Wanamaker’s no more

Here is the reason for the trip downtown with the nephews. This is the famous Wanamaker’s light show, except it isn’t Wanamaker’s anymore. When I was a kid we would take the train downtown to see this light show. It is a collection of Christmas stories told in lights, including the Nutcracker, Rudolph, and Frosty the Snowman. The lasted about a half hour and there was a water show. Several jets of water would shoot up from the bottom in time with the music. Oh, did I mention the monorail? The top floor, which was the toy department, had a monorail suspended from the ceiling. God was great. Well, Wanamaker’s went out of business several years ago. A couple of stores bought it out, Hect’s, then Strawbridges, finally Macy’s. Wanamker’s seven stories of shopping is now reduced to just three. Damnit, the monorail is gone too. But, the light show remains, substantially shorter and sans water show. My nephews enjoyed it anyway.

For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanamaker’s