1950's Nightlife in the Loop Tour

Sightseeing  :  United States  :  Illinois  :  Chicago  :  Walking Tours

Intelligent architecture tours of Chicago for intelligent adults, we combine serious history with entertaining immersion in the past.  Experience Chicago's world-famous architecture with an architectural historian who will show you the beautiful and intriguing, while featuring the pleasures of food, drink, music, and humorous stories.On this tour we will take you back in time to experience the Chicago of an earlier era.  And one of the most exciting eras to explore is the mid-twentieth century. This 1950s Nightlife tour is not so much a tour as it is an immersive experience.  We share video, music, and evocative vintage images that bring the past to life.

We begin in Chicago’s Theater District, exploring what going out in Chicago meant in the mid-twentieth century. Then it’s on to the two venues guests love so much: The Berghoff with its quirky history and excellent beer and, finally, the great Palmer House Hotel. There we luxuriate in the grand lobby while enjoying classic drinks, appetizers, and/or dessert, all the while feasting on the fascinating story of the hotel and its royal couple, Potter and Bertha Palmer.  We focus on the world-famous Empire Room nightclub that hosted the biggest names in entertainment from the 1930s-1970s.