Jazz Age Chicago -- Notable Impresarios of Jazz Age Chicago

Notable Impresarios of Jazz Age Chicago

Last update: 22 February 2002


	Balaban, Barney
	Movie Theater Promoter Biography: born 8 June 1887, Chicago; s. Israel; ed. Chicago public schools; m. Tillie Urkov, 22 Feb. 1929; d. 7 March 1971, Byram, Connecticut; unknown political affiliation; Jewish. Career: Taken on as Western Union messenger boy, age 12; later worked at cold storage plant; co-founder of Balaban & Katz Corp., Chicago motion-picture theater chain; one of the first to introduce air conditioning to movie theaters, 1917; built numerous Chicago movie palaces, including the Tivoli, Chicago, and Uptown theaters; elected president of Paramount Pictures, Inc., 1936, a position held until 1964. Clubs: unknown. Residences: 315 Brevoort Lane, Rye, New York (1945); Byram, Connecticut (1971).

	Becker, Simon
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 26 Apr. 1856, Ft. Wayne, Indiana; ed. high school, Ft. Wayne; m. Rosa Stiefel, 27 May 1885, Angola, Indiana; 3 children; Republican; Jewish. Career: Entered mercantile business, 1875, Goshen, Indiana; moved to Chicago, 1903; helped organize Becker, Ryan & Co. department store at Halsted and 63rd Street, 1904; appointed finanacial manager of the firm, 1904. Clubs: Ravisloe Country. Residences: 919 Hyde Park Blvd. (1917)

	Beifeld, Joseph
	Hotelier, Night Club Promoter Biography: born 22 Aug. 1853, Hungary; ed. public schools; m. Fannie Grossman, May 1876; Republican; Jewish. Career: Emigrated, 1867; began employment at Field, Leiter & Co., 1869-78; engaged in cloak manufacturing, 1878-1902; acquired Hotel Sherman, 1902; established College Inn restaurant; financed construction of White City amusement park, 1904. Clubs: Hamilton, Standard, Ravisloe Country. Residences: 3304 Calumet Ave. (1911), 946 E. 48th Street (1917)

	Bensinger, Louis A.
	Bowling and Pool Hall Promoter Biography: born 1858, Louisville, Kentucky; m. Lillian; d. 2 May 1928, Chicago; unknown political affiliation. Career: Moved to Chicago, 1876; opened first billiard parlor on site of Majestic Theater on Monroe Street; unsuccessful in Chicago, moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, and entered real estate, only to wind up bankrupt; returned to Chicago and entered into a pool hall partnership with Jake Schaefer, billiard champion, at 67 West Madison Street; later entered pool hall partnership with Clarence Green on Clark Street near Jackson; eventually expanded business to include eight establishments in Chicago and Milwaukee; turned business over to son, Norman E. Bensinger, a few months before his death. Clubs: Hamilton. Residences: 3800 Sheridan Road (1928)

	Connery, John Tobin
	Hotelier, Coal Merchant Biography: born 10 Jan. 1861, Bristol, Rhode Island; m. Mary E., 9 June 1886; d. 5 June 1937, Chicago; Democrat; Catholic. Career: Began as yard clerk for a coal company, 1878; worked as clerk, cashier, bookkeeper, secretary, and manager for various coal companies, 1878-1904; became president, Miami Coal Company, 1904; helped finance construction of Edgewater Beach Hotel and Apartments complex, 1916-1927; became president, Edgewater Beach Apartments, 1919; also president of the Bryn Mawr Beach Building Corporation. Clubs: Knights of Columbus, Chicago Athletic Association, Edgewater Golf, South Shore Country. Residences: 5228 Sheridan Road (1917), Edgewater Beach Hotel (1931)

