Comments on: North Towne Mall; Rockford, Illinois

By: Ron Hall

Ron Hall — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:20:23 +0000

@Kay, I remember WYBR, althought I was only 7 or 8 yrs old, I used to wander CherryVale mall while my dad worked at Aladdin’s castle arcade in the mid to late 70’s. I remember entering the raindbow, into the darkness following the yellow brick road until I got to the big glass windows where the DJ was working the records… great memories…

I live in deep south Texas now, but I am planning on moving back up there after 30 years missing Rockford…

By: Michael J

Michael J — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:32:33 +0000

The Santa Claus incident! I remember Mom taking us seven kids to see it. Dad couldn’t stand crowds, so he stayed home just across the Rock River to watch it with his binoculars.

Santa came out of the plane, and I remember the red smoke bomb tied to him as he spiralled down, down, down…I didn’t realize what happened at the time, just remember some screaming. Since Santa had flying reindeer and could go up and down chimneys, I just figured the laws of gravity didn’t pertain to him, and he didn’t need a chute.

Mom grabbed up all of us and said now that we saw “Santa’s Helper”, we were going to Meadow Mart mall in Loves Park to see Santa, but instead we went home.

I distinctly remember Dad come boiling out of the house when he saw the car turning into the driveway, binoculars still hanging from his neck, asking Mom “How low was he when he finally opened his…” only to stop in mid sentence when he saw Mom’s face.

I always wondered if the famous episode of “WKRP in Cincinnati” with the ill conceived Thanksgiving publicity stunt of turkeys pushed out of the helicopter to their deaths might have been inspired by this real life macabre holiday story.

About eight years later, I watched a skier on a red and blue hang glider snap his tow rope, let go of the glider, and plunge to his death on the Rock River, by Machesney Park. I ran in and told my mom what I had seen, and she said, “Don’t be ridiculous! He would have been killed himself if he did that!”

No wonder I have a problem with heights;-)

By: Jodie N

Jodie N — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:22:46 +0000

WOW… NorthTowne… we spent so much time there…… Last Straw, 21 Baker St….(winning the Olivia Newton John look a-like contest was fun), hanging out with friends, being on Wiese’s Teen Board…. such great memories….. Thanks for sharing your recollections everyone!

By: Sherry L

Sherry L — Sun, 24 May 2009 01:00:32 +0000

I worked at The Last Straw & used to run around in that cute little mini bloomer outfit while honking the horn around the tables during the “Fire Wagon.” Remember Silver Dollar Jeans were right down the stairs almost smack dead on & they were one of the first Levi stores in Rockford. They had that weird hippy candle store adjacent to the jean store. I used to buy all my clothes at Threads by Chas. . . Oh, how funny!!!!!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:22:51 +0000

Some other stores @ North Towne:
Don’s Hobbies & Toys
Livingston Camera
Camera Craft

Record store at far East end of the enclosed section
Resturant in lower level…21 Baker Street????

By: Rick J

Rick J — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:29:16 +0000

WOW Nancy K awesome memory! I remember the dolphin and how sad I felt when i saw it because it’s skin was peeling off. They were trying to bill it as Flipper? I remember looking down the long tube tube at Suicide Hayes when he was buried in the parking lot. He gave up well before his goal because he “got tired of the drunks dropping bottles” down the air tube. Too bad about Kerasotes closing the last of the cheap theaters. I’ll miss the dollar movies.

Now if we can just get MP Mall torn down and put the barrel and the $5 airplane rides back in. Who wants to drive the grader? Rick J from Loves Park.

By: Roger R

Roger R — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:25:02 +0000

I do remember Santa Claus Falling to his Death, it was in the late 60s, me and my Brother went with our Parents every holiday season to get our pictures taken with Santa at North Towne Mall , in Santas Red house , I think i will always be traumatized by that incident! Everyone was outside in the parking lot waiting for Santa to arrive , then the radio dj said over the pa system , everyone look to the sky Santa Claus is on his way ,so we counted down and sang Santa Claus is coming to town. Then Me and my brother saw a small Red dot in the sky, then Red and Green Smoke, Closer and closer it got to us , me and my brother were so excited , another Christmas more toys ! But just then when we thought he would soon land and be here to listen to me and my brothers wish list ! The Dj said Loudly and in a Frighting Voice : Parents Please cover your Childerns Eyes and Please Leave the Area , then about that time my Dad and Mom covered me and my Brothers eyes and moved us Swiftly to the car and went home ! I was totally Confused , for this is not how we do this , I thought to myself , me and my brother cried all the way home, thinking that if santa died we will not recieve any gifts Christmas morn . But some how i was wrong , the next day my mother and father took me and my Brother back to north towne to see Santa for a picture and to tell him what we wanted for Chritmas . I didn’t understand the whole Santa’s failing Parachute, falling to his death ordeal , until i got older and my parents explained everything to me. I only was six or seven years old at the time !
And your right , they said it was Santas Helper that Died not the real Santa Claus .

By: NancyK

NancyK — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:06:27 +0000

I think there was an ice cream parlor at North Towne called “The Last Straw.” I know for sure there was also a Last Straw across the street from Colonial Village Mall in the 1970s.

By: Joyce

Joyce — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:28:42 +0000

Does anyone remember an ice cream parlour at North Towne Mall?
It was a rather large restaurant. What was the name of it? This was probably in the 80’s. Help!

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:57:21 +0000

The dead Santa.

It was in the 1960s. My parents bundled us up…I think it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Santa’s going to parachute into the Mall parking lot. What an event. They had a radio personality on the microphone for us all.

We had a countdown I believe and then it was reported that Santa’s plane was circling overhead. And he was going to jump.

We were told to start singing…”You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout I’m telling you why.

Santa Claus is dead.