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Wanamaker's department store was the first department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and one of the first department stores in the United States. It was renowned for its honest reputation and for innovating many retailing firsts in America. At its zenith in the early 20th Century, there were 16 Wanamaker's stores, but the chain was absorbed into Hecht's (now Macy's) in 1995 after years of decline. Liberty Bell; public domain. ... The interior of a typical Macys department store. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Hechts, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. ... Macys is a chain of American department stores with its flagship store in Herald Square, New York City, which has been billed as the worlds largest store since completion of the Seventh Avenue addition in 1924. ...

Beginnings

John Wanamaker, the founder of the store that bears his name, was unable to join the U.S. Army during the American Civil War due to a persistent cough. Having been rejected from war duty, he instead ventured into business with his brother-in-law, Nathan Brown. In 1861, they founded a men's clothing store in Philadelphia called Oak Hall. Wanamaker carried on the business alone after Brown's death in 1868. In 1876, Wanamaker purchased the abandoned Pennsylvania Railroad station for use as a new, larger retail location. The concept was to renovate the terminal into a "Grand Depot" similar to London's Royal Exchange or Paris' Les Halles - two central markets, and forerunners of the modern department store, that were well-known in Europe at that time. John Wanamaker (July 11, 1838 – December 12, 1922) was a United States businessman, civic and political figure, considered the father of modern advertising. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar) // January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by... Media:Example. ... 1893 map The Pennsylvania Railroad (AAR reporting mark PRR) was an American railroad that was founded in 1846 and merged in 1968 into Penn Central Transportation. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Royal Exchange in 1844. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... The outside of the Forum des Halles today Les Halles is an area of Paris, France, located in the 1er arrondissement. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ...

The Wanamaker's Grand Depot opened in time to service the public visiting Philadelphia for the American Centennial Exposition of 1876. In 1877 Wanamaker's was refurbished and expanded to include not only men's clothing, but women's clothing and dry goods as well. This was Philadelphia's - and perhaps America's - first modern day department store. A circular counter was placed at the center of the building, and concentric circles radiated around it with 129 counters of goods. 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Enlightened retailing

Wanamaker first thought of how he would run a store differently when, as a youth, a merchant refused his request to exchange a purchase. A practicing Christian, he chose not to advertise on Sundays. His faith also informed other business decisions, many of which were innovative and before their time. Before he opened his Grand Depot for retail business, he let evangelist Dwight L. Moody use its facilities as a meeting place, while Wanamaker provided 300 ushers from his store personnel. His retail advertisements - the first to be copyrighted beginning in 1874 - were factual, and promises made in them were kept. Word of this increased Wanamaker's business and John Wanamaker never lost the public's trust while he pioneered truth in American advertising. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Evangelism is the proclaiming of the Christian Gospel. ... Dwight Lyman Moody, circa 1890s. ... Year 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

The famous logo

Wanamaker guaranteed the quality of his merchandise in print, allowed his customers to return purchases for a cash refund and offered the first restaurant to be located inside a department store. Wanamaker's also innovated the price tag, because John Wanamaker believed if everyone was equal before God, then everyone should be equal before price. All of these concepts were seen as innovations in American retailing at the time. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

His employees were to be treated respectfully by management (including not being scolded in public), and John Wanamaker & Company offered its employees access to the Wanamaker's Commercial Institute, as well as free medical care, recreational facilities, profit sharing plans and pensions - long before these type of benefits were considered standard in corporate employment.

