 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2008-12-01 14:05:00
Remember
Question: What do you remember that was different in the 40s from the Christmases today?
Answer: Well, the best I can describe it is to say, “Remember, no TV…just radio and print. Back in those days, nearly everyone subscribed to the newspaper. I can’t tell youi that for sure but it sure seemed like it. Wichita had 2 newspapers at the time… The Wichita Eagle and The Wichita Beacon. The Eagle arrived in the morning and the Beacon in the afternoon. They, like now, were the carrier of Christmas’ announcements and specials at the stores. The big department stores always took out full page ads. Bucks, Innes, Montgomery Ward, Sears Roebuck, Hinkels and many others spent the lion’s share of the ad budget in newspapers…and lots of it in November and December. Do you remember what Christmas downtown looked like at Christmas? There were no shopping centers. Downtown was it. It was trimmed to the top and bustling all over. There were crowds of Christmas shoppers everywhere. We were just coming out ads. Bucks, Innes, Montgomery Ward, Sears Roebuck, Hinkels and all the other businesses spent the lions share of their advertising budget in the newspapers. Do you remember what downtown looked liked at Christmas?
There were no shopping centers. Downtown was trimmed to the top and bustling all over. There were crowds of Christmas shoppers everywhere. We were just coming out of the Great Depression in those years. Spirits were high. The stores all had their windows trimmed in a most unique fashion. I immediately recall Bucks. They had a huge Santa sitting on his throne-like chair…and laughing. I remember that laugh still today. It roared
through the loud speakers outside the window. I always thought he appeared to be having a heart attack because as he laughed his chest would rise and fall as if he was having a spasm. Santa was of course surrounded with all kinds of motorized toys, trains, little people and toy cars all around him. Innes had some large elves that were building toys. Hinkels had a mirror set up so you could actually see Santa talking to the kids in the store basement. You could talk to him through a speaker in the window while you were on the sidewalk outside. As I said, this was in the days before TV and all of this was done with mirrors. It was very clever and fascinating to children of which I was one.
Every store was trimmed for the season as were the streets. I remember in particular the green spruce garland that was hung carefully with Christmas lights imbedded and intertwined in it hanging beautifully across the main area of Douglas downtown.
The Salvation Army was always an integral sound and sight at Christmas with their bells and booths and sometimes one of their groups, with an entire band, holding a street service. The cars were allowed to park facing the curb back then. There were no meters and plenty of free parking everywhere. The sound of the police officers’ whistles as they directed traffic added to the enchantment. Music from stores could be heard as you shopped. Some of you might remember McClellands and other stores actually had pianists in their music department that would play the song you had selected on sheet music to see if that was the one you really wanted.
Nothing (to me) has ever replaced this atmosphere, as you might guess as I write about it every year. The fun of eating in one of the stores at a counter right in the middle of the shopping area at your lunch hour or evening meal was always special. I also recall that the downtown did not have the bright street lights on the large poles at that time. One light hung in the center of intersections. The affect was darker streets but this made all the signs and lights from the stores appear brighter and the neon signs more beautiful. All of this added to the festivity of the season. The Christmas parade was always attended by huge crowds to see all of Wichita’s personalities, bands, and sometimes even national personalities that always kicked off the Christmas shopping season with the appearance of Santa Claus. I would advise you to rent a copy of the movie “A Christmas Story.” This movie really brings back the happy feelings of Christmas in the 40’s. Of course one’s church was always a major center of this special time, with the hymns, choirs singing, and all celebrating the birth of our Lord.
Merry Christmas!
