| John Wanamaker Store | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | Juniper and Market Sts. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A National Historic Landmark (NHL is a Building, site, Structure, Object, or District, that is officially recognized by the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1902 |
| Architect: | Thompson, Starrett Co. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. ; Daniel Burnham |
| Architectural style(s): | Renaissance |
| Added to NRHP: | June 02, 1978[1] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 78002459[2] |
| Governing body: | Private |
Wanamaker's department store was the first department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the first department stores in the United States. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) A department store is a Retail establishment which specializes in selling a wide range of products without a single predominant merchandise line. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The United States of America —commonly referred to as the It was renowned for its honest reputation and for innovating many retailing firsts in America. At its zenith in the early 20th Century, there were two major Wanamaker department stores, one in Philadelphia and one in New York, both with extremely large staffs. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on By the end of the 20th century in the shopping-mall era, there were 16 Wanamaker's outlets, but the chain was absorbed into Hecht's (now Macy's) in 1995 after years of flux. Hecht's, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros and the Hecht Company, was a large chain of Department stores located mainly in the mid-Atlantic Macy's is a chain of mid-range American Department stores Its Flagship store in Herald Square, New York City has been billed The current occupant of the former Wanamaker's Department Store is Macy's Center City.
Contents |
Beginnings
John Wanamaker, the founder of the store that bears his name, was unable to join the U. John Nelson Wanamaker ( July 11, 1838 – December 12, 1922) was a United States merchant religious leader civic and political figure S. Army during the American Civil War because of a persistent cough. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Having been rejected from war duty, he instead ventured into business with his brother-in-law, Nathan Brown. In 1861, they founded a men's clothing store in Philadelphia called Oak Hall. Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Wanamaker carried on the business alone after Brown's death in 1868. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap In 1876, Wanamaker purchased the abandoned Pennsylvania Railroad station for use as a new, larger retail location. The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Railroad, founded in 1846 The concept was to renovate the terminal into a "Grand Depot" similar to London's Royal Exchange or Paris' Les Halles—two central markets, and forerunners of the modern department store, that were well-known in Europe at that time. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Royal Exchange in the City of London was founded in 1565 by Sir Thomas Gresham to act as a centre of Commerce for the city Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Les Halles (pronounced /le al/ ( is an area of Paris, France, located in the 1er arrondissement.
The Wanamaker's Grand Depot opened in time to service the public visiting Philadelphia for the American Centennial Exposition of 1876, and in fact resembled one of the many pavilions at that world's fair because of its fanciful new Moorish facade. Year 1876 ( MDCCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year In 1877 The interior of Wanamaker's was refurbished and expanded to include not only men's clothing, but women's clothing and dry goods as well. Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This was Philadelphia's—and perhaps America's—first modern-day department store. A circular counter was placed at the center of the building, and concentric circles radiated around it with 129 counters of goods.
Enlightened retailing
Wanamaker first thought of how he would run a store on new principles when, as a youth, a merchant refused his request to exchange a purchase. A practicing Christian, he chose not to advertise on Sundays. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth His faith also informed other business decisions, many of which were innovative and before their time. Before he opened his Grand Depot for retail business, he let evangelist Dwight L. Moody use its facilities as a meeting place, while Wanamaker provided 300 ushers from his store personnel. Evangelism is the Christian practice of proselytisation. The intention of most evangelism is to effect Eternal salvation to those who do not follow the Early life Dwight Moody was born in Northfield Massachusetts to a large family His retail advertisements—the first to be copyrighted beginning in 1874—were factual, and promises made in them were kept. Year 1874 ( MDCCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Word of this increased Wanamaker's business and John Wanamaker never lost the public's trust while he pioneered truth in American advertising.
Wanamaker guaranteed the quality of his merchandise in print, allowed his customers to return purchases for a cash refund and offered the first restaurant to be located inside a department store. Wanamaker's also innovated the price tag, because John Wanamaker believed if everyone was equal before God, then everyone should be equal before price. All of these concepts were seen as innovations in American retailing at the time.
His employees were to be treated respectfully by management (including not being scolded in public), and John Wanamaker & Company offered its employees access to the John Wanamaker Commercial Institute, as well as free medical care, recreational facilities, profit sharing plans, and pensions—long before these types of benefits were considered standard in corporate employment.
