Clip from "Malls R Us" - Segment featuring Deadmalls.com

Filmed summer 2007, the documentary Malls R Us takes us to the mall, not just as a destination, but as a powerful profit-making venture. But, are developers going too far in pursuit of the next best mall, only to turn their profits and then dump the real estate, with no consideration for what was displaced, and what the future brings once the mall is abandoned. Careful thought and lessons learned in the United States are seemingly oblivious when the potential for profit is endless. I encourage you to watch this film!

This clip features Deadmalls.com, with Peter Blackbird, Brian Florence, and Jack Thomas.




For more information on this documentary, visit www.mallsrusmovie.com. And, www.deadmalls.com.

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What do Al Gore, the Tower of Babel, science fiction, gothic cathedrals, artichokes and roller coasters have in common? All come together in Malls R Us, a feature documentary with a multiplex of reflections and revelations on one of North America's most popular institutions: the enclosed shopping centre. Shopping at the mall has become the most banal of experiences, but what is hidden behind the facade? Malls R Us mixes nostalgia, architectural ambition, pop culture and politics to decode the world of malls as reflections of our lifestyle, examining their history, their sometimes immoderate architectural choices, their social, cultural, and political dimensions. Malls R Us travels from North America, birthplace of the mall, to its newer incarnations in Dubai, Poland, Japan and India. A refreshing look at an astonishing phenomenon that has transformed our landscape.

Produced and written by Hélène Klodawsky.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• US
• mallsrusmovie.com
• Brian
• Florence
• Jack
• Thomas
• Peter
• Blackbird
• Dead
• malls
• Deadmalls.com
• Retail
• History
• Akron
• Ohio
• Rolling
• Acres
• Malls
• Us
• Documentary
• Hélène
• Klodawsky

[DeadMalls]

I have posted the Eastwood Mall footage to youtube!

[DeadMalls]

The video showing while Pete describes the mall that had no stores left in it is Eastwood Mall in Birmingham, AL. It has been torn down and is now a Walmart Supercenter. I took this video end of June 2004. -- Brian Florence

[3624nathan]

Ok this is sad, where I live in Keene NH we have a mall called The Colony Mill. It used to have allot of stores but now there is only 4. Everyone thinks its going to be shut down soon and power is to much money.

[Livinggreen100]

" we don't think of the downside" I so agree. I didn't at the time.

Now look at these places. It just cement, glass, and steel.

I can't believe anyone would want to spend in these dank places places. I'm glad to see the demise. Personally, I didn't spend that much time at the mall. I'm just sick of these hulking buildings in the US. Bigger is not better.

[PampersPete]

@metrotv Good point that I missed. You're exactly correct. When I say we're mourning the death of Americana at the hands of our corporate masters, I just meant that the proliferation of big box stores have ironically killed the malls which killed the downtowns as well. Everything is coming full circle though.

[metrotv]

@PampersPete What this video excerpt does not touch on is that these malls did not decline or die on their own or "at the hands of our corporate masters" which is a common internet response by those who do not have a basic understanding of business, demographics or economics. Most of these malls went out due to major demographic, economic and crime changes in their immediate areas. Corporate America alone did not cause this, the people did as well, even those who inadvertently did so.

[mycorolla07]

I hope Birmingham doesn't let Century Plaza in Birmingham go to pot like other malls in the country. It is now shuttered and I can see hedges growing out of control and weeds coming up through the parking lot. They need to do something with this property before it starts looking like the old Dixie Square Mall property. I miss Century Plaza. I used to buy my school clothes from there back in the '80's.

[HyperFoxIII]

I was at rolling acres mall before they closed down the larger part of it. That was w

[stone35077]

is this on DVD.....?

[jmhave825]

Thank you for posting, this was as an interesting clip. I am glad for dead malls.com letting me know that I am not the only one missing malls and allowing me a space to share my feelings.

[jmhave825]

Thank you h

[troymac1892]

I spent so much f my childhood at rolling acres mall. I would beg my mom for a handful of quarters to waste into the fountain. We would get pretzels from auntie Annes's bc if was in the mall and not in the food quart. They had an awesome arcade, and a specialty popcorn store that I loved. It was so sad to comings to go there over the hears and see how much it was declining. Stores started to rapidly close, the air and heat stopped working, the ceiling dripped, and the fountain was permanently t