Here’s a look back at the changing face of Christmas shopping from the days before Black Friday, pedestrian zones and online retail.Despite the changing fashions, relatively modest in-store displays, and less-than-flashy nature of much of what’s actually on sale, there’s still lots that feels familiar in this collection of scenes captured in Glasgow city center from between the 1950s and the 1970s.
The Christmas display at Wylie and Locheads, November 22 1955.
Four year old Kay McAleney from Coatbridge cuddles up to Pluto in Pettigrew’s on December 6 1955.
Christmas scene in Pettigrew’s, December 7 1955. One of the biggest stores in Scotland, Pettigrew and Stephens once stood on the present site of the Sauchiehall Street shopping centre.
Five year old Joan Ellsworth of Giffnock and Thomas Ross (one) of Duke Street gaze at the toys in Wylie and Locheads, November 20 1956.
Christmas shopping in Wylie and Lochead in Buchanan Street, November 22 1963.
The new ‘Airflow’ Jet Propelled Tugboat is put though it’s paces on November 26 1966.
Crowded streets in Glasgow, December 10 1969.
Christmas shopping in Glasgow, December 10 1969.
Evening falls on Argyle Street at St Enoch Square, December 1969.
The jam-packed junction of Argyle Street and Buchanan Street on December 19, the last Saturday before Christmas in 1970.
Last minute Christmas shopping in Marks and Spencer on December 24 1971.
Christmas shopping crowds in Argyle Street, December 1972. The St Enoch Centre now stands on the spot across the street on the right, while the huge grey former Lewis’s Building beside survives as Debenhams.
This Christmas window display dates from 1972.
