YEARS OF SEARS: Six Decades Of Catalog Pages (1930s to 1980s)

FredFlix: The World We Knew

[@spidyr2k]

The Sears Christmas Wishbook was my favorite reading material every November back when I was a kid. Three Christmases stand out in my memory. The one where I got a new bike, the one where I got a .410 shotgun, and the one where my Mom was very sick and all I wanted was for her to get better.

[@rundoetx]

I too spent many an hour looking through the catalog before every Christmas, but i never got the Army Soldier set I always wanted. It had the German Soldiers in it too.

[@gregggoss2210]

We got some sporting goods from Sears too. I can't remember exactly what it was, but I know we got plenty of ammo from there too. Dad bought all of his tools from Sears too.

[@1964DB]

Aww! That was the sweetest story ever. Thanks for putting me into the Christmas spirit.

[@herbbluntman2287]

Spidyr2K That's exactly the comment I was going to make. I couldn't wait for the Christmas Wish Book to show up in our mailbox when I was a kid.

[@herbbluntman2287]

@kay van "Monkey Wards". LOL I've never heard Montgomery Wards called that before. Thanks for the Monday afternoon chuckles.

[@paulfeagans9904]

The Sears Christmas Wishbook when I was a kid was the greatest publication EVER! I remember also loving the 3 inch thick regular 'quarterly?' catalogs. We were easily amused and satisfied back then.

[@partlycloudy9443]

@@Capt_OscarMike yep...kids got by with alot less back then, so we had to be creative, i could put a super hero costume together in no time..lol..

[@Mhel2023]

Us kids used to gather around the Sears Christmas Book and "go shopping" page by page. It took hours but was so much fun (70's)

[@jameretief8327]

Paul Feagans I swear we would look forward to the Wish Catalog with as much anticipation as Christmas. Mom would dangle it in front of us to make us behave. Better times where everything wasn't a land mine.

[@virginiaconnor8350]

My mother depended on her Kenmore sewing machine and our appliances were also Kenmore. I bought her a singer sewing machine years later; she made me return it and stuck with her Kenmore. My favourite sports bra and clothes came from Sears (and Penny's) and so did my 10 speed Free Spirit road bike I bought myself and rode it at college-no car. I even got my contact lens there.

[@kingforaday8725]

Back in the day my mom worked at Sears. At Christmas she would bring my sister and I our own personal Wish Book catalog. Like any other kid I got very little of what was in it but it was wonderful even after Christmas to page through it and pretend you were going to find some of the items under your tree!

[@lizarnold87]

Never thought my eyes would puddle up looking at Sears catalogs.... What a great day when the Wish book came in the mail...thanks Fred

[@FredFlix]

My pleasure, Liz.

[@itiswhatitaintanditaintwha1427]

Growing up in the 70's we three boys, whenever the catalog was delivered, would drool over the pictures in the toy section. Then later on, for some reason, we would find ourselves drooling over the lingerie ads! I guess boys will be boys!

[@kmjeffels]

itiswhatitaint anditaintwhatitis So funny! Drooling!!

[@kmjeffels]

itiswhatitaint anditaintwhatitis So funny! Drooling!! Lol

[@MikeAndNary]

Sometimes there was a slight hint of a nipple in those catalogs!

[@SuperTitank]

Hi, do you still have those catalogues with you ?

[@itiswhatitaintanditaintwha1427]

@@SuperTitank How I wish I did!

[@garymckee8857]

Excellent Fred this shows a time when Sears sold quality products before corporate raiders.

[@FredFlix]

So true, Gary.

[@verasmith4767]

My Grandparents had a large of catalogs. They went to the out house. They were farmers.

[@jameretief8327]

Gary Mckee worked there for 25 years got out just before the board flushed the company down the toilet to line their pockets. Sad.

[@garymckee8857]

@@jameretief8327 True. Thanks

[@velaphitshabalala2912]

Greedy shareholders will be the undoing of us all

[@heygetoffmylawn1572]

Once upon a time the sun never set on the Sears and Roebuck merchandise empire. Growing up all my aunts and uncles, family friends and neighbors had multiple Sears brand products in their home. Even today in our house we still have several Kenmore products in use. However, the quality now doesn't meet the quality of yesteryear. Thanks Fred, for this vid. We always enjoyed getting the Sears catalog even if we couldn't afford any of the great toys they had for sale.

[@FredFlix]

It must have been fun working there and putting together those ads.

[@DJS3]

Like taking a ride in a time machine. Thanks, Fred!

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, DJS3.

[@HymanHitlerstein]

When I was a boy, Sears, Roebuck & Co. was too "upscale" (expensive) a retail establishment for my folks. But I always enjoyed fantasizing, as I paged through the catalog available at my best friend's house! (Now, I page through the comment section of Fred's videos).

[@FredFlix]

Thanks, HH. I remember cutting something out of the catalog and giving it to a girl I liked.

[@Capt_OscarMike]

Same here...besides the one exception I posted about ...by the way..your screen name brought a laugh, chuckle to me...very clever and nicely done...

