Text is available under the Creative Commons . Watch on PBS. Don't waste your time on Tiger King, this is real America. Whitcomb: Films can change your life and we wanted to be a part of that. The soundtrack was released on vinyl and cassette via the Alabama-based independent record label Earth Libraries. The concept he had in mind, however, was different from what actually transpired. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The lack of people around with the incandescent lighting makes the antique layout of the location look really haunting. There are great stories here. Furthermore, one of the main causes that the shopping center get overlooked is because after the completion of interstate 1-22. It wasnt true. You really feel as if you know these people. I worked at a mall similar to the Jasper Mall that opened in 1985 in NH and like the JM was busy always and forget the weekends (read mall rats). The incentive package to make it happen still needs city county approval. JASPER, Ala. David Gifford, a preacher from Hamilton, Alabama (population: 6,800), drives nearly an hour to Jasper (population: 14,000) to shop at the JCPenney at the mall here in the northern . Id recommend it, and its enjoyable. Truth be hold; the filmmakers only gave the viewer a few glimpses that something was a bit off about the Jasper mall. "Mike is probably the most compelling character," Thomason says, "because he's what holds the mall together. The city was home to notable residents such as actors Michael Rooker, George Lindsey, and Polly Holliday, as well as Tallulah Bankhead, a stage and screen star who lived there briefly. Leaves you thinking about your mall days! Currently there is one anchor store, Belk, and about ten smaller stores. The cinematography is brilliant. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. This documentary directed by Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb didn't really give much of any educational, scientific or historical value for the audience to look over. is jasper mall in alabama still open. Thered be days when (mall caretaker) Mike would contact us and say, Hey, were having a quartet performance in the mall today or Theres going to be a carnival here this weekend. He would alert us to things like that happening. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke with Thomason. Mayor David OMary said it is difficult to find a retail that would take up the 90,000 square feet, but perfect for Rural King. Lowest Rate Guarantee! The only thing left at the Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles, IL is the Von Maur department store and a movie theater. Co-directors Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb spent a year shooting the film. The mall opened on August 8, 1981. Something not mentioned is the rise of online and internet shopping sales as those things have hurt many malls. 118 Temple Ave N Fayette, AL 35555. Post author: Post published: March 15, 2023; Post category: christina cassini images; Post comments: . Sign up to get all the Reel South DIRT. Upon this event, the mall effectively has two anchor stores, Belk Department Store and Dunham's Sports. The fountain was still intact. What followed was three tumultuous decades of financial problems, several changes in ownership, branding, even the entire concept (at one point, it even housed a nightclub). I'm honestly surprised to hear it's still open. Seriously, you don't need to live in NY and LA to make films, especially now. All rights reserved. [4] The Jasper Mall was chosen as the site of the film because it had not been remodeled since it opened in 1981. The 105-acre property in Montgomery Township was valued at $56.6 million. Now theres real plants inside of it. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The cinematography and editing is very well done. That was annoying because it ruins the illusion of observation that the movie was trying to build. I cannot find any information about movies jasper mall directed. Brett and I both went to Almeda and Baybrook malls in Houston, Texas. If malls eventually go extinct what do you think we'll be missing? One such example is the filmmaker's request in telling a teen couple's story about the struggles of starting an interracial relationship in the deep south. Because of that and other controversial events like selling hand held weapons in order to increase foot traffic. [4] The film was shot throughout 2018 and McClelland would alert the directors about any events that were occurring at the mall. See all. On November 12, 2021, Dunham's Sports opened in the former JCPenney anchor location on the east end of the mall, acquiring the entire JCPenney space. Yes, it did happen over the course of a few days. All in all I enjoyed this documentary about a dying mall in Jasper Alabama. Jasper, Alabama, near Birmingham 20 xaervagon 6 mo. Some people even chose to move their business to another location by the end of the film. Since the. 0. If there were some underlying racism, the film didn't show it. Maybe we've already lost it as malls become more and more scarce and online shopping takes over. By the late 80s, malls were actually dying, and that was a trend that only accelerated through the 90s up until this very day leaving behind a landscape of abandoned malls and sprawling parking lots reminiscent of post-apocalyptic ghost towns. Frozen Yogurt Shop. Grim and true look at a dying business of the American mall. Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb are the films co-directors. If I live to be in my 80s, I'm probably going to become that old dude telling corny jokes at the mall, except I'll be reciting old memes from the 2010s. They weren't just places for shopping. Now that you know, have fun looking around! As the cost of utilities rose throughout the 70s and beyond, retailers had higher overhead to pass on in their pricing, combined with the fact that Americans discretionary income was also on the decline, especially compared to the rollicking consumerism of the 50s and 60s. And stare at the Reebok Pumps I desperately wanted before school started again. The PRICE Act would give families $6,900 in taxpayer money which could be used for private school tuition or homeschooling. Subtitled, A year in the life of a dying shopping mall, the doc Jasper Mall, is now streaming on video on demand platforms. I surmise the internet killed the mall experience, but the kids and adults are missing the human contact in the end that we had. How did you purchase your ticket? The collection of songs by the musicians HAHA Mart, Chayse Porter and Baker Knight were easy on the ears. Now that you know, have fun looking around! So, lets get into exactly what Jasper Mall is and how it came to be where it is today. Home; News; Sports; Extras; Walker Magazine; Subscribe; That would be Victor Gruen, the architect who conceived and planned the first climate-controlled indoor mall in the US. There are stories and there are teenagers coming and going still. Zales to close in Jasper Mall. Newsletters release monthly or when we have a new film release. You can also get our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook & Pinterest. If you have a subscription for Amazon Prime or Sling TV, its available there as well. But that property at least has been redeveloped. Our business was started in 1973 in our family's hometown, Fayette, AL. ALSO SEE: Vintage Target stores: See 40 pictures from the 60s to the 90s & the original logo. [7], Ethan Brehm of Spoiler Magazine named it the best film of the year. There are long shots where the camera lingers on shots of the empty location with nothing really going on. Jasper Mall is an American story. It was demolished in 2011. None of these questions were answer or explained in this documentary. For us it was all about the arcades, Tilt and Aladdin's Castle. Originally developed by the local Simmons family and Georgia developer George Ewing, the mall is owned by Kohan Retail. The Jasper Mall is a great place to shop for all your needs. MORE: These 48 vintage indoor malls were so dazzling, youll want to hop in a time machine and shop til you drop. The various causes of the mall's decline emerge throughout the documentary. So what does the future hold for malls and shopping centers, especially those that are currently vacant (assuming theyre not already demolished and the property redeveloped)? This doc creates heroes and people you want to root for just by showing their day to day lives. Residents of Walker and surrounding counties used to flock to the Jasper Mall for their weekly shopping trips. [3] As a result, foot traffic has declined and the parking lot is often barren. Jasper Mall is still open, amazingly, after watching this film. I certainly didnt know there were men who played dominos in the mall. The documentary is available for free through Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Vudu, and PLEX. . A lot of the YouTube videos that Becca and I watch are either trips to dead malls or videos of the past glories of malls. "[3], The film also follows the day-to-day operations of the remaining 20 or so store owners with a focus on the slowdown of customers. Required fields are marked *. And it brought back so many memories. Brett Whitcomb: I think the way the mall looked inspired us the most. 7.1K views 8 months ago #deadmall #deadmalls #mallsoft In 2019, filmmakers Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb spent several weeks documenting the stores and people of Jasper Mall. They shot Jasper Mall throughout 2018. Jasper Mall was co-directed and co-produced by Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb. It is free on Amazon. Malls and "Jasper Mall" with its untouched '80s aesthetic fit the bill perfectly. Because the leasing would be centralized, businesses could reside near each other more strategically than what usually occurred in a typical downtown proper. The mall is easy to navigate, and the store directory is available online. Bradford Thomason: All of our films are inspired by something nostalgic from our childhood, and usually we try to take a look behind the curtain of that nostalgia, so to speak, to see how these things have impacted individuals or continue to impact individuals in the present day. Jewelry Doctor. Another feature but can't say what about just yet! [2], Third anchor Belk opened an approximately 60,000-square-foot (5,600m2) store in March 2002. And of course, the food courts. . What inspired you to make a documentary about the Jasper Mall? Theres a lot of speculation about why malls, which have so much to offer retailers and customers alike, started fading away. Plus as people get older they shop less and young kids use the mall as a dating and gathering hangout. The Jasper Mall has its glory days in the 90s and early 2000s, and many of the people who work there now were around for those days. It is worth watching..make some popcorn and watch the Jasper Mall. Co-directors Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb spent a year shooting the film. How is it different making a film as a duo/collaborator rather than a single person? There is no security guy at the Jasper Mall. Unlike the semi popular 'Dead Mall' series from the likes of Bright Sun Films and others YouTube Channels that goes into great detail the history of the titular shopping centers from its humble beginnings to its painful demise. MORE: In the 90s Toys R Us was a retail powerhouse then the internet happened. After contacting Western Union Financial Services, Inc. and if you still have an unresolved complaint regarding the company's money transmission services, please contact the Texas Department . I felt like I really new the people and their stories. (https://catsystemcorp.bandcamp.com/album/--10)#deadmall #deadmalls #mallsoft #deadmallseries is jasper mall in alabama still open May 21, 2021 For better or worse, malls were and in many places still are, a central gathering place for a town, a place where people meet, couples go on dates, kids get their first jobs, someone opens a business they've always . Material