George W. Hetherington, meet James Mulligan… a man who will change your life.
“The Conversion of Hetherington” is one of the stories in John Kendrick Bangs’ “A Little Book of Christmas.” The story centers around George W. Hetherington, a skeptical and judgmental businessman who does not believe in Santa Claus. His perspective begins to change when he finds himself trading places with a street Santa.
This unexpected swap leads him to experience life from a different viewpoint, ultimately transforming his understanding of the Christmas spirit.
As Hetherington assumes the role of Santa Claus, he encounters various people, including children, which helps soften his skepticism and opens his heart to the joy and generosity associated with the holiday season. This transformation is a central theme in the story, highlighting the power of empathy and kindness during Christmas
JOHN KENDRICK BANGS
John Kendrick Bangs was an American writer, humorist, editor, and satirist born on May 27, 1862, in Yonkers, New York. He is best known for his humorous and fantastical writings, which contributed to the creation of the “Bangsian fantasy” genre—a style of writing that humorously depicts the afterlife.
Bangs was the son of a prominent New York lawyer, Francis Nehemiah Bangs. He attended Columbia College from 1880 to 1883, where he became the editor of the college’s literary magazine, Acta Columbia. During this time, he began writing humorous pieces for various magazines under pseudonyms.
After briefly attending Columbia Law School, Bangs left to pursue a career in writing and editing. He worked as an Associate Editor at Life magazine and later held editorial positions with several Harper’s magazines, including Harper’s Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and Harper’s Young People. He was particularly known for editing the humor sections of these publications.
Bangs also became involved with Puck magazine, a leading humorous publication in the United States at the time. His literary output included both humorous prose and poetry, as well as ghost stories infused with humor.
Show Playlist – A Sacred Christmas
| Title | Artist | Album | Year | Record Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Night in Harlem | Hal Kemp and his Orchestra | 1934 & 1936 | 1936 | RCA Victor |
| Christmas in Dixieland | Dixie Rag A Jazz Band | The Golden Age of Belgian Jazz Vo. 2 | 2003 | Hans Kusters Music |
| Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells | Fats Waller | Swingin’ Christmas Party | 2003 | RCA Records |
| Christmas in Jail – Ain’t That a Pain | Leroy Carr | Leroy Carr Vol. 2 ((29-1930) | 1929 | Interstate Music Ltd |
| Holiday for Strings | Glenn Miller | The Lost Recordings | 1996 | RCA Victor |
| I Told Santa Clause to Bring Me You | Ready, Willing & Mabel | I Told Santa Clause to Bring Me to You | 2019 | 1635956 Records DK |
| Snowy Morning Blues | James P. Johnson | Snowy Morning Blues | 1991 | Decca |
| Hang Your Wishes On The Tree | Les Baxter | Hang Your Wishes On The Tree | 1952 | Capitol |
| March of The Toys | Tommy Dorsey | The Sentimental Gentleman | 1925 | KPP Records |
| Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town | Tommy Dorsey, Cliff Weston, Edythe Wright | From the Sony Vault Christmas with the Big Bands | 2012 | Sony |
| It’s Winter Again | Isham Jones | Isham Jones 1929-2934 | 2019 | RCA Victor |
| Snowflakes | Mavis Rivers, The Rivers Sisters | The Complete Tanza Recordings | 1952 | TANZA |
| Snowfall – 78 RPM | Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra | From the Sony Vault Christmas with the Big Bands | 2012 | Sony |
| Snowfall – Snowfall Cha-Cha-Remix Medley | George Shearing/Billy May | Ultra-Lounge/Christmas Cocktails (Vol. 2) | 2000 | Capitol Records |
You can hear more holiday music here HOLIDAYS with LESTER THE NIGHTFLY.
