Holiday pics from the past (Cincinnati, Union: condo, hotels, home)

[Fech]

I was curious if anyone had pictures of downtown Cincinnati from the eighties? When I was a kid, we would always go down there to look in the windows, see the elves, and other things. I am specifically looking for pictures of the elves and the Westin hotel display. Those were always so sharp. Thanks for the time.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by Fech

I was curious if anyone had pictures of downtown Cincinnati from the eighties? When I was a kid, we would always go down there to look in the windows, see the elves, and other things. I am specifically looking for pictures of the elves and the Westin hotel display. Those were always so sharp. Thanks for the time.

I hope someone can respond to your request. It is a generational thing. My memories are of downtown in the early 50s. The John Shillito Co. had without a doubt the best Christmas displays in their windows. The other department stores of the era had some enjoyable displays. But Shillito trumped them due to the degree of animation they ermployed. Back then downtown was it, both displays and shopping.

[Fech]

Originally Posted by kjbrill

I hope someone can respond to your request. It is a generational thing. My memories are of downtown in the early 50s. The John Shillito Co. had without a doubt the best Christmas displays in their windows. The other department stores of the era had some enjoyable displays. But Shillito trumped them due to the degree of animation they ermployed. Back then downtown was it, both displays and shopping.

Thanks for the response. Yeah, I always loved going there to see everything. It was just a spectical.

[goyguy]

Why not get in touch with the Westin? They're bound to have some sort of archive you could literally or virtually pore over to your heart's content. And either the Chamber of Commerce or the Historical Society ought to be able to come through for photo requests in general. Don't forget also that Google is your friend.

I along with "kj" am old enough to have zero holiday-season nostalgia for downtown after about the mid-seventies. Those Shillito's windows were worth hopping out of the car no matter what the weather for. We kids would traipse all the way around the block to make sure we didn't miss any, and would stop and gaze - bedazzled - every few feet. And don't forget the huge model train show! While it's "appropriate" for it to be on display at Union Terminal ("Museum Center" if you must) no Cincy Christmas was complete without time spent in the C G & E lobby.

All in all it's a dang shame that loft-dwellers, office workers, clubgoers, panhandlers, Aronoff or CAC patrons, and ghetto kids comprise over 90% of the population on downtown streets today. The place is a ghost town along the numbered and other streets which used to bustle with commerce. Nowhere is this more striking than on 4th Street, once home to Pogue's + McAlpin's + Closson's + Pigall's + jewelry stores + much much more. Some of the gg family had last-minute gift shopping to do on 12/23 and wound up there, in the TJ Maxx which of course was formerly Gidding/Jenny. You'd never know the space was once plushly carpeted and moneyed matrons rode perfumed (and manned!) elevators between floors. Parking was a breeze - just as well, since the Pogue's garage is long gone. On the sidewalks, two shopping days before Christmas, there was nary a soul save for a homeless man who paced in circles around an overloaded shopping cart bellowing "naughty words." A small number of upstairs windows in the now-condo McAlpin's had lights - your everyday incandescent or fluorescent variety, that is - on behind them. Not that any of this is new news, but talk about "Bah humbug!" No wonder there's little in the way of festive displays to speak of downtown outside of Fountain Square.

[Fech]

Originally Posted by goyguy

Why not get in touch with the Westin? They're bound to have some sort of archive you could literally or virtually pore over to your heart's content. And either the Chamber of Commerce or the Historical Society ought to be able to come through for photo requests in general. Don't forget also that Google is your friend.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try to contact the Westin. Unfortunately, Google gave me nothing. That's why I went to this site looking for help.

[Sarah Perry]

I found these

Christmas on the Square Gallery | retro.Cincinnati.com

[Fech]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

I found these

Christmas on the Square Gallery | retro.Cincinnati.com

Thanks for the find. Those helped out alot. still wish I could find some on the stores and hotels though.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by Fech

Thanks for the find. Those helped out alot. still wish I could find some on the stores and hotels though.

I wish I could have found more, too. My personal wish is to have a photo of Rollman's big talking plaster Rudolph. Going to see him was one of my holiday highlights. As I recall, he gave every kid a little gift.

[Fech]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

I wish I could have found more, too. My personal wish is to have a photo of Rollman's big talking plaster Rudolph. Going to see him was one of my holiday highlights. As I recall, he gave every kid a little gift.

Don't worry about it. I will try a few other places and hopefully have some luck. Thanks for trying and for what you got.

[motorman]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

I found these

Christmas on the Square Gallery | retro.Cincinnati.com

Great sets of Christmas pictures, Sarah Perry--these nostalgic photos not only bring back endearing Xmas memories, but also memories of how alive Cincinnati's downtown, in general, was some 50-yrs. ago. Thanks!