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Santa and Elf Holly will take calls from children on the live TV show, “Talk to Santa,” Dec. 12 and 13 beginning at 6:30 p.m. It will be shown on Time Warner Channel 5 in Brocton, Cassadaga, Fredonia and Stockton, and Channel 19 in Dunkirk, Silver Creek, Forestville and Hanover.For the 21st year, community volunteers, Academic Information Technology at SUNY Fredonia, and DFT Communications are donating their time and expertise to bring Santa and Elf Holly to the homes of Northern Chautauqua County television viewers. Santa and Elf Holly will be assisted in their North Pole television studio by a crew of TV and phone elves to provide this special holiday program for children.
The live television call-in show, “Talk to Santa,” will be presented on Dec. 12 and 13 beginning at 6:30 p.m. It will be shown on Time Warner Channel 5 in Brocton, Cassadaga, Fredonia and Stockton, and Channel 19 in Dunkirk, Silver Creek, Forestville and Hanover.
The show was the brainchild of SUNY Fredonia staffer, the late Ron Warren, who began making plans for the show before his death in November 1991. Mr. Warren was a photographer, both in still images and motion picture film, and also became the television producer/director for the campus. At the same time he was the local stringer for WIVB-TV in Buffalo, and contributed to the CBS news network. He taught several classes in the Thompson Television studio, including his favorite, TV News.
For two nights, children and their families can tune in to watch Santa and his assistant, Elf Holly, as they take live phone calls from viewers who want to let Santa know what they would like for Christmas. Santa and Elf Holly will be televised taking calls from local area children who dial 679-XMAS (9627) to talk to Santa live. DFT Communications has donated its time and expertise to bring Santa and Elf Holly to the homes of local viewers, and provides a special Santa Claus line that receives more than 300 calls during the two-day program.
Children throughout the county will be able to tell Santa about their special wishes this Christmas. These wishes are not always about toys. Sometimes it’s to bring a soldier home safely or to wish that someone recovers from an illness.
The program originates from Thompson Hall on campus. Colin Plaister, “Talk to Santa” coordinator, is joined by Tom Sullivan, Marcia Merrins, Bob Scott, Doug Johnson, John Malcolm, Brad Markham, Lisa Eikenburg, Elizabeth Curtin-O’Brien, Lotte Morse, Christa Haynes, Mike Sullivan, Gretechen Pelletter, Chip Riewaldt, Denise Maze, John McCune, Charley Mancuso, Andrea Wasiura, Debbie Ormsby, Laura Sarek, Paula Coates and Steven O’Brien.
Local area schools cooperate by encouraging first and second grade children to write letters that may be read on the show as time permits.
Children are encouraged to tune in on Dec. 12 and 13 at 6:30 p.m., and call 679-XMAS (9627) and “Talk to Santa!”
