Schizocentral

In 1955 a Sears store in Colorado Springs, CO placed an advertisement with a hotline phone number that purported to be a direct line to Santa’s workshop. A typo in the phone number actually directed all the curious children to Colorado Spring’s Continental Air Defense Command (the precursor to NORAD). When the line started ringing off the hook the officer on duty, Colonel Shoup, directed his men to give all the children a current location for Santa Claus—it’s heart warming to know that in the depths of the Cold War there was still time to humor some excited children on Christmas Eve. The tradition continues to this day with a volunteer staff manning phones banks, answering emails, and tending the site.