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SLA RESEARCH

Researching Family or
Industry History?

Due to the fire of 2001 many of the League’s records were lost. We highly recommend searching old Billboard magazines at Google Books. Clicking on the 'Advanced Book Search' button will allow you to tailor your search to a specific time period.

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 For more research tips and suggestions, see 'Chapters & Links'

Christmas Party

2010 Christmas Party

Our 2010 Christmas Party will be December 10 at Hanson Park Elementary in Chicago.  Interested in donating or supplying plush?  Call the office today!  $500 donations will earn you or your firm a place on the Noble & Kitti Case Christmas Fund plaque to assure future events.

Did You Know, in November of 1946, Brother Nat Green suggested that the SLA host a Christmas Party for underprivileged children. The members talked to the Ulrich Home, an orphanage in Chicago and arrangements were made for Christmas Eve at one of the banquet rooms in the Sherman Hotel. Buses were arranged for and before they knew it, donations of $560.00, 2 clowns and 10 turkeys had come in to the League Office. This was the beginning of the wonderful tradition that The Showmen's League of America hosts each year for mentally and physically challenged and underprivileged children.

 

Did You Know that in 1946 we entertained 250 children at the Christmas Party and last year, in 2009, we were proud to entertain over 1,800 children. In addition to live performance entertainment we provide each child with toys, cotton candy and popcorn. Over the years children from orphanages, low income boys and girls clubs, Mt. Olivet Home for children with special needs and Chicago area schools that specialized in challenged children have been entertained by the League at the holiday season.

 

Christmas Party at Hanson Park Elementary SchoolPast parties have been held at the Sherman Hotel, the SLA League Rooms, The Medinah Temple, Chicago Union Halls and presently the party is held at the Hanson Park Elementary School. The school gymnasium is decorated as a circus tent and we provide 3 shows to accommodate all the children in the school. The shows include magic, circus, singing, dancing and a special appearance of Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph.

 

Thank you to our Sponsors and Volunteers

 

Chris Atkins
Kristins Atkins
P.P. Tom Atkins
Margaret Atkins
Peter Bakala
P.P. Earl Butch Butler
Tom Capodarco
Jean Anne Clair
Diane Burmeister
Ira Feuer
Hank Fischer
 Eric Fundways
Patti Grillon
Rick Haney
Dave Jaros
Paul Johnson
P.P. William Johnson
Sid Karmia
Peter Kasin
Paul Kasin
Dan Kroeger
Steven Lipkin		 Hank Mackin
Don Massie Jr.
Don Massie III
Jamie Meldrum
Bob Nowak
Ron Porter
Graham Putman
Jason Reyes
Neil Sormanti
Bob Souza
Joe Zoppe

Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors

Alpine Amusement Company
Classic Toy
Fare Foods
Gold Medal Products
Goodstuff
Ideal Toys
Kasin Concessions 

Barry Brandon                      Manly Toy Direct
Nancy Sales/ Nanco
Rhode Island Novelty
Showmen’s League Social Club
St. Louis ShowKids of America
Toy Factory

 

 

 

A special thank you to Giovanni Zoppe for sponsoring the children's Christmas party at the Hanson Park Elementary School. His performance is “outstanding” every single year! And once again thank you to everyone who makes this possible. We couldn’t do it without every one of YOU!

 

Please check out more SLA Christmas Party 2009: Smilebox Photo Slide Show