The Des Plaines Theatre is 85

Forget the Des Plaines Theatre you've been to. Forget the black-walled, drop-ceiling, dim-lit twin it's been since 1987 - the only Des Plaines Theatre I've ever known. Forget the fondly-remembered movie house with green walls and a blue ceiling. The Des Plaines Theatre of 1925 outclasses all the modernizations that have occurred since then and points to what an asset the theatre could once again be to our city.

So to help you step back into the theatre as it was and should be again, here are several articles from the Des Plaines Suburban Times leading up to that opening day 85 years ago - August 9, 1925 at 2pm. They helped me gain an appreciation of just how unique its architecture is - I have studied historic theatres and have never come across anything like it. The proscenium arch is absolutely original in design, anticipating art deco. Every other theatre by architects Betts & Holcomb was designed in the Tudor Style. The rousing success of the Des Plaines led directly to the building of the Pickwick - an even more unusual theatre.

While the sketches and drawings these articles mention are evidently lost to time, blueprints and other investigative work have allowed us to create images of what the theatre would have looked like in 1925 - and what it could look like again. Far from the seafoam green walls and cobalt ceiling seen when it was a single screen, at opening the theatre was richly colorful and sumptuously decorated in stencils and wrought iron lanterns.

Imagine what an impression such a unique and inventive interior would leave on a visitor to Des Plaines today. This is not a forgettable theatre; it could once again define Des Plaines just as the Pickwick defines Park Ridge.

A wireframe of the original lobby design

Artist's rendering of a restored auditorium, by Conrad Schmitt Studios

*****

July 18, 1924

NEW BUILDING WILL IMPROVE MINER STREET
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B. H. Winkelman Lets Contract for $125,000 Structure
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WILL HOUSE BIG THEATER
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Big News of Interest to All Des Plaines; Fine Improvement for Business Section
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   The contract for a new $125,000 building for Miner street has been let by B. H. Winkelman. The structure will be located on the lot at the corner of Miner (Northwest highway) and Lee street on the opposite corner to the Masonic temple building.
   This big improvement is another indication that Des Plaines is showing a remarkable growth and is one that will meet the unbounded approbation of every citizen in the village.
   The contract for the erection of this beautiful building has been let to Ed Nissen, local contractor, and work will be started immediately in the desire to get the structure completed in as short a space of time as possible.
   Besides a theater auditorium that will have a capacity of one thousand seats (sic) the building will contain three rooms for store purposes and two flats in the second story. It will be a two-story edifice.
   The building has already been leased for a period of ten years to the Parker Brothers (sic) of Chicago (sic). The rental price was not made public by Mr. Winkelman, but we understand it will run into six figures, and will furnish a handsome income for the owner.
   The size of the structure will be 100x140, covering the entire lot belonging to Mr. Winkelman on the above mentioned corner. The material used will be pressed brick and terra cotta and of as near fireproof construction as possible.
   To facilitate building activities Mr. Winkelman offers his residence and barn for sale cheap to clear the lot in a very short space of time. If his offer is not accepted this week the buildings will be wrecked.
   Last summer Mr. Winkelman built the handsome structure at the corner of Center and Ellinwood streets which is a valuable addition to the business section, and now he is to be commended for his decision to improve the lot where he has made his home for many years. This action on his part will necessitate the moving of his family to new quarters.


January 9, 1925

THEATER HOUSE WILL BE TREAT FOR ART 'BUGS'
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So Says Versatile Writer of Park Ridge
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GIVES WORD PICTURE
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General Scheme of Interior to be Late Spanish, of Moorish Flavor; Concealed Lighting
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   Have you seen the drawings for the interior of the new Des Plaines theater? Considerable mystery seems to be attached to the contemplated design. Barney Winkelman just says, "Shush," when asked about it. Ed Nissen assumes an air of injured innocence, and all Betts & Holcomb, the architects, will say is, "'Twill be somewhat different."
   Well, we want to tell you, we are on the inside now, have seen the drawings, photographs of the terra cotta models, and sketches of the color schemes.
   Subject to correction on our description of the architectural style, we would say that the lobby is a glorified edition of a Moorish harem in the Spanish Moresque, with polychrome terra cotta wainscot, wrought iron lams and ticket booth, and an interesting design of tile floor.
   The general scheme for the auditorium is a later Spanish, with rough plastered walls, broken up by symmetrically placed architectural motifs, which frame the exit doors and which have a decorative niche above them. These niches will be flooded with color lighting and the general effect will be in polychrome with gold the predominating color.
   All lighting will be concealed, except the low lighting for the house, which will be furnished by unique wrought iron lanterns suspended from the ceiling.
   The whole effect is a rich display of decorative plaster in color, with enough plain wall surface, to act as a proper foil, for you know, girls, as Epictetus once said to Julius Caesar (as they were both aligting from the 5:15), "You know, old top, after all, good design is in the discriminate
juxtaposition of plain and ornamental surfaces." I thank you.

March 20, 1925
NEW THEATRE SOON TO BOW TO OUR PUBLIC
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Work Being Pushed to Get Structure Finished
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TO BE THEATRE BEAUTIFUL
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Large Stage for Legitimate Plays, and Fine Facilities for Popular Screen Productions
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   Des Plaines will soon have the pleasure of helping to dedicate the beautiful new theater building now approaching the completion stage at the corner of Miner and Lee streets.
   Work on the big structure has been going on prcatically all through the windter months, and now that the roof has been added workmen are constantly busy on the interior rushing the work as much as possible in order to get the work completed at the earliest possible moment
   A very large stage at the north end of the building will furnish ample facilities to show all the best of screen plats in the finest possible manner.
   The interior when completed will be most beautiful and no expense is being spared on either the decorations or lighting effects to make it the most beautiful playhouse outside the city of Chicago.
   Des Plaines ought to be, and is, wonderfully proud of this addition to her amusement facilities and there is not a doubt but when the latest screen shows are presented the theatrer will have a pulling power that will bring people to our city from a radius of many miles.
   The contractor, Ed Nissen, and his corps of workmen are doing their utmost not only to speed the work but to make this structure a monument to their ability as workmen and artisans.


