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Date Posted: 11:54:20 12/11/08 Thu
Author: Sarah
Subject: Re: Block's Christmas
In reply to: Bob Young '39 's message, "Block's Christmas" on 10:34:56 12/05/08 Fri

Gosh what great memories you guys revived.....

Wasson's also had a couple of Christmas windows but not on the grand scale of Blocks and Ayres. The decorations were repeated for years on end, sometimes with new additions... which makes me believe they were probably owned...at least the ones at Ayres since they have ended up in the State Museum.

Do you remember that the streets were heated via the steam pipes that use to run under them and provided heat to the many buildings downtown, thus they were usually wet but never with ice or snow on them....and how pretty the brake lights of the many cars reflecting off the wet pavement looked at night? Couple that with the ringing of the bells and the singing of the carols made for some really great memories.

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[> [> Wasson's Window Displays -- Charlene, 10:18:05 12/12/08 Fri

My first job out of high school was as a "display artist" for H.P. Wassons. There were 21 windows... 19 on Meridian and Washington streets and 3 on the Circle. One of the most exciting windows to decorate was a fur window... where we had thousands, maybe millions of $ of furs in the corner window... with a big pinwheel of furs of various colors. I had the job/priviledge/challenge of having my arms drapped with as many furs as I could hold... and walking through the store, across the alley (between the main building and the Circle building)... to put these on manikins in the windows. Boy, what a haul a robber would have made to run in to me in that alley. It was really beautiful when the windows were all done and I took lots of nite photos of the displays. Another set of windows I remember well, were the Ski clothing displays. I had to draw charcole scenes on large white background display paper... scenes of trees and hills and ski slopes... all the while with the public watching. Another funny story is when I had to dress the male manikins... there were two men's windows... the two farthest to the West on Washington Street. Some stores covered there windows while the displays were being set up. We didn't do that. I was dressing a male manikin, when I heard this knocking on the window and turned to see a little old man, rubbing his two index fingers together... like Shame on you! and smiling. It was a wonderful job... and I have good memories.

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[> [> [> Re: Indiana State Mesuem -- Marilyn, 17:56:23 12/21/08 Sun

Indiana State Museum
This downtown Indianapolis jewel is becoming a holiday tradition for many families.


With the beloved, historic Santaland Express train ride for kids (originally part of the downtown L.S. Ayres Christmas display) and the arrival of Santa Claus by helicopter at noon Nov. 19, the museum continues the holiday festivities that have made it a favorite Yuletide destination. The moving figurines of yesteryear’s L.S. Ayres store window will continue to charm young and old alike.


The always-popular Breakfasts With Santa are planned for Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, 10, and 17, with the Clauses and residents of the imaginary town of Celebration Crossing. Town carolers will serenade families with holiday favorites during the breakfast buffet.

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