Chicago In The Early 60's “The City of Necessity”
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- čas přidán 18. 02. 2015
- Adding to Chicago's list of nicknames is “The City of Necessity” the title of this filmed glimpse of Chicago from 1961. This low key film was co-produced by a contingent of local religious organizations.
The film attempts to show the benefits of living in cities, with Chicago as an example. There are some great arial shots of Chicago's mid 20th century skyline, a parade down State Street (Check out the Department of Streets and San's space-age float at the 5:53 mark) and lots of footage of old buildings being demolished.
But the documentary's framers are also pushing for a more humane and inclusive city. The film goes into white, black and Latino neighborhoods--and the level of poverty and dilapidation is alarming by today's standards. Race and class are noted in the documentary. Mayor Richard J. Daley is heard saying "We have no ghetto, and we have no Negro ghetto". Then the film provides footage to the contrary.
There is also a all to brief look at the city's nightlife at 16:30. Featuring a montage of peep shows, tattoo parlors and other forms of adult entertainment that is set to a burlesque-grade rock and roll score.
A copy of the film is the U.S.. National Archives.
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I'd love to ride again on one of those 4000 series "L" trains shown in the beginning. They were built in the 1920s and were scrapped by 1973. Chicago was getting into high gear in 1961, demolishing landmark architectural treasures in the Loop and not blinking an eye.
So true I just picked up a book called Lost Chicago by David Garrard Lowe that is all about those lost treasures. Thanks for watching.
I know. They keep demolishing all of these old buildings to put up new ones when there is endless empty space all around just outside the Loop they could put them instead of squeezing them all in the small loop area!. They should spread them out more like New York does and save our old buildings
There was nothing "Honorable" about Richard J. Daley.
Thanks for posting. Fascinating time capsule of my hometown in the year of my birth. Also great example of how words and images can be carefully assembled to fit whatever narrative the creator wishes. The makers of this film used images shot within a very narrow and specific band of the city to support their message (I suspect the very near Southside, in the area ringing the Loop on the south and southwest - still rough as hell in the 1970s and 80s). Just a few blocks north and they could have shown the bustling and vibrant Loop (featured in fleeting parade images). Just a few blocks further south or south west and they could have shown the orderly, clean neighborhoods of aspirational lower middle class families who worked in Chicago's factories and stockyards. That would have presented a much clearer image of Chicago as a place of opportunity. That's what it was for my family and our friends. I was a child of rural people who came to Chicago for work in the post-War boom. Our circle was made of people from downstate Illinois and Indiana, Alabama, Texas. A bunch of Southerners who found each other in the city. There were so many southern migrants to Chicago in those years that Country radio stations flourished - the one we listened to was WJJD "a division of PLOW incorporated." Downstate Illinois, where my family came from, in those years was about as "South" as Alabama. My grandma and aunt, just three hours drive south of Chicago lived in tiny clapboard houses with outhouses, and coal-fired potbellied stoves (they stayed that way into the 1970s). The houses hadn't had electricity for long by 1961. I imagine some of the black families shown in the film came from places more dire than that. So even some of the worst places shown in this film would have been a step up for a lot of people coming from the rural areas that the filmmakers seem to idealize. And I agree with others from Chicago who have commented on this film that the Chicago I knew was not cold and uncaring. As big cities go, people in Chicago were pretty decent and not nearly as rude and trampling as I've encountered in the East. But, to people in 1961who migrated there from small town America, it probably seemed very unfriendly and impersonal. A long ramble, but this was one of the most interesting things I've seen on CZcams in a long time. Thanks again.
OH MY!! At 12:33 a Patrol Boy (with the cross belt) throwing his weight around. He's going to "report" that boy to the Principle. I was a "Patrol Boy". I can say, I was in law enforcement. LOL!
That voice clip at 21:39 though
wow, what a depressing video. I spent my childhood until 12 in chicago and it was lovely. I still think to this day that chicago people are among the nicest people around.
All I ever hear from people who come here is how nice everyone is compared to other citys
Chicago People are nicer and the city now is cleaner than any similar type of city
Lived in Chicago area most of my life. Made the city look like a hell hole. Strange.
Chicagoans are very open and direct. Also have no problem telling you what they think even if you're a stranger they just met.
this is an interesting film trying to show the nitty gritty side of Chicago I was very young then
At that time the suburban exodus was in full swing
The images alone are astonishing, and some fascinating insights in the comments below
Life was much more simple at this time. I wasnt born until the 80s but somehow I miss a lot of what I'm shown here.
Guess Chicago was different back then as all I ever hear today is how Chicago is the friendliest city people have ever been too!
me too
Wow this is great footage thanks for sharing...:)
Thanks.
That slum with the cat lapping up the dripping sink water-looked pretty BAD.
Those High-Rise Projects, However, turned out to be a Disaster (in Chicago and throughout our Big Cities.)
NYC seems to be the Only place were they are still standing.
Chicago is still the same as far as race relations is concern....I enjoy the video very much!!!!
NHightower60 Thanks for watching.
chicago was never like it used to be!
Sarah!? We still go yachting. Not! Pontuning! ( Humph! Nose ☝ and insulted) you pickerninnies! Yes it got that silly.
I was born in 1954 and raised in close proximity to Chicago. This video is unbelievable biased. It fails to recognize the fact that EVERY immigrant group who came to the city were discriminated against. Said groups included the Germans, Irish, Italians, Greeks, Czechs, Polish and Latinos. There were MANY successful blacks in Chicago who escaped the "welfare state" and became productive hard working citizens. Cabrini Green and many of the "projects" in the city FAILED MISERABLY because they took slavery to the federal government level and as such stifled ambition. As history proves, NOTHING positive came of this approach. Case in point: My grandparents, mother and uncle lived in a cold water flat on Paulina where ALL of the tenants shared a bathroom in the basement. My grandfather had a college degree and worked for the Chicago Surface Lines. By the 1950s he retired comfortably. My uncle became a noted psychiatrist and was rich. PLEASE TELL THE WHOLE STORY!
Yes, but only the blacks still experience discrimination.