May 29, 1925

WE ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF A GOOD HEALTHY GROWTH
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Building Activities Reliable Indicator of Conditions
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VACANT LOTS DIMINISH
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Business Blocks and Dwellings Arise on Every Hand; Des Plaines in Very Rapid Growth
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   Building operations in Des Plaines are assuming large proportions and every artisan and laborer is employed and being constantly pushed in the effort to rush construction work to the utmost.
   The new Des Plaines theater building is rapidly approaching the completion stage. One store room on Miner street is now being prepared for occupancy, and the other rooms are near the finishing point.
   The large interior has so far been completed that an onlooker can easily visualize the appearance of the theater when entirely completed and in use.
   The walls and ceiling are plastered and decorated and the staging removed, and one is struck with the extra large seating capacity the room will have. A thoroughly modern projection room has been added to the rear upper part and an unusually large stage will have ample space for vaudeville or stage productions.

June 5, 1925
Opening of Johnson Electric Store

July 17, 1925
New Movie House Recieving Finishing Touches
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   The new movie house at the corner of Miner and Lee streets, after many months consumed in erection work, is now reaching the final stages of completion and within a very short time its doors will be thrown open to the public. It is thought the grand opening will be held about the first of August.
   The big sign of Polka Brothers, who are lessees of the theater, was placed in position yesterday, likewise the seats are being assembled and fastened to the floor and only a few lessor matters are to be taken care of to mark the finish of the big auditorium.
   This palatial house is a marked improvement for Des Plaines and Mr. Winkelman, who is the builder, should recieve the plaudits of all our citizens for the erection of such an imposing structure. Polka Brothers, who will operate the playhouse, are interested in a large string of theaters throughout the outlying districts of Chicago, and their buying power is so great that it will assure Des Plaines seeing the very latest and best releases from the producing companies.

August 7, 1925
NEW THEATER WILL OPEN SOON
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Polka Bros. Have Arranged Fine Program for Day
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   At last the long awaited event is to happen, for the Des Plaines theater, under construction since last fall, will be opened within the next few days, with a complete program of feature photoplays, as well as a six piece orchestra and five big acts of loop vaudeville.
   In addition to the other attractions, Mr. Brown, connected with the Geneva Organ company, installers of the three-manual organ here, will render a number of selections. Mr. Brown has been heard over the radio from station WJJD, Mooseheart, on a number of occassions, playing from Geneva, and he is an artist of great ability.
   The show house is one of the most beautiful in any district outside of Chicago and has been the cynosure of many during the final stages of completion. Polka Bros., who are lessees of the house, are interested in a string of theaters and in that way will be able to bring the best of photoplays as well as vaudeville and other entertainment to our city.
   On page two of this issue you will find the ad of the new theater, telling of the good things in store for all who patronize the opening event.
   The management has submitted a statement and invitation as follows:
   The Des Plaines Theater Welcomes You
   The conception and building of the Des Plaines Theater are the results of a desire on the part of the residents of Des Plaines and surrounding territory for a larger and more commodious place of entertainment, to meet the requirements of a rapidly growing population and to keep pace with the many other local improvements, all of which are essential to community up-building, advancement, and prosperity.
   No pains or expense have been spared to make the Des Plaines Theater complete with all the modern improvements in construction, lighting, pictures, and stage equipment.
   It will be conducted as a place of entertainment, where every man, woman and child for miles around will want to come; where they will feel at home amid surroundings designed for their comfort and convenience.
   We shall strive to maintain the highest standard of excellence both in our vaudeville and photoplays, and to merit your good will and patronage.
   It is our intention to make the Des Plaines theater a place where you, your family, and friends can always be sure of seeing a good show, and to know that right here at home you, your family and friends can always be sure of seeing a good show, and to know that right here at home you have the best in refined entertainment to be found anywhere.
   This is your theater, and will be maintained and operated for your recreation and enjoyment.
   We realize fully that you will demand the latest and best in pictures, refined vaudeville, high class entertainers and an appropriate and excellent musical program.
   All of these we shall endeavour to present. We thank you.

August 14, 1925
NEW THEATER HAS OPENING
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Enormous Crowds Witness Initial Performances
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   Some thirty-six hundred paid admission was the result of the opening performances of the Des Plaines theater Sunday afternoon and evening.
   Although the theater was not entirely completed the enormous crowd was treated to a fine program which embraced the picture, "Are Parents People?", a six-piece orchestra and five acts of excellent vaudeville.
   The organ installation had not been completed, consequently the patrons were disappointed in not hearing the selections of Mr. Brown, but all seemed well satisfied with the caliber of the performance as it was.
   Workmen have been busy all week on the organ and now have it about ready for use, so that all theater patrons can have the enjoyment of excellent and fitting music as a complement to the feature programs that will be a rule at this show house.
   Uniformed ushers are used and every appointment is patterned after the best theaters of Chicago, so we can feel proud that we have a veritable metropolitan playhouse in our midst.
   Only the best has been good enough to have a place in the building. The stage appointments are right up-to-the-minute and the auditorium is likewise ideally equipped. The lighting, the decorations are all that can be desired, while the upholstered seats are comfortable and restful.
   The theater is under the management of Mr. Cadwallader, who is desirous of bringing to Des Plaines the very best amusement the community will support. The theater is not for use of Des Plaines alone, but is to be an attraction that will draw patrons from miles around.

Des Plaines Theatre

Historical Summary
The Des Plaines Theatre was built in 1925 as the northwest suburban flagship for the Polka Brothers chain of suburban theatres, based in Maywood. It was constructed by businessman and saloon owner Barney Winkelmann on the site of his home, built as the retirement residence of the widow of Socrates Rand, a founding father of Des Plaines. The Spanish Baroque Revival building with ebullient polychrome Terra Cotta is the only known theatre designed by Betts & Holcomb departing from the Tudor style. The theater's success prompted the Polkas to build the more elaborate Pickwick Theatre in neighboring Park Ridge in 1927. After hosting the likes of Gene Autry in vaudeville and film, the theater was purchased by H&E Balaban, a spinoff of Balaban & Katz, in 1935, and received a streamline redecoration, including the distinctive marquee, by famed architects Pereira & Pereira. The theater remained a popular first-run and discount cinema until a 1982 fire damaged the building's storefronts. Although the theater itself suffered little damage, it remained closed for a year, and business never fully recovered. The theater was then sold twice, and was twinned in 1987 by Kohlberg Theaters, with much of the décor obscured by walls, a dropped ceiling, and flat black paint, and became newly popular for bargain-basement late runs. The theatre briefly closed in 1997. The next year, Jim and June Burrows of Chicago refurbished the theater for first-runs, but were unable to shake the theater's reputation. It was sold several times in the next few years, settling on Bollywood, closing for a period when a bank purchased it, planning to demolish it for a new drive-through. The Des Plaines Theater Preservation Society was formed to oppose this effort and support restoration as a performing arts center, and the bank's plans were dropped. The theater was sold to the Bollywood operator, receiving some refurbishments through the efforts of the DPTPS. After several years of special programming, DPTPS was unable to reach a long-term agreement with the owner and went on hiatus. More recently the theatre has operated on a rental basis, including a stint of vaudeville revival.