on this site is provided for purposes of education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis. Kay Ivey replaced a Cabinet member who oversaw the state's award-winning prekindergarten program because of a teacher training book with language about inclusion and combatting structural racism, she said Thursday. My son and I fell like we were watching a car wreck in slow motion. It's surprising more riveting than watching highly staged moments where people ruin shots by staring straight at the camera as they talk to other people. The film is based on true events, despite the fact that it is a fiction film. is jasper mall in alabama still open. Thomason and Whitcomb would often sit in the food court and wait for a scene to develop. Some people even chose to move their business to another location by the end of the film. It certainly made me wistful for the shopping malls of my youth. By | March 29, 2023 | 0 | March 29, 2023 | 0 It looks like the malls of our childhood - like a time capsule. The documentary was filmed over the course of 2018 as the mall tried to rebrand and recover from the loss. So interesting! What will ever become of it? I would always get my mom to drop me off there for hours and I would watch a movie, eat pizza or if I had enough money eat at Lubys, play video games at Aladdins Castle, shop for CDs at Sam Goodie, walk around Radio Shack. Overall: to close shop. You are invited to shop, dine, and enjoy a wide variety of name-brand stores, specialty boutiques, r Although the filmmakers can't say for sure how many patrons visited Jasper Mall. And so the concept exploded across the country, with multiple malls being built in the outskirts of every major American city and some smaller ones, too. While their tale was somewhat interesting. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Sadly, that subplot was abandoned. Good documentary. It lost its two primary anchor stores, Kmart and J.C. Penney, in 2016 and 2017, respectively. "Mike is doing a great job of keeping it alive," Thomason says. But what I love about this film is how it captures the human aspect of the mall and how it's future will affect its occupants. It revolves around the Jasper Mall, a dying mall in Jasper, Alabama. The mall was the subject of a recent documentary film. In this video, Jasper Mall chronicles a year in the life of a dying shopping mall . JASPER, Ala. (WBRC) - On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Jasper City Council voted unanimously to an agreement between the city and Rural King, a retail chain specializing in farm and home. The reasons why are because it didn't meet minimum federal standards for the care of animals in captivity that was established by the Animal Welfare Act. ago I think it'll make a comeback, eventually. The roles had changed here and it's somewhat surreal. View all photos (30) Traveler (7) Room & Suite (9) Dining (5) Thomason: Of course. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Also- why do people even find this so interesting or care about it? There would be winners and there would be losers. The malls north and south ends have been dark since 2017, when two of its three anchor stores closed. Joe's Shirt Shop. [4] The soundtrack contains a collection of songs by the musicians HAHA Mart, Chayse Porter, and Baker Knight. Many younger people leave their local towns for better lives as the decrease in population hurts mall sales. Jasper Mall takes you inside the titular mall in Alabama to witness the slow, monotonous process of its closing down. Jasper Mall is (was?) I knew that there were mall walkers, but I didnt know just how many. Instead of expanding those key moments a little more to fit the overall narrative of the shopping center creeping closer to its own demise. . covers the mall itself, and interviews various individuals that work in all different types of positions within the mall, those who regularly visit the mall for different reasons, and business owners within the mall. The documentary provides a good picture of the current state of the American middle class. MORE: Vintage Wal-Mart history: What the first stores looked like, and how they changed over the years. It would had been nice to know that one of the reasons why the mall in Jasper, Alabama is having trouble keeping afloat is the fact that it's located on US 78 North, far away enough from big cities like Birmingham and even further east from its prime city. Half way through I found my self wanting to take a road trip down to this mall just to purchase things from the people showcased. The developer will come to do a land acquisition at the Jasper Mall in the next six weeks. A beautifully structured observational documentary. ", Jasper Mall opened in August 1981. Contact accommodation for availability. The traditional mall is a dying world and this documentary captures one example of this. It is a clip, a small view into what makes our communities work. Recommended Reviews Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. It was respectful and in good taste. Outside at daybreak, a post-apocalyptic barren parking lot. "Alabama shopping mall subject of new documentary film", "A Year In The Life Of A Dying Alabama Mall", "Documentary on Jasper Mall to be released Tuesday", "Spoiler Magazine's Top 10 Movies of 2020", "Announcing Our 2020 Sidewalk Film Festival at the Drive-In Award Winners! A sad state from its peak. . ago I'm usually not a fan of indoor brick, but it is tasteful here 21 kmr1981 6 mo. In 2007, the last enclosed mall in the United States was completed, marking the first time in over 50 years that there had been no new enclosed malls constructed. I also liked those old dudes playing dominoes in the mall. . (Courtesy Bradford Allen/Brett Whitcomb). Your email address will not be published. Overall the doc is really blunt and grim as it looks at a dying landscape something that many see in real life as the decline of the American mall is another change that all of us are dealing with.
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