Innovation and "firsts" marked Wanamaker's. The store was the first department store with electrical illumination (1878), first store with a telephone (1879), first store to install pneumatic tubes to transport cash and documents (1880), and the first store with an elevator (1884). Year 1878 ( MDCCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Basic principle A traditional landline telephone system also known as "plain old telephone service" (POTS, commonly handles both signaling and audio information Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year An elevator or lift is a Transport device used to move people or goods vertically from one floor to another Year 1884 ( MDCCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year
Wanamaker's commissioned a Philadelphia/New Jersey artist, George Washington Nicholson (1832-1912), to paint a large landscape mural, "The Old Homestead," which was finished in March 1892. The 7x14-foot mural was still owned by Wanamaker's in 1950, but its location is currently unknown.
In 1910, Wanamaker replaced his famous Grand Depot in stages, and constructed a brand-new, purpose-built structure on the same site in Center City Philadelphia. The new store, lavishly built in the Florentine style with granite walls by Chicago architect Daniel H. Burnham, had 12 floors (9 for retail), numerous galleries and two lower levels totaling nearly two-million square feet. The palatial emporium featured the former St. Louis World's Fair pipe organ, at the time one of the world's largest organs. The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the largest operational Pipe organ in the world located within a spacious 7-story court The organ was installed in the store's marble-clad central atrium known as the Grand Court. Another item from the St. Louis Fair in the Grand Court is the large bronze eagle, which quickly became the symbol of the store and a favorite meeting place for shoppers. The store was dedicated by President William Howard Taft on December 30, 1911. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by William Howard Taft (September 15 1857 – March 8 1930 was an American politician, the twenty-seventh President of the United States, the tenth Chief Justice Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year
Despite its size, the organ was deemed insufficient to fill the Grand Court with its music. Wanamaker's responded by assembling its own staff of organ builders and expanding the organ several times over a period of years. The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the largest operational Pipe organ in the world located within a spacious 7-story court The organ still stands in place in the store today, and is the largest operational pipe organ in the world, with some 28,000 pipes. It is famed for the delicate, orchestra-like beauty of its tone as well as its incredible power. News of the Titanic's sinking was transmitted to Wanamaker's wireless station in New York City, and given to anxious crowds waiting outside—yet another first for an American retail store. Construction The Titanic was a White Star Line ocean liner built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland Wireless communication is the transfer of information over a distance without the use of electrical conductors or " Wires quot The City of New York Public Christmas Caroling in the store's Grand Court began in 1918. A Christmas carol (also called a Noël) is a carol ( Song or Hymn) whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
Other innovations included employing buyers to travel overseas to Europe each year for the latest fashions, the first White sale (1878) and other themed sales such as the February "Opportunity Sales" to keep prices as low as possible while keeping volume high. A white sale is a Marketing strategy where a store steeply discounts its merchandise to increase Sales during a short period of time The store also broadcast its organ concerts on the Wanamaker-owned radio station WOO-AM beginning in 1922. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
The famous advertising axiom "Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I don't know which half" is credited to John Wanamaker.
Although disputed in some circles, John Wanamaker is credited as the first to coin the "Retailer's Rule"…"The customer is always right. "
The slow decline
After John Wanamaker's death in 1922 the business carried on under Wanamaker family ownership. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Rodman Wanamaker, John's son, enhanced the reputation of the stores as artistic centers and temples of the beautiful, offering imported luxuries from around the world. Lewis Rodman Wanamaker ( February 13, 1863 – March 9, 1928, Atlantic City New Jersey) was the second son of Philadelphia He died shortly before the Great Depression, and after his death in 1928, the stores (managed for the family by a trust) continued to thrive for a time. The men's clothing and accessories department was expanded into its own separate store on the lower floors of the Lincoln-Liberty Building, two doors down on Chestnut Street, in 1932. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. This building, which also had a private apartment for the Wanamaker family on its top floor, was sold to Philadelphia National Bank in 1952; the initials on the building's crown now read "PNB" even though the bank no longer exists (it is now part of Wachovia Corporation through a series of mergers and acquisitions). Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Wachovia Corporation ( based in Charlotte North Carolina, is a diversified Financial services holding company provided via its operating subsidiaries a broad Over time, Wanamaker's lost business to other retail chains, including Bloomingdale's and Macy's in the Philadelphia market. Bloomingdale's (or Bloomie's) is a chain of upscale American Department stores owned by Macy's Inc Macy's is a chain of mid-range American Department stores Its Flagship store in Herald Square, New York City has been billed The Wanamaker Family Trust finally sold John Wanamaker and Company, with its underpatronized stores, to Los Angeles, California-based Carter Hawley Hale Stores in 1978. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Carter Hawley Hale Stores was an American retailer based in Southern California. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Carter Hawley Hale poured $80 million (USD) into renovating the stores, but to no avail—customers had gone elsewhere in the intervening decades and did not come back.