[@HymanHitlerstein]

@@Capt_OscarMike Glad you found the name amusing. To date, no one has taken offense (which is surprising, considering today's hypersensitive lunacy). I read the comment you posted, and enjoyed it. I grew-up in a similar situation. Not a lot of money....but then again, it was a common circumstance for much of America. My family was lower middle class, as were most of the families in the part of town in which we lived. In fact, back then, most of the town was lower middle class. Most families were perfectly respectable. It's just that no one seemed to have a lot of "discretionary income". We had everything we needed - food, clothes, shelter - but the "extras" were very difficult to come by. There was a brass foundry at the end of my street. To make spending money as a boy, my best friend and I would dig trough the pile of discarded sandstone casting molds that were dumped behind the plant, for little scraps of brass. When we had collected enough, we would knock on the backdoor of the foundry, and sell them back to the plant. I can't remember what we received for a pound of the metal, but it was a pittance. However, it was well worth our while, as we both spent many a Saturday, digging for those treasured little nuggets of metal, in order to have some spending money. Often, the dumped molds were still glowing hot when they were dumped behind the plant!! I can't even imagine what OSHA would have to say, if they had been around back then. But we survived, and never suffered any serious injury. I watched a video this morning on: "The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered" channel. It was about credit cards. As I watched it, it struck me how new our current consumer culture really is. By today's standards, we were poor. But so was most everyone else....and the kids didn't seem to notice we were all "disadvantaged". :) It was a much less physically comfortable and indulgent world back then. But I believe it was a much better world for the soul.

[@annapaulikonis2433]

@@HymanHitlerstein my thoughts exactly.Amen.

[@jackscott7237]

One of the best things about spending the weekend at Grandmas, She kept a collection of Sears Catalogs

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

I remember always wanting a very cool transistor radio at 8:52. Thanks again for the memories. Love to return to the 60s.

[@FredFlix]

So would I, MGPB.

[@partlycloudy9443]

My favorite catalog was the s&h green stamp catalog, i stayed up many a night licking s&h green stamps ( my tongue would be raw..lol ) and go to bed dreaming about what i was gonna get out of the catalog..good times!

[@saintmichael1779]

And green, too!

[@marthawelch4289]

One of my chores (as an "only" I actually got ALL of the chores) was the review of the stamp catalogues and then pasting the stamps in their appropriate booklets: Gold Bond, Royal, S&H. Just like Danny I started out licking them, swigging a Coke to keep the whistle wet. But after a couple of Double Stamp Days (Wednesdays) and then having to fight an ant invasion due to sugar ants' propensity for finding and eating sugar, I reevaluated my production equipment. The first iteration was a bowl of water and my hands which moved on to a bowl of water and paper towels. I tried to subcontract the job to our newly acquired "dollar dog" but after the first page he called Jimmy Hoffa and began a "we want a union" strike. That went over like a lead balloon here in this right to work state. Life was made easier by the larger "dollar stamps". The final production equipment iteration was a bowl of water and reusable sponge. But all of that product line ended with the death of stamp redemption. At that point, my Daddie's and my watches, all of our linens, and some electronics had to be purchased with cold hard cash.

[@partlycloudy9443]

@@marthawelch4289 hahaha...i enjoyed your comment...

[@saintmichael1779]

@@marthawelch4289 😊👍!

[@sheriheffner2098]

I don't remember trading stamps. But my mother says she got them and used them too.

[@rosseganjr9402]

Seeing this brings back a lot of memories from the 70s and 80s I looked at the Christmas book for hours and hours unfortunately there all gone in my area

[@BELCAN57]

Sears - where America shops!

[@daschundloverable]

same here along with all the K-marts. NW INDIANA.

[@chaosdemonwolf1]

There gone everywhere.

[@phononut]

This tugged at my heart thinking of all the goods that was produced in this country and all the people that worked producing them. It makes me a little sad. They say don't live in the past, but I think I prefer it.

[@FredFlix]

Not to get too philosophical, phononut, but the past is one second ago...or a hundred years ago. It's all the same.

[@phononut]

@@FredFlix Good point, Fred.

[@glendamcdonald1931]

yes and BETTER QUALITY! the clothes these days.. ugh and everything made in China. I don't know but I have noticed it for years. Sad really

[@targetmobile2770]

Sharing the past with the present is very healthy for the heart, brain and soul.

[@GardenerEarthGuy]

They were the first major online retailer long before the internet, don't get how they aren't the biggest today.

[@arielfilmsinc1926]

@J SmithAND Not adapting to the newer technologies fast enough which at the time was hit and miss 8 track was supposed to be the big thing and the Blackberry...…..

[@williamjackson5942]

@J Smith Had nothing to do with the workforce unionized or not.

[@fordsrule35]

@@williamjackson5942 The government never should have forced companies to unionize. They are a big part of the problem.

[@jameretief8327]

The Sears Tower made them cash poor along with poor management not to mention ignoring up and coming Walmart.

[@pgh1all1]

How about the death knell for all big box stores....AMAZON! That's why Target,Walmart etc, adapted with their expedited shipping and expanded online sales. Those that don't adapt and rest on their laurels, will soon become obsolete! Just ask Kresge Corp about that(K-mart) they were one of the biggest. F W Woolworths before them, fell because they refused or could not change with the times or add the systems in place today for fast shipping and shifting a large portion of sales to the net and creating a viable user friendly site to handle it.

[@shelzbelz2341]

Glorious! That 1st song was nice. Fred, sometimes you bring tears to my eyes. Such melancholy. Thanks and hope your Thanksgiving was nice.

