I was knitting a sweater for Drew for Christmas, but it turned out so bad that I’m scrapping the whole thing and starting over again. It was kind of a failure, but maybe not a waste of time since it gave me a good excuse to watch TCM practically nonstop. I think I’ve seen every Christmas movie TCM has aired this season, including The Bishop’s Wife, Christmas in Connecticut, and vaguely holiday-ish ones like Bachelor Mother (Ginger Rogers!) and The Shop Around the Corner that don’t really focus much on Christmas, but are so good that I don’t really mind.
This year I’ve been really fascinated by the Christmas decorations in old movies—particularly ones from the ’30s and ’40s. I love how showy Christmas trees were, and I wish that full-on tinsel would make a comeback (when I was a kid sometimes I would sneak some on our family tree until someone told me that it kills dogs, and from then on I was terrified Scarlet would eat some of it, but I don’t know why. She wasn’t that dumb). The tin toys are so much prettier than the plastic ones I played with as a kid, and even Santa didn’t look as creepy.
I found these photos on the always amazing site, Shorpy, and they all were taken in the ’20s and make me wish there were more silent Christmas films floating around. Holiday-decorated storefronts back then were so good and that tree is gaudily wonderful.
Holy cow, that last tree is the most immense I’ve ever seen! Wow…
Those trains in the window! That’s what I want for Christmas.
Now that’s how I like my Christmas!!!
i wish christmas still looked like this!!
I miss watching TCM during Christmas – I don’t have cable this year and I’m in withdrawal. Isn’t Shorpy a great blog?
this looks sooooo amazing!
do you ever heard about Kimbra? a new Zealand singer? her style just reminds me to you. I love you two!
THAT TREE! Incredible xXx
There’s a place in northern california that my grandmother volunteers at. It’s a huge warehouse of donated goods, and she works in the bric a brac section where people donate tons of old christmas decorations. Some are from this era!
That last tree is RIDIC!
so pretty!
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These are so cool! I love watching old movies. The Shop Around the Corner is so great!
I watched as many old Christmas movies as I could this year! I just love all the old photo’s!
Thanks for sharing with us!
Gorgeous pictures! This and the christmas movie post really helped me to get into christmas mood, so thanks!
Oh my, that tree!
i would love a 40′s Christmas like in the movies…
Merry Christmas!
oh my god, that tree is AMAZING. I WILL do a tree that intense one day. Next year I need to remember to get some silent films in my Christmas rotation.