Finally, in 1986, the now 15-store chain was sold to Woodward & Lothrop, owned by Detroit shopping-mall magnate A. Alfred Taubman. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Woodward & Lothrop was an iconic Department store chain headquartered in Washington D Adolph Alfred Taubman (born 1924 is an American Real estate Developer, Industrialist, and Philanthropist from Bloomfield Hills Taubman reorganized the business with a shortened corporate name (Wanamaker's Inc. ), and poured millions more into store renovations and public relations campaigns. This too was no help, as Taubman's retail interests were heavily in debt and the stores' combined sales were a disappointment. Believing that the Wanamaker Building space was more valuable than portions of the historic Wanamaker store, the Philadelphia flagship store was reduced to its first five stories, the Juniper Street side became the lobby of an office building for the upper stories, and the former basement Budget Store (always referred to as the Downstairs Store) became a parking garage. The Crystal Tea Room restaurant was closed and eventually leased to the Marriott corporation for use as a ballroom. Personal effects of Mr. Wanamaker from his until-then preserved office on the eighth floor, and the store archives, were donated to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Historical Society of Pennsylvania is an historical library and archive founded in Philadelphia in 1824. Beloved huge Easter paintings of the trial and Passion of the Christ by Mihály Munkácsy that had been personal favorites of Mr. TemplateInfobox person (more options and/or integrated into the text| period = 19th Century| Wanamaker and were displayed every year in the Grand Court during Lent were unceremoniously sold at auction. Woodward & Lothrop collapsed in bankruptcy in the early 1990s, and with it the Wanamaker stores, which were sold to May Department Stores Company on June 21, 1995. Woodward & Lothrop was an iconic Department store chain headquartered in Washington D The May Department Stores Company was a national Department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Wanamaker's Inc. was formally dissolved, and operations were consolidated with May's Hecht's division in Arlington, Virginia. Hecht's, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros and the Hecht Company, was a large chain of Department stores located mainly in the mid-Atlantic After a century and a third the Wanamaker's name was removed from all stores and replaced with Hecht's. Hecht's, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros and the Hecht Company, was a large chain of Department stores located mainly in the mid-Atlantic In 1997, May acquired Wanamaker's historic rival Strawbridge & Clothier and re-branded all Philadelphia-area Hecht's locations with the Strawbridge's name. Strawbridge's (formerly Strawbridge & Clothier) was a Department store found in the northeastern United States with stores in Delaware, Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Center City Hecht's (temporarily named Strawbridge's) was closed for a lengthy renovation and refurbishment that saw the former Wanamaker retail space reduced in size again to three floors, and the former selling floors on the upper floors further subdivided into commercial office space. This was to prepare the way, in 1997, for New York-based Lord & Taylor, another division of May Department Stores, to open in the former Wanamaker's flagship in Center City Philadelphia. Lord & Taylor, based in New York, New York, is the oldest upscale Department store chain in the United States. The May Department Stores Company was a national Department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May In August 2006 the store was converted to Macy's, operated by the Macy's East Division of Federated Department Stores Inc. Macy's is a chain of mid-range American Department stores Its Flagship store in Herald Square, New York City has been billed Macy's Inc ( formerly Federated Department Stores Inc, is a Department store Holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's Macy's Inc ( formerly Federated Department Stores Inc, is a Department store Holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's , (now Macy's Inc. ), which acquired May in late 2005.
