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Chicago Art Deco & Streamline Moderne Buildings

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Laramie State Bank
Chicago, IL
The Laramie State Bank was designed by Meyer and Cook. It was built from 1927-1929. The building features terra cotta details appropriate for a bank: coins, bees, and squirrels. The interior is no longer used as a bank. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Valentine Chicago Boy's Club
Chicago, IL
former Universal Studios Film Exchange
Chicago, IL
The Valentine Chicago Boy's Club was built in 1938. The entrance features replicas of Alaskan Coastal Indian totem poles. [map]

The Universal Studios Film Exchange building was built in 1937. It is located on Film Row, a section of Wabash Avenue which has many Art Deco, former movie industry buildings. When this photo was taken in 2006, the building housed the Opera restaurant. By 2013, the building was housing The Scout restaurant. Most of the glass block has been removed. [map]

A.W. Enterprises, Inc.
Chicago, IL
A.W. Enterprises, Inc. has been here since 1962. The building appears to be from the 1940s. [map]

Bull Dog Lock Co.
Chicago, IL
Madonna Della Strada Chapel
Chicago, IL
The Bull Dog Lock Co. building was built around 1947. It now houses artists' studios and the Ravenswood Music Academy. This building is very difficult to photograph because of trees in front of it. For more, see this website. [map]

The Madonna Della Strada Chapel was designed by Andrew Rebori and built from 1938-1939. It is located on the campus of Loyola University. The backside of the chapel is shown in the photos above. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

L. Fish Furniture Co. Building
Chicago, IL
The L. Fish Furniture Co. Building was built in 1931. It was designed by Schmidt, Garden & Erikson. The building now houses the Interstate Blood Bank. [map]

Sears Department Store
Chicago, IL
The Irving Park Sears Department Store opened in 1938 with a stampede of customers on opening day. It was designed by Nimmons, Carr & Wright at a cost of $1 million. It was the last operating Sears store when it closed in 2018. From 2022-2023, the building was remodeled with additions to the sides and top. For more, see this website. [map]

Illinois National Guard Building
Chicago, IL
This Illinois National Guard Building, aka the Northwest Armory, was built in 1940. The limestone building fills an entire city block. It features panels of uniformed men. [map]

6422 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL
This building at 6422 N. Western Ave. housed the Sabri Banquet Hall when these photos were taken in 2009. The building appears to be from the 1920s or 1930s. Does anyone know more about it? [map]

First Church of Deliverance
Chicago, IL
The First Church of Deliverance was built in 1939. The towers were added in 1946. For more, see this website. [map]

Paul J. Quetschke & Co.
Chicago, IL
Fireside Bowl
Chicago, IL
The Paul J. Quetschke & Co. office is faced with vitrolite glass tiles. The facade and letters are probably from the 1940s or 1950s. The tiles may be recent replacements since they are in such pristine condition. [map]

The Fireside Bowl opened in 1941. The porcelain enamel panels on the building were probably installed then. This sign was built by Flashtric. It was installed in the early 1950s or when an addition was made to the building in 1956. The channel letters were added to the panels around 2003. The metal protects the neon tubing from vandals and weather. The letters are lit with red neon. There was originally neon around the bowling pin's border. The pin is about 22 feet tall. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

4936 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL
The building at 4936 S. Ashland Ave. now houses a furniture store. It may have been built in 1939. By 1941, the building was housing the Martha Bridal Shoppe. It may have been the original tenant. [map]

Bloom High School
Chicago Heights, IL
Bloom High School was designed by Royer, Danely & Smith and built from 1931-1934. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [map]

More Chicago:
Belle Shore Apartment Hotel
Carbide and Carbon Building
Chicago Board of Trade: 1, 2, 3 [map]
Frank Fisher Apartments
Freedman Seating Company
Gramercy Row Apartments
Grein Funeral Directors
McGraw-Hill Building
One LaSalle Street: 1, 2, 3 [map]
Starsiak Clothing
storefront
St. Thomas the Apostle School
Theophil Studios [map]
Wacker Tower

Organizations:
Chicago Art Deco Society

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