Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

Before ubiquitous, homogenous Malls, there was (and still is) Chicago's State Street, that great Street! This retrospective is an excellent gift for Baby Boomers of Chicagoland vintage who grew up with Garfield Goose and friends on WGN (before the SuperStation) and an annual magical Christmas mystical tour of State Street.

This delightful trade paperback is a return to Christmases past, a Holiday tour starting South at the old Sears Roebuck & Company and going North past the delicious themed window displays and delectable interiors of Hotel, stores, restaurants, and theatres. There is a capsulized history of each, along with a description of its Holiday finery. Great old black and white photos of people laughing, people passing, people parading and, oh yes, people shopping, are complimented by cool color photos in the middle.

There's a full page devoted to the Marshall Field's clock (7 3/4 tons of cast bronze) and a series of pictures on just how they got that huge REAL tree into the middle of the store anyway. The text is written in the stodgier AmerEnglish of the times, which adds to the charm.

What a great gift for the Garfield Goose Generation and their parents!
But,
Hey Dude!
I don't remember this "Uncle Mistletoe" dude!
Reviewed by TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer

I was born, raised, educated, and married in Chicago. My wedding gown came from Marshall Field's bridal shop. I saw every christmas poarade on state street as a child and young adult. It all came alive in this book! Book was received in mint condition and fast service.

I bought this book because I wanted information about Marshall Field's and Uncle Mistletoe. I found what I wanted -- and so much more! For anyone who grew up in the Chicago area, this book will bring back memories that you didn't even know you had. Definitely worth having -- even if you didn't grow up in the Chicago area it will bring you back to the kinder more gentle days of yester-year (how's that for a cliche?!?)

I didn't realize that when I ordered this book, it would touch on so many memories I have held on to for years! Living in Chicago, as a child, my parents would take us kids to see the Annual State Street Christmas Parade. So much magic in the air, with all the excitement of Christmas approaching. It was wonderul not only watching the parade, but to pass by decorated store front windows, such as mentioned in the book, and all the decor lining State State, is a memory that will never be forgotten. This book brought back all those memories, and was quite a trip down memory lane, or should I say State Street.
If you've ever lived in Chicago, and was witness to all the Christmas excitement along State Street, you'd so enjoy this book, as I did.
Great job to all those involved in getting this memorable book to me.

Enjoyed the book. I remember going down to the "Loop" to see the windows when I was young. We took our children down there and relived the memories that my parents gave me. Going through the book, I forgot about all the stores that were on State Street. We ate at Marshall Fields in the Walnut room undner the "real" Christmas tree.

My mom greatly enjoyed this book. It showcased a lot of history from stores that are long gone from Chicago.

I LOVE this book. It is thoughtfully written and has many wonderful photos to evoke the moods and memories of the era. Brought back the magical moments of my childhood when our family would drive into Chicago at night to walk around Marshall Fields and take in the beautifully done window stories. So glad I found it when searching for information on Uncle Mistletoe. He always sat on our fireplace mantel during the Chrismas season in the 1940s. The book gave me lots of information to back up my childhood memories. Thank you Robert Ledermann. Will always love Chicago.