The Stanley Theater on Broadway Street was busy Saturday, December 19, as kids brought their parents and lined up down to Marine Credit Union to get their picture taken with Santa, who arrived at five o’clock that night. Parents and kids found out largely through Facebook based on an informal poll sample, and showed up en masse.

As it happened, even being jolly old St. Nick or St. Nick’s wife doesn’t get you out of wearing a face covering, as both Mr. and Mrs. Claus were decked out in PPE per current health guidelines, as Officer Sarah Hewitt of Stanley stood by to observe and Officer Darryl Pries (Theresa’s husband) directed traffic. Theater manager Pries had more to say about the unique outdoor event at the Stanley Theater, which her family has been doing as a free Christmas show for the past 53 years,

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Abigail Seidl, 3, gave the Grinch a hug outside the Stanley Theater Saturday in spite of his naughty and attention-stealing behavior. Sometimes a person just needs a friend. Staff photo.

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ever since her parents bought the local theater in the late 60s.

“In light of COVID and the occupancy limitations, we have decided to bring things out under the marquee and make it safe,” Pries said, with a contact free candy bag chute and popcorn available one at a time from inside for those seeking it. As to the occupancy restrictions, Pries said that the theater was currently limited to 25 percent of its usual occupancy, or 55 people inside at any one time. With 500 people ordinarily coming through the doors between two free Christmas shows, the simple division didn’t quite work out. Enter innovation.

Starting at 5 p.m. and lasting until 7 p.m.

the sidewalk on the west side of Broadway Street this past Saturday December 19 was packed with kids and their parents, while Olaf the Snowman and one or two Christmas elves were also on hand. Up above on the marquee level, “Gingy” the Gingerbread Man was on hand to send treats and gifts down the con-tract free trench chute—and then there was the Grinch, present though without his dog. Walking the lines at the Theater and meeting fans as well as at least one who was afraid (prompting a facepalm by the remorseful Grinch), the Dr. Seuss character who famously tried to steal Christmas before having a change of heart undertook to dodge in front of cameras just as the shutter was about to release.

Not all took it as a reason to hand out coal, most notably three-year-old Abigail Seidl, who responded to the Grinch’s naughty behavior with a hug, rather than a reprimand. The Grinch was touched, as stealing attention can simply be a sign of needing a friend it seems.

Also on hand but better behaved were Katie Koepl and Nikki Prahl of Marine Credit Union, present to hand out hot chocolate and Christmas lights for the kids, the gesture financed through funds from the Marine Credit Union Foundation. But while the crowds had thinned out as things approached seven p.m., the Eslinger family continues to serve and keep the family tradition alive—even in the COVID era.

Among those coming to get their picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus were Alycia Kincaid (left) along with sons Nathaniel, age 7, and Charlie, age 3. Staff Photo.