History in River North

The worst disaster in Chicago history, measured by loss of life, claimed 844 victims on July 24, 1915, when the S.S. Eastland capsized in the Chicago River at Southern border of the Chicago River between Clark and Lasalle Streets.  Just 18 minutes after reaching its capacity of 2,752 passengers, the Eastland keeled over and sank to the bottom of the river, which was just 20 feet below.  The ship was transporting Western Electric Company employees to a picnic in Michigan City, Indiana.  After nearly capsizing on July 17, 1904, officials made modifications while adding more lifeboats and life rafts to the top deck. But these changes made the ship too top-heavy.  It capsized on the very first day it was licensed to its new capacity.  George Halas, founder of the Chicago bears, worked for Western Electric and was scheduled to be on board, but he arrived late.

Officials transported many of the bodies to Chicago's second regiment armory at 110 North Carpenter Street, which served as a temporary morgue.  Harpo Studios later occupied the site.

Hugh Hefner moved out of his apartment in 1954 and created the first Playboy offices in a four-story brownstone at 11 East Superior Street, across the street from Holy Name Cathedral.  The building no longer exists.  Today a massive condominium building, The Fordham, occupies the site.

John Dillinger liked to catch jazz shows Bert Kelly's Stables, a famous nightclub located at 431 North Rush Street.  (Back then, this area was known as "Towertown.")  Bert Kelly, a banjoist from San Francisco, was an early bandleader in Chicago, and his team of house musicians included trumpeters Freddie Keppard and Joe "King" Oliver, clarinetist Johnny Dodds, and drummer Baby Dodds.  Phil Stefani's 437 Rush, a popular steakhouse, occupies the building today and retains Bert Kelly's original bar. 

The 1924 Leopold & Loeb murder trial (featuring renowned criminal defense attorney Clarence Darrow) and the 1919 Black Sox trial were two of a great many cases tried in the so-called Old courthouse" at 54 West Hubbard Street.  The building was designated a Chicago Landmark on June 9, 1993.

Jim McBride launched Mr. Skin, a website dedicated to cataloging on-screen female celebrity nude scenes, in his 39th-floor apartment at this location in August 1999.  His offices are now located in Bucktown.