PBS39 News Reports
SANTA TOM
Clip: Season 2019 | 5m 32sVideo has Closed Captions
Santa Tom is a Bethlehem native whose dedication to transforming himself into Santa
SANTA TOM: Santa Tom is a Bethlehem native whose dedication to transforming himself into Santa is clear. He’s gone to “Santa School,” has a one of a kind personalized Bethlehem key that allows Santa to enter homes that don’t have chimneys, and even a hand scanner that helps him tell who is naughty or nice. KC
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PBS39 News Reports is a local public television program presented by PBS39
PBS39 News Reports
SANTA TOM
Clip: Season 2019 | 5m 32sVideo has Closed Captions
SANTA TOM: Santa Tom is a Bethlehem native whose dedication to transforming himself into Santa is clear. He’s gone to “Santa School,” has a one of a kind personalized Bethlehem key that allows Santa to enter homes that don’t have chimneys, and even a hand scanner that helps him tell who is naughty or nice. KC
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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>>> IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL JOB OF THE YEAR.
THE CHRISTMAS CITY SANTA HAS BEEN BOOKED EVERY WEEKEND SINCE THANKSGIVING SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER BEFORE -- 44 OR FIVE GIGS A DAY.
>> EVERYONE WILL BE HEARD AND LISTENED TO AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
AND BELIEVE A LITTLE BIT.
>> IT IS HIS FIRST YEAR DONNING HIS CUSTOM RED VELVET SUIT FULL- TIME WHILE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IS IN FULL SWING.
AND WHILE THIS KIND OF CAREER BRINGS WITH IT SO OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE HOLIDAY.
>> IT IS SO SPECIAL AND SEEING THEM GET EXCITED AND INTERACTING AND KEEPING IT SPECIAL AND MAGIC IN TODAY'S WORLD, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OF THAT.
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME.
>> SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TAGALONG TOO.
>> SOMETIMES YOU GET HARD QUESTIONS LIKE I JUST WANT MY MOM BACK AND THE ANSWER I TYPICALLY GIVE IS, SANTA CAN'T BRING THEM BACK BUT I CAN MAKE SURE THAT I ALWAYS PLACE THEM IN YOUR HEART SO THEY WILL NEVER LEAVE YOUR HEART.
>> IT'S NOTHING HIS EDUCATION AS SANTA SCHOOL DID NOT PREPARE HIM FOR.
>> I'VE DONE THE SANTA CLAUS CONSERVATORY, SCHOOL FOR SANTAS, A HUGE SOCIAL NETWORK ON FACEBOOK OF DIFFERENT SANTA GROUPS.
THERE IS A REAL BEARDED SANTA GROUPS AND OTHER GROUPS.
A LOT OF SHARING OF INFORMATION AND JUST HOW TO INTERACT IN CERTAIN WAYS AND HOW NOT TO SCARE LITTLE ONES THAT MAY BE NERVOUS COMING IN WITH A VERY LOUD COULD MAYBE FREAK SOME OF THEM OUT.
SOMETIMES IT IS TRIAL AND ERROR.
>> HE LEARNED FROM THE BEST BASICS LIKE THE HISTORY OF SAINT NICHOLAS MY PROPER DRESS AND MAKEUP, BEGIN BEARD APPLICATION AND KEEP IN THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS ALIVE.
AND FOR THE CHRISTMAS CITY SANTA, THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT.
>> I'VE GOT THE STARS ON THE SLEEVES BECAUSE TECHNICALLY MY BUSINESS NAME IS CHRISTMAS CITY SANTA BUT I HAVE MADE IT PERSONAL.
>> AND THAT APPLIES TO KIDS EXCITED TO SEE THE BIG MAN IN RED IN THOSE TWO TINY TO TELL.
>> PART OF IT IS READING AUDIENCE WITH THE BABIES AND THE LITTLE ONES KNOWING, ARE THEY FEARFUL?
IF I CAN GET THEM HIGH-5 AND GET THEM CLOSE ENOUGH ALTHOUGH MORE PARENTS NOW DAYS ARE OKAY WITH THE CRYING PICTURES.
THEY THROW THEM IN YOUR ARMS AND THERE YOU GO.
>> HE TELLS US THE DAYS WITH CREEK AND MEET SANTAS ARE GONE AND IT'S ABOUT INTERACTING WITH THE CHILDREN AND SPEAKING WITH THEM.
TALKING TOPICS WELL BEYOND THEIR WISH LIST.
>> DOG MAN BOOKS.
>> DO YOU LIKE TO READ?
>> EVERY NIGHT.
>> READING IS SO GOOD.
SOME OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE SANTA HAS KNOWN ARE REALLY GOOD READERS >> THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT EVERYTHING MATTERS AND THAT BEING NICE AND KIND MATTERS AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT, KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY.
THEY NEED TO HEAR SOME OF THAT TOO.
>> THIS SANTA HAD SPECIAL TRICKS UP HIS SLEEVE TO HELP HIM ALONG THE WAY.
>> JUST LITTLE THINGS TO GET THEM TO SAY I SHOOK THE REINDEER BILLS AND THEY ARE THE MAGIC BELLS AND I HAVE A NAUGHTY AND NICE METER.
AND THEY ARE ALWAYS NICE OBVIOUSLY BUT THEY TOUCH IT AND SEE THE NUMBERS MOVE.
AND IT'S TRYING TO CREATE AN AURA OF MAGIC FOR THEM AND PARTICULARLY THE BELLS.
IT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE REAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN THE BELLS ON THE REINDEER IN THE MOVIES.
>> HE IS EVEN LICENSED TO DRIVE A SLED.
>> IT'S A REALLY HARD TEST BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PARALLEL PARK REINDEER AND A SLAVE WHICH IS HARD TO DO.
IF YOU NOTICE THE BIRTHDAY IS MARCH 15 270.
AND I DON'T THINK I LOOK A DAY OVER 900.
>> FOR ANY HOME THAT LIKES A SMOKESTACK HE'S GOT A SPECIAL SET OF KEYS TO LET HIM INSIDE.
>> IF I HAVE TO GO TO A HOUSE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A CHIMNEY I USE MY MAGIC KEY TO GET IN SO THE LITTLE KIDS WITH PASSES WITH NO CHIMNEYS SANTA CAN DELIVER THE PRESENCE AND THIS IS THE KEY TO MY HOUSE IN THE NORTH POLE BECAUSE I NEED TO KEEP TOO TO GET IN.
>> AND WELL EVERYONE THINKS SANTA ENTERS FOR THE CHIMNEY, HE REALLY GETS IN THROUGH THE HEART NO MATTER WHAT THE AGE AT THAT IS SOMETHING EVERYONE HAS TO LEARN FOR THEMSELVES ONLY BY MEETING KRIS KRINGLE IN PERSON.
>> IF THIS IS WORK THEN I WILL TAKE IT EVERY TIME.
WHEN THEY RAN BACK TO MOM AND DAD ALL EXCITED THAT THEY JUST TALK TO SANTA.
SANTA SMILES AND TO SEE MOM AND DAD HAPPY AND FAMILIES ENJOYING IT, THAT'S THE MOST FUN PART.
>>> LOOK AT US, WE MATCH.
DID YOU DO THAT ON PURPOSE?
>>> REPORTING FROM BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.
>>> JUST ONE MORE NIGHT UNTIL
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