Ogilvy's and Holt Renfrew: Buzz is, big changes are coming.

[IluvMTL]

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McCord Museum inherits Ogilvy's iconic holiday window displays

Montreal's McCord Museum will inherit Ogilvy’s much-loved mechanical holiday window displays of small stuffed animals interacting in an imaginary setting, the museum announced on Wednesday.

SUSAN SCHWARTZ, MONTREAL GAZETTE

More from Susan Schwartz, Montreal Gazette

Published on: March 21, 2018 | Last Updated: March 21, 2018 6:24 PM EDT

The Enchanted Village: Mechanical display has graced the window of the Ogilvy store in downtown Montreal during the Christmas season each year from 1947 onward. PHOTO COURTESY HOLT RENFREW OGILVY

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Montreal’s McCord Museum will inherit Ogilvy’s much-loved mechanical holiday window displays of small stuffed animals interacting in an imaginary setting, the museum announced on Wednesday.

The windows, which have delighted families since 1947, have been transferred to the downtown social history museum. They will be accessible to visitors, free of charge, from mid-November to early January.

The end of the Christmas window display tradition comes only months after the demise of another long-standing tradition at Ogilvy’s: For 72 years, until last September, a kilted bagpiper wandered through the store at lunchtime, skirling. Reaction to the decision to silence the pipes was swift and angry.

The Selfridges Group, which includes Holt Renfrew & Co. Ltd., acquired Ogilvy in 2011. Now a department store housing numerous boutiques, the store was founded in 1866 by James A. Ogilvy as a linen shop; it has been at its current location since 1896. 

A multimillion-dollar phased renovation and expansion of the Ste-Catherine St. building to merge the Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy stores is set to be complete in 2020. The store is being rebranded Holt Renfrew Ogilvy.

“We are focused on getting the best of both stores under one roof and one banner, while honouring traditions and events that celebrate Montreal’s rich fashion heritage,” the store said in a statement on Wednesday. “We are honoured to update and preserve the landmark Ogilvy building in Montreal — including, for example, the preservation of Tudor Hall — and its important heritage in the community.”

Tudor Hall, on the store’s fifth floor, was once a music hall and it had a concert pipe organ.

The Mill in the Forest: Mechanical display has graced the window of the Ogilvy store in downtown Montreal during the Christmas season each year from 1947 onward.PHOTO COURTESY HOLT RENFREW OGILVY

A statement from Holt Renfrew Ogilvy explained its decision to end the Christmas window display tradition as a move intended “to protect, preserve and ensure their continuity as a landmark of Montreal’s Christmas atmosphere … They have become heritage pieces that we feel need to be managed by the museum’s restoration experts in order to ensure their preservation and continuity over the long term.”

The donation is being accompanied by a gift of $50,000 to the museum’s foundation toward the maintenance of the mechanical displays. 

Custom-made by the German plush-toy company Steiff, the displays feature two environments: the Enchanted Village and the Mill in the Forest.

Said Suzanne Sauvage, the McCord’s president and CEO: “We are delighted that Holt Renfrew Ogilvy chose the McCord Museum for this important legacy.”

[Normand Hamel]

Ogilvy's Christmas windows on display at the McCord

T'Cha Dunlevy - Montreal Gazette

It was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, Tuesday morning, as melting snow fell and a landmark of Montreal’s holiday season was revived in a new setting.

Ogilvy’s beloved mechanical Christmas displays were unveiled at the McCord Museum, where they will be shown until Jan. 6.

The downtown department store’s annual scenes of stuffed animals interacting in imaginary settings had been delighting Montrealers since 1947. The tradition was brought to an end this year, when The Selfridges Group, which includes Holt Renfrew & Co Ltd. and Ogilvy, donated its two displays, The Mill In the Forest and the Enchanted Village, to the McCord.

“The Ogilvy’s displays are part of Montreal history. We hope they’ll continue to delight thousands of Montreal families,” Suzanne Sauvage, president and chief executive officer of the McCord, said in a statement.

The Mill in the Forest can be seen 24 hours a day at the corner of Sherbrooke St. W. and Victoria St., outside the museum (and will be seen for the next five holiday seasons, thanks to sponsor iÖGO nanö). The Enchanted Village is in a room on the second floor.

Magdalene Karalis was among the passersby taking in the interaction among the stuffed monkeys, donkeys, ducks, bears, rabbits, dogs, frogs and hedgehogs in the street display.

“I think it’s gorgeous,” said the McGill student. “It’s really cute. I think it’s a creative way to get into the holiday spirit, and brighten all our days.”

Two international students at McGill, Cleo Aitchison and Dilse Kaygisiz, were at once fascinated and perplexed.

“It’s difficult to know where (the display) is from,” said Aitchison, born in Montreal but raised in the U.K., who had not noticed the information on the side of the outdoor structure.

“It’s original,” said Kaygisiz. “I’ve never seen a display like this. Usually they’re more related to Christmas than stuffed animals.”

“And also not moving,” added Aitchison.

Visiting from Boston, Hugh Willburn and Michael Rogan appreciated the elaborate staging.

“In Boston, there used to be a store that had Christmas displays, but not as fun as this one, nor as populated,” Willburn said.

“Nor as animated,” Rogan concurred. “It’s charming.”

“It’s wonderful we just happened upon it.”

Bob Asch, 89, is a member of the McCord. He was passing by when he stopped to take a few pictures and enjoy the view.

“I find this most interesting,” Asch said of the outdoor showcase. “It’s a good advertisement (for the museum).”

In order to ensure the continuation of the Ogilvy windows holiday tradition, the McCord is launching an Adopt An Animal campaign, in which participants can symbolically adopt one of the 141 stuffed animals for five years, through donations ranging from $50 to $500.

For children visiting the exhibit, the McCord offers a free seek and find game, and story time every day at 11 a.m. (in French) and 3:30 p.m. (in English), through Dec. 14.

Christmas carols will be sung Saturdays at 11 a.m., through Dec. 15. And I Musici de Montréal performs 60-minute concerts of winter and Christmas music on Dec. 9 and 16 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 (free for children under 12 and museum members).

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/ogilvys-christmas-windows-on-display-at-the-mccord

Modifié 16 novembre 2018 par Normand Hamel

[Normand Hamel]

[Rocco]

Its great, but the big bold red frame and 2 red colums separating the 3 windows are taking sight off the display. They should have made one big rectangle window.