Paul Flavel

Musical Pilgrimage

Most South Australian's of a certain age, remember John Martin's Department Stores with great fondness. And now, 26 years after the doors closed, Paul Flavel has brought Johnnies back to life with a magnificent, hard cover book. He's our special guest, taking us down memory lane after five solid years of research and story gathering.

There is no SA Drink of the Week this week.

And in the Musical Pilgrimage, we hear an early song by Australian legend, Peter Combe, which was written for the John Martin's Christmas Pageant.

Join us for this milestone episode as we blend history, music, and community conversation, marking eleven years of showcasing the passions that shape South Australia.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We're here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It's an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we'll add you to the list: podcast@theadelaideshow.com.au

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store - The Adelaide Show Shop. We'd greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here's our index of all episode in one concise
page

Running Sheet: Pleasing You Was Important At John Martin's

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:00:00 SA Drink Of The Week

No SA Drink Of The Week this week.

00:02:45 Paul Flavel, Author, John Martin's The Story Of South Australia's Beloved Department Store

In this episode, Steve Davis sat down with author Paul Flavel to delve into the rich history of John Martin's, South Australia's beloved department store that graced the retail landscape for over 130 years until its closure in 1998. Paul's new book, John Martin's: The Story of South Australia's Beloved Department Store, is the first comprehensive documentation of this iconic institution, lovingly dedicated to his grandmother—a personal link that fuels his passion for the store's legacy.

We explore dramatic moments in John Martin's history, starting with the devastating fire on Easter Sunday in 1901, when a display of wax figurines representing the Rock of Ages caught fire, spreading rapidly through the store. Despite such challenges, including enduring the Great Depression and two World Wars, John Martin's remained a cornerstone of the South Australian community.

Paul shares how John Martin's stirs vivid memories in the subconscious of South Australians. For many, it was a place of first jobs straight out of school, the magic of the annual Christmas Pageant—a wonderful institution that brought joy to families—and staff picnics that fostered a sense of loyalty and connection among employees. These traditions remind us of a time when working for a company meant being part of a community.

We reminisce about the charming "lift ladies" and other quirky characters that made shopping at John Martin's a unique experience. The conversation includes some funny stories, and even some romantic tales reminiscent of Are You Being Served?, like Steve's unrequited romance with the stationery girl, and anecdotes about his colleagues like Debbie, Sharon, and the West Lakes' stores version of Mr Peacock. We also touch on the iconic "Miss JM" and miniskirs, along with the store's brush with fame during The Beatles' visit.

The conversation turns reflective as we examine whether, as consumers, we played a part in the store's demise. The introduction of bank credit cards in Australia gave shoppers more freedom, reducing reliance on department store credit systems—once a significant part of John Martin's business model. The rise of national retailers like Myer, and discount stores such as Kmart and Target, intensified competition, challenging John Martin's ability to compete. We discuss how these factors, along with the sale and rebranding of various store locations, signaled the end of an era.

Finally, we contemplate whether a store like John Martin's could succeed in today's retail environment. Paul shares insights from his extensive research and reflects on how consumer behavior and the retail landscape have evolved. Is there still a place for the loyalty and community that John Martin's fostered, or have we moved beyond that model?

Join us for a nostalgic journey through the history of John Martin's, filled with personal stories, historical insights, and reflections on the store's enduring legacy in South Australia.

00:57:45 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature To You Merry Christmas by Peter Combe.

In 1989, Peter wrote a song for a John Martin’s Christmas Pageant competition, called ‘To You Merry Christmas’. Although he didn’t win the competition that year,  he did later release the song as part of a Christmas album which reached the ARIA top charts and it went gold within five weeks of its release in 1990. Ironically, it outlived John Martin's.

In 2022, Peter was one of the celebrity performers at the Christmas Carols event and rode in the "National Pharmacies" Christmas Pageant as part of the promotion. National Pharmacies is the current title sponsor of the event, which is managed by Events South Australia.

Peter has a new album waiting in the wings, A Frog in My Cheese Sandwich, and we're told that if we wash our face in orange juice and clean our teeth with bubble gum, he'll be happy to join us for a full episode.

