Posts tagged disco

Prom at the Playboy Towers disco (the Knickerbocker Hotel), 163 E Walton, 1979, Chicago. Rene Burri

Prom at the Playboy Towers disco (the Knickerbocker Hotel), 163 E Walton, 1979, Chicago. Rene Burri

The Whisky-A-Go-Go, corner of Rush and Chestnut, 1963, Chicago. Known as America’s first real disco, the Chicago Whisky would spawn a chain of bars, including the famous one in Los Angeles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_a_Go_Go

The Whisky-A-Go-Go, corner of Rush and Chestnut, 1963, Chicago.

Known as America’s first real disco, the Chicago Whisky would spawn a chain of bars, including the famous one in Los Angeles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_a_Go_Go

Outside the Aragon, during its brief stint as a disco, renamed the Cheetah, 1967, Chicago.

Outside the Aragon, during its brief stint as a disco, renamed the Cheetah, 1967, Chicago.

Walter and Connie Payton gettin’ down at a Super Bowl Party, 1977.

Walter and Connie Payton gettin’ down at a Super Bowl Party, 1977.

Grooving at a disco on the south side, 1975, Chicago. From Michael Abramson’s series, Light on the South Side

Grooving at a disco on the south side, 1975, Chicago.

From Michael Abramson’s series, Light on the South Side

Roller boogie fashion at Faces Disco, Rush Street, 1978, Chicago.

Roller boogie fashion at Faces Disco, Rush Street, 1978, Chicago.

Inside Le Bison, a private discotheque built inside a townhouse, 1966, Chicago. The light installation was innovative and the first of it’s kind, as it was programmed to pulse to the music.

Inside Le Bison, a private discotheque built inside a townhouse, 1966, Chicago.

The light installation was innovative and the first of it’s kind, as it was programmed to pulse to the music.

For a very brief moment in 1967, the Aragon Ballroom was renamed the Cheetah and transformed into a disco. Notice that the sign has been covered.

Glad it stayed the Aragon…

Looking south on Rush from Oak, 1976, Chicago. Faces was one of the most popular discos in the city.  Bourbon Street is roughly where the Starbucks is now. 

Looking south on Rush from Oak, 1976, Chicago.

Faces was one of the most popular discos in the city.  Bourbon Street is roughly where the Starbucks is now. 

Yesterday was the 33rd anniversary of Disco Demolition night at Comiskey in 1979. The Redeye had a nice collection of photos to commemorate.

http://www.redeyechicago.com/sports/redeye-disco-demolition-night-july-12-1979-at-comiskey-20120712,0,5842584.photogallery

I love how in the first photo the scoreboard announcement is trying to get everyone to return to their seats.

“Ma Barker” by Boney M, 1976.

Ma Barker was a Public Enemy era gangster who enlisted her sons, all with ties to Chicago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Barker

Oh, and the “ma, ma, ma, ma” line was Lady Gaga’s inspiration for “Poker Face”.

The old Crobar sign, 1543 N Kingsbury, 1998, Chicago. I miss this pre-2001 iteration of the Weed St area bar. It was dingy, dirty and awash in neon. Kind of like stepping into a scene from Blade Runner. Many fun nights there. It eventually morphed into a sterile, generic Bro-bar. 

The old Crobar sign, 1543 N Kingsbury, 1998, Chicago.

I miss this pre-2001 iteration of the Weed St area bar. It was dingy, dirty and awash in neon. Kind of like stepping into a scene from Blade Runner. Many fun nights there. It eventually morphed into a sterile, generic Bro-bar. 

LP cover from the Chicago Gangsters’, Gangster Love, c.1976. The group had a huge hit off this album with “Gangster Boogie”, which has been widely sampled on numerous hip-hop and rap albums, including L.L. Cool J’s, “Mama Said Knock You Out”.

LP cover from the Chicago Gangsters’, Gangster Love, c.1976.

The group had a huge hit off this album with “Gangster Boogie”, which has been widely sampled on numerous hip-hop and rap albums, including L.L. Cool J’s, “Mama Said Knock You Out”.

Looking north on Rush, from Walton to Oak, c.1976, Chicago.

Faces was a famous (and infamous) disco in the 70’s. The block is now filled with a Starbuck’s and the new Barneys. The Oak Bank still remains. The Carnegie was a movie theater…

A night at the disco, Dugan’s Bistro, 420 N Dearborn, c.1975, Chicago.