Wilson Avenue Theatre

This is probably my favorite image in my collection. It is of the Wilson Avenue Theatre, now a TCF Bank, on Wilson near the northeast corner of Broadway. (You can see a bit of the Uptown/Wilson El Stop in the lower left corner).

The image below, captured from Google maps, shows the same stretch of Wilson. The theatre/bank is the only building left.

I have heard rumours--unconfirmed--that an entertainment company wants to buy the bank and renovate it as a small theatre space. Can anyone confirm this?

Historic Images of Uptown at Fat Cat

In recent weeks, Fat Cat Bar and Grill, just north of the Uptown Theatre on Broadway, has created a photo corner with approximately two dozen historic images from my collection and the collection of Compass Rose Cultural Crossroads. Reprints of these images are available for purchase at Compass Rose.

It's fun to sit near the photo wall at Fat Cat and listen to the comments of people walking past; most have no idea that our neighborhood is filled with such history. Be sure to check out the display!

Montrose East of Sheridan

Malden and Wilson

Malden North of Wilson.

Image courtesy John Chuckman.

Magnolia Apartments

Corner of Magnolia and Wilson Avenue.

Image courtesy John Chuckman.

900 Block of Sunnyside

Image courtesy John Chuckman.

Sheridan Road South from Lawrence, the Old Kemper Building

Does the old Kemper Building look strange to you? That's because it's actually shorter in this image than it is now. Four more stories were added some time after its initial construction.

It was built by Harry Emmerman in 1925 and housed the Mutual Insurance company. It was one of Uptown's best and most modern office buildings, with air conditioning and stunning views of Lake Michigan (the shore was closer in those days). In 1928, Kemper insurance moved into the top floors, and eventually bought and took over the building. It would be its headquarters for forty years, until the company moved out to Long Grove. They donated the building to Chicago Ecumenical Institute in 1971. Today, it houses a variety of non-profit groups.

I have a personal connection to this building (one generation removed). When my mom was young and single, she worked for Kemper Insurance. This was in the mid-sixties. She became good friends with two women who also worked there, Marsha and Herma. (Herma is now my godmother.)

When Marsha got engaged, she had a bridal shower, and my mom attended. Someone there took home movies, which Marsha later subjected her youngest brother Ron to. Being a good brother, he humored her, but he made her stop the film and back it up when this pretty blonde—my mom—appeared on the screen. "Who is that? Can you fix me up with her?" he asked.

Marsha went to work the following day, and told my mom what happened. "You don't have to go out with the guy if you don't want to, Donna," she said. "He is my brother." But my mom was game, and agreed to the blind date. A week later they were engaged.

And that's how my parents met.

Wilson Avenue Beach, North Shore of Lake Michigan

I think my favorite postcards of Uptown are those with people. They're not too common. Most show buildings, or crowds at a distance. There are very few where you can actually make out individual faces.

Wilson Avenue Beach was located at 4600 North, and was a privately owned beach. In 1915, the City of Chicago opened Clarendon Beach (now Montrose Avenue Beach) immediately to the south, at 4400 North, to serve as a public beach.

Click on the thumbnail photo below to see a larger version of the black and white image of Wilson Avenue Beach, housed at the Library of Congress.

Kenmore Avenue near Buena

Image courtesy John Chuckman.

Leland west from Hazel

Image courtesy John Chuckman.

Tour of Alta Vista Terrace on October 7

The Chicago Architecture Foundation will host a one-hour tour of Alta Vista Terrace on October 7th: "Known as the 'Street of 40 Doors,’ Alta Vista Terrace was built in 1904 to replicate the rowhouse style of London’s streets. This landmark block is unlike any other street in Chicago. It is an inviting curiosity with beautifully scaled homes. Learn the history of its cohesive design, decorative details, and unique doorways."

When: Sunday, October 7, 11:00 a.m.
Where: Meet at the northeast corner of Grace Street and Alta Vista Terrace (3800 N, 1050 W)
Cost: It's free to CAH members. $5 for non-members

Alta Vista Terrace is a Chicago Landmark. It was designed by J.C. Brompton for real estate developer Samuel Eberly Gross. Each house is duplicated, with minor variation, at the diagonal end of the block.

Image courtesy John Chuckman.

Hermitage Looking South from Wilson

Looking south down Hermitage from Wilson Avenue.

Image courtesy John Chuckman.

Graeme Stewart School, circa 1918

Trivia: Before he moved to Park Ridge, and long before he went on to Hollywood to star in such films as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Bladerunner, American Graffiti, and Patriot Games, Harrison Ford lived in Chicago and, along with his brother Terry, attended grade school at Graeme-Stewart Elementary.