	Eitel, Albert
	Hotelier, Promoter Residences: unknown

	Eitel, Emil
	Hotelier, Restauranteur, Night Club Promoter Biography: born 27 Feb. 1865, Stuttgart, Germany; ed. high school and commercial business college, Stuttgart; m. Emma Boldenweck, of Chicago, 27 Sep. 1894; d. 18 July 1948, Chicago; buried, Graceland Cemetery, Chicago; unknown political affiliation; Protestant. Career: Served as volunteer in German Army for one year; engaged in manufacture of photograph albums in Germany, 1885-90; emigrated to Chicago, 1890; clerked for Bond's Commercial Agency, 1890-91; entered German import business, 1891; helps found Eitel Bros., wholesale wines and liquors, 1892; joined brother to manage hotel at 63rd and Cottage Grove during World's Columbian Exposition, 1893; helped establish and served as president of Hotel Bismarck on Randolph Street; helped build Bismarck Gardens at Broadway and Grace; assisted International Red Cross in postwar European relief plans, especially those for the Stuttgart region. Clubs: Chicago Athletic, Germania, Schwabenverein, Turnverein. Recreations: hunting, travel. Residences: 660 Irving Park Blvd. (1917), 3118 Sheridan Road (1945).

	Eitel, (Frederick) Karl
	Hotelier, Restauranteur, Night Club Promoter Biography: born 17 Jan. 1871, Stuttgart, Germany; ed. high school and business college, Stuttgart; m. Maria Boldenweck, of Chicago, 16 Sep. 1897; m. 2nd, Ann Schmidt; d. 9 Mar. 1954, Santa Barbara, California; Mason (32°, Shriner); unknown political affiliation; Protestant. Career: Arrived in Chicago, 1891; helped found Eitel Bros., wholesale wines and liquors, 1892; joined brother to manage hotel at 63rd and Cottage Grove during World's Columbian Exposition, 1893; helped establish and served as vice president and secretary of Hotel Bismarck; helped build Bismarck Gardens at Broadway and Grace; promoted widening of LaSalle Street and construction of new LaSalle Street bridge. Clubs: Chicago Athletic, Germania. Residences: 525 Roscoe Street (1917), 3118 Sheridan Road (1945).

	Eitel, Otto Karl
	Hotelier, Restauranteur Biography: born 10 May 1901, Chicago; s. Karl and Maria; ed. high school, Stuttgart, Germany; atteneded Armour Institute of Technology, 1919-21; attended MIT, 1921-23; m. Elsa Gardner, 16 Oct. 1924; unknown political affiliation; Lutheran. Career: Employed as cook's helper, Hotel Astor, New York, 1923; employed as cook's helper, Hotel Kaiserhof, Essen, Germany; returned to new responsibilities at Hotel Astor; served as manager of Bismarck Hotel, Chicago, 1925-33; became manager of Stevens Hotel, Chicago, Dec. 1933; returned to manage Bismarck Hotel. Clubs: Michigan Shores (Wilmette). Residences: 826 Forest Ave. (1945)

	Goldblatt, Joel
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 12 Aug. 1908, Chicago; s. Simon and Hannah (Diamond); unknown political affiliation. Career: First employed as sales clerk in candy department of Goldblatt Bros. department store; subsequently promoted to manager of department, then buyer of department, then into higher management; beceme vice president and director of operations of Goldblatt Bros., Inc., 1928; appointed president of Goldblatt Bros., Inc.; served as major, Q.M. Corps, US Army, during World War II; honorably discharged, 6 Mar. 1945. Residences: unknown

	Goldblatt, Maurice
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 17 Dec. 1893, Staszow, Poland; s. Simon and Hannah (Diamond); ed. public schools; B'nai B'rith; Elk; Mason; unknown political affiliation; Jewish. Career: Employed as salesman, Iverson & Co. department store, 1912-14; organized Goldblatt Bros. dry goods store with brother Nathan, 1914; appointed president, Goldblatt Bros., 1914; expanded company to ten stores by 1945, more during postwar years; also served as director of State Street Council. Clubs: Merchants and Manufacturers, Covenant, Idlewild Country (Chicago). Residences: 2440 Lake View Ave. (1931), 4950 Chicago Beach Drive (1945).

