(Coogan would go on to play Uncle Fester in “The Addams Family” in the 1960s.) The kids were there to see child star Jackie Coogan in the movie “Circus Days,” in which he played Toby Tyler. Parcels came from Canada, England, Ireland, Germany and other far-flung places.įrom the movie beat: Pedestrians on Riverside Avenue had to “plow through youngsters knee-deep” to get to the Liberty Theater. … We want to have all parcels out of the way on Christmas Eve because the carriers and workers are going to have their Christmas dinners in their homes.” “We expect to have about 20 extra carriers, while the regular carriers will work overtime. “We’ll put on a big clean-up drive Monday,” said the postmaster. Another huge delivery was expected to arrive by train the next day.
Daniels, deputy collector of customs.īecause together they oversaw the distribution of 250,000 presents or greeting cards on one day alone, Dec. That would be either Thomas Smith, Spokane’s postmaster, or J.E. The Spokesman-Review identified two men who ought to be given the unofficial title of “the Santa Claus of Spokane.”
