Welcome to Christmas 1966...The glamorous enormous Hecht’s department store set accurately created in the style of the period in every detail by Set Decorator Karuna Karmarkar SDSA, Production Designer Jc Molina, and their teams, for a segment of the noir miniseries LADY IN THE LAKE. We asked Karuna to give us a quick look at this chic vintage Christmas. Thank you, Karuna! And we wish all of you Happy Holidays, Peace and Well-Being –Karen Burg, Editor
Hecht’s department store, Baltimore, Christmas 1966. Courtesy of Apple TV+. All Rights Reserved.
From Set Decorator Karuna Karmarkar SDSA... “Before art dept and set dec dept got our hands on the Hecht’s department store location, this space was the Under Armour Gym of Baltimore, and required a top to bottom makeover. With a constantly changing schedule, it became an extreme design and logistics challenge.” “We had to strip away the elliptical machines and drab gray carpet to get to the beautiful original Hildreth Meière mosaic tile hidden underneath.” The historic building had originally been a bank, and now it would be a setting for more high-end finance: Christmas sales!
“The look for Hecht’s was re-created from historical photos of other dept stores from the era, including Hutzler’s, Stewart’s and the original Hecht’s in Baltimore. Our favorite reference was Marshall Field’s in Chicago, for a stunning seasonal leaping deer display. We brought this same detail into our set with custom fabricated leaping gold deco deer that were rigged to hover over the main showroom floor.” [See photo above.]
Hecht’s department store, Baltimore, Christmas 1966. Courtesy of Apple TV+. All Rights Reserved.
“Once we had a blank canvas, the space was filled with custom-designed display cases and layers of store product, including cosmetics, hats, shoes, hosiery and clothing. A 30-ft tall Christmas tree rounded it all out.” “Set dec dept procured product for the cosmetics counter from companies that existed during that time, including Caswell Massey and Mason Pearson. Everything in the space was brought in by art dept and set dec, whether it was fabricated or found.”
BTS: Hecht’s department store, Baltimore, Christmas 1966. Note the paper protecting the historic mosaic floor as counters are being filled with product. Courtesy of Apple TV+. All Rights Reserved.
“One of our favorite moments during the shoot was watching Natalie Portman slowly walk alongside each glass top display counter inch by inch and lean down to peer inside the cases - she was shopping!”
Hecht’s department store, Baltimore, Christmas 1966. Christmas quiz: Can you spot Natalie Portman as Maddie Schwartz among the shoppers? Courtesy of Apple TV+. All Rights Reserved.
Editor’s note: Set Decorator Karuna Karmarkar SDSA would like to give special acknowledgment and holiday greetings to her team, especially: Assistant Set Decorator: Dustin Berry | Leadperson: Mike Raybould | Buyers: Lisa Dietrich, Angie Ratliff, Beth Bell | Coordinators: Katelyn Cocherell, Mona Ezzat
