Although the jolly character of Santa Claus rose to fame in the late 18th century, he didn't make his big-screen debut until more than 100 years later.
In 1898, British director George Albert Smith cast Santa in a silent drama that kickstarted Claus' mysteriously endless career.
Grainy and shaky footage shows a mother putting her two children to bed. Just moments later, the bearded man presumed to be in red and white slides right down the chimney before stuffing the children's stockings with goodies.
The figure also known as St. Nick bestows a blessing on the little sleepers, then, in a flash, he's gone.
While this and many other feats continue to be topics of contention, they've only benefitted Santa Claus' career, as he's starred in hundreds of films to date.
