Independence Day Parade - Joliet, Illinois

July 4, 1911
Joliet, Illinois

Charles Cushman's Chicago

These photos were taken over a number of years of Mr. Cushman's many trips to Chicago. These photos aren't so much of the building and streets of Chicago, but are of the people (mainly girls) in the parks on the beaches of Lake Michigan. Clicking on the images will take you back to my flickstream with a full description.

Some information on Charles Cushman from the UI website:
Charles W. Cushman, who graduated from Indiana University in 1917, bequeathed to the university some of his photographic equipment, his notebooks, and his entire collection of photographs, shot between 1917 and 1969. Upon Mr. Cushman's death in 1972, most of his photographs were sent to the University Archives and placed in storage. Mr. Cushman's widow, Elizabeth, donated to the University in 1989 additional photographic equipment and some photographs shot in the late 1960s. The Indiana University Foundation gave them to the School of Journalism, where they remained until fall 1999, when they were reunited with the rest of the collection at the University Archives.

See the entire Charles Cushman collection (with thousands of archived photos) here.

The Stevens/The Conrad Hilton/Hilton Chicago - Chicago, Illinois

Conveniently located on Michigan Boulevard opposite Grant Park, overlooking Lake Michigan. The Stevens opened in 1927 as the world's largest hotel. and was developed at a cost of $30 million by James W. Stevens. The Stevens contained 3,000 guest rooms and was basically it's own little city. The hotel contained a bowling alley, barber shop, movie theater, ice cream shop, drug store and rooftop miniature golf course.

During the depression, the Stevens family (which included a young son named John Paul Stevens who went on to become a Justice in the Supreme Court) went bankrupt and was ultimately charged with financial corruption. The government took over the hotel. Then, in 1942, the United States Army purchased the Stevens for $6 million and turned it into classrooms and barracks for use during the second World War. There were over 10,000 cadets housed in the Stevens and the once famous Grand Ballroom was turned into their eating quarters/mess hall. The War Department ultimately sold the Stevens to a businessman named Stephen Healy in 1944.

Conrad Hilton purchased the hotel from Hotel in 1945. The name of the hotel was changed to the Conrad Hilton in 1951. Hilton redesigned and added to the building throughout the years.

In 1968, during the Democratic National Convention, the streets outside the hotel were the scene to the riots that took place between Major Richard J. Daley's police officers and anti-Vietnam protesters. During the chaos the hotel was overtaken by protesters that lobbed stink bombs and tear gas into the lobby.

In 1984, the hotel was closed for what was then the most expensive hotel renovation of all time. The cost was $185 million. The Conrad Hilton was closed for more than a year. During the renovation, the 3,000 guest rooms became 1,544 bigger and nicer rooms.The newly renamed Chicago Hilton and Towers was reopened on October 1, 1985. In 1998, the name was shortened to Hilton Chicago.

These postcards are not meant to be the complete history of the hotel. These are the ones currently in my collection. The writing under each card is the description and the mailed message (if there was one).

Located in the very heart of the city - On Chicago's famous Michigan Boulevard overlooking Grant Park and the Lake. The Stevens is noted for its friendly service and excellent food.

"America's Grand Hotel"
Located in the very heart of the city on Chicago's famous Michigan Boulevard overlooking Grant Park and the LAKE. The Stevens occupies Chicago's finest hotel location preferred by vacation, pleasure, business travelers.

Mailed from Chicago, Illinois to Mr. Thos. Weddle of Wichita, Kansas on February 22, 1939:

Dear Tom & Stella,
The convention is over except dist. agents meeting tomorrow. We are O.K. Will be home Fri. if the roads are good. Has been snowing but is not cold. H.O.

Located in the very heart of the city on Chicago's famous Michigan Boulevard overlooking Grant Park and the LAKE, The Stevens occupies Chicago's finest hotel location preferred by vacation, pleasure, business travelers.

Mailed from Old P.O. Annex 2 in Chicago, Illinois to Mr. & Mrs. Paul Hineryman of Jonesboro, Illinois on July 31, 1942:

Dear Sis & Bro -
Just a line to let you know my new address, Hope this finds you OK. Will write later.
Love, Artie

Site covers 80,000 square feet. Building 25 stories above grounds. 4 below, enclosing 20,000,000 cubic feet. 3000 outside rooms, each with private bath. Largest hall in the world with seating capacity for 4000 guests. Many other banquet and meeting rooms of various sizes.
Exhibition rooms for conventions containing over 35,000 square feet.

Note on the back:
Virgil Scaggs. I was in the Stevens hotel Saturday night April 1, 1944.

World's Largest and Friendliest Hotel
Chicago, Illinois

Located on Michigan Boulevard at 7th Street opposite Grant Park, and overlooking Lake Michigan, THE STEVENS is conveniently near Chicago's Loop - but away from the noise of the downtown district. 3,000 delightful, outside rooms of the Famous BOULEVARD ROOM which features fine cuisine, dancing to famous orchestras, and a full hour music comedy revue, starring the BOULEVAR-DEARS.

