Mr. Jingeling facts for kids

Mr. Jingeling is a special holiday character known as the "Keeper of the Keys" to Santa's workshop. He is a beloved Christmas tradition in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Jingeling first appeared thanks to a local department store called Halle's. He was their Christmas spokesman on TV and also acted as Santa's helper in the store.

Mr. Jingeling earned his title as the "Keeper of the Keys" after he saved Christmas! Santa had lost the key to his amazing Treasure House of Toys. Luckily, Jingeling was able to make a brand new key, saving the day for everyone.

The Start of a Tradition

Mr. Jingeling was created in 1956 by Frank Jacobi, who ran an advertising company. The idea was to help sell toys at Halle's Department Store in Cleveland. It was only supposed to be a one-time event for that Christmas season. But people loved him so much that he quickly became a yearly tradition!

What Mr. Jingeling Looked Like

Mr. Jingeling was Santa's top elf. He helped count down the days from Thanksgiving to Christmas for Santa. He wore a green and gold outfit with a wide black belt. He always carried a big keyring with all the keys for Santa's workshop. He had white hair like Santa, but he was bald on top and didn't have a beard.

Where to Find Him

During the Christmas season, you could find Mr. Jingeling on the seventh floor of Halle's. After Halle's closed in 1982, he moved to Santaland on the tenth floor of Higbee's Department Store. He often had help from the Play Lady, who also wore a costume.

Children could sit on his lap and tell him their Christmas wishes. They knew he had a direct connection to Santa! At the end of their visit, each child received a large cardboard key. Kids were told to put this key under their pillow on Christmas Eve. This was supposed to help them sleep well and have good dreams while waiting for Santa.

Mr. Jingeling on TV

During the Christmas season, Mr. Jingeling also appeared on TV. He had a five-minute daily show on the local children's television series called Captain Penny on WEWS-TV (Channel 5). On the show, he would tell stories and sing songs about the North Pole. His TV appearances always began and ended with the Mr. Jingeling advertising jingle. This jingle reminded kids that they could see him in person at Halle's Department Store.

The Mr. Jingeling Song

The Mr. Jingeling theme song was very catchy!

Mister Jingeling/How you ting-a-ling/Keeper of the keys/On Halle's seventh floor/We'll be looking for/You to turn the keys

Sometimes, there was a slightly different version:

Mister Jingeling/How you ting-a-ling/Keeper of the keys/Don't you dare be late/For you have a date/On Halle's seventh floor

The People Behind Mr. Jingeling

Many people played the part of Mr. Jingeling over the years.

Early Performers

The first person to play Mr. Jingeling in person was Tom Moviel. He was a Cleveland policeman who worked at the jail. He even carried real jail cell keys while playing the part!

For the first eight years, Cleveland Play House actor Max Ellis played Mr. Jingeling on television. When Ellis passed away in 1964, Karl Mackey took over for one season. Then, in 1965, a man named Earl Keyes took on the role. He was the producer and director of the Captain Penny show. His wife, Nadine, sometimes played Mrs. Jingeling.

The Tradition Continues

After the department stores that sponsored him closed in the late 1980s, Mr. Jingeling seemed to disappear. However, Earl Keyes bought the rights to the character. He continued to make holiday appearances as Mr. Jingeling for many years. His last official appearance in costume was in 1995 at the Tower City Center.

In the late 1990s, the Penitentiary Glen Nature Center created a special exhibit. It was called "Halle's 7th Floor Holiday Memories." It even had a copy of Mr. Jingeling's castle from 1956! When Earl Keyes visited the exhibit in 1999, fans recognized him. A long line formed just to get his autograph.

Earl Keyes passed away in 2000. After a few years without a Mr. Jingeling, Jonathan Wilhelm took over the role in 2003. He began making public appearances during the holiday season.

Today, Greg Benedetto plays Mr. Jingeling. He makes appearances all over Northeast Ohio. He hands out cardboard keys, just like the ones from Halle's. He also sings songs and tells stories, keeping this wonderful tradition alive for new generations.