[@FredFlix]

It was, Michelle. Especially since I go to my best friend's family's house where they do all the cooking and cleaning. I just bring a store-bought cheesecake and my work is done.

[@gregggoss2210]

@@FredFlix , you bum. That's the easy way out. Glad to see you had a good time. I really enjoyed this trip through childhood.

[@jeannejett2299]

Shelz Belz, what's the name of that song? I know it, but can't remember the name!

[@shelzbelz2341]

@@jeannejett2299 I have no idea but it was so nice.

[@Fran-tl6bx]

Jeanne Jett jumping jack flash - rolling no stones

[@JettBlast]

As always Fred you you flood the senses with amazing memories.... songs, moments, what we were doing right at that time....great music.....well done....

[@FredFlix]

I appreciate that, Jett.

[@MrGaryRoberton]

I once had a 1908 sears reproduction catalogue loaned it to a cousin, and never saw it again. One of the things I will never forget, was a six room farmhouse (With Porch) for $749 .00 delivered to your closest rail station. When they said complete, they meant it. Everything but furniture. WOW!!

[@traceyf4842]

I would love to see a picture of that. A house! Wow!

[@echodelta9]

Prophetstown State park Indiana has a 1920 Sears farmhouse complete with a player piano and a battery radio.

[@trixier6505]

This was almost painful to watch. So many 50s through 70's memories of better times.

[@marie-joseenadeau971]

I looked forward to the catalogue every year and I spent hours and hours looking at the toy section. When I moved from the U.S. to Quebec I had both the Sears and the Eaton's catalogues - very similar, but always a treat. I never got all the toys that I circled in the catalogue but it was fun dreaming about them!

[@jedgar63]

"Pardon me Roy, is that the cat who chewed your new shoes?" And in the 70's, I always turned to the lingerie section😏

[@SearsCool]

Unfortunately they had to stop the catalog in 1993, after over 100 years

[@lisamiller8174]

That was one of the poor decisions that help put them where they are now.

[@SearsCool]

J Smith and then that changed from shopping at the mall to shopping online at your house, I don’t shop online

[@SearsCool]

Ralph Goober I believe it’s like their website, but it’s simply not the same as flipping pages on a big book you could order from

[@jimhump3575]

but the very same system they use now on internet age.era, the time of online ordering, its in principle the same method of ordering, recieve the goods by mail

[@sheriheffner2098]

Are you positive it was 1993? Because I swear I bought Christmas presents for my two year old nephew in 1997? I bought him a Pooh Bear, a Rocking Horse and a Power Wheels car.From a Sears Christmas Wishbook Catalog.

[@jrebecca0195]

I remember pouring over the toys in the Sears Wish Book as a child, especially the Barbie Dolls section. 😊

[@sheriheffner2098]

I loved looking at all the dolls. Dreaming about getting every doll in the book, And Barbies too.

[@LeslieGMN]

Oh, so did I! On the rare occasion I got something I’d really craved, it was YEARS after it was age-appropriate; my mother would demand I immediately hand it on to my younger sister. So I would. No surprise that my adult life has been happily Xmas-free!

[@myheartisinjapan3184]

Oh, the spectacular Sears catalog! As a kid, my Mom ordered most of our clothes from Sears. It was the most wonderful catalog. And those transistor radios! I have my brother’s 8 track cassette player, as well as his entire 8 track collection, which now means a great deal to me since he’s passed on. The men’s polyester leisure suit 70’s...my dad had a baby blue leisure suit that made his blue eyes sparkle like diamonds, like Paul Newman’s eyes. It drove my Mom nuts that every single time he wore it, he got hit on by so many women, lol. As a kid, I can remember the Christmas wish book, circling hundreds of things I wished for, although I only got two or so. No matter, they were still the very best of times...ever. Love the Big Band music pairing in the first part, too, Fred. I’m a huge Big Band fan. Not to mention throwing in the Cars, of which I am also a huge fan. No one does it like you. Hope your Thanksgiving was extra special, my friend. May God bless you for bringing us so much joy! Xx ...p.s...you’ve earned a spot with your own playlist I’m saving my Fred Flix favorites to!

[@FredFlix]

You're a sweetheart, Lori. xoxoxo

[@myheartisinjapan3184]

FredFlix thanks, Fred. You are too😘

[@jeannejett2299]

Lori Lyn, What is that Big Band song playing in the background? It's a favorite & I can't remember the name!

[@daschundloverable]

@Jeanne Jett - Chatanooga choo-choo? @ Lori Lyn, my dad must have had the same suit and very beautiful sky-blue eyes. He looked like Dean Martin too, and when he went to Vegas, people would ask him for his autograph. I can't imagine their expressions when the saw BRUNO, instead of DINO. @FredFlix - what song wouldn't YT let you play? Thanks for the memories.

[@myheartisinjapan3184]

Jeanne Jett Tommy Dorsey “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You”...this whole vidéo made me sentimental too.

[@heedmywarning2792]

A big slice of American culture.. thank you.

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, Heed My Warning.

