More than a department store, Lazarus became the place of milestones: first haircut, summer job, first bus ride alone, prom dress, interview suit. It's even the place where countless men and women met — usually as workers in the store, though occasionally as customers — and became husband and wife. What struck us as we prepared the documentary and the Web site was how many memories Ohioans had concerning this unique department store.  We've included here some additional footage that wasn't included in the documentary, several radio interviews we produced in association with this project and a special Open Line where people shared their Lazarus memories with Fred Anderle.

Windows Media Player is necessary to view these videos and listen to the radio spots.
If you don't have Windows Media Player, you can download it here.

The following are excerpts of interviews recorded for Many Happy Returns to Lazarus. Here's some background on these ladies:

• Cheryl Galloway was a child model at the store.
• Delores D. Elliott remembers extraordinary service and a favorite meal.
• Pat Jones wandered the store after school, waiting for her mother to get off work.
• Frances McNulty loved monkeying around in the pet department.
• Betty Anderson Newell was one of the first women to make deliveries for Lazarus.
• Sonja Shiflet remembers in verse her observations as a worker in the Lazarus restaurants.

Cheryl Galloway Choose speed to watch video High (broadband or cable) Low (dial up modem)		Delores D. Elliott Choose speed to watch video High (broadband or cable) Low (dial up modem)		Pat Jones Choose speed to watch video High (broadband or cable) Low (dial up modem)
Frances McNulty Choose speed to watch video High (broadband or cable) Low (dial up modem)		Betty Anderson Newell Choose speed to watch video High (broadband or cable) Low (dial up modem)		Sonja Shiflet Choose speed to watch video High (broadband or cable) Low (dial up modem)

WOSU Lazarus radio spots

After decades filled with Christmas window displays, dresses in the women's department, celery dressing in the Colonial Room, the Lazarus era on High Street has ended, and in part one of  WOSU’s radio documentary, NPR 820’s Mike Thompson reports on Lazarus memories shared by shoppers and workers
Listen to Lazarus part 1

In part two of  WOSU’s radio documentary, WOSU.TV producers Brent Davis and Forrest Godsey give you an inside look of the making of “Many Happy Returns to Lazarus.”
Listen to Lazarus part 2

For nearly 100 years, Lazarus helped define central Ohio retailing. But the downtown department store appears to be a dying breed. In part three of WOSU’s radio documentary, NPR 820’s Mike Thompson looks at the future of the downtown department store.
Listen to Lazarus part 3

Open Line

NPR 820 Open Line host Fred Andrle hosted a special hour-long program where guests and listeners shared their memories of Lazarus.
Listen to Open Line

Lazarus Home | Family Tree | Lazarus Timeline | Retail Firsts
Lasting Legacy | Holiday Magic | Your Memories

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We are indebted to several institutions for sharing the wonderful images that bring this story to life: The Ohio Historical Society, WBNS, and The Columbus Dispatch. In addition, we are grateful to The Columbus Foundation for supporting this production.