Santa Arrives at Hills – Nov 23, 1963

Just like yesterday, here's another case of Santa Claus arriving at a shopping center and eschewing his normal sleigh and reindeer in favor of something more modern and flashier. A week before Santa arrived by helicopter at O'Neil's, he did the same whirlybird thing at Hills in South Lorain.

This ad – with a more traditional illustration of St. Nick and an adoring crowd – ran in The Journal on November 22, 1963. (I've featured a 1960 Hills Christmas ad back here.)

A quick internet search reveals that Santa is still arriving by helicopter all over the country, in such cities as Oshkosh, Wisconsin; San Carlos, California; Keizer, Oregon; and Yardley, Pennsylvania.

Anyway, I still feel a little bad every time I pass the former Hills store on Route 57. Lots of good memories shopping there.