Monday, December 8, 2008

Kansas City's Dot Matrix Winter Wonderland

Posted by Justin Kendall on Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 1:41 PM

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A pixilated leviathan of holiday cheer, this block-headed Santa Claus lords over Gillham Park, at 41st and Gillham, watching over the children and parents who gather for chilly fun during the day and get the holy hell away at night.

Unlike the rest of him, there's nothing Lego-y about his face.

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Those cloud-tuft eyebrows, that angel-wing mustache, that

uncircumcised nose, those wide, swollen, frostbit patches showing just

how hard an Arctic lifestyle is on a man.

Much of the rest of the park has that old-school computer look, too.

Pop quiz: Is this the park, or a screen shot from the never released

Nintendo 64 game "Super Mario's 3D Depressing Christmas"?


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On this mailbox, designed to collect children's letters to the North Pole, even Santa himself is showing signs of SAD.

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Then there's this lumpish, no-handed, cloven-hoofed cowgirl.
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Is this some abstract Henry Moore stolen from the Nelson and repainted by kids?

Years ago, Gillham Park was home each December to giant Santas and

snowmen kids could climb around inside. (I loved them, no matter how

much they smelled like pee.) These days, kids still love the park, even

if some of it is confusing. My niece thrilled to it, and she demanded

time after time to go back, even around 5, when darkness had settled

and those in the neighborhood are accustomed to hearing sirens and

helicopters.

Thanks, crazy retro Commodore 64 Christmas park!
— Alan Scherstuhl

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Thanks! I live near this and I've been trying to explain this to people. Now I can just send this link!

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Posted by LuckyGirl on December 8, 2008 at 3:45 PM

Sega Genesis Santa, I love you! Between ths and Daily Briefs, you Pitch people are bringing it today!

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Posted by Even Stevens on December 8, 2008 at 2:00 PM

Ok, look, I have a glandular problem. Isn�t it tough enough that I am a black cowboy? Why you gotta go and bust on my manboobs?

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Posted by Trevor on December 8, 2008 at 1:02 PM

There always sued to be homeless guys warming themselves around a flaming trashcan there. That was Reagen 80s Christmas right there!

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Posted by Lincoln on December 8, 2008 at 12:49 PM
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