Friday Flashback: MGM's "Traveltalks" Visits Chicago

By Karl Klockars in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 14, 2009 6:40PM

This has been floating around the Chicagoist offices for a little while now (thanks, Alex!) but only makes its way to the Flashback desk this morning (thanks, Rob!). It's worth the wait - all ten minutes of this James Fitzpatrick-hosted travelogue movie reel (think Travel Channel meets Walter Winchell) is fascinating not just for how much has changed in 60 years - but also in how familiar almost everything here remains.

ProTip: As you watch this, pay attention to the portion about Jackson Park and the Santa Maria replica featured at 8:57. After that, check out the parallel at 2:28 into the film clip found by Whet at the Reader earlier this week in the same park, but 17 years earlier.

This almost entirely feeds our vintage-Chicago jones, (and vintage everything until Mad Men kicks back in Sunday night) but if you need another reason to stay glued to your monitor for another 9 minutes check out the followup flick, Nightlife In Chicago. Like Mr. Fitzpatrick says when he quotes Henry Austin Dobson, "Time goes, you say? Ah, no! alas, time stays, we go."