Saw this site somewhere; I think posted on Forgotten Chicago. I just bookmarked it because I didn't see all of it yet myself. Looks very interesting! Riverview was an exciting place for my family. They used to have 2 cent days and 10 cent rides on other days. My uncles worked for Bell & Howell and they sponsored an evening at the park. We all got free ride and food coupons. It was g
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Yes, I remember the post card (I probably took one each visit and still have one). I also remember the guest book tucked in a little alcove. I signed that too every time. Here is a site depicting the Injun Summer cartoon which was replicated on the Olson Rug lawn in the fall. A full moon and giant witch on a broom sat atop the falls. http://www.tkinter.smig.net/Chicago/InjunSummer
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Wow, I remember the "The Millionaire's Club" but not the details. Where was it located?
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Yes, I do remember the Falls. We walked across the bridge at the top and enjoyed the spray of water on hot nights. They did have the "Injun Summer" display on the lawn for Halloween complete with haystacks and a giant witch and full moon over the falls. Some of the entries relating to Olson Rug were deleted this month. Here is a site describing the history of the display. ht
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I attended St. Wenceslaus grade school and Alvernia. Sometime in the 80's a St. Wenceslaus parishoner and his kids decided to construct a haunted house to raise money for the school (also closed now). It was an elaborate maze with flashing lights and figures. It was pretty scary and was set up in an unused part of the school basement. I remember it drew a great crowd and probably made the p
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So much entertainment to be had on a piece of Chicago real estate over the years.
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My folks would take us downtown once or twice in the summer on Sundays. I remember that none of the big stores were open and the Loop was fairly quiet. There were some junk stores on Randolph with tables full of stuff set outside. (early sidewalk sales?). There was a theater on State (I think it was the Loop) that still featured newsreels (black and white posters outside with pictures o
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Marfair, thanks for the info. Hey, I'll try to be more detailed in the future--haa! Loved the place so much, just had to run on, and on, and on.
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Thank you for the info!
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Field's had an elegant, wood paneled room in the State Street store called the "Waiting Room." There was a giant clock at one end. Rows of seats and benches lined the room where people sat. My sister and I would go to Field's and wonder what everyone was waiting for in a department store that would merit a separate room. There were rest rooms off the Waiting Room but other than tha
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My parents took us to this in the early 60s. It was located on Navy Pier which was really nothing but a warehouse at the time. We walked from the entrance to the end of the pier--there was nothing much there. A few primitive refreshment stands and counters along the sides where foreign vendors sold various items and some food samples. I remember being disappointed because we didn't buy
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Did anyone frequent a small bar called Sherlock's Home on north Michigan Ave.? I think it was across from the Drake Hotel. It was a fun, quaint place to stop for a drink with dark, Engligh decor. I remember drinks served in a hurricane-style glass, or maybe it was just the Irish coffee I ordered.
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There was a small (about the size of a shirt pocket) flat container mounted on evey old subway car near the doors. Maybe they were on the buses too. A cut-out in the metal read "Read as you Ride." My friends and I always got a laugh at this because it was always empty and too small to hold much. Once in a while they would contain a religious tract that some evangelist placed there.
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Did anyone go to Happy Day for horseback riding. It was, I think, on Cumberland Ave., north of Lawrence. I went riding a few times with friends and the area seemed to be totally forest preserves. I don't remember much more. I heard that there were some connection with employees there and the Helen Brach (candy heiress) murder.
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The theater was a great place to see top name entertainment. I remember the water wheel. (Golf Mill I guess was named after Golf Rd. and Milwaukee Ave.). Nothing remains of the theater area since the north addition to Golf Mill Plaza was built. Kohl's, Target and many other smaller stores occupy the property. The mall is actually pretty nice these days since the recent addition of a conne
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Klaus was about a block north of Goldblatts on Milwaukee Ave. Compared to Goldblatts at the time Klaus was like Marshall Fields on a small scale. Quite modern for that area. I do remember Goldblatts with the salami and other food and candy sold on the first floor. Do you remember the old couple who sold popcorn under the stairway? The popcorn aroma filled the store. They poured a yellowish o
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My mom lived near Wood and Armitage Sts. in Chicago in the '40s. Her family lived in a third floor apartment, in the front half of a large attic. My uncle used to work nights and come up the 3 flights of stairs to their apartment. As he neared the attic level he heard footsteps behind him. He called out to see who it was. There was no answer, but a white figure passed beside him and sailed int
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I remember the street lights that used to light our neighborhood years ago. They appeared to be no more than 18 feet tall; black poles with a black saucer shaped lid covering a lantern-like bulb. They provided a beautiful soft light and were a lovely addition to the streets. I think that somewhere in the 60's they were replaced with the ugly mercury vapor lights. Brighter (glaring), and probab
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My mom lived near Wood and Armitage Sts. in Chicago in the '40s. Her family lived in a third floor apartment, in the front half of a large attic. My uncle used to work nights and come up the 3 flights of stairs to their apartment. As he neared the attic level he heard footsteps behind him. He called out to see who it was. There was no answer, but a white figure passed beside him and saile
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This was on Milwaukee Ave. just south of Diversey. The store was a complete department store. It had a women's and men's clothing area, accessories, hats, coats, a jewelry, cosmetic, and greeting card department. In the basement there was a barber shop, a shoe repair, a dry cleaners, toy department, and large appliance area. A beautiful home center was opened later stocked with china, cookware
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Does anyone remember the Round Robin on Diversey near the river? It featured inexpensive chicken-in-a basket dinners. We always loved the container of honey served with the meal.
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Does anyone remember the Rainbow Rink on North Clark? The last time I skated there was the day Kennedy was killed. My high school had the place reserved for a skating party that night, and no, it couldn't be cancelled. What a miserable day and night. And I was worried about root canal scheduled for the following day! Ugh.
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Golf Mill is totally enclosed now. It was similar to Old Orchard years ago, open with garden areas. The enclosed mall makes sense in this climate and a new facelift and theater complex has been a plus. Having ample open parking is so much more appealing than the "parking garage" effect at Harlem & Irving. Does anyone remember the Mill Run Theater at the north end? Theater in t
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I remember when HIP was all outdoors in one long shopping strip except for Wiebolts and Walgreens at each end. It was cold and blustery in the winter; the mall now has a lot of eateries and amusements, but without a view of the actual stores from the street and the ugly, cavernous parking garage in the front, I almost prefer the open air mall. I seldom shop there.
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Back in the '60's I attended Alvernia High School off of Irving Park, as did my younger sister. Were were by no means affluent and the tuition was well under $1,000 at the time. Any more and my parents would be unable to afford it. We got an excellent education from the very forward-looking and thinking nuns. We hosted Dick Gregory, and other civil rights figures. The attitude was liberal
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I don't remember this movie house but your question prompted an old memory going back to grade school days, particularly summers back then. One of my favorite memories was trying out recipes in our kitchen and listening to Don McNeal's Breakfast Club. Something about marching around the breakfast table. The show was different and broadcast from atop of the Allerton Hotel. Good morning brea
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