Lake Claremont Press

From the earliest film studios, when one out of every five movies was made in Chicago, to today's thriving independent film scene, the Windy City has been at the forefront of American moviemaking. <p><em>Blues Brothers. Within Our Gates. Hoop Dreams. The Gore-Gore Girls. My Best Friend's Wedding. Call Northside 777. His New Job. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.</em> They are all pieces in Chicago's rich film history.</p> <p>Join writer/film historian Arnie Bernstein as he honors Chicago and Chicagoans for their active role in a century of filmmaking. Exclusive interviews with current directors, actors, writers, and other film professionals; visits to movie locations and historical sites; and fascinating tales from the silent era are all a part of this spirited and definitive look at our &quot;Hollywood on Lake Michigan.&quot;</p> <p>From alleyways to the lakefront, from the El tracks to suburban streets, Chicago is a sprawling backlot of cinematic creativity and stories. See the Windy City like you've never seen it before&mdash;both on screen and on the set&mdash;in the first book ever to chronicle the engaging history of Chicago and the movies.</p>

Working dogs are an often-overlooked segment of the canine population. <em>The Firefighter's Best Friend</em> provides a rare look into a specific type of these dogs&mdash;those who have lived or currently live in the firehouses of Chicago. From the mutts in the 1870s who led the horse-drawn fire wagons, to citywide heroes, to the contemporary dogs that provide security, assistance, and companionship to today's firefighters, the history and lore of Chicago firedogs is as rich as the city's cultural heritage. <p>Whether at a fire, in the firehouse, or on the public relations circuit, these mascots play an important role in the day-to-day functioning of the Chicago Fire Department. They climb ladders, sound the alarms, fight fires, save children, break up fights, roll hose, exterminate vermin, protect property, and donate blood. And these public servants can play as hard as they work. . . playing basketball, visiting taverns and ballparks, socializing with neighborhood dogs, starring in the news, dining in style, and even hopping rides on the &quot;L&quot; and buses all by themselves. The Orsinger brothers take readers on a tour of Chicago firehouses in their quest to document the lives and legends of every known Chicago firedog past and present.</p>

A short biographical and educational work about Regina V. Polk, a young working class woman who became a labor leader and advocating for the rights of work and all workers.

In the summer of 1934, a baby goat fell off a truck and made its way into a tavern owned by Greek immigrant William Sianis, and an icon was born. Soon the Billy Goat Inn became a haven for police, politicians, reporters, and anyone else hungry for hospitality and the unique atmosphere "Billy Goat" Sianis had to offer. But did Billy really jinx the Cubs? When he and one of his goats were barred from entering Wrigley Field during the 1945 World Series, the Cubs' loss fueled a legend. Today there are seven Billy Goat Taverns, and within this volume you'll be sat down next to luminaries such as Mike Royko, John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Don Novello as you are reminded why the American Tavern is still the friendliest place in town.

<p><em>The Politics of Place: A History of Zoning in Chicago </em>reviews the interplay between development, planning, and zoning in the growth of the Gold Coast, the Central Area, and, more recently, massive &quot;planned developments,&quot; such as Mariina City, Illinois Center, and Dearborn Park. It tells the story of bold visions compromised by political realities, battles between residents and developers, and occasional misfires from City Council and City Hall.</p><p>What emerges is a fascinating, behind-the-scenes inspection of the evolving character of the city's landscape. Schwieterman and Caspall recount the many planning innovations that have originated in Chicago, the complexiities and intrigue of its zoning debates, and the recent adoption of a new zoning ordinance that promises to affect the city's economy and image for years to come. </p><p><em>The Politics of Place: A History of Zoning in Chicago</em> is the culmination of a research effort undertaken by the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University. <br /></p>

"Muldoon: A True Chicago Ghost Story" dives into Father Rocco's four-year saga at Saint Charles, where his spiritual undertaking becomes a worldly adventure. His supporting cast includes a housekeeper inappropriately involved in her pastor's affairs, and a genius-priest who carries a gun, thwarts neighborhood crime, and teaches Rocco about "loving the poor." And there's the pastor himself. He padlocks the refrigerator, guides young priests only in the weekly ritual of Bingo, and entangles Rocco in the dirty work of a fraudulent shrine. As a backdrop to this chaos, the rectory experiences a host of supernatural manifestations, and Rocco discovers the legend of Bishop Peter J. Muldoon. Are there clues in this story of early stardom and great achievement, clerical competition and revenge, accusations and scandal, a missing ring, excommunication, and possibly murder that explain why the unexplainable is happening all around him? Upon delving into the church history, clerical politics, local folklore, neighborhood sociology, and paranormal activity of Muldoon, you, like Rocco, may be left wondering: Has he been kept alive to tell the story of Muldoon, clear the man's name, and memorialize the bishop's beloved and forgotten parish of St. Charles?