[@MrMenefrego1]

How classy those 1940's clothing styles were! Well, all of them were nice except for the 60's and 70's lol. But they were GROOVY! I never dreamed that America would change THIS much... I remember looking at the Sears & Roebuck Catalog with my cousin when we were preteens, I was looking at the new shotguns when my cousin, the Perv pointed out to me the.. ummm.. ladies underwear section! 👀 ! Happy Thanks Giving fellow Baby Boomers! Thank's for the memories, Fred, great Flix as always!

[@FredFlix]

I appreciate it, j.d.

[@tobyradloff]

A lot of preteen to teenage boys liked looking at the women's underwear pages. By the way, when did women stop wearing girdles?

[@MrMenefrego1]

@@tobyradloff haha... Seriously? I haven't got a clue. It was over 40 years ago, who remembers things like that? I can tell you this much, my mother never wore one and man did she ever need one lol.

[@riverraisin1]

@@tobyradloff They don't wear nylons anymore either.

[@tobyradloff]

@@riverraisin1 Nylons were replaced by panty hose.

[@jpolar394]

I don't know what's better, looking at the catalog or listening to the music . This one's another winner Fred. 👍👍👍 And remember, Jeffrey Epstein and Christmas lights don't hang themselves !

[@lisatrautner9426]

😂😂

[@spidyr2k]

I LoL'd.

[@FredFlix]

Good one, J Polar.

[@merce10554]

Ouch. LOL :)

[@Pfsif]

Well, they don't!

[@1964DB]

We had one of the catalog pick-up Sears stores in my hometown, but occasionally, we got to go to the "big" Sears store in a town about half an hour away. Two things I remember about it were 1) They had coloring pages for kids during the holidays and 2) They had a Toyland area during the holidays. When I was older and expecting my first child, I did a lot of shopping there for Winnie the Pooh items for her nursery.

[@merce10554]

I've enjoyed this vid like you wouldn't believe, my dear sir. Sears catalogue memories and a great musical selection to go with them. Besides, "It don't matter to me" was a big favorite of mine and still makes me cry. Glad you had a nice Thanksgiving. :)

[@FredFlix]

I'm happy you enjoyed it, merce.

[@merce10554]

@@FredFlix :)

[@jamesallen327]

I thoroughly enjoyed this! So many memories popped into my mind, as I watched each page. The music, for each decade, was perfect, too! Thank you for a look at where we have been, FredFlix!

[@FredFlix]

And it's where we are, James...IF we stay on KZbin.

[@johnkaczinski468]

Thanks, Fred! Another winner!! Sears was truly the “Amazon” of it’s day. Unfortunately, “time waits for no man”.

[@FredFlix]

Very true, John.

[@paddyotable]

Boggles the mind that you could order an entire house from Sears at one time. :) ~~(Nice Bread song)

[@williamdixon1992]

If I'm not mistaken I believe you could also order a car called the Alstate too!

[@FredFlix]

I wasn't a Bread fan because their songs were too slow, I thought. But I did like that one.

[@glendamcdonald1931]

@@FredFlix I loved Bread... oh boy those were some love songs.. :)

[@chrissherlock7665]

@@FredFlix Agree with you about Bread's songs being too slow. Interestingly enough, Metallica did a song called "Breadfan" that was anything but slow.

[@whatsnext9668]

My Dads house was a Sears House !

[@wierpkevin]

You missed my favorite items the Motorcycles and Minibikes from the 60’s and 70’s catalogs. My first Motorcycle was a Sears 106. Loved that bike for years. Wish I had a time machine for sure.

[@wms1650]

@Kevin Wier My best friend, John had a Sears 106. I had a Montgomery Ward Riverside 125. We put lots of miles on those motorcycles. About 1966 or 1967.

[@michaelfleming40]

I loved seeing the mini bikes and go karts in the Sears catalogs during my youth. We baby boomers had the best toys. I know a guy that had a Gilera 106cc motorcycle. It probably was first bought from Sears by the previous owners.

[@blondeblythe]

In the '60s and '70s my brother and I would wait every year with great anticipation for the Sears Christmas Wish Book to arrive. Then, after carefully searching each and every page, we would each make out a long list of what we wanted for Christmas. In actuality, we only got a fraction of what we had on our lists, but it was fun dreaming! Great video, Fred! One of my favorites!

[@FredFlix]

A lot of people are liking this one, Blythe.

[@timelord10]

When I was a kid in the 1970s my neighbor would get Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs and their older son and I would spend hours looking at the pages and pages of toys. Miss those carefree days.

[@wesleyhackney]

Now this is a subject I know a lot about. My parents met at Sears after my dad returned from WW2 . He was a truck driver for catalog order goods. I think everything we owned came from a Sears catalog. I have a collection of all Christmas catalogs from 1954 to 1978. Spent lots of hours looking at all the toys that time of year. Thanks for this compilation Fred!

[@FredFlix]

That's quite a collection, Wesley.

[@donaldsmalleypublishing401]

If only Sears, Roebuck & Co were to keep going. The amazing Sears catalogue (Wish Book) is now just a memory like Palisades Park. Soon, Sears will join it. I absolutely love these collections of memorabilia you provide us. Very original and thoughtful. Had several years of joy. Keep up the great work.

[@FredFlix]

I will, Don. Thanks.

[@buffdaddy2032]

Love this video. I remember going through the Xmas catalog and marking things I would like santa to bring . I really think those simpler days were so much better .

[@FredFlix]

Thanks for your comment, buff daddy.

