As a kid growing up in the 1960s, I asked Santa for Lincoln Logs, hockey skates, a telescope, Creepy Crawlers and the like – but secretly coveted my sister’s Easy-Bake Oven. The underbaked brownies always hit the spot.

What toys did you ask Santa for? Click on the “comment” link below to share your under-the-tree memories.

With help from Santa, a Minneapolis Star reporter compiled a list of the most-requested Christmas gifts of 1937:

SANTA PLEASES KIDS EASILY

But Few Want More (Or Less) Than Christmas Toys

By JAMES M. SUTHERLAND
Staff Writer for The StarTribune

I eavesdropped on Santa Claus today.

Forgoing the usual sleigh, Santa arrived in northeast Minneapolis by train in about 1935. (Photo courtesy mnhs.org)

And I learned most little boys and girls confiding in the bewhiskered old gentleman want just about the toys that any grownup would expect them to like.

Of course there were exceptions. Like the wonder-eyed little four-year-old who informed Santa she wanted the tinsel decorations and the animated elves that formed the setting for his department store “throne.”

Or the eight-year-old who whispered what he wanted most of all was a teething ring for his new baby sister.

But for the most part the girls asked for dolls – the Shirley Temple and “dydee” kinds especially – doll clothes, doll furniture and the like. And an amazing number asked for outdoor playthings – skates, tricycles, sleds, ski suits. Some even admitted that a train, electric or mechanical, would be most welcome.

The boys wanted trains, too, and carpenter tools, wagons, bicycles and tricycles, games, boxing gloves, footballs, baseball equipment, toy trucks, guns, and so forth.

The faith of youngsters was remarkable. They never questioned Santa’s ability to furnish whatever they desired. But they never bothered over such inconsequential matters as their names or addresses. “Just send it to me,” was the usual request.

Many who paraded before Santa weren’t fooled by the white whiskers and red suit. They had a most superior look on their faces. But they weren’t averse to receiving the little bag of candy or the coloring book Santa handed out. So they took their places in line.

Four urchins were among this group. But when they came to Santa he looked at them and said, “Boys, don’t you think it would be nice if you washed your hands and combed your hair before you got your present?”

A little shamefaced, they left, to return a few minutes later with clean hands, shining faces and plastered (but not too well parted) hair.

Lining up in front of Santa, they took their little gifts, said, “Thank you, sir,” and departed.

One couldn’t help but feel they left Santa’s presence just a little better boys than before.

The Minneapolis Journal threw a Christmas party for its newsboys in 1924 and this, believe it or not, is it. Not a garland or mistletoe in sight — but you can just make out the head of a moose mounted on the wall at right. (Minneapolis Journal photo)

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