When I was a freshman in high school (’73) I worked for several months at LaManna’s Drugs at Damen and Berwyn. It was rapidly dying breed of independent places. Joe LaManna was the owner/pharmacist and still ran the place until it closed (probably about 1975). The place was so old that I’d like to say that he inherited it from his family, but Joe was an immigrant himself so it’s possible t
Forum: General Discussion

cmysli Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Back when kids made fun of other kids' > mamas, they would say, "Your mama works at > Jacktor's Motel." Wow. That sounds pretty brutal even if someone has no idea what "Jactor’s Motel" is. I may have to hang on to that one for a fitting occasion.
Forum: General Discussion

The bridle path extended as far North as Hollywood Beach (known locally as “Ardmore Beach”). I remember seeing an occasional dung pile along it until perhaps 1972 or so. I always assumed there were riders issuing from the ultra-elite Saddle and Cycle club at Foster Ave. next to the park. I know the club has been there since the nineteenth century and they still have stables that have been con
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

222psm Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You know, I was thinking the same thing. I wonder > how we did not get arrested on some of our > adventures, ( a few times we came really close!) > just plain luck I Guess. But if you want to share? > confess your sins! LOL! I'd love to hear them! Geeze, maybe it’s time I get some of this stuff off m
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

captain54 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My vivid recollections of the area are the old > Xanadu nightclub @ Rosemont and Broadway in the > 80's and, in the mid 70's, seeing Cheap Trick at a > rock club/bar (name escapes me) in a small venue > on Sheridan between the L stop and Devon. Doesn’t seem all that long ago captain. The Xanadu (
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Cannibal Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There was another arcarde I remember going to that > was near the Loyola campus on Sheridan, I think > around the 6500 block of N. Sheridan. I remember that one Cannibal. It was called "King Cash". (The owners name was King. I can only guess what he was getting at with the "Cash"). That wa
Forum: General Discussion

It’s a hot dog place these days but it went through the pay day loan joint phase also which manifested itself in the unsettling specter of the completely unveiled Checker’s structure – sign pole included – to run its business. It looked like a drive-through juice racket.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

WayOutWardell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In the 40s view south on Broadway...the building > with the Thos. Webb Coffee billboard was later > home to a furniture store involved in the > Summerdale police scandal in 1960. Geeze I wish I was around for the Summerdale police scandal. It still comes up in conversation around here from time to
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

We lived at the corner of Peterson and Paulina when I was very young (early 60’s). There was a fruit market across the street in the wedge where Ridge crosses Peterson. They had a Jefferson Ice vending machine outside. I remember hearing people use it during the night from my bedroom window. There is an old ice factory next to our church at Chicago and Sangamon. Empire Ice Company. It’s st
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Anyone remember these signs that the CTA used to hang on the front of L trains? On one side they read “Baseball Today – Comiskey Park” and on the other side they read “Baseball Today – Wrigley Field”. They could be turned around depending on who happened to be playing on a given day. This topic reminded me that one of my brothers had “acquired” one of these things in the ea
Forum: General Discussion

I was born in 1958, so the goings-on in these photos predate my actual knowledge of such things but here’s my speculation for what it’s worth. This intersection is actually that of Broadway, Devon, and Sheridan Rd. (Sheridan going to the north and east). I believe that streetcars were off limits to Sheridan because it was classified as a boulevard. That’s why they turn from Broadway onto
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

captain54 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > fantastic pix...you can always see the demolished > Devon Theatre in the background... the upstairs > space at the Devon also has a wild and storied > past.everything from a dance studio, to a band > rehearsal space, to a police lookout of the bar > across the street! --I've lived in the neighbor
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Rustymuscle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > An aside, the ghost sign in the back, while > different from the 1940s view, is the same > company...Shebard Moving and Storage. --Actually it's Hebard Moving and Storage - and it still was until just a few short years ago.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

The Marquis Lunch at 6351 N Broadway can be seen in this photo on the far left just beyond the flower shop. This is looking south on Broadway from Devon circa 1940’s
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I have a friend who cut his teeth as a sous chef at Le Perroquet in the early 80’s. He went on to open several restaurants in Toronto (where he’s still at it). I never dined at Le Perroquet myself but I’m glad to hear it was held in such high esteem.
Forum: General Discussion

My “pro wrestling” days were a bit earlier – 1960’s-70’s when local promoter Bob Luce hawked his product on late night UHF television. Some of the stars were Moose Cholok and Baron Von Raschke. The cheap TV matches plugged his live performances mostly at some place in Indiana (Holiday Star??) but sometimes in more upscale venues like the Aragon Ballroom. I never went to any of them.
Forum: General Discussion

Our family shopped at A&P where we received Plaid Stamps. Interestingly there was lesser known stamp called King Korn. I don’t know where they were distributed but their headquarters was at the north east corner of Cark and Elmdale (Peterson) - a stone’s throw from our home. They’ve since disappeared, but the building is still there and currently houses the publishing offices of “La Ra
Forum: General Discussion

From The Encyclopedia of Chicago History: No more than three families lived on Goose Island during the 1970s, and by 1985 only one house remained on the island. Goose Island had ended a second round of settlement, with most of the housing on its three residential streets destroyed. Despite the demise of worker housing, however, the area reemerged as a potential site for more affluent residents
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I suspect that you're the same Tim who submitted the question to the Straight Dope. In case you're not ,here's a load of info for you.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

That’s a penny (nickle?) scale. There was one just like it in a drug store near the Granville L station through the mid 70’s. The owner sometimes moved it outside in the summer. The panel on the top featured a grid (light-toned area to the right) which showed what your weight ought to be in comparison with your height.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings