Awesome 1940’s Film View of Chicago

Chicago – A Film from the Chicago Board Of Education from Fading Dyes on Vimeo.

If you are a Chicagophile of any age you will enjoy this professionally produced idyllic 1940’s view of Chicago.

It’s amazing to see how much things have changed and how much has remained the same.

Planners like Daniel Burnham created a structure that has served the city well. Essentially the “bones” are the same. You can feel the familiarity of every scene in this film.

Look for landmarks like Navy Pier, Buckingham Fountain, the museums, and historic water tower which will easily orient you to the current version of Chicago.

The ride down Lake ShoreDrive and South Shore Drive feel exactly the same as do the beaches and parks. The primary changes are in clothing, cars, and technology such as street lamps and airplanes.

For Chicago historians. This is probably as close as you will get to a time machine so if you are interested in traveling to the past take the time to indulge yourself in this vintage travelogue produced by the Chicago Board of Education.

You can read a little more about the history of this archival footage at Chicago Block Club.

Thanks to Jeff Altman for his preservation and making it available on his Vimeo account.