The southwest facade of THE ESPLANADE. Its huge Sears store looms in the background.
Photo from the Online Archive of California / Woody Gillette
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In the Beginning (1917-1943)
Click on image to read about innovative retail facilities that led to the development of the post-war shopping center and mall.
TOY & MHoF Productions Present
A documentary which offers a contradictory viewpoint to the "all malls are dead or dying" declaration. A short history of the American shopping center and mall is also provided.
Also from Toy & Mhof Productions
A visual history of the American mobile home and the folk who lived in them, centering on the mid-20th century years.
A Disclaimer
Although articles and special features have been thoroughly researched, we can not guarantee that all information is 100% accurate. We try to do our best with insufficient reference material and conflicting details. Contemporary newspaper write-ups are our primary source of information. These, and other materials, are listed at the end of each article.
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Logos & Trademarks
Mall logo and trademark images in various articles illustrate key moments in a mall's history. The images are not replaceable with free-use or public-domain images. The use of the images does not limit the copyright owners' rights to distribute the images in any way. Images are used for non-profit, informational purposes only and their use is not believed to detract from the original copyrighted images in any way.