9. After bloody clashes between police and labor activists in 1877, a new group decided tat saloons were partly to blame. Its activists began monitoring bars to see if youths and already intoxicated customers were being served, then filed complaints with police and urged the patrons' families to sue.
The group's name was sobering all by itself. They were called The Citizens League of Chicago for the Suppression of the Sale of Liquor to Minors and Drunkards.
10. Unlicensed bars in Chicago were once known as "BLIND PIGS." The origin of the term is unclear, though there is a story about police raiding an illegal one which had a sign reading "APG." A cop described it as "a pig with its I knocked out." In other words, a blind pig.
Oink, Oink. --Cooter
Showing posts with label Chicago Taverns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicago Taverns. Show all posts
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Ten Things You Might Not Know About Chicago Taverns-- Part 4: Of Bad Behavior and Hats
7. Plenty of BAD BEHAVIOR has taken place at Chicago bars. Al Capone shot and killed rival "Ragtime Joe" Howard at Hymie Jacobs' bar on South Wabash in 1924. Attorney W.W. O'Brien, who helped inspire the character Billy Flynn in the play and movie "Chicago," was shot in 1921 at Ryan & Novak's saloon on South State but refused to name his attacker. He won plenty of business from mobsters after that.
In 1903, a saloon owner allowed his establishment at Dearborn and Randolph streets to be used as a temporary morgue after the Iroquois Theater fire. The barkeep was caught stealing about $200 from a body.
8. In 1941, the Ratcliffe family threw a party at its Rogers Park bar, the Ranger Inn, for a relative who was going into the Army. That GI left his civilian HAT at the bar, saying he would reclaim it when he was out of the service.
For the next four years, more than 400 people hung their hats there as they went off to war. When peace came, the bar held a hat-reclaiming party. Those that went unclaimed were disposed of at a bonfire. The American Legion held a memorial service for three hat owners who never returned from the fighting.
--DaCooy
In 1903, a saloon owner allowed his establishment at Dearborn and Randolph streets to be used as a temporary morgue after the Iroquois Theater fire. The barkeep was caught stealing about $200 from a body.
8. In 1941, the Ratcliffe family threw a party at its Rogers Park bar, the Ranger Inn, for a relative who was going into the Army. That GI left his civilian HAT at the bar, saying he would reclaim it when he was out of the service.
For the next four years, more than 400 people hung their hats there as they went off to war. When peace came, the bar held a hat-reclaiming party. Those that went unclaimed were disposed of at a bonfire. The American Legion held a memorial service for three hat owners who never returned from the fighting.
--DaCooy
Ten Things You Might Not Know About Chicago's Taverns-- Part 3: Mike Royko and Rush Street
5. Famed Tribune columnist (also the Chicago Daily News) MIKE ROYKO grew up in an apartment over his parents' tavern, the Blue Sky Lounge at 2122 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Later, he offered advice on barroom demeanor: "Don't sit next to someone who leans over at more than 1 45-degree angle. ...Never call a bartender with an 18-inch neck 'my good man' or 'fellow.' ...In a strange bar, never use the phone more than once or they'll think you're planning a stickup."
Mike Royko was one of my all-time favorite columnists.
6. Chicago's famous RUSH STREET bar district, which sports many taverns and clubs on Rush and Division and neighboring streets, got its start in the early 1950s and flourished in the 1960s and 1970s, when it became a big tourist destination. By 1985, some folks would say the area was past its peak, a typical weekend night would see 60,000 people flocking to the area to party.
--Cooter
Mike Royko was one of my all-time favorite columnists.
6. Chicago's famous RUSH STREET bar district, which sports many taverns and clubs on Rush and Division and neighboring streets, got its start in the early 1950s and flourished in the 1960s and 1970s, when it became a big tourist destination. By 1985, some folks would say the area was past its peak, a typical weekend night would see 60,000 people flocking to the area to party.
--Cooter
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Ten Things You Might Not Know About Chicago Taverns-- Part 2: "Two-Gun Pete" and Prohibition
3. When infamous Chicago police officer SYLVERSTER "TWO-GUN PETE" WASHINGTON retired from the force in the 1950s, he opened a bar in the Oakland neighborhood called the Hill Top Lounge. as a cop, he had shot many suspects, including at least nine fatally. As a barkeep, he saved a reminder of those days in a cigar box with bullet fragments pulled from his victims.
4. The definition of Chicago tavern expanded a bit during PROHIBITION. Thirsty patrons turned to the local pharmacy (with a doctor's prescription, residents could buy whiskey), the soda fountain counter (a risky yet common venture for many in the business) and, of course, the unnamed hole-in-the-wall speakeasy.
And, in October 1923, police cracked down on liquor sales of a fishmonger (the herring delivered a kick), a shoe shine (moonshine) and even a candy store which sold rye on the side.
--CooterShine
4. The definition of Chicago tavern expanded a bit during PROHIBITION. Thirsty patrons turned to the local pharmacy (with a doctor's prescription, residents could buy whiskey), the soda fountain counter (a risky yet common venture for many in the business) and, of course, the unnamed hole-in-the-wall speakeasy.
And, in October 1923, police cracked down on liquor sales of a fishmonger (the herring delivered a kick), a shoe shine (moonshine) and even a candy store which sold rye on the side.
--CooterShine
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Ten Things You Might Not Know About Chicago Taverns-- Part 1: Lincoln's Body and Mickey Finns
From the August 16, 2015, Chicago Tribune by Mark Jacob and Stephan Benzkofer.
Alright, we have some more interesting factoids from these two.
This article appeared because Illinois once again has Happy Hour. That's nice, but a bunch of the places that now have it, dropped their daily drink specials.
1. A depraved plot took place in 1876 in a Near West Side saloon called The Hub when a crime ring decided to steal ABRAHAM LINCOLN's corpse from a Springfield cemetery and demand a $200,000 ransom and the release of an imprisoned comrade.
Their big problem was that one of their members was a mole for the U.S. secret Service. When they opened Lincoln's sarcophagus, the feds moved in, but they escaped but were later arrested in Chicago.
2. The expression "TO SLIP SOMEONE A MICKEY" comes from a South Loop bar called the Lone Star Saloon and Palm Garden, circa 1900.
The proprietor was known for doctoring drinks and stealing customer valuables when they passed out. His name was Michael Finn, aka Mickey Finn.
One, Two, Three, Floor. --Cooter
Alright, we have some more interesting factoids from these two.
This article appeared because Illinois once again has Happy Hour. That's nice, but a bunch of the places that now have it, dropped their daily drink specials.
1. A depraved plot took place in 1876 in a Near West Side saloon called The Hub when a crime ring decided to steal ABRAHAM LINCOLN's corpse from a Springfield cemetery and demand a $200,000 ransom and the release of an imprisoned comrade.
Their big problem was that one of their members was a mole for the U.S. secret Service. When they opened Lincoln's sarcophagus, the feds moved in, but they escaped but were later arrested in Chicago.
2. The expression "TO SLIP SOMEONE A MICKEY" comes from a South Loop bar called the Lone Star Saloon and Palm Garden, circa 1900.
The proprietor was known for doctoring drinks and stealing customer valuables when they passed out. His name was Michael Finn, aka Mickey Finn.
One, Two, Three, Floor. --Cooter
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