While Wanamaker's ceased to be a luxury store in the Hecht's era, it was always considered a "better" department store. However, the store was not immune to the major change in retailing away from regional chains to national chains. The uniformity of brand offerings and the cost savings available to national chains all worked against the viability of the store as an independent personality, although customers generally had a major say in determining store offerings and the magnificence of its commercial space did tend to cause it to be stocked with better offerings. Other retailers had also learned to offer goods with much smaller staff rosters. The ability of retailers to "go national" in opposition to regional tastes is still an experiment-in-progress with mixed results.
The Wanamaker's flagship store, with its famous organ and eagle from the St. Louis World's Fair, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978. A National Historic Landmark (NHL is a Building, site, Structure, Object, or District, that is officially recognized by the Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Retailers continue to reap significant monetary returns from the elegance of this unparalleled retail space. In 1992 a nonprofit group, the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, was founded to promote the preservation, restoration and presentation of the famous pipe organ. [3]
As a retail site, the Philadelphia flagship store has proved quite profitable for later tenants Lord & Taylor and now Macy's. Macy's, with a long tradition of parades and fireworks displays, has taken a prominent civic role in fostering historic Wanamaker traditions, especially the Wanamaker Organ and the Holiday Pageant of Lights Christmas Show.
Former locations
Delaware
- Philadelphia MSA/Newark - Christiana Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Lord & Taylor 1997, closed 2006, now vacant)
- Philadelphia MSA/Wilmington - Freestanding (closed 1991, replaced by Christiana Mall store, now Accenture offices)
New Jersey
- Philadelphia MSA/Deptford - Deptford Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2006, now Boscov's)
- Philadelphia MSA/Moorestown - Moorestown Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, building rebuilt and reopened as Strawbridge's 1999, converted to Macy's 2006)
New York
- New York City - Freestanding building at 770 Broadway between 8th and 9th Streets, with over 1,100,000 square feet, it was the largest department store in the world when it opened, superseded by Macy's in the late 1920's. Delaware ( is a state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Newark is a City in New Castle County, Delaware, USA, 12 miles (19 km west-southwest of Wilmington. Christiana Mall is a super-regional mid-range/upscale shopping mall near Newark Delaware, United States. Hecht's, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros and the Hecht Company, was a large chain of Department stores located mainly in the mid-Atlantic Lord & Taylor, based in New York, New York, is the oldest upscale Department store chain in the United States. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Deptford Township (commonly known as Deptford) is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. The Deptford Mall is a major shopping destination in Deptford Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. Strawbridge's (formerly Strawbridge & Clothier) was a Department store found in the northeastern United States with stores in Delaware, Boscov's is an American Department store founded by Solomon Boscov in 1911 Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə This article is about the Township of Moorestown in New Jersey The Moorestown Mall is a shopping mall in Moorestown New Jersey, owned by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. Macy's is a chain of mid-range American Department stores Its Flagship store in Herald Square, New York City has been billed New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The City of New York This building was designed by Daniel Burnham and the model for the more lavish Philadelphia store. On July 15. 1956 the old Wanamakers cast-iron building (originally the famous A. T. Stewart Store) across the street, between 9th and 10th, burnt down as it was being demolished; both locations were closing. The Burnham-designed 770 Broadway building now is a K-mart and offices. Kmart (sometimes spelled as " K-Mart " is a chain of department stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U
- Yonkers - Cross County Shopping Center (closed 1995, now Sears)
Pennsylvania
- Allentown MSA/Whitehall - Lehigh Valley Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2006, now Boscov's)
- Harrisburg - Harrisburg East Mall (now Harrisburg Mall) (converted to Lord & Taylor 1997, closed 2003, now Bass Pro Shops)
- Philadelphia - Center City (Flagship) (converted to Hecht's 1995, Lord & Taylor 1997, closed 2006, now Macy's)
