Check out Chicago in its' Prime (Evanston, Oak Park: houses, unemployment, movies)

[rockinrolla]

Goth kids are mimes who cut themselves.

[Chicago60614]

I think downtown looks better today - much cleaner. It's interesting to look at those old 1920's built buildings and how dirty they all were.

I would have to think the overall mood and climate in the city would have been so upbeat and optomistic back in 1948. Lower levels of crime, the city was still growing quickly. No one had any idea what was going to happen to the city in 20 or 30 years as far as that bleak period of decline.

Of course in the 1970's or 1980's I bet a lot of people never would have imagined so many areas of the city, including downtown, would have become so prosperous again with development and life.

[At1WithNature]

Downtown may "look" better with socialist Obama banners lining LaSalle Street and with crazy bums wielding knives as they got shot to death on state street by the Police in front of tourists, however looks can be deceiving. One does not judge a book by its cover. Chicago's substance today is a joke compared to the substance that it had when this video was recorded.

[Chicago60614]

bitter much?

[dcisive]

I can best relate to Chicago in the late 50's and 60's, when I lived there (the South Side). While we were not at that time in a segregated community, we did kind of live in a bit of a "bubble". Crime was indeed very low to non existent in our immediate area (Jeffrey Manor and the South Shore in general) and I, as a small kid, could take the CTA bus route downtown for an entire day of fun and checking out the musical instrument stores or the museums. Grab lunch downtown with a friend and head back home safe and sound.

Well those days came to an end in 1967 when I was on my way home via the bus and got accosted going through the Hyde Park area on the bus. Guess that was a bit of a reality check for me. We moved out of the city (as so many did in the late 60's) and headed to the suburbs as I entered High School. Guess I managed to avoid the tough times for some ahead at Bowen High School. At least I got a good education and didn't have pay for it in other ways. Yes indeed the City of Chicago was an entirely different place. My grandparents lived in a high rise apartment building on North Sheridan Rd. which was very nice indeed at the time. They later retired to Florida in the mid 60's.

No doubt some will NOT remember the times I remember fondly as for them it may not have been as sweet an experience. I had great caring parents who looked out for our futures well. Many are not so fortunate. Frankly the original Mayor Daley ran the city with an iron fist.....but it WORKED. Things got DONE back then. Unlike now they just go through the usual channels getting mired down in the muck of politics. I can reflect upon my childhood very fondly indeed. AFAIAC Chicago was wonderful back then. I don't even think of it the same way anymore. Of course I"m no longer in the area which helps. Sure there are aspects of the area that would remain fun to visit, but I for darn sure would never stay that long anymore.

[oakparkdude]

Again, I want to point out that there were viable careers for uneducated and poorly educated working class folk back then. That's not nearly as true today. Low unemployment and prospects for a bright future do wonders for social cohesion and orderliness.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by dcisive

I can best relate to Chicago in the late 50's and 60's, when I lived there (the South Side). While we were not at that time in a segregated community, we did kind of live in a bit of a "bubble". Crime was indeed very low to non existent in our immediate area (Jeffrey Manor and the South Shore in general) and I, as a small kid, could take the CTA bus route downtown for an entire day of fun and checking out the musical instrument stores or the museums. Grab lunch downtown with a friend and head back home safe and sound.

Well those days came to an end in 1967 when I was on my way home via the bus and got accosted going through the Hyde Park area on the bus. Guess that was a bit of a reality check for me. We moved out of the city (as so many did in the late 60's) and headed to the suburbs as I entered High School. Guess I managed to avoid the tough times for some ahead at Bowen High School. At least I got a good education and didn't have pay for it in other ways. Yes indeed the City of Chicago was an entirely different place. My grandparents lived in a high rise apartment building on North Sheridan Rd. which was very nice indeed at the time. They later retired to Florida in the mid 60's.

No doubt some will NOT remember the times I remember fondly as for them it may not have been as sweet an experience. I had great caring parents who looked out for our futures well. Many are not so fortunate. Frankly the original Mayor Daley ran the city with an iron fist.....but it WORKED. Things got DONE back then. Unlike now they just go through the usual channels getting mired down in the muck of politics. I can reflect upon my childhood very fondly indeed. AFAIAC Chicago was wonderful back then. I don't even think of it the same way anymore. Of course I"m no longer in the area which helps. Sure there are aspects of the area that would remain fun to visit, but I for darn sure would never stay that long anymore.

It's a totally different society now than then. I think underlying most of the negative changes is the fact that there is a much larger gap between the rich and poor than there used to be, and that's causing a lot of problems. We're much more of a "two-tiered" society than we were in 1948. And even worse, the lower tier is growing much faster than the upper tier.

