Vintage Chicago

The History of Chicago Buildings During Prohibition

admin — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Posted by: Sara on August 7, 2011

Chicago has an interesting history and when you take a nostalgic look back at the Prohibition Period and Chicago’s architectural history, the combination is both colorful and fascinating. While the Prohibition Period gave rise to infamous characters such as Al Capone and John Dillinger, Art Deco yielded up an architectural style of simplicity and elegance. The Prohibition Period’s time frame was 1920 to 1933 and the Art Deco Period was 1925 to 1939. There was the wild Roaring 20′s when underworld crime escalated and the Great Depression, which caused enormous suffering. The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre took place in 1929 in a long gone warehouse in Lincoln Park. John Dillinger was killed by FBI agents in 1934 at the still standing Biograph Theater in Lincoln Park . Chicago’s rich history of Art Deco architecture can be seen today in such structures as the Palmolive Building on north Michigan Avenue, the Carbon and Carbide Building, the Oriental Theater, and the Chicago Board of Trade Building. There are other architectural delights of this period; so if you ever visit this vibrant city, it would be worth your while to take the Art Deco tour of historic buildings.

The History of Chicago Mob Wars

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The History of Chicago Mob Wars adds adventurous color to the city of Chicago. This vibrant city of the modern world reflects the best of so many cultures. Theses groups did not mesh without effort and compromise. With a strong history of organized crime, exceptionally active during prohibition, bootlegging and various other crimes of that era gangs were not limited to any one group but moved across the board; Jewish, Italian, Irish and others. Characters noted the infamous “Bugs” Moran, Big Jim O’Leary, Al Capone and the Chicago Outfit.

The history of Chicago Mob Wars is documented in police records and recorded in movie re-enactments. The prohibition era is noted by many as the most infamous time but Mob Wars in Chicago went on for decades. Travel this beautiful city, partially rebuilt after the great Chicago Fire; experience the ingenuity of this creative culture. Learn of people who made race driving famous without driving a track and explore organizational training by men who only had degrees from the school of Street-logy and Hard-knocks. This was the energy that helped shape The City of Chicago, a special place with a history to intrigue anyone; still maintaining a drive to obtain power and position.

The Gang Wars Of Chicago During Prohibition

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The gang wars of Chicago began with a simple, fair plan. In 1920, John Torrio had taken over the biggest organized crime outfit in Chicago by taking out their leader “Big Jim” Colosimo. Torrio saw the prohibition as a great moneymaking opportunity and began bootlegging. He and the other crime bosses of the time held a meeting, laying out a very lucrative deal. They agreed to split the city so that each gang had sole rights to sell beer and liquor in their territory.Torrio, with the help of Al Capone held the biggest piece, eventually expanding into the suburbs and Cicero. The gangs began to see large profits and they wanted more. This greediness caused them to go into other territories. The “Gang Wars” began in November 1924 with the killing of O’Banion from the O’Banion Gang by the Gennas Gang. After being shot in 1925, Torrio left the city and Al Capone took charge.Being on the losing end of shootings forced most gangs to eventually surrender to Capone. The wars peaked in 1929 with the “St. Valentine’s Massacre”.In 1931, the prohibition came to an end and Capone moved towards other rackets until arrested for tax evasion in 1932.The mafia has never again been able to match the prestige and power it held during the prohibition era and Chicago is the heart of all it once held.

Summer in Chi-Town…

admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Summer is a great time to visit the Windy City and the only time some people even consider going. If you’ve been using your satelliteinternetbroadband.com connection to plan the trip of a lifetime take us up on these great tips for having a summer blast in Chicago…
Take a Boat Ride – If you’ve never done an architectural river tour of the Windy City you’ve got to do it now. You’ll learn all there is to know about the Chicago skyline and get to take in the warm summer breezes from the river, too. It’s a win win.
Taste of Chicago – You’re lucky in that the Taste only comes around once a year, and that time is now. Try some of the city’s best eats for only a few dollars at a time and mingle with hundreds of thousands of your closest friends.
Watch the Fireworks – There are only a few places in the country that put on a better July 4th show than Chicago and if you find a spot high enough you’ll be able to watch multiple shows at once. You’ll never feel more patriotic.

