![]() ![]() By the mid 1950s, themes of frustration and alienation appeared in literary works such as The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit and according to historian Timothy J. In honoring these retail giants, the aging Kennedy engaged in a strong nostalgia for the 1920s, a decade of heightened consumerism ushered in by the self-made salesmen of the Hall of Fame. ![]() One of the reasons for the gap was that the subject matter of the Hall of Fame expressed antiquated values even when it was erected. Sculptor Milton Horn created the Ward bust in celebration of the 100 th anniversary of Ward’s creation of mail order business. The Hall of Fame was well received during the initial years of its existence, but almost twenty years passed before Aaron Montgomery Ward (1843-1913), founder of Montgomery Ward & Company, joined the other merchants as the final inductee. The Hall of Fame proved to be a good public relations vehicle and a way to strengthen relationships with the retailers that patronized the Merchandise Mart. Wood (1879-1970), retired chairman of Sears, became the first living inductee. Henry Rox and Charles Umlauf sculpted the new busts. Filene (1960-1937) of William Filene’s Sons & Co., Boston, and Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) of Sears Roebuck & Co., Chicago. Kennedy announced the next two inductees: Edward A. President Herbert Hoover delivered the keynote address at the unveiling of the busts by sculptors Charles Umlauf, Milton Horn and Lewis Iselin. Over the next few years, bronze busts of the initial inductees and new Hall of Fame members were installed across the street from the Merchandise Mart, perhaps, in Kennedy’s view, conveying approval of this palace of consumerism. Woolworth was a pioneer of the five-and-ten cent store and was the first to use self-service display cases. Between 19, A&P was the largest retailer in the United States. In 1863, Huntington cofounded what would become the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P) grocery store chain. Photos by author.įellow inductees George Huntington Hartford and Frank Winfield Woolworth, both of New York, perfected the chain store concept which allowed a large number of stores to centrally purchase goods and negotiate better prices. Wanamaker was a pioneer of retail advertising and is credited with the first store restaurant. Field was one of the first to offer services in addition to quality goods to engender customer loyalty. Their new late-nineteenth century department store concept offered one-stop shopping, a marked price for each good, and full refunds. Wanamaker of Philadelphia revolutionized the shopping experience. The inaugural class nominated by retailers and voted upon by financial and business writers included Marshall Field (1834-1906), John R. The Hall of Fame celebrated both salesmanship of the past and the future. ![]() In a letter read aloud, President Eisenhower anticipated merchants would underpin future economic growth. One speaker highlighted the role merchants played in western expansion. The goal was to honor “the outstanding merchants of the past, pay long overdue honor to all merchants and to the unequaled American system of distribution”. In 1953, Kennedy launched the Merchants of America Hall of Fame, as it was originally known, at a black–tie dinner on the roof of the Merchandise Mart attended by hundreds of businessmen and local dignitaries. Ambassador to Great Britain and patriarch of the political Kennedy clan, purchased the Merchandise Mart in 1945. Before the end of the decade, Marshall Field reduced its footprint in the building and found managing the real estate burdensome. Marshall Field’s wholesale operations occupied a portion of the building and the remaining space was leased to a variety of other tenants. The Chicago architecture firm Graham, Anderson, Probst, and White designed “the world’s largest business building” with nearly 4,000,000 square feet of floor space. The Merchandise Mart was constructed between 19 by Marshall Field & Co. Curt Teich Postcard Archives, Newberry Library. ![]()
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