- Philadelphia - Roosevelt Mall (former S. Yonkers is the fourth largest city in the US State of New York (behind Rochester, Buffalo, and New York City) and the largest city in Cross County Center, also known as Cross County Shopping Center is an open-air Shopping mall located in Yonkers New York, United States. Sears Roebuck and Company, commonly known as Sears, is an American mid-range chain of International Department stores founded by Richard The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern For the song by Billy Joel, see " Allentown (song." For the neighborhood in Pittsburgh Whitehall is the name of some places in the State of Pennsylvania in the United States of America: Whitehall Adams County Pennsylvania The Lehigh Valley Mall is an enclosed Shopping mall in the Whitehall Pennsylvania area Harrisburg is the Capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States of America The Harrisburg Mall is a Regional mall located just outside Harrisburg in Swatara Township Pennsylvania. Bass Pro Shops (Outdoor World is a privately held sports equipment and Outdoor recreation goods store headquartered in Springfield Missouri. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Center City is the " Downtown " and Central Business District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Klein, converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, Macy's 2006)
- Philadelphia MSA/Jenkintown - Freestanding - 168,000 sq ft (converted to Hecht's 1995, closed 1997, now Noble Town Center)
- Philadelphia MSA/King of Prussia - The Plaza at King of Prussia (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, Macy's 2006, closed 2007, currently empty)
- Philadelphia MSA/Langhorne - Oxford Valley Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2006, now Boscov's)
- Philadelphia MSA/North Wales - Montgomery Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2006, now Boscov's)
- Philadelphia MSA/Springfield - Springfield Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2006, site sold to Target)
- Philadelphia MSA/Wynnewood - Wynnewood Shopping Center (converted to Hecht's 1995, closed 1997, now Bed Bath & Beyond with a Genuardi's supermarket on the first floor. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Jenkintown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, ten miles (16 km north of Philadelphia. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə King of Prussia is an Unincorporated community in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The Plaza at King of Prussia is part of what is popularly referred to as the King of Prussia Mall, a huge shopping complex in King of Prussia, which is located in Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Langhorne is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The Oxford Valley Mall is a two-story Shopping mall owned by Kravco Simon that is located next to the popular amusement park Sesame Place in Langhorne Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə North Wales is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Montgomery Mall is a two-story Shopping mall located in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania near North Wales. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Springfield Township is the name of some places in the US state of Pennsylvania: Springfield Township Bradford County Pennsylvania Springfield Mall is a regional Shopping mall located approximately southwest of Philadelphia in Springfield Township Delaware County Pennsylvania. Target Corporation ( is an American Retailing company that was founded in Minneapolis Minnesota in 1902 Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Wynnewood Pennsylvania is a Suburban community located outside of Philadelphia in Lower Merion Township Pennsylvania, United States Bed Bath & Beyond Inc ( was formed in 1971 and today operates a chain of domestic merchandise retail stores across North America. )
- Reading - Berkshire Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2002, now Boscov's)
Christmas Light Show
In 1956, the Philadelphia Wanamaker's premiered a Christmas Light Show, a large musical and blinking light display several stories high, viewable from several levels of the building, but with the best viewing on the central ground floor. Reading (ˈrɛdɪŋ is the county seat of Berks County Pennsylvania and the center of the Greater Reading Area. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Its popularity with Philadelphia parents and children, as well as tourists, ensured a continuous run, even after the building was sold to different business interests.
The Christmas Light Show is continued annually by Macy's, from the day after Thanksgiving until New Year's Eve. The 15-minute show runs every hour on the hour from 10am-8pm. Current information is available by calling 215-241-9000.
For decades, the "voice", or narrator, of the show was John Facenda, known to Philadelphians for decades reporting the news on radio and television. John Thomas Ralph Augustine James Facenda ( August 8 1913 – September 26 1984) was an American broadcaster and To American football fans he was the original voice of NFL Films. NFL Films is a Mount Laurel New Jersey -based company devoted to producing Commercials, Television His voice made "Christmas in the Grand Tradition" come to life. Beginning in 2006, Julie Andrews became the show narrator. Dame Julie Elizabeth Andrews, DBE (born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1 1935) is an award-winning English Actress
Also in 2006, the Santa Express Train at the top of the Grand Court returned. In 2007, the entire Light Show was completely modernized and rebuilt on new lighter materials with LED lighting. In 2008, a new Magic Christmas Tree with LED lights will debut. However, due to safety concerns and logistical issues, the dancing water fountains have been retired and will not return.