ICE SHOWS at The BOULEVARD ROOM!
The outstanding night spot in Chicago...featuring lavish Ice Shows on the largest hotel ice rink in the country...big cast of skating stars. Finest cuisine and famous orchestras for dancing.
THE STEVENS - Chicago - A Hilton Hotel

Mailed from Chicago, Illinois to Anna L. Petrarsu of Warwick, Rhode Island on February 16, 1949:

This is one the restaurants in the hotel - Mama & Daddy

World's largest and friendliest hotel located on Michigan Boulevard at 7th Street, opposite Grant Park and overlooking Lake Michigan. All rooms fully air-conditioned. Radio and television available. Home of the famous Boulevard Room with its lavish musicals on ice. Telephone: Wabash 2-4400. Teletype: CG 1016. A Hilton Hotel.

The hotel located on Michigan Boulevard in the heart of Chicago's world famous convention center is one of the largest hotels in the world.

Motel Monday: Lobbying

This week's Motel Monday focuses on the entrance/lobby of the motel. Some of these places feature the bare bones essentials for greeting customers (chairs, couch, pamphlets) and some feature an extravagant place to congregate.

Starlite Motel - Los Angeles, California

Charnock's Motel - Rochelle, Illinois

Covered Wagon Lodge Motel - Vincennes, Indiana

The Castaways - Miami Beach, Florida

Blue Mist Resort Motel - Miami Beach, Florida

O'Hare Concord Inn - Des Plaines, Illinois

University Hotel Court - Athens, Georgia

Towne Point Motel - Dover, Delaware

Motel Modernaire - Winchester, Virginia

Memphis East Ramada Inn - Memphis, Tennessee

Ramada Inn - Phoenix, Arizona

Hyatt Chalet Motel - Flagstaff, Arizona

Motel Monday: Sleepy Bear is Everywhere

This week's Motel Monday theme centers around the Travelodge chain (outside of California). These dozen motels represent the chain's presence in various states and one province. Most of these cards feature Sleepy Bear, the official "brand ambassador" for the Travelodge chain. Here's some early history of Sleepy Bear from the Travelodge.com website:

History

1954
Travelodge Hotels, Inc. introduced its mascot Sleepy Bear to North America. The lovable bear was also incorporated into all in-room items. Sleepy Bear quickly became an icon to children of all ages and a welcome face for travelers seeking affordable and comfortable lodging.

1955
The Sleepy Bear plush stuffed toy was born. Dressed in a white night shirt and cap with “Sleepy” on the brim, the toy was a winner with guests of all ages.

1956
The first Sleepy Bear walk-around costume was created and worn by individuals in parades, celebrations, and grand openings of new hotels.

1973
Sleepy Bear, one of the most recognizable logos in the lodging industry, was transformed from a sleepy-eyed brown bear to a warm, smiling bear for a softer, cuddlier look.

The Moon Is Blue

Chicago Stagebill from The Harris Theatre for The Moon Is Blue by Otto Preminger. The show began running on Sunday, March 30, 1952. The show was written by F. Hugh Herbert and starred Leon Ames, Maggie McNamara & Biff McGuire. In 1953, the play was made in to a movie that was directed by Otto Preminger and only Maggie McNamara reprised her role from the stage.
According to Wikipedia:
Otto Preminger had directed the 1951 Broadway production of F. Hugh Herbert's play with Barbara Bel Geddes, Donald Cook, and Barry Nelson in the lead roles. Its successful run of 924 performances prompted him to contract with United Artists to finance and distribute a screen adaptation over which he would have complete control. He deferred his producer's and director's salaries in exchange for 75% of the film's profits.[
Preminger cast David Niven over the objection of studio executives, who felt the actor's career was in a decline. The director cast him in a West Coast production of the play to prepare for the film.[2] Last of the leads to be cast was Maggie McNamara, making her screen debut in a role she had played on stage in Chicago.
Herbert's play had been a huge success in Germany, and Preminger decided to film English and German language versions simultaneously, using the same sets but different casts. The director estimated this method would increase the filming schedule by only eight to ten days and production costs by only 10 to 15 percent. The budget for both films was $373,445.[4]
On July 13, 1951, the Breen office contacted Herbert and advised him his screenplay was in violation of the Motion Picture Production Code because of its "light and gay treatment of the subject of illicit sex and seduction." On December 26, Preminger submitted a revised draft of the script which, due to numerous lines of dialogue exhibiting "an unacceptably light attitude towards seduction, illicit sex, chastity, and virginity," was rejected on January 2, 1952. Contrary to later legend, the words "virgin," "mistress," and "pregnant," all of which had been in the original play's dialogue, were not singled out as objectionable. On January 6, Preminger and Herbert advised the Breen office they disagreed with its decision and would film the screenplay without further changes.