Join local authors Thomas H. Keels and Lawrence M. Arrigale for a presentation on their book, Philadelphia's Golden Age of Retail. Their presentation, "Miracles on Market Street: How Philadelphia Retailers Celebrated the Holidays," shows how Philadelphia's many department and specialty stores enticed and enchanted holiday shoppers, from the Colonial Easter Village at Lits, to Snellenburg's Mother's Day Flower Show, to Gimbels' Thanksgiving Day Parade, to the Dickens Village at Strawbridge & Clothier and the Christmas Light Show at Wanamaker's! This presentation features dozens of fascinating images from holidays past, but shows how some of Philadelphia’s old traditions still survive today in various locales.  

Thomas H. Keels is a lecturer, writer, and commentator specializing in Philadelphia history and architecture. He is the author or co-author of seven published books on Philadelphia history, including Sesqui! Greed, Graft, and the Forgotten World’s Fair of 1926; Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love; Forgotten Philadelphia: Lost Architecture of the Quaker City; and Philadelphia Graveyards and Cemeteries. A confirmed taphophile (Greek for “lover of graves”), Tom has been a tour guide at Laurel Hill Cemetery for thirty years. Visit his website at www.thomaskeels.com.

Lawrence M. Arrigale is a native Philadelphian who grew up shopping at Wanamaker’s and other Market Street and Chestnut Street stores. He also worked at J.E. Caldwell & Co. Larry has been a mainstay of local theater for many years, appearing at the Players Club of Swarthmore, Allens Lane Art Center, the Germantown Drama Group, and most recently as Malvolio in Twelfth Night at Stagecrafters in Chestnut Hill. In Autumn 2025, Larry and Tom are collaborating on a “Spirits of Historic Germantown” program for the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion.