I think it is White Oaks Mall in Springfield. It's in central Illinois and has about the right population. It is a multi-level mall with a Bergner's. Also, downtown Springfield does have a Washington and 5th Street, and it would be an ideal place for the old department store referenced.

I agree with Matt C - it is Springfield, IL

It's 100% Springfield, IL - White Oaks Mall.

This is great! This doc encapsulates the various angles of what a mall is to people. Being from a big city that has malls everywhere they are more of a large convenience store but i do recall when people would dress up a little to go to the mall and I'm sure some still do.

And the guy said "gyros" correctly the first time but I'm sure he'd be outnumbered on that at 'the mall'. That, on it's own, says what a mall is to me and why I stay clear of them.

I'd like to thank my fellow americans for ruining such a great country. Malls are poison to people and cities. They are a product of, and cause sprawl. The second worst human invention relies on human's first, cars to survive, and vice versa. They contribute to green house gas emissions, the distruction of farm land and natural habitate. While some walking occurs in malls they enourage the development of other businesses that require almost no walking to get to: drive throughs, box resturants, big box stores, strip malls. They spring from a system of urban design that creates some of the other horrible american inventions: appartment "parks", sub dividsions, trailer "parks", office "parks" parking structures and the highway system. The only good mall is a dead one, perhaps then we can use its carcass to build something productive.

Can anyone tell me the name of the song at 12:08?

Thanks for the information on the music/*that* David McCallum---and a great piece that's making me look forward to the next leg of my commute so I can hear the end! :)

The closing cover of "I Can See For Miles" seems to be Lord Sitar. The listing on last.fm includes most (if not all) of the music under "Related tracks.
http://www.last.fm/music/Lord+Sitar/_/I+Can+See+for+Miles

Dear Jonathan--

I've been looking all over for a playlist of the music in this documentary. Especially-- who did the Beatles covers with the sitar and all that? So awesome!!

Kaecyy

I was the female in the piece that debated gyroes, got my fortune read, and missed the parking spot...so, I have pretty good authority on this piece. Jonathan did a GREAT job and we had to much fun. I'd love to do another...jonathan?????

I second the love of the music - you should post a complete list, I am dying to get my hands on that cover of "Blue Jay Way" !

Hello!,

A really great piece, Jonathan. Really enjoyed it. Thanks.

"this is the way that cities live, or die..."

Being from Central Illinois, I'm guessing the “You could stand on a phonebook and see Chicago,” is more a comment on the flatness of the area not its geographic location.

Nice piece. The biggest thing running through my mine the entire time was "Which City?" I live in the Chicago area, so I am especially curious. They made reference to "You could stand on a phonebook and see Chicago", so I was thinking that it was Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. Springfield is pretty far for the whole "seeing Chicago" quote...

Jonathan -

I never get tired of hearing this piece. Having been there for some of the recordings, I think you did some exceptional editing. Congrats on all the good comments

jonathan,
do you have a credit list of those who are in the documentary? i think i recognize one of the voices.

Jonathan-
Is there an email address where I can contact you about this piece? It's fantastic, by the way.

Tracy --

Glad you liked the music!
That arrangement of "Satisfaction" is credited to David McCallum. Apparently, he was (is?) also an actor.

I found this bio of him online.

it's springfield. white oaks mall.

I grew up in Iowa and in my lifetime saw the same things come to pass as in this marvelous piece. However being familiar with much of Illinois, it's driving me crazy trying to figure out what city this is. WHERE IS IT????

Thanks much! This got me to thinking about Facebook related phenomena: http://www.ddmcd.com/malls.html

Brilliant piece. amazing editing.

malls are awful places to work.

i know exactly which city this is. i live here. i hate this mall.

I would love to know a source for all that fantastic Muzak music! Especially the uber-swank cover of "(I can't get no) Satisfaction." Anyone?

Cheers,
Tracy

Nice. Touched on the fact that a mall is indeed a lot like a casino: a fully controlled experience, where your contact to the outside is carefully mediated. I've lived in NYC for about 15 years, but still go to malls any chance I get - you can take a girl out of a mall, but sadly you can't take the mall out of the girl.

The only thing missing was the "Piercing Pagoda".