‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’: Failed film is hit theater show

Hosted by

The 2023 cast of “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” at the Maverick Theater in Fullerton gathers to take pictures with audience members after the show. Photo by Susan Valot.

Year after year, a Fullerton theater sells out a camped-up comedy about Santa Claus on Mars. The stage show is based on a 1964 B-movie.

At least 15 productions of “A Christmas Carol” exist in SoCal, and each theater adds a twist to the play.

Vendors at DTLA’s Piñata District say people from as far as New York go there to buy supplies like corn husks and nativity scenes for Christmas.