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Show Private Interview Local Santa Talks to More Girls Than Boys Sees About 200 a Day Sugar House's Santa, one of Old Saint Nick's front-line favorite fa-vorite assistants during the Chistmas rush (namely, the three weeks preceeding Dec. 25) has been "holding court" on the Plaza for the past four years and can't deny that he loves it . . . though he threatens that "this year is the last one for me" from time to time. Santa figures he has interviewed inter-viewed an average of 2D0 children chil-dren per day, six days a week. Over the years, he estimates he's talked to some 2500 kiddies. Great Thrill In an exclusive interview with a Bulletin reporter, Santa said that there is a thrill in talking to the kiddies each Christmastime Christmas-time which can't be equaled anywhere, anytime. Their sincerity sin-cerity and deep-rooted belief in the goodness of the sainted gentleman gen-tleman he personifies is something some-thing wonderful to behold, he says. And that's why he dons his white-trimmed red suit, bells and flowing snow-white beard year after year. Most of his callers are girls he says from babes in arms seeing Santa for the first time, to 11 and 12-year-olds. The things they ask for most? Why, dolls, baby buggies and dishes, of course. The boys ask him for skis and sleds, mostly, with electric elec-tric trains trailing not too far behind. Last year, Santa recalls, re-calls, it was bicycles. Prison Guard Santa is a prison guard . . . Al Jorgensen by name. He's well known to Sugar House people and is remembered for his good work as a member of a traveling travel-ing USO troupe during World War II. Comedian-clown, ac-cordian ac-cordian player he traversed the local circuit hundreds of times, visiting all the camps and hos pitals in the area. He recalls with pride bringing in a record $55,050 at a war bond rally on the Plaza during the war. Mr. Jorgensen is a member of Post 65. Cold Feet Greatest physical discomfort during his cold two-hour nightly stint centers in his hands and feet. Handing out gifts to the kiddies as he does, he doesn't wear gloves. Over the four-year period he has come to recognize a good many kiddies who faithfully come back to see him to talk over their Christmas hopes. |