Friday, July 12, 2019

ABOUT JOHN CHUCKMAN

John Chuckman is former chief economist for a large Canadian oil company. He has many interests and is a lifelong student of history. He writes with a passionate desire for honesty, the rule of reason, and concern for human decency. John regards it as a badge of honor to have left the United States as a poor young man from the South Side of Chicago when the country embarked on the pointless murder of something like 3 million Vietnamese in their own land because they embraced the wrong economic loyalties. He lives in Canada, which he is fond of calling “the peaceable kingdom.”

John’s writing appears regularly on many Internet sites. He has been translated into at least ten languages and has been regularly translated into Italian and Spanish. Several of his essays have been published in book collections, including two college texts. He has published a book, The Decline of the American Empire and the Rise of China as a Global Power, published by Constable and Robinson, London. John also writes book reviews.

Apart from his writing since retiring from the oil industry, John has taught university courses in economics, done a good deal of private tutoring, served as a professional newspaper restaurant reviewer (he likes cooking), followed his favorite hobby of photography, and created a popular family of image blogs on the Internet.

John may be reached directly at:  formersouthsideboy@gmail.com

SOME INTERNET SITES FROM JOHN CHUCKMAN:



CHUCKMAN'S PLACES ON WORDPRESS: FEATURING THE BELOVED URBAN VILLAGE OF SOUTH SHORE CHICAGO

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORDPRESS: CHICAGO NOSTALGIA AND MEMORABILIA

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORDPRESS: TORONTO NOSTALGIA

CHUCKMAN’S MONTREAL

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORD PRESS

CHUCKMAN'S KODACHROMES ON WORDPRESS: JOHN AND BOBBY LONG AGO

CHUCKMAN'S PORT STANLEY

CHUCKMAN'S BAYFIELD

CHUCKMAN'S GODERICH

CHUCKMAN'S ILES DE LA MADELEINE (MAGDALEN ISLANDS)

CHUCKMAN'S ART

CHUCKMAN'S ROBOTS

CHUCKMAN'S GALLERY OF GROTESQUES

CHUCKMAN'S CARTOON COMMENTS

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORDPRESS: 1920s ARCADE CARD BEAUTIES – THEIR CHARM AND GRACE AND WHIMSY

CHUCKMAN'S WORDS ON WORDPRESS: POLITICAL ESSAYS

CHUCKMAN'S WORDS ON WORDPRESS: COMMENTS FROM THE WORLD'S PRESS

CHUCKMAN'S MISCELLANEA OF WORDS

CHUCKMAN'S NON-SPORTS TRADING CARDS OF THE 1950S VOLUME 01 (OF 4 VOLUMES)




ME, ROUGHLY: THE DECLINE IS RAPID NOW

POSTCARD - CHICAGO - AUDITORIUM HOTEL - S MICHIGAN AND CONGRESS - GROUND CORNER VIEW - A LOUIS SULLIVAN BUILDING BUILT 1889 - THEY DID SOME RENOVATIONS IN THE YEAR OF THIS CARD (1921) WHICH THE CARD BACK HIGHLIGHTED - NOTE THE BALCONY RESTAURANT ON MICHIGAN ABOVE THE ENTRANCE ARCHES - IT LOOKED OUT ON GRANT PARK - TINTED - VERY NICE VERSION - 1921


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - WHITE CITY AMUSEMENT PARK - ELECTRIC TOWER AND BAND STAND - FAKE NIGHT - 63RD STREET AND SOUTH PARK AVE - NOTE: THE NAME "WHITE CITY" WAS TAKEN FROM THE 1893 CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR IN HYDE PARK - THE FAIR HAD THE WORLD'S FIRST FERRIS WHEEL AND OTHER AMUSEMENTS AND WAS VERY POPULAR - THE AMUSEMENT PARK HOPED TO GAIN FROM THE NAME - IT OPENED IN 1905 AND WAS POPULAR - IT STARTED HAVING TROUBLE IN THE 1930s AND WAS CONDEMNED IN 1939 - ITS PROPERTY BECAME THE SITE OF A HOUSING PROJECT IN THE 1950s - TINTED - 1916


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - BLACKSTONE LIBRARY - 4904 S LAKE PARK - KENWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD - LIBRARY OPENED 1904 - REALLY NICE VERSION - TINTED - c1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - COLOSIMO'S RESTAURANT AND NIGHT CLUB - 2126 S WABASH - DINING ROOM AND STAGE - A LAVISH PLACE NOTED FOR MAFIA ASSOCIATIONS - SHOW WITH "COLOSIMO'S CUTIES" - "LARGEST ELEVATING DANCE FLOOR" - "BIG JIM" OPENED A SALOON IN 1909 AT ANOTHER LOCATION - HE SHORTLY MOVED HERE INTO WHAT WAS A SMALL HOTEL CALLED THE HARMON - HE REMODELLED IT INTO A REAL SHOWPLACE IN 1913 - IN 1920 "BIG JIM" WAS SHOT IN HIS RESTAURANT - THE RESTAURANT CONTINUED IN VARIOUS FORMS UNTIL ABOUT 1960 - WE CAN SEE HERE THAT IN THE MID-1940s IT WAS STILL A REAL SHOWPLACE - TINTED - 1944


