Santa and His Live Reindeer

During the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s from the weekend after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, Santa and his Reindeer could be found in an elaborate display in Panorama City. It was an annual tradition for many families from all over the San Fernando Valley and beyond to come visit Santa and his “real”live reindeer; and then do some shopping, get a bite to eat or even catch a movie. This is exactly what Fritz B. Burns had in mind when he set up the incredibly beautiful display. Fritz Burns was the founder of Panorama City and had developed the shopping center there. His idea to promote his new shopping plaza and the surrounding new home development worked. He made room for ample parking knowing that the car was how they would get there. You could find promotional posters all throughout Los Angeles. Burns purchased the reindeer from the Hearst Castle herd, starting with less than 30. Later he held the largest herd of reindeer in the United States and they called home Griffith Ranch in Pacoima. Sadly, all that remains of the Ranch is the Historical Monument. Burns died in 1979 and soon after his Santa and his reindeer were no longer visiting the children in the San Fernando Valley. But, for about 30 years children knew that Santa and his reindeer were real because they saw them up close including the most famous reindeer of all, Rudolph.