Check It Out in Film

www.vintage-chicago.com — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you want to tap into even more “all things Chicago” you may want to check oout a few of the following list of films that were filmed in the city and have fun with some “landmark spotting” that pops up along the way. You can check your local listings or add them to your Netflix queue; but either way, it might be a fun way to spend some lazy winter days this year.

About Last Night (1986)The Blues Brothers (1980)Continental Divide (1981)Cooley High (1975)The Dark Knight (2008)Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)High Fidelity (2000)Home Alone (19990)North by Northwest (1959)Nothing in Common (1986)Ordinary People (1980)Public Enemies (2009)Risky Business (1983)The Untouchables (1987)

There are more, of course; like The Fugitive (1993) and Stir of Echoes (1999), we offer these up only as a sampling to whet your appetite and give you a basis to start your foray into discovering more of what Chicago-land has to offer!

Art Institute at Christmas

www.vintage-chicago.com — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Art Institute of Chicago has always been a great resource to linger away the hours on a cold wintry day, but with the holiday season approaching it is even more of a respite. Now that the famous lions outside have been “wreathed” in celebration of the season they stand ready to greet you as you enter for any number of special holiday treats the museum has in store. Enjoy the giant ball of mistletoe that hangs above the Grand Staircase. Measuring four feet in diameter, it’s sure to evoke some romantic kisses (and can you imagine the marriage proposals it might even witness?). On Saturdays and Sundays there will be holiday sing-along and you can take part in building your own gingerbread house. The season also brings out some special holiday libations on Thursday and Friday evenings where visitors can warm their insides with cocktails and nibble on some sweet treats in the Garden Caf. If you’re interested in any of these activities, check with the institute for exact dates and times. And for those of you looking for that unique holiday gift to tuck into someone special’s Christmas stocking, you bet a gift membership will always be appreciated since the delights of the Institute can be appreciated all year long. How’s that for thoughtful planning?

All Chicago’s a stage. . .

www.vintage-chicago.com — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 21:29:29 +0000

The Chicago Theatre is not only an incredible performance hall, but an example of breathtaking architecture, too. Since 1921, the establishment has hosted a variety of extraordinary performances. Entertainers have ranged from Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin through to Kelly Clarkson and Alicia Keys.As for the architecture, the building has infamous French role models. In fact, the design is French Baroque and inspiration ranges from Versailles to the Paris Opera House. One of the most noticeable imitations can be found on the exterior. From the moment you arrive, you’ll notice the entrance is reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. And once you’ve seen the murals and sculptured walls of the interior, you’re sure to feel as if you’ve entered a French palace.For a short time, there were threats that the theater would be demolished. Luckily, the landmark was saved and a refurbishment took place in 1986. It is thanks to the Chicago Theatre Restoration Associates and the City of Chicago that the building remains today.Now sightseers can get an in-depth look at this historical site. The theatre offers tours, but depending on the time of year, days and times change. Until the end of September, visitors can sign up every day except Fridays and Sundays. During the week, tours are only offered at noon. But on Saturdays there are two times to choose from: 11am or 12:30pm. Whether you attend on a weekday or a Saturday, ticket prices are 15 for adults and 13 for children.If you’d rather enjoy the theatre with a performance, check out some of the establishments upcoming acts: such as Chelsea Handler, Drake, Margaret Cho, Daniel Tosh and Lady Antebellum.

Al Capone and the Chicago Outfit

www.vintage-chicago.com — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:20:54 +0000

The Chicago Outfit is a gang localized in Chicago, Illinois. During the 20th century, one of the most infamous American criminals ran the organization: Al Capone. Originally from Brooklyn, Capone took over the gang in 1925. For years the mobster’s center of operation was the Lexington Hotel, and from here, the Chicago Outfit became a dominating force.The crime leader is particularly known for his work during the prohibition. With the ban of alcohol production and consumption, Capone and the Chicago Outfit were sneaking hootch into the city. Since a lack of supply often leads to a height in demand, the gang earned millions from selling the illegal substance.Capone and the Outfit participated in more than liquor smuggling. They were also known for their illegal gambling and prostitution services. However, since the mob were so dangerous, as well as rich, the gang went unchallenged by local officials and witnesses. If it wasn’t by fear, Capone used money to silence potential tell-tales.Despite his multiple illegal practices, Capone was ultimately convicted for tax evasion. The mobster spent time in numerous American prisons, including the infamous Alcatraz. Capone’s reign was over, and the criminal died in 1947.