Those who try to isolate themselves from that fact still can, but I'm not sure for how much longer unless this is addressed and some level of cohesion is restored.

[cubssoxfan]

I am currently reading a book about the history of Chicago. The affluent neighborhoods and the slums have historically shifted around. Just think that South Prairie avenue was millionaires row 115 years ago. Then it shifted to the near north side (Gold Coast) and then much of it to the suburbs (North Shore). Transportation was the main driving force behind this.The suburbs started early in Chicago's history as the horse drawn Omnibus and then the steam train allowed people to commute from far flung suburbs like Kenwood, Morgan Park, Lakeview, Austin and Jefferson. Most of the suburbs were annexed. Some like Evanston and Oak Park decided to stay on their own and "blocked" further annexation. As the immigrants and especially first generation improved their economic standing, they would move farther out for affordable homes away from the hustle & bustle of the city. Sound familiar?
Even though Chicago has lost population, the metro area has continued to grow tremendously as Chicago and the suburbs become more intertwined. The book shows photos of downtown and surrounding area in 1880's with comparison photos 20-50 years later. In many instances the response of "I would hardly recognize it" would be accurate. My memory bank only goes to the late 60's and early 70's. I think downtown is cleaner and greener than ever. Millenium Park, the relocation of LSD, straightening of the S curve, museum campus, revitalization of Navy Pier, the neighborhoods to the near west and south sides re-blossoming are all improvements. The book just started talking about the migration of African Americans to the south side at the turn of the last century and how the railroads and discrimination kept them "boxed" in. It also talked about slums and decrepit conditions on the near west side-think Hull House and "The Jungle". It will be interesting to learn more about the south and west side since I am less familiar with those areas.
So the perspective of history certainly has me seeing Chicago a lot differently than before. Problems I thought are new and unique to our time often have a longer history than we think.
Ok lecture over, y'all can wake up know.

[JanuaryGirl]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

I am currently reading a book about the history of Chicago. The affluent neighborhoods and the slums have historically shifted around. Just think that South Prairie avenue was millionaires row 115 years ago. Then it shifted to the near north side (Gold Coast) and then much of it to the suburbs (North Shore). Transportation was the main driving force behind this.The suburbs started early in Chicago's history as the horse drawn Omnibus and then the steam train allowed people to commute from far flung suburbs like Kenwood, Morgan Park, Lakeview, Austin and Jefferson. Most of the suburbs were annexed. Some like Evanston and Oak Park decided to stay on their own and "blocked" further annexation. As the immigrants and especially first generation improved their economic standing, they would move farther out for affordable homes away from the hustle & bustle of the city. Sound familiar?
Even though Chicago has lost population, the metro area has continued to grow tremendously as Chicago and the suburbs become more intertwined. The book shows photos of downtown and surrounding area in 1880's with comparison photos 20-50 years later. In many instances the response of "I would hardly recognize it" would be accurate. My memory bank only goes to the late 60's and early 70's. I think downtown is cleaner and greener than ever. Millenium Park, the relocation of LSD, straightening of the S curve, museum campus, revitalization of Navy Pier, the neighborhoods to the near west and south sides re-blossoming are all improvements. The book just started talking about the migration of African Americans to the south side at the turn of the last century and how the railroads and discrimination kept them "boxed" in. It also talked about slums and decrepit conditions on the near west side-think Hull House and "The Jungle". It will be interesting to learn more about the south and west side since I am less familiar with those areas.
So the perspective of history certainly has me seeing Chicago a lot differently than before. Problems I thought are new and unique to our time often have a longer history than we think.
Ok lecture over, y'all can wake up know.

Hey, what's the name of the book you're reading? I read an excellent book on Chicago history not too long ago but forgot the title.... keep trying to find out which book it was, sounds like what you're reading.

To the OP - Thanks for the video!!

[Tex?Il?]

[quote=Chicago60614;10633670]I think downtown looks better today - much cleaner. It's interesting to look at those old 1920's built buildings and how dirty they all were.

QUOTE]

Why does everyone think that the 1920s buildings look dirty?

I could understand old buildings that are run down in a rough part of town.

I mean isn't the fact that Chicago has so much architecture from the turn of the century part of the attraction over places like Phoenix, Miami, etc? That at some vantage points (Michigan Ave fronting Grant Park) the city almost looks European.

If newer means "looks nicer", then the sunbelt cities would trump Chicago. Instead the American cities that are thought of as "world class" generally have older architecture.