Customer Reviews

Holidays on Display

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

 

 

This book definitely was not what I was expecting. I usually base my purchases on the reviews of others - this item was no exception. I did however struggle since there was only one review and it was a bit vague as to what the book was about. Even the description of the book was a little vague, I thought.

What this book is: A great history on the art of window decorating and parade float making - the details are good, and the pictures are nice as well. I did find some of the information interesting, however it wasn't what I was expecting. There were some photos, but they were more to depict the literature given to those who enrolled in the window display vocational schools and some of the catalogs for window & store display items. It is an account of how window dressing became popular, and how most of the individuals who did the displays were men who had a balance of creativity, business sense, and carpentry skills. It also details how this evolved into designing parade floats and the mail order companies that sprang up specializing in display/design kits.


What this book IS NOT: A collection of photographs of various window displays at Christmastime and other holidays. I was hoping for images of department store windows - like the ones seen in "A Christmas Story" where families gathered around on a winter evening taking in all the sights and sounds around them. Nor is it a collection of memories of those who remember the times when it was a family tradition to have an outing into town just to see the displays and visit with Santa and his elves. (If any one knows of books like that please let me know!!)

If you're interested in the art of window decorating, displays, or parade floats, this book is for you. One tidbit I didn't know until I read through this book is that Frank L Baum was a window display designer.

More about the art of display and such and not so much photos of old Christmas window displays. It is still a nice book to have if you are a decorator or interior designer.

Holidays on Display provides a vivid set of color photos capturing department store festive window displays and reviews the overall art of the holiday display. The author traces this display's changes from basic holiday decorations to works of art, floats, and more, offering a fine history of rare photos and ephemera in the process. Any library strong in holiday art needs this.

i like anything that has to do with Christmas because that's my business. I like the old way things were done.