Crystal Tea Room
Wanamaker's also was home to the Crystal Tea Room restaurant on the 9th floor which closed to the public in 1995; it has been restored and is currently operated as a private banquet hall, accommodating sit-down receptions of up to 1,000 people. A Wanamaker's guidebook from the 1920s states that the Crystal Tea Room was the largest dining room in Philadelphia, and one of the largest in the world. It once could serve 1400 people at a time. It served breakfast in the morning, luncheon, and afternoon tea. The kitchen's big ovens could roast 75 turkeys at a time and the facility was equipped with lockers and baths for the employees. In acknowledgment for John Wanamaker's promotion of temperance causes, alcohol was not served in the Tea Room until after the family trust sold the store.
There is also a more recently opened balcony cafe on the third floor facing the Grand Court, where shoppers can hear the Wanamaker Organ as they dine.
Unique features
- Ground floor: Huge eagle statue in the Grand Court; for many decades, Philadelphians would agree to "meet me at the eagle at Wanamaker's".
- 3rd floor: Egyptian Hall auditorium behind the executive offices, also a Greek Hall auditorium
- 8th floor: toy department had a monorail for the kids that traveled around the entire department, camera dept, piano and organ dept
- 9th floor: Crystal Tea Room
- 10th floor: in-house physician and nurses
- Sub-floors: post office, lost and found, shoe repair
- Radio broadcasting station
- Model house on the furniture floor
- Home of the world's largest playable pipe organ
See also
Wanamaker's in the Movies
- In Brian DePalma's 1981 film Blow Out, John Travolta's character Jack Terry, crashes a Jeep into a display window of Wanamaker's after driving through City Hall center courtyard in a chase scene. The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the largest operational Pipe organ in the world located within a spacious 7-story court The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the largest operational Pipe organ in the world located within a spacious 7-story court The Wanamaker Mile is an event held annually at the Millrose Games in New York City 's Madison Square Gardens. The Millrose Games is an annual indoor athletics meet (track and field held on the first Friday in February in New York City's Madison Square Garden since 1914 Brian De Palma (born Brian Russell DePalma on September 11 1940 in Newark New Jersey) is an American Film director. Blow Out is a 1981 thriller Film, written and directed by Brian De Palma. A display window is a Window in a shop displaying items for sale Philadelphia City Hall is the seat of government for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Car chase often describes the pursuit of a criminal by Police, and is increasingly captured on film from media and police Helicopters.
- In 1987, the Philadelphia Wanamaker's flagship store was featured—under the name Prince & Co. —in the film comedy Mannequin and its sequel Mannequin 2: On The Move. Mannequin is a 1987 romantic comedy film starring Kim Cattrall, Andrew McCarthy, Meshach Taylor, James Spader,
- Wanamaker's was also featured in the 1995 film Twelve Monkeys, though its appearance is anachronistic, as the film is set in 1996, a year after the chain had been folded into Hecht's. Twelve Monkeys is an Academy Award -nominated 1995 Science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam and written by David Wanamaker's had still been trading under that name when the movie was filmed in 1994-1995.
Further reading
- Herbert Ershkowitz John Wanamaker: Philadelphia Merchant (Signpost Biographies-Da Capo Press (May 21, 1999))
- Robert Sobel The Entrepreneurs: Explorations Within the American Business Tradition (Weybright & Talley 1974), chapter 3, John Wanamaker: The Triumph of Content Over Form ISBN 0-679-40064-8
References
- ^ Listing of John Wanamaker Store at the National Park Service
- ^ National Register Information System. Robert Sobel ( February 19 1931 &ndash June 2, 1999) was an American professor of history at Hofstra University, and Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor
- ^ Friends of the Wanamaker Organ
External links and sources
- John Wanamaker: A retailing innovator
- Wanamaker Store "Firsts"
- Who Made America? (John Wanamaker, Innovator)
- John Wanamaker's role in providing the Grand Depot for Christian evangelist D. L. Moody's revival meetings
- About May - Company History
- Crystal Tea Room today
- Video Clip 1991
- Video Clip 1995
- Capano ownership of old Wanamaker bldg
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