Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 25, 1993 TAG: 9311250306
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: DOUG LESMERISES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But they have one thing in common. They all love kids and Christmas.
What makes a good Santa? What immeasurable qualities must an individual possess to be deemed worthy of donning the red suit?
"He gets along with everybody," Alan Criss, vice president of Photo USA, said of one of his four Santas at Valley View Mall. Photo USA hires Santas for Tanglewood and Valley View malls. "He has an outgoing personality and can play the part after he gets in costume."
Krista Holloman, special-events manager for Downtown Roanoke Inc., has no formal application process for her prospective Santas.
"It's not very scientific," she said.
Her final choice, Ron Vance, was best described as having "Santa-like qualities."
"He's very kind and has a sweet smile and voice," Holloman said.
Vance, a financial consultant, has experience as a clown and has a fairly extensive Santa background. He recently became self-employed and is elated to be able to have time to get back into Clausing.
"I enjoy making children laugh and people have a good time," he said. "I wanted to get back into making merriment."
But he readily acknowledges that it's Santa, not he, who makes that merriment.
"When you put on the costume, you step out of Ron Vance, that person you've been for the past 364 days," Vance said. "That tranquil uniform makes you into a special individual. Your world completely stops, and a new world begins.
"It's so much fun, and it's easy to get out of worries and habits and get into the thing I'm doing. That's probably why most of us do it. We get to step out of the daily routine and into fantasy."
Larry Brooks has been Santa for the past 10 years and has been at Valley View since it opened.
"When I put on my outfit, I don't leave the stage," he said.
That means the whole 9-to-5 shift, and sometimes longer when the nighttime Santas don't show up. Somehow, he keeps Ho-Ho-Ho-ing.
"Its like playing a sport," he said. "Your adrenaline's flowing . . . ."
Watching a child's eyes light up in wonderment and bouncing cute toddlers on your knee are perks of the job. But what about whining kids and frustrated parents?
Santa just keeps his cool.
"An impatient or [angry] Santa isn't doing anybody any good," Ben McCoy said. McCoy is a golf pro in New York who has returned to his native Roanoke to play Santa at Tanglewood for the second year.
Santa gives and receives much joy, but he seldom gets much in the way of monetary compensation.
"I wish there was enough money in it to do it year-round," Vance said, "but you can't do it and raise a family, too. There's enough to cover the cost of parking downtown."
Jimmy Angle, who is enrolled in paramedic school, said the pay is better than minimum wage, but he's in it because he loves kids and the experience will be good for future references. He's in his first year as one of Tanglewood's five Santas.
Like the other Santas, he'll have to rely on his instincts to spread good cheer. The job doesn't come with an instruction booklet.
"It's pretty much ad lib," he said.
His bosses passed on only one piece of advice.
"If someone wets on me, I have a change of costume in the back," he said.
\ SANTA'S ITINERARY Downtown Roanoke Heironimus third floor. Starting Friday, Tuesday through Saturday, through Christmas Eve, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Valley View Mall Each Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., through Christmas Eve. Tanglewood Mall Weekdays, noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m.
by CNB