How Much Is That Santa in the Window? – Mission Street between 19th and 20th Streets, Mission District, San Francisco, California

"(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" is a popular novelty song written by Bob Merrill in 1952 and very loosely based on the folk tune, Carnival of Venice. This song is also loosely based on the song "Oh Where, Oh where, has my little dog gone?"

The best-known version of the song was the original, recorded by Patti Page on December 18, 1952 and released in January 1953 by Mercury Records. On April 4, 1953, the song went to No. 1 in the US Billboard magazine chart, staying at that top spot for eight weeks. The song was wildly popular across a wide demographic. The song had school children "yipping"; Mercury Records was besieged with requests for free puppies; and the American Kennel Club’s annual registrations spiked up by eight percent. In all, Page’s record sold over 2 million copies. Rock historian Michael Uslan has stated that songs similar to "Doggie" led to the "fervent embrace of rock & roll" two years after its release. "A lot of songs at that time were extremely bland, squeaky-clean stuff. The music field was ripe for something new, something vibrant to shake the rafters."

How much is that doggie in the window?
The one with the waggly tail
How much is that doggie in the window?
I do hope that doggie’s for sale.

I must take a trip to California,
And leave my poor sweetheart alone.
If he has a doggie, he won’t be lonesome.
And the doggie will have a good home.