I can't say for sure whether or not Santa Claus exists in real life. I do know that in New York City there is a street named after him. Saint Nicholas Avenue and Saint Nicholas Park are located in upper Manhattan.

The street was named when the Dutch ruled New Amsterdam, which later became New York in 1664. In fact Sinterklaas, is the dutch name for the traditional holiday figure we know as Santa Claus.

I remember growing up in upper Manhattan in the 1960s, that there was this really neat toy store, located on the corner of Saint Nicholas Avenue just a block from the 34th Precinct station house.

That's about as close to a real Santa I've been around.

In fiction, Miracle on 34th Street comes closest to making be believe in Santa. George Seaton's screenplay is great fun, and his court room climax scene makes believers out everyone including a New York County Assistant District Attorney played by legendary character actor Jerome Cowan.

I guess Santa is like Justice Potter Stewart's definition of pornography, "I know it when I see it."