The Magic Cave

I couldn't believe my eyes when I found this little Santa for $6 in the glass cabinet at the front of a local op shop. He is like new and he is from the MAGIC CAVE John Martins era!

Father Christmas in action.

This Father Christmas toy was originally purchased at John Martins Magic Cave for $1.35 (still has the price on it!). So glad I found him.

John Martins was an iconic department store in Adelaide, South Australia that opened in in 1866 and closed in 1998.  John Martins would  hold the famous Adelaide Christmas Pageant every Christmas (starting in 1933). It still runs to this day but it is now the Credit Union Christmas Pageant. Once Father Christmas has appeared in the pageant he would set up in the Magic Cave at John Martins (or Johnnies as it was known). When we were kids we would visit the 'Magic Cave' and have a ride on Nipper and Nimble the huge rocking horses that  featured in the pageant, get a pic with the big man and wander around the Magic Cave checking out the crazy mirrors and animated Christmas scenes.   The Magic Cave is now located at David Jones  but hasn't really changed a lot from when I was young. This year Little Miss enjoyed her first ride on Nipper the smaller of the two horses.  Christmas starts in Adelaide once the Christmas Pageant has been.

Little Miss on Nipper.

John Martins Christmas Pageant 1966
This old footage is fantastic (apart from some politically incorrect costumes in there).

Nellie the mechanical elephant

 Source

My favourite (and many others favourite) in the pageant is Nellie the elephant. Best known for breaking down in the early days. She is powered by a vintage car engine. Her story below is quite interesting and worth having a look (don't worry it's short).

Nellie in action.

Wishing everyone in blog land a safe and happy Christmas! x

Thanks A Treasured Past!

Just a quick thank you to Tam from A Treasured Past.  We received a big parcel of goodies the other day which included my giveaway win and some other treasures. Check it out!

 Tam makes these gorgeous vintage stamp pendants. I chose the Wren, he is so cute. Here is her Facebook page. Have a look, there are some beautiful things to see.

  I can't wait for some quiet time with a cup of tea to have a read of my giveaway win!

Thank you Tam for the vintage decorations. They remind me of  'The Christmas Tree' which was a function that was held every Christmas Eve in our small town. It was held on the local oval at night and the Church would put on a nativity scene and Father Christmas would visit and give every child a present (that their parents had provided so there was a lot of variety in the size/price range of presents, hee hee). There would always be a huge real pine Christmas tree on the oval, the biggest I had ever seen. We would all drink raspberry soft drink in glass bottles. I remember dreaming of the day I might get to be the angel next to Father Christmas as he had one on each side of him every year. Mum later told me that I was asked but I had said no which would be likely since I was so shy.
When we would get home at night we would hope that maybe the 'real' Father Christmas had already visited us because it was dark. I always wondered why Mum and Dad were so certain that he hadn't been yet. I would go to bed and hear the sleigh bells - I swear! Did anyone else use to imagine they could hear the bells? :)

 

 A cute little book too! There was a little 'party in a box' as well but the kids already had gotten into it. :)

There was even more in the box! Some gifts for the kids, they were so excited!

Thanks Tam for it all, so generous. xxx