Flashback Photos: Christmas in Atlanta

Things to Do

Flashback Photos: Christmas in Atlanta, 1920-1980

Whether celebrating age-old traditions or trying to sneak a peek at Santa Claus, Atlantans share joy and glad tidings each December when Christmas nears. Of course, the AJC was there to record some fine (and fun) moments.

1920s -- Children surround Santa Claus as he parades through Atlanta. (Look closely and you'll see an Atlanta Journal truck in the background.) AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

Whether celebrating age-old traditions or trying to sneak a peek at Santa Claus, Atlantans share joy and glad tidings each December when Christmas nears. Take the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, shown here donning a Santa suit and giving that Jolly Old Elf from the North Pole a helping hand with the youngsters down south back on Dec. 23, 1980.

Dec. 17, 1986 -- The sign at the LaVista Rd./Christmas Ln. intersection was decorated each year by the garden club.

1970 -- Original caption: "Tommy Nobis croons Christmas carol into recording mike. Carlton Dabney (in background) joins in as Falcons record muscular sing-along." MARION CROWE / AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

Nov. 12, 1981 -- Original caption: "The Omni International Complex features the world's tallest suspended Christmas tree. It highlights the holiday customs of 10 foreign countries via 10-foot-long three-dimensional banners." AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

1930s -- Buster Harris shows off some pine cones which generate the necessary seeds for Christmas tree growth. AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

1920s -- The entrance to see Santa Claus and his reindeer during Christmas was packed at this Atlanta display. AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

1981 -- Former Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen Jr. and his dog, Christmas, watch election returns on television. DWIGHT ROSS JR. / AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

ATLANTA, GA - Dec. 14, 1951 - TRAFFIC MADNESS - Slick streets and the glare of hundreds of automobile lights producted this confused scene on downtown Forsyth Street, looking north from Union Station. It happened during Friday night's biggest traffic jam of the current Christmas shopping season. (Staff Photo-Floyd Jillson) 1951

Dec. 26, 1973 -- Christmas dinner at a homeless shelter, Atlanta. BILL GRIMES / AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

1920s -- Atlanta residents line up to see Santa Claus in a Christmas parade. AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

1930s/40s -- An Atlanta Santa Claus in front of Kessler's downtown store. ATLANTA AREA PHOTOGRAPHERS' COLLECTION / GSU

1940s -- Simple Christmas decorations adorn a home staircase. AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

Shopping with Mom is a fine old Atlanta Christmas tradition...

Another undated downtown tree lighting on Forsyth Street photo. The floors under the tree were called the Crystal Bridge.

Meanwhile, just up the street at Rich's downtown rival department store, Davison's, "Santa Claus on a crane" was drawing the crowds, too. Or at least drawing some stares from onlookers, we'd wager.

But really now, does anything quite say "Christmas" like a giant fiberglass Santa welcoming shoppers at your open-air pedestrian mall? The folks at Stewart-Lakewood Shopping Center didn't think so.

Then again, making your way into the department store or the shopping center to see a Great Tree, a Santa on a Crane or Giant Fiberglass Santa demanded engaging in yet another Atlanta area holiday tradition: finding that kind soul willing to give the gift of ... a parking space. This was the scene around Christmas time at Atlanta's Lenox Square shopping center in the 1960s. (Some traditions never change.)

Each Christmas, the late Rev. Hosea Williams hosted a dinner for Atlanta's hungry, reminding us that giving of ourselves remains the most worthwhile gift we can offer others. Hosea's Feed the Hungry remains an Atlanta holiday tradition, now bringing sustenance and comfort to those in need at various times throughout the year.

A visit from Santa brightened the day for youngsters Judy Reliford and Harold Hicks at the Aidmore Hospital in this 1956 photo.

All this gaggle of youngsters wants for Christmas is anything that Santa's got to offer at this Georgia Power Company "kid party at Legion Hall" on Dec. 23, 1941.

The original caption for this photo reads "Hippie youth decorate a Christmas tree, Dec. 23, 1969." We're guessing that Santa, known for his lengthy beard and colorful dress, likely had no issue at all with the styles shown here.

The old Peachtree Arcade is all dolled up for Christmas in this 1940s-era photo...

Stone Mountain Memorial at Stone Mountain State Park in December 1970.

Some folks prefer love, sure, but this Standard Oil gas station worker had his Christmas sales display to keep him warm, Dec. 1967.

And maybe The Man With The Bag had a little help with keeping tabs on who was naughty and who was nice from Jerry Mandel, founder of Jerry's Pawn Shop, shown in the shop as it was decorated for Christmas time and New Year's, Dec. 1978.

Santa's little helpers take to the airwaves with old St. Nick on Dec. 18, 1947, at WBGE Radio.

This swingin' jazz combo entertained at the Elks Club for a Dec. 16, 1955, Christmas party given by the Davison-Paxon Company.

Onlookers enjoy the sights at a Dec. 1, 1950 Christmas parade in Atlanta.

Nothing fancy about this operation as C.H. Bishop (right) and William T. Brownlee cut a pine for use as a Christmas tree in Lilburn, Dec. 1941.

The Christmas nativity scene in front of the old Gwinnett County Courthouse in Lawrenceville makes for a pretty scene, Dec. 1959.

Davison's spared no expense on intricate Christmas decorations, including these lifelike figurines, which were arrayed throughout the old downtown Atlanta location off Peachtree Street, Dec. 1948.

The Formwalt Girls Club entertains youngsters at a Christmas event, Dec. 1964.

These World War II-era soldiers enjoyed a happy holiday at a USO Servicemens' Center in Atlanta, Dec. 1943.

We love the variety of expressions on the faces of these children getting a special greeting from Santa at the Henry Grady Hotel Christmas party, Dec. 1954. Clearly some youngsters were merrier than others.

Once all the shopping, celebrating and services are behind us and we mark off another Christmas season on the calendar, don't forget: There's always a new year, with even more celebrations, just around the corner.

1/36

1920s -- Children surround Santa Claus as he parades through Atlanta. (Look closely and you'll see an Atlanta Journal truck in the background.) AJC PHOTO ARCHIVES

Today's Gallery Headlines

NYE revelers ring in 2026 watching Digital Drone Peach in the Sky

PHOTOS: Atlanta welcomes 2026 with fireworks, drone show

Photos of AJC’s final run

PHOTOS: The final print run of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

123125 sugar bowl parade

PHOTOS: Sugar Bowl Parade

aajc 123025 team media day sugar bowl

Photos: Georgia football players, coaches during Sugar Bowl team media day

More Galleries

the weeknd

PHOTOS: The Weeknd electrifies the crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium

PHOTOS: Beyonce fans saddle up for 4-day Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

PHOTOS: Beyoncé fans arrive for 4-night Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

College Park Juneteenth Parade standalone photo

PHOTOS: Juneteenth Parade held in College Park

4th Annual Rick Ross Car Show

PHOTOS: Rapper Rick Ross holds 4th annual car show in Fayetteville