Vintage: Downtown Christmas Decorations

Vintage: Downtown Christmas Decorations

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025

Once reliant upon Germany for its ornaments, toys, and even its Christmas customs, America became self-sufficient in the post-War years with Christmas ornaments and toys being manufactured in the United States that were considerably less expensive than their German counterparts. American Christmas customs and traditions such as visits to department store Santas and letter writing to Santa at the North Pole remained intact during America’s post-War years, but the era generated contributions that have endured to become traditions.

Downtown Johnson City, Tennessee, 1958.

Downtown Johnson City, Tennessee, 1958.

A big crowd in downtown Chicago in the early 1940s.

A big crowd in downtown Chicago in the early 1940s.

Detroit, 1930s photo from Wayne State University.

Detroit, 1930s photo from Wayne State University.

Downtown Houston in the late 1930s.

Downtown Houston in the late 1930s.

Downtown Louisville, KY in 1960.

Downtown Louisville, KY in 1960.

The quiet streets of Los Angeles in December, 1928.

The quiet streets of Los Angeles in December, 1928.

The Plaza in the town of Orange, CA Plaza, 1937.

The Plaza in the town of Orange, CA Plaza, 1937.

Downtown Columbus, Ohio, 1955.

Downtown Columbus, Ohio, 1955.

A view of the amazing Houghton & Dutton department store display in downtown Boston, 1915.

A view of the amazing Houghton & Dutton department store display in downtown Boston, 1915.

Photo of downtown Des Moines, Iowa during Christmas, 1931

Photo of downtown Des Moines, Iowa during Christmas, 1931

Downtown Johnson City, Tennessee, 1958

Downtown Johnson City, Tennessee, 1958

The city of Minneapolis, early 1920s.

The city of Minneapolis, early 1920s.


MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025