Innovation and "firsts" marked Wanamaker's. The store was the first department store with electrical illumination (1878), first store with a telephone (1879), first store to install pneumatic tubes to transport cash and documents (1880), and the first store with an elevator (1884). The article on electrical energy is located elsewhere. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... This article or section includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Elevator surfing. ... Year 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

On Februrary 22, 1902, Wanamaker began replacing his famous Grand Depot in stages, with a new structure on the same site in Center City, Philadelphia. Business went on without interuption during construction. The new store, lavishly built in the Florentine style with granite walls by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, had 12 floors (9 for retail) and 2 lower levels totalling nearly 2 million square feet. The palatial store featured the former St. Louis World's Fair pipe organ (one of the world's largest at that time. The organ was installed in the store's marble-clad central artium known as the "Grand Court." Another item from the St. Louis Fair in the Grand Court was a 10 foot long bronze eagle, which quickly became the symbol of the store and a favorite meeting place for shoppers. The store was dedicated by the President William Howard Taft on December 30, 1911, marking the 50th year of the business. Entrance to Creation Exhibit on the Pike Map of the St. ... A view of the Grand Court in Macy*s department store in Philadelphia. ... The presidential seal was first used in 1880 by President Rutherford B. Hayes and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930) was an American politician, the 27th President of the United States, the 10th Chief Justice of the United States, a leader of the progressive conservative wing of the Republican Party in the early 20th century, a pioneer in international arbitration and... December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... Year 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

The organ still stands in place in the store today and is registered as the first organ designated a National Historic Landmark (1980). The Wanamaker Organ is the largest operational pipe organ in the world. News of the Titanic's sinking was transmitted to Wanamaker's wireless station in New York City, and given to anxious crowds waiting outside - yet another first for an American retail store. Public Christmas Caroling in the store's Grand Court began in 1918. This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Titanic. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... This page is about carols in general; for the short story by Charles Dickens, see A Christmas Carol. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

Other innovations included employing buyers to travel overseas to Europe each year for the latest fashions, the first White sale (1878) and other themed sales such as the February "Opportunity Sales" to keep prices as low as possible while keeping volume high. The store also broadcast its organ concerts on the Wanamaker-owned radio station WOO-AM beginning in 1922. White Sale Definition A white sale is a marketing strategy where a store steeply discounts his merchandise to increase sales during a short period of time. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ...

The famous advertising axiom "half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half" is credited to John Wanamaker.

Although disputed in some circles, John Wanamaker is credited as the first to coin the "Retailers Rule"..."The customer is always right."

The slow decline

After John Wanamaker's death in 1922 the business carried on under Wanamaker family ownership and continued to thrive for a time. The men's clothing and accessories department was expanded into its own separate store on the ground floor of the Lincoln-Liberty Building, next door in 1932. This building was sold to Philadelphia National Bank in 1952 and the initials on the building's crown now read "PNB." Over time, Wanamaker's lost business to other retail chains, including Bloomingdale's and Macy's in the Philadelphia market. Philadelphia suffered the fate of many downtown areas with former shoppers relocating to the suburbs after WWII. The Wanamaker Family Trust finally sold John Wanamaker and Company, with its now under patronized stores to Los Angeles, California-based Carter Hawley Hale Stores in 1978. Carter Hawley Hale poured $80 million (USD) into renovating the stores, but to no avail — customers had gone elsewhere in the intervening decades, and did not come back. Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... CoreStates Financial Corporation was a banking chain in the Philadelphia metro area. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Bloomingdales is a chain of upscale American department stores owned by Federated Department Stores, which is also the parent company of Macys. ... Macys is a chain of American department stores with its flagship store in Herald Square, New York City, which has been billed as the worlds largest store since completion of the Seventh Avenue addition in 1924. ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State California County Los Angeles County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Carter Hawley Hale Stores was a American retailer in Southern California. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

