Stage & Screen Saturday: «A Christmas Story»

Words and photographs by Lulu Castiglione

One boy in pink bunny pajamas. Another with a pole stuck to his tongue. A shapely pair of legs poking out from underneath a box marked FRAGILE. These were the people we met at the first of the Swing Times Stage and Screen Holiday Celebrations. 

The party was held at the infamous Higbee's Department Store located on the corner of Arsenal and Second Avenues. The store was decked out in bright and cheery holiday colors. While many guests lined up to tell Santa their secret Christmas wishes, others danced to the delightful holiday tuned provided by Captain Paul T. Creighton.

To see Santa you had to climb up the stairs, where the jolly man sat atop a snow capped mountain. After you taking pictures with the big guy in red and telling him your fondest wishes, you had to slide down the mountain much like Ralphie did! Wheeee!!!

As the residents and friends of Swing Times toasted the holidays with a glass of eggnog we were treated to a visit by that turkey loving scoundrel, the Bumpusses dog, the Higbee's resident Santa's Elf, Randy, Flick and everyone's favorite, Ralphie!

Captain Creighton certainly knows how to start the holiday season off right here in Swing Times and certainly deserves a MAJOR AWARD!