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Written on the back of this work is: “When I was 22 or 23, I took a semester-long photography course. We had an assignment, and I decided I wanted to follow Santa Claus. At the time, there were all these guys around New York dressing up as Santa for Volunteers of America, and they'd collect donations outside Macy's, etc. after they'd collect, they'd head back to the volunteers headquarters on Houston Street and go out drinking — most of the Santas were alcoholics. I took this picture because in my head, I remember thinking, 'Why is Santa taking the A train? Where is his sleigh?' Later, I took this photograph to an editor at The New York Times, and he loved it, but said it's 'Too late to publish for Christmas'. Well, I missed the boat that Christmas, so I guess I'll catch the boat 46 years later.” — Bruce Gilden