430 by Chipka
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Description
It comes as no surprise—at least by the address emblazoned here—that Roosevelt University stands at 430 South Michigan Avenue. It dwells within an old and venerable building, visible in numerous pictures taken at the end of the 19th century. It’s a hulking structure, hewn from limestone blocks—or something visually similar, and—like many Chicago structures built over time—features decorative (oversized) arches that speak of architectural ambitions that lie dormant and forgotten in the modern day.
I like this building quite a lot, but I suspect that Hollywood has something to do with that. I’m not entirely fond of Hollywood, but I’ve been thinking of it a lot, lately. Invasion of the Body Snatchers flashed into my mind at the sight of a flagrant fungus, and as I look at this picture and recall many days strolling by Roosevelt University, I’m reminded of The Untouchables with Kevin Costner (pretending to be an actor) and Sean Connery (pretending to be from Chicago.)
For those who know the movie, there is a pivotal scene involving a rather emotionally harrowing shootout (as if there could be any other kind?) Well…this particular shootout didn’t go off as planned. As the good guys were scoping out the bad guys, a woman struggled to pull a baby carriage up an ornate flight of stairs. Yeah, you can see where this is going! Needless to say, things went as you probably saw them going. The shootout began, just as one of the good guys, being a good guy, helped the woman navigate the vast marble steps with her infant cargo safely tucked into an oversized, black pram. As the inevitable shootout began, both mother and hero (yeah, that Kevin guy) lost their grip on the baby carriage and it went zooming down the stairs as bullets zoomed in dangerously perpendicular directions to both the downward-racing baby (in the carriage) the distraught mother, and the heroic good guys out to nab Al Capone.
That scene, and the infamous marble staircase with ornate brass railings, was the grand staircase of Roosevelt University; the very grand staircase behind the unseen doors in this rather selectively-focused image.
I was less interested in all of that stuff. Instead, I was drawn to the copper ornamentation protecting very old windows in a very old building. The color has fascinated me for decades, and I’d always intended to photograph the intricate pattern of the protective copper. I got the chance last week, while wandering around downtown Chicago with Corey. It was a good day, filled with the kinds of things that make a day good…and well…I nabbed quite a number of pretty decent shots—this being one of them.
As I’d gone on—and on a bit—about the marvels of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, I decided to carry on my movie-viewing theme and tough upon The Untouchables. It’s a decent enough movie that captures a lot of what Chicago has since forgotten, and well…the soundtrack (by Ennio Morriconne) is a kicker too…especially the twisted gun-shot lullaby defining the harrowing descent of an out-of-control baby carriage. WOW! What a flick. What a scene! Check it out if you’re so inclined.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great weekend. I worked today (and didn’t make enough money) and so I’m probably off to take a short nap. It feels odd to be at home on a Saturday: far, far away from photo ops…but hey, things go that way from time to time.
Comments (26)
MagikUnicorn
WONDERFUL AND COOL WHEN SCROLING
danapommet
Wonderful capture with lots of patterns and details. Dana
Sea_Dog
Fascinating words and image, Chip.
CoreyBlack
Yes, I remember that day quite well. It was a lot of fun and a bit of a rarity these days as you've been working weekends most of the summer. I love this building, first of all because it looks so cool and second of all because it reminds me of time at Columbia College nearby. This is a great shot of some of the intricate detailing of this wonderfully Baroque old doll. Yet another example of Chicago's glorious past that shows how lacking a lot of its present is. Love the flashback to the 1987 'Untouchables'. LOL on Kevin Costner. Never did understand what all the fuss was about him. Sean Connery of course was great as the salty old cop-who reminded me of some of my old and now long dead relatives. Some people criticized his Scott's brogue at the time, but I always took it as his being a born Scott who'd emigrated to Chicago as a kid. There were A LOT of Scots-Irish living in Chicago at the time. And the baby carriage shot out scene is a classic. I can remember being down town in the summer of 1986, coming around a corner near Randolph and State and suddenly being surrounded by tons of 1920s and 30s cars on both sides of the street and camera gear and movie stuff everywhere. Some guy with a pony tail and a clipboard telling me to get out of the area. And remember, " Oneah Capone's guys puts your guy in da hospital, you put oneah his guys in da morgue! Dats da ChiiiiCAgo way!" Anyway, fantastic shot.
