Marshall Field's Christmas Memories

[dlife2111]

All was lost when Macy's took over......Shame!

Thanks for sharing the lovely memories! <3

[Autismmom614]

@MArsh1208 - Macy's could have left Field's the way it was - They did ruin it for many Chicagoans Field's was a place of memories and it is now gone. There was absolutely nothing wrong with leaving it 1000s no longer shop there. Chicago Downtown is nasty now it is truly Sad

[marsh1208]

Unfortunately, they were victims of the retail times and the need to sell less expensive products at a volume. The public demanded less expensive stuff, and so must suffer the collateral damage that caused.

[marsh1208]

Very few people did. They found better bargains at the discount retailers -- furniture at Wicks, clothing at Marshall's, Wal-Mart or the outlets. You could not expect a Fields to stay in business offering high end merchandise if no one was buying. What we all have is nostalgia for the old days of "white glove" retail and service-oriented stores.

[marsh1208]

I don't think Macy's is at fault for ruining Fields. Macy's bought a distressed business and property that was hemorrhaging money in the 90' and early 2000's. Fields was a victim not of Macy's or "corporate greed," but of the changing retail landscape. Downtown shopping was undone by suburban malls and discount retailers. Be honest, when you went to Fields in the last decade or two of its existence, did you make any major purchases?

[cherylw27]

Thank you so much for this beautiful tribute...it brought tears to my eyes. How wonderful life was back then when we had quality and class. I had the honor to work at the State Street store and it was the most wonderful time of my life. Will never step foot in a Macy's store.

[NWsubmom]

Such wonderful memories. My childhood Christmas was never complete without going to Marshall Fields, seeing the windows, the decorations, smelling the smells, enjoying a wonderful Chicken Pot Pie on REAL silverware at THE WALNUT ROOM. Then going to see Santa Claus. Nothing else like it before or ever again. Ahhhh THOSE WERE the DAYS>

[michele3bt]

Last year the tree was so beautiful! I have gone downtown almost every year since I was a kid in the '70's. I had heard that they did something different this year with the windows - maybe they'll be more traditional next year. The Walnut Room looks the same, and the first floor too. It was fun to see Uncle Mistletoe again in the video!

[gearmod]

The fact that the Marshall Field building has landmark status means macy can't alter the structure which is now the only important thing saving the Tiffany dome, the architecture, the clock, and the embedded bronze Marshall Field plaques. Whatever macy does to the display areas wont tarnish my memories.

Thank you to the Dayton Hudson Company (Target) for the wonderful restoration of the building they did, it was getting run down in the waning years of the Field Family.

[gearmod]

Thanks for creating this video, it captures the magic of Christmas at Marshall Field. I was born in the late 1950s and my Mother was a Marshall Field employee. The day after Thanksgiving we would have breakfast at the Walnut Room under the tree, go see Santa at the Cozy Cloud Cottage, spend the day shopping, and see the animated windows. We would go to the employees' Christmas Party which was held while the store was closed. Field's was a museum where everything had a price tag on it.

[Tharp55]

and this is before they started tying the window displays into some commercial toys or movies. The Night Before Christmas, The Nutcracker, etc stories. Very traditional and very much missed. I can't even share the experience with my grandchildren... as it's not what it used to be for sure! It was a yearly treat in my family to go and see the windows and to eat at the tree, even if we only had a dish of ice cream!

[zeusdvm]

Sadly, this wonderful tribute shows how much we have lost as a society. There was so much magic during the holiday season back in those simpler, gentler, genteel times which can never be recaptured no matter how much hype or aggressive advertising they cram down our throats. We used to marvel at the window displays, gasp at the huge tree, spinning around trying to take in all the wonderful sights and decorations throughout the store, drooling over the toys, but the culmination was meeting Santa!

[Electropickle]

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts. I've enjoyed reading all of your wonderful comments! If you feel that Macy's ought to restore at least the State Street store as Marshall Field's, you will surely enjoy visiting fieldsfanschicago(dot)org. Happy Holidays!

