McKie's Disc Jockey Show Lounge
@mckiesdjlounge.bsky.social
Started as updates from an artifact from a significant South Side club that has been spared the scrap heap. Now mostly other Woodlawn/Chgo history. Jazz & minutia. Infrequent posts.
Read here about (I may be biased) the greatest cultural loss in Chicago in 50+ years.
Some photos from Gerri's album - Quincy Jones, Flip Wilson and Jimmy Smith
Some photos from Gerri's album - Quincy Jones, Flip Wilson and Jimmy Smith
November 25, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Read here about (I may be biased) the greatest cultural loss in Chicago in 50+ years.
Some photos from Gerri's album - Quincy Jones, Flip Wilson and Jimmy Smith
Some photos from Gerri's album - Quincy Jones, Flip Wilson and Jimmy Smith
Note that the larger center house has a BOARDING sign in the old photo. 103 years later, it's still an apartment house. Across the street from this was the American Shipbuilding Company (1890-1970s) In far distance of old photo is bar & rooming house that became Kay's Pilot House.
November 25, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Note that the larger center house has a BOARDING sign in the old photo. 103 years later, it's still an apartment house. Across the street from this was the American Shipbuilding Company (1890-1970s) In far distance of old photo is bar & rooming house that became Kay's Pilot House.
John Peel at the 11/22-23 1963 press conference in Dallas
November 24, 2025 at 12:44 AM
John Peel at the 11/22-23 1963 press conference in Dallas
addendum: here's the Defender's coverage of that night:
November 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM
addendum: here's the Defender's coverage of that night:
Russell Lee's 1941 photographs of Bronzeville have very little specific information. This caption: 'the band at the Savoy Ballroom'. Well, true. But this is Count Basie's band on Easter '41. I'll try to ID who I can in this photo (1/2)
November 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Russell Lee's 1941 photographs of Bronzeville have very little specific information. This caption: 'the band at the Savoy Ballroom'. Well, true. But this is Count Basie's band on Easter '41. I'll try to ID who I can in this photo (1/2)
Here's what's weird (by modern standards): the bandstands of most places like this in Chicago (prob elsewhere too) had the band behind the bar, as in the bartenders would be below and in front of the stage and you'd face the bandstand if you were sitting on a stool.
November 19, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Here's what's weird (by modern standards): the bandstands of most places like this in Chicago (prob elsewhere too) had the band behind the bar, as in the bartenders would be below and in front of the stage and you'd face the bandstand if you were sitting on a stool.
55th St. & Harper Ave. Parker played his last Chicago gig there. It wasn't around very long, and by '60 everything was demolished for urban renewal; not even the streets are laid out the same way as they had been.
November 19, 2025 at 2:33 AM
55th St. & Harper Ave. Parker played his last Chicago gig there. It wasn't around very long, and by '60 everything was demolished for urban renewal; not even the streets are laid out the same way as they had been.
Roberts Westside in Forest Park shaking things up in '26
November 17, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Roberts Westside in Forest Park shaking things up in '26
It's almost like Lucas made an homage to this very photo in American Graffiti a few years later.
November 17, 2025 at 2:39 AM
It's almost like Lucas made an homage to this very photo in American Graffiti a few years later.
Apologies, I just saw your comment now. From this article
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/17/c...
Mitchell continues to not reply to any questions about this, including the same reporter this past week.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/17/c...
Mitchell continues to not reply to any questions about this, including the same reporter this past week.
November 16, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Apologies, I just saw your comment now. From this article
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/17/c...
Mitchell continues to not reply to any questions about this, including the same reporter this past week.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/17/c...
Mitchell continues to not reply to any questions about this, including the same reporter this past week.
This is the exterior shot of this scene. That's Rudy Ray Moore's Cadillac. Sun Ra poster is for Jazz Showcase date. House is still there, 64th & Kimbark in Woodlawn.
