Wright Studies

Midway Gardens, Chicago, IL (1913) (S.180)

Additional Images of Midway Gardens 1) Sans Souci Amusement Park opened as one of Chicago’s first amusement parks and covered a double city block. Its main entrance was the corner of Cottage Grove and Sixtieth, later to be the exact location of Midway Gardens.  Photographed 1908.  2) Summer Garden at night, photograph by J.W. Taylor, Chicago,   1914.  3-5) Three Midway Gardens postcards published in 1915.  6-7) Two photographs of the Midway Dancing Gardens 1925, photograph by Gilman Lane.  8) Midway Gardens Stain glass window reproduction.   1: During the summer of 1899, Sans Souci Amusement Park opened as one of Chicago’s first amusement parks and covered a double city block. Its main entrance was the corner of Cottage Grove and Sixtieth, later to be the exact location of Midway Gardens. Photographed 1908.   1b: Postcard: Looking east from Sans Souci Park, Chicago, Ill. 2 2: Summer Garden at night, looking Southwest toward the Stage. South Arcade is to the left. Photograph by J.W. Taylor, Chicago, 1914.  This image was used in the 1915 Postcard (#3). See side by side comparison.   2a: Detail of Summer Garden at night, South Arcade in the background. Photograph by J.W. Taylor, Chicago, 1914.   2b: Detail of Summer Garden at night, looking Southwest toward the Stage. Photograph by J.W. Taylor, Chicago, 1914. Postcards 3: Midway Gardens postcard, looking Southwest across the Summer Garden. South Arcade on the left, Music Pavilion is on the right. Published in 1915 by Curt Teich, Chicago.   Photograph #2 was used to produce this Postcard.  See side by side comparison.   4: Midway Gardens postcard, looking Northeast across the Summer Garden. The North Arcade is on the left, the North Belvedere is on the right. Published in 1915 by Curt Teich, Chicago.   5: Midway Gardens postcard, Winter Garden looking North. Published in 1915 by Curt Teich, Chicago.   6: Midway Dancing Gardens 1925, looking Southwest across Cottage Grove Avenue. Spheres have been added atop the four towers. Large sign added atop the North East entrance. Photograph by Gilman Lane.   6a: Detail of the South Belvedere on the left, and the Winter Garden on the right. Spheres have been added atop the four towers. Photograph by Gilman Lane, 1925.   6b: Detail of the Winter Garden on the left, and the North Belvedere on the right. Spheres have been added atop the towers. Large sign added atop the Northeast entrance. Photograph by Gilman Lane, 1925.   7: Midway Dancing Gardens 1925, looking Southeast across Sixtieth Street. The North Belvedere is on the left, the North Arcade of to the right. A Large sign added atop the Northeast entrance. Photograph by Gilman Lane.   7a: Detail of the North Belvedere on the left and North Arcade on the right. A Large sign added atop the Northeast entrance. Photograph by Gilman Lane, 1925.   8: Midway Gardens Stain glass window designed by Wright. Reproductions available through Oakbrook Esser Studios.

Text by Douglas M. Steiner, Copyright 2008

Side by Side Comparison of the Original 1914 Photograph to the 1915 Postcard Left: This was the original photograph used for the postcard to the right.  Summer Garden at night, looking Southwest toward the Stage. South Arcade is to the left. Photograph by J.W. Taylor, Chicago, 1914. (#2) Right: Midway Gardens postcard (#3), looking Southwest across the Summer Garden. South Arcade on the left, Music Pavilion is on the right. Published in 1915 by Curt Teich, Chicago.

BACK

[flw/_Private/Navbar Be-mail.htm]