Where Was the Department Store Scene in Christmas Vacation Filmed?

By Michael Ferguson

If you’re a fan of the classic holiday movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you may have wondered where the famous department store scene was filmed. In this article, we’ll take a look at the location and some interesting facts about this iconic scene.

Where Was the Department Store Scene Filmed?

The department store scene in Christmas Vacation was filmed at the former Marshall Field’s flagship store in Chicago, Illinois. The now-closed store was located on State Street and was a well-known landmark in the city.

A Brief History of Marshall Field’s

Marshall Field’s was founded in 1852 by Marshall Field and became one of the largest and most successful department stores in the United States. The State Street store opened in 1902 and quickly became a popular shopping destination for locals and tourists alike.

The store was known for its high-quality merchandise, excellent customer service, and beautiful architecture. It was also famous for its holiday window displays, which drew crowds every year.

In 2006, Macy’s acquired Marshall Field’s, and the name was eventually changed to Macy’s. The State Street location closed its doors in 2008 after more than 100 years of operation.

The Department Store Scene

In Christmas Vacation, the department store scene takes place when Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) takes his family on a shopping trip to buy presents for their relatives. Chaos ensues as they navigate through crowded aisles and encounter rude salespeople.

The scene is memorable for its over-the-top comedic moments, including a run-in with an elderly woman on an escalator and Clark getting trapped in an attic display.

Trivia About the Scene

– The department store scene took three weeks to film. – The production crew had to work overnight to film some scenes because the store was still open during the day.

– The elderly woman on the escalator was played by Mae Questel, who was the voice of Betty Boop and also played Aunt Bethany in the movie. – The scene where Clark gets trapped in the attic display was filmed on a set built inside the store.

Conclusion

The department store scene in Christmas Vacation is one of the most memorable moments in the movie. Filmed at the former Marshall Field’s flagship store in Chicago, it captures the chaos and frustration of holiday shopping with humor and exaggeration. Although Marshall Field’s is no longer in operation, its legacy lives on in this classic holiday film.