[@buffdaddy2032]

@@FredFlix your welcome love the videos .

[@AI4QT]

I don't know. It almost appears that when Sears started to decline, so did America.

[@FredFlix]

There's a lot of truth in that.

[@heygetoffmylawn1572]

I agree 100% with you.

[@albinklein7680]

That's pretty deep indeed.

[@joegongora2200]

That is down right sad.

[@timvest2192]

It also seems true that when America started trying to do things better and get a few things right many saw that as decline.😎😸

[@angelasotolongo9243]

Loved to look through the catalogs. Thanks Fred, awesome video. Hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving.

[@FredFlix]

Same to you, Angela.

[@stevehall383]

This brings back a lot of memories. I spent most of my time with the Sears catalog looking at the ladies underwear models.

[@luisreyes1963]

2:08 Hubba, Hubba...😍

[@schallrd1]

Sears provided shopping opportunities to the masses and pioneered marketing via catalog. Amazon and all others owe their conception to Sears.

[@glendamcdonald1931]

yeah and notice the page saying "call in your orders" prelude to "shop online"

[@raymondfleming7349]

The Sears catalogue - the "online" wonder of the past decades. Thanks Fred for bringing back those great just after Thanksgiving memories.

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, Raymond.

[@rays7437]

I never understood why Sears, who was at one time the largest catalog retailer, didn't go the same route as Amazon. After all online ordering is pretty much catalog ordering

[@mrs.evelynkerr8799]

Good question?

[@rays7437]

@Ralph Goober Makes sense. That's too bad

[@PhilJonesIII]

I was lucky to have taken my electronics degree and immediately landed a job as a 'Computer Technician' at a college in the early 80s. I'd spend the entire holiday recess to work with them so I got up to speed fast. Not so for the average punter. Despite the hype, computers were scary things when it came to business applications. Even showing someone how to use some of the early spreadsheets was challenging enough, getting people to embrace and trust the technology with their business was another matter entirely. Early business packages didn't cut it for many and that meant running paper and electronic systems in parallel until the code could be brought up to speed. Lose your data and your business was very likely to go down the tubes. In fact, a good 50% that lost their data did go out of business. It took no small amount of faith and vision to make such a fundamental change to a well-established business. As for the internet, it was very shaky in the early days. Few had any idea of the legal and contractual laws for online trading (even if they existed). It seemed that no one really knew if the internet would even be a thing. Every new gizmo that came out was 'going to change the way we do business forever'. Most were just another distraction. Sears could have crushed Amazon with its well-established inventory and customer base. It didn't happen.

[@pgh1all1]

Philip Jones Amazon's high speed distribution is "crushing" them all, unfortunately. That's why Target, Walmart have made massive changes to their net business models,including expedited shipping.

[@lindaeasley4336]

Every kid waited for the annual Sears Christmas Wish catalog in the 50s- 70s . I remember the ViewMaster being one of the coolest toys around .My parents got me a ViewMaster Projector in 1971 or 72

[@joegongora2200]

Hadn't seen a Sears catalog in years. In the 1930's catalog something caught me eye. In one of the pages seemed like the men were wearing Bellbottom Pants. When I bought some flair-bottom pants back in 1970. My grandparents told me that kind of pant style was nothing new to them. They said they were in style for a year or two; and I guess it's in the 1930's. I guess that Sears catalog of the 1930's proves that. When I was in Junior High I remember what one of our teachers said. She said that styles come and go and sometimes they make a comeback. It's certainly sad that now they're closing most of the Sears stores. The department store we all grew-up with. Fred thanks for sharing this with us. It's sad that Sears department store may not be with us much longer.

[@FredFlix]

And of course bell bottoms originated in the Navy because they were easier to roll up when you swabbed the deck.

[@loki6253]

Yes I noticed the bellbottoms too

[@echodelta9]

Bell bottoms are in 4000 BC African Tassili rock paintings. The 1930's pants would have been the pants of a Zoot suit. There were anti-Hispanic riots over them as WW2 rationing of cloth happened.

[@mindyvaughn8217]

The Christmas Book was such a big treat every year because we got to go through and circle 3 things that we wanted Santa to bring us. Of course we knew Santa was Mom and Daddy. It was a sad day for me when our Sears store closed. Thanks Fred.💖

[@FredFlix]

Nice comment, Mindy.

[@woodyglendell7400]

This is so sad. The last Sears in Ohio near me in Great Northern Mall is closing. No more staring at all the Craftsman stuff. So depressing.

[@chaosdemonwolf1]

Remember when the Sears Christmas wish book was common? Now days throw away ads are wish books. It'll never be the same.

[@maintuning]

Here in Canada, Sears breathed its last breath a couple of years ago. I loved the huge selection of hand and power tools. Toward the end , the hardware department kept getting smaller and smaller as the months went by until there was only one person working there and she had to jump around from hardware to 2 other departments. That store, as it was at one time, is sorely missed.

[@christyann]

Omg! Takes me back to laying on the floor at grandma's house flipping through the pages. Stacks of old Sear's catalogs fantasizing about all those toys and pretty ruffled bedspreads. Lol!

[@tcphvacr9950]

Ahh, the old Wish Book from the early 70s through the mid 80s, made my day when it showed up every year. May not have got a lot from it, but it was a blast to dream about every year. Thanks for posting that nice compilation!

