-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
Some demolition work was necessary before improvements could be made to Lewis’s in the 1930s. Viv.
Gerry Cannell
master brummie
Santa looks more like an extra from Aladdin on this photo, and the rest, the nurses from the carry on movies
I used to go there with Mom, during the war, when Dad was in Africa, and Italy. Father Christmas (as we all called him) was REAL to us, we didn't even think of his beard being false, we were children, with a child's outlook. Unlike some children these days, who are far too grown-up, and worldly wise, carrying their own phones... Google: Is Santa real? etc: etc, Such a shame..... Happy days.
paul stacey
master brummie
Like you Gerry, I feel modern children have had their childhood stolen, purely a generational thing I suspect, but to my generation totally sad.Paul
Gerry Cannell
master brummie
Totally agree, it is sad. But then I guess they would call me a dinosaur, with old fashioned views. I remember the absolute excitement of lining up in Lewis's, the anticipation that I would meet the great man, and get a present! The journey in on the bus was exciting enough, let alone meeting Father Christmas! OMG! (as they would say today...... ha-ha.
ade
master brummie
Totally agree, the joy of Christmas has definitely changed now, kid's are just bombarded with toy adverts then on top of that the peer pressure of having the "cool" gift or toy and who's had the most.
I loved the build up to Christmas, the first thing was early December getting your radio and TV times magazine and sitting there on the night planning your Xmas viewing on only 3 channels, putting up the tree writing your cards for school , and, like you say that all important trip to see the big fella. Happy days, where did it all go wrong
Radiorails
master brummie
You didn't avail your selves of the lifts then, or were you unaccompanied by adults.Remember all those stairs we had to climb to see Father Christmas
DavidGrain
master brummie
My recollection is that the queue stretched all the way down the five flights of stairs. Living some distance out of Birmingham at that time, it was not possible for my mother to take me there for when the shop opened
devonjim
master brummie
Sometimes the Father Christmas queue extended down all the flights of stairs so the lift was no advantage.
This might spark some memories. Think the boys are trying out “Driving Test”. Viv.
Jeannie
master brummie
It sure did but well worth the climb
Jeannie
master brummie
Where is the “ go to page “ function .please
DavidGrain
master brummie
In the list of page numbers. If there are more than 5 pages you will see a couple of dots. Click on that and the Go To Page will come up
Jeannie
master brummie
Thank you, took me a while but got there in the end.lol thanks again David
Radiorails
master brummie
I have no idea as I only went once and that was just after WW2 when I was nine, however, I suspect it was a weekday when not at school. The lift was always used from what I remember in all our visits to Greys and the Lewis store. At the time the gates were see through lattice as was the back and I used to watch for the counterweights to come up or go down.
In the late 40's I was always taken to Lewis's to see Father Christmas. One year though he must have felt like a change annd was at the Beehive in Albert Street. You did not have to walk upstairs go in a lift. No you went by ship. I can't remember much now but you entered a space that I thought was a lift. But it was decked out like a ship. When the gate shut behind you and the ship sailed, the sea got rough. The ship rolled and lurched. Finally the sea calmed down and we landed. The gate at the end away from the entrance opened and there he was, Father Christmas ! Magic.
michaelwicks54
Aston bred & proud.
I used to spend a lot of time in Lewis's, but was not too keen on all those stairs. I was much happier using the wooden escalators. I loved the sound of them rattling away.Remember all those stairs we had to climb to see Father Christmas
When writing the above (#833) I had intended including the following. I was also a member of Lewis's Boys' Own Club. I still have my card. I was number 560. I do not remember much about it but I did go to one members' Christmas party.
Radiorails
master brummie
I had forgotten about the escalators. Older people are often wary of them - or are to my knowledge - being less fleet of foot. That maybe why Nanny preferred the lifts.
DavidGrain
master brummie
The escalators, or moving stairs as we called them, were in the new block so I can remember always going to the new block up the escalators and then crossing the bridge into the old block if that was where we needed to be.
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
One of the Macy's Stores in the USofA still has a set of original wooden escalators operating
Bob
michaelwicks54
Aston bred & proud.
Thank you for the photo Phil. That is exactly the escalators I remember. They had a distinct sound & feel to them. It is a pity that they are not used here today.
