Happy Christmas, everyone!

Santa Claus (1898)

Starring: Laura Bayley, the Smith Children, and Santa Claus

Director: George.Albert Smith

Rating: Six of Ten Stars

Santa Claus (Himself) delivers toys to a good little girl and a good little boy.

If you ever doubted that Santa existed, this film--the earliest known film appearance of the Jolly Old Elf himself--will make you a believer! This piece of history shows that whether it's in the 19th century or in the 21st, Santa makes his rounds on Christmas Eve the same way.

All Christmas joking aside, this is a fun little film that, if it isn't already present, will spark a little Christmas joy in you. Check it out, right now!

 

  (It actually is also a bit of film history, in all seriousness. George Albert Smith was playing around with special effects in Great Britain at the same time that Georges Melies was doing it in France, and he was only one step removed from the cutting edge. This particular film was also so impressive that nearly ten years after its initial release, a review described audiences gasping in wonder at Santa's sudden disappearance from the screen. It's unclear if the reviewer was talking about kids or adults, though.)