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Natural Santa Claus

By Jacki Lyden
Published November 29, 2002 at 12:00 AM EST

For all those shopping mall Santas who have to stand in for the real Saint Nick, half the challenge is presenting a believable appearance. And fake beards are really not all that convincing. Frank Martinez, vice president of operations for Naturally Santa Inc., tells Jacki Lyden how the 10-year-old Colorado Springs, Colo. company has responded, by dispatching real-bearded Santas across the country. (4:00)

Copyright 2002 NPR
Jacki Lyden
Longtime listeners recognize Jacki Lyden's voice from her frequent work as a substitute host on NPR. As a journalist who has been with NPR since 1979, Lyden regards herself first and foremost as a storyteller and looks for the distinctive human voice in a huge range of national and international stories.
See stories by Jacki Lyden
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