Christmas 1986 - White Christmas

Although the movie White Christmas is from 1954, 1986 is when I first saw it. I remember it was on the local independent television station and, having heard about it before, I decided it was time to watch it. I fell in love with the movie and was introduced to one of my all time favorite recording artists, Rosemary Clooney. I think I've seen it just about every Christmas since.

Christmas 1986 - Santa Bear

1986 was the second year of the Santa Bear promotion at Dayton's Department Store in Minneapolis. The bear's hat was labeled "1986 Santa Bear." I still have mine and it's pictured here. The deal was you had to spend a certain amount of money in the store and then you could get a Santa Bear for about 20 bucks. Mine was a gift from a friend who made a mental note when I mentioned that I thought they were cute.

Christmas 1987 - Pete, Sam, Joe

Pete is holding Miss Bear which was a Dayton's Department Store promotion in 1987. You had to buy a certain amount of merchandise and then you could get the bear for 20 bucks or so. I'm holding Santa Bear 1986 which was the promotion from the year before. This group shot is the only picture I appear in for Christmas 1987.