This is a full-page advertisement for the Lincoln Savings Bank in the December 21st, 1956 issue of The Bay Ridge Home Reporter noting a holiday change in hours. The Bay Ridge, Bklyn branch was located Bay Ridge Parkway and 5th Avenue. Lincoln is gone, but the building remains (it’s a Chase bank).

Who is old enough to remember when they began an annual Christmas Music Program at the bank in 1953? It was under the direction of John L. Corvaia, advertising and publicity manager and offered Christmas music for local shoppers.

Hey everyone!, I’ve got two remaining Christmas In Old Bay Ridge Walking Tours. It’s a festive mix of site-specific stories, photos, audio, and more from the holiday season in Bay Ridge from throughout the 20th Century.

Below are the remaining tour dates with ticket links and more information if you're interested in attending:

Sunday 12/21 1PM

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-in-old-bay-ridge-walking-tour-tickets-1962729890939?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sunday 12/28 1PM

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-in-old-bay-ridge-walking-tour-tickets-1962729892945?aff=oddtdtcreator

Step back in time and experience Christmas in mid-twentieth century Bay Ridge with site-specific stories, photos, audio, and more.

Led by James Scully — NYC historian, tour guide, and creator of the Bay Ridge Digest Podcast — our unique holiday Bay Ridge experience will focus on and include:

• The Birth of Bay Ridge: From a Change of Name to the Festive Rites Originated In Dim Ages Past, we’ll start with recollections that stretch back all the way to Bay Ridge’s name origin in December of 1853 while we talk about the origin of Christmas trees and other holiday accoutrements

• Stories from the Shore Road USO, The Shore Road Hospital, FDR’s Christmas messages, The Battle of the Bulge, how Bay Ridge Christmas during World War II, and departing for the European theater from Bay Ridge Harbor with a Christmas message from President Roosevelt

• Local Christmas tree and decorating memories as Bay Ridge became a diverse community three generations after Ellis Island opened while Jack Benny trimmed his Christmas tree

• Bay Ridge’s Christmas Bells and an Atomic Christmas editorial from Fort Hamilton High School in 1961 as Cold War fears invaded Holiday cheer

• Stories of Greek Christmases from Father Paul and St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church

• A Christmas Dream for Bay Ridge from J. Frank Griffin at the original Bay Ridge Home Reporter location

• The many days of Norwegian Christmas with yule concerts, Christmas puddings, and other Norse traditions by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

• Bay Ridge’s happiest childhood Christmas memories and biggest Christmas surprises

• Christmas caroling at the old Lincoln Savings Bank

• Stories of what young Bay Ridge children wanted from Santa Claus

• Bing Crosby, Holsten's, The Alpine, and White Christmas

• And more!