	Guyon, J. Louis
	Dance Hall Promoter Career: Operated Victoria ballroom, 1909; operated Dreamland ballroom, 1914; opened Paradise ballroom, 1914; advocated against plans for construction of West Side elevated expressway, 1928-29. Other Activities: President, Crawford Avenue District Taxpayers' Association. Residences: unknown

	Harmon, Paddy
	Dance Hall and Sports Promoter Biography: born 1877, Chicago; m., May; d., 22 July 1930, in auto accident near Des Plaines, Ill. Career: Began selling newspapers at North and Milwaukee Avenues at age seven, ca. 1884; promoted first neighborhood dance at age sixteen, ca. 1893; managed and later owned Dreamland and Arcadia ballrooms, 1910s-1920s; held concession for combination ballroom and roller skating rink at Riverview Park, 1910s-1920s; began promoting bicycle races, 1912; led effort to build $6-million, 18,000-seat Chicago Stadium as arena for boxing, ice hockey, and other popular sporting events, 1926-1929; managed Chicago Stadium, 1929. Residences: Crystal Lake, Ill., (1930)

	Howse, Paul
	Amusement Park Promoter Career: Reporter, Inter-Ocean newspaper, 1903; president, Chicago Flying Airship Co., 1905; general manager, White City amusement park, 1907; director, White City Construction Co., 1907. Residences: 6011 S. Prairie Ave. (1903)

	Iverson, Emil
	Department Store Merchant Biography: d. 10 June 1913, in train-automobile accident at Riverton, Illinois; political affiliation unknown. Career: Partnered in department store business with Richard Carroll for twenty-five years; later founded his own department store, E. Iverson & Co., on Milwaukee Avenue; served as vice president of Northwest Side Commercial Association of Chicago. Residences: unknown

	Jones, Aaron J., Sr.
	Movie Theater and Amusement Park Promoter Biography: b. ca. 1876; m. Ella; d. 13 May 1944, Flossmoor, Illinois; political affiliation unknown; Jewish. Career: Worked as catalog saleman at the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893; entered show business by opening a penny arcade, 1902; joined partners Peter J. Schaefer and Adolph Linick to open Chicago's first permanent movie theater, 1905; partnered with Joseph Beifeld to open White City amusement park, 1905; as member of the Jones, Linick & Schaefer firm, came to operate as many as 52 stage and motion-picture theaters in and around Chicago. Other Activities: Director, Associated Jewish Charities of Chicago. Clubs: Illinois Athletic; Idlewild Country; Masonic Order. Residences: unknown

	Kahn, Louis
	Department Store Merchant Career: Served as vice president at Becker, Ryan and Co. department store until early 1920s; in mid-1920s, named president of new South Center department store at 47th and South Parkway to serve Chicago's growing African-American population. Residences: Chicago Beach Hotel (1923), Shoreland Hotel (1928).

	Karzas, Andrew
	Ballroom Promoter Biography: born ca. 1882, Greece; d. 1 June 1940, Chicago; unknown political affiliation. Career: Arrived in Chicago from Greece, 1904; partnered with Nicholas Nomikos to build several neighborhood theaters, 1910s; quit theater buisness when he and brother William built the Trianon Ballroom, 1922; opened Aragon Ballroom, 1926. Residences: unknown

	Karzas, William
	Ballroom Promoter Biography: born ca. 1890; d. 22 Sept. 1963; unknown political affiliation. Career: Partnered with brother Andrew to build and operate Trianon and Aragon ballrooms, 1920s; sold Trianon at auction, 1954. Residences: 6214 Evans Ave. (1923)