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - CHICAGO YACHT CLUB HOUSE - GRANT PARK FRONT - AERIAL LOOKING E TOWARDS LAKE - LOTS OF PEOPLE - LOOKS LIKE A BIG EVENT WITH LOTS OF BOATS BEHIND - TINTED - c1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - CHICAGO'S PICASSO - CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - 50 W WASHINGTON - BUILDING OPENED IN 1965 - SCULPTURE ADDED IN THE YEAR OF THIS CARD (1967) - THE SPECIAL COR-TEN STEEL USED GRADUALLY WEATHERS FROM THE BRIGHT COLOR SEEN HERE TO A TEXTURED PURPLISH DEEP BROWN - 1967


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - DREXEL BLVD - GROUND LEVEL VIEW DOWN STREET - BUILDINGS BEHIND TREES - TINTED - 1910s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - DEARBORN STREET - S FROM MONROE - ELEVATED VIEW - HEAVILY TINTED - 1900s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - HOTEL PLANTERS - 19 N CLARK - ELEVATED THREE-QUARTER STREET VIEW - ONE CAR PARKED - GREATEST VALUE HOTEL - TINTED - c1940


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - OLYMPIA FIELDS COUNTRY CLUB - INTERIOR LOUNGE ROOM - OLYMPIA FIELDS IS A FAIRLY FAR SOUTH SUBURB - CLUB HOUSE BUILT 1924 - TINTED - c1950s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - AIRWAYS FIREPROOFING - DUCTWORK CLEANED - "WHEN GREASE STARTS TO DRIP" - CARTOON OF RESTAURANT KITCHEN WITH DRIPPING GREASE - 1950s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - MASSAGIC SHOE STORE - STORE IN LA SALLE HOTEL - 160 W MADISON - AIR CUSHION SHOES - X-RAY FITTING - $6.95 TO $7.50 - TINTED - 1941


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - MATH IGLER'S CASINO - 1627-29 MELROSE - HALF BLOCK N OF LINCOLN AND BELMONT - W OF LINCOLN - CHICAGO'S GAYEST NIGHT SPOT - FEATURING ART KOCH PIANIST - MUSIC UNTIL 4 AM - 1950s


Sunday, July 07, 2019

POSTCARD - CHICAGO - JACKSON PARK - BOATHOUSE AND LANDING - WATER LEVEL VIEW - SMALL AWNING-COVERED PLEASURE BOAT WAITING - SOME PEOPLE STANDING - TINTED - 1919


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - EVANSTON POSTCARD CLUB - MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT CARD - LOVELY FRENCH NUDE DRAWING - 1970s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - ASHLAND BLVD - GROUND LEVEL - GRACIOUS TREE-LINED NEIGHBORHOOD - NOTE STONE BLOCKS FOR GETTING IN AND OUT OF CARRIAGES LOWER LEFT - TINTED - 1911


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - BENNERT'S CAFE - 80 E JACKSON BLVD - CARTOON OF BOY AND GIRL AND DOG EATING AT TABLE WITH TABLECLOTH AND FLOWERS - "THERE AIN'T AGOIN TO BE NO LEAVINS" - TINTED - NICE VERSION - 1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - CENTURY OF PROGRESS WORLD'S FAIR - TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT BUILDING - TINTED - 1933


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL - STATE AND SUPERIOR - PART OF CITY BEAUTIFUL SERIES - 1964


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - LANE HIGH SCHOOL - DIVISION AND SEDGWICK - STREET LEVEL THREE-QUARTER VIEW - CROWD OF PEOPLE IN FRONT- OPENED 1908 -TINTED - c1910


POSTCARD - BREVOORT HOTEL - CRYSTAL TAP - MADISON E OF LA SALLE - MAYBE 1950s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - THE GEORGIAN HOTEL - ALBERT PICK HOTEL - HINMAN AND DAVIS - WATERCOLOR DRAWING - EVANSTON - CRYSTAL DINING ROOM - DUNCAN HINES RECOMMEND - 1950s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - QUALITY MARKET - 6102 MILWAUKEE AVE - WEEKLY SPECIALS AND DELIVERY - 1952


Wednesday, July 03, 2019

POSTCARD - CHICAGO - BUSH TEMPLE - 108 W CHICAGO AVE AT N CLARK STREET - NEIGHBORING BUILDINGS - NOTE AWNINGS ALONG SIDEWALK - BUSH AND GERTS PIANO COMPANY - BUILT 1901 - STREETCAR - SLIGHTLY ELEVATED VIEW - TINTED - NICE VERSION - c1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - C W GILSON RESTAURANT - 535 S LASALLE - AT HARRISON - INTERIOR - STAFF ALL LINED UP IN LONG WHITE APRONS - TINTED - 1910s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - DREXEL SQUARE - JUST S OF E 51ST BETWEEN COTTAGE GROVE AVE AND DREXEL BLVD - FOUNTAIN - DOUBLE-DECKER BUS - TINTED - 1925


