Chicago in Black and White
Identifier
F.MS-0522
Date Of Production
February 1940
Abstract
Black and white footage shot by Helen Morrison during the span of approximately one week, and likely beginning on Valentine's Day 1940. Morrison focuses her lens primarily on the Loop area, but she also documents brief excursions to areas to the north and south. The film glimpses commercial businesses, entertainment venues, current attractions, leisure activities, eating and drinking establishments, hotels, signage advertising the brands and prices of goods and services, occupations, uniforms, clothing and fashion, modes of private and public transportation, landmarks and architecture, pedestrian activity and downtown night life.
Log
[00:11] A view of the LaSalle Theatre (110 W. Madison St).
[00:28] A view of Northern Trust Bank (10 or 50 S. LaSalle St).
[00:44] Several shots of the Allerton Hotel (701 N. Michigan Ave).
[01:07] A brief view of the 333 N. Michigan Building, the Four Roses Bourbon sign and the 23-story-high Chevrolet sign.
[01:22] A shot of DeMet’s Candies (5 W. Randolph St), Thompson’s Cafeteria (27 W. Randolph St) and the United Artists Theatre while it screens Northwest Passage (45. W Randolph St).
[01:44] Passengers approach the descending stairway at the Randolph Street station for the Illinois Central Electric Train at Randolph St and Michigan Ave.
[01:58] Footage displays a sign for Ozzie Nelson’s scheduled performance at the Blackhawk (139 N. Wabash) as well as a sign for a satellite location for the R & R Hosiery Company that is next door.
[02:31] A view of the Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building shot from an automobile driving south on Lake Shore Dr.
[02:55] Signage for The Pesticide Company (356 N. State St) inquires, “Are You Buggy ⸮”
[03:03] A storefront, possibly the 400 Wine & Liquor Company (400 E. 43rd St), advertises cigarettes, cigars, Coca-Cola and Berghoff Beer.
[03:24] The Chicago Theatre (175 N. State St) screens Road to Singapore.
[03:28] Throngs of customers jam the seating areas inside of E.W. Rieck’s, well-known for serving E.W. Rieck Boston baked beans and brown bread (160 N. State St), and a sign for Mort Cooper’s men’s clothing store just across the street (161 N. State St) is visible through E.W. Rieck's window.
[04:38] A shot of several storefronts includes Bill’s Bootery (302 E. 43rd St) on the South Side.
[04:43] A streetcar passes by one of ninety A&P Food Store locations existing in Chicago, 1940.
[05:05] A view of Peoples Loan Bank (542 S. State St).
[05:19] Panning footage of the Trocadero Club (525 S. State St) and the Mid-State Drug Company (515 S. State St).
[05:25] Pedestrians peer into a storefront selling phonographs and records, 3 for 25 cents.
[06:08] A view looking down S. State St at an abundance of overhanging storefront signs advertising a variety of electronic equipment, including “$1.00 a week on all makes of radio & auto sets” at Radio Doctors (504. S. State St).
[06:15] A view of the Greenberg Uniform Company (540 S. State St) and the Paris Hotel (538 S. State St).
[06:44] The Elk Hotel offers rooms for as little as 25 cents (the No. 2 location at 632 S. State St).
[06:48] Footage of the Davenport Hotel (648 S. State St) and just above it, a “Jesus Saves” cross-shaped neon sign that belongs to the Pacific Garden Mission (646 S. State St).
[06:55] A family hurriedly crosses W. Polk Street toward their parked vehicle, and the Ziegler Provision Company (755 S. State St) is just visible behind them at the T-intersection.
[07:27] Construction workers dig a hole in the street near the New 7th St Hotel (1 E. Balbo Ave).
[07:45] A woman and man engage in conversation below a streetlight that obscures a Publix Cafeteria (559 S. State St) sign in the background.
[08:10] A mail truck pulls up to the intersection of E. Adams and S. Michigan Ave near the Art Institute’s northern lion, and the distant Chevrolet sign at Randolph St is just distinguishable through the falling snow.
[09:35] A view of Lander’s Restaurant (134 S. Wabash Ave).
[09:53] Automobile and pedestrian traffic pass by the Art Institute at the E. Adams St and S. Michigan Ave T-intersection.
