"This Is Our New Tradition": LA's Most Sought After Santa Spreads Christmas Cheer Through Virtual Holiday Visits
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) -- Despite the pandemic, Santa Claus is still coming to town.
Virtually, at least.
This year, Ed Taylor — who is known as Santa by many small children in the SoCal area — will be spreading holiday cheer by doing video chats from the North Pole.
Taylor is one of L.A.'s most sought after Santas, hosting a number of community events like the annual tree lighting at the Children's Hospital.
Before the pandemic, Taylor booked about 100 in-person visits during the holiday. This Christmas, he's booked more than 500 virtual ones. Rates start at about $100 for 12 minutes and can go up to $750 on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Spreading cheer, not COVID, is certainly at the top of his list. And he'll be doing so from the comfort of his own home.
Even after the virus is contained, he expects holiday video chats to be the new norm.
