Sunday, May 12, 2019

ABOUT JOHN CHUCKMAN

John Chuckman is former chief economist for a large Canadian oil company. He has many interests and is a lifelong student of history. He writes with a passionate desire for honesty, the rule of reason, and concern for human decency. John regards it as a badge of honor to have left the United States as a poor young man from the South Side of Chicago when the country embarked on the pointless murder of something like 3 million Vietnamese in their own land because they embraced the wrong economic loyalties. He lives in Canada, which he is fond of calling “the peaceable kingdom.”

John’s writing appears regularly on many Internet sites. He has been translated into at least ten languages and has been regularly translated into Italian and Spanish. Several of his essays have been published in book collections, including two college texts. He has published a book, The Decline of the American Empire and the Rise of China as a Global Power, published by Constable and Robinson, London. John also writes book reviews.

Apart from his writing since retiring from the oil industry, John has taught university courses in economics, done a good deal of private tutoring, served as a professional newspaper restaurant reviewer (he likes cooking), followed his favorite hobby of photography, and created a popular family of image blogs on the Internet.

John may be reached directly at:  formersouthsideboy@gmail.com

SOME INTERNET SITES FROM JOHN CHUCKMAN:


CHUCKMAN'S PLACES ON WORDPRESS: FEATURING THE BELOVED URBAN VILLAGE OF SOUTH SHORE CHICAGO

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORDPRESS: CHICAGO NOSTALGIA AND MEMORABILIA

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORDPRESS: TORONTO NOSTALGIA

CHUCKMAN’S MONTREAL

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORD PRESS

CHUCKMAN'S KODACHROMES ON WORDPRESS: JOHN AND BOBBY LONG AGO

CHUCKMAN'S PORT STANLEY

CHUCKMAN'S BAYFIELD

CHUCKMAN'S GODERICH

CHUCKMAN'S ILES DE LA MADELEINE (MAGDALEN ISLANDS)

CHUCKMAN'S ART

CHUCKMAN'S ROBOTS

CHUCKMAN'S GALLERY OF GROTESQUES

CHUCKMAN'S CARTOON COMMENTS

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORDPRESS: 1920s ARCADE CARD BEAUTIES – THEIR CHARM AND GRACE AND WHIMSY

CHUCKMAN'S WORDS ON WORDPRESS: POLITICAL ESSAYS

CHUCKMAN'S WORDS ON WORDPRESS: COMMENTS FROM THE WORLD'S PRESS

CHUCKMAN'S MISCELLANEA OF WORDS

CHUCKMAN'S NON-SPORTS TRADING CARDS OF THE 1950S VOLUME 01 (OF 4 VOLUMES)



ME, ROUGHLY: THE DECLINE IS RAPID NOW

PHOTO - CHICAGO - CHICAGO SOUTH SHORE AND SOUTH BEND COMMUTER ELECTRIC TRAIN - SOUTH END OF A PLATFORM FOR RANDOLPH STREET STATION (STATION SERVED ILLINOIS CENTRAL ELECTRIC COMMUTERS AS WELL AS "SHORE LINE" COMMUTERS) - PRUDENTIAL BUILDING IN BACKGROUND - NOTE: AMONG "RAIL FANS" THE SHORE LINE RR HOLDS A KIND OF LEGENDARY STATUS AND AFFECTION LIKELY OWING AT LEAST IN PART TO ITS ROUTE ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN SHORES INTO INDIANA - THERE WAS ALSO A FAMOUS ARTISTIC POSTER ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR THE SHORE LINE IN THE 1920s, COPIES OF WHICH ARE STILL POPULAR (SOME ARE ON THE SITE) - c1960s - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CTA ELEVATED RAPID TRANSIT - CHICAGO AVE STATION - 3000-SERIES TRAIN STOPPED - 1999 - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - BISMARCK HOTEL - 171 W RANDOLPH - THE BIER STUBE - FEATURING BAVARIAN DANCERS - IN THE FIRST DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY GERMAN CULTURE WAS FAIRLY PROMINENT IN CHICAGO - NOTE: THE EITEL BROTHERS FROM GERMANY STARTED A NUMBER OF WELL-KNOWN BUSINESSES INCLUDING THE OLD HEIDELBERG INN, THE FIELD BUILDING RESTAURANT, THE MARIGOLD BEER GARDENS, THE BLACK FOREST RESTAURANT - VERY NICE VERSION - 1930s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - BALTIMORE INN - QUINCY STREET - DINING ROOM INTERIOR - TINTED - 1911