Finally, in 1986 the now 15-store chain was sold to Woodward & Lothrop, owned by Detroit real estate businessman A. Alfred Taubman. Taubman reorganized the business with a shortened corporate name (Wanamaker's Inc.), and poured millions more into store renovations and public relations campaigns. This too was no help, as Taubman's retail interests were heavily in debt and the stores' combined sales were a disappointment. Woodward & Lothrop collapsed in bankruptcy in the early 1990s, and the Wanamaker stores were sold to May Department Stores company on June 21, 1995. Wanamaker's Inc. was formally dissolved, the corporate offices on the upper floors of the Center City flagship store were closed, and operations were consolidated with May's Hecht's Division in Arlington, Virginia. The Wanamaker's name was removed from all stores and replaced with Hecht's. In 1997, May acquired Wanamaker's historic rival Strawbridge & Clothier and re-branded all Philadelphia-area Hecht's locations with the Strawbridge's name. The Center City Hecht's was closed for a lengthy renovation and refurbishment that saw the retail space reduced in size by several floors, and the former Wanamaker's corporate offices on the upper floors subdivided into commercial office space. In 1997, New York-based Lord & Taylor, another division of May Department Stores, opened in the former Wanamaker's flagship in Center City, Philadelphia. In August 2006 the store was converted to Macy's, operated by Macy's East Division of Federated Department Stores Inc., which acquired May in late 2005. Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ... Nickname: Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (Latin for, We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes) Location in Wayne County, Michigan Coordinates: Country United States State Michigan County Wayne County Settled 1701 Incorporation 1806 Government  - Type Strong Mayor-Council  - Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Area  - City  143. ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Hechts, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. ... Hechts, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. ... Strawbridge and Clothier is a department store found in the northeastern United States with stores in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. ... Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States Commonwealth Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government  - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area  - City 369. ... Lord & Taylor, based in New York, New York, is the oldest department store chain in the United States. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Macys is a chain of American department stores with its flagship store in Herald Square, New York City, which has been billed as the worlds largest store since completion of the Seventh Avenue addition in 1924. ... Macys East, New York, New York is a division of Federated Department Stores. ... Federated Department Stores, Inc. ...

While Wanamaker's ceased to be a high style luxury store in its last decades, it was always considered a "better" department store. However, the store was not immune to the major change in retailing away from regional chains to national chains. The uniformity of brand offerings and the cost savings available to national chains all worked against the viability of the store.

The Wanamaker's flagship store, with its famous organ and eagle from the St. Louis World's Fair, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978. This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1987, the Philadelphia Wanamaker's flagship store was featured - under the name Prince & Co. - in the film comedy Mannequin and its sequel Mannequin 2: On The Move. For the earlier film, see Mannequin (1937 film) Mannequin is a 1987 romantic comedy film, starring Kim Cattrall, Andrew McCarthy, Meshach Taylor, James Spader, G. W. Bailey, and Estelle Getty. ...

Former Locations

Delaware

• Philadelphia MSA/Newark - Christiana Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Lord & Taylor 1997, closed 2006, now vacant)
• Philadelphia MSA/Wilmington - Freestanding (closed 1991, replaced by Christiana Mall store, now Accenture offices)

Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 km²)  - Width 30 miles (48 km)  - Length 100 miles (161 km)  - % water 21. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Main Street is the commercial heart of Newark. ... Christiana Mall is a super-regional mall in Newark, Delaware approximately 10 miles south of Wilmington, Delaware. ... Hechts, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. ... Lord & Taylor, based in New York, New York, is the oldest department store chain in the United States. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... : Chemical Capital of the World , Corporate Capital of the World , Credit Card Capital of the World : A Place to Be Somebody United States Delaware New Castle 17. ...

New Jersey

• Philadelphia MSA/Deptford - Deptford Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2006, now Boscov's)
• Philadelphia MSA/Moorestown - Moorestown Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, building rebuilt and reopened as Strawbridge's 1999, converted to Macy's 2006)

It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Deptford Township highlighted in Gloucester County. ... The Deptford Mall is a major shopping destination in Deptford Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. ... Strawbridges (formerly Strawbridge and Clothier) was a department store found in the northeastern United States with stores in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. ... Boscovs is an American department store that was founded by Solomon Boscov in 1911. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Moorestown is a place located in Burlington County, New Jersey. ... The Moorestown Mall is a shopping mall in Moorestown, NJ, owned by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. ... Macys is a chain of American department stores with its flagship store in Herald Square, New York City, which has been billed as the worlds largest store since completion of the Seventh Avenue addition in 1924. ...

