47: Christmas and Commerce

47: Christmas and Commerce

Dec 20, 1996
Stories about the intersection of Christmas and retail, including David Sedaris's story "Santaland Diaries," which was first broadcast on NPR's Morning Edition many years ago in a much shorter version.

  • Act One

    Toys R Us

    Host Ira Glass visits a Toys R Us on Christmas Eve at closing time. (4 minutes) Holidays • Retail/Commerce

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  • Act Two

    Santaland Diaries.

    The diaries are about David's two Christmas seasons working as an elf in Macy's department store on New York's Herald Square. When it was first broadcast, it generated more requests for tapes than any story in Morning Edition's history except the death of Red Barber. (34 minutes)Funny • Holidays • Jobs/Employment • Retail/Commerce

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  • Act Three

    Christmas Freud.

    David Rakoff on playing Freud in the windows of Barney's department store. (15 minutes)Jobs/Employment • Retail/Commerce
    Song:
    • "Christmas Freud Caroling", The Formerly Known As Family

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  • Act Four

    John Connors's family tape from the 1960s. (3 minutes)Childhood • Family • Holidays • Parents

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Photo

Illustration by Chris Ware, inspired by the "Christmas Freud" story

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