This Is What Downtown Bangor Looked Like During Christmas 1959

Prepare to have your mind blown! Downtown Bangor was booming back in 1959!

I recently subscribed to the Peacock streaming service, and as a little Sunday afternoon comfort food, I watched the 1985 classic “Back To The Future” and when the part of the film where Marty McFly walks through the town of Hill Valley in 1955 came on, it reminded me of a video I saw of some archival footage of Bangor, way back in the day. I was curious to see it again because I instantly wondered what it would be like to be transported back in time, here in The Queen City. Luckily I didn't need a bolt of lightning to hit the flux capacitor to send me back to 2021.

Northeast Historic Film put together a video of "Maine's Television Time Machine" Downtown Bangor, in December 1959, and it is really a wonder to behold.

The Christmas shopping season was in full swing, and it's remarkable to see jam-packed sidewalks, kids looking in store windows, checking out what they want for presents, lit-up department stores like, Sears Roebuck & Co, W.T. Grant Co, Freeses, Sleepers, and the famous Bangor Savings Bank clock. The hustle and bustle on the streets of Downtown Bangor back then will astonish you. Of course, there are still people out and about during the holidays now, but remember that this was pre-big malls, and online shopping.

Check out this flashback video which includes narration from the legendary, George Hale, that takes a fascinating look back at this bygone era.