Every now and then, a brave Santa offers a peek behind the red velvet curtain. John Gebbie, a 70-year-old grandfather of three, agreed to share the tricks of his trade on one of his busiest weekends, the one before Christmas.
A key ingredient to becoming Santa? You must nail the facial hair.
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“You know what the kids use to spike their hair?” Mr. Gebbie asks, gesturing to the loops in his mustache. “Got2b Glued. That’s what I used.”
Mr. Gebbie joined the Santa trade two years ago after crossing paths in a Costco store with another man who looked a lot like St. Nick. That man was Timothy Connaghan, a member of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas and the creator of School4Santas.com.