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - EL MAR CAFETERIA - 14 W RANDOLPH NEAR STATE - GRAND STAIRWAY AND MEZZANINE FLOOR - THIS BUILDING BECAME THE LOCATION OF THE RANDOLPH STREET THEATER, A SMALLER MOVIE THEATER WHICH OPENED AT THE END OF 1918 - THE RANDOLPH THEATER CLOSED AND IN 1933 THE EITEL BROTHERS OPENED THEIR OLD HEIDELBERG INN RESTAURANT HERE, A RESTAURANT CONCEPT THEY INTRODUCED AT THE 1933 WORLD'S FAIR - CARD BACK SAYS "THE MOST SPLENDID CAFETERIA IN THE WORLD" - 7 AM TO 7 30 PM - c1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - RICKETTS RESTAURANT AND BAR - 2727 N CLARK - 5 IMAGES - KITCHEN - WORLD FAMOUS SCOTCHES - DINING ROOM - TROPHY BAR - TROPHY ROOM - NOTE: RICKETTS WAS LATER LOCATED AT 103 E CHICAGO BY THE WATER TOWER - ITS CHARMING BUILDING THERE WAS A FAMILIAR SIGHT FOR ME IN THE EARLY MID-1960S WALKING TO "THE PIER" - c1940s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - THE STATES RESTAURANT - 52 ADAMS STREET - MIDNIGHT VAUDEVILLE RE-OPENS - COSTUMED WOMAN ON STAGE - TINTED - NICE VERSION - 1908


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - WEST RANDOLPH STREET HAYMARKET


Wednesday, May 08, 2019

POSTCARD - CHICAGO - NORTH MICHIGAN AVE - LOOKING N GROUND LEVEL FROM OLD WATER TOWER - PART OF CITY BEAUTIFUL SERIES - c1964


POSTCARD- CHICAGO - NEW ROMA RESTAURANT -17 N CLARK - TWO INTERIOR IMAGES - OF SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR DINING ROOMS - TINTED - 1920s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - THE BLACKSTONE HOTEL - 636 S MICHIGAN AVE - MARBLE ROOM RESTAURANT - DINING ROOM INTERIOR - TINTED - 1913


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - SAM GOLD'S WONDER RESTAURANT - 1137 S HALSTED - THE FLORENTINE ROOM INTERIOR - TINTED


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - RICKETTS RESTAURANT - IN ITS EARLIER VERSION - "NOTED FOR BOHEMIAN ATMOSPHERE" - TWO IMAGES - DINING ROOM INTERIOR - CLASS PHOTO OF WAITRESSES


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - LATIN QUARTER THEATRE RESTAURANT - 23 W RANDOLPH - 3 IMAGES - THEATRE RESTAURANT - COCKTAIL CIRCLE - MAIN DINING ROOM - c1950


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - LA TOUR CAFE - OUTER DRIVE AT RANDOLPH - TOP OF A HUGE CONDO - CROWD IN DINING ROOM WITH WINDOWS LOOKING S ON GRANT PARK - NICE VERSION - c1970


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - HOTEL PLANTERS - 19 N CLARK - MERRIE GARDEN RESTAURANT INTERIOR - STAGE SHOW - 1916


