1957 Harper Woods Eastland Movie

[polaar]

Just uploaded a recently unearthed home movie of Eastland Center taken in 1957, the year it opened:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCSjjWbbb0Y

[zitro]

Just uploaded a recently unearthed home movie of Eastland Center taken in 1957, the year it opened:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCSjjWbbb0Y

Very cool Polaar. Brings back a lot of memories. Great Argyle socks on the gentleman. Was that walkway with the cutouts coming out of Hudson's? At first I thought it was the bus stop but now I'm not so sure.

[kellyroad]

Very cool Polaar. Brings back a lot of memories. Great Argyle socks on the gentleman. Was that walkway with the cutouts coming out of Hudson's? At first I thought it was the bus stop but now I'm not so sure.

I thought that was the walkway coming out of Hudson's on to the Grand Court near the lion and mouse. The movie really shows the beauty and unique architecture of one of the nation's first shopping malls.

[Bobl]

Nice clip. I had forgotten about the ponds.
The opening of Eastland created a Christmas shopping dilemma at our house. The custom was to bus or streetcar downtown Thanksgiving weekend and stay until the evening in order to see the lights. We could walk to Eastland, which had the more modern twinkle lights.
One small example of commerce leaving the City, I guess.
Time marches on...

[polaar]

I just added a sequel today, more Eastland film two years later in 1959, same photographer. This one shows the Lion & mouse & some cool old Chevys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWwuoEQL7g

[Maof]

thanks polaar. forgot how nice eastland was. ran in there a few weeks ago and it was so dead, you could roll a bowling ball down the mall and wouldn't hit a thing. what a shame. anyway, the gentleman with the argyle socks reminds me of floyd from the andy griffith show!

[kellyroad]

I just added a sequel today, more Eastland film two years later in 1959, same photographer. This one shows the Lion & mouse & some cool old Chevys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWwuoEQL7g

Great footage: The movies appear to be shot using a tripod and kodachrome film. Is the man or woman an Eastland exec. The Chevy appears to be set right in the shopping area. They either knew someone at Eastland or were very daring. Can you give us some background info on the two videos. Thanks

[Onthe405]

Was that walkway with the cutouts coming out of Hudson's? At first I thought it was the bus stop but now I'm not so sure.

I thought that was the walkway coming out of Hudson's on to the Grand Court near the lion and mouse.

Polaar, thanks for the great nostalgic clips. It unleashed a flood of idyllic childhood memories. If you look at the 2nd [[1959) clip, at 0:43, the cutout pass-through can be seen in the background in relation to the "Lion & Mouse". I believe it was on the Vernier [[north) side, running eastward from the Hudson's door toward the B. Siegel & Stouffer's wing of the Center. Zitro, I do seem to recall some type of cutouts near the bus stop, but the busses stopped on the opposite side. They approached via Kelly or Vernier, then turned on Webber Drive and stopped on the south side of the Center.

I also know that the "Lion & Mouse" was moved at least once or twice, so its position in 1959 may not have been the same as it was in 1966, or by 1976, when they started the enclosure.

[Ed Golick]

Maybe Danny is talking about the Hippo.

[jcole]

Hippo Arts?