Another of those memory triggers..... Christmas time.
We'd bundle up for the cold and head downtown.
Block's, (were they the store with the clock on the street, GH?), L.S. Ayres, and, was it Wasson's? I think I have that memory right.
These downtown stores would have animated Christmas displays in their windows on "the Circle".
The stores competed with one another to see who could gather the most "AHHHHHHHS".
As a kid, I can remember being absolutely knocked out by how clever they were.
Several years back, we returned to walk around the Circle.
Although there were no displays in the windows, there were special Christmas activities goin' on.
Ice skating, I think, and carolers?
A huge "Poinsettia" Christmas tree at one of the opulent hotels.
It makes me happy to think kids today will have happy memories of downtown Indy when they are older.
I hope they're as happy as mine are.
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9 comments:
GB
Oh, gosh what memories from back then. I think it might have been the L S Ayers clock for some strange reason, even though my mom worked at WM H Block for 27 years.
Going downtown was the best for siteseeing.
Going downtown for the special dress or school clothes and then going across the street to the Russet Cafeteria for the best Creamed Chicken on biscuits.
Then the candy dept at Blocks had these wonderful delicacies of all kinds and I loved the caramel covered marshmallows.
The downtown circle was the epitome of decorations. Along with all the dept. stores. Just like New York city.
Then came all the expanding shopping centers and Blocks moved to Southern Plaza and Ayers moved to Greenwood Center, then it was all gone when the founders passed away.
GH - I thought it was a very special treat to go to Russet's Cafeteria; upscale and all that! HA!! The department store windows at Christmas were so jammed with people trying to see I usually had to go to the end and get a peek under someone's armpit; but sure did add to the excitement of Santa coming soon. The angel still appears the day after Thanksgiving on the old Ayres clock and downtown Indy is decorated beautifully. But somehow it's not the same without Ayres Toyland, Block's and Wasson's. Did your mom ever take you for shoes at Ayres in their Childrens' shoe department? It was so packed you had to take a number and wait an eternity for your turn. For me though, it was worth the wait since I was born knowing that a girl can not have too many shoes.
BMG
Oh, yes, we did all that also. I thought it was the coolest thing to have to ride in a elevator to other floors and there was a person calling out what was on that floor. They had that little seat in there they sat on, and those beautiful brass gates.
I can't believe someone else thought Russet's was so cool.
So totally 1950's and nothing is wrong with that.
As for the shoes, yeah, I remember the number taking and men actually bringing out so many pairs to try on and all the excitment involved.
Also Blocks had a thrift store that had wonderful bargains, especially for Easter.
JF and I used to catch the bus in Greenwood and ride to Ipls for a day of shopping and eating and had so much fun. We thought we were so grown-up.
I would do it all in a heartbeat, just to see it all again.
Then getting to go to the theatre's just off the Circle for the newest Disney movie. It is just not the same nowadays. And dancing at the Indiana roof.
How fun.
Thank GB for memories like that.
Wow DJ
Thanks for much for the trip down memory lane. It was wonderful to be reminded about it.
Was anyone in Mrs. V's class our freshman year that got to go downtown, just off the Circle, to see El Cid. A beautiful movie.
Not a senior trip, but great anyway.
GH - YES! El Cid was really a treat. We were all so excited to get to go to the beautiful Indiana Theater. We all even put on our good clothes because we were going to the City! The movie seemed very long and I really got lost on the plot. But it is a really special day to remember.
Morrow's Nut House...did they also have the wonderful caramel corn that you could smell all through the circle? It was the BEST. How about climbing up the stairs to the top of the monument; it was much safer than the creaky old elevator--and FREE! They charged 25 cents to ride the world's scarriest elevator! And then, before riding the bus home we (Lady Trojans) would crowd into the picture booth to pose for 4 black and white photos.
EL CID!! OH, I remember that movie!! I choked back sobs as he left his wife and babies, and then I was almost blubbering by the time they put him on his horse to make that final charge. I was with Billy V. who cheerfully noted how smart the horse was, it could charge the beach without guidance.
Did you see Cleopatra there too? It was such an exotic thing at the time. I saw part of it again a few years ago and tried to count Liz’s costume changes; I couldn’t keep up especially when there were two different dresses in the same scene.
And then of course there was Sound of Music which I loved and still do.
There was one other movie that Jeanie, I and a few other girls went to see. I can’t remember the name of it but Roger Moore played an English Calvary office; his love interest was a dark haired girl,,, I think she was supposed to be a gypsy or something like that traveling in a decorated wagon.
He was injured, she nursed him back to health, and he shared his toothbrush with her since she had never seen one before.
She vowed to enter a convent if he came back from the rest of the war (which ever one was going on then)
He did so she did.
It was terribly sad as far as I was concerned. But at least she got her teeth brushed
Check here, PT.
Is that the one?
I love Imdb.com (Internet movie data base) for checking movies I remember pieces of.
Spartacus was the big movie I remember from that time.
The "I'm Spartacus" scene still brings chills!
That sure sounds like it! I don't remember the statue coming to life, but then I was more concerned with Roger Moore and the tooth brush.
How the heck did you find that!! GB, you never cease to amaze me!
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