Most South Australian's of a certain age, remember John Martin's Department Stores with great fondness. And now, 26 years after the doors closed, Paul Flavel has brought Johnnies back to life with a magnificent, hard cover book. He's our special guest, taking us down memory lane after five solid years of research and story gathering.
There is no SA Drink of the Week this week.
And in the Musical Pilgrimage, we hear an early song by Australian legend, Peter Combe, which was written for the John Martin's Christmas Pageant.
Join us for this milestone episode as we blend history, music, and community conversation, marking eleven years of showcasing the passions that shape South Australia.
You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We're here to serve!
The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.
And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It's an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we'll add you to the list: <a href="mailto:podcast@theadelaideshow.com.au">podcast@theadelaideshow.com.au</a>
If you enjoy the show, please <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/another-boring-thursday-night/id696302138">leave us a 5-star review </a>in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store - <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/theadelaideshow/shop?asc=u">The Adelaide Show Shop</a>. We'd greatly appreciate it.
And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here's <a href="https://theadelaideshow.com.au/complete-list-adelaide-show-episodes/">our index of all episode in one concise page</a>
Running Sheet: Pleasing You Was Important At John Martin's
00:00:00 Intro
Introduction
00:00:00 SA Drink Of The Week
No SA Drink Of The Week this week.
00:02:45 Paul Flavel, Author, John Martin's The Story Of South Australia's Beloved Department Store
In this episode, Steve Davis sat down with author Paul Flavel to delve into the rich history of John Martin's, South Australia's beloved department store that graced the retail landscape for over 130 years until its closure in 1998. Paul's new book, <a href="https://www.johnmartinsbook.com/">John Martin's: The Story of South Australia's Beloved Department Store</a>, is the first comprehensive documentation of this iconic institution, lovingly dedicated to his grandmother—a personal link that fuels his passion for the store's legacy.
We explore dramatic moments in John Martin's history, starting with the devastating fire on Easter Sunday in 1901, when a display of wax figurines representing the Rock of Ages caught fire, spreading rapidly through the store. Despite such challenges, including enduring the Great Depression and two World Wars, John Martin's remained a cornerstone of the South Australian community.
Paul shares how John Martin's stirs vivid memories in the subconscious of South Australians. For many, it was a place of first jobs straight out of school, the magic of the annual Christmas Pageant—a wonderful institution that brought joy to families—and staff picnics that fostered a sense of loyalty and connection among employees. These traditions remind us of a time when working for a company meant being part of a community.
We reminisce about the charming "lift ladies" and other quirky characters that made shopping at John Martin's a unique experience. The conversation includes some funny stories, and even some romantic tales reminiscent of Are You Being Served?, like Steve's unrequited romance with the stationery girl, and anecdotes about his colleagues like Debbie, Sharon, and the West Lakes' stores version of Mr Peacock. We also touch on the iconic "Miss JM" and miniskirs, along with the store's brush with fame during The Beatles' visit.
The conversation turns reflective as we examine whether, as consumers, we played a part in the store's demise. The introduction of bank credit cards in Australia gave shoppers more freedom, reducing reliance on department store credit systems—once a significant part of John Martin's business model. The rise of national retailers like Myer, and discount stores such as Kmart and Target, intensified competition, challenging John Martin's ability to compete. We discuss how these factors, along with the sale and rebranding of various store locations, signaled the end of an era.
Finally, we contemplate whether a store like John Martin's could succeed in today's retail environment. Paul shares insights from his extensive research and reflects on how consumer behavior and the retail landscape have evolved. Is there still a place for the loyalty and community that John Martin's fostered, or have we moved beyond that model?
Join us for a nostalgic journey through the history of John Martin's, filled with personal stories, historical insights, and reflections on the store's enduring legacy in South Australia.
00:57:45 Musical Pilgrimage
In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature To You Merry Christmas by <a href="http://www.petercombe.com.au/">Peter Combe</a>.
In 1989, Peter wrote a song for a John Martin’s Christmas Pageant competition, called ‘To You Merry Christmas’. Although he didn’t win the competition that year,  he did later release the song as part of a Christmas album which reached the ARIA top charts and it went gold within five weeks of its release in 1990. Ironically, it outlived John Martin's.
In 2022, Peter was one of the celebrity performers at the Christmas Carols event and rode in the "National Pharmacies" Christmas Pageant as part of the promotion. National Pharmacies is the current title sponsor of the event, which is managed by Events South Australia.
Peter has a new album waiting in the wings, A Frog in My Cheese Sandwich, and we're told that if we wash our face in orange juice and clean our teeth with bubble gum, he'll be happy to join us for a full episode.

A weekly podcast recorded in Adelaide that puts South Australian passion on centre stage with a featured guest who joins us each week as a co-presenter to share how they're pursuing their passions. We venture across topics as diverse as history, wine, food, art, music, relationships, critical thinking, health, news, interviews, chat and quizzes. 

Every single interview, every single show, unlocks insights into what drives people to be doing what they're doing and what keeps them striving. 

The Adelaide Show is produced by Steve Davis and Nigel Dobson-Keeffe.

Please subscribe to our In Crowd list; you get an email each Friday (when we have published a new episode) with an overview of that week's show. Plus, consider joining our Inner Circle; a small group of passionate South Aussies who allow us to pick their brains and gain interviewee suggestions.

This podcast began life as Another Boring Thursday Night In Adelaide from episodes 1-79.

A podcast recorded in Adelaide that puts South Australian passion on centre stage with a featured guest who joins us each week as a co-presenter to share how they're pursuing their passions. We venture across topics as diverse as history, wine, ...

The Adelaide Show

A podcast recorded in Adelaide that puts South Australian passion on centre stage with a featured guest who joins us to share how they're pursuing their passions. We venture across topics as diverse as history, wine, food, art, music, relationships, critical thinking, health, and general news. Every single interview, every single show, unlocks insights into what drives people to be doing what they're doing and what keeps them striving. The Adelaide Show is produced by Steve Davis, and ends with an original song by a South Australian artist. Please subscribe to our In Crowd list; you get an email each Friday with an overview of that week's show. This podcast began life as Another Boring Thursday Night In Adelaide from episodes 1-79.

A podcast recorded in Adelaide that puts South Australian passion on centre stage with a featured guest who joins us to share how they're pursuing their passions. We venture across topics as diverse as history, wine, food, art, music, relationships, critical thinking, health, and general news. Every single interview, every single show, unlocks insights into what drives people to be doing what they're doing and what keeps them striving. The Adelaide Show is produced by Steve Davis, and ends with an original song by a South Australian artist. Please subscribe to our In Crowd list; you get an email each Friday with an overview of that week's show. This podcast began life as Another Boring Thursday Night In Adelaide from episodes 1-79.

When it comes to reminscing on important icons of South Australia like John Martin's, there's no other podcast like ... The Adelaide Show.

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