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Re-live the traditions of the holiday and how they have evolved over the years to our current experience. Presented by David Clark of Windy City Road Warrior.
This is a recorded program. Please use this link to view the event https://youtu.be/o9c3NezVHbA
Relive the traditions of the holiday and how they have evolved over the years. In the early 20th century, the annual Chicago Christmas parade held on Thanksgiving began. The department stores on State Street—Marshall Field's, Sears, Wards, Wieboldt, Rothschild, and the Fair—competed to outdo each other with their elaborate displays in their windows. There would be caroling under the Marshall Field's clock and the enjoyment of a special Christmas meal under the Walnut Room Christmas tree. We also learn the story of how Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer started as a promotional coloring book given away to get people to visit the State Street Ward's store. These days we have Chriskindlmarket and ice skating at Millennium Park, and Caroling to the Animals at Lincoln Park Zoo. ***********************************************************************************************************************************************
About the Presenter: My name is David G. Clark. I was born and raised near Chicago in northwestern Indiana. My mother was from the northwest side of Chicago, and my father was from Joliet, so I guess Route 66 was in my blood! I moved to Chicago in 1980 and by 1982 I was working as a parking garage manager on Adams Street (westbound 66). I met my future wife, Carol, who worked in the bank in the same building, and on our first night out after work we went to several watering holes along Adams. Ours was a Route 66 romance, even though we did not know it at the time! Carol was a native Chicagoan, and when we fell on hard times in the early 1990s and could not afford to travel for vacation, we decided to start exploring Chicago as if we were tourists. What better way to save money on vacation than spending time in your home town, acting like a visitor? Thanks to our love of the Chicago Historical Society, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and the Art Institute, we became well-versed in area history.
