Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Christmas in Downtown Miami, 1953


A half-century ago, shoppers flocked to Burdines in downtown Miami, the biggest and best department store in the region. Throughout the 1950s, to get everyone in the holiday mood, Burdines annually lit a huge neon Santa between its two buildings. It worked--old timers still fondly remember seeing the Burdines Santa. This December 15, 1953, view of the sign looks south on Miami Avenue.

Credit: Miami News Collection, Historical Museum of Southern Florida, 1989-011-23202.

-- Rebecca A. Smith, Curator of Research Materials

7 comments:

  1. Hey ! Thanks for sharing the picture. Downtown Miami is the central business district of Miami. Downtown is the historic cultural, financial, and commercial center of South Florida. It is very beautiful place for visiting.

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  2. I remember those days back in miami capturing the buildings with black and white camera..

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  3. Throughout the 1950s, to get everyone in the holiday mood, Burdines annually lit a huge neon Santa between its two buildings. It worked--old timers still fondly remember seeing the Burdines Santa.

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  4. to get everyone in the holiday mood, Burdines annually lit a huge neon Santa between its two buildings.

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  5. This picture was taken on the porch of the Rice Hotel..I lived in the Rice Hotel & that's where I watched the New Years Eve Parade when it went down Flagler Street.I was always on the porch playing...Happy memories..Marian Sperber

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    1. Mrs Sperber , do you have any pictures or more information about Waddell Building (Rice Hotel). Can you reply to me at Dgarmendia1@gmail.com Thanks! I'm in a Project Management class and we making a project with this building Thanks.

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  6. and in 1953, i wAs waiting for the weekends so i could get my sand bucket and play at miami beach. that is what kids liked doing. and catch a movie at the NW 27th Steet Drive In theater. whoopi!

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