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| Aug. 1969 atop Ogilvy's department store in the GSM |
One perk of working at Ogilvy's is that staffers could climb up to the roof on their breaks to bask in the sun. The tradition started in 1944 and endured at least until 1969 and possibly beyond as
this article states.
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| Ogilvy's employees enjoy the roof in the mid-40s |
The Ogilvy's bagpiper was known to practice his sounds up there above the Golden Square Mile skies, and everybody exposed their epidermis to the glorious rays, including some in bikinis.
Anybody who sat on the now-disappeared rooftop bar of the nearby Hotel de la Montagne could imagine what sort of fun this was. Hopefully there'll be another such facility available to the public in the near future down in that area.
Was never told about any rooftop terrace when I worked there!
ReplyDeleteGreat place for a University student back then, when it was radically different from other department stores. Haggis in Dixie cups every Robbie Burns day.
But that Piper~sorry, no offense~but no taa. Every morning and every store closing was too much.
Would not have been responsible for my actions if, allowed up to such a sunny retreat for my precious sit-down break, he'd come bellowing along.
Rooftop deal was way before my time at Og's, but do wonder about a couple of things.
ReplyDeleteWhy close it? Nasty accident involving bagpiper? Is terrace still in place?
Will the new project for much of the Ogilvy's block be keeping at least the outer shell of buildings like Og's and Hôtel de la Montagne?
Much rich history out there, somewhere, about Jas. A. Ogilvy's. Used to spend my breaks talking to m. Labrosse. In charge of all windows, his displays were something else. He taught many.
I worked at Ogilvy's for a bit around 1980; AFAIK, the roof was no longer open...I never even heard about it from people who would've been around for a few years at that point
ReplyDeleteI think MTLaise not only protesteth too much, I think he knows too much. In fact I think he is the Jas. A. Ogilvy's piper.
ReplyDeleteCheck his belongings - I'm sure you'll find his kilt - maybe even the pipes!
Haggis in Dixie cups - quelle effronterie” !
Thanks, Lauriate R., for my first laugh of today!
ReplyDeleteMaybe HaroldRo & others could back me up on the goings-on within Ogilvy's back then-yucky Haggis (my opinion) but a unique spirit. Quite the place to meet top movers & groovers in fields such as film,art,publish
ing,media,modeling and music.
ReplyDeleteYeah, sorry 1st part orphaned!
But, as the SNL skirt famous said, those were indeed " good times".
Anyone who's ever met me knows of my deep aversion to the bagpipes, despite having some Scot in my background.
And I am a female-not too many of them piping. Must be damn good reason.
Doug Fales was (hopefully still is) a true renaissance man, superb artist, historian, raconteur and piper. He tried to teach me how to get a sound out of the pipes on that very roof. Something akin to the bellow of a constipated cow was all I could manage. I have huge respect for pipers. One of the most difficult instruments to master.
ReplyDeleteLaurent Labrosse was a magician with those windows.
I worked there around 1985 and we definitely went up on the roof on breaks!
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