My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark 510 - We're So Real
Dec 11, 2025
Dive into the fascinating tale of John Duval Gluck, the Santa letters scammer who revolutionized holiday cheer with his Santa Claus Association. Discover how postal workers turned undeliverable letters into heartwarming missions. Explore Gluck's rise to fame, flashy fundraising galas, and the eventual audit that uncovered a shocking embezzlement scheme. The episode wraps up with Gluck's mysterious escape to Miami, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with deception and lost potential.
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Origins Of Letters To Santa
- Karen recounts the rise of letters to Santa in early 1900s New York and how postal workers refused to discard them.
- Postal employees personally bought and delivered gifts before official policies changed to route letters to charities.
Policy Turned Kindness Into System
- Postal rules officially changed so local postmasters could open letters to Santa and hand them to charities.
- That shift institutionalized citizen kindness and enabled coordinated charity responses.
John Gluck’s Early Appeal
- Karen introduces John Duval Gluck, born on Christmas Day, who pitched himself to manage Santa letters.
- Gluck combined genuine charity work with a craving for publicity and social applause.