[10:15] A Bowman Dairy Company horse-drawn carriage (based at 6610 S. Wentworth Ave) passes along a street.
[10:33] Footage of ice skaters in a park.
[10:45] Laborers pick up pieces of trash off the street that seemingly spilled out of the bed of their truck.
[12:59] Streetcars run past one of fourteen B/G Foods locations in Chicago, 1940.
[13:19] Several bar patrons congregate and exchange laughter on the sidewalk outside the Hollywood Bowl Tavern (1300 N. Clark St).
[13:25] In what is likely Lincoln Park three blocks north of the Hollywood Bowl Tavern, shovelers pause next to a pile of snow, a dog runs about and children ice skate on a pond.
[14:02] Automobile traffic passes by the Orchestral Hall (220 S. Michigan Ave).
[14:11] Pedestrians move beneath the “L” train route, and the frame catches partial glimpses of nearby signage for the Sargent’s Drug Store (23 N. Wabash Ave), which was described in the telephone directory as, “Chicago’s exclusive pharmacy,” and the nearby Polly Tea Room & Grill (17 N. Wabash Ave). The Tea Room was the first restaurant opened by owner Susan “Pepperpot” Palmer, who adopted the “Polly” from papier-mâché cockatoos she discovered while shopping for decorations. In August 1942, 57-year-old Ruth Connors was arrested at the Polly Team Room for fortune-telling.
[15:06] The Chicago Theatre screens Little Old New York starring Alice Faye, and also presents Gertrude Niesen on stage.
[15:17] Pedestrians pass by a market stand whose obscured canopy sign advertises for the State and Lake Street Fruit & Nut Shop (possibly in the 100 block of N. State St).
[15:26] Pedestrians mingle underneath the Chicago Theatre’s illuminated marquee.
[16:02] Automobile and pedestrian traffic pass by the Roosevelt Theater (110 N. State St) while it screens The Fighting 69th starring Pat O’Brien, James Cagney and George Brent.
[16:09] A panning view of S. Michigan Ave near Randolph St.
[16:24] Passersby gravitate toward the entrances to the Ontra Cafeteria (231 S. Wabash Ave), famous for owner Miss Dutton’s apple dumplings, and the Triangle Restaurant (225 S. Wabash Ave), one of seven Loop locations owned by D.L. Toffenetti, and regarded for its strawberry shortcake made with picked same day strawberries air-lifted from Hammond, Louisiana.
[16:45] Pedestrians pass underneath signs for the Cable Piano Company (303 S. Wabash Ave) and Sammy’s Grill (305 S. Wabash) while the “L” approaches on the above track.
[16:50] Chicago Symphony attendees arrive by foot and vehicle at the Orchestral Hall’s stretched awning and make their way toward the entrance.
[18:20] Evening arrives, and views include flashes and glows of neon lighting that span the streets, as well as the fleeting silhouettes of pedestrian and automobile traffic that move in the foreground. Distant signs advertise "billiards" and "bowling" at Bensinger’s Bowling Alleys (29 W. Randolph St), DeMet’s Candies, the Triangle Restaurant, United Artists Theatre and Oriental Gardens (23 W. Randolph St).
[19:02] The State-Lake Theater (190 N. State St) presents the roadshow, “A Night At the Moulin Rouge,” and screens Nick Carter.
[19:37] Footage of distant signage for Slater’s Storage (2414 S. LaSalle St).
[19:49] A view through an overhead window reveals the interior of a restaurant which specializes in ham candied sweets.
[20:12] A separate overhead window view shows a restaurant jammed with customers at the counter and tables, and an exterior shot of a sign suggests the location may be a B/G Foods.
[21:57] Footage depicts a University of Chicago hospital building marked with a signpost for "5843 Drexel Ave," and parts of the surrounding neighborhood.
[22:37] Additional footage of the Ontra Cafeteria and Triangle Restaurant.
[22:43] A view of of Wurlitzer (111 S. Wabash Ave) and Bond Clothes (Wabash at Monroe).
[23:02] A view of Stylebill Clothes (State and Jackson).
[23:46] A view of the Palmer House (State and Monroe).
[24:16] A view of the Red Robin (32 N. State St) and Loftis Jewelry (34 N. State St).
