In the Back of the Yards neighborhood, there was a Goldblatt's on the southeast corner of 47th and Ashland. At some point (in the 1940s?) they moved across the street to the southwest corner to occupy four floors of a much larger building. I believe they had furniture and appliances on the upper two floors and everything else on the first two. As a pre-teen, I got caught shoplifting fishing tac
Forum: General Discussion

One time in the mid 60s, my friend and I bowled at Petersen Lanes since my uncle lived nearby. I remember walking up a flight of stairs and seeing the lanes for the first time. 'bowler' is correct. No arrows, no spots, just a foul line - and the pins looked very old. I had a high 180's average at the time; but I did poorly that day and never went back. Of course at the time, I didn't know any
Forum: General Discussion

In the Back of the Yards neighborhood, we had Eudikis Funeral Home on 46th and Hermitage (serving Lithuanians - Holy Cross Church), and Wolniak Funeral Home on 46th and Wolcott (serving Polish - Sacred Heart Church). They are both gone, at least from those locations.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Correct. I worked at a Jay's distribution center on 44th and Wolcott the summer of 1965 during high school vacation. We would often open a can of chips hot from the ovens and pass it around when the delivery semi rolled in. The best.
Forum: General Discussion

Kraml Milk, New Era Potato Chips (that came in a metal can), Kayo, Bazooka and Double Bubble gum, Wonder Bread ("Helps build stong bodys 12 ways"), Rold Gold pretzels. Off topic, but Chesterfield and Pall Mall cigarettes and LaPalina cigars.
Forum: General Discussion

The Highlander Ice Cream factory was located on south Western Boulevard somewhere between 51st and 54th street. At the corner grocery stores, they sold their ice cream as a "kit": a cone with a square top and a cube of ice cream that you peeled the cardboard off.
Forum: General Discussion

I got so excited about Fox River Grove, I didn't notice the Holiday Park mention. My parents took me there as well nearly every Sunday for several years in a row, probably about 1962-ish. Originally, they only had a small concession stand and row boat rentals, along with the picnic benches and a small sandy beach. They also had a small pond they used as a hatchery for stocking the lake with Blu
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I remember the Fox River Picnic Grove well. I have a photo of me standing in front of the concession stand. They had a large raft and a tall slide in the water. In my antique travels, I found some glass ash trays with their name printed on them along with Van Merrit Beer, which was brewed by Monarch Brewing Company in Chicago. Guessing at my age in the photo, it would have been about 1958. Go
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Standard became Amoco. There was a Standard station on 45th and Ashland that had a car wash for $1.00 and as many free road maps you could carry! Plus they would check your oil and fluids and put air in your tires when gas was 30 cents per gallon - plus they gave S&H Green Stamps. At Purple Martin on 105th and Indianapolis Boulevard, you could dial the octane you wanted right at the pump
Forum: General Discussion

That's right. It was a rather subdued color sign. If memory serves me correctly, the "VON" was spelled horizontally at the top and "SOLBRIG" spelled vertically: VON S O L B R I G
Forum: General Discussion

For those interested in old signs, I recall a "Foote Bros. Gear" sign in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Although records show their address as 5225 South Western Boulevard, I remember being able to see it from 44th and Wolcott, looking directly west across the open fields. Maybe they had more than one location? It was bright red neon, and quite large. After the construction of t
Forum: General Discussion

Sorry, I would only be guessing.
Forum: General Discussion

The largest sign in Chicago in the 1960s was "Tasemkin's Furniture" on 46th and Ashland Avenue, east side of the street. I don't know if the Gas City sign trumped Tasemkin's or not.
Forum: General Discussion

I visited a friend in that hospital who was involved in a motorcycle accident in the spring of 1971. I don't remember much about the interior, but that was the only hospital I knew of that had a large vertical neon sign out front!
Forum: General Discussion

The last known address for Kentile Floors is: 4532 South Kolin Avenue, Chicago, IL 60632-4413. They may or may not have always been at that address. It was impossible NOT to stare at that sign as one drove southwest from downtown to the city limits at night. It was HUGE and visible for miles! That was also near a stretch of the Stevenson expressway where they had experimental street lights i
Forum: General Discussion

I don't have an answer, but another question. Does anyone remember "Royal Oaks" picnic grove on 87th and Kean? They had a small scale train that kids could ride, a beer garden and dance pavilion. It mostly served the Polish community on Sunday afternoons. Great memories.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

There was no Gerties next to People's Theater. People's was on the north side of west 47th Street between Marshfield and Ashland (not Paulina). There was a small snack shop to the west of the theater on the corner of 47th and Marshfield, but it wasn't called Gerties. Jusas Sisters Restaurant was to the east of the theater and Goldblatt's was across the street. On the corner of 47th and Ashland
Forum: General Discussion

Richard: I never seen any graves at the top of the hill. The owner's son never mentioned anything about graves on the property, and I'm sure he would have showed them to me if there were - unless he didn't know they were there. Possible. I used the steep south path most often to climb the hill, in line with the horse stables. If the graves were on the north side of the hill where the slope was
Forum: General Discussion

I spent every Sunday afternoon at Tarnow's from 1957-1960ish. Great memories. During that time, the hall was being rented to "Eddie's Auction". I believe "Steve" was the name of the property owner at the time, but Tarnow was probably not his last name since that is the name of a city in Poland. My parents would drink beer and take part in bidding on low-end imported trinket
Forum: General Discussion