Marshall Field's was a Chicago-based department store that is considered a Chicago Landmark. It featured lavish interiors, including a grand clock, the famous Walnut Room restaurant and a vaulted glass ceiling designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. .
When I was a kid it was a big deal to go into the city to see the Christmas windows at Field's and get all dressed up to eat lunch in the Walnut Room.
The company was founded in 1852 and was known for its innovative customer service policies. "Give the lady what she wants" and "The customer is always right" are attributed to Field.
In 1946, Field's introduced the popular storytelling windows, which told a continuous story that unfolded as people walked from one window to the next.
11 windows were used to tell the story along the State Street side of the store.
The 2004 Marshall Field's Christmas window displays on State Street in Chicago featured a Snow White theme, inspired by the fairy tale, "The Fairest Tale of All," with animated figurines telling the story in the windows.
These hand-made, one-of-a-kind pieces of animated history were designed to be viewed by the public. More of these iconic pieces of Chicago history can also be seen at The Museum of Science and Industry.
The displays are renowned for their intricate, hand-made, one-of-a-kind animated figurines and elaborate sets, which are now part of the collection at the Museum of Science and Industry. The animated windows were unveiled at the end of November, usually after Thanksgiving. I have brief videos of that show the figures moving, but they are difficult to include here.
The massive displays were a huge undertaking. A large staff of skilled workers often spent more than a year creating the holiday windows.
These unique and animated window displays were considered a treasured part of Chicago's holiday traditions, drawing visitors from around the globe.
The famous State Street flagship store was acquired by Macy's in 2006,The historic building still exists and is now the Macy's on State Street. which retains many of the original store's features, such as the Walnut Room and themed holiday window displays.
This Christmas season Macy's is honoring Marshall Fields history.
