LIFE Miracle on 34th Street
LIFE: Miracle on 34th Street • The Perfect Christmas Classic
The Meaning of Christmas • MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET WAS A RESPONSE TO THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE HOLIDAY, BUT THE MOVIE ALSO MADE CLEAR THE VALUE OF A WELL-CHOSEN GIFT.
Scenes That Stay With You • THIS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC IS A STEP-BY-STEP JOURNEY INTO THE JOY OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND THE FULFILLMENT THAT COMES FROM BELIEVING.
Creating a Classic • THE GENESIS OF MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET BEGAN, MOST APPROPRIATELY, IN A CROWDED DEPARTMENT STORE AT HOLIDAY TIME, AND ITS PATH TO SUCCESS INCLUDED OVERCOMING A STUDIO HEAD WHO WANTED TO HIDE THE FACT THAT IT WAS A CHRISTMAS MOVIE.
Doris Walker: Ahead of Her Time
The Stars • ONE WAS A FORMER WRESTLER, ANOTHER WAS A FAVORITE OF GEORGE BERNARD SHAW. ONE CAME FROM IRELAND, WHILE ANOTHER WAS BORN TO RUSSIAN IMMIGRANTS. JOHN PAYNE, EDMUND GWENN, MAUREEN O’HARA, AND NATALIE WOOD ALL MADE MIRACLE COME ALIVE.
Macy’s vs. Gimbels • TO FULLY APPRECIATE THE MIRACLE THAT TAKES PLACE ON 34TH STREET, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE RETAIL RIVALRY THAT BROKE OUT WHEN GIMBELS CAME NORTH FROM PHILADELPHIA AND SET UP SHOP ON HERALD SQUARE, A BLOCK AWAY FROMITS NEW YORK COMPETITOR.
A Remake to Remember • IN 1994 JOHN HUGHES, FRESH OFF THE TRIUMPH OF THE HOME ALONE MOVIES, STEPPED UP AS WRITER AND PRODUCER TO SHOW WHY THE MODERN ERA NEEDED ITS OWN MIRACLE.
In Praise of Minor Miracles
Thanksgiving Day Parade • MIRACLE BEGAN WITH SCENES FILMED DURING THE ACTUAL MACY’S PARADE—WHICH, LIKE THE MOVIE ITSELF, HAS BECOME A SEASONAL TRADITION.
PHOTO CREDITS
LIFE Bookazines • MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET