Before malls and "big box" stores, where did people do their Christmas shopping? Downtown! Today I'm posting a few images of Downtown Santa Ana at Christmastime in the 1930s. The photo above shows the 100 block of E. 4th Street, including J. C. Penney in the foreground and Montgomery Ward on the near side of the intersection with Main St. That "Monkey Wards" building was a real art deco beauty. It's now a parking lot for First American Corp..
The next photo, below, shows N. Main St., between 2nd and 3rd. I think I prefer the over-the-street garlands they used today over the ones they used during the last depression.
Today's last photo, below, shows the Otis Building at 4th St. and Main, an intersection which was long the hub of commerce in Santa Ana. The building still stands and hasn't changed much in appearance. However, the Owl Drug Co., which was affiliated with Rexall, is long gone.
All photos in today's post come from the history room at the Santa Ana Public Library.