Peter Hoffman's Log Cabin, 796 Center Street

During the Fourth of July Parade, there's usually one house that always makes you stop and go "hmm." Standing between a drive-thru bank and a parking lot is one of the odder sights in town - the Log Cabin at 796 Center Street.

So what IS it? A leftover from Pioneer days? No, that can't be... it's right on a side street. An old restaurant? No... not enough doors. The real answer is just as strange - a hunting lodge and home for one of Des Plaines' most prominent citizens 100 years ago.

Peter Michael Hoffman lived from 1863-1948, and was the sort of political animal you see in movies. He was the sort of rugged, brusque, driven, larger-than-life character that you generally only witness in court - and, indeed, that's how his political career ended.

Along the way, he cultivated an interest in hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. He once said, "I was born in a log cabin and I'm going to die in a log cabin." He did indeed, passing in his sleep in 1948, in his den-like bedroom, decorated with antlers and pelts. On one of his expeditions to the north woods of Wisconsin, he met an expert in log construction, and in 1921 Hoffman hired a crew of loggers, including a Native American, to build him a hunting lodge behind his house on Lee Street (Incidentally the next-door neighbor was the Kinder House, in its original location.) I like to imagine Hoffman's wife insisting he get his taxidermy, hunting gear, and poker games out of the house and meeting this dramatic response; his trophies could be displayed in a more appropriately natural setting. Ultimately Hoffman retired to the cabin, leaving the house behind vacant.

Talk about anachronism. Peter Hoffman's family settled in Des Plaines as pioneers, in 1842; there really WERE log cabins on farmsteads at that time. But the neighborhood he built it in was an early subdivision, Parson's & Lee's, also known as "Silk Stockings" because it had the city's most elaborate homes where the local elite lived. Today the Hoffman Log Cabin is one of only a few survivors on Graceland, Lee, and Center; most of the rest have been long since replaced by condos, offices, and retail buildings. The Hoffman Cabin was out of place from the get-go, but it is all the more now that it has a parking lot to one side and a bank drive-through to the other.

If you've been in many log cabins, you might expect to see a sparse, cramped, simple interior. Such was not the case for Hoffman - this would perhaps more appropriately be called a Log Mansion. This house was an absolute luxury. The house was originally adorned with every hind of hunting trophy, taxidermy, and nature scenes, and even the furniture reflected these interests. This explains the elk horns at the peak of the roof. Throughout the home, there was always a pair of glass eyes fixed on you, in a dead pose. Hiding behind branches and logs, all brought home by Hoffman, were wildcats, mountain lions, opossum, bison, elk, moose, deer, eagles, herons, pheasants, ducks, and so forth. Starting with the front door - a huge slab of solid wood with hand-forged hinges and hardware. The house also contained many portraits of Hoffman with other officials, and furniture like a teak wood chair, bear trap, and a wardrobe painted with a mountain scene. The entire house is built of true logs - no visual tricks here. Through the front doors, you come upon a dramatic, 5-foot-wide central staircase, originally carpeted in an Oriental Rug. Hanging above it was a huge wrought lantern on an 8-foot chain.

On one side of the stair is the impressive formal dining room, with huge solid-wood furniture. This room was decorated with a portrait of Lincoln and a huge wrought-iron lantern.

To the rear is the reception hall, which had the most elaborate furniture: needle-pointed chairs with hand-carved walnut frames brought from France by Hoffman's mother; tables of teak inlaid with mother-of-pearl (gifts from Chinatown's 'mayor'); a tall grandfather clock; an American flag on a 12-foot pole given to Hoffman by the "40 and 8" for his charity to World War I veterans.

An archway framed in philodendron leaves leads to the 35-foot living room with a 12-foot natural river stone fireplace. The room had a warm glow emanating from candlelight bulbs, antique furniture, and oriental rugs. The hand-wrought drapery rods bore an "H" monogram. The first floor also contains an ample kitchen, a guest room, and a den complete with a 1930s jukebox. Upstairs, a balcony opened onto three bedrooms and a bath; several of the walls are composed entirely of flattened bark.

So who was Peter M. Hoffman? After graduating from Des Plaines' schools, he went to a 2 year business college, worked as a grocery clerk and as Money Order Clerk at the Chicago Post Office. He then went to work for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, where he worked for 17 years, becoming chief clerk for the Freight Department. During this time, he began his climb up the political ladder.

He was described as coarse, rough around the edges, sometimes oafish. He cut an imposing figure, with a walrus mustache, curly hair, and steely eyes.

In his time, Hoffman was clearly the biggest political name in Des Plaines. He served as Des Plaines Village Board President in 1893-1894, where he worked hard trying to get cement sidewalks in town. He was Board of Education president from 1898-1917. In 1916 he was also president of Des Plaines State Bank, a director of the Des Plaines Commercial Association. He was also a member of the Chicago Association of Commerce, the Hamilton Club, the Illinois Athletic Club, the Chicago Real Estate Board, the Masonic Fraternity, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Royal League, the Royal Arcanum, the Modern Woodmen, the Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Maccabees, the German Benevolent Society, the Plattdeutsche Gilde and other fraternal organizations., Meanwhile, he was a Cook County Commissioner from 1898-1904 and then County Coroner from 1904-1923, where he went through a series of typical Cook County scandals - patronage, etc.

In those days, a coroner served an administrative function - not directly examining bodies. As coroner, he claimed to have "posted over 100,000 bodies." In 1912, he brought in modernization to the coroner's office; he brought in a laboratory, began keeping detailed records, and formed a committee to select physicians to hire. In 1913 he kicked off the Safety First campaign with the Public Safety Commission of Chicago, an early effort aimed at cutting automobile and industrial accidents, including educational programs in schools. He pushed for paved railroad crossings and marked crosswalks. In 1915 he played an important and often-overlooked role in the Eastland disaster.

With a rapidly rising body count, Hoffman realized that a large, central location was needed to store the dead, so that identification could take place in an orderly manner. Observing rescue efforts, he immediately launched a special jury to find the blame for the disaster. Later, he would be tasked with keeping order in the inevitably heated and chaotic scene at the warehousing site.

In 1922 Hoffman was elected Sheriff. Remember this was the roaring 20s, Prohibition. Hoffman saw Leopold & Loeb; saw Capone's rise to power, and so forth. An ingrained politician, Hoffman would be involved in one of the more embarrassing Cook County scandals ever. In 1926, Republican bosses had slated Hoffman to move up to County Treasurer as a reward for his work with a political alliance in the "country towns" - Cook County at that time had separate boards for the City and still-rural suburbs.

Hoffman had run for Sheriff as a reformer - odd given his track record as Coroner - and vowed to clean up the corrupt and seriously overcrowded (built for 500, housing 1500) Cook County Jail. He hired Warden Wesley Westbrook from the Chicago Police Department, who was hailed by reform groups as squeaky clean.

Two of the inmates were bootleggers Frankie Lake and Terry Druggan of the Valley Gang, bigger than Capone in their time. They had been sentenced to a year in prison by Federal Judge James Wilkerson for contempt of court. They arranged to pay the squeaky clean Westbrook $2,000 a month for special privileges, discovered when a newspaper reporter came to interview Druggan.

He was told by the jailer, "Mr. Druggan isn't in today." The reporter then tried to interview lake. "Mr. Lake also had an appointment downtown. They'll be back after dinner." Naturally this raised the newspaperman's eyebrow.

The reporter learned from other jail personnel not receiving pay that, after morning roll call, Druggan and Lake were able to do whatever they wanted. In trial, the District Attorney found that Druggan had visited the dentist approximately 100 times in the year, where he met friends, did business, and stopped at banks, friends, and associates on the way to and from the office. Druggan was chauffered from jail in his own limousine to his 15-room Lake Shore Drive apartment with a silver plated toilet seat to spend evenings with his wife. Lake visited his mistress. Other times they went to their doctors and dentists (a dozen visits...), shopped, dined, golfed, went to the nightclubs. They also recieved private rooms with baths, and pampering by the jail staff. That's one way to address overcrowding.

Hoffman was shocked, shocked! that something like this could happen under his watch, and immediately fired Warden Westbrook. In court, before the same Judge Wilkerson, Westbrook then turned the blame on Hoffman. He explained that, following a visit from 20th Ward Boss Morris Eller, Hoffman came to acommodate the boys for their clearly unfair sentence. Although nobody could prove Hoffman recieved any part of the bribes, which totalled $20,000, Hoffman was found in contempt of court, and entered the history books by becoming the only Cook County Sheriff to serve prison time while still in office - 30 days, plus a $2,500 fine. Later that year, he resigned, claiming he would work as a private citizen to amend the Volstead act, which he said was unenforceable and overtaxed the Sheriff's resources.

Two weeks later, he was appointed assistant forester in charge of the county forest preserves, where he served until 1932.

In 1990, the Sun-Times described him so: "Perhaps the most buffoonish of all Cook County sheriffs was Peter M. Hoffman , who wore a diamond-studded gold star in the Prohibition era. Hoffman was the prototype for dim-witted sheriff Peter B. Hartman in the rollicking newspaper play "The Front Page," by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. It was Hoffman who merrily opened up the western suburbs to Capone's mob. The sheriff also was reputed to be on gangster Johnny Torrio's payroll."

In 1970, Hoffman's daughter, Evelyn Johnson, who lived in the house from 1948 until her own death in 1995, said in a newspaper piece on the house, "I love this place, and I love old things. There is so much around that should be preserved. I have tried to keep everything in its original state - the lanterns, the collection of old guns, the oxen yoke and bear trap, as well as all the animals, fish, and birds."

Unfortunately, the house today is starting to show its age; sags are visible in the roof and bark and logs seem to be rotting. The house has been listed for sale several times in the past several years, and, judging from this video, is now unoccupied with many of its furnishings missing. This house is clearly one of the most interesting in Des Plaines and is more than deserving of landmark protection; why isn't it?

UPDATE 09/10: The house was rehabilitated over the summer to address the previous issues. Many of the logs were stripped of bark, stained, and sealed to prevent rot; many boards and logs were replaced; and the trim was painted green. The Hoffman cabin has a refreshed look and a new lease on life.

DN-0081077, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society.

DN-0081223, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society.

Updates downtown

It’s spring, and downtown is buzzing with work crews. You have to admit - things ARE getting better. Throughout downtown, crews are busy continuing to overhaul the landscaping. There are new trees, grasses, and shrubbery – and they’re in well-designed, attractive arrangements.

Sim’s Bowl has sprouted a “For Sale” sign, now that the city appears to be backing off its purchase.

The familiar “Acorn” streetlights that have been downtown for about 15 years now have almost all vanished, in anticipation of the new streetlights. I am hopeful that this means the new streetlights are better-designed.; it would be disappointing if the older ones were refurbished.

Metra Dry Cleaners has moved from the building next to Sim’s into the C.W.M. Brown building at the northwest corner of Miner and Pearson.

An air conditioning unit has been installed in the train station, for commuter comfort. The Brasserie restaurant in the station unfortunately still has handmade paper signs.

The Masonic Temple building has received fresh white paint on its piers, instead of the differing, peeling colors that were there before, with a gray coat over the concrete base. The dry cleaners storefront has also been repainted gray from blue. It’s too bad they didn’t match the brick and concrete’s natural colors, but it’s a big improvement nonetheless. There is also a fresh coat of paint on the city-owned 1486 Miner building.

Most of the downtown traffic signals have been replaced with LED lights (I hope they have accounted for a way to keep them from getting snowed over – the old lights produced heat.) As part of this process, many of the crosswalk signals now have countdown timers, and the poles have been stripped down to bare metal instead of faded, peeling, and rusting yellow paint.

Alderman Matt Bogusz is pursuing an initiative to help small businesses get a start in the city.

