Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Old Department Stores

I am working on a new short for Echelon. This one is a romantic fantasy with ultra-sensual antics. It takes place in a Brightwater's, a classic, mid-60's style department store that is failing due to their failure to modernize. This store actually has carpet space since they don't cram row upon row of clothing racks into their modest space. They still try to call each customer by name and use real, detailed mannequins to show-off their wares. There is piped piano music wafting through the 2nd and 3rd floors, and there is still a fainting couch in the ladies room. Yet their "check out" stations are sadly lacking in technology, and customers roll their eyes as the sales girl struggles to roll the imprinter across their credit cards. The security system in Brightwater's consists of Floyd, the owner's brother-in-law, who strolls around the store at night when he's not nodding off in the employee lounge.

What do you remember about the department stores of your youth (if you grew up in this era?)