Every Place Has a Story

The Woodward’s Christmas Windows

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When David Rowland heard that Woodward’s was closing in 1993, he phoned up the manager and put in an offer for the department store’s historic Christmas windows. They agreed on a price, and David became the proud owner of six semi-trailer loads of animated teddy bears, elves, geese, children, a horse and cart and various storefronts.

Story from Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City’s Hidden History

Woodward’s ca.1907. Courtesy Vancouver Archives 677-611
Robsonstrasse:

In the late 1960s, 14-year-old David rode the bus into Vancouver carrying three samples of puppets and marionettes that he had made. He walked up and down what was then Robsonstrasse trying to interest toy store owners into buying his merchandise.

“They said ‘they are nice little toys, and you are a nice little boy, but come back when you have sold them somewhere else’,” says David. “I was about to give up and I thought well there’s always The Bay.”

David found the manager of Toyland and put his marionettes through their paces.

David Rowland putting together a former Woodward’s Christmas window in 2010 for Canada Place.
Orders from the Bay:

“A lot of people gathered and shoppers started picking up the boxes looking for prices.”

The manager ordered 50 and had David come in and demonstrate them every Saturday. Later he invented a coin-operated puppet theatre where you put 25 cents in and the lights turned on and music played and the puppets danced across the stage. He sold three dozen of them to shopping centres in B.C.  As requests came in to build Santa’s castles and other seasonal structures, Rowland’s business took off.

Original figures made by David Rowland for Woodward’s in the ’70s. Courtesy David Rowland

Woodward’s started getting serious about their Christmas windows in the 1960s, and sent buyers off to New York to bring back different figures. The department store hired David in the  ‘70s to create mechanical figures for their Toyland and display work for their windows.

Canada Place:

When David unpacked his newly acquired Christmas windows in the ‘90s, he found at least a dozen different scenes. He looked around for a venue big enough to display them and found himself at Canada Place. David wanted to rent them, but Canada Place offered to buy them outright. “That wasn’t my initial plan, but at the time I had a banker from hell and I needed some capital and so I sold a lot of it to them,” he says.

Christmas window display at the Grosvenor Building, 2018. Courtesy David Rowland

David couldn’t bear to part with all of them though, and every other year he sets up a few in buildings around Vancouver.

The nativity scene at Christ Church Cathedral was once part of Woodward’s Christmas windows. The Christmas Creche was carved in Italy from olive wood, hand-painted and sold to Woodward’s in 1955. The Hudson’s Bay bought the Creche when Woodward’s closed in 1993, and displayed it inside the Seymour Street entrance until 2013 when they donated it to the Cathedral. Eve Lazarus photo, 2018
Related:

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all blog content copyright Eve Lazarus.

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20 comments on “The Woodward’s Christmas Windows”

Thank you Mr Rowland and Woodwards. The Christmas windows at Woodwards were not only a childs delight (adults also) but they were free.
Of all the department stores that have disappeared Woodwards is the one I miss the most. Pretty sure Ive still got a well worn Woodwards credit card somewhere. When we went shopping for anything ,especially furniture Woodwards usually got the sale.
They cashed CP Transport pay checks the floor floor was awesome.
The Christmas window displays were always a treat and if my memory serves me they were viewed from outside on Hastings or Abbot Sts.
Cold night out shopping, spend a long time looking at the wonderful windows. Go inside to warm up and spend some money.

Years ago I vividly recall a blind man and his companion going from window to window outside Woodwards. The companion was describing each scene for him and it was clear that he was enjoying it all immensely, despite not being able to see. Lovely Christmas memory! Fascinating to hear about David Rowland!

So enjoyed the Rowland/Christmas story.
Love your stories, and have been watching for a post.
Season’s greetings

Thanks for this story Eve. I have always loved the Woodward’s Christmas window scenes. I am so glad they have been kept for all to enjoy. Woodwards was a favourite store of mine. Mom & I taking the long bus ride downtown to shop at $1.49 day. The elevator attendants calling out the floors and the grocery department. I can still smell the ground coffee!!
All the best to you this season and New Year!

I remember one year Woodward’s filled their main corner display window with thousands of honey bees. You could see them working and building their honeycombs. It was a fascinating educational experience for city kids and adults alike.

Years ago, I clearly remember a blind man and his partner walking from window to window outside Woodward. The partner was describing each scene to him, and it was obvious that although he couldn’t see it, he enjoyed it very much. A precious Christmas souvenir! It was so interesting to hear the news of David Rowland!

Not only was the windows all dressed up but the woodwards on 41st and Cambie (Oakridge) there was the Santa shack which I enjoyed very much through your my childhood!

As did I! Especially the live reindeer that they brought in every year. Such a delight for a child (and my parents loved them too). I once got to walk Rudolph in the outdoor mall before school!

Now I’m really jealous. I didn’t get to see a real reindeer until about 20 years ago, when we took the kid’s up to Grouse Mountain. I keep hoping one will wander down the driveway. What do they eat?

I have the fondest memories of my grandfather bringing me Downtown to see the Woodward Christmas set up, I was able to take my oldest when he was a baby. I’m going to have to travel down with my youngest to check these out.

Not only were the windows decorated but one elevator was made to look like a chimney and it took you up to the sixth floor to see Santa. After making stops at different floors with the doors opening to see displays,and a walk through a animated forest before santa

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