It is a great sign that we have several Aldermen and a mayor taking an active interest in our beautiful downtown. Not only Alderman Patti Haugeberg, 1^st ward alderman, but also Bogusz and Mark Walsten. We are fortunate to have a leadership that cares about making things better. These little improvements add up; taking a walk through downtown is starting to feel significantly better. With the right plan, this direction can yield great results.

The Des Plaines Journal today features a photo of the old Prince Castle ice cream stand that was once at the northeast corner of Lee and Prairie, where the 701 Lee (First National) office building now stands.

McDonald's - 55 Years Since 1955

Today marks the 55th anniversary of the first Ray Kroc McDonald's.

Mid-60s, with "Winterfront"

Why is McDonald's in Des Plaines important? It was not the first McDonald's - it was the the 9th overall.

Drive-ins and chain restaurants already existed before McDonald's, of course - there were many drive-up food stands throughout the country, of variable quality, and there were chains like White Castle and Howard Johnson.

McDonald's started off as an orange juice stand run by Dick and Maurice McDonald in Monrovia, CA called the Airdrome (it was adjacent to an airfield) in 1937. In 1940 they cut it in two parts and moved it to San Bernardino as a popular BBQ stand. The real innovation of McDonald's came in 1948 as they streamlined their menu to maximize profitability, slashing it to the core most popular, profitable, and efficient items. They fired all the carhops and created a new self-service window concept. They divided labor, setting aside a window for burgers, a window for fries, a window for drinks, a window for shakes. Through these innovations, they were able to maximize turnover and serve many more people.

In 1953 they employed architect Stanley Clark Meston to develop a new building with them, one they could franchise. It had to be efficient, eye-catching, modern, and identifiable. Meston's design created a fishbowl kitchen with glare-proof tilted glass walls, so that customers could see for themselves how clean and fast the food was made. It was bright and inviting. The first of 9 of these was built in Phoenix. These early franchisers were allowed to do pretty much whatever they wanted, which resulted in several failures; some were serving tacos, hot dogs, and all manner of things. Meanwhile, business at the San Bernardino location continued to thrive, and Ray Kroc, a multimixer salesman, came to town to see how they could possibly be selling that many milkshakes.

1982 AIA Photo

Arlington Heights native Kroc secured the franchise rights, and chose Des Plaines for his first store. Even though it wasn't an optimal location, it made a good pilot store, because it was near his home, at the intersection of several major highways, and he could easily get to downtown Chicago on the train for meetings. Kroc enlisted Des Plaines architect Robert Stauber to modify Meston's plans, down-scaling it to make it more efficient for the market  and site, and adding a basement for storage in lieu of the outdoor sheds used in sunny California. Eventually the McDonald's Corporation Kroc founded would develop a new real estate strategy that allowed them to grow explosively and remain stable (in many ways, McDonald's Corporation is as much a real estate company as a food service company). The McDonald's system of careful regulation instead of total control made it a dependable and cheap option, leaving much of the competition behind in its early years.

So, McDonald's in Des Plaines represents the synthesis of chain restaurants, drive-ins, and division of labor; innovations that catapulted McDonald's to the top of the heap, inspired hosts of imitators, and changed the way America and the world eat.

But this misses part of the story. It's also how America developed after World War II - in sprawling development outside the established city. And McDonald's would become the opening shot in many of the suburban strips. Lee and Rand in Des Plaines is an excellent example of one of the earliest strips. When McDonald's came in, there was in fact ALREADY a self-service chain just a couple doors down - Dairy Queen. It's still there, the Las Asadas Mexican restaurant on the corner. There were gas stations (3 of them still there) and other drive-ins. So in addition to this very significant and visible McDonald's, there's a context with an important story about America's development that remains ignored.

This is more important in light of the fact that McDonald's was largely reconstructed in 1984-1985. Reports differ on whether only the original basement was reused, or if the walls and roof were also. It's a mostly accurate reconstruction; they recreated the original dies for the metal trim and used old stock tile where possible; basing it all on blueprints from a 1958 restaurant since Stauber's could not be found. However, they added gardens where none existed (supposedly at the City of Des Plaines' insistence) and moved the sign from the south end of the lot. The reconstruction is not necessarily significant as the 1st McDonald's itself, but as one of the first times a national corporation created a museum to itself on the site of its founding. It gains added significance from that context of other development around it.

There's more to the story, but I'll talk about that another time.

A Letter from Conor Kendrick - A Proposal for Sim's Bowl?

I received this note from Conor Kendrick, a fan of Revitalize Des Plaines! He has some great ideas - see what he has to say!

Hi, my name is Conor Kendrick, I have been a lifelong resident of Des Plaines, Illinois and I am about to graduate college with a degree in Parks and Recreation with a minor in Environmental Science. In returning to Des Plaines, I have an idea of what can help revitalize the downtown.

Let me start off by saying isn’t this “Revitalize Des Plaines” group great!? I like all the old pictures that have been posted, of places I remember, and place’s I had no clue even existed until now. I had no idea that this many people cared about the city.

Second, as I've stated on multiple posts in this forum about Sim's Bowl, I am looking to buy it and operate it. I worked there for 7 years (throughout high school then when I was in on breaks from college), and did everything except bartend and cook. I was successful in attracting new leagues and parties to Sims, and I even ran my own league that took up most of the 16 lanes. I was also instrumental in getting the bowling alley at Palwaukee Airport operational once again, and now it looks like they are going to have two night leagues there. Given my previous experience I know how to operate a bowling alley successfully in today’s market. The problem with the previous operation was that they still thought it was 1959 and not 2009 when it came to marketing and upkeep. 

However, it is estimated that it would take about $1,300,000 to acquire the real estate, refurbish the equipment, remodel the kitchen and bathrooms etc. The initial plans are to get a loan for $1 million so we need to raise $300,000 in capital. The purpose of this letter is to see if anyone was interested in investing with me in this enterprise. I am not asking for money right now, just what you are willing to invest. I am in the process of setting up a new company to own and operate the bowling alley.

I strongly believe that Sim’s can be a successful enterprise; it just needs the right owners with the right plans. I have plans for the bowling alley and the storefront and apartments next door which include:

• Bringing the building up to code
• Refurbishing the Retro charm and equipment
• Developing the cleaners building next door (which comes with the purchase) into a storefront and a microbrewery
• Attracting bowling leagues
• Making it a clean family friendly place for parties and open bowling

I appreciate your time in reading this, and if you have any questions or are interested in investing you can contact me through my email or my cell phone, both are provided below.

