next week. Kids, no matter how
1:47.9	terrifying the bearded old man is, dry your eyes and make sure you smile. This photo package
1:56.3	ain't cheap. I'm your host, Chelsea Weber Smith, and this is American Hysteria.
2:08.9	Ho, ho, ho, girls, boys, and everything in between. It is the Christmas season, which I care for very little, but I'm starting to get
2:20.2	in the spirit more and more as I grow old. So to join me, you know her, you love her, Sarah Claus,
2:29.6	Sarah Marshall. I am Sarah Claus. You know her. You love her her you've tried to de-glove her i don't know first
2:35.6	thought best thought it's me i i think i'm moderately christmassy and that i don't decorate my house
2:41.1	or remember to get gifts for most people but i like to watch some movies and i i like i like i like
2:49.8	to watch other people do Christmas. I'm like
2:52.7	look at them go, but very low effort for me personally. You did inspire Miranda and I to get a
	...

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