This is Our Town, L.S. Ayres and Company, Circa 1950

This promotional movie showcased the L.S. Ayres department store in downtown Indianapolis detailing the shopping experience. It provides a floor by floor tour of building while highlighting the specific amenities of each.
Owning Institution Indiana Historical Society
Use Statement - This image may be printed or downloaded by individuals, schools or libraries for study, research or classroom teaching without permission. For other uses contact: mailto:[e-mail]
Required Credit Line Use - Must be accompanied with the attribution: Indiana Historical Society.
Item ID M0616_BOX74_REEL4-h.264 MP4 720.
This footage is part of the collection titled L.S. Ayres & Company Records, 1858-1992.
Subject L.S. Ayres and Company
Indianapolis (Ind.)
Meridian Street (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Department stores--Indiana--Indianapolis
Creator A Robert M. Carson Production
Date Circa 1950
Time Period 1950s (1950-1959)
Geographic Location Indiana--Marion County--Indianapolis
Source Collection Name L.S. Ayres & Company Records, 1858-1992
Source Collection Number M0616
Digital Collection Name Indiana Historical Society Moving Image Collection
Digital Collection Number dc127
Format of Original 16 mm film
Digital Format MP4
Film Length 5 min. 27 sec.
File Size 246 MB
Type Moving Image
Language English
Audio Yes
Notes This collection was digitized with grant funding made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Indiana State Library.

[@scottmoney1411]

My grandma used to work downtown store. She retired from there back in the early 80's

[@NYCS19339]

I'd love to visit in 1950

[@jenniferlee7167]

This brings back childhood memories as I spent many hours and non school days shopping with my Mother and then have lunch and afternoon tea in the Tearoom. Who can forget the train at Christmas...I would love to see it all again. Well, maybe I have!

[@marlamcdaniel5941]

The mezzanine was glamorous and beautifully lit. The tea room was delightful. Everything was done to please customers who appreciated it all. The personnel were so interesting and devoted . Even the elevator rides were pleasant and attractive. My father's trucking company, McDaniel Freight Lines, delivered much of their merchandise to the store. Thank you for sharing this memory!

[@karenkoe7096]

The last time I was in the building, those same hanging light fixtures were still in use. My first job was in that Ayres store. Wonderful store. Thanks for posting. Wonderful memories.

[@cindywilliams7750]

I miss the elegance and special feeling you had when visiting Ayers. Still remember the tea room with my mom and the models. Made me feel very special at a young age.

[@community1949]

My mother and father met in this store while both working there - daddy was an assistant buyer in linoleum and mom worked in advertising then the china department. Daddy would later become a top salesman in the carpet department on the 7th floor. So much of my childhood was spent shopping and eating and going up to see dad while he worked. I can still feel myself going up the escalator from the main floor. We went down there at least once a week and later in 1978 I applied for a job as an Executive Secretary in the executive offices on 11 - to my surprise and horror the people who eventually ran the store were the nastiest and most petty acting people I have ever run into and maybe they contributed to the demise of this once great department store. Because when Fred and Lyman Ayres ran things in the 1940's the store was a good place to work so I just assumed it was still that way, but I was very, very wrong. But all of this aside I miss the downtown store very much. My dad retired from Ayres in 1986 after 46 years of service.

[@B250R]

Thanks so much for posting this. I can just imagine some of my family member's going to downtown Indianapolis to shop here. Thanks to this video I can get a gimps back to that time period.

[@EricCProductions76]

I am doing a store history about this department store. Can I use some of your footage in my video? I will put your channel and link to your video in the decription. Let me know. Thanks

[@joshidlewine5012]

Sad our society is trash now.

[@community1949]

You are right about that.

[@rsmith317]

@Josh Idlewine Translation, society is not white enough now as it was back then.