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - HOTEL LA SALLE - N W CORNER LA SALLE AND MADISON -THE PALM ROOM RESTAURANT WITH DONATELLO FOUNTAIN - DINING ROOM INTERIOR - TINTED - NICE VERSION - c1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - HOTEL KAISERHOF - 270 CLARK STREET - VIEW FROM THE GROUND - NOTE RESTAURANT BETWEEN TWO ENTRANCE MARQUEES - 1907


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - HARRISON HOTEL - HARRISON STREET JUST OFF MICHIGAN BLVD - BIG MAP - STREET LEVEL HOTEL VIEW - ONLY DOWNTOWN HOTEL GARAGE FEATURED - TINTED - IT WAS NEW IN TIME FOR WORLD'S FAIR - 1933


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - GOLDBERG'S MODERN RESTAURANT - 1259 S WABASH AVE AT 13TH STREET - INTERIOR OF DINING ROOM - NOTE WE SERVE BEER - THIS IS JUST AFTER END OF PROHIBITION - 1930s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - CAMEO CLUB RESTAURANT - DINING ROOM INTERIOR - 2190 N ELSTON AVE - c1960


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - TOPP'S EXPRESS PIANO MOVING AND DEPOT DELIVERY - CORNER SHOP ON UNKNOWN STREET - TWO MEN TALKING - ONE MAN WEARING WHAT LOOKS LIKE CENTRAL EUROPEAN OR BALKANS CLOTHES - BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT BUILDINGS BEHIND - 1908


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CHICAGO SOUTH SHORE AND SOUTH BEND ELECTRIC COMMUTER TRAIN - STILL THE CHARMING OLD-STYLE COACHES WHICH WOULD BE REPLACED BY MORE NONDESCRIPT DOUBLE-DECK ONES - HEADING S FROM DOWNTOWN - SOME BUILDINGS IN BACKGROUND - 1982 - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CHICAGO SURFACE LINES' EXPERIMENTAL STREET CAR - INTERIOR - ONE OF TWO TYPES - FOR WORLD'S FAIR CENTURY OF PROGRESS 1933 - CSL 4001 - THERE WAS ALSO A CSL 7001 - 1934


MENU - CHICAGO - THOMPSON'S RESTAURANT CAFETERIA - 180 W RANDOLPH - DAILY SPECIALS - AN EARLY CHAIN FOR FAST FOOD - IN THE 1920s THERE WERE NEARLY FIFTY IN THE CITY - YOU SEE THEIR STREET SIGN ON SOME OLD POSTCARDS - THE COMPANY STOPPED USING THIS IDENTITY IN THE 1950s - MAYBE 1940s


MENU - CHICAGO - THE SOMMER RESTAURANT - 17 N WABASH - COVER - 1962


MENU - CHICAGO - THE SOMMER RESTAURANT - 17 N WABASH - INSIDE - 1962


MENU - CHICAGO - MAURICE'S RESTAURANT - 175 W MADISON - FEATURING SMORGASBORD - ALL YOU CAN EAT - CARTOON COVER - 1948


MENU - CHICAGO - MAURICE'S RESTAURANT - 175 W MADISON - FEATURING SMORGASBORD - ALL YOU CAN EAT - INSIDE - 1948


MENU - CHICAGO - LAGERLOF RESTAURANT - 300 W WASHINGTON - MERCANTILE EXCHANGE BUILDING - COVER - "YOU MAY AS WELL HAVE THE BEST" - 1953


MENU - CHICAGO - LAGERLOF RESTAURANT - 300 W WASHINGTON - MERCANTILE EXCHANGE BUILDING - INSIDE - "YOU MAY AS WELL HAVE THE BEST" - 1953


Monday, May 06, 2019

PHOTO - CHICAGO - CHICAGO SOUTH SHORE AND SOUTH BEND ELECTRIC COMMUTER TRAIN - RANDOLPH STREET STATION - PRUDENTIAL BUILDING IN BACKGROUND - PASSENGERS ON PLATFORM - SNOWY DAY - A CHARMING URBAN IMAGE - 1960s - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER - I'VE DONE SOME RESTORATION WORK OWING TO IMAGE DAMAGE


