I found this promotional Christmas record for Vandervoort's Department store at a sale this past summer. It promises music and a Greeting from the Jolly Man himself.
Side 1 - Heinerle, Heinerle/Toymaker's Dream/Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
Side 2 - Silent Night/Greeting from Santa
I can just imagine a kid sitting down to listen to a bonifide message from Santa Claus himself and after suffering through the music-box version of "Silent Night" hearing a less-than-3-second clip of a decidedly un-Santa-like voice saying, "A Merry Christmas to you." I would have been like Ralphie on "A Christmas Story" after decoding Little Orphan Annie's secret Ovaltine message: "Son of a b*tch!".
Vandervoort's began life in 1850 as Scruggs, Vandervoort & Barney, a dry goods store located in downtown St. Louis.
Photo courtesy of departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com
In the 1950's, they expanded into the suburbs as Vandervoort's with two locations, one in Clayton and one in Crestwood, Missouri.
Photo courtesy of claytonhistorysociety.org
Photo courtesy of departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com
Photo courtesy of departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.com
A 1968 commercial for Vandervoort's.
Their expansion seemed to be a catalyst to their demise. All locations closed by 1969.
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