The Orlando Christmas Star and the Miracle Man who Saved it
- Tyler Reed
- Dec 25, 2017
- 3 min read
The Orlando Christmas Star
A star, a star, Dancing in the night...
The intersection of Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando always becomes a little brighter in the month of December, all thanks to a giant yellow star. The Jack Kazansas Christmas Star, as it is now called, was named several years ago for the Orlando native who saved the star from becoming nothing but star dust. Kazansas worked tirelessly in 1984, and again in 1998 to raise money to bring the star back to its glowing glory, much like when it was first suspended over Orange Ave in 1955.
The 5-pointed icon was first purchased in 1949 by Dickson & Ives owner, Wilson Reed. Reed began working for Dickson & Ives Department Store in 1924, eventually becoming store manager, and later owner. Dickson & Ives, which has a storied history of its own, started in Orlando as early as the 1880’s and went out of business in 1965. The site of the present building, which was constructed in the 1920’s, can be found at 214 S. Orange Ave, complete with beaux arts/Classical terra cotta cornice and friezes.
Across the street from Dickson & Ives, was its competitor, the somewhat newer and non-locally owned chain store, Ivey’s. Reed, who was inspired by the Christmas season, desired to showcase something spectacular for his hometown during Christmas. Moreover, Reed wished to join hands, at least for a brief period, with his competitor in an act of peace and good will. He thought the star would be the perfect thing to do just that. Thus, with the help of Flambeau Studio Inc. who designed and constructed the iconic star, and Johnson Electric Co. who wired and strung up all 626 bulbs that illuminated the starry spectacle, the famed holiday tradition was born. The Christmas Star was now ready to be enjoyed by local shoppers and passersby, anchored by Dickson & Ives to the west and Ivey’s to the east.
A Star for the Generations
By the early 1980’s, the original star had fallen into disrepair, much like the state of retail shopping in Downtown Orlando. As an act of downtown revitalization, a new star was born, this time, bigger and brighter. The new star, which now weighed 600-pounds, was displayed for the first time in 1984, much to the credit of Jack Kazansas who raised $13,000 for its resurrection. In 1998, nearly 15-years since the new star made its debut, city officials had decided to retire the star for good. But Jack Kazansas, who had grown up around downtown Orlando, and graduated from Orlando High School in 1948, came to the rescue once more, raising even more money and awareness for the Christmas Star.
Old Florida, Today
With the amazing efforts by Jack Kazansas, the star only grew brighter through the years following its failed retirement. By 2005, the plexiglass center of the star had been crowned with a sparkling tiara designed by Cindy White of Orlando. In 2010, the year Jack Kazansas died, the star was fitted with brand new LED lights. Shortly before Kazansas’ death, an official city proclamation named the star after him. With the new name came a reminder for the generations to come, of the man whose entire world revolved around the city he loved, along with the 13-foot star that still illuminates Orange Ave each year for Christmas.
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