Sincerely,
Conor Kendrick
Kendrick.conor@gmail.com
(847) 373-7500

80 Years of Maine East High School

This post comes a little late - Maine East actually opened March 24, 1930.

The original Maine Township High School first opened in 1902 and will be the subject of a future post. The history of Maine Township High School East began in October, 1924, when the school board passed a resolution ordering the purchase of sixty acres at Potter and Northwest Highway. This choice went against the wishes of the township voters. This must have remained the subject of controversy, because the school board subsequently in December set a special election for May 23, 1925 to allow voters to decide on the site. Ultimately, the same site was chosen, the former Hoffman Farm - smack dab between the two towns - and out of walking distance for anyone. Until Maine West was opened, Maine High was identified as being in "Park Ridge or Des Plaines, IL"

The conflict between Des Plaines and Park Ridge was evident nowhere more than in the high school. Describing the 1902 building, Mark Henkes later wrote,

since 1892 there had been a rivalry between Des Plaines and Park Ridge concerning the all-important location of Maine High School. The Des Plaines Village Council drew a petition that year asking that Park Ridge unite with Norwood Park to build a school so Des Plaines could locate one of its own.

Even though Maine High School created somewhat of a bond between Des Plaines and Park Ridge, it obviously went only so far. A distinctive competitive spirit between the two villages would continue in respect to the high school as well as other fields which would evolve with the progression of expansion.

This conflict dragged on into the 1920s:

Another hot issue during the '20s was the Maine High School. A petition signed by 500 Park Ridge parents in 1921 asked that Park Ridge be able to build a high school because of what they called unsatisfactory busing of pupils to and from Park Ridge.

By this time of course veterinarian Edward Manuel had departed with his horse and buggy service and livery stable and had graduated to the bus service we now call United Motor Coach. Many Park Ridge pupils took the train to the high school in Des Plaines, but Manuel did have a morning and afternoon route for the students.

Dr. Earle, president of the school board (and a Des Plaines resident), argued that departments would have to be dropped because there would not be enough students to fill classes. He also said that Maine Township was one of only three townships in Illinois that offered free bus service, even though it was against the law. "Would Park Ridge be able to provide its own free transportation?" he asked.

Park Ridge retorted that the town would double its student population in two years, thus requiring a high school of its own. A high school would also enhance the growth of the town, they said.

In the end, Park Ridge did even better. In 1930, Maine High School was moved from Thacker Street in Des Plaines to Potter and Dempster in Park Ridge. Now it was Des Plaines' turn to bus its pupils.

Of course, Park Ridge would still bus its pupils too. With the site selection squared away, next came the design of the building itself. A $500,000-$750,000 - in 1927 dollars - building was announced in September, 1927. It was the product of Zook, McCaughey, and Chubb, a Park Ridge firm best known for the Pickwick Theatre and St. Charles Municipal Building, as well as the Rand Park Fieldhouse, 1930 Des Plaines Post Office (now pawn shop), and numerous other buildings in the region; the firm later specialized in schools. But this was perhaps the most elaborate and beautiful of their school buildings.

Designed after the Powell Library at UCLA, Maine East is an exuberant exercise in Spanish Revival mixed with Art Deco and Prairie influences. It is easily one of the most beautiful buildings in the area, and one of the most historic and beautiful high schools in the Chicago Suburbs. When built, it was also one of the largest, tallest, and most elaborate buildings around. The building clearly follwed the trend established by Dwight Perkins' Schurz High School, which had revolutionized the design approach to high schools when it was built in 1910.

The unconventional, state-of-the-art design focused on a central entry tower capped with a green skylight. The new school's design was to feature a paved court in the Italian Style graced with a fountain, which the 500 seat cafeteria would open onto.  It also featured a 40'x80' library finished in knotty spruce with floor to ceiling windows for ample natural light and views of the countryside, with alcoves and conference rooms, designed to hold 7,000 books, expandable to 20,000 with a balcony. Now the study hall, this room had attached senior history and English classes, so that students could easily access reference works. There would be a 80x100 foot gymnasium with 500 fixed spectator seats, and a small girls gym which could open onto it, seating up to 1000 spectators. A $50,000 40'x75' swimming pool with seating for 350-500, to house Maine's national champion swim team. An auditorium seating 1,000, designed to accomodate a future 800 seat balcony, with an orchestra pit. 48 rooms - 6 English, 5 Math, 4 commercial, 2 mechanical drawing, 3 shop rooms, a public speaking room equipped to show film, 3 history and civics, 4 foreign language, 2 sewing, 1 cooking, 5 laboratories, an accounting room complete with bronze fixtured cashier windows, and 1 science room. A central tower with a radio room in the roost and a band/art room below it. The school was divided in two wings, with boys lockers and washrooms in the South wing and girls in the East. And the whole school was set far back with dramatic, beautiful landscaping including a formal garden. Blueprints were provided for another wing and other additions. Voters passed the plan by an 8 to 1 margin.

The school was designed to accommodate 1000 students when it was built, and to easily accomodate additions. Old Maine had been built for 250, and was later expanded to 650. Maine was built over the course of 1929. Unfortunately, owing in part to cost overruns and the onset of the Great Depression, the auditorium - which would have rivaled the Pickwick in size and beauty - and fountain were dropped from the plans, set aside for a future date that would never come (although this would still be the right place to build a future addition, adding visual balance to the old Gym). The swimming pool came very close to being cut. The school's opening itself was jeopardized. Luckily, the principal marshaled a $100,000 loan and was able to convince board members to go on full steam ahead. It opened March 24, 1930. In November of that year, Frank Lloyd Wright gave a lecture in the Gymnasium pleading for a greater role of Art in America's schools; he could scarely have chosen a better location. The newspaper noted that although his topic was "New Schools" he instad talked about how the machine age called for a new style in architecture, and that Schools are the appropriate place for that to grow.

By 1935 Maine needed to grow, applying for a $60,000 federal grant; matching the original architecture, it would contain 10 classrooms; four on the second floor and the remainder on the third floor, to be used for music. Music rooms were finished with acoustical treatments of pecky cypress wood ceilings and acoustical plaster made to look like stone.

In 1938 the township voted on borrowing $50,000 in bonds to pay the township's share of a $150,000 PWA auditorium with 2,200 seats and seven classrooms. The voters overwhelmingly said "no".