[24:22] Concluding footage shows a woman with a baby stroller paused on the sidewalk as she reads a newspaper.
[00:28] A view of Northern Trust Bank (10 or 50 S. LaSalle St).
[00:44] Several shots of the Allerton Hotel (701 N. Michigan Ave).
[01:07] A brief view of the 333 N. Michigan Building, the Four Roses Bourbon sign and the 23-story-high Chevrolet sign.
[01:22] A shot of DeMet’s Candies (5 W. Randolph St), Thompson’s Cafeteria (27 W. Randolph St) and the United Artists Theatre while it screens Northwest Passage (45. W Randolph St).
[01:44] Passengers approach the descending stairway at the Randolph Street station for the Illinois Central Electric Train at Randolph St and Michigan Ave.
[01:58] Footage displays a sign for Ozzie Nelson’s scheduled performance at the Blackhawk (139 N. Wabash) as well as a sign for a satellite location for the R & R Hosiery Company that is next door.
[02:31] A view of the Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building shot from an automobile driving south on Lake Shore Dr.
[02:55] Signage for The Pesticide Company (356 N. State St) inquires, “Are You Buggy ⸮”
[03:03] A storefront, possibly the 400 Wine & Liquor Company (400 E. 43rd St), advertises cigarettes, cigars, Coca-Cola and Berghoff Beer.
[03:24] The Chicago Theatre (175 N. State St) screens Road to Singapore.
[03:28] Throngs of customers jam the seating areas inside of E.W. Rieck’s, well-known for serving E.W. Rieck Boston baked beans and brown bread (160 N. State St), and a sign for Mort Cooper’s men’s clothing store just across the street (161 N. State St) is visible through E.W. Rieck's window.
[04:38] A shot of several storefronts includes Bill’s Bootery (302 E. 43rd St) on the South Side.
[04:43] A streetcar passes by one of ninety A&P Food Store locations existing in Chicago, 1940.
[05:05] A view of Peoples Loan Bank (542 S. State St).
[05:19] Panning footage of the Trocadero Club (525 S. State St) and the Mid-State Drug Company (515 S. State St).
[05:25] Pedestrians peer into a storefront selling phonographs and records, 3 for 25 cents.
[06:08] A view looking down S. State St at an abundance of overhanging storefront signs advertising a variety of electronic equipment, including “$1.00 a week on all makes of radio & auto sets” at Radio Doctors (504. S. State St).
[06:15] A view of the Greenberg Uniform Company (540 S. State St) and the Paris Hotel (538 S. State St).
[06:44] The Elk Hotel offers rooms for as little as 25 cents (the No. 2 location at 632 S. State St).
[06:48] Footage of the Davenport Hotel (648 S. State St) and just above it, a “Jesus Saves” cross-shaped neon sign that belongs to the Pacific Garden Mission (646 S. State St).
[06:55] A family hurriedly crosses W. Polk Street toward their parked vehicle, and the Ziegler Provision Company (755 S. State St) is just visible behind them at the T-intersection.
[07:27] Construction workers dig a hole in the street near the New 7th St Hotel (1 E. Balbo Ave).
[07:45] A woman and man engage in conversation below a streetlight that obscures a Publix Cafeteria (559 S. State St) sign in the background.
[08:10] A mail truck pulls up to the intersection of E. Adams and S. Michigan Ave near the Art Institute’s northern lion, and the distant Chevrolet sign at Randolph St is just distinguishable through the falling snow.
[09:35] A view of Lander’s Restaurant (134 S. Wabash Ave).
[09:53] Automobile and pedestrian traffic pass by the Art Institute at the E. Adams St and S. Michigan Ave T-intersection.
[10:15] A Bowman Dairy Company horse-drawn carriage (based at 6610 S. Wentworth Ave) passes along a street.
[10:33] Footage of ice skaters in a park.
[10:45] Laborers pick up pieces of trash off the street that seemingly spilled out of the bed of their truck.
[12:59] Streetcars run past one of fourteen B/G Foods locations in Chicago, 1940.
[13:19] Several bar patrons congregate and exchange laughter on the sidewalk outside the Hollywood Bowl Tavern (1300 N. Clark St).
[13:25] In what is likely Lincoln Park three blocks north of the Hollywood Bowl Tavern, shovelers pause next to a pile of snow, a dog runs about and children ice skate on a pond.