Family historian Grace DuMelle provides the means to trace your Chicago connections like a pro. She shows you not just what to research, but how to research. Without wading through lots of preliminaries, choose any of the self-contained chapters that focus on the questions beginners most want answered and jump right in! (From publisher)

On the eve of World War II, baseball truly was America's national pastime. Little could anyone predict the changes and sacrifices that would be imposed on the sport during the early 1940s. As the war was coming to an end in 1945 and a jubilant mood was overtaking the country, baseball was back in full swing and the Chicago Cubs were on top of their game. <p> How did the Cubs clinch the pennant in 1945 and go to the World Series? Simply, they fielded, hit, and pitched better than any other team in the league. How did they then lose the championship to the Detroit Tigers, a team with one of the most mediocre records in pennant history? And why haven't they been back since?</p> <p> One thing is clear: 1945, <em>the last time the Cubs went to the World Series</em>, was a turning point in the team's fortune. For in the first half of the twentieth century, few teams were as good as Chicago; in the second half, few teams were as bad.</p> <p> Between 1900 and 1945 the Chicago Cubs won the National League pennant ten times and had more first division finishes than any other team in the league and only one last-place finish. Between 1946 and 1990, the Chicago Cubs finished in the National League basement nine times, and went 20 consecutive seasons in the second division between 1947 and 1966.</p> <p> Charles N. Billington's fast-paced narrative of this historic season includes an inning-by-inning account of critical games, highlights of winning streaks and road trips, and a discussion of how and why the team ultimately unravels. Incorporating statistical analysis, descriptions of key teams, and player biographies, Billington paints an evolving and exciting portrait of the 1945 Cubs and the wider national baseball scene of a war-torn era.&quot;</p>

Midway was Chicago's first official airport, and for decades it was the busiest airport in the nation, and then the world. Its story is an American story, encompassing heroes and villains, generosity and greed, boom and bust, progress and decline, and in the final chapter, rebirth. Join Christopher Lynch as he combines oral histories, narrative, and historic and contemporary photos to celebrate the rich and exciting 75-year history of this colorful airport and the evolution of aviation right along with it. Heroes and Daredevils Meet a cast of characters whose dreams, courage, and resolution put the pieces in place for one of the country's most historic airports as they first charted the space between Heaven and Earth from the Chicago area. Inventors. Barnstormers. Airmail flyers. World War aviators. Industrialists. All-star pilots like Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, and Bessie Coleman. Transportation Hub Follow a bustling, centralized metropolis as it evolves from the nation's railroad capital of the 19th century to the aviation leader of the 20th, both roles intersecting in the 1940s when train tracks of the largest railroad in the country ran through the airfields of Midway, the world's busiest airport. Heart of a Neighborhood Journey to a residential neighborhood with one-square-mile of excitement at its core: An airport that served as employer, visitor's attraction, social center, and lifeline to glamour. One with its elementary school just yards away from an active runway. Crossroads of the World Relive Midway's heyday — a golden era when movie stars and international dignitaries routinely deplaned there to great media fanfare, when Marshall Field's Cloud Room provided elegant dining with a panoramic view of the tarmac. Birth of the Airlines Watch the emergence of fledgling airlines at Midway&mdash;United, American, and others&mdash;that changed forever the way people traveled. From there began the brutal competition that still marks the industry today. It ended the dominance of the railroads, legislated the inexpensive "non-skeds" out of business, and re-emerged in the 1990s with such no-frills carriers as ATA and Southwest Airlines that continue operating successfully from Midway today. Reinvention Discover an airport penned in by its own success, unable to expand and initially unable to accommodate the jet age. Through persistence, repositioning, political maneuvering, and ongoing reinvention, the cherished Midway is once again on top, thriving in a new age of challenges in the air.

Whether you're a life-long resident, new in town, or just passing through, let <em>A Native's Guide to Chicago's South Suburbs</em> be your personal tour guide of the best this region has to offer: <p> <strong>History &amp; Touring</strong> - Historic forts, sprawling homes, old churches, forgotten cemeteries, landmark schools, beautiful parks, Indian trails, art galleries, architectural suprises, ghostly tales, the cookie jar museum . . .</p> <p> <strong>Food</strong> - Drive-thrus and ice cream parlors, bakeries and steakhouses, sports bar spreads and hotel brunches, escargot and mozzarella sticks, crepes and calzones, spiesbraten and ravioli, pizza and pancakes, ribs and chili . . .</p> <p> <strong>Recreation &amp; Entertainment</strong> - Race tracks, country clubs, amusement parks, hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, sledding, paint ball, musical theater, historical re-enactments, accordion sing-a-longs, dance bars . . .</p> <p> <strong>Shopping</strong> - Giant mega-malls and quaint boutiques, collectibles and antique dealers, resale shops and flea markets, country crafts and upscale furnishings, crystals and year-round Christmas, folk art and designer clothing . . . </p>