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome.

[@02chevyguy]

Sears was even mentioned in "Bewitched". SnobLady: I've been meaning to tell you, Mrs. Stephens, that's an amusing little frock you're wearing. Did you make it yourself? Sam: No, I had my coterie run it up. Snob Lady 2: It's lovely. Who is your man? Sam: Oh, it isn't one man, it's two. They call themselves SEARS AND ROEBUCK.

[@doraran2138]

As a person Elizabeth Montgomery was a snooty, privileged Hollywood princess (her dad was a famous actor). That aside, her frame would flatter even an off the rack frock. BTW: Always thought Bewitched was a cruel show, especially to Darren.

[@keelsmac01]

This was great Fred! Thanks for the memories! Sears catalog was the best! We'd go through it and write our "picks" on a a legal pad yellow paper, the list was long! We'd get 1/4 of what we asked for and were happy to get it!

[@rexlex1736]

Every autumn at our house included the unbridled anticipation of the arrival of the Sears Christmas Catalog. My brother and I spent many hours of excitement drooling over the toy section, wishing for all of the toys! The catalog remained on the coffee table within easy reach throughout the season. In fact, the Sears Christmas Catalog was as much a part of celebrating Christmas at our house as the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, eggnog, and the yearly rock hard fruitcake sent from Aunt Gladys!

[@LeslieGMN]

The first upload of this was marked “removed” and disappeared... you had me worried for a moment. Thanks again, Fred!!!

[@FredFlix]

YT rejected a song; so I had to change it.

[@Mike583]

@@FredFlix That's YT for you!

[@dragon-lf9ow]

Good bye Sears we'll miss ya

[@lizinwisconsin6728]

Boy, when I watch this I wonder what the hell has happened to our world. LOVE your music choices. Thanks!!!! The prices seemed to really skyrocket in the 80s. I feel sort of depressed now. :-( Take me back to the 40s.

[@FredFlix]

Inflation tripled from 1970 to 1980. If that happened now I'd be out on the street in 10 years.

[@jessrevill1852]

The 7" portable television from 1948 . . . $150 . . . equivalent to over $1600 today.

[@Peter7966]

You ever wonder where all that Sears stuff went. Me thinks there's some big warehouse on The Island of Old and Used Discarded Things right across from The Island of Misfit Toys. It would be a cool place to visit sometime.

[@lonrgrrl59]

Either lost and found wear (plus other wares, per toys) either sold on E-Bay or DealDash (or is that Door 🚪 Dash)?

[@jimsteele2072]

Ah, back in the days when prices were according to value. The money system is so screwed up, the prices are through the roof, and quality is a thing of the past.

[@gregggoss2210]

We got most of our toys from a local store called Discount Harry's. We did get our first gaming system from Sears ( Pong ).

[@partlycloudy9443]

PONG...lol..hours and hours of high technological fun on our 19 inch b&w tv that was on a ragged metal stand with wheels, the tv was missing a knob, so we had pliers tied to the tv on a string..lolol

[@loki6253]

We got our toys from a store called Otasco. Generally a hardware store but at Christmas had a huge toy selection, plus they had layaway. If it had not been for layaway we would have NEVER got a thing. My mother was the queen of layaway. Thank you Mom. We were poor but she made sure we always had a wonderful Christmas. One year she pawned her classring, wedding set (they were separated) and vac cleaner for Christmas gifts. She never got them back. I felt really bad about her classring years later when I finally learned what had happened. If I could have her another one made .....

[@loki6253]

Didn't we all... The pliers and tv antenna that someone had to go out and adjust by hand while your brother screamed THATS IT

[@gregggoss2210]

@@loki6253 , when parents were awesome.

[@arroyobaby38]

"18 1/2 and 10 3/4 cents???" Love this .... brings back some nice memories. I was born in the 60's

[@girlscanbedrummers5449]

I'm drooling at all the old dolls and dollhouses 🤤💕

[@bobhill5791]

What timing... my first, first like! I actually still own a violin from an early 1900's sears catalog.. Another good one Fred!

[@FredFlix]

Thank, Bob. Was the violin willed to you?

[@bobhill5791]

@@FredFlix No Fred I quit playing in Rock bands in my late 30's and took u classical violin. My friends wondered if i had, had a head injury!

[@luisreyes1963]

A fascinating trip through time with Sears catalogues. From Cathedral Radios to Nintendo NES consoles, what a trip it was. Thanks, FredFlix. 🎅

[@FredFlix]

And a trip at no cost to you, Luis.

[@thrashpondopons2776]

I started to look forward to the catalog around Back-To-School time! It was as much of the holiday's as the shlocky X-Mass Specials!

[@LynxSouth]

Years ago in a documentary, some elderly brothers talked about how everyone in the family had a favorite section of the Sears catalog: tools for dad, clothes and housewares for mom, toys for the kids. So, when the catalog got shifted to the outhouse for TP duty, they all were careful to try to preserve their own sections. They laughed over how the section that lasted the longest was women's underclothes until their mother caught on, then she began using it first.

[@brettmiddleton7949]

Big advantage to catalog shopping: No Black Friday crowds. But how did those older catalogs manage to escape their destined fate as, ummm, reading material in the little house out back?

