If you like old photographs, as I do

[Christiern]

Here's the site

It's called The Chicago Daily News Photographs 1902-1933. Great photos of Abe Lincoln, Jack Johnson, Enrico Caruso, Sophie Tucker... 55,000 in all. Some examples:

Sophie Tucker, Otis Skinner (1929)

- Caruso and friend, 1921

Jack Johnson in his car.

[brownie]

Very interesting site. And also quite fascinating that there's nothing that seems even remotedly related to jazz (or any other arts) in a city where the performing arts were an important part of the social life.

[Christiern]

That also struck me as odd. Wish the Chicago Defender had a similar site.

[couw]

well chris, thanks for posting anyhow

seriously, I do enjoy looking at this stuff.

[maren]

Very interesting site. And also quite fascinating that there's nothing that seems even remotedly related to jazz (or any other arts) in a city where the performing arts were an important part of the social life.

I agree about the lack of jazz, but - but - but

Otis Skinner, Sophie Tucker, Enrico Caruso?

Performing arts?

[maren]

Well, I entered "jazz" and found twelve photos, but everyone in them was white (Al Jolson, Benny Kruger, Gussie Keller, and University of Chicago Jazz Band -- that's IT).

Then I entered "Negro" and found "Four members of the Negro Players in performance at Cube Theatre":

and 17 other photos, mostly of Negro Leagues baseball:

"Blues" turned up NOTHING related to the blues!

"African American" brought up no musicians, but more sports stars (Jack Johnson again) including this photo of a jockey published in 1903, just before Jim Crow slammed the door shut on the black jockeys who had dominated racing since Reconstruction:

Edited June 9, 2004 by maren

[maren]

I'm having too much fun, Chris! My boss is going to be very angry with you!

Here's one from 1926, of "Hindu musician Premla Shahane playing a sitar":

I think I heard that Ravi Shankar was her father...

[maren]

Does this have to go on the "Politics" page?

January 18, 1915: Three-quarter length portrait of Mrs. Lucy E. Parsons, arrested for rioting during an unemployment protest at Hull House in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Parsons is also the widow of Albert Parsons, one of the men hanged for complicity in the Haymarket affair.

[catesta]

I think I heard that Ravi Shankar was her father...

[Christiern]

Here's Jack Johnson--I don't think I have seen any photos of him as clear as this one.

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[Chuck Nessa]

Having been there "a thousand times" and loving the place, I really appreciated the shot of the Blackstone Hotel under construction.

Thanks Chris - many more hours on the internet ahead.

[Jim Dye]

I found out recently that I may be distantly related to the gentleman in the fur coat. Former Chicago mayor William "Big Bill" Thompson. I still have to do some more research, though.