It's strange to drive by Midway Mall these days, knowing that the property is going to be redeveloped by its new owner, the Lorain County Port Authority. Possible plans include transitioning it away from retail and towards health and wellness, with Cleveland Clinic as an anchor tenant. We'll have to wait and see.
In the meantime, it's fun to look back at the Mall's heyday of the 1970s when there was always some kind of show or exhibit going on. Below is an ad for just such an event : Midway Mall's Sport Show. It ran in the Journal back on May 17, 1973.
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| Hey, Boo Boo! This drawing is a boo boo! |
It's a fun ad. You have a great French-Canadian lumberjack character, "Paddling Pierre," drawn by none other than Bob Lynch, the Chronicle-Telegram's resident cartoonist and creator of Petey the Pioneer, the Elyria High School sports mascot. On the other hand, you have a lousier-than-the-average drawing of the smarter-than-the-average bear, Yogi Bear, apparently at the Mall to plug his Jellystone Park Resorts.
There's something for everyone: an appearance by former Ohio State Football player and Cleveland Brown Dick Schafrath; square dancing; a fishing rodeo for the kids; a first aid demonstration; a free putting green; a swimming pool exhibit; taxidermy demonstrations; a backpacking demonstration; and a canoe exhibit.
Yup, this show seems to have been designed for a manly, rugged woodsman like myself. I mean, how could I pass up a chance to meet Yogi Bear?
I just hope Yogi's costume was more bearable than the unreasonable facsimile of him in the ad.
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Midway Mall and its special events have been the topics of many posts on this blog.
5 comments:
When I first moved here from Pennsyltucky and visited Midway, I couldn't believe there was a huge, very busy mall 'way out in the sticks.
It's been sad to watch it fade away over the decades, but what happened to it is the same thing that it did to our area's downtown businesses. But people find other places to shop.
I hope the redevelopment is successful. Other similar places have been turned into all sort of wonderful things, from healthcare to apartments. I think part of it should be an old-folks home with a built-in walking track!
downtown Lorain was going down hill before Oneils was built in 54.Elyria was OK until MIDWAY knocked off both in the 60s. Elyria held on better because of the county seat.I know because I worked all 4 places.
Sad to see Midway in its state when it used to be so busy and had events like sidewalk sales, boat and cars shows. After Dillards left the end was near. Centro bought the mall from Westfield after they bought it from Jacobs group and it was never taken care of again. The mall had potential with the turnpike and 90 right there. I miss the days of looking at Woolworths animals and having Icees at the snack bar.
I remember Midway would have a comic book show and it would be in the thoroughfare.And I remember the car shows too.They would have new car shows as mentioned and they used to have old car shows or it might've been an all Corvette show.There was this one Corvette owner,he bought it new at Milad's Chevrolet,and he would always have it at the show.It was a late "50s Corvette if I remember.I wonder if that guy is still alive and if he still has his prized Vette?
Another great Midway post. Always appreciated. Great memories there!
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