Clearly somebody needs help! They didn’t measure the how high the ceiling was!
This slide was marked “4000 ornaments, 1000 lights, 350 birds; 16 trees to make this one and Mr. and Mrs. Gano Senter’s famous Christmas tree.” With all this info I thought perhaps I could Google the name and find out about this “famous Christmas tree.” But what I found out on Google was a bit more than I bargained for.
Mr. And Mrs Gano Senter, were residents of Denver Colorado. Mr. Senter wrote a book called Kawoo of Alaska and owned a restaurant called Kool Kozy Kafe, which according to the legend, served fish everyday but Friday. Hmmm, Mr. Gano doesn’t sound too friendly to me. Neither does his wife. According to Time Magazine, in 1951, Mrs. Gano called for total castration of all male sex offenders. I found out nothing about their famous tree….until I went to Denver.
While in the mile high city last December to do my retro holiday slide show I was a guest on the live local morning news. I showed this slide on the air. Before the segment was even over a lady called the TV station and said that her mother had the “famous Senter tree” and she would love for me to see it. Was I actually going to see thee tree more than fifty years after the slide was taken!? I was on my way.
A few minutes later half lost in a suburban Denver rat maze of streets lined with huge 80s mansions, I found the house. Before even ringing the fancy doorbell I was greeted by several plug-in Christmas Carolers. The door opened and there stood an older man and a lady smiling from ear to ear and inviting me in. Before I could even introduce myself I was in the door and standing in the living room in awe. Everywhere I looked there were Christmas trees and decorations.
As I was led from room to room getting the “grand tour,” I gasped at elaborate displays of collectable holiday miniatures, decorations, and figurines in every room from floor to ceiling no surface left uncovered. I was even treated to the “off limits this time of year” Easter room on the third floor. After about an hour long tour of the charming but never ending seasonal displays and decor I’d practically forgotten what I had come for.
As impressed as I was overwhelmed, I graciously asked “where’s the famous tree?” She said “It’s right here” as she handed me a vintage scrapbook explaining it came with the tree when she purchased it from the Senter family in 1974 to be on display in her local gift shop.” I thumbed through old newspaper clippings noting the celebrated tree and the thousands that toured the Senter Family home each year to see it during the 50s and 60s.
I didn’t recognize the tree at all. It didn’t have anywhere near 4000 ornaments. I said “what happened to all the ornaments?” She said, “They got broken over the years.”
Even with more like 400 than 4000 ornaments it was a thrill to catch up with the famous Christmas tree .
Here’s to the famous Christmas tree, all the broken ornaments and YOU!