The Pure Missouri Post: Dec 2022
All that’s well and good (and sometimes a little odd) in the Show Me State
Happy Missouri Holidays! 🎄
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Joyous Kwanzaa! Wishing you and yours the best of holidays here in Missouri and beyond.
ALMANAC 📆
Mark Twain’s “A Letter from Santa Claus”
One of Missouri’s most famous natives, Mark Twain, wrote this letter to his three-year-old daughter “from Santa Claus” in 1875. It’s a magical, feel-good message (save the parts where he suggests the servant could “die someday” if instructions weren’t followed). You can read the entire letter here at The North Pole Times:
LINK: A Letter from Santa Claus
SHOW ME LINKS 🔗
Unseen St. Louis: An introduction to the caves of St. Louis
Writer Jackie Dana of the fascinating Substack Unseen St. Louis shares the story of St. Louis being built on top of caves, and how breweries (and others) took full advantage of these underground structures.
LINK: St. Louis caves—and the breweries that loved them
A Prairie Home Companion returns to StL
This Thursday, “A Prairie Home Companion Christmas Show” comes to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis with Heather Masse, Rich Dworsky, Pat Donohue, Dean Magraw, Sue Scott, Fred Newman, and Tim Russell. Both the live-theater event and livestream tickets are available.
LINK: A Prairie Home Companion Christmas Show
Holidays across Missouri
Here are a few links to the many Christmas and holiday-themed events happening in the Show Me State:
LINK: Christmastime in Hermann
LINK: Plaza Lights in Kansas City
LINK: Christmas Country Church Tour in Perry, Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties
LINK: Gardens Aglow at Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden in Springfield
LINK: More events across the state from VisitMO
SNAPSHOT 📷
A single image to represent “Our Missouri”
GALLERY 🖼
Art and artists of the Show Me State
QUOTABLE ❞
“Merry Ol’ Missouri, you’re always home to me. Your simple pace and quiet space made loud with family. Christmas could never be blue when I’m here with you.”
—Excerpt from lyrics to “Merry Ol’ Missouri,” co-written and performed by Missouri native Shelby Ringdahl. Watch the music video here.
Missouri Birthdays of Note 🎂
Phoebe Hearst
Dec. 3, 1845, in Franklin County
Suffragette, socialite, philanthropist
Ferlin Husky
Dec. 3, 1845, in St. Francois County
Singer/songwriter in the Country Music Hall of Fame
Calvin Trillin
Dec. 5, 1935, in Kansas City
New York Times columnist, book author, and champion of KC barbecue
Emmett Kelly
Dec. 9, 1898, in Sedan, Kan.
World’s most famous clown, grew up in Texas County, Mo., and lived briefly in Kansas City
Redd Foxx
Dec. 9, 1922, in St. Louis
Television actor and comedian
Dick Van Dyke
Dec. 13, 1925, in West Plains
Television actor and entertainer
Betty Grable
Dec. 18, 1916, in St. Louis
Movie actress and entertainer
August Anheuser Busch Sr.
Dec. 29, 1865, in St. Louis
President and CEO of Anheuser-Busch from 1913 to 1934
Thanks for reading and sharing this Pure Missouri Post. Stay well, be good, and keep in touch.
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