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CHICAGO RIVER - ELEVATED LOOKING W FROM BRIDGE - TOUR BOAT DOCK ON LOWER LEFT - I THINK IT WAS MERCURY TOUR BOATS ON THE S SIDE OF RIVER - SUN-TIMES BUILDING ON RIGHT - 1970s


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CTA RAPID TRANSIT - THE EVANSTON EXPRESS TWO-UNIT TRAIN - ARMITAGE STATION ON ELEVATED STRUCTURE - 1966 - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER


PHOTO - CHICAGO - SID LUCKMAN MOTORS - CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH - 3651 W OGDEN - LUCKMAN WAS A FAMOUS CHICAGO BEARS STAR - CTA PULLMAN STREETCAR STOPPED WITH PEOPLE - ELEVATED VIEW - 1951 - EDITED FROM AN IMAGE ON THE OLD MOTOR SITE


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - BAMBOO INN RESTAURANT - RANDOLPH AND CLARK - ONE OF OUR MANY BEAUTIFUL DINING ROOMS - INTERIOR - TINTED - 1930s


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CHICAGO RIVER - 12TH STREET BASCULE BRIDGE - OPEN FOR STEAMER LOADED WITH EXCURSION PASSENGERS - GROUND LEVEL - NICE VERSION - 1900


PHOTO - CHICAGO - A VERY PRETTY MISS CHICAGO TELEVISION - LUCILLE REED IN HER BATHING SUIT AND HOLDING A BOUQUET - ALWAYS IN THOSE DAYS A NEW BEAUTY CONTEST TITLE BEING CREATED - 1951


PHOTO - CHICAGO - SANTA FE DIESEL TRAIN UNITS STOPPED ON TRACKS BY UNION STATION - GROUND LEVEL -1971


PHOTO - CHICAGO - AMTRACK DIESEL TRAIN UNITS ON TRACKS NEAR UNION STATION - ELEVATED VIEW - SOME SKYLINE IN BACKGROUND - 1978- EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CHICAGO SOUTH SHORE AND SOUTH BEND ELECTRIC COMMUTER TRAIN FROM GROUND LEVEL - 1960s - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CTA PCC STREETCAR ON MONROE-DEARBORN ROUTE - GROUND LEVEL - NEAR A DE METS CANDIES STORE - LOCATION UNKNOWN - 1949 - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER


PHOTO - CHICAGO - PULLMAN STREETCARS - GROUND LEVEL - NAVY PIER AS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS - 1948 - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CTA RAPID TRANSIT - ISABELLA STATION - 4000-SERIES TRAIN AT PLATFORM - GRANDPA COULD WELL HAVE BEEN THE OPERATOR - ELEVATED STRUCTURE - ANOTHER TRAIN (6000-SERIES) IN DISTANCE - EDITED FROM A UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER - 1966


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CTA RAPID TRANSIT - ELEVATED STRUCTURE - BELMONT STATION WITH 6000-SERIES TRAIN PULLED UP - NOTE THE SIGN AT FRONT OF TRAIN: BASEBALL TODAY - AERIAL VIEW - PEOPLE WAITING ON PLATFORM - ANOTHER TRAIN ON A SIDING - 1968 - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CTA RAPID TRANSIT - UNKNOWN STATION ALONG AN EXPRESSWAY MEDIAN ROUTE - 6000-SERIES TRAIN - ELEVATED VIEW - SNOW - 1989 - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER


PHOTO - CHICAGO - CTA RAPID TRANSIT - ELEVATED STRUCTURE - ADAMS AND WABASH - 2200-SERIES TRAIN - TRACKS AND BUILDINGS ALONG STRUCTURE INTO THE DISTANCE - 1970 - EDITED FROM AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER