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Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
Rustymuscle
(---.lightspeed.elgnil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 15, 2010 04:38PM
Am I correct the deck was closed several years ago? Does anyone know what now occupies that floor space?
RM
RM
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
davey7
(---.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net)
Date: October 15, 2010 05:01PM
I think it's still there just closed. There is a private club that has space there as well. I've asked someone who is in the know, so hopefully I'll get an answer soon.
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
Tim
(---.dsl.sndg02.pacbell.net)
Date: October 19, 2010 05:34PM
As kids we used to take the El downtown, go to the Prudential Building and try to run up to the top and back down before getting caught. I do believe at 40 (?) stories it was still the tallest building circa 1962.
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
MIKETOUHY
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 20, 2010 08:58PM
Running up the stairs?
Certainly sounds tiresome.
BTW you mention The Prudential was still the tallest in 62, it was only 7 years old at the time.
Certainly sounds tiresome.
BTW you mention The Prudential was still the tallest in 62, it was only 7 years old at the time.
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
davey7
(---.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net)
Date: October 22, 2010 01:45PM
My source tells me that both the observation deck and club have been closed and likely turned into office space.
My dad and brother walked down and couldn't get out, they had to climb back up a few floors (with my brother crying bloody murder - he was such a spoiled scardy cat) to find an unlocked door. It probably didn't bother or even faze my dad - he's fearless. But sounds dangerous to me if you can't get out. This would have been the mid/late sixties I guess.
My dad and brother walked down and couldn't get out, they had to climb back up a few floors (with my brother crying bloody murder - he was such a spoiled scardy cat) to find an unlocked door. It probably didn't bother or even faze my dad - he's fearless. But sounds dangerous to me if you can't get out. This would have been the mid/late sixties I guess.
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
bwalsh
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 22, 2010 02:07PM
Oh what a waste of space! Of course, the people that have those offices probably don't feel that way. I remember going up there on the elevator, but if I recall, there was an escalator that went up to the observation deck. Still hard for me to grasp what changes have been made in the skyline just in my lifetime. Yet, it seems to have always been the skyline that we see now - strange, I know.
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
tomcat630
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: October 23, 2010 03:59AM
The amazing thing in the past 45 years is how much taller the buildings are and the extent of the high rises. From the Loop to about Lincoln Park, it is like a slighlty smaller Manhatten.
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
johncobb
(---.dps.state.ny.us)
Date: December 21, 2010 11:01AM
Ah that was the place to go to when I was a kid - yep like someone else wrote - we also took the L from Southport on the North Side and then spend the day...
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE NAVAL ARMORY???
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE NAVAL ARMORY???
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
fleurblue
(---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: January 03, 2011 11:49PM
There was a nice restaurant either on the observation level or the floor below. What a great place to go at night and see the city lights.
I remember going to the restaurant on a date; my date didn't have enough to cover the bill--guess it was pricier than he expected. I came up with the balance; or we would be washing dishes.
On reflection, I think the restaurant was one of the Stouffer's.
I remember going to the restaurant on a date; my date didn't have enough to cover the bill--guess it was pricier than he expected. I came up with the balance; or we would be washing dishes.
On reflection, I think the restaurant was one of the Stouffer's.
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
bwalsh
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 04, 2011 03:05AM
It was called Top of the Rock and it WAS a Stouffer's restaurant.
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
fleurblue
(---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: January 04, 2011 09:59PM
Thanks bwalsh.
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
the_mogra
(---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net)
Date: April 10, 2015 07:06PM
in the early '90s (not knowing any better) I went to the Prudential with my young sons in tow, telling the guard I wanted to go up the observation deck (as I had done 30 years previous). the guard got mad at me.
in the past I was told the observation deck at the top of the old board of trade building was practically as high up as the prudential's
in the past I was told the observation deck at the top of the old board of trade building was practically as high up as the prudential's
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
SWEDE
(---.lightspeed.iplsin.sbcglobal.net)
Date: April 10, 2015 11:12PM
I remember going there for our eight grade tour in 1959. At the top they had a souvenir shop. I thought that was a tall building until you go to the top of the Sears Tower.
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
rjmachon
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: April 11, 2015 03:32PM
The Stouffer's Restaurant closed in 1976. Here is some more info on this.
http://wendycitychicago.com/wendycity-vintage-view-top-of-the-rock/
http://wendycitychicago.com/wendycity-vintage-view-top-of-the-rock/
Re: Prudential Building observation deck
Posted by:
Jayg
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: April 12, 2015 05:55AM
My Dad worked in the Prudential from the late 60s thru the 80s. He related that one day two guys on an upper floor had a race ,with one guy, the winner apparently, going right through the window.
From the Chicago Tribune Archives July 5,1984
[b]Party horseplay proves fatal for lawyer in 39-floor plunge[/b]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2015 06:11AM by Jayg.
From the Chicago Tribune Archives July 5,1984
[b]Party horseplay proves fatal for lawyer in 39-floor plunge[/b]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2015 06:11AM by Jayg.
