Mandel Bros. and Marshall Field's department stores drew huge crowds at holiday time, even at the start of the 1900s.
The start of Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving at State and Monroe streets in Chicago in 1906. — Chicago History Museum
View of holiday decorations on State Street looking north from Madison Street in 1941. — Chicago Tribune historic photo
Christmas shoppers board a motor coach with their arms full of holiday purchases from Loop stores at State and Madison streets in December 1937. — Chicago Tribune historic photo
Children press themselves against a downtown Loop store window during the 1936 holiday season. — Chicago Tribune historic photo
Frantic shoppers on Christmas Eve in 1935 pause at State and Madison streets to listen to carolers touring the Loop on a horse-drawn wagon. — Chicago Tribune historic photo
Workmen install a giant 45-foot-tall Christmas tree in the Marshall Field's Walnut Room on Nov. 20, 1959. — Chicago Tribune historic photo
The Marshall Field's window display during the holiday shopping season in 1928. Lavish, intricate department store windows used to draw large downtown crowds. — Marshall Field's photo
Christmas shopping caused a traffic jam in the Loop in December 1952 as thousands of shoppers converged on downtown stores, including Mandel Bros., background, at the corner of State and Madison streets. — Chicago Tribune historic photo
Children view a holiday window at Wieboldt's department store on State Street on Dec. 22, 1969. A railing was placed in front of the window to hold back the crowd. — Dave Nystrom, Chicago Tribune
Holiday shoppers on State Street in downtown Chicago in 1947. — Chicago Tribune historic photo
Workmen install a large reindeer on State Street at the start of the Christmas shopping season Oct. 20, 1948. — Chicago Tribune historic photo
Children look over a Christmas window display at Mandel Bros. department store in December 1959. — Chicago Tribune historic photo
