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Pop Morse’s Roadhouse and the Myth of 1907

Chapter 1 of The Coolest Spot in Chicago: A History of Green Mill Gardens and the Beginnings of Uptown <— INTRODUCTION / TABLE OF CONTENTS / NEXT CHAPTER (coming soon) —> The Green Mill did not open in 1907. Maybe you’ve heard that it did. Many articles say 1907 was the original founding date for… Continue reading Pop Morse’s Roadhouse and the Myth of 1907

The Coolest Spot in Chicago

A History of Green Mill Gardens and the Beginnings of Uptown By ROBERT LOERZEL Photographs by Robert Loerzel (except historic images) (Jump ahead to the TABLE OF CONTENTS) INTRODUCTION When Green Mill Gardens opened in June 1914, an advertisement called it “the coolest spot in Chicago.” That was surely just a reference to the temperature… Continue reading The Coolest Spot in Chicago

Favorite Movies of 2022

1. Aftersun I loved this marvelous debut by director Charlotte Wells the first time I saw it (at the Chicago International Film Festival in October), but I didn’t quite put together all of Aftersun’s pieces until seeing it for a second time, when it felt even more devastating. Paul Mescal rightfully earned praise for his… Continue reading Favorite Movies of 2022

Favorite Movies of 2021

Another somewhat belated year-end list: Here are my favorite movies of 2021. 1. Memoria Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s masterpiece may seem at first like a puzzle film—one of those movies with hidden meanings that can be deciphered if you think about them hard enough. And maybe, to some extent, that’s what it is. After pondering the… Continue reading Favorite Movies of 2021

Another Deadly Chicago Heat Wave: 1916

Scroll down or click these links for appendixes on CHICAGO MORTALITY TRENDS and WEATHER RECORDS; and SOURCE NOTES. THIS MONTH—JULY 2020—WAS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHICAGO’S MOST NOTORIOUS HEAT WAVE, which killed an estimated 700 people during a scorching week in 1995. While that tragedy is well documented, a similar catastrophe from earlier in the… Continue reading Another Deadly Chicago Heat Wave: 1916

Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 7

MISCELLANEOUS MOVIE LOCATIONS See an INDEX for this series of blog posts. In this part: The Firestone from Lost Highway / Echo Lake Park / Chili John’s / Handy Market / Point Dume / Lankershim Arts Center / Burbank Water and Power / The Music Box Steps / Venice Beach and Santa Monica / The… Continue reading Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 7

Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 6

SOUTH L.A. AND VICINITY See an INDEX for this series of blog posts. In this part: Doheny Mansion / “Winkie’s Diner” / The diner that inspired Winkie’s / “Eat at Judy’s” (Rudy’s) / The lot where Tyler Durden’s house was / Point Fermin Park / Pelican Cove Park During my visit to L.A., I spent… Continue reading Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 6

Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 5

DOWNTOWN L.A. See an INDEX for this series of blog posts. In this part: “Nite Owl Café” / Safety Last! / The door to Club Silencio / The Banks-Huntley Building / “Twin Peaks Savings & Loan” / The Tower Theatre / Hotel Barclay / Fire Station No. 23 / The Bradbury Building / The Million… Continue reading Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 5

Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 4

HOLLYWOOD See an INDEX for this series of blog posts. In this part: Paramount Studios / The Hollywood Walk of Fame / The death scene in Inland Empire / The Frolic Room / Cinerama Dome / Alto Nido Apartments / Hollywood Center Motel / Hollywood Athletic Club / Crossroads of the World / Capitol Records… Continue reading Looking for Hollywood history and David Lynch’s Los Angeles: Part 4