Milford chronicle., 1955-12-09
Christmas Cathedral
At Wanamakers

The Grand Court of the Wana-
maker store in Philadelphia, famed
/ throughout the world for the ma
I iesty of its scale, it's organ, and
the huge bronze Eagle, this year
has been designed as a huge Ca
4 thedral Square. Towering higE in
to the vast dome of the Court is
the Cathedral facade, reaching six
stories high, complete with bells
and towers, a Rose Window of ex-
! guisite beauty, and great portals
4 and inches containing large figures
depicting the Story of Christ.
Complete in every detail, the
Cathedral is designed to represent
\ architectural achievements inspir
ed by many of the worlds great
edifices. For example, the Rose
/ Window, itself a product of inge-
nUity and beauty, shimmers with
flights and cOlOrs in pattern dup
licating the well-knOwn window
! at the Cathedral of Reins, by
which it was inspired. Other win
dOws present 'i'The Alteration of
/ the Shepherds" "The Alteration of
\ the Magi," ''The AnnunciatiOn,
and "The Flight Into Egypt" In
\ front of the cathedral are beauti-
full figures, sculptured and cos
TUNED in all the medieval beauty
of their inspiration, depicting the
Nativity.
High in the towers are the state
ly statues of the prophets, the
twelve disciples, and some of the
4 ancestors of Christ. About the
I sides of the Court the Cathedral
| continues, with the presentation
of events at the time of the birth
of Christ. Giant figures, high in
arched inches, tell the story in a
brilliant array of color and fine
workmanship. Below, on ledges
slightly above eye-height, is erec-
ted a series of eight tableauX dra-
matizing Christmas customs, with
exquisitely made figures dressed
in rich cOlors and fine detail.
The research, the planning and
the actual construction of this am
bilious program has taken more
than a year. Artists and engineers,
under the direction of Frederick
M. Yost, vice president, have lab
cred to combine their abilities into
the making of one of the most i'm
posing and truly beautiful snow
covered spectacles ever seen.
The ancient atmosphere of a
Cathedral Square is enhanced
through the intricate lighting. Soft
lights, hidden craftily, dramatize
the exterior walls, and change per-
iodically, creating the impression
of Dawn to Dusk Hourly the great
bells peal forth their chimes. These
ringings, known as chime
changes" are actually played
through the great Wanamaker Or
gan, one of the few organs in the
world capable of reproducing the
authentic chime changes Of the
great Cathedrals of the world.
The chime changes, which are
rung daily, are as follows: Col
ogne Cathedral, Germany; SITS.
Peter and Paul Cathedral, Phila-
delphia; Charles Cat h edra
France; Notre Dame de Paris Ca
thedraI. France; Westminster Alb
hey, England; Old Christ Church.
Philadelphia; Village Church, OBJ
erammergau, Germany; Canter-
bury Cathedral, England; st. Pc
ter's Basilica, Rome; Riverside
Church. New York; Reims Cathe-
dral. France; St. Paul's Cathedral,
England: st. Anne de Beaupre,
Quebec, Canada.
Included in the musical pro-
grams are choirs and choruses.
Soloists and as many as 135 voices
resound, accompanied by the Wan
amaker organ. Participants are
gowned or costumed in medieval
splendor. The changing programs
will take place at five o'clock ev-
cry day until Christmas.
The Turks can corn fEgyptiar