Remember the big grand prize drawings for cash & cars many towns had at Christmas that you had to be present to win? Pictured below is a drawing during the 1950s at Bright's in Lansford. Recall your excitement traveling to Hess's in Allentown & going up & down the escalators for the very 1st time? How many of you still have your childhood pictures of sitting on Santa's lap?
Decades ago, the Christmas season officially began in many towns on Thanksgiving Day with the arrival of Santa. During the Christmas season most downtown stores were open every night 'til 9 & closed on Sundays. Recall when 2 Guys in 1957 shocked the region when they started opening on Sundays from noon til 10pm in defiance of the 183 year old "Blue Laws"?
There were no credit cards decades ago. Many stores set you up with payment plans & EZ pay layaways. So called "company stores" just had money taken out of miners' paychecks. In Schuylkill County, how many recall the old East Penn Transportation buses filled with holiday season shoppers?
Christmas season shopping was much different decades ago & we all have fond memories. What do you remember most about Christmas shopping during the 50s, 60s, & 70s? Is there a store you shopped not listed above?
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