what a wonderful gift in 1972 – if you had and used a Polaroid camera
Toronto. Christmas eve again. That magical night loved by all children when ‘Santa’ drops by with gifts for all the children on his list.
We at PHSC wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year wherever you are and whenever you celebrate the season and the new year.
Our post title is from that famous 1823 poem tentatively written by Clement Clarke Moore and known by those old and young.
The image at left is from a Christmas 1972 issue of LIFE magazine. In it, Polaroid makes two big assumptions: The recipient owns a working Polaroid; and all ‘gift’ photos will come out perfect. Typically, many of my family had a Polaroid camera – used a few times then tossed to the back of a shelf or closet after the delighted owner discovered the cost of having ‘instant’ prints and that many of the costly prints might be ruined as the Polaroid camera is adjusted to work best and the subject is finally suitably posed and alert.
Those of us today born in the digital era think all photos are full colour, cheap, and instant – or what is a smartphone for???
My thanks to very good friend and fellow PHSC member, George Dunbar, for finding and sharing this timely Christmas eve advertisement from years gone by.
