A Farewell to Carson's, and the Assignment of Blame

Last Christmas, I got to check a role off my bucket list (as an actor)...

I had the opportunity to play Kris Kringle in a local production of Miracle on 34th Street. A classic role originated by Edmund Gwenn, all about the rivalry between Macy’s and Gimbel’s, and the wonderful intersection of the spirit of Christmas with the commercial aspects of Christmas in America. A wonderful play, and a delight to be a part of.

I fear that the time may not be be too far off when that show - Miracle on 34th Street - is simply incomprehensible to the next generation. It’s about such a wonderful, almost bygone time.

That’s why I shed tears when these department stores close. It’s not just about the economy... it’s about Americana.

“...and know exactly when that all began to change.”
Forgive me. It has been changing from the beginning.

“Looseness” in dress, in attitude, in culture, is a frog in heating pot phenomena.

I’ve read accounts of despair against the leaflets that were nailed to telephone poles. That advertised the latest crimes, the latest ‘horrors’, the latest titillating shows to attend (picture how news was spread at the turn of the {last} century). (Advertising works, or they wouldn’t do it).

We have been going down this degraded, rumbled road for a long long time my FRiend.

To know “exactly”....would be when Eve took that bite.

Sorry, I read more into it than I should have. I did have something happen yesterday that was awkward but had humor in it.

I was out walking a public trail running along a river. This was my second trip of the day and I was just trying to put in some extra effort into exercising and increasing my distance walked by a couple of miles more.

As I was crossing a narrow foot traffic bridge at the end of it I saw a woman with a camera which I had been seeing there throughout the day. She had been taking pictures of young couples dressed up formerly and using the area as a back drop for the pictures.

Still unaware of what was really happening I crossed the bridge to access the trail and my oldest daughter was standing at the end of it. We talked a second then I looked and my granddaughter. She was with her date for the Prom & were standing there dressed formerly and finally it clicked in my brain what was happening.

I said I'll get on out of the way and was fixing to start my walk when my daughter and granddaughter said wait a minute we want your picture taken with her {meaning my granddaughter}. So there was this beautiful young woman and I say that proudly as her grandfather standing beside an old man wearing coveralls, boots, with a camo cane and a head wrap so I didn't get my scalp sunburned.

Yeah it seemed awkward to me at first but I stood for the picture. I noticed my daughter was in her going walking clothes so I was a bit more at ease then. LOL

The Walmart managers unfortunately are only allowed to manage very little of the stores operations. Ever aspect of the stores operation is dictated out of Bentonville. The managers know of their inventory problem. In the meantime Corp focuses on things like scan and go checkout where you have to put their App in your phone for fast checkout including you bagging your groceries.

I bought some thumb drives there a few weeks back and they were in a plastic security case. I went through self service scan and pay and paid for them. I waited a few seconds figuring one of the half a dozen workers standing there telling people to use the self service line would come and open the case and hand me the thumb drives. They didn't and I went out of the store with my receipt in hand. I got in my truck and tried to open the stupid case and then took it back in. I told the worker this self service nonsense kinda defeats the whole purpose of store security now doesn't it. LOL

If I thought it would do any good, I'd post you a list of books to read, which would not only enlighten you, but catch you up on the topic; however, I can see that you would much rather remain in your own world of uneducated, blind, lack of factual knowledge little bubble.

For others who might read this this thread, true "consumerism", for EVERYONE, and about departments stores in particular, began in the 1800s, in Manhattan and somewhere about the same time in Europe and the UK. But special events, department store restaurants, and actual consumerism is a thing of the Victorian ( mid 1800s ) era.

And at that time, strict moral behavior, rather chaste dress, and public morality was not only common, but the ONLY acceptable "culture"!

I have no idea what you've supposedly read, nut what you posted is utter and complete claptrap!

Advertising was done in newspapers, ladies' magazines, and yes, even store sent out catalogues! Lord & Taylor even sold their own compiled cookbook.

Postings on lamp posts? You don't know what you're talking about!

Do yourself a favor and don't post about topics you know less than NOTHING at all about and if you want to drag religion into it...go haunt FR's religion section!

That's okay...we all have days or nights like that; not really seeing what's in a post.

What a charming story about your daughter and your beautiful granddaughter, who is VERY fortunate to have YOU as her grandpa! :-)

How exciting...dressed to the nines, for a prom! Then, having YOU there, to see how lovely she looked and a picture, of you all, to immortalized it all.

You were dressed properly for what YOU were doing and your daughter and granddaughter were equally dressed well, for what they were up to, as well. See? What I wrote, originally, still holds.

I hope that you get a copy of that photo, so that you'll always have a hard copy to go along with a wonderful, well cherished memory!

The Walmart managers unfortunately are only allowed to manage very little of the stores operations.

That's for sure. Some years back I took a beer-money job as a night stocker and saw that in spades. Even the temperature of the store was controlled from back East, who set the temp according to Bentonville climate.

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