[@mickieg1118]

Hey Fred, I watch your channel to unwind and be reminded of a simpler, better time of my life. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@FredFlix]

I appreciate it, Mickie.

[@2574mcu]

When I was a kid I used to like looking at the catalogs from Sears and Montgomery wards, but my favorite catalog was RadioShacks.

[@jamesbenedict7206]

Mine was J C Whitney!

[@billshea6657]

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE NORTH POLE and a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020...….. Those were the days my friend We thought they'd never end We'd sing and dance forever and a day We'd live the life we choose We'd fight and never lose For we were young and sure to have our

[@02chevyguy]

way

[@sporty1701]

Back in the mid and late fifties, going to Sears was a real treat. On a Saturday morning, the family would pile into Dad's car and drive almost 20 miles to the HUGE Sears store on North Main St. in Providence, Rhode Island. The store was built on a slight incline and the large parking lot (behind the store) was partially under the store...I always asked Dad to park under the store...I thought it was cool. Once inside, it was easy to be overwhelmed, they had EVERYTHING. Clothes, tools, lawnmowers,TVs, radios, furniture, appliances, records, record players and early stereos and all kinds of stuff to put on and in your car. We would be there for hours and always come home with much more than my folks had intended. We made the trip several times every year and I always loved it. A dozen or so years later, a new Sears store opened at the first really large mall in Rhode Island. The store was a hit with suburban shoppers and it wasn't long before sales began to fall at the older Providence store. A year or two later, the older store closed...progress had taken it's toll. The new store was OK, but it was hardly unique...just another store at the mall. Several years ago, the Sears at the mall closed... the company was dying. Within a year, the entire mall closed...once again, progress took it's toll. Like so many other retailers, Sears was not prepared for cyber shopping...they hung on to their "tried and true" marketing philosophy which had become hopelessly outdated. I'm afraid the end is very near for the once storied company. Anyway, thanks for reminding me (and others, I'm sure) of all the good times we had thumbing through the huge Sears catalogs, and shopping in those jam-packed stores...it was a wonderful part of our collective childhoods.

[@FredFlix]

Great comment, Scott.

[@dorothydromgoole8040]

I remember The Christmas Wish Book of Sears, I couldn't wait until it came out. I'm a '60s early '70's child. By the mid 1970 I would be a teenager. So I enjoyed being a kid in that time. Thanks for the memories.

[@tellemomma9780]

OMG FRED I LOVED THAT! The catalog was such a highlight! I'm so glad you did that one! I loved to look at the baby dolls! I couldn't wait to be a mother! Really enjoyed that and can't thank u enough!

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, Chantelle. This video seems to be quite popular.

[@arminiusschild5260]

I am a few months younger than you and i grew up on Long Island, but I have to say your videos are killing me. The memories they bring back are almost too painful to bear. Please keep it up.

[@FredFlix]

More pain coming, AS.

[@sharonramone7186]

Thanx for the memories,Fred! Love the fashions from the 50's + 60's. I still have my "Tressy" doll. And a 1969 Summer Sears Catalog!

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, Sharon.

[@allanadam4553]

I don’t remember a Sears catalogue but had Service Merchandise and Quelle from Germany. When we moved to Charlotte in 1979 the house we bought had black and white Sears catalogue wall paper from the 1880’s in the kitchen, also a wall rotary pay phone, used as a piggy bank!

[@jeannecravens628]

I loved going through the Sears and robuck catalog, I had 5 sisters and we would spend all day together with that book.

[@goodwuns5481]

The old toys in the ads never worked as advertised but were meant to stimulate imagination, unlike today. My imagination was more stimulated by the lingerie ads. I still have the last ever "Wish Book". Thanks, Fred, for another hit!

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, goodwuns.

[@tobyradloff]

The women's underwear pages came in handy to those kids who couldn't get ahold of a Playboy.

[@deneennash5102]

You outdone yourself, Fred!! I enjoyed it tremendously!! I remembered about 1968 to 1989. Thanks for posting.

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, Deneen.

[@tammyisenblatter9138]

Another fantastic journey!!! From Benny Goodman(i think) to Bread! And all the items, clothes and technology and toys! From New home to Nintendo! I miss the days of catalogue perusing and picking our order up or it being delivered!!! Thank you Fred for the chance to reflect on the past!!!

[@FredFlix]

Happy to do it, Tammy.

[@rolandjohansson7428]

Thank You Mr Flix. This was one of your very best. How we have deteriorated....

[@FredFlix]

Thanks for your comment, Roland.

[@glendamcdonald1931]

Another one out of the park FredFlix. Love this! I saw my first Sears Roebuck catalog book at my friends house in 1969! We had a blast looking through it. Our parents didn't order from it that I know of and my mother did make (and took pride in) making some of our clothes and especially for special occasions like Easter. My Grandmother was a master seamstress and had taught my mother. They did beautiful work. I noticed how much not only the clothes changed through the decades but also the people... you can really see how everything progressed .. sad really about some of it and the clothes were made with MUCH better quality up until 70's or mid 70's. Now most are so cheaply made and thin fabric etc and of course very few made in USA. love this FredFlix. thanks... even if I did get teary eyed.. again. ha ha

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, Glenda. Nice comment.

[@markjeffels3327]

Thank you, it brought back some great memories of my childhood!

[@FredFlix]

Glad you enjoyed it, Mark.