	Katz, Alexander Raymond ("Sandor")
	Artist Biography: born 21 Apr. 1895, Hungary; s. Morris and Anna (Altman); ed. Chicago Art Institute, 1912-13 and 1919-22, and Academy of Fine Arts, New York, 1919; m. Elsie Engel, 15 Jan. 1924; Democrat; Jewish. Career: Emigrated, 1910; naturalized, 1919; served as instructor of poster classes, Art Institute, 1922; joined Barney Balaban to organize Balaban & Katz theaters, Chicago, 1923; served as director of art department, Balaban & Katz theaters, 1923-27; staff artist, The Chicagoan, 1928-35; exhibited oils, water colors, and prints at several museums and galleries, including Chicago Art Institute, Corcoran Gallery, Carnegie Insstitute, etc.; served as director of Little Theater at the Auditorium, Chicago, 1932-33; one of eleven artists selected to produce murals and posters for Century of Progress Exposition, 1933; painted murals for Jewish section of Hall of Religion at Century of Progress Exposition, 1933; won first prize, official Century of Progress Exposition poster, 1934;produced frescoes and stained glass for several Chicago synagogues, including Anshe Emet and Ner Tamid; produced murals for United States post offices and other public buildings in New York, Detroit, Houston, Denver, Kenosha, Cedar Rapids, etc.; developed a theory of design motifs based on Hebrew alphabet; later served as master craftsman at Great Lakes Naval Hospital teaching art to patients; authored Prelude to a New Art for an Old Religion. Other Activities: President, Art Institute Alumni Assn., 1928-35; member, Chicago Society of Artists; director, No-Jury Society, 1928-33; member, American Jewish Arts Club; etc. Residences: 1247 Foster Ave. (1945)

	Kelly, Dennis Francis
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 23 Aug. 1867, Chicago; s. John and Mary; ed. St. Mary's Sch., Chicago; m. Irene E. Sullivan, 4 Jan. 1894; Democrat; Catholic. Career: First employed at age 12 by Mandel Bros. department store; became superintendent of store, 1888; promoted to general manager of store, 1901; later became vice president of The Fair department store. Other Activities: Served as vice president, First State Industrial Wage Loan Society; served as director, Continental & Commerical National Bank; member of executive committee, Chicago Association of Commerce; served as vice president, Employers' Association; served as director, Citizens' Street Cleaning Bureau; campaigned for election of Anton Cermak as mayor in 1931; enjoyed golf. Clubs: Chicago Athletic (director 1913-15, vice president 1916, president 1917), South Shore Country, Industrial, Exemoor Country (president 1912-14). Residences: Highland Park, IL.

	Klein, Leon
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 17 Oct. 1844, Kerzenheim, Bavaria, Germany; s. Leopold and Babette (Schultz); ed. public schools, Kerzenheim, 1850-57; m. Rosalind Tuska, New York City, 15 Mar. 1877; d. 29 Dec. 1912, Chicago; Independent in politics; Jewish. Career: Arrived in Chicago, 1865; worked in the dry goods store of Simon Klein, 1865-69; bought out Charles Komisky and established new Klein's department store at Roosevelt and Halsted, 1869; later named president of 12th Street Store at 12th and Halsted Streets. Clubs: Standard, Ravisloe Country. Residences: 4401 Grand Blvd. (1911)

	Lehmann, Edward J.
	Department Store Merchant Biography: b. 21 Mar. 1877, Chicago; s. E.J. and Augusta; m. Nov. 1901; m. 2nd, Florence M. Career: Served as president of The Fair department store at State and Adams until 1925. Clubs: 3662 Sheridan Road, later renamed Lake Shore Drive (1931).

	Madigan, George P.
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 23 Oct. 1897; s. Denis J. and Elizabeth Ann; ed. DePaul Univ., Northwestern Univ., Notre Dame Univ; Roman Catholic. Career: Served as secretary/director and treasurer of Madigan Bros. department stores; served as major in U.S. Army at West Point, New York, 1942-1945. Clubs: Midwest Athletic, Butterfield Country. Residences: 5900 W. Adams (1941), 5912 W. Adams (1945).

