Christmas on State Street: 1940's and Beyond (IL) (Images of America) [Paperback]

Robert P. Ledermann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2002

State Street, that Great Street. The name itself stands the test of time, remembered by anyone who lived in or visited Chicago. It is the main artery of the heart of the city. It is where memories were made and kept. This book vividly recreates, for the first time, a Christmas holiday trip down State Street. You will visit many of the major shops and stores that existed during the 1940s and beyond, viewing old display windows and getting reacquainted with famous Christmas characters such as Weiboldts's Cinnamon Bear, Montgomery Wards's Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and the crown jewel of State Street, Marshall Fields's Uncle Mistletoe. Through these historic photographs, many never before published, you will relive the excitement of State Street's Christmas parade, the charm of holiday dining in State Street's fine restaurants, and the magical wonder of a child's first holiday trip to State Street, complete with a visit to Santa.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A lifelong Chicago resident, as well as a Chicago nostalgia buff, Robert P. Ledermann has written many articles on Christmas in Chicago, is the local authority on Uncle Mistletoe, and, along with his wife Annette, has an extensive collection of Christmas memorabilia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738519723
• ISBN-13: 978-0738519722
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Chicago Christmas!, December 19, 2005

By 

disco stu - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas on State Street: 1940's and Beyond (IL) (Images of America) (Paperback)

This is a beautifully arranged book detailing the opulence and grandeur of Christmas in Chicago. Amazing black and white photos capture the charm of the holidays in the Windy City.

For those of us who have visited Marshall Fields at Christmas, peered into the wonderful windows full of magical stories, this book will be a treasured keepsake of Chicago originals like Fields. Macy's will never have the appeal or class that Marshall Fields had, and we'll never forget the Walnut Room Tree or the Tiffany Dome. So long old Chicago, you were a class act.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Memories, July 24, 2006

By 

J. A. Moore (La Costa, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christmas on State Street: 1940's and Beyond (IL) (Images of America) (Paperback)

If you're an aging Baby Boomer, as I, and lived in the Chicago area sometime during your childhood, chances are this little book with touch your heart and bring back the fondest of memories. It's a sweet compilation of everything that's reminiscent of a journey to "downtown" Chicago during the Christmas season. Whether it be parades, shopping, choosing a new toy for under the tree, or perhaps lunching at the Walnut Room at Marshall Fields, this book hits all the high points. Touching photo's also round out the successful tale of Christmas on State Street. Sit back with a cup of cocoa and savor the memories!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Filled with many wonderful memories of State Street at Christmas time!, March 30, 2008

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christmas on State Street: 1940's and Beyond (IL) (Images of America) (Paperback)

This wonderful little book is part of the Images of America series, and focuses on Chicago's State Street at Christmas time. Having grown up in the Chicagoland area, I well remember each year's pilgrimage down to State Street to see the lights and displays - culminating in a visit to the Marshall Field's store (recently subsumed into the mighty Macy's empire). This book contains many wonderful black-and-white images (and some color ones!) from State Street - from the parades, from the displays, and some from just the stores themselves.

Overall, I found this to be a great book, filled with many wonderful memories of State Street at Christmas time! The pictures are all crystal clear, and have well-written captions. So, if you are interested in Christmas on Chicago's State Street, then you would be well-advised to give this book a look. I highly recommend this book!