KatesFriend
I liked that movie - very entertaining though it is Connery who stole the show in my opinion. Jaded (though still hopeful) characters, played by jaded (and well payed - just ask Harrison Ford a few years later) actors often do. Consider Brando in Apocalypse Now, or perhaps Bugs Bunny in Apocalypse Doc. Okay, we won't go there. Patina green is a strange but wonderful colour. Perhaps because in spite of being green, most people (including myself) see it as a shade of blue (at least from a distance). A chameleon in a manner of speaking. Or a key character that is hard to pin down in the narrative. Of course patina is also the colour of life as it might have been on this world. There are not too many good reasons why copper could not be the basis of hemoglobin (blood) as iron is. Blood red has a special fascination to the human condition and it influences nearly all of our means of communicating - consider a STOP sign. No doubt patina green plays that part on some Earth-like world where the chemistry is just slightly different.
myrrhluz
It seems to me there is a comic redoing of that scene in a Leslie Nielsen movie. I'll have to ask my son. Beautiful capture of all the fancy detail in this building. I love the combination of curves and straight lines in the design. I also love the shadows behind the grill and the way the image goes into darkness at the top. Excellent image and narrative!
Sepiasiren
fantastic capture--simply lovely
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
ToniDunlap
I did wonder what 430 was about. Wonderful writing as always and a cool photo as well! I agree, Outstanding!
stolta
Fantastic capture!
helanker
WOW WHat a beautiful entrance. Perfect clarity. Well done Chip :-)
durleybeachbum
Never saw The Untouchables but loved your writings about it (and Corey's too). An excellent pic of this facade.
minos_6
With my colour blindness I unfortunately don't see this image the way you do, which is unfortunate. Or maybe not. Because I see a glorious sepia capture here which is strongly defined by the ornate metal work, and the play of light and mysterious shadow. This is a firm favourite from your gallery.
aksirp
great entrée! i remember the scene- but not the location wonderful picture and thank you for background!
Crabbycabby
Ammusing narrative and great shot. Love the blue ish tones.
flavia49
wonderful image!! I remember that movie and the the baby carriage too. When I saw the movie first thing I thought that they had "copied" it from the famous Eisenstein's "Battleship Potemkin": the baby carriage falling down the Odessa Steps.
Orinoor
The best buildings speak to us, it is what is often missing from modern architecture. I prefer looking to the past to find my way in the present, it helps to make sense of things, to give scale to our own petty endeavors. Wonderful shot and narrative.
FriedaFelicia
Love all the patterns and details. Wonderful architectural shot.
sandra46
Invasion of the Body Snatchers was a cult movie for me! but I loved Connery in the Untouchables!!! maybe you remember the scene when there is a battle at the Canada - USA border... well i met some people that still remembered those times, whose fathers worked for the Irish mob, which were allied with Al in NY state. I love the styilish facade of this building's door.
MrsRatbag
I love these old details, and this is a fantastic capture!
auntietk
KatesFriend is right about copper-based blood, of course ... Vulcans spring immediately to mind. I DO so love architectural detail, especially in Chicago. I remember this building well. It's just a couple doors down from the coffee shop with the interesting bathrooms.
beachzz
I remember that baby carriage scene, maybe the only scene in that whole movie, which also brings to mind this very weird kid's book that also had a weird baby carriage scene. But I digress--- as usual!! I DON'T remember this building, but I sure remember that bathroom (and the Irish coffee!!) ANYWAY---great shot, lots of detail and lots more of your great narrative,
sawade
Hi Chip, thankyou for this wonderful capture of the building. I have read your comment, super. I know the Untouchables very well. I did not know, that the baby carriage scene was captured in this building. So it is funny, to see your pic. It is interestant, that this scene was a little bit a great copy of a scene in the movie ´Panzerkreuzer Potemkin´ by Sergei Eisenstein, 1925 (sorry, I did not found the title in english). Brian de Palma paid homage to Eisenstein, he wanted to honor him for his great revolution-movie and in special for this similar scene. Thank you and all the best Bernd
lucindawind
wonderful architecture on this building !
jascorpio
Nice shot!!
lick.a.witch
Fabulous facade! I love the colour. ^=^