New York

• New York - Freestanding building at 770 Broadway between 8th and 9th Streets, with over 1,100,000 square feet, it was the largest department store in the world when it opened, superseded by Macy's in the late 1920's. This building was designed by Daniel Burnham and the model for the more lavish Phialdephia store. On July 15. 1956 the old Wanamakers building (formerly the famous Stewart Store) across the street, between 9th and 10th, burnt down as both locations were closing. The structure has been used for offices and ground floor stores for many years. http://www.vnooffice.com/propdetails.php?id=17&page=overview
• Yonkers - Cross County Shopping Center (closed 1995, now Sears)

NY redirects here. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Cross County Shopping Center logo The Cross County Shopping Center is an open-air shopping mall located in the Dunwoodie section of Yonkers, New York at the crossroads of the New York State Thruway/Central Park Avenue and the Cross County Parkway. ... This article refers to Sears as it existed prior to its merger with Kmart. ...

Pennsylvania

• Allentown MSA/Whitehall - Lehigh Valley Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2006, now Boscov's)
• Harrisburg - Harrisburg East Mall (now Harrisburg Mall) (converted to Lord & Taylor 1997, closed 2003, now Bass Pro Shops)
• Philadelphia - Center City (Flagship) (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridges 1996, Lord & Taylor 1997, closed 2006, now Macy's)
• Philadelphia - Roosevelt Mall (former S. Klein, converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, Macy's 2006)
• Philadelphia MSA/Jenkintown - Freestanding (converted to Hecht's 1995, closed 1997)
• Philadelphia MSA/King of Prussia - The Plaza at King of Prussia (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, Macy's 2006, future status undetermined)
• Philadelphia MSA/Langhorne - Oxford Valley Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2006, now Boscov's)
• Philadelphia MSA/North Wales - Montgomery Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2006, now Boscov's)
• Philadelphia MSA/Springfield - Springfield Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2006, site sold to Target)
• Philadelphia MSA/Wynnewood - Wynnewood Shopping Center (converted to Hecht's 1995, closed 1997, now Bed Bath & Beyond)
• Reading - Berkshire Mall (converted to Hecht's 1995, Strawbridge's 1997, closed 2002, now Boscov's)

Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... Nickname: Motto: Sic Semper Tyrannis Pennsylvanias location in the United States Allentowns location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Lehigh Founded 1762 Government  - Mayor Ed Pawlowski Area  - City  18. ... Whitehall is the name of some places in the State of Pennsylvania in the United States of America: Whitehall, Adams County, Pennsylvania Whitehall, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Lehigh Valley Mall is the largest shopping mall in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. ... Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Dauphin Incorporated 1791 Charter 1860 Government  - Mayor Stephen R. Reed (D) Area  - City  11. ... Bass Pro Shops is a privately held sporting goods and outdoor goods store headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Center City District, highlighted on a map of Philadelphia County. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Roosevelt Mall The Roosevelt Mall is a shopping mall in Northeast Philadelphia that opened in 1964 at the intersection of Roosevelt Boulevard (US 1) and Cottman Avenue. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Jenkintown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, ten miles (16 km) north of Philadelphia. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... King of Prussia is an unincorporated community in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. ... The Plaza at King of Prussia is part of what is popularly referred to as the King of Prussia Mall, a huge shopping complex in King of Prussia, which is located in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania, in the United States. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Langhorne is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. ... The Oxford Valley Mall is a two-story Simon Properties shopping mall located next to the popular amusement park Sesame Place in Langhorne, Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... North Wales is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Springfield, Pennsylvania redirects here. ... Springfield Mall is a 590,000-square-foot regional shopping mall located approximately 10 miles southwest of Philadelphia in Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. ... This article is about the United States retail company. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A typical Bed Bath and Beyond store Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. ... , Reading (IPA:) is the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania and the center of the Greater Reading Area. ...

