Moon Watchers at Edgewater Beach, Chicago

The first artificial satellite was Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, and initiating the Soviet Sputnik program, with Sergei Korolev as chief designer. This in turn triggered the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States. Explorer 1 became the United States's first satellite on January 31, 1958. According to Wikipedia, by June 1961, three-and-a-half years after the launch of Sputnik 1, the Air Force used resources of the United States Space Surveillance Network to catalog 115 Earth-orbiting satellites.

This photo shows volunteers watching testing equipment that will help detect passing satellites at Edgewater Beach in Chicago.

Image is available for sale here: Satellite Watchers Original caption reads: Rodney Faxon shows new volunteer moon watcher Helen Gibbs how to use the moon watching aparatus. They are part of an organization of volunteers who watch the night skies for satellites as they traverse through space. October 5, 1958.

P. T. Harmon, Owner of the Arcadia Ballroom in Uptown Chicago

Here's an unusual 1923 print of P. T. Harmon, who owned the Arcadia Ballroom that once stood on Broadway (he also owned the Dreamland). It came from a book of character sketches of Chicago businessmen.

The original print is available here: P. T. Harmon

From Wikipedia: The Arcadia Ballroom, at 4444 N. Broadway, was one of the first Dance Halls in Chicago. Promoter Paddy Harmon, who later developed Dreamland Ballroom and the Chicago Stadium, found that black jazz bands were popular with the Arcadia Ballroom late night crowds. It was one of the few places on the north side of Chicago which would book black jazz bands in the 1920s and 1930s, the other being the Green Mill Jazz Club. The building was destroyed in a fire in the 1950s

Click the Arcadia Ballroom link below to learn more about the ballroom.

Planet Mars, 1117 Wilson Uptown Chicago

I love these old matchbooks; back in the days when more people smoked, it seemed every business advertised with them. They're a great clue for helping to figure out what businesses used to be in a neighborhood like Uptown.

Planet Mars at 1117 Wilson is where jazz singer Anita O'Day got her start.

 

Looks like a great place! The top matchbook is currently available from eBay at: Planet Mars

Via Lago Matchbook

The Via Lago was noted for its illuminated glass dance floor. It must have been quite a sight!

We found this particular matchbook on eBay, which is a great site for vintage Uptown memorabilia.

Magnolia, South from Wilson

A lovely vintage Childs postcard image of Magnolia, south of Wilson. These single-family homes are long gone, most replaced decades ago by apartment buildings.

Childs postcards are highly collectible. You can buy the original (at time of writing) here: Magnolia and Wilson

Sheridan Plaza Hotel, a Glimpse of Sheridan Road

In 1957, a Mrs. Long leapt to her death from the sixth floor of the Sheridan Plaza Hotel. The photo illustrating the story for the Chicago Tribune shows the west side of the hotel, and a glimpse further north up the street at some of the other buildings.

Hotel Somerset, Dorset Hotel (4943 Sheridan), and Edgewater Beach Hotel, Sheridan and Argyle, Uptown Chicago 1964

A terrific view of Sheridan from 1964, which shows both the Somerset Hotel with the marquee still on top, and the Dorset. Way in the distance, you can see the Edgewater Beach Hotel and apartments.

5718 N. Winthrop, Cromwell Apartment Hotel, 1942

From 1942. The original is available here: Cromwell Hotel

Giant Carp Caught at Montrose Harbor, 1957 and 1959

I don't think I've seen anything this big pulled out of Montrose Harbor before.

Original caption: Sam Smith get help from grandkids Roger and Adrienne Kahan,who had caught huge carp fish from Montrose Harbor. Oct 8 1957

Original caption: John Sares and Leo Kobus hold up 100lbs of carp caught by Bill Green and John Tracus, owner of Park Bait Shop at foot of Montrose Ave

For those of you who fish the lake, what's the biggest fish you've ever caught?

Top image available here: Grandad and Kids Bottom image here: Bait Shop

Uptown Chicago Blue Ribbon Dairy Bottle

Gentle readers, does anyone know anything about the Uptown Chicago Dairy? I've seen bottles for Edgewater Chicago milk, too.

There's a fierce bidding war on eBay for this particular bottle; check it out here: Uptown Dairy