Thirty years ago, a new Christmas classic was born. Or should I say, hired. When Home Improvement star Tim Allen put on that Santa suit, he unknowingly committed himself to a lifetime of service to the children of the world. He also started a franchise that went on to include two sequel films and a two-season television series.
As we creep ever closer to Christmas 2024, let’s take in five(ish) fun facts about Disney’s 1994 film The Santa Clause.
Tim Allen – From Second Fiddle…
Image: Paramount
It is hard to picture the role of Scott Calvin being played by anyone other than Tim Allen. But the television star had never headlined a film, and he wasn’t the first, or even second, choice for the role. Actors Bill Murray and Chevy Chase were both offered the role of Scott Calvin, but both turned down the offer. Murray did not find the script’s humor to be in his wheelhouse. Plus, he was hesitant to star in another holiday film, after 1988’s Scrooged. Chase declined an offer to play the title role due to scheduling conflicts. Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson, and Tom Selleck were also among those considered for the role.
…To Number One
Tim Allen struck gold upon taking the role of Santa. For one glorious week in November 1994, Allen had the #1 movie at the box office (The Santa Clause), the #1 rated television show (Home Improvement), and the #1 New York Times best-selling book (“Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man”).
Allen was truly on top of the entertainment world, but that position came at a cost. In playing the Santa portion of his role, Allen underwent 4-5 hours of makeup and prosthetic applications to transform into the Jolly old elf. Add in two hours to remove it all after a day of filming, and we’re talking 6-7 hours a day spent applying (and unapplying) makeup and prosthetics. Part of Allen’s prosthetics included multiple fat suits, which he wore during filming in the middle of summer. The latex in the prosthetics gave Allen heat rashes, scars, scratches, and infections. Due to these real (and really uncomfortable) job hazards, Allen’s time spent in the full fat suit was limited to 6 hours. If you’re doing the math, that equals about 12-13 hours spent in some form of makeup and prosthetics on a given day of filming.
Yuletide References
In the spirit of the season, The Santa Clause includes many references to yuletide notions. Here are a few of the best.
The Christmas Song
Partway through the film, when Scott Calvin steps on a scale to check his weight, it reads 192 pounds. This may not sound like a lot of weight for Santa, but it is cleverly on-point, referencing a lyric from the classic tune “The Christmas Song” by Robert Wells “offering this simple phrase ‘to kids from 1 to 92’.”
The Rose Suchak Ladder Company
Early in the film, when Scott reads “The Night Before Christmas” to Charlie, his son misunderstands an early part of the poem which reads “there arose such a clatter,” instead inquiring about what is a “Rose Suchak ladder.” A few minutes later, while inspecting a ladder that appeared outside their house when discovering Santa and his sleigh, Charlie notices that it was made by the “Rose Suchak Ladder Company.” This clever misunderstanding is quite adorable.
Trivia Tidbit: During early development, the film was originally titled “Such a Clatter.” I think it is safe to say The Santa Clause proved to be a much better title.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
About a third of the way through the film, when Scott and his son finish their inaugural trip around the world, they arrive at the North Pole for the first time. They appear to have landed in a barren snowy wasteland, until a mysterious elf appears and enters the code “1239” into a keypad, opening the doorway to the entire North Pole. The code 1239 is a reference to December 1939 (or 12/39), when Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created.
Trivia Tidbit: Robert L. May created Rudolph in 1939 as an assignment for Chicago-based department store retailer Montgomery Ward.
Santa’s Business Card
In case you ever wondered why Scott Calvin was legally obligated to assume the role of Santa – Bernard the exceedingly competent elf recites the legal contract embedded in the border around Santa’s business card:
“ln putting on this suit and entering the sleigh the wearer waives any and all rights to any previous identity, real or implied, and fully accepts the duties and responsibilities of Santa Claus in perpetuity until such time that wearer becomes unable to do so by either accident or design.”
The Darker Side of Santa
The Santa Clause is a holiday staple with that classic Disney levity. But the original script was written much darker than that which made the final film. According to Tim Allen himself, his character originally shot and killed Santa, thinking he was a burglar trying to break into his house. Aside from this shocking moment, Scott’s son Charlie had only a very small role in the script, making for a much less kid-friendly film. When Disney purchased the rights to the film, Walt Disney Studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg noted the dark nature of the script, and philosophically changed the tone to be more in line with Disney’s lighter vibe.
Disney in Hot Water Over a Hotline
One less-than-pure moment actually made it into the film. After Scott’s ex-wife Laura and her new husband Neil drop Charlie off to spend Christmas with him, Laura gives Scott a phone number in case he needs help with Charlie that evening. Scott sarcastically makes up a fake number and reads it aloud as “1-800-SPANK-ME.” This was meant to simply be a throwaway joke to appeal to some of the adults in the audience. However, the number turned out to be a real “900” hotline number. When several kids called the number after seeing the film, they were connected to an adult sex hotline. Disney replaced the reference to the film for future home video releases.
According to an August 29, 1997 Orlando Sentinel article by columnist Leslie Doolittle: “We’ve learned, however, through an irate parent whose 10-year-old daughter racked up $250 in calls to the line that Disney has removed that scene from new videocassette copies of the movie. It has also been deleted from the broadcast on The Disney Channel, said Howard Green, a spokesman for Disney Productions in Burbank, Calif. And according to a letter from Richard Schlesinger, vice-president of legal affairs for Disney Motion Pictures Group, to the New York father, Disney also tried to buy 1-800-SPANK-ME – to disconnect it.”
Hidden Elves
Disney is famous for sprinkling hidden Easter Eggs throughout their films. Usually, they are unrelated to the subject of the film itself, and are simply there for fun. But in The Santa Clause, Disney cleverly introduced several elves into the “regular” world, which can be seen throughout the earlier portions of the film.
During the film’s opening credits, sharp-eyed viewers may spy a little girl with blonde hair, wearing pink, looking into the window full of toys. When she turns to leave, her ears reveal her to be an elf.
When Scott and Charlie are being seated at Denny’s for their Christmas Eve dinner, we can see a boy putting on a coat, who then watches them sit down at their table. The boy has pointy ears, identifying him as an elf.
One of the children seated in Charlie’s class during Parents Day is an elf with pointed ears, which can be clearly seen when Charlie pulls the snow globe out of his backpack. When Charlie tells the class that his dad is Santa Claus, the elf boy is the only one who doesn’t laugh – he knows the real story!
Lastly, when kids are lined up to talk to Scott at Charlie’s soccer game, we see a girl walking behind the bench. You guessed it – she’s an elf.
All of these elves are discreetly living among regular people, and they show up as a group at the end of the movie when Scott (as Santa) flies away from Laura Miller’s house. Satisfied that Scott has successfully taken Santa’s reins, the group run and skip off into the moonlight.
Hidden Mickey
Most Hidden Mickeys are stashed within Disney Parks around the world, but one made it into The Santa Clause. Near the end of the film, when Scott and Charlie are leaving the North Pole to take their second annual Santa flight, the sleigh passes by a full moon. Look carefully at the moon’s geography, and you’ll find a Hidden Mickey!
Thanks for coming by for a little yuletide cheer. Where does The Santa Clause rank in your list of Christmas classics? Let me know by joining the merry conversation with on social: Instagram Facebook X
And of course, all of the films and television seasons of The Santa Clause franchise are currently available on Disney+.
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