From the Charles Barr 8mm Film Collection is the second of three consecutive years of Family Christmas reels filmed by Charles. This one begins on Wednesday, December 24th, 1952 at the Charles Barr residence at 121 N Race Street, Springfield, Ohio.
Christmas was a special celebration and these films represented the “good” years after Frank and Claudia moved in with their mother, Rachael and new step-father, Charles Barr in Springfield where they took on new lives with a new last name; Barr. The family dynamic had changed after the passing of Rachael’s father, Lester Nease, whom Myrt, Frank, and Claudia knew as “dad”, who passed in August of 1950.
In this film you can see the traditions of a typical Christmas celebration in the American Midwest in the 1950’s. Christmas Eve day was its own holiday where friends came over to join in, and Uncle Charles and Aunt Sally arrived mid day to help put up the tree and get ready for the two-day feasting and present exchanging festivities. Once the tree was up and decorated, the presents were put in place..well, most of the presents were, Santa brought more in the night. This was the time when dates for Claudia and Francis would come over and exchange gifts and eat a great meal and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. Music and laughter filled the air.
On Christmas Day, it was the magical moment of waking and opening presents with the family. This film really captures the joy and happiness of the moment. It was a golden age indeed. After the presents there is more feasting, more laughter and more family togetherness.
This film captures those joyous moments of fun, laughter, and the festive spirit of this most spectacular Holy Day. This film also represents a world gone by, but the memories live deeply and spiritually as Dad (Frank) tells the stories with a sparkle in his eye. Reproducing and digitizing these films has given me a perspective on a lot of things that made our own home so special during the Christmas Season. I know they are some of my fondest memories.. And that comes from having a dad who actually IS Santa Claus.
Appearing in this film in no particular order; (Springfield) Charles Barr, Rachael (Nease) Barr, Frank Barr, Claudia Barr, Charles Nease, Sally Nease, Bub Williams, Myrt (Johnson) Williams, and an unknown dinner date there with Claudia. (Barr Farm, Peerless) Arthur Barr, Maude Barr, Charles Barr, Rachael Barr, Clyde Barr, Clyde’s two daughters and Family.