November 16, 2025 at 3:00 AM
This is the exterior shot of this scene. That's Rudy Ray Moore's Cadillac. Sun Ra poster is for Jazz Showcase date. House is still there, 64th & Kimbark in Woodlawn.
Found it. It's on the Schlitz brewery building at 3rd & MLK in Milwaukee.
November 13, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Found it. It's on the Schlitz brewery building at 3rd & MLK in Milwaukee.
anyway here's the cartoon for the stained glass window that was in the front. The glass manufacturer for the original window colors/styles is still in business.
November 13, 2025 at 2:41 PM
anyway here's the cartoon for the stained glass window that was in the front. The glass manufacturer for the original window colors/styles is still in business.
Making steamed hams at La Rabida
November 12, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Making steamed hams at La Rabida
Many of the the steel producers owned their own ships to get the ore from the Iron Range down to the plants (US Steel, Bethlehem, International Harvester). Cliffs currently owns mines/ships/mills. Here's the ore loading dock where the Fitz loaded, compare ship size to dock size
November 11, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Many of the the steel producers owned their own ships to get the ore from the Iron Range down to the plants (US Steel, Bethlehem, International Harvester). Cliffs currently owns mines/ships/mills. Here's the ore loading dock where the Fitz loaded, compare ship size to dock size
An aside: Lake freighter traffic in Chicago is a fraction of what it once was (So. Chgo '74) but along the Calumet you can still see them pass through inc Alpena (oldest on the lakes) & the Arthur Anderson. Sometimes tie up close enough to the bridges you can talk to the crew (photos zeolite/gerard)
November 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
An aside: Lake freighter traffic in Chicago is a fraction of what it once was (So. Chgo '74) but along the Calumet you can still see them pass through inc Alpena (oldest on the lakes) & the Arthur Anderson. Sometimes tie up close enough to the bridges you can talk to the crew (photos zeolite/gerard)
See you in Spring
November 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
See you in Spring
If you want to visit the grave of the guy who was the first person to drive on this (and a bunch of other firsts), he's buried at Lithuanian National Cemetery in Justice.
November 5, 2025 at 4:27 PM
If you want to visit the grave of the guy who was the first person to drive on this (and a bunch of other firsts), he's buried at Lithuanian National Cemetery in Justice.
(2/2)The Dale band had a constantly changing lineup of jobbing jazz players incl. Ammons, Stitt, Konitz, Cy Touff, Gene Wright, Lou Levy, Eckstine. Only played live/radio, so there are no studio recordings. Fox made all their stage clothing & bankrolled the band.
November 4, 2025 at 9:06 PM
(2/2)The Dale band had a constantly changing lineup of jobbing jazz players incl. Ammons, Stitt, Konitz, Cy Touff, Gene Wright, Lou Levy, Eckstine. Only played live/radio, so there are no studio recordings. Fox made all their stage clothing & bankrolled the band.
(1/2) Confluence of '40s Chicago hipster: '47 radio check on WGES of Jimmy Dale Band on Al Benson (pioneer Black DJ). Dale's band was actually paid for by Harold Fox, Chicago purveyor of the zoot suit (store still in biz), recorded by Myron Bachman who had Bruce Goff remodel his house that year
November 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM
(1/2) Confluence of '40s Chicago hipster: '47 radio check on WGES of Jimmy Dale Band on Al Benson (pioneer Black DJ). Dale's band was actually paid for by Harold Fox, Chicago purveyor of the zoot suit (store still in biz), recorded by Myron Bachman who had Bruce Goff remodel his house that year
Wow I finally saw a Simpsons gag in real life
November 2, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Wow I finally saw a Simpsons gag in real life
Late night nicotine scrubbing
October 31, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Late night nicotine scrubbing
DeJohnette's childhood apartment on 51st & Champlain. His uncle was the WVON disc jockey Roy Wood.
October 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
DeJohnette's childhood apartment on 51st & Champlain. His uncle was the WVON disc jockey Roy Wood.