	Mandel, Leon
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 10 Sep. 1841; d. 4 Nov. 1911. Residences: unknown

	Mandel, Edwin Frank
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 5 Dec. 1875, Chicago; s. Emanuel and Babette (Frank); ed. Univ. of Chicago, 1893-96; never married; unknown political affiliation; Jewish. Career: Joined Mandel Bros. department store, State and Madison Streets, 1896; named second vice president, Mandel Bros., 1909; named president, Mandel Bros., 1912. Other Activities: motoring, golf. Clubs: Standard, Lake Shore Country. Residences: 3400 S. Michigan Ave. (1917), 130 Roger Williams Ave., Highland Park (1945).

	Mandel, Frederick Leon
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 27 Mar. 1870; s. Leon and Isabelle (Foreman); ed. public and private schools; studied in France and Germany; married; unknown political affiliation; Jewish. Career: Joined Mandel Bros. department store, 1888; named secretary and treasurer of Mandel Bros. upon incorporation, 1898. Other Activities: golf. Clubs: Standard, Lake Shore Country, South Shore Country. Residences: 5017 Drexel Blvd. (1917)

	Mandel, Frederick Leon, Jr.
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 30 Nov. 1908, Chicago; s. Frederick Leon and Blanche (Rosenbaum); ed. Morristown NJ schools and Univ. of Grenoble, France; m. Lois Klafter, 14 Mar. 1935; divorced same, 29 Mar. 1944; unknown political affiliation; Jewish. Career: Served as director, Mandel Bros., Inc., department stores, Chicago; owner, Detroit Lions Football Club., Inc.; investments manager. Clubs: Lake Shore Country, Racquet (Palm Springs, CA). Residences: Woodbridge Lane, Highland Park (1945).

	Mandel, Leon
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 16 Feb. 1902, Chicago; s. Frederick Leon and Blanche (Rosenbaum); ed. Lake Forest Academy, 1919, and Cornell Univ., 1919-23; m. Edna Horn, 30 Apr. 1924; divorced 1932; m. 2nd, Virginia Vaughan Moran, 19 Sep. 1935; divorced 1937; m. 3rd, Carola Panerai, 9 Apr. 1938; unknown political affiliation; Jewish. Career: Served as general manager and vice president, Mandel Bros. department store; served as director, Mandel Building Corp.; served as lt. col., Army Air Forces, during World War II; authored Robert Herrick: The Last Elizabethan, 1927, and Basement Merchandising, 1928. Other Activities: Member, panel of arbitrators, American Arbitration Assn.; member, Art Institute of Chicago; member, Chicago Historical Society; member, Chicago Natural History Museum; sponsored and accompanied Field Museum expeditions to Venezuela's Orinoco River in 1932, to Guatemala in 1934, to Caribbean Islands in 1940, and to Galapagos Islands in 1941; received Cuban Distinguished Service Medal, 1938; rare book collector. Clubs: Tavern, Columbia Yacht, Lake Shore Country, Chicago Yacht, Oak Brook Polo, etc. Residences: unknown.

	Marks, Louis L.
	Movie Theater Promoter Biography: born ca. 1887; d. 18 Apr. 1949, Grant Hospital, Chicago; buried, Rosehill Cemetery. Career: Partnered with his brother Meyer S. Marks to form the Marks Brothers movie theater circuit, which owned and operated the Granada, Marbro, and Broadway Strand theaters; sold the chain of theaters to Paramount Publix and retired from show business, 1928. Clubs: unknown Residences: Belmont Hotel (1949).

	Marks, Meyer S.
	Movie Theater Promoter Biography: born ca. 1895; m. Gertrude Rubenstein; d. Aug. 1943, committed suicide by asphyxiation in his automobile in Grant Park, Chicago; unknown political affiliation. Career: Partnered with his brother Louis L. Marks to form the Marks Brothers movie theater circuit, which owned and operated the Granada, Marbro, and Broadway Strand theaters; sold the chain of theaters to Paramount Publix and retired from show business, 1928. Clubs: unknown Residences: unknown.

