1934 “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” — First Leo Feist Edition with Early Santa Illustration

 “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” — First Leo Feist Edition with Early Santa Illustration

Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, written by Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots, became an overnight sensation and marks a pivotal moment in radio‑driven sheet‑music sales. The turning point came when Eddie Cantor performed the song on national radio in November 1934. Feist reportedly received more than 100,000 orders the next day, and by Christmas sales had surpassed 400,000—an unprecedented surge that demonstrated the new power of radio to create a hit overnight.

The song itself was written in a single day under emotionally charged circumstances: Gillespie drafted the lyrics while traveling by train to his brother’s funeral, and Coots set them to music that same afternoon. What began as a simple holiday tune quickly became a cultural phenomenon.

The first Feist printing features a bold four‑color illustration of Santa flying over a snowy village in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. This early depiction—slender, sprightly, and almost elfin—stands apart from the later Coca‑Cola‑influenced Santa that would define the mid‑century image.

Condition is near excellent. No notations or markings. Minor splitting along the top and bottom fold edges, typical for sheet music of this age. Small browning stain on front. Structurally sound and bright in color.

Listen to Eddie Cantor sing Santa Claus is Comin' to Town here.