Those who believe there is no such thing as Santa Claus have certainly never met Charlie Jones.
A well-known sportscaster for NBC and ABC networks for 38 years, Jones has become a New York Times best-selling author since his retirement in 1998, transitioning from interviews with professional athletes to talking with professional Santas.
After taking one look around his La Jolla home, set atop a scenic hill overlooking the Shores and filled with a whirling Santa mobile and “A Christmas Story” replica leg lamp with presents piled high underneath, it’s clear that Jones believes. And that may explain why he decided to tell the stories of more than 30 men who don beards and red furry caps every December in his book “Christmas Memories of Mr. and Mrs. Claus.”
“Christmas is the most important day of the year “” you forget all the other stuff,” Jones said. “We all smile and are happy, and speak to strangers on the street. It’s the one day when everyone is nice to each other.”
Christmas stories are something that everyone has and something that most people cherish, but those who dress up as the big magical man have the most personal, sentimental and often hysterical accounts, according to Jones.
When his publisher, Seven Locks Press in Santa Ana, put Jones in touch with Joe Moore of Laguna Niguel, a member of the international organization “Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas,” his idea for a book began to take off.
He spent the last few months contacting professional Santas through e-mail and over the phone and scurrying to compile each unique tale he heard. The end result barely made it to press in time for the holidays, but is complete, with a portrait of a professional Santa for the cover art and all, he said.
Feedback for the book ” Jones’ tenth since he began his second career ” has been overwhelming so far. Over the last few weeks, many professional Santas have called to thank him personally for recounting their stories with such eloquence, and a handful of radio stations ” both local and on the East Coast ” have contacted him for interviews, he said.
Although he has truly enjoyed learning of others’ special holiday memories, Jones said he can’t help reminiscing about his own experiences wearing the jolly red-and-white suit, such as the time he played Santa at his son’s Cub Scout party or the time in college when his friends placed an advertisement in the local paper to make “Santa appearances” for families in the community.
But the Christmas that sticks out in Jones’ mind is the year he decided to sneak a look at his presents. He found a football jersey that he’d been asking for tucked away in an upstairs room of his family’s house. It was the worst Christmas he’s ever had, he said.
“I don’t even shake them now,” he said, pointing to several large gifts on his living room floor. “I still want that feeling that I can’t go to sleep on Christmas Eve. I think we all do.”
Other books by Jones include “What Makes Winners Win,” “A Christmas to Remember” and “Confessions of a Gate Crasher.”
“Christmas Memories of Mr. and Mrs. Claus” can be purchased at the following locations: Amazon.com; any Barnes and Noble book store; Warwick’s Books, 7812 Girard Ave.; La Jolla Shores Market, 2259 Avenida de la Playa; and SK Sanctuary Day Spa, 6919 La Jolla Blvd.
For more information about professional Santas, visit www.aorbsantas.com.