Does anyone out there know if G-S has any other famous alumni or attendees?

Sheridan Road and Evanston Avenue (Broadway)

A few days ago, I posted an image of the intersection of Sheridan/Montrose/Broadway. Here is another view, taken from further back, showing the same building. I don't have an exact date for it.

At one time, Broadway Avenue (off to the left in this image) was named Evanston Avenue because it went, well, up to Evanston. Sheridan Road goes off to the right in this photo.

Montrose, Sheridan, Broadway

Many thanks to my friend Andy for finding this terrific historic postcard, postmarked 1910. With all the other rehabs going on in the neighborhood, wouldn't it be great to replicate the original ornamentation at the top of this building?

Leland Hotel, Leland at Racine

1201-1213 W. Leland Avenue, at Racine

The six-story Leland Hotel opened for business in 1927. It was designed by the firm Dubin & Eisenberg, who were also responsible for designing the beautiful synagogue for the Agudas Achim North Shore Congregation on Kenmore near Argyle. At the time, the Leland had 205 rooms with weekly rates of $15 per week. In the mid-1900s it was converted into apartments, and over the years fell into serious neglect and decay. By the end of the century, many units were completely uninhabitable and the Leland was at risk for demolition.

Heartland Housing purchased the building in 2000. Nearly $15 million was raised to restore the facade and renovate the interior, with funding coming from state and federal tax credits, grants, and TIF money. The renovation, completed by Joseph Freed and Associates, created 4000 square feet of commercial retail space and 137 units of affordable housing, including studios and one-bedroom apartments. Sixteen percent of the units are compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. The Leland Apartments are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Dancing the Night Away at Uptown's Via Lago

The Via Lago Cafe—"The Beauty Spot of America"—was located at 837 Wilson Avenue. It featured "Uptown Chicago's Famous Illuminated Glass Dance Floor." The back of the card, which does not have a postmark, reads: "Good Food—Good Service. Refined Atmosphere for the Discriminating. Private Dining Room for Social Affairs and Private Parties. No Cover Charge at Any Time. Special Chicken and Steak Dinners served from 5 to 9 p.m., also a la carte. Dancing from 6:30 to Closing."

I think it's time for another jazz-era cocktail. This one is again from The Savoy Cocktail Book:

Chicago Cocktail

1 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Curacao
2/3 glass Brandy

Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. Frost edge of glass with castor sugar and fill with Champagne.

Of course, I don't have any Champagne chilling at the ready, so it will have to wait for another evening. (Also, I suggest you sugar the rim of your glass before pouring anything in—I typed in the directions as the book listed them.)

Malden and Leland, Uptown Chicago

I don't know much about this image. A friend sent it to me a while back, and it's been sitting on my hard drive. It shows Malden looking south from Leland.

Fishing in Lake Michigan, North Shore

The news this past month of an innocent fisherman being randomly pushed into Montrose Harbor has been particularly disturbing. The lake front has always been a great place for families to hang out. This postcard image shows fishermen nearly a hundred years ago enjoying Lake Michigan on a summer's day.

My dad told me how, in the days before air conditioning units were common in homes, he and his siblings and friends would either sleep on the roof of their six-flat in hopes of catching a breeze or camp out on the beach with hundreds of other Uptown and Edgewater residents who were trying to escape the dog days of August. This would have been back in the 1950s.

While I can't quite picture myself ever feeling safe enough to sleep on the beach (disregarding, of course, the fact that you can't even do that anymore), and while I wouldn't go there at night alone, I have always felt comfortable walking along the lake in the daylight. It's events like this random homicide that make you think twice about your personal safety.

Sheridan Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge, Buena Park / Lake View Chicago

No postmark on this one, but I think it dates to the 1930s. Sheridan Restaurant & Cocktail lounge was located at 3944 N. Sheridan, under the L tracks, where "Sheridan L Liquors" is now.

Of course, a 1930s cocktail lounge image deserves another 1930s cocktail. This is also from the Savoy Cocktail Book book:

Jabberwock Cocktail

This will make you gyre and gimble in the wabe until brillig, all right, all right. (Green Fairy's Note: I have no idea what that means.)

2 dashes Orange Bitters
1/3 part Dry Gin
1/3 part Dry Sherry
1/3 part Caperitif (GF: A defunct mixer, but you can substitute with Lillet Blanc.)

Stir well and strain into cocktail glass. Squeeze lemon peel on top.