Hall of Fame Nominees

So, here are my six nominees for the inaugural class of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame: Jane Addams, Gwendolyn Brooks, Ben Hecht, Franklin Rosemont, Carl Sandburg, Studs Terkel. Other frequently nominated folks include Nelson Algren, Saul Bellow, Theodore Dreiser, James T. Farrell, Lorraine Hansberry, Harriet Monore, Mike Royko, Shel Silverstein, and Richard Wright.

Food & Thought

Downtown at midday? Walk your lunch over to the Chicago Architecture Foundation (224 S. Michigan) tomorrow, 10/21, to hear What Would Jane Say? author Janice Metzger discuss "City-Builders with Skirts Excluded From Plan of Chicago." Program begins at 12:15, but seating fills up so arrive early.

What Russ Knows...

That you can get 8 Lake Claremont Press in almost-new condition for something like $53.75, tax included, when you shop directly at the Lake Claremont Press office (1026 W. Van Buren, 2nd Floor), and that makes for some easy, inexpensive holiday shopping.

Russ is a longtime customer of LCP's, who discovered our great discounts when we were in a storefront on Rockwell next to the train tracks. It was easy (and obvious) that you could pop in and buy a bunch of books at way reduced prices. Well, it's still possible, if not obvious, and you're welcome to come over for your bargain shopping too. (Just call first to confirm we're not out, 312/226-8400.)

Here's how you save:

• No shipping!
• Buy our bookstore returns at 30-75% off (depending on condition).
• Enjoy extra discounts for multiple copies:

--2 books - additional 10% off

--3–4 books - additional 20% off

--5–9 books - additional 25% off

--10+ books - additional 40%off

• Save on gas and time when you purchase multiple gifts at one place.

"Oldest Amusement Park," Kiddieland, Closes in Style

From David Witter, author of this fall's Oldest Chicago:

"At Kiddieland, the flashing red and blue lights, clanging bells, smell of cotton candy and popcorn, and sound of rides rolling up and down while children yelled stopped for good on Sunday, October 4. As part of its closing ceremony, the park had a contest called "The Last Ride," and took bids to see who would get "the final turn, swing, spin, drop, and plunge" before each ride was ceremonially retired.

Open for 81 years, the Melrose Park venue outlasted larger parks like Riverview, Adventureland, and Santa's Village as the only full-time amusement park in the immediate vicinity (Six Flags is at least 60 minutes away) of Chicago.

When Arthur E. Fritz opened the park in 1929, it featured pony rides and a little choo choo train. Although it added "bigger" rides like The Roto-Whip and The Pipeline, it was always a small park, geared towards little people. But the best thing about the park was that many Chicagoans could walk, bike, or take public transportation to it. Even in its last years, Kiddieland offered an alternative for many low-income, often single-parent families who could not make the long drive, or pay the higher entry fee of parks like Six Flags. But like many of Chicagoland's great old businesses, it could not stand up to Father Time and the onslaught of the giant big-box stores and chains, which will surely covet the many acres of prime land that the park now occupies."