This from Eric Haak:
These images were taken around 1950 by an aspiring photographer whose last name was Augustyn but I do not have a first name.The fire was on the Northeast corner of Diversey and Pulaski on the same lot as the Walgreens that is next to Engine 91’s house. The fire was in the Rainbo Lanes Bowling Alley. The truck closest to the building is Truck 35 and the one with its aerial up looks like Truck 13 although it is hard to read. The Water Tower is #2. Hope you enjoy them.
photo by Augustyn
Rainbo Bowling Alley fire in Chicago circa 1959. photo by Augustyn
photo by Augustyn
photo by Augustyn
photo by Augustyn
photo by Augustyn
photo by Augustyn
photo by Augustyn
#1 by Keith Lee on November 12, 2015 - 1:03 PM
There was definitely a second fire there sometime in the early to mid 60’s. I was born in 58 and I remember standing on the Olsen Rug property across the street watching the fire.
#2 by Eric Haak on March 18, 2015 - 3:59 PM
Thank you Russ! This is indeed the 3-11 that occurred on July 29, 1948. I found an article and a photo in the Tribune that confirms that. Thanks again.
#3 by Rob Reid on March 18, 2015 - 10:06 AM
More from my notes:
-reputedly the first alley in Chicago to feature automatic pinsetting
-the alley’s boss Sam Shakman was the father of Michael Shakman- lawyer behind the famous patronage-busting Shakman Decrees of 1970.
-an acquaintance of mine worked there until at least 1988
-the AMF Museum in Arlington, Texas may have an original automatically-set bowling pin from this alley
#4 by Rob Reid on March 18, 2015 - 10:04 AM
I was researching this alley a few years back for the book “Avondale and Chicago’s Polish Village.” Didn’t end up including anything on this due to low image quality of the only two photos I could turn up at the time, but here’s a shot of the exterior:
https://bowlinghistory.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/raibo-lanes-chicago-bowling-alley/
And a photo of the interior, which is today hanging up in a suburban Chicago office and should be scanned at hi-res by someone before it’s forgotten.
https://bowlinghistory.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/rainbo-lanes-chicago-bowling-alley/
#5 by Russ C on March 17, 2015 - 6:56 PM
Try this – 3-11 at 3952-54 W. Diversey on 7/29/48. CFD records indicate the fire was in a Bowling Alley.
#6 by Eric Haak on March 17, 2015 - 5:34 PM
I wanted to add that I did some research on this and I believe there were two fires in this establishment. The negatives came with a large lot of other negatives that were mostly University of Illinois stuff. ALL of these negatives were taken between 1949 and 1950 which is why I do not think this was the later fire in this building. I did find a newspaper article from the late 50s or early 60s for a fire at this same location but that would not match the era of the other negatives. If anyone else knows anything else about this incident, I would be interested to hear. Thanks!
#7 by David on March 17, 2015 - 9:28 AM
Awesome shots, thanks for sharing this! Looks like they still wore mostly Hi-eagles by 1950. The truck parked close to the building looks like a White.