	Miller, Loren
	Department Store Merchant, Booster Career: Founded Loren Miller and Co., Uptown dry goods store; built five-story building to house his growing department store along the west side of Broadway near Lawrence, 1915; acquired Sheridan Trust and Savings Bank building for store expansion, 1926; said to be responsible for popularizing the name "Uptown" for the business district surrounding his store; during the late 1920s, promoted Uptown as possible site for 1933 Century of Progress Exposition; sold department store to the expanding chain of Goldblatt Brothers department stores, 1931. Residences: 819 Lakeside Place (1917).

	Netcher, Charles Jr.
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born 11 Apr. 1892, Chicago; s. Charles and Mollie (Alpiner); ed. Harvard and Oxford private schools, Chicago, and Yale's Sheffield Scientific School; unknown political affiliation. Career: Employed at Warenhaus Herman Tietz, department store, Berlin, Germany, 1913; subsequently employed at other manufacturing establishments in Germany and France; served as vice president, Boston Store department store, Chicago. Clubs: Illinois Athletic, Chicago Motor, Olympia Fields, Glen Oak Country, Yale (New York). Residences: 5436 East View Park (1917), 257 E. Delaware Place (1926, 1931).

	Newbury, Mollie Netcher
	Department Store Merchant Biography: born Chicago; d. Morris and Ernestine Alpiner; m. Charles Netcher, 1891; widowed, 1905; m. 2nd, S. Neuberger, 1913; changed name to Newbury, 1918; unknown political affiliation. Career: Inherited ownership of Boston Store department store, State and Madison Streets, upon death of first husband, 1905; named president and treasurer of Boston Store, 1905. Residences: Blackstone Hotel (1917).

	Pixley, A. Boyd
	Restauranteur Biography: born 12 Dec. 1895, Portage, Wisconsin; s. Jacob and Augusta (Bachmann); ed. Manlius School, Manlius NY, and U. of Chicago, 1908-09; earned Mus. B., DePaul U., 1938; m. Ruth Mary Badger, 16 Sep. 1922; Mason; Republican; Congregationalist. Career: Moved to Chicago, 1903; worked for brother Albert at Pixley & Ehler's Restaurants; opened own restaurant, Pixley & Wheaton, 1909; acquired two more restaurants by 1915; bought out Wheaton, 1916; merged with Pixley & Ehlers, 1919; named vice president, Pixley & Ehlers, 1919; served as civilian consultant to secretary of war, 1943-45. Other Activities: Served as warrant office and bandmaster, Chicago Black Horse Troop (106th Cavalry), 1931-36; composed "Amonavis," concert overture, first performed for Women's Symphony Orchestra, 1938; composed "Chicago Black Horse Troop," "Troopers Courageous," "The Mounted Band," "Boots and Saddles," and other marches and songs; served as treasurer, National Restaurant Assn.; served as director, Chicago Restaurant Assn. Clubs: University. Residences: 236 S. Cuyler Ave., Oak Park (1945).

	Pixley, Albert John
	Restauranteur Biography: born 9 Mar. 1879, Portage, Wisconsin; s. Jacob and Augusta (Bachmann); ed. public schools; m. Julia L. DeMoney, 25 Apr. 1900; d. 14 July 1954, Oak Park; Republican; Methodist. Career: Founded Pixley & Ehlers Restaurants; president of same, 1899-1954; expanded chain of restaurants to include fifteen outlets across Chicago by 1945. Clubs: Illinois Athletic, Rotary (Chicago), Oak Park Country, Swan Lake Shooting (Henry, IL). Residences: 830 Ashland Ave., River Forest (1945).

