67 min listen
80: “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus:” A History
80: “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus:” A History
ratings:
Length:
24 minutes
Released:
Dec 21, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
“Church bristled and pooh-poohed at the subject when I suggested that he write a reply to Virginia O’Hanlon.”
This is the story of America’s most famous editorial.
Virginia O’Hanlon is an inquisitive eight-year-old. She’s debated with her friends and studied out the matter, but she still can’t decide: is there a Santa Claus? At her father’s suggestion, she writes to New York’s great arbiter of truth: The Sun. Her letter is handed to an editorial writer by the name of Francis “Frank” Pharcellus Church.
But Frank doesn’t want to answer the letter. Emotionally scarred by what he witnessed reporting on during the Civil War, Frank is a cynic. Further, as a man without a wife, children, or faith, a religious or faith-filled holiday focused on children really isn’t his thing. What exactly can he say to this little girl? The result is the most famous editorial in the history of American newspapers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is the story of America’s most famous editorial.
Virginia O’Hanlon is an inquisitive eight-year-old. She’s debated with her friends and studied out the matter, but she still can’t decide: is there a Santa Claus? At her father’s suggestion, she writes to New York’s great arbiter of truth: The Sun. Her letter is handed to an editorial writer by the name of Francis “Frank” Pharcellus Church.
But Frank doesn’t want to answer the letter. Emotionally scarred by what he witnessed reporting on during the Civil War, Frank is a cynic. Further, as a man without a wife, children, or faith, a religious or faith-filled holiday focused on children really isn’t his thing. What exactly can he say to this little girl? The result is the most famous editorial in the history of American newspapers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Released:
Dec 21, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
1: That One Time When George Washington Sort of Triggered an International War by History That Doesn't Suck