Lakewood Lore

Earl W. Keyes, a native Lakewoodite who grew up to become "Mr. Jingeling" of mythical fame, bounces about in two different worlds--the real and the fantasy.

"But I live mostly in the fantasy world and prefer not to believe too much in the other one," Keyes admits, with a whimsical smile and twinkling eyes festooned by bushy brows and moustache.

Mr. Jingeling, for those new in these parts, is an elf who comes from the North Pole and for 25 Christmases has appeared for youngsters of all ages, first at Halle's and later Higbee's. He is Santa Claus's helper--Keeper of the Keys to Toyland's treasure house and designated hitter for Santa when Santa is tied up elsewhere.

In the real world, Keyes was born 70 years ago. He fell in love with the smell of the grease paint and the roar of the crowd while starring as a child bridegroom in a Tom Thumb wedding skit at Lakewood United Methodist Church.

"I was told not to forget to kiss the bride, so I seized her, planted a big smack, and the crowd went wild," Keyes remembered.

As it turned out, he and his wife Nadine were married in the same church in 1943. They moved to Rocky River, reared two children--Dennis and Pamela--and now, at latest count, have five grandchildren to boot.

Keyes started acting at Lakewood Little Theatre back in the mid-'30s and through the years has received five thespian awards for roles there.

He was a member of the Barnstormers Club, an acting group at Lakewood High School. After graduation in 1937, he went on to earn a bachelor of arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University before chalking up overseas service as a lieutenant with the Army Air Force during World War II.

After the war, Keyes took a job as program director for a radio station on the boardwalk at Atlantic City. In 1947, he joined WEWS-TV5 here as a programming supervisor for TV as well as for the channel's early FM-radio affiliate.

In 1956, he became director of the channel's Mr. Jingeling Show, which went on the air for the former downtown Halle Bros. Co. Max Ellis, an actor at Cleveland Playhouse, was the original Mr. Jingeling. Eight years later, Ellis died, and the role was taken over by Keyes, who has held it ever since.

After 25 years with WEWS, he went to work for Case Western Reserve in '72 as producer and director of a closed-circuit educational TV outlet operated in connection with the university's medical school. In '85, he retired but continued but continued as Jingeling at Higbee's during the holiday season.

It has been a labor of love for Keyes, with many warm memories and a few assorted snafus.

"In '81, while working on Higbee's 10th floor, I opened a window to cool off," Keyes reminisced. "Suddenly the wind sucked the wig off my head and blew it out into the night."

"A lot of people looked for that wig, but to no avail. I hope some bird found it to use as a nest." Keyes, who figures he has probably signed "a million autographs," said, "It's always a great feeling when I walk into a group of children.

"It seems to set off an electrical charge. Their faces light up and they smile, and then I light up."

Now that Higbee's has closed its 10th floor--Santaland, Silver Grille Restaurant, et al--what will happen to Mr. Jingeling this Christmas?

"Plans for the coming year are up in the air at this point. But, regardless of what happens, I'm prepared to continue as Mr. Jingeling some place," said Keyes, now a member of Lakewood's Centennial Hall of Fame.

This article by Dan Chabek appeared in the Lakewood Sun Post June 7, 1990. Reprinted with permission.