Need surfaced again in 1949 as enrollment surged to 1,800 and expected to reach 2,400 in the near future; the principal called for 29 new rooms including science, 6 shops for woodwork, metal craft, electrical, printing, blueprint reading, and mechanical and architctural drawing; music rooms; an auditorium seating 1,850; a new cafeteria; a new gym with a capacity of 3,588; a library expansion; and more shop space. The $2,500,000 proposal was approved by voters, but the same voters also turned against the bond issue, beliving it too expensive and expansive. The plans were further delayed by a government restriction for steel in gymanasiums. However, because the margin of defeat was less than 100 votes, a new campaign was launched and the bond passed the second time.

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The addition, by school architecture firm Childs & Smith, who went on to design Maine West, opened in May, 1953, while the Gym and Fieldhouse remained under construction. Again, the design was state-of-the-art modern. The new corridors were softly lit with recessed fluorescent lighting, pastel tiled walls, two murals (one of Noah's Ark, the other of an editorial cartoon) and giant 6-foot bulletin boards inviting posters. The music department's old practice room was replaced with seperate band and chorus rooms with practice studios. The old cafeteria was remodeled into a freshman-sophomore library. And again, the building was built of brick to harmonize with the old building and set in landscaping. Part of it was even an extension to the original building with matching brick and spanish tile roof. The auditorium was graced with a 48 foot wide by 34 foot deep stage and 80 person orchestra pit, while the beige and blue color scheme and upholstered seats made the audience comfortable. The fieldhouse was touted as so large that it could accomodate a basketball game, shotput, pole vault, high jump, broad jump, and track running - all at the same time, while wrestling, shuffleboard, and trampoline events happened in the balcony. Theoretically, at least.

As the baby boom went on, enrollment reached 4,500-5,300 - the maximum comfortable capacity of the school was 3,800 - and the need for a new high school became obvious. A few classrooms were added in a hyphen addition between the old building and auditorium, perhaps the main architectural misstep at Maine East, but at least the historic campus was preserved. This small addition partially covers the original cornerstone; if another addition ever becomes necessary, this would be a good place to put it, as this was where the auditorium would have originally been sited. This would visually balance the original building. Maine West opened in 1959, and Maine Township High School became Maine East for the 1960-1961 school year. Maine South opened in 1964, and more growth came in 1968, as Maine North was built along with additions at East and South.

These additions, by the firm McCaughey, Erickson, Kristmann, and Stillwaugh (the same firm that was once Zook & McCaughey) included a Girl's Gymnasium, new art, industrial arts, occupational therapy, exercise, printing, television, ceramics, and special ed classrooms, in an addition in the courtyard of the school. More shops were added as well as a new pool. The old girl's gym - the original school's gym - was remodeled into a library and classrooms. Part of this addition would have included an addition to the Potter Road side of the school, on the end of the old Gym, which would have destroyed the patio and gardens. History teacher and Maine alum Paul Carlson - who would go on to teach for 48 years at Maine East - led an opposition to save the gardens, and ultimately succeeded. The administration offices were instead located at Maine South. Unfortunately the gardens have since disappeared, and all that is left is a few bushes. Maybe it's time to put them back, as the Paul Carlson Alumni Memorial Garden?

In 1981, the state-of-the-art (and it would be even today) Maine North was closed due to declining enrollments. Outside consultants suggested the older and larger Maine East should close instead, but community sentiment prevailed. A third floor was added to the south end, making it better match the rest of the school. In 1999 science rooms were rebuilt within the school and masonry repairs were undertaken by the ARCON firm. Last year, training rooms were added and some rather unsympathetic windows have replaced older, slightly more sympathetic ones.

The old pool is worth special note - it still exists under the patio outside the gym. It has elaborate, beautiful tile mosaics, but unfortunately can no longer hold water. What is to become of this extraordinary feature?

Some more great pool pictures are at http://www.cheryltime.com/maine_east/index.html

Although time has altered and eroded many of Maine's details, such as the gardens and the elliptical walkway to the tower entrance, it still stands today as a living, working part of our history; one of few public buildings of its age in our area still serving its original purpose.

Square Deal Building, 1514-1516 Miner

Wahl Jewelers is one of the most enduring businesses in Des Plaines. The Wahl firm was founded in Chicago in 1894, moving to Des Plaines in 1949. The Des Plaines roots go back even farther, though, as Wahl came into Des Plaines by taking over John Kray, Jeweler, which had been in Des Plaines since 1892, founded by his father, Ray Kray. Kray advertised himself as watch inspector for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway and United Motor Coach, two local institutions that relied heavily on timeliness. Wahl now is in its fourth generation of family ownership (with a fifth in the wings) - the F.X., F.F., F.C., and R.C. Wahl families.

Kray in 1892 (presumably a different building)

The old Wahl Building, after a 1950s Modernization. The 'before' look can be seen below - much more detail is visible in the unique and attractive brickwork.

No sign of what it looked like before the brick false front. Thanks to Malcolm Mlodoch for this pic.

Walter Harness Shop, circa 1920. Courtesy Des Plaines Historical Society.

For many years, the other building on this site was the Joseph Walter Harness Shop. Founded by his father, Jacob Walter, in 1862, it stayed in business with his brother, Philip, until Walter's death in 1941. As a young man, Walter drove a stagecoach between Des Plaines, Shermerville (Northbrook) and West Northfield, carrying passengers and mail. The business was originally on Ellinwood, and moved to Miner Street in the 1890s. The Walters were one of the first Catholic families in Des Plaines, and moved here from Bensenville because the railroad allowed easy access to the nearest Catholic church in Grosse Pointe (Wilmette). They were one of the families who worked to move a small mission church from Arlington Heights via flatcar in 1883, serving as the first St. Mary's.

A 1941 Chicago Tribune article described the shop, already a throwback:

When enter the dark little shop, it is as if you are stepping back into another era. The front of the room is dark and the whole little building has a musty atmosphere. On the walls hang saddles, bridles, and harnesses. In back, in what was once the room set aside for the printers, is the workshop. There one sees the old sewing horses, old spool cases, and box after box lines the shelves that mount to the ceiling. But there is modern equipment, too, for today, two elderly men repair everything from airplane parts to dog harnesses.

