Santa and his elf wait for kids in Rolling Meadows.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Do you remember Christmas 1977? Jimmy Carter was president, the Carpenters were singing all your favorite songs and Star Wars toys were hitting the store shelves, that is if you could find them.
The Kenner Toy Company who got the rights to make them failed to realize just how popular the action figures would become. Santa would deliver an empty Star Wars cardboard box in which you mail to the Kenner Company and receive the toys at a later date.
The Chicago winter weather was yet another problem as that year into 1978 over 82 inches of snow fell and it also boasted some of the coldest below freezing temperatures. Christmas Day the average temperature was 7 degrees with a wind chill of -13 below under scattered clouds.
The average person in the Chicago suburbs was finding it difficult to get to work because snow traction on car tires was not as advanced as it is today. Despite it all, we survived to build snow igloos, get to Grandma's house and go shopping for that perfect Christmas tree.
If you were lucky, Santa did manage to find a few of those special toys you picked out from the Sears, Roebuck and Company Catalog.
A Christmas tree is carried out from a sale in Arlington Heights.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
A Christmas tree is placed on top of a car in Arlington Heights.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Buyers pick out their Christmas tree in Arlington Heights.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Cold weather hits Arlington Heights as commuters disembark the train in December 1977.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Commuters walk to the train station in cold weather in Arlington Heights.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
A man digging up a tree that will be the official Christmas tree in Rolling Meadows.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
A family lights a Hanukkah Menorah nine-branched candelabrum in Chicago.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
The Nutcracker ballet with music by Tchaikovsky in Chicago.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
The band plays on as the crowd at Woodfield Mall awaits the arrival of Santa Claus.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Kids tell Santa their Christmas presents wishes at Woodfield Mall.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
The Nutcracker ballet backstage with music by Tchaikovsky in Chicago.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Santa and Mrs. Claus entertain a baby in Wheeling.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Mt. Prospect residents dig out from a winter storm.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Schaumburg residents dig out from a winter storm.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Winter blizzard around Christmas 1977.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Walking in a Christmas snowstorm in Arlington Heights.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Commuters coming and going on RT. 53 in the Northwest suburbs during Christmas 1977.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Rolling Meadows kids build a snow igloo in their backyard during Christmas 1977.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977
Rolling Meadows kids build a snow igloo in their backyard.
Daily Herald File Photo, 1977