19 hundred and 56; the height of America's Jet Age. One of the major news events of the year was the passage of the Federal Highway Act of 1956, on June 29. This created our nation's Interstate Highway System, that was implemented between late 1956 and 1992. Many a shopping mall would be built adjacent to this coast-to-coast and border-to-border expressway network. 

"Robbie the Robot" image from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Incorporated

"Elvis Presley" LP image from RCA Records

A mall-type shopping complex, circa-1956. At that time, it would have been known as either a "Center", "Square", "Shopping City" or "Plaza." However, the stores on both sides corridor might have been referred to as its "mall." The first major "mall" (with the entire complex being the mall) opened in Paramus, New Jersey in 1957.

-Click on image for a larger view-

So get all your cash together. You are now ready for a time-travelling trip. 

In our very own Wayback Machine, you are transported back to the year 1956!

Your destination: the open-air concourse of our virtual 1956 shopping hub, which is known as THE CENTER. 

This shiny new complex has two of the nation's better known "5 & dimes." Here is G.C. Murphy...commonly known as "Murphy's."

With the Christmas season quickly approaching, the store has expanded its selection of the latest toys. Could this "Robert the Robot" be a knock-off of the automaton seen in that "Forbidden Planet" movie?

Advert from the G.C. Murphy Company

Howdy Doody dolls are on sale this week for only 1 dollar. The kiddy TV show has been on the air for nearly 10 years and, since last year, has been "colorcast" on NBC.

Advert from the G.C. Murphy Company

The Mr. Potato Head toy came out a couple of years ago. We've been told that it was the first toy to be advertised on television. For the uninitiated, one takes an actual potato and inserts the various plastic accessories... such as a body, nose, eyes and mouth.
Photo from Hasbro, Incorporated 

Milton Bradley introduced Yahtzee this year.
Photo from Milton Bradley Company-Hasbro, Incorporated

Another new toy for the tots was originally developed as a wallpaper cleaner...Rainbow Crafts' Play-Doh.
Photo from Hasbro, Incorporated

Beside the G.C. Murphy store is Three Sisters, one of the better dress shops in THE CENTER.

It's time for another big SALE event...

Advert from the Miller-Wohl Company

Farther on down the "mall" is the Center Beauty Salon.

Here are a few of the latest coiffures available.

NOTE: About the phone number. In 1956, telephone calls are dialed in this manner. For example, KLondike 6-6502 (listed as "KL 6-6502" in the phone book) is dialed 556-6502...the KL being the letters-numbers 5 and 5 on the phone dial. In New York City, you might have a number such as MUrray Hill 5-7432 (685-7432) or HOllywood 3-6709 (463-6709), out in Los Angeles. This alphanumeric dialing system has been in use since the 1930s.

THE CENTER music mart, Spin City, carries all of the latest records. They even stock a few of those new-fangled open reel tape albums!

In 1956, the recording industry is in transition. This is obvious at a record store like Spin City. Since the dawn of the industry, the prerecorded music market has been geared toward adults. In 1955, a new style of music, known as "rock & roll," began being heard around the nation. It targeted a teenage audience.

 

There are currently so many different music formats, that it might be a good idea to explain all of the different record sizes and speeds. New releases are still available on the traditional 78 disc, but industry insiders believe that these could be phased out by 1958.
Image from the Radio Corporation of America / http://auction.graceland.com

The 12 inch -33 & 1/3- LONG PLAY album is the new recording industry standard (replacing the 78). The discs are available in a "monophonic" (single channel) format and have a capacity of twenty-three minutes of programming per side. Harry Belafonte's "Calypso" recently became the first LONG PLAY record to sell a million copies.
Image from the Radio Corporation of America 

The 10-inch diameter "33 & 1/3" LP can hold up to seventeen minutes of programming (or four average-length songs) per side.
Image from EMI-Capitol Records

The third "33 & 1/3" record format is contained on a 7 inch disc. Known as an "Extended Play," or EP, these can hold up to ten minutes of programming -or three songs- per side.

Image from Decca-Universal Music Group / https://www.wolfgangs.com

The multi-song "Album" format, made possible by the LONG PLAY 12 and 10 inch disc, has been adapted for the 7 inch 45 rpm medium. Bound sets of Extended Play discs (each holding two or three songs per side) are sold alongside their 12 and 10 inch counterparts. All of these different record speeds and sizes can get rather confusing (and require a great deal of retail store space).
Image from EMI-Capitol Records  

The sixth -and final- disc format being sold at Spin City is the basic 7-inch 45 rpm record (which can hold one or two songs per side). This medium debuted in 1949. It is showing great promise among teenage record buyers.
Image from Specialty Records 

The pre-recorded (7 & 1/2 inches per second) OPEN REEL TAPE was introduced in 1954. It is primarily a classical music medium. Several releases in this format are available in 2-channel "stereo" (NOTE: in 1956, vinyl records are only available in single-channel "monophonic" sound).
Image from the Radio Corporation of America / http://www.boija.com

After browsing through the records at Spin City for over an hour, we stroll into the shiny new J.C. Penney next door. The store held it grand opening at THE CENTER last week.

The Penney's chain has come a long way since its first store opened, under the name of The Golden Rule, back in 1902.

Graphics from the J.C. Penney Company

As part of the anniversary, ladies' winter coats are on sale this week at THE CENTER Penney's store.

Advert from the J.C. Penney Company

Penney's shopping center stores carry apparel, housewares and related "softline" merchandise.

Advert from the J.C. Penney Company

Just about every one of America's up & coming shopping centers has a pharmacy. Here at THE CENTER, it's a Center Rexall Drug. Like nearly every other drug store in the nation, it features a sit-down "luncheonette" snack bar.