Santa Goes to School

In a vacant warehouse, 40 recruits in gym shorts and T-shirts stand shoulder to shoulder, awaiting inspection.

A female instructor scrutinizes the width of their shoulders, the girth of their waists and the clarity of their eyes.

“There isn’t a character anywhere as important as Santa Claus, other than your parents and God,” barks Mimi Dahle. “When you are on the job, you are not playing Santa Claus, you are Santa Claus.”

Just another day at Santa School, the daylong training session run by Dahle’s company, All Seasons Promotions of San Dimas.

Seasonal recruits include police officers, firefighters, ministers, bikers, caterers and actors. They form an ethnic rainbow of men seeking to learn the finer points of playing the Jolly One before beginning work this Christmas season at Southern California malls, where they can earn up to $15 an hour.

Dahle teaches the would-be Santas how to put on their suits, makeup, wigs and fake beards. She shows them the proper way to hold children. She also gives them a primer on emergencies, such as what to do when a nervous kid loses his lunch.

When it comes to personal hygiene, Dahle is as subtle as a 3-year-old on Christmas morning. “Make sure you use deodorant and powder,” she says. “I don’t want any smelly Santas.”

Dahle’s admonition draws plenty of ho-ho-hos, but the laughter fades when she turns to the more serious side of portraying Kris Kringle.

“Don’t promise a child anything, because parents can’t afford to buy expensive toys,” Dahle instructs. “And don’t mention moms or dads, because some kids aren’t with their parents.”

Santas may also find themselves in the frustrating position of hearing wishes they can’t fulfill.

“Children may say, ‘Make Daddy stop hitting Mommy,’ or ‘Get my daddy out of jail,’ ” Dahle says. “I don’t know what you can say. Just try to be compassionate and sympathetic.”

To lighten the mood, Dahle suggests questions Santas can ask to accentuate the positive.

“Are you keeping your room clean?”

“Are you brushing your teeth?”

“Are you being good in school?”

Good Santas always make sure they mention the child’s name several times during the visit, says Dahle. “Focus in on them and let them know that Santa thinks they’re special,” she says.

Jeffrey J. McElderry, a part-time caterer from Glendale, sits among the 40 aspiring Santas, culled from 200 applicants.

McElderry, 56, who dyes his black hair white, has played St. Nicholas for 20 years, including last year at the Glendale Galleria. For him, bringing smiles to children’s faces is worth the six hours a day he will spend under hot lights in a Santa suit.