[14:02] Automobile traffic passes by the Orchestral Hall (220 S. Michigan Ave).
[14:11] Pedestrians move beneath the “L” train route, and the frame catches partial glimpses of nearby signage for the Sargent’s Drug Store (23 N. Wabash Ave), which was described in the telephone directory as, “Chicago’s exclusive pharmacy,” and the nearby Polly Tea Room & Grill (17 N. Wabash Ave). The Tea Room was the first restaurant opened by owner Susan “Pepperpot” Palmer, who adopted the “Polly” from papier-mâché cockatoos she discovered while shopping for decorations. In August 1942, 57-year-old Ruth Connors was arrested at the Polly Team Room for fortune-telling.
[15:06] The Chicago Theatre screens Little Old New York starring Alice Faye, and also presents Gertrude Niesen on stage.
[15:17] Pedestrians pass by a market stand whose obscured canopy sign advertises for the State and Lake Street Fruit & Nut Shop (possibly in the 100 block of N. State St).
[15:26] Pedestrians mingle underneath the Chicago Theatre’s illuminated marquee.
[16:02] Automobile and pedestrian traffic pass by the Roosevelt Theater (110 N. State St) while it screens The Fighting 69th starring Pat O’Brien, James Cagney and George Brent.
[16:09] A panning view of S. Michigan Ave near Randolph St.
[16:24] Passersby gravitate toward the entrances to the Ontra Cafeteria (231 S. Wabash Ave), famous for owner Miss Dutton’s apple dumplings, and the Triangle Restaurant (225 S. Wabash Ave), one of seven Loop locations owned by D.L. Toffenetti, and regarded for its strawberry shortcake made with picked same day strawberries air-lifted from Hammond, Louisiana.
[16:45] Pedestrians pass underneath signs for the Cable Piano Company (303 S. Wabash Ave) and Sammy’s Grill (305 S. Wabash) while the “L” approaches on the above track.
[16:50] Chicago Symphony attendees arrive by foot and vehicle at the Orchestral Hall’s stretched awning and make their way toward the entrance.
[18:20] Evening arrives, and views include flashes and glows of neon lighting that span the streets, as well as the fleeting silhouettes of pedestrian and automobile traffic that move in the foreground. Distant signs advertise "billiards" and "bowling" at Bensinger’s Bowling Alleys (29 W. Randolph St), DeMet’s Candies, the Triangle Restaurant, United Artists Theatre and Oriental Gardens (23 W. Randolph St).
[19:02] The State-Lake Theater (190 N. State St) presents the roadshow, “A Night At the Moulin Rouge,” and screens Nick Carter.
[19:37] Footage of distant signage for Slater’s Storage (2414 S. LaSalle St).
[19:49] A view through an overhead window reveals the interior of a restaurant which specializes in ham candied sweets.
[20:12] A separate overhead window view shows a restaurant jammed with customers at the counter and tables, and an exterior shot of a sign suggests the location may be a B/G Foods.
[21:57] Footage depicts a University of Chicago hospital building marked with a signpost for "5843 Drexel Ave," and parts of the surrounding neighborhood.
[22:37] Additional footage of the Ontra Cafeteria and Triangle Restaurant.
[22:43] A view of of Wurlitzer (111 S. Wabash Ave) and Bond Clothes (Wabash at Monroe).
[23:02] A view of Stylebill Clothes (State and Jackson).
[23:46] A view of the Palmer House (State and Monroe).
[24:16] A view of the Red Robin (32 N. State St) and Loftis Jewelry (34 N. State St).
[24:22] Concluding footage shows a woman with a baby stroller paused on the sidewalk as she reads a newspaper.
Run Time
24 min 27 sec
Format
8mm
Extent
293 feet
Color
B&W
Sound
Silent
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Notes
This 8mm original was used to create new 16mm preservation elements in 2024.
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Originals
Form
Subject
Chicago (Ill.)
City and town life
Cityscapes
Snow
Winter
Streets
Transportation
Local transit
Advertising
City and town life
Cityscapes
Snow
Winter
Streets
Transportation
Local transit
Advertising
Related Collections
Related Places
Main Credits
Morrison, Helen Balfour (is filmmaker)
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