Christmas in Rogers in the 1960s
By: James Hales

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Rogers was a lovely, quaint, storybook town still innocent and unspoiled by shopping centers, huge box stores, drugs, big multiplex theaters, modern unrestricted television, and other diversions. The town shopping area consisted of three or four blocks and everyone knew everyone. Christmas was a big deal for the children, local citizens, merchants, and churches. Shoppers packed downtown Rogers on the Saturdays before Christmas and finding a parking spot was a real chore.

According to Gary Townzen, Tom Jones, Benny Lundy, and others, Rogers went all out for Christmas with great decorations strung across the streets, on poles, and along the tops of stores. There were big parades with Santa riding the fire engine, Old Hulda. All of the stores decorated their windows for Christmas and Stroud’s Mercantile is credited with having the best window decorations.

Rogers Hardware, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Dick Bean, (now Steamboat Annie’s Antiques and Cuisine’s Catering) had a life size mechanical Santa in the window that actually moved like a real person. At the time, this was new and unique and drew a lot of attention to their display. It was so popular that when Rogers Hardware closed, Bill Crum, the manager of Stroud’s, purchased the Santa for his store window.

The stores with the best toy selections were Rogers Hardware and OTASCO (Oklahoma Tire and Supply). OTASCO specialized in bigger gifts such as stereos, televisions, guns, bikes, wagons, and tricycles. Other stores offering these treasures were Western Auto, owned by Marion Bunyard (now the Belle Arti Ristorante and Steakhouse) and Watson’s Goodyear managed by Cecil Miller (just south of the Victory Theater). Applegate’s Drug Store advertised a large selection of chocolates and gift candies. The five and dime stores, Sterling’s and Russell’s Ben Franklin, had many smaller, inexpensive gifts.

In those magical days, an orange or apple in a Christmas stocking and one or two toys found under the Christmas tree were enough to cause many children to have a sleepless night.