Displaying tradition

After 40 years of painting, assembling and maintaining “The Snoopy House” in Costa Mesa, to which thousands of locals visit each holiday season, there are moments when Jim Jordan worries he won’t be able to pull it off.

“When you think you’re never going to get done and you’re running out of energy, some little kid runs by and giggles,” Jordan said. “That’s when I consider the invoice paid in full.”

The cast of holiday characters at the Costa Mesa residence goes far beyond Santa Claus and his nine reindeer.

In addition to the Jolly Old Elf himself, visitors to the Peanuts Christmas Display are amused each year by several animated scenes featuring the Peanuts posse.

You can catch Woodstock and his feathered friends play a competitive round of ice hockey, or Charlie Brown, Lucy and others cast in a nativity scene. There is also free apple cider and a special visit from Santa.

Without a formal budget for the project, Jordan estimates that each year he and his crew put a total of 2,000 hours into the display, which is visited by approximately 70,000 people between Thanksgiving weekend and New Year’s Day.

Inspired by the popularity of the Peanuts comic strip and the airing of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in the 1960s, a 14-year-old Jordan decided to make Snoopy and his pals come alive for all the neighborhood to enjoy. Equipped with a ladder, a Christmas tree and a paper fireplace, Jordan thus began a 40-year tradition.

“Everyone is given something to do in life, and this seems to be my task,” Jordan said.

Over the years, friends and visitors to the display are inspired to get involved in its construction and maintenance.

Santa Ana-based mechanic Robin Hardison saw the house 28 years ago and was immediately captivated. Since then, he has helped design and assemble much of the scenery, including a sleigh fashioned from a camera-lift that “flies” Santa over the house and onto the rooftop.

In his 12th year as the resident Santa (who, as all kids know, helps the real Santa Claus), Robert Ashley sports a long, white beard year round so he can have the right look come Christmas, though his first appearance as Kris Kringle in the winter of 1974 was unintentional.

Slipping on a Santa suit that belonged to his father, Ashley was goofing around with friends and stopped into a neighborhood party to wish guests a merry Christmas.

From that day forward, he has been addicted to the role.

“I thought it was so fun that I couldn’t wait for Christmas the following year,” Ashley said.

Now with 32 years of Santa experience under his big, black belt, and with the help of “a little Christmas magic,” Ashley knows the names and gift requests of each child who lines up to meet him before they ever reach his knee.

After waiting 45 minutes to be the first child to see Santa, Costa Mesa-resident Andy Nichols was quite impressed. Andy, 10, and his sister Natalie, have visited the display for the past eight years.

“It’s really cool because you can’t really see him [Santa] anywhere else,” Andy said.

With the addition of a sizable sprig of mistletoe to the scene this year, Jordan reminds spectators that the event is open to children of all ages.

“This is a wonderful gift; I feel like a child tonight,” said 63-year-old Carole Call of Costa Mesa.

Michaela Thayer remembered coming to the house when she was only 6 years old. On Monday, she was there with her two sons, Alec and Ace.

“I think it’s really great that they are carrying on this tradition,” she said.