I didn't realize until this year that not everyone had Santa photos made as part of the Christmas ritual. My husband lived in a small town in West Virginia where they didn't even have much of a department store, much less a department store Santa with photos! My daughter just wrote about her son's experience with Santa (
Click Here)---here are my photos and memories of Christmas at the department stores in St. Louis.
Every Thanksgiving evening, we went downtown to look at the store windows---they were always magical to see. The stores weren't open, but the sidewalks were crowded with people oohing and aahing over the mechanical displays in the windows. There was always a display of Santa's workshop with little elves whirring around making toys. There was usually a display of animals playing in the winter---rabbits ice skating, racoons sailing down a hill in a bobsled. But, our favorite was always the train display in the Famous-Barr window. It was huge with dozens of trains going in all different directions through a miniaturized town and country-side. Going downtown Thanksgiving evening was like icing on the cake---the lights, the magical windows, the decorations, the music---Dad or Grandpa carrying me so I could see in the windows.
Those displays heralded the beginning of the Christmas season. Every year, we got dressed up and went downtown "Christmas shopping." My first memory was the PANIC that set in with so many giant adults towering over me. Inevitably I'd follow the wrong black coat through the maze and would wind up bellowing, "MOOOOOM!" With so many grownups packed together, the only thing I could see were shoes and the floor---the first floor near the doors was white ceramic tile with black streaks from people walking in with wet, dirty shoes.
After a little shopping, it was time for photos with Santa Claus---he was usually enthroned in the toy department. But, we had to wait in line for HOURS with nothing to do, but whine. (Later, when my kids were little, they had multiple Santas and mechanical displays to look at while waiting in a huge room that looked like a fairy land) After we sat on his lap, we'd get a candy cane and a toy or coloring book. Then, we'd go to lunch---in the tearoom when we got older! But, again, there was a wait. . . But, lunch in the tearoom was the BEST part of the whole shopping day---when we were younger, we ate in the "lunchroom" which wasn't much fun. We had to "camp out" behind someone at the counter so we could have a seat when they got up.
My final memory was a baby-sitting service one of the department stores offered---it was an old, large supply room with windows up by the high ceiling that we couldn't look out of. The room was filled with screaming kids. I hated it! I can hardly wait for my sister to read this blog so I can get her view of all of this. As you can tell, I'm not a big fan of Christmas shopping, she, on the other hand, lives and breathes Christmas. (Actually, in the photos above, you can see skepticism in my eyes and adoration and wonder in hers)
[My sister Jane writes:]
I really think the magic of our annual trip downtown to look at the Christmas windows is why I love Hallmark Ornaments and why I have to have all my Christmas decorations up by Thanksgiving. Most of my ornaments are motion and I become that little girl again in downtown St. Louis. Going down there Thanksgiving evening is truly one of my favorite memories. The Christmas windows were so magical. The stores were not open so we had another trip down town to see Santa. When we walk through the department store doors into the beauty and splendor of enormous wreaths and holly everywhere. Wow!
I often wonder if Dad took the job at Famous (later when we were older) so he could be part of making the magic for others. Even though we heard him complain about the window designers, I think he loved turning Northland Famous into a fairyland.
Jaci, your recollection is very close to mine. I remember when we saw Santa there were long lines, but later either Stix or Famous had a whole floor devoted to a Christmas fairyland that we walked through to get to Santa. It was so neat! I remember the anticipation of going up the elevators with the sliding cage doors and the elevator attendants in white gloves announcing the floors. Sometimes it took a few times before he got the elevator level to the floor. We stepped off the elevator into the most splendid spectacle. The Christmas magic was everywhere on the way to Santa. It seems to me there was also a show with puppets and magicians. Everything to make it magical.
Incidentally, I Ioved that Navy Blue Velvet hat with pearls across it.
[see below]
I love the lunch in the tearoom! It was one of my favorite memories because we got to be all grown up. We always got the John White burger. Even today I will use Cheez Whiz and fried onions to mimic this burger.
I was the terror of the Scruggs-Vandervorts nursery and remember a dark green color with wired screened windows. I screamed the entire time Mom was gone. It had to be hours. To me it was the dungeon of terror. I really don't remember you having to stay there.
[the photo above is the American Legion Christmas Party, 1950]
I also remember the American Legion Christmas party. It was on a second floor over a bar??? It had a wooden floor. Santa came and we got a stocking with a tangerine and hard candy which I didn't really like except for the candy cane. I think we got a wrapped gift. I remember Grandpa Long being there.
[R-L: Steve with band-aid on head :), LeRoy Long partially obscured by Roy Long in Legion hat feeding Jane ; Vennie Wicker with Hampton Adams behind and to her right]
[Jane is almost obscured by the woman in the hat; I am on the right with plaid jumper and "banana" curls; Cousin Steve is right behind me with a bandaid on his head---have I ever mentioned EVERY family gathering resulted in someone being injured?]
e-mailed 12-15-08 by Jane Provost [comments by me]
For my brother's Christmas memories click here.
