Mannequin: A Nostalgic Dive into 80s Magic and Movie Memories

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Growing up, my trips to the movies were few and far between. I count them on one hand: The Sword in the Stone with a neighbor, rainy-day $1 movie outings during day camp (Harry and the Hendersons and believe it or not, Poltergeist 3), a secret date to see National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and a memorable viewing of Home Alone with my mom. But there was one movie I desperately wanted to see in theaters: Mannequin.

I begged my sister, Becki, to take me, but she wasn’t interested. Even my friend Stig and his Gran weren’t interested and Stig likes weird movies. So, like many other 80s classics (Who’s That Girl, Nightmare on Elm Street 4—stories for another day), Mannequin became one of those films I had to wait to watch at home.


Back then, we didn’t own a VCR. My parents thought it was a passing fad, so we rented one whenever we wanted a movie night. Eventually, my mom caved and bought a secondhand VCR. It wasn’t fancy, but it played movies and recorded them in decent quality. Around the same time, we got Cinemax, because my parents thought it would be cheaper to record movies off of Cinemax than buying them at the store and I wasn’t upset because the VCR meant I could finally tape movies off TV. And when Mannequin hit regular rotation, I was ready with my Walmart-branded VHS tape.


When I finally watched it, I was hooked. I must’ve replayed that tape a hundred times. Andrew McCarthy as Jonathan Switcher was captivating—not a crush, just admiration. Kim Cattrall as Emmy? Pure magic. Estelle Getty brought her signature charm and the entire cast delivered performances that made the movie unforgettable.


The film was quintessential 80s cheese and I loved every second of it. The music was equally iconic. While Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now became a radio hit, I spent years searching for Belinda Carlisle’s In My Wildest Dreams. It wasn’t until recently that I found it in a box set of her singles. Listening to it now, it’s delightfully dated, but it still brings a smile to my face.


The store in the movie, Prince & Company, felt like a dream. Growing up in Pensacola, our biggest department stores—Gayfers, Sears, Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, McRae’s, and DH Holmes—were nothing like the grand, multi-level elegance of Prince & Company. It reminded me of how I remembered DH Holmes looking in the early 80s, before Dillards bought them.


Here’s a fun fact: Prince & Company wasn’t a set. The movie was filmed at the historic John Wanamaker Building in Philadelphia, now the Macy’s Center City which has sadly found itself among the stores that Macy’s has decided to close for good. With its stunning architecture, including the Greek Hall and the world’s largest operational pipe organ, it was the perfect backdrop for this whimsical tale. Other Philadelphia landmarks, like Rittenhouse Square and City Hall, also made appearances, adding authenticity to the film’s charm.


Even decades later, Mannequin holds a special place in my heart. It’s a reminder of a simpler time when movies were pure escapism. The story of a struggling artist and his mannequin-turned-muse is as quirky as it gets, but that’s what makes it so endearing.

If you haven’t seen Mannequin, do yourself a favor and watch it. And if you have, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Did you fall in love with Prince & Company like I did? Were you as enchanted by Emmy’s transformation?

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! I’d love to hear your Mannequin memories or any 80s movie recommendations you have. Drop a comment below and let’s chat! And hey, if you enjoyed this trip down memory lane and feel like supporting my blog, I’d be incredibly grateful. Your kindness helps keep these stories alive. Until next time, keep dreaming and embracing the magic of nostalgia!

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