{"product_id":"1934-santa-claus-is-comin-to-town-first-feist","title":"1934 “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” — First Leo Feist Edition with Early Santa Illustration","description":"\u003ch3\u003e “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” — First Leo Feist Edition with Early Santa Illustration\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin: 22px 0 20px 0; padding: 8px 14px 6px 14px; border-left: 3px solid #334FB4; background-color: #f8faff;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"color: #334fb4; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;\"\u003eCollector’s Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 6px 0 4px 0;\"\u003eThe 1934 Leo Feist first edition of \u003cem\u003eSanta Claus Is Comin’ to Town\u003c\/em\u003e is especially prized by collectors. Issued at the exact moment the song exploded into national popularity, it is \u003cem\u003eboth the inaugural edition and the earliest published cover\u003c\/em\u003e art for the song, representing a foundational moment in American holiday music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSanta Claus Is Comin’ to Town\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, written by \u003cstrong\u003eHaven Gillespie \u003c\/strong\u003eand \u003cstrong\u003eJ. Fred Coots\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin: 22px 0 8px 0; padding: 10px 14px 8px 14px; border-left: 4px solid #334FB4; background-color: #dee6ff;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"color: #334fb4; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;\"\u003eFraming Appeal\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 6px 0 4px 0;\"\u003eThe bold Christmas green and red palette and early Santa illustration make this an exceptional vintage holiday display piece. Beautiful matted in ivory or red and framed in dark wood — ideal for seasonal décor or a curated holiday gallery wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eListen to Eddie Cantor sing Santa Claus is Comin' to Town \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\" title=\"Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots' Santa Claus is Comin' to Town 1934 sung by Eddie Cantor\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kM_eWxvLGiM\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Leo Feist Inc.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40579818586179,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0114\/3262\/4186\/files\/SantaClausinComingtoTown1934_SheetMusic21_e82852de-903d-44b4-9222-d8d9315b21fe.jpg?v=1780082011","url":"https:\/\/thetownhouseantiques.com\/products\/1934-santa-claus-is-comin-to-town-first-feist","provider":"The Townhouse Antiques \u0026 Vintage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}