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Show Women Take Over Santa's Job on Street Corners The manpower shortage has hit one of America's most cherished institutions in-stitutions the Santa Claus business, j Although the age range for professional profes-sional Santas runs from 45 to 75, I there aren't enough men around to ' play the fat old saint. As a result, women are inching into the act. j The squeeze started last Christ-1 Christ-1 mas. Actors Equity was so short of idle men they talked one of New York's largest stores into substi- tuting a 70-year-old actress. y There's another group of familiar Santas the street corner figures who ring bells for charity's sake. Red-caped women are filling in here, too. The women Santas go to a "Santa Claus school" a simplified, show-how show-how class. Prospective St. Nicks are given their lines. They're told bow to draw attention to themselves without being boisterous told v. hat to say and what not to say to parents and their eager offspring. |