In the old days, harnesses were all made by hand and that was about all the shop handled. But Joseph and his brother, Philip, have decided that harness making is too much work and they keep the shop now mainly as a spot where they can kill a little time. People come from all around to have bits of work done.

 Under construction in 1950. Square Deal is in the storefront to the far right.




Before the harness shop, the building served as a drug store, hardware store (the original home of Kinder Hardware), grocery store, post office, and a printing shop where the first newspaper was printed. After Walter's closed, it became S.C. Wessell Real Estate and Becker Roofing. In 1950 Luigi Capozolli moved the building, said to be over 100 years old and Des Plaines' oldest store building, "out to pasture" - it was moved to his farm near Cumberland and Golf Roads, used as an outbuilding. It has since been demolished.

 1950 Square Deal Building, featuring a distinctive Midcentury "Exterior Lobby" display front. Photo courtesy Malcolm Mlodoch.

Capozolli then built a new building for his Square Deal Shoe Store. Like Wahl, Square Deal began in Chicago, at Diversey and Milwaukee in 1921. Moving to Des Plaines in 1931 in the Behmiller Building, it grew into the family shoe store we know today. By the 90s the store expanded to the old Wahl site. Square Deal is now in its third generation of family ownership. Square Deal has seen a lot of changes throughout the years, and still displays a size 37 shoe from Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man at 8'11" in the 1930s (who had a job visiting shoe stores as a promotion) as well as a disabled fluoroscope x-ray shoe fitting machine.

History of 1512 Miner, R.C. Wahl Jewelers

Wahl Jewelers now occupies one of the newer buildings on Miner Street, built in the last 20 years, but retains its address from its many years next door at 1514 Miner. The previous building at 1512 Miner is shown below. Originally a simple Victorian design, with a closed in gable and bay window, it later was remodeled with a cartoonish Tudor facade. I don't know too much about its occupant history, except it once contained Vick's Barber Shop, a Restaurant, and much later,
1971-1972 The Great Pants Explosion (a wonderfully ridiculous business name that had an equally ridiculous sign)
1972-1976/09 Elda's and Vera's Uptown Boutique
1977 Hairlines by Remo
1980-1983 Felice Vincent's Hairdesigners

Eventually it was demolished for the present Colonial Revival style R.C. Wahl Jewelers building, as Square Deal Shoes expanded (around 1993?). We'll cover those downtown fixtures in the next post.

(bottom photo courtesy Malcolm Mlodoch)

History of 1504 Miner & 1508 Miner, Leona's and Total Security

When the Thoma House was demolished in 1929, the articles said that it was to make way for "a modern furniture store". I haven't been able to determine what that store was or if it ever opened.

1504 Miner

The Zephyr Cafe circa 1939, looking every bit as modern as the Pioneer Zephyr for which it was undoubtedly named, which was a hit at the 1934 Century of Progress Exposition. Appropriate, since the restaurant presumably relied heavily on train passengers.

Toned down by 1957, it later featured a large mural of pioneers. (A reader advises me they were Mediterranean or Latin American Field Workers.) Probably not the mountains of Illinois.

Close-up of the Neon Sign in the window

Ad from 1936 opening

The Zephyr Cafe opened in July 1936 on the left side of the building; a different tenant was next door in the same building. The facade was simple Streamline Moderne; covered in randomly-sized cut stones with two notches at either end. It was managed by the Ladas Brothers - Sam, Andrew, John. The family also ran the Arlington Cafe in Arlington Heights. Like the Sugar Bowl, it featured good, diverse meals and a soda fountain - the slogan was the straightforward "Good Food". In 1938, the Herald described it:

The people from all over this part of the county, the tourists and visitors, all have pronounced this Cafe one of the finest in this section.
It is attractively furnished and tastily decorated, which makes it a most cheerful place, and here amidst comfortable surroundings, one of the most courteous services is afforded the public. Whether at noon luncheon or dinner, you will find all the satisfaction of good service and high quality of food that will please the most jaded appetite.
Good food is a watchword with this concern and the management is so careful in supplying high quality continually that it is the kind of a place to which you can go and be sure of a good meal.
Thr manager personally sees that the people of this part of the country are not only given the choicest of food, but the latest dishes of the day and that the best of service is always given regardless of the size of the order. They have provided the very latest of equipment in the kitchens, and everything is in the very best of condition and appetizing when served to the guests.
They specialize in genuine Chinese Chop Suey and real Italian Spaghetti. You are assured of the finest at moderate prices.

You won't find too many Greek restaurants today claiming to serve genuine Chinese Chop Suey (isn't that an oxymoron, since Chop Suey is an American invention?) and real Italian.

In 1949, the business was expanded next door, to the Zephyr Lounge and Steak House next door, which had previously housed "The Curiosity Shop", a resale and antique shop that opened in 1946. Called colorful, beautiful, comfortable, and relaxing, and featuring gorgeous circular booths, a "magnificent" bar, and an all-mirror background, the Lounge sounds like somewhere I'd like to kick back a few drinks.

By the time it closed, around 1967-1970, the two were together known as the Zephyr Restaurant.

In 1971-1972 it was briefly the Aristo Restaurant. From 1973-1985 it was the popular Sawa's Old Warsaw Polish restaurant, which still operates in Broadview.

Photo by Malcolm Mlodoch

Next it became Magnolia, another Polish restaurant, from 1987 to at least 1989. In March 1993, Booeymongers, a blues club with a pizza kitchen, opened, and closed in 1996. Booeymongers updated the (green!) facade with stucco and an arch at the top, but kept the notches. From 1998-1999 it was Zodiac Chinese Restaurant. Later that year, the Leona's chain opened a location, which it remains today.

1508 Miner

A Glimpse of 1508 Miner's original facade, 1936 Des Plaines Historical Society Postcard

"Modernized" By 1940 with Faux-Marble

Toned down a bit... (Malcolm Mlodoch photo)

 And Today's Inoffensive but Boring Facade

Again, there was little to be found on this building pre-1949. It had a short-lived but attractive stepped facade originally. In 1949, Frank's Apparel opened, a women's wear store. In May 1958, Leonard's for Men and Boys opened, closing in 1963. The next business was Kier Men's Wear, closing in 1974. Audrey's Bridal Boutique was in business here from 1976-1995, with Signature Studios Photography inside. Square Deal Discount Shoes closed in 1997. Cookie Garden was next. Currently it is Spy Source/Total Security Solutions.