They Have Free TV, and It's In Color! by Chipka
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Description
The Abbott Hotel figures prominently in my own series of personal symbols—and a version of it has lent itself to the plot of the story I’d most-recently posted. I suspect that some aspect of that particular (and yes, seedy) hotel will always be with me. It did—after all—shape my earliest impressions of Chicago, and became a part of why I loved the city, as I once did.
Things change. I don’t hate Chicago, but it takes quite a lot to compare to Prague and Chicago just doesn’t make the cut. It hasn’t got the mindset. It doesn’t have the relaxed charm. It has the beer, but the beer is—itself—from Prague.
As I walked with Corey on pre-Pride night, we passed the Abbott Hotel and paused—as is common—to take pictures of it. This is actually a shot taken sometime last May. I was re-reading a collection of William S. Burroughs stories under the title Interzone. The collection features most of his “routines” an the long, epic-length poem: “Word.” It’s a hallucinogenic tour-de-force, and features some of Burroughs’ finest short work.
Whenever I see the Abbott Hotel, it reminds me of something Burroughs would have written. Perhaps in one of his famous “cut up” novels like Naked Lunch, or one of his more seedy, gritty masterpieces such as Junky or Queer. These novels that are tame by today’s standards, but positively shocking in the context of their time period. They stand up to modern scrutiny and still maintain a bit of their shockingness…but it’s muted, recontextualized, and much more of Burroughs’ acerbic humor shines through. Some of his gritty, urban tales are quite hilarious, as are his routines! I think of these whenever I see The Abbott Hotel, and so I figure, it’s only fitting that the hotel itself should make its way into my art.
There may be more Abbott Hotel shots, and for those who have read “Journey” there are at least two more Abbott Hotel stories. Okay, the Abbott Hotel isn’t named in “Journey” and may not be named in later stories concerning Pup, The Old Man/Daniel, or the Street Prophet, but it will surely be an influence on the vibe of those stories. There’s just too much left to explore, and whenever I see that aging, neon-lit bedbug resort, I think of dark and surreal tales…all of which I’m sure pale in comparison to what might actually have occurred in that hotel, back when Belmont Avenue was a lot more seedy than it is today.
It was the story “Journey” that prompted me to post this picture now. The Abbott inspired that story, as did a conversation with Corey…and since it served as such an impetus, I figured I’d show an aspect of it.
As always, thank you for viewing and reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great weekend!
Comments (28)
MrsLubner
I remember when a hotel with TV, phone in room and air conditioning was a palace. Now they seem standard. :-) Wonderful shot and very moody.
danapommet
Great perspective and narrative on the Abbott and love that it was raining. Dana
jac204
I had bought my first color TV and a friend who was half in the bag saw me watching it and said, "Is that a color TV?" You had to be there. Anyway great picture and narrative as usual.
Madbat
Reminds me of a poem by Zozimus: 'I live in Falldle Alley, Near Black pits off the Combe With me poor wife Sally, In a dirty nasty room.' I used to live in an area here that looks a lot like that, one of the few places with buildings from the turn of the 20 century. It comes complete with 2 seedy hotels and all the mice you can eat. I stayed in one of them for a while when I was between accomodations. The place I rented was....um....charming, in it's own way. More mice than people (we don't have rats here), badly sagging floors, and 2 bathrooms per floor. No color tv though, drat it!
tennesseecowgirl
LOL at Madbat.... my question is does it have free internet service?? Can be without seeing Renderosity now can we.. ? :) beautiful, I really adore the postwork on this, and your story makes it extra charming ..
ws_smpsn
I love this image! I can imagine Sam Spade or Peter Gunn walking these streets! Wonderful photography! Kudos to you!
jocko500
love the wet street look here. love how the lights reflect out of the water. You see the name Abbott Hotel in the three puddy of water written backward. cool color with black and white too. guess it on 721 W Belmont Ave. here a link to one name like yours but on a differ street I say before. funny too this link lol crime here on this link http://www.yelp.com/biz/abbott-hotel-chicago...maybe your hotel which i know it is for I just saw the photo in the day time there on that web page. LOL satan works here according to the link. But your night shot of hotel is the best one. Sorry i looked up the history or some of the history of this place. have you meet this woman of satan that works here? if the web link is true?
helanker
This capture has so much mood and it reminds me of a time around 1955. I it makes me think about paving stone and Brewer Horses, if I dont look too much at all the cars to the right. I really love this shot.
beachzz
Very cool shot--and I can remember when "want to come and watch my color TV" was a pick up line--replacing the ancient, "want to come see my etchings??" There should be an old mystery series called "The Abbott Hotel"!!
whaleman
This conjures up memories of places I've not seen! It could be anywhere, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, perhaps London, certainly Riga. It has a universal aspect to it, nice work!
njb2000
Great atmospheric shot, I like the use of color, Your description and the hotel review link, add to the fell of the place. I can understand how your story took seed here!
durleybeachbum
A suitab;y 'seedy' pic too!
rainbows
Wonderful picture and story, Chip. Excellent work. Hugs. Diane. xx
flavia49
superb capture of a wonderful place!!
jmb007
superbe photo!!
