Two

THE WAR YEARS

HUDSON’S SALES OF WAR BONDS, 1942. War bonds were debt securities issued by the U.S. government to finance military operations, stabilize prices, and prevent inflation during World War II. Hudson’s was the first American department store appointed by the U.S. Treasury to be an issuing agent for war bond purchases. Between May 1, 1942 and April 14, 1943, more than $5 million in bonds were sold at Hudson’s. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

VICTORY LOAN DRIVE AT HUDSON’S, 1943. To match the 1,290 Hudson employees in the service, each of the 1,290 brigadier gallants (store associates actively selling war bonds) sponsored one of those servicemen to “Back the Attack” for them personally. At the close of the drive, each brigadier sent a personal victory mail message with autographs of bond customers to those soldiers. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

PROMOTING EXTRA HOLIDAY WAR BOND SALES, 1943. During the holiday season, each brigadier gallant suggested to the undecided guest to purchase a Christmas gift bond folder. Hudson’s was awarded the Minuteman flag by the U.S. Treasury in 1943, proclaiming that 90 percent of store employees were allotting a portion of their salaries to war savings bonds. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

HUDSON’S WINDOWS DEVOTED TO PATRIOTIC EFFORTS, 1942. Besides devoting Woodward Avenue windows to the war effort, Hudson’s set up 30 stations throughout the store for the sale of war bonds. Additionally, Hudson employees sold victory corsages and boutonnieres, which consisted of nine 10¢ war stamps selling for $1. Further support included full-page newspaper ads and radio spots. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

THE QUIZ KIDS INVADE DETROIT, 1943. Quiz Kids was a popular radio series sponsored by Alka-Seltzer. The program asked questions sent in by listeners, with the answers supplied by a panel of five children who were selected for their high IQs. Hudson’s brought Quiz Kids to the Masonic Temple as part of the Four Freedoms War Bond Show. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

PROMOTING MICHIGAN PREMIERE OF STAGE DOOR CANTEEN, 1943. Hudson’s devoted a window to promote this film, debuting at downtown’s Palms State Theatre. The movie celebrated the importance of New York’s Stage Door Canteen, which served as a recreational center for American servicemen on leave. The canteen regularly featured stars of Broadway, film, and big bands. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

FORGING AHEAD WITH THE THIRD WAR LOAN EFFORT, 1943. Hudson’s also set up a special war bond issuing booth at a submarine exhibit in Grand Circus Park and sold $20,000 in bonds the first day. The Third War Loan effort ended with the Four Freedoms War Bond Show, sponsored by Hudson’s, the Treasury Department, and The Saturday Evening Post. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

PROMOTING VICTORY MAIL, 1944. This Woodward Avenue window featured one of the world’s most popular pinup models, Ginger Rogers, promoting V-mail. Victory mail operated during World War II to expedite mail service for American armed forces overseas. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

U.S. NAVY VICTORY MAIL EXHIBIT AT HUDSON’S, 1945. An interesting exhibit in the 12th-floor auditorium included demonstrations by U.S. Navy men and WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) on how to operate the machines that sped victory mail on its way overseas. The exhibit also included trophies and souvenirs from the battlefronts of the world. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

RECRUITING NURSES AND RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS, 1943. This Hudson’s window display sought volunteers for the war effort by teaming up with a promotion for the film So Proudly We Hail, a love story featuring American women on the fighting front. This was an opportunity for those without family obligations to thank their country by volunteering with the Army or Navy Nurse Corps. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

DISPLAY DEVOTED TO U.S. MARINE CORPS WOMEN’S RESERVE, 1945. This reserve branch of the Marine Corps was established in 1942 to provide women for shore duty jobs so men could be released for combat duty. Requirements stated that these women had to be 20 to 36 years of age and high school graduates. (Courtesy Detroit Historical Museum.)

IN-HOUSE MAGAZINE PROMOTES WAR BONDS, 1942. Hudsonian, the in-house magazine produced by Hudson’s, began in 1923 and with the exception of the Depression years was published continuously through the early 1980s. The issue shown here with a young child licking a war bond stamp is encouraging employees to save every penny to support the war effort. (Courtesy Michael Hauser.)

HUDSON’S VOLUNTEER BRIGADIER GALLANTS, 1943. Another issue of Hudsonian was dedicated to those employees who pledged to sell at least $1,000 worth of war bonds in the Third Victory Loan. Brigadier Gallants was an organization of loyal, patriotic Hudson’s employees out to break all records in the sale of war bonds. (Courtesy Michael Hauser.)

SEVENTH WAR LOAN DRIVE ON WOODWARD AVENUE, 1945. To rally support for war bond sales, Hudson’s erected a massive seven-story banner on the Woodward side of the store along with smaller banners above the marquee. Loudspeakers were also set up to capture shoppers’ attention. (Courtesy Michael Hauser.)