Central Camera

I'm pretty sure we've visited Central Camera's classic vintage sign, but it's such a nice one it's worth revisiting. I took this one just last October, and it was such a grab shot that it's turned out far nicer than it had any business being. I don't often go for selective color, but in this instance I think it worked out very nicely.

Ashland

Ashland, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The view of the Chicago skyline, as seen from the pedestrian bridge at the Ashland Avenue train station. Built in 1892 for the Lake Street Elevated Railroad, the Ashland stop is one of the oldest station buildings still in use in the Chicago rail system.

Uptown Station

Uptown Station, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The historic Uptown Station in Chicago. Now known as Wilson on the Red Line, Uptown used to be a main stop on both the Northwestern Elevated as well as the North Shore Line interurban. In fact, the current building (the third station at Wilson Avenue) was built as a joint venture between the two lines, and featured multiple entrances for the two railroads. This sign is at the original entrance, and for many years was hidden behind advertising for a store that eventually filled the space.

Currently, Uptown Station is kind of run down-the fast food restaurant that was in this space has closed, as did the doughnut shop at the side entrance, and the interior isn't in the best shape anymore. But it does retain much of it's original architecture and fixtures, and is certainly worthy of preservation.

View From The Balcony

View From The Balcony, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The view of Millennium Park from the balcony of the Cliff Dwellers' Club, atop the Borg Warner Building on Michigan Avenue.

Taken during Open House Chicago on a glorious sunny fall day.

The Studebaker Theatre

The Studebaker Theatre, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Signage for the former Studebaker Theatre in Chicago. Now the Fine Arts Building.

Philadelphia Church

Philadelphia Church #3-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

We've visited the Philadelphia Church in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood before. Just thought I'd share another view of this classic old sign.

Congress Hotel

Congress Hotel, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A moody, sunset shot of the Congress Hotel in Chicago. Opened in 1893 for the World's Columbian Exposition, the Congress has undergone two major expansions through the years, the second one by Holabird and Roche in 1907. Originally designed as an annex for the Auditorium Theater across LaSalle Street, the hotel was connected to the theater for many years by a marble-lined tunnel called "Peacock Alley".

Both buildings still stand today.

Apache Motel

Apache Motel, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Vintage neon for the Apache Motel, Chicago. Note the reversed writing on the marquee-it used to say "Welcomes You", but they switched it around to mount the marquee strips.

I took this in 2009 and only just noticed this.

Chateau Hotel

Chateau Hotel-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I could never tell if this was supposed to be the "Chateau Hotel" or the "Hotel Chateau". The signs seem to suggest both!

Central Furniture

Central Furniture Sign #2-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A bright-and-night of the Central Furniture Mart sign in Wicker Park.

General Office Furniture

General Office Furniture sign #2-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

From the archives, the former General Office Furniture location in Chicago. This was down on Milwaukee, near Grand if memory serves, and was hanging out front of a building that was clearly undergoing some rehab. When I saw the building the glass was out in the storefront, exposing a tin ceiling and some cast iron posts. I don't know if this sign is still hanging-I haven't been back in years.

I don't know much about the company, except that there's still a General Office Furniture listed in the city, over on Lake Street. I've often wondered if this sign was re-purposed from an old Chevrolet sign.

Gonnella Baking Co.

Gonnella Baking Co. Sign-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The classic Gonnella Baking Company sign, on their bakery on Chicago Avenue in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago. Without a doubt the best smelling photograph I've ever taken.

Gonnella rolls are the official sub roll of Chicagoland. They are awesome.

Philadelphia Church

Philadelphia Church neon sign, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Another neon church sign in Chicago. This one's on Clark in the Andersonville neighborhood. According to their website, the Philadelphia Church has been serving the neighborhood for 86 years, and has an active calendar of programs as well as several overseas mission programs.

They also mention this sign! It's obviously a source of some pride for the church, as they keep it pretty well maintained and functional.

South Shore

South Shore, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend Railroad is one of the last interurban railroads in the United States. It still runs today, under the aegis of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. They still use electric trains, and there's even some street running through Michigan City. It's one of the icons of Chicago area railroading.

This is a 1920's era South Shore car, currently on display at the Fox River Trolley Museum in Elgin, Illinois.

Cole's Furniture

Cole's Furniture Sign-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

An interesting collection of neon at an old-school appliance store on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. The Admiral sign is particularly interesting-Admiral Electronics was bought by Maytag in the 70's and was exclusive to Monkey Ward's for years. Now Admiral is exclusive to Home Depot. Fun fact, during the opening credits of M Squad, as Detective Ballinger is driving through Chicago at night, you can see the enormous Admiral neon billboard that used to feature prominently in the Loop.

I also think this must be one of the last surviving Hotpoint neons in existence. The "Official Union Discount Store" part must be rare too. This whole thing must have looked awesome all lit up at night!

Downtown Railroading

Old PRR signals-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

An interesting shot from just outside of downtown Chicago, on the near west side. These are a pair of Metra commuter trains, heading out of the city on a midday run, just a few minutes out of Chicago's historic Union Station.

The signals are interesting-they're old position signals that date from the 40's, when the Pennsylvania Rail Road ran passenger trains into the city. Position signals have rows of lights that mimic the positions of old semaphore signals. In this case they're also color coded-three greens vertically, three yellows at an angle, and three reds horizontally. Position signals have been gradually phased out, especially in light of more sophisticated communications between dispatchers and crews, but there are still a few of them in Chicago.

This shot is also interesting because you can see the Sears Tower in the background. It's one of, if not the, defining shape on the Chicago skyline, and seems to turn up whenever you shoot.

Rapid Transit

Rapid Transit, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Former CTA 5000 series cars. These are, I believe, the sole survivors of just four built.

Trolley

Trolley, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

This is the former Chicago Surface Lines #3142, one of 169 steel "pay as you enter" streetcars ordered in the early 20's. Built in 1923 by the J.G. Brill Company, 3142 was used by CSL, and later the CTA, until 1953, when it was parked and used as storage at the CTA's South Shops. Donated to the Illinois Railway Museum in 1973, a fifteen year restoration finally put it back on the tracks. Today it is the only surviving CSL steel "arch roof" streetcar.

I saw this operating at the museum, and got it rolling past the Museum's Riverview billboard. I like to think that 3142 delivered patrons to the park at one time.

Transit

Transit, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Faded Waukegan & North Chicago Transit logo, on the side of a derelict ACF bus, which is parked out back behind one of the buildings at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Also, it looks like Rebecca was here.

Uptown

Uptown Building-detail, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

One of two matching Indian Chiefs on the facade of a small storefront in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. This whole building-which is quite narrow and only has two storefronts-has some beautiful stonework. Checkerboard pattern tile, some nice bas relief (you can see a bit on the left and right), some nice fluting above the windows, and those Chiefs.

I have no idea what this place originally was-I've been told it might have been a cigar store or tobacconist, although by 1929 it was the Economy Cleaners and the SS Math Army Goods shop.