	Schaefer, Peter J.
	Movie Theater Promoter Biography: born ca. 1869; m. Clara Arnold; d. 11 March 1944, Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago; unknown political affiliation. Career: Joined partners Aaron J. Jones and Adolph Linick to open Chicago's first permanent movie theater, 1905; opened Orpheum Theater on State Street, 1907; operated penny arcades and other exibits at White City amusement park and elsewhere; retired, ca. 1934. Clubs: unknown Residences: unknown

	Schoenstadt, Henry
	Movie Theater Promoter Biography: born ca. 1891; s. Herman; m. Martha; d. 10 Feb. 1946, Chicago; unknown political affiliation; Jewish. Career: Operated Schoenstadt circuit of movie theaters on the city's South Side, first started by father Herman and brother Arthur. Other Activities: Served as Commissioner, Chicago Park District, 1942-1945; promoted recreational programs and bond drives during both world wars. Clubs: Idlewild Country; Standard. Residences: Piccadilly Hotel (1946).

	Schoenstadt, Herman
	Movie Theater Promoter Biography: born ca. 1856; s. Herman; m. Mollie; d. 5 March 1937, Chicago; b., Mount Mayriv Cemetery, Chicago; unknown political affiliation. Career: Founded Schoenstadt circuit of movie theaters on the city's South Side, ca. 1912; built Piccadilly theater and hotel, 1927. Residences: Piccadilly Hotel (1937).

	Schueneman, Leo Aloysius
	Bowling and Pool Hall Promoter Biography: born 26 Sept. 1887, Chicago; s. John and Minnie (Kuhnert); ed. St. Boniface and Bryant & Stratton Business College; m. Helen Panker, 16 Nov. 1910; Catholic. Career: Founded Leo A. Schueneman Co., bowling alley management, 1913; oversaw reorganization of Logan Square Trust and Savings Bank and State Commercial and Savings Bank by committee of depositors, 1923; incorporated bowling alley company, 1924; opened Uptown Recreation Center, Bryn Mawr and Winthrop Avenues, fourth in a chain of high-end bowling and billiard halls, 1927. Other Activities: Member of Logan Square Kiwanis; enjoyed golf, swimming, bowling, billiards. Clubs: Edgewater Athletic, Logan Square Athletic, Columbian Country Residences: 4650 N. Paulina Ave. (1926), Edgewater Beach Hotel, 5500 N. Sheridan Rd. (1931).

	Thompson, John R.
	Restauranteur Biography: born 13 Nov. 1865, Vermillion Co., Illinois; s. John R. and Elizabeth (Wright); ed. home and public schools; m. Rose Holloway, 5 Aug. 1891; d. 17 Jun. 1927, Lake Forest, IL; Republican; Presbyterian (?). Career: Opened general store and post office, Fithian IL, 1887; sold store and moved to Chicago, 1891; opened first Thompson's restaurant, 397 State Street, 19 Dec. 1891; opened first branch restaurants in Chicago, 1895; expanded chain of restaurants to include over 100 outlets in most major US and Canada cities by 1917; cited by the Chicago Defender for discriminatory treatment of African-American employees and customers, 1920. Other Activities: Served as Cook County Treasurer; enjoyed horseback riding, stock farming, art collecting. Clubs: Union League, Chicago Athletic, Hamilton, South Shore Country. Residences: 4415 Grand Blvd. (1917), Lake Forest, IL (1926).

	Trinz, Samuel
	Movie Theater Promoter Biography: born 1889-1890; d. 5 June 1956, San Jacinto, Calif.; unknown political affiliation. Career: With partner Harry Lubliner, opened first movie house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, early 1900s; theirs was first Milwaukee theater designed specifically for film exhibition; moved to Chicago, 1914; developed circuit of thirty theaters in Chicago, 1910s-1920s; merged with Balaban & Katz, late 1920s; served as producer of Balaban & Katz stageshows; left Balaban & Katz and parterned with Lubliner to purchase Monroe and Clark theaters in Chicago's Loop, early 1930s. Clubs: unknown Residences: unknown

Jazz Age Chicago

Main Menu | Contents | Bookstore | Email