‘The Pageant Store’ Article By Peter Barnes.
John Martin’s – The Pageant Store.
I believe this TV ad captures the spirit of John Martin’s beautifully. The TV ad was created and produced during the time I worked on the John Martin’s advertising account with Ogilvy & Mather. Many people worked together to create and produce the TV ad.
I worked on the John Martin’s department store advertising account with Ogilvy & Mather in the mid 80s, and with Young & Rubicam Retail in the late 80s. The positions I held were Senior Art Director and Group Head at Ogilvy & Mather and Creative Group Head, Creative Director, and Acting General Manager at Young & Rubicam Retail.
I was presented with a ‘Silver Nail’ award while working on the John Martin’s advertising account with Ogilvy & Mather. The award was given to a staff member ‘who outstandingly exemplifies the Ogilvy & Mather values’.
The iconic department store was a much loved South Australian business, and affectionately known by many as ‘Johnnies’. The department store operated for 132 years, from 1866 until its closure in 1998.
John Martin’s was famous for the Adelaide Christmas Pageant. 1933, saw the first John Martin’s Christmas Pageant, and from 1934, concluded with Father Christmas arriving at the store and entering the Magic Cave.
Interestingly, when The Beatles came to Australia in 1964, it was John Martin’s who sponsored their visit to perform in Adelaide.
I have read that David Jones returned ownership of the John Martin’s name to the Hayward family. The Hayward family owned John Martin’s for the majority of the department store’s existence
