Chicago's Love for PBR - Timeless

By Karl Klockars in Food on May 3, 2010 7:40PM

We don't care to get into the War of Hipster Pabst Appropriation for the millionth time, but despite its (relatively) recent transformation into a social statement, the beer has long had its appreciators here in Chicago (and in the Chicagoist office). After all, it wouldn't even have that Blue Ribbon if it didn't get it awarded at the Columbian Exposition here back in 1893.So we thought we'd pass on this cool 1939 ad for PBR that's been floating around the internets today, which plants a half-dozen discerning Pabst drinkers on...Edgewater Beach? Really?

Believe it or not, Edgewater and Uptown used to be the hip and swingin' late night scene in Chicago. Between dancing at the Aragon Ballroom, watching Hollywood's Golden Age at Balaban & Katz' Uptown Theater movie palace, jazz and cocktails at the Green Mill (some things never change) and lazy days at the famous Edgewater Hotel, it was something like one part Gold Coast and one part Wicker Park. Nowadays you're more likely to find a roving elote vendor than you will a restaurant captain in his jacket and bowtie, but it's occasionally worth remembering that time may pass and hot spots may change locations (will we be looking back on Wicker Park-centric ads in 2070?) but like they say, good keen, not-logy taste...is timeless.

For more detail, check out the full-size version here, via splendorinthegrass, h/t to fuckkyeahchicago