Photos of kids on the phone with Santa, 1947
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Patricia Guinan promises to leave out milk and crackers for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, 1947. (Martha Holmes, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)
Elaine Jung is 6, wants a doll's house and carriage, and made sure to ask Santa not to forget her baby sister. (Martha Holmes, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)
Jimmy O'Brien, 4, asked for a bike and a sailboat. "When Santa asked where he lived," LIFE reported, "he said, 'You know where.'" (Martha Holmes, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)
Jo Ann Ward, 3, who wanted a doll and a boat, began with aplomb by saying, "Hello, Santa Claus. How you feel?" (Martha Holmes, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)
"Santa and Mrs. Claus, who sometimes wear red coats to keep in character, answer calls at the F.A.O. Schwartz workshop," LIFE wrote. (Martha Holmes, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)