[@heedmywarning2792]

I didn't see any L.E.D. watches in the 70s catalogs. That was strange. Cue Capricorn One/Soylent Green/the Conversation conspiracy theory.

[@edithlewis9330]

What a fantastically great video. I remember in the 60s when we got the Sears catalogs in the mail and they were over an inch thick. My favorite section was the toys section. I used to point to certain ones and tell myself, “When I grow up, I’ll buy this and this and this and this....”. Never did, but how wonderful it was to dream. The dresses of the 40s, 50s, and 60s were beautiful. They don’t make beautiful clothes like they used to. Good thing some patterns of similar styles exist and I can make them. Can’t stand the styles of today!

[@FredFlix]

Charm and character have left our society, Edith.

[@sailor75565]

This brings back so many good memories. Thank you FredFlix.

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, sailor.

[@davecolvett8771]

Excellent man, you certainly NAILED IT with the way things were way back when... And the music is simply icing on this cake...!

[@FredFlix]

Thanks, Dave.

[@terrymathis1446]

I love these videos! I especially enjoyed watching the prices change and the women starting to wear pants. Also interesting was the Mamie doll pushing the baby carriage in the '30s. No Black models until the '70's! Thanks for keeping the actual American history alive!

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, Terrry.

[@waynemiller1609]

Thank you Freddy for this awesome video and memories,sears was the amazon of the past,thanks for the memories and great soundtrack to match!!!

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, Wayne.

[@E.L.RipleyAtNostromo]

Every year in the 1960’s starting after Thanksgiving we poured over the Sears catalog, focusing on the toys of course. Love to see these old pages again!

[@debbiebarnhardt1590]

I think every kids Christmas Wish Book was the best. I also remember when they had the catalog stores.

[@jeenkzk5919]

I remember looking through one of the Sears Wishbook catalog as a child during nap time circa 81. Another one I looked through was BEST. I’m not sure it was a regional retailer or something. All those stores were gone by the early 90s

[@waitwhat6882]

A piece of Americana ❤️

[@Pyridox]

Thanks for sharing this Fred. Sure brought back a lot of memories. Sears used to be know for decent quality products. I'm glad that the Craftsman brand is still around, Good that Stanley Tools took that over and hopefully the quality will still be there.

[@Texasgrrl77]

I used to look at my mom's Sears catalog from the 1800s when they used to sell home plans and kits. I loved looking at that catalog. I'd spend hours looking through it. It was a replica catalog of course. The houses were so nice! In fact I believe that there are still some of them still standing in neighborhoods today. Neat stuff! Thank you for posting such awesome videos. I can spend all day watching them. 😊✌🏻

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, Texasgirl.

[@rolfsinkgraven]

Once we had a big shop like that, until 15 years ago it closed, miss it dearly ..............................

[@loripasserman8693]

There's 1 Sears left in my area, and it's so sad to walk through it. It needs to be put out of it's misery

[@jrebecca0195]

My local Sears closed a year ago, and there are no more of them nearby. So sad. 😭

[@joegongora2200]

There's 1 left here in Corpus Christi, Texas USA; but it will be closing soon. They probably might close that mall down. Because most of the stores have gone out of business. Sears was the store holding down the perimeter.

[@annapaulikonis2433]

I wanna cry.I miss KMart too!

[@traceyf4842]

They might as well close it down. The quality of the clothes are not good at all.

[@joegongora2200]

Well...It finally happened that yesterday 12/15/2019, the Sears store shut its doors here in Corpus Christi, Texas USA. It had been announced several hrs ago on the 10:00 News, that Sears finally shut its doors. I grew up going to that store my folks bought clothes for me there. When I grew up I continued buying clothes there. I even had my car repaired there several times. I know it saddens me but life moves on and one expects changes. Because that's what life is about and things change. In another 2yrs we'll have a new Harbor Bridge, a new 1 will replace the old one. In 1962 or 3 one of the episodes of Route 66 had been filmed here in Corpus Christi. When the episode started Martin Milner was crossing the bridge in his Corvette. There will be memories of that bridge because it was a landmark. Corpus Christi is known for that bridge. But the Harbor Bridge has served its purpose.

[@srpdesigns]

It's Christmas morning 2020 and I'm going through my childhood memories through The Sears Wish Book. Thank You for taking the time to put this video together.. It brought me back to such a better time in our lives Merry Christmas to you and your family My Friend

[@FredFlix]

That's very nice of you to say and happy holidays to you, SRP Designs.

[@JP-yw4wx]

Growing up with the Sears catalog meant you were interested in quality products. Their Christmas catalog was my favorite. Thanx for the vid

[@FredFlix]

You're welcome, John.

[@MrTitan225]

Great times ! the Sears wishbook at Xmas time ! I got my first bike there.... also the Pikes peak car race set from this catalog ....RIP Sears .....sadly missed by all

[@jimmyb1559]

Had that race set too! Sears was the best!

[@lisamarieva3514]

My older sister, younger brother and I would have the yearly Wish Book completely dog eared and crayoned up within one week of its delivery. We each would pick a color of crayon or marker so Mom would know who wanted what AND we each wrote a detailed list complete with description and page number. Of course we did not get everything on our lists but every Christmas was so full of love, fun, and family anyways that the gifts were just icing on the cake.