As teenagers,we were too young to walk into a liquor store and buy beer, The purchase was made by proxy or, according to today's terminolgy, "straw purchase". In other words,for a couple of dollars, an adult would make the purchase and give it to us. As we exited the school's recreation hall, we were faced by a sqad car backing up the street with doors open and another cop running down
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Sorry Jac,but in the late 40's I was still an eat at home kid and do't recall that particular resturant. TomC
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Nobody can beat Sanfratello'slocated in Glenwood. Get there early because there is always a crush at the door. I like the thin crust best.TomC
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Did you know that there are 10,000 Confederate dead in Oak Woods cemetery Located in the southside Woodlawn neighborhood at 67th Street? They died of various causes and diseases while being held prisoner at Camp Douglas at 31st and Southpark(King Drive) during the Civil War.I spoke to the owner of a funeral home that was located at 31st Street and who happened to be Black and considered himself a
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Dear Friends, While discussing old time hamburger joints on another forum mmention was made of Minor and Dunn that was once located on East 79th Street, this caused me to take a step back in time and I recalled some of the songs that were popular on the juke box at the time. These were "Green Eyes" by helen O'Connell, and "Amapola" also by Helen O'Connell. The next was &quo
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The Minor and Dunn at 1732 east 79th strret was their first. I still remember some of the songs on the Juke Box. Helen Oconnel singing, :Green Eyes," And I forget the other singer doing " Amapola." My aunt lived right down the street on East End. Also nearby, The Avalon Theatre. After going to the Starlite Drive In on 95th Street in Oaklawn,we went to the hamburger stand at 76th an
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Thanks again,Wardell,After his roofing and gambling days, my father opened up a filling station called, "The Woodlawn Service Station." located at 61st just off of Cottage Grove and just behind a tavern called,"The Grove Circle Inn." One of his biggest customers was Tremont Auto Sales" at 62nd and Cottage. I had the pleasure of putting gas in the cars of a lot of "co
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For All you railroad men and women who never grew up (myself included) Once you access "Steam On The EL," Go to this article that comes with it: "Read other articles." Are you in for a treat! If you haven't done so already, drag out your old electric train and put it around the base of the Christmas tree. MERRY CHRISTMAS !!! TOM C
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In order to access the website, copy and paste the entry below: Locomotive #41 and crew pose for the company photographer on the structure above 63rd Street just east of Cottage Grove Avenue (about 1894). TomC
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Go to this website and see what once ran on Chicago's elevated tracks.I once knew a lady, Mrs. V. Torrence,born 1860, who once rode on this train. Tom C Steam On The Alley “L” www.discoverlivesteam.com/magazine/42/index.html Locomotive #41 and crew pose for the company photographer on the structure above 63rd Street just east of Cottage Grove Avenue (about 1894).
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To Richard, Hi Old Timer. I know a bit about back of the yards. We once lived at 55th and Bishop which is on the border. Grand Blvd is foreign territory to me. On the other hand, South Parkway, as my mother once told me, was a beautiful place. A lot of rich people once lived there including the Marx brothers. When my father first came to Chicago he worked for Railway Express as a runner for the d
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Richard,I am pleased that you liked my story, but I am about to tun out of gas;that is unless you would want to read my book.Its free on the Internet and runs 283 pages. On the other hand you people have been very helpful to me with your posts. I have been able to take a step back in time and some of the remembrances that all of you peopople have provided almost bring me to tears. I will turn 80 y
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i now remember that rib house. it was located on 57ih street near kimbark and it was called the tropical hut. never ate there. it cost too much for a kids pocket. Tom C
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read the kid from woodlawn as published in the university of vhicago maroon. Tom C
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Hi Liz, I'm starting to get the handle on this thing and lost you for awhile. You sure know your stuff!! Regarding Buffalo Bill's Circus, We once had an old teacher at Mount Carmel and he talked about the old day. He told us that there was a guy in the circus who could jump over an elephant.Regarding the Roller Derby, I worked with a gal st the U of C who ovce was a skater. Her name was Joanie snd