[hopelarkin]

WARNING!!!! TO ALL LOVERS OF THESE WINDOWS - MACY'S DID NOT DO THEM THIS YEAR (2011)!!! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME GOING DOWNTOWN TO SEE THEM BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE!! MACY'S HAS TAKEN AWAY THE TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY WINDOWS & REPLACED THEM WITH SHAMELESS ADVERTISEMENTS FOR "DESIGNER" CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENTS!! THEY LOOK AWEFUL & IT IS AN UNFORGIVABLE TRANSGRESSION AGAINST THE CHICAGOLAND PEOPLE TO BREAK & RUIN OUR GENERATIONS-LONG CHICAGO TRADITION!! POST AN ANGRY MESSAGE ON MACY'S FB PAGE!!

[NashvilleJaguarLady]

Question for all of you Chicagoans: Does this building still stand? If it is still standing, what is in it now? I cannot imagine such a beautiful store, but we all had beautiful old downtown stores similar to this that have since been torn down. The malls were the downfall of the downtown 7 and 8 story department stores I remember as a small child. Anyone know about this building and what became of it?

[gearmod]

@NashvilleJaguarLady Yes, it still there, and if you ever visit Chicago it's worth going to see the architecture and the restored details including a massive Tiffany Favrile glass dome.

[NashvilleJaguarLady]

@gearmod Thank you so much, Gearmod. I will be sure to visit next time we are in Chicago!

[mbabass1]

Oh the memories... standing in line to see Santa with my neice and having lunch in the Walnut Room. The shopping was miraculous. The salespeople always were smiling as if they were as happy to be there as we were to shop there. It will never be the same again. Macy's should have stayed in New York where they belong. Going downtown to see their windows as a youngster and teen was one of the most exciting parts of the Christmas Season. I loved being able to take my grandchildren in the 90's.

[Rolla0923]

Macy's in Chicago is no better than any other bargain basement store like Loehman's or Marshall's or TJ Maxx. My mother worked there for 15 years and I couldn't begin to fill this comment box with her admiration. Plus, she hardly ever shopped anywhere else, even during WWII when everything was so hard to get. I know in my heart that she would never get within 10 miles of that place now. She would be heartbroken to see what's happened to her beloved store!

[chicagohustler100]

Growing up in Chicago,the 1950's and Christmas time were something very special.Going downtown to see the windows of all the big stores,Carson Pierre Scott,Weiboldts,Montgomery Ward,Morris B.Sachs,Goldblatts and the biggest of all Marshall Fields.If you got a gift with Fields name attached to it,you got the best of what ever you received can offer.I remember going to the Christmas parade down State St then to Fields to see Santa.I swear today,65 years later,that he was the real thing.I swear it!

[FieldsFansChgo]

Be sure to check out the BBC's segment on efforts to bring Marshall Field's back to State Street... What's great about this video is that it reminds people of how much better Field's was and how much better it could be if it came back to State Street, reinvented for the 21st Century.

[lcapabor]

I grew up in Chicago in the Great Depression. Christmas was the time when we could go downtown and marvel at the lights, the decorations,the toys and all the things that seemed light-years away from our daily lives. Marshall Field epitomized a world of beauty and pleasure that made our daily life easy to forget. Too bad that in this depression, there aren't a few people who can recreate some of the magic of that time.

[22lugan]

Happiness and heartbreak-allat the same time.

Chicago proves 2 things: You can never go back

and its a great place to be heavily armed, now.

[Grahammerr]

My father was the Chairman of Marshall Fields in 1983-1990. This is a great tribute to the beauty of American Retailing. Merry Christmas!

- Philip G. Miller 

[FieldsFansChgo]

@Grahammerr I run the FieldsFansChicagoDOTorg site. I hear from many former employees who speak so fondly and with deep respect for your father. I spoke with one woman who used to work for your father and she became very teary-eyed speaking of him she was so moved. Thanks to your father for all he gave us.

[carlymypup]

So magical and unforgettable!!

[londonliz43]

Why is everything that was beautiful once now gone? This world we live in has gone downhill. It's funny how you miss things you once took for granted when there gone.We had a beautiful Marshall Field's store here in Downtown Columbus,OH. It was located in the beautiful City Center Mall. The mall was built back in the early nineties and not twenty years later, it has been torn down and a park has been put in it's place. Downtown Columbus has gone to hell.

[macman1940]

I too loved Marshall FIelds. When I got my first job, I also got my first Marshall FIelds charge card. I still remember the number of the account. It would have been nice for Macy's to keep the Field name, but by the time they bought the store, it was a pale imitation of what it was in the 1970's. Mass marketing as well as the decline of State Street in general brought the once-great store to its knees.

[GRANSMITH423]

What wonderful memories! My daughter and I have made a pact that no matter what name is put on the State St. store by any owner, it will always be Marshall Field to us, but mostly to me as Marshall Field did own the store when I first went there. There's been a few owners since Mr. Field, but until Macy's, noone changed the name. I can't be the only one who avoids ANY Macy stores because of this. Revive the original State St. store, give it back it's name and give the lady what she wants!

[katwil89]

@GRANSMITH423 I grew up in Chicago and now live in North Carolina. You are not the only one. I refuse to shop in my local Macy's or any Macy's store. I am heartbroken over what Macy's did to Marshall Field's. So many wonderful memories from my childhood and with my own children.

[Microglia1]

too bad this store only hire white people. Racist management must all go.

[superyusrie]

Now this is more like Chicago at Christmas. But too bad it's all memories now that it's been bought over by Macy's. Anyways, I was more overjoyed with the colours & varieties of home decorations throughout the entire city at Christmas, not just the department stores....in the 80's that is ! ;P

[DieZimtzicke]

Does anyone know where I can get a list of what windows they did in different years? I know every year had a different theme.

[amystreasures]

screw macy's, Marshall Fields had class! I will never forgive the greed that is the m store for killing a Chicago legend

[snertster]

Marshall Field's was magical at Christmas to those of us who were kids in the 1950's.

[jewelfan100]

I loved Marshall Field's in the 50's (high school) my sister and I would spend all day starting on the top floor with furniture and go to the basement. We would visit the 28th Shop, Fine Arts, Field's Afar, Costume and Fine Jewelry, Fabrics, Books, Drug Store, Candy counters, eat lunch and have a wonderful time. I miss it!

[05Forenza]

I actually work for Macy's at the moment as a part time job. Not in Chicago, or even Illinois. But the Macy's I work at was previously a Foley's. And Foley's was far superior to Macy's and everyone working there agrees. (I AM a Marshall Fields fan, my dad wortked in Chicago when I was little!)

[wunnerfulwarren]

That was awesome My dad used to take me downtown every

December on the subway. We'd have dinner at the Forum Cafeteria and

walk State Street looking at the all the window Christmas displays.

Mom worked 4-Midnight so a few times in December I'd

get dragged downtown in the morning so she could shop.

She'd constantly yell at me because my agenda of checking

out the toy areas with Santa and her agenda clashed.

Oh those old grand department stores.

[rcarmes1941]

piss on Macy's, they have nothing on Field"s as it was up to the mid-70's---it was the finest store---the wonderful picture galleries, the Oriental Artwares, the fine porcelain and antique galleries, the silver rooms, the Walnut Room, foods sold only at Field's, the book floor everything, what a shame it is gone forever!!!!!!!!

[RednickSix]

I have been away from Chicago for over 40 years, and when visiting, refuse to visit "Macy's." Hope they are happy, because I doubt we old timers aren't!

[kathleensullivan1]

I am still bummed that Marshall Fields sold out to Macy's!

Carla, do you remember seeing the windows at the Wieboldt's in Lake Street in Oak Park every year as well?

[1kayhauck]

WAAAAAAAH!!! Gimme my Marshall Field's Christmas back, you Grinchy bean-counter Macy's trolls!

[firetakken]

just phenomenal. I wished I saw it.

[martinlindsgaard]

how saddening that Marshall fields has closed; so typical ;((

[ERROLCUSTERFLYNN4EVR]

terry lundgren is the head moron for federated and macy's whose finanncial fortunes and stock have crashed in the last few years........if lundgren was in the funeral business, NOBDOY WOULD DIE.

[nessiesmum]

I absolutely loved this! For just a couple of minutes, the world was right again. Thank you so much.

[Novelwit2000]

Oh what a wonderful video!!!

I just hate what Macy's had to do--virtually monopolizing everything. When all they really had to do, was do a silent merger and keep things just as they were. I mean, when you look at the brands at Macy's and Bloomies, it's all Charter Club this and INC that!!! Leave well enough alone Macy's. When you bought up everything, you even tarnished your own name. Now it's like who cares about Macy's. It;s not special anymore. Marshall Field's was the best!!!

[imdw1]

Many of my very best Christmas memories are from Marshall Field's. Thank you. I will save this.

[elisa412]

Thank you for sharing a great video with us..all the great memories of the windows each year..different themes. and of course the best Santa Claus

Lets not forget the Walnut Room.