Christmas 1960

It was one of the last years that Kansas City had a strong Christmas. The streets were lined with festive lighted garlands and the Crowns were there. The crowns have moved to North Kansas City. Our kids were between 3 and 12, They were dressed in their Sunday best. We met Ray for his 2 and half dinner hour. We had supper at the Forumn Cafeteria. Then we started our walking tour. We stopped first at Jones the corner of 12th and Main. They had a train carrying children and adults through Snowmen, frolicking elves, reindeer and other Christmas things. Then to Klines to visit the Fairy Princess, a beautiful young girl dressed in a gorgeous gown and holding a wand. For a quarter the children lined up and waved her magic wand. The got a coloring book, crayons and a tin whistle. From there we went to Emery Bird Thayers to view the inflated figures of Mr. and Mrs. Santa. They shook and laughed. They have lost Mrs. Santa Claus but mister is at Crown Center. We looked in Harzfields windows to see the antics and a woman steeped up beside us and asked if she could give the children a box of candy. The kids wanted it immediately but we told them we had to check it out first. The Fairy Princess is now at the Kansas City Museum and this year my granddaughter Frances is one of the Princesses. I think that was the last year Kansas City had a strong downtown Christmas