Vladimir_Desancic
Beautiful shot!
Meisiekind
Most marvelous prose and image Chip! Speaking of TV - we only got it in SA in 1976!
sandra46
i think the type of postwork you do is especially effective to create a dreamy mood, like in memories and old stories. Here the wet of the rain adds its special flavor to the atmosphere, i can almost smell it.
MrsRatbag
Oh yes, I love the wet night vibe of this; there is definitely an element of seediness-someting-is-going-to-happen about it. Excellent moody image!
Alex_Antonov
Very well done!
myrrhluz
The weather is so much a part of this shot. Rain presses everything down and hems it in. Here the rain adds to the voices of lost hopes. A lamp radiates light, but it lands on grungy sidewalks, stained walls and bright impersonal neon lights. Wonderful mood of a hard, unforgiving world. Love the brown tones, with the only other colors coming from the neon lights. Excellent capture, postwork, and narrative!
auntietk
I agree with others about the wet pavement. Perfect!! There's something about a sidewalk after a rainstorm that lends a certain mood. Different from rain actually falling, different from rain just beginning to fall. Hmmm. I'll have to think about that, being from a rather notoriously rainy place. Anyway ... Excellent photograph!
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
bmac62
I've just been staring at the Abbott's sign. More neon. Neon was big when this sign was made...wonder when that was? So, now I've just been off to google "history of neon signs"...if you haven't done a quick scan...here's a fascinating link that contains dates of 1675, 1855, 1898, 1900, 1910, 1915 and most famously, 1923 I'd guess after all of that, that the Abbott's sign is probably vintage 40's or 50's. It looks like "Free Color TV" was introduced later:) Today they should be advertising "Free WiFi"...but how many computers do you think are operating in the Abbott these days? Does the overnight patron at the Abbott with a brown bag in-hand also carry a laptop bag? I think I know the answers but the questions are more fun than reality. Another piece to get me thinking and remembering to look for neon lights in the future. Thanks Chip.
ShadowsNTime
First let me apologize for not coming here sooner, health issues leave me way behind on viewing and commenting! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! In 1963 I ran away from home (farm in the country) to the big city of Seattle. I have forgotten the name but there was hotel in what is now the skid row section, that many runaways took lodging in because of the very small price. That was my first encounter with 'bright lights' and neon's. Your story so reminds me of that time, I was 14 years old and very impressionable. What a difference from small town farm community to the busy and bright Seattle! I'm sure there were other neon signs but thats the only one that stuck in my mind. Neons have such a warm welcoming glow compared to regular lights... The streets were a much safer place to be back then, but then runaways watch out for each other still today. That time was also my first encounter with 'gays'. I stopped everyday to have a soda at the drugstore close to the hotel, a meeting place for runaways. There I met the most beautiful couple, I assumed it was a boy and girl. They shared with me their 'love' story, they had both run away from a detention center and so had dramatically changed their appearance so as to be invisible. But the part of the story that most intrigued me was that the 'boy' was a girl! I guess this comment is a bit off track so if you want me to delete it please tell me.I love when an artist shares his/her personal feelings and the connection they feel with their image. And you do it so very well!
minos_6
This is a brilliant image, really capturing the mood of the place you describe. As the viewer, I have the impression that it's daylight, yet street lamps are burning to pierce the gloom. The rain is perfect (it should always be raining on streets like this!), and the light reflections in the puddles and glass are a nice touch. Finally, what excellent post work! You've added a layer of digital grime to enhance the mood of your capture, and the result is outstanding! Well done!
KatesFriend
I love the 'COLOR TV' part of the sign. Quite obviously tacked on many years (and no doubt several owners) after the original hotel neon sign was put in place. The new owners being more interested in quickly attracting customers for the night than investing in a little style - 'COLOR TV' in neon. Or perhaps 'COLOUR TV', even cooler. Westinghouse was a typical TV band name found in hotels during the early colour (and cable) days. No solid state back then, everything vacuum tubes, the crackle of static and the smell of singed dust. Toasty warm and popular with the cat, if you had one at home. When the TV was turned off, 'ping' and the bright cyan dot in the centre of the screen - fade to black. But the Westinghouse fly back transformer put out too much magnetic flux, an effect which got induced into the vacuum tubes, pumping too much current through them - they were always blowing prematurely. As was the picture tube - Westinghouse was cheap to buy, costly to maintain. In a hotel like this maybe 10% of the TVs might have been in the shop at any one time. By the way, can you buy a black and white TV anymore? It's been ages since I've seen one even in the low end stores.
sawade
Hi Chip, your pic shows me a Chicago, I do not know. No television expedition find the way in such streets. In american movies there are sometimes not only the sunny sides of the towns and suburbs. The mood of your picture is very good and the smart red does the rest. Wow, there is so much to read with my little english, I think, you are a wordaholic, smile. All the best Bernd