Christmas Light Show

Christmas Light Show

In 1956, the Philadelphia Wanamaker's premiered a Christmas Light Show, a large musical and blinking light display several stories high, viewable from several levels of the building, but with the best viewing on the central ground floor. Its popularity with Philadelphia parents and children, as well as tourists, ensured a continuous run, even after the building was sold to different business interests. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2448 × 3264 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2448 × 3264 pixel, file size: 1. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

For decades, the "voice", or narrator, of the show was John Facenda, known to Philadelphians for decades reporting the news on radio and television. To American football fans he was the original voice of NFL Films. His voice made "Christmas in the Grand Tradition" come to life. Beginning in 2006, Julie Andrews became the show narrator. John Facenda (August 8, 1913 – September 26, 1984) was a broadcaster and sports announcer. ... NFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows. ... Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE (born Julia Elizabeth Wells[1] on 1 October 1935[2]) is a BAFTA, Emmy, Grammy and Academy Award-winning English actress, singer, author and cultural icon. ...

The Wanamaker Light Show is continued today by Macy's. The 15 minute shows run every hour on the hour during store hours between the day after Thanksgiving and New Years Day. In 2006, The Santa Express Train at the top of the Grand Court returned. In 2007, the entire Light Show will be completely modernized and rebuilt on new lighter materials with LED lighting.

Viewing public in the Grand Court

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 436 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 436 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Crystal Tea Room

Wanamaker's also was home to the Crystal Tea Room restaurant on the 9th floor which closed to the public in 1998; it has been restored and is currently operated as a private banquet hall, accommodating sit-down receptions of up to 600 people. A Wanamaker's guidebook from the 1920s states that the Crystal Tea Room was the largest dining room in Philadelphia, and one of the largest in the world. It once could serve 1400 people at a time. It served breakfast in the morning, luncheon, and afternoon tea. The kitchen's big ovens could roast 75 turkeys at a time and was equipped with lockers and baths for the employees.

There is also a more recently opened balcony cafe on the third floor.

Unique Features

• Ground floor: Huge eagle statue in the Grand Court; for many decades, Philadelphians would agree to "meet me at the eagle at Wanamaker's".
• 3rd floor: Egyptian Hall auditorium behind the executive offices, also a Greek Hall auditorium
• 8th floor: toy department had a monorail for the kids that traveled around the entire department, camera dept, piano and organ dept
• 9th floor: Crystal Tea Room
• 10th floor: inhouse physician and nurses
• Sub-floors: post office, lost and found, shoe repair
• Radio broadcasting station
• Model house on the furniture floor
• Home of the world's largest playable pipe organ

Trivia

• Significant portions of the 1987 film Mannequin were filmed at this location.

• The former Wilmington Del location is owned by a partnership that includes convicted murderer Thomas Capano

1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the earlier film, see Mannequin (1937 film) Mannequin is a 1987 romantic comedy film, starring Kim Cattrall, Andrew McCarthy, Meshach Taylor, James Spader, G. W. Bailey, and Estelle Getty. ... Thomas J. Capano was a powerful and well-connected Delaware attorney and former state prosecutor who was convicted and sentenced to death in 1999 for the 1996 murder of his former mistress, Anne Marie Fahey. ...

See also

• Wanamaker Grand Organ
• Wanamaker Mile
• Millrose Games

A view of the Grand Court in Macy*s department store in Philadelphia. ... The Wanamaker Mile is an event held annually at the Millrose Games in New York Citys Madison Square Gardens. ... The Millrose Games is an annual indoor athletics meet (track and field) held in New York Citys Madison Square Garden since 1914. ...

Further reading

• Robert Sobel The Entrepreneurs: Explorations Within the American Business Tradition (Weybright & Talley 1974), chapter 3, John Wanamaker: The Triumph of Content Over Form ISBN 0-679-40064-8

• A Friendly Guide to the Wanamaker Store, Philadelphia, 1916 (reprinted by the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, 2002)

Robert Sobel in a promotional photo for his publisher. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

External links and sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Wanamaker's

• John Wanamaker: A retailing innovator
• Wanamaker Store "Firsts"
• Who Made America? (John Wanamaker, Innovator)
• John Wanamaker's role in providing the Grand Depot for Christian evangelist D. L. Moody's revival meetings
• About May - Company History
• Crystal Tea Room today
• Video Clip 1991
• Video Clip 1995
• Capano ownership of old Wanamaker bldg