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Hello Richard Syachowski, As far as Amelia Airhart is concerned. She was my hero. I have collected quite a few pictures of her off of the Internet.They made a great movie about her staring Hilary Swank (of Million Dollar Baby Fame). Also, my sister went to school with Mel Torme at Hyde Park HS. She did not stay too long as she transferred to an all girl's boarding school in Iowa. Then again,we a
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Hi Tommy Wilson, I remember that rib house, but the name escapes me for now. They had ribs turning on a spit in the window.You could see the coals glowing beneath them. Not that we had the money to go in and buy ribs, but the heat from the window felt so good on a cold winter's night. About all that we did was stand outside and get warm. I think that the resturant later moved up to about 93rd or s
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Read a history of Hyde Park. Juat type A History of Hyde Park,cook,Illinois by Thomas Crane into your browser. Tom C
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Does anybody remember Bowlmor Bolling Alley located at 82nd and Southpark Avenue now known as Martin Luther King Drive? TomC
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Does anybody remember Nicky's Pizza on 55th Street Right off Cottage Grove. My favorite hangout in the early 1950's Tom C
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Does anybody remember HOly Cross Church at 65th and Maryland. I gratuated from there in 1948.TomC
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Does anybody remember Tremont Auto Sales at 62nd and Cottage Grove Avenue. They were a front for the Numbers racket (now known as the Illinois State Lottery).The Tremonts were all nice people as they were customer's at my father's gas station at 61st right off of Cottage Grove. I know that they were nice because I put gas in their cars many,many times TomC
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Does anybody remember the Southland Club operated by Bylly Skidmore at 62nd and Cottage Grove. My father was a professional gambler and 3 cushion billiard player there during the 1930's and 1940's.
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In addition th the Publix Cafeteria, There was a cigar siore a 63rd and Cottage and then going East there was Mary Lee's Ice cream Palor then an alley and then Publix Cafeteria. After that came the Ark Theatre and across 63rd was the Maryland theatre where My mother took me to see,"Gone With The Wind," at the Maryland welso saw, "The Wizard of Oz" and "Snow White and the S
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Does anybody remember McGinty's Tavern near 73rd and Cottage Grove. My neighbor,Joe Shanley played the fiddle there and especially on St.Patrick's Day. He not only played it at the tavern, but brought it home and played it all night next to our apartment. Joe Shanly was a streetcar conductor and lived at 6621 So.Ingleside. We lived next door at 6619 So.Ingleside. The Shanley's had 3 very beautiful
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Chicago had an internment center at 4800 S. Ellis Ave. that served as a processing point from which internees were released or sent on to more permanent facilities. I was in this jaded mansion.(As quoted by a Japanese internee). YomC
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I remember going to Wooded Island in Jackson Park with my father just before World War Two. In the middle of the island was a beautiful Japanese Tea House. A person could go in there and be srved tea by Geisha girls with their hair done up and colorful robes.You could see them moving sbout pouring tea.Soon after the War broke out,it was burned to the ground. Another time he took me to a large apa
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As he sat back and began to reminisce. One of his memories included the time he fought with his best friend.No matter they remained best friends and even fishing ingbuddies. After contacting another friend he found out that his friend had moved to a different city and had since developed MS(Multiple Sclerosis).After his old friend answered the the phone, he asked him,"Do you want to fight?&qu
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While walking down Maryland Avenue, a person could see the firemen sitting outside of Engine House 63. When the doors were open,you could see the shiny brass polls that they slid down from the bunk room upstairs in orderto repond to an alarm. You could smell the aroma of the Oak and ash trees and the grass was green. The air was filled with the smell of summer.In the Fall, people burned leaves at
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In responding to my request for a photo of Engine 63 Firehouse,which I thoroughly appreciate, It was noted that it included the fire escape at the back of the Tivoli. I grew up with a number of cousins who were similar to the Dead End Kids or Bowery Boys.While walking down the alley,I looked up to see cops chasing my cousins down the fire escape. They had walked in the front entrance and pused the
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