Retro Retail Video - Kinney Shoes
Vintage 1978 Kinney Shoe Store TV Commercial (found on YouTube), with Ken Berry. Boy I sure remember these spots growing up. That little jingle really takes me back. And best of all, this one was shot inside a shopping mall! I'm not sure which one, though, as you don't really get to see a whole lot of it for very long. Still, anyone care to play detective and take some guesses?
posted by Keith @ 4/14/2006
10 Comments:
Fox Hills, huh? Hmmm. Man, i wonder if that's it? Thanks for the guess--I'll look into that!
I watched this little commercial the other day. I can't even begin to guess the mall, but it definitely isn't here in Wisconsin. We only had three malls that were two floors back in 1978...Northridge (closed) and Southridge in Milwaukee, and (the now-closed) Port Plaza in Green Bay.
Now all we need is an advertisement from Kinney's closest competition in the 1960s/1970s heyday of enclosed malls....Thom McAn!
Speaking of which, I've seen several locations of that shoe store already in this blog. They were about as easily found as Kinney back in the day, just as stores like Payless ShoeSource or The Finish Line are today.
I thought I'd be the only one to guess correctly...
Hushpuppy is right -- it's definitely Fox Hills!
Fox Hills in 1999 - 1
Fox Hills in 1999 - 2
Though it had been extensively remodeled by the time I visited, Fox Hills had a unique design feature when it opened: the dark bands across the top of all the stores that contained the store name. I've seen this feature in photos and in the commercial you posted here.
Great find, Keith!
OMG! Isn't that Ken Barry?
I still hum this tune when I pass on old freestanding Kinney shoes, of which there are many in the Bay Area. They have a distinct architecture.
Was that Musicland in the background of the commercial? :)
What did happen to Thom McAn?
Maybe we can find a commercial for Chick fil'A.
Scott
Bigmallrat, Thom McAn shoes are sold at Kmart. I know, I bought a pair just last week. I don't think they have any freestanding stores left.
I can remember when Kinney and Thom McAn where big names at any mall their locations were usually on opposite sides of.
That is definitely Fox Hills mall in Culver City, if you notice the angled floor tile pattern with red brick and the grouping of circular downlights in the ceiling.
I believe it is getting ready for another big expansion and renovation.
Absolutely sure it is Fox Hills Mall. There is a very unique orange staircase (steel beams) in the center of the mall that was there when I grew up in the 70s.
Anyone remember Lord Byrons pizza?
@Anonymous: yes I remember that staircase very well (pictured in the video from about 0:09 to 0:12, in the background).
I was always impressed visiting that mall and walking through that staircase; lots of glass, steel and lights.
I would love to see more old photos of Fox Hills Mall, brings back many memories...including some of my earliest video gaming at the "Time Out" arcade.
Yes it is indeed Fox Hills. In the 80s I worked at Thom Mcan's when I was I'm high school in the Fox Hills Mall.
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