These photos show the heyday of shopping in Detroit, when a trip to J.L. Hudson Department Store was an event that you got dressed up for in your best outfit.

All photos used courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University/Virtual Motor City collection.

Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit. (1981) Clowns hold tethers for a giant nutcracker balloon in Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit. (1981) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Farmer killing turkey. All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
J. L. Hudson Company. (1939) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
J. L. Hudson Company. (1939) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
J. L. Hudson Company. (1939) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
J. L. Hudson Company. (1939) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
J. L. Hudson Company. (1939) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
J. L. Hudson Company. (1939) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
J. L. Hudson Company. (1939) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Postal service, Detroit. Mailing Christmas Packages. (1942) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Delivering Christmas gifts. (1955) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Thanksgiving scenes. (1938) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Mrs. Mel Farr, wife of Detroit Lions football player, and sons making Christmas cookies. (1969) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Thanksgiving scenes, Sarah Fisher Home for Orphans. All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Thanksgiving scenes. (1912) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Children in toy store. All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas shoppers in store. (1933) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas shopping. (1952) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Washington Blvd. Christmas decorations. (1930) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas parade at J. L. Hudson’s. (1952) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther
Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit. (1981) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit. (1981) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas shoppers on Woodward Avenue. (1934) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Children looking in store window. All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Shopping crowds. (1945) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Carolers. (1920-1929) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas parade. (1953) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas parade. (1955) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas parade. (1952) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas parade. (1953) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas parade. (1953) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas parade. (1955) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas parade. (1953) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas shoppers on Woodward Avenue. (1934) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas shoppers downtown. (1940) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas shoppers downtown. (1939) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Santa Claus. All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Santa Claus. (1930) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas shoppers downtown. (1934) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas shoppers downtown. (1931) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Bishop Michael J. Gallagher in Ecclesiastical Vestments. Thanksgiving groundbreaking at U of D. (1925) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Masons. (1926) Thousands of freemasons wearing aprons gather, marching down Temple Street from Woodward Avenue toward Detroit’s new Masonic Temple, for the Temple dedication ceremony on Thanksgiving Day in 1926. All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Cobo Hall. (1977) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
Christmas scenesin downtown Detroit. (Circa 1960) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

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