Old holiday light shows hold their own
Friday, November 27th, 2009
By: Peter Crimmins
pcrimmins@whyy.org
Comcast's glitzy 3-D holiday video production may offer a glimpse of Christmas future. But when it comes to wowing holiday crowds, there's plenty of sparkle left in Philadelphia shows born in Christmases past.
The Comcast Building has an old tradition in a new suit – the 10 million pixel video wall in the lobby shows a clever and technically dazzling display of ice skaters and a simulated tobbogan run in 3-D.
To some, the Comcast display might make older holiday displays seem as threadbare as a velveteen rabbit. The animatronic characters of the Enchanted Village of the Lit Brothers department store are now installed at the Please Touch Museum, and Strawbridge's Dickens Village has been adopted by Macy's.
Of course the Center City Macy's used to be Wanamaker's, and it has refurbished the original Wanamaker's animated light show. Vice-President Jim Kenny says nothing will best his show.
Kenney: It may be equaled, but it will never be topped. People will come for decades to come – kids today will come back with their kids. Even if Comcast has their show, we're still the original and the best.
Kenny says the display has been fully restored, except for the water fountain show that used to accompany it.
I have been following the Light Show and the Charles Dickens exhibit now for over 15yrs. I have taken my children and my younger sisters and brothers to the exhibits every year. It is now a family tradition, my sisters and brothers have started taking their children and my children will take their children. I love the authentication of the exhibits and the fact that they keep tradional. The meaning of the traditional has become lost in technology and in my opinion it does not compare. The trolley ride was an awesome surprise.