Last Christmas, I got to check a role off my bucket list (as an actor)...
I had the opportunity to play Kris Kringle in a local production of Miracle on 34th Street. A classic role originated by Edmund Gwenn, all about the rivalry between Macy’s and Gimbel’s, and the wonderful intersection of the spirit of Christmas with the commercial aspects of Christmas in America. A wonderful play, and a delight to be a part of.
I fear that the time may not be be too far off when that show - Miracle on 34th Street - is simply incomprehensible to the next generation. It’s about such a wonderful, almost bygone time.
That’s why I shed tears when these department stores close. It’s not just about the economy... it’s about Americana.
If it felt like we were going to a better future it would not be a problem. But it doesn’t.