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - LINCOLN PARK ZOO - TWO BABY ELEPHANTS - CHARMING IMAGE - TINTED - c1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - LINCOLN PARK - LOVER'S LANE - GROUND LEVEL - I WILL SERIES (NOTE: "I WILL" IS THE CITY MOTTO) - TINTED - NICE VERSION - c1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - HOTEL LA SALLE - NE CORNER LA SALLE AND MADISON - THE GRAND BALLROOM - INTERIOR - TINTED - NICE VERSION - 1911


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO - BUILDINGS ALONG LEXINGTON AVE - MANDEL HALL - HUTCHINSON TOWER - REYNOLDS CLUB - BARLETT GYMNASIUM - HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD - TINTED - NICE VERSION - 1914


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - DUTCH VILLAGE - AERIAL VIEW - CENTURY OF PROGRESS WORLD'S FAIR - TINTED - 1933


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - CAFE VENICE - 339 WABASH AVE - ARTWORK - "SPLENDID ITALIAN DINNERS" - "AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE AUDITORIUM" - c1960


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - BISMARCK HOTEL - BISMARCK INN (NIGHTCLUB) - 128 N LA SALLE - NIGHTLY FUN FESTIVAL OF SONG - AROUND THE CORNER FROM CINERAMA - CARTOON OF BAND AND CUSTOMERS - 1950s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - HEINLY'S RESTAURANT - NE CORNER DEARBORN AND MONROE - "THREE ENTRANCES" - "CHICAGO'S HIGH CLASS RESTAURANT" - MODERATE PRICES - SEVEN COURSE DINNER SIXTY CENTS - 1916


Sunday, June 23, 2019

POSTCARD - CHICAGO - NORTH MICHIGAN AVE - LOOKING N GROUND LEVEL NEAR WATER TOWER - CROWD OF PEDESTRIANS NEAR SHOP LOWER LEFT - BUS - PALMOLIVE BUILDING - WATER TOWER - THE KIND OF IMAGE WITH THE BUS AND CROWD THAT JUST TAKES YOU BACK AS THOUGH YOU WERE WALKING THERE - CITY BEAUTIFUL SERIES - c1964


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - MADISON AND CRAWFORD AVE - STREET LEVEL LOOKING NW - A WEST SIDE SHOPPING DISTRICT - THREE SISTERS STORE AND WALGREEN'S DRUG STORE - c1950


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - GRAND PACIFIC HOTEL - CLARK AND JACKSON BLVD - THREE-QUARTERS VIEW SOMEWHAT ELEVATED FROM GROUND - SOME PEDESTRIANS - CARRIAGE - TINTED - REALLY NICE VERSION - 1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - CENTURY OF PROGRESS WORLD'S FAIR - NORTHERLY ISLAND AND LAGOON WITH SOME OF CITY BEHIND - AERIAL PANORAMA - BLIMP AND SHADOW LOWER LEFT - 1933


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - AMERICAN MUSIC HALL - VAUDEVILLE - THREE-QUARTER VIEW STREET LEVEL - ADDRESS UNKNOWN - TINTED - 1910s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - CHICAGO RIVER - EXCURSION STEAMER LEAVING FOR A LAKE TRIP - TUG BOAT - TINTED - 1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL - EARLIER VICTORIAN CAMPUS OF BUILDINGS - ADDRESS UNKNOWN - AERIAL PANORAMA -TINTED - NICE VERSION - 1912


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - DOUGLAS PARK - 1401 S SACRAMENTO DRIVE - HAVLICEK MONUMENT - VERY NICE VERSION - TINTED - c1920


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - GRAND BLVD FROM 35TH STREET - SLIGHTLY ELEVATED VIEW - CROWD OF CARRIAGES AND PEDESTRIANS AND A BICYCLE - NOTE STREET LIGHT - TINTED - c1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - GRANT PARK BUCKINGHAM FOUNTAIN - BUILDINGS ON RANDOLPH AND MICHIGAN IN BACKGROUND - CITY BEAUTIFUL SERIES - c1964


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - HOTEL ATLANTIC - CLARK NEAR JACKSON BLVD - LOBBY - 450 ROOMS - 300 WITH BATH - TWO DOLLARS A DAY AND UP - TINTED - MAYBE 1940s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - LINCOLN PARK - BOATHOUSE WITH MANY SMALL BOATS - PART OF I WILL SERIES - NICE VERSION - TINTED - 1910


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - MCKINLEY PARK - W 37TH AND S ROBEY AND W 39TH AT S WESTERN BLVD AND ARCHER AVE - CROWD OF BOYS PLAYING IN LARGE WADING POOL - TINTED - c1920


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - MICHIGAN BLVD - LOOKING N FROM 22ND STREET GROUND LEVEL - PARKED CAR AND YOUNG MAN ON LEFT - TINTED - 1910s


POSTCARD - CHICAGO - MORRISON HOTEL - MADISON AND CLARK - TERRACE GARDEN RESTAURANT - WOMAN ICE SKATER WEARING BALLET-LIKE OUTFIT IN DANCE POSE - HOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST ICE SKATERS - OPENED 1925 RAZED 1965 - TINTED - 1920s