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During the 1920s, the Chicago Rapid Transit Company commissioned the city's finest graphic artists to produce advertising posters that encouraged Chicagoans to use rapid transit for more than commuting to work. The images produced beckoned Chicagoans to the city's parks, museums and other urban spots, as well as to more bucolic destinations beyond the city limits. Curiously, almost none of the posters actually featured the "L"TM itself, only scenic views of the destinations.
Vote for your favorite vintage L poster
chicago-l.org - 3 weeks ago - 413 views
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I am really in love with the Chicago Temple one. The way the setting sun's color hits the side of the building makes me want to believe in a god.
http://www.chicago-l.org/ads/1920sPosters/posters/ChicagoTemple.jpg
Looks like you can buy most of these posters and prints here - http://www.posterplus.com/shop/posters.asp
All the late 19th/early 20th century stuff would look fantastic in my office.
http://www.chicago-l.org/ads/1920sPosters/posters/BoulMich.jpg
Beautiful examples of Art Deco on display here.
Love the orange sunset look on "Wacker Drive." But I gotta call "Boul Mich" here my favorite. Mostly because it depicts my favorite intersection in the city, the Michigan–Wacker Historic District.
Did a little research into what "Boul Mich" actually meant, as I was unfamiliar with the term. I found the best explanation down in the comments section of an "Ask the Librarian" feature in Gapers Block from exactly 6 years ago:
It's basically the section of Michigan Ave. facing Grant Park. It's all mapped out in greater detail here in this wikipedia article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_Michigan_Boulevard_District
"Boul Mich" might be my favorite for the perspective.
Whoops, still drinking my coffee. Please disregard! :-D
http://www.chicago-l.org/ads/1920sPosters/posters/WackerDrive.jpg
http://www.chicago-l.org/ads/1920sPosters/posters/Beaches.jpg
too colorful for my tastes...
http://www.chicago-l.org/ads/1920sPosters/posters/UofC.jpg
Gotta go with the only poster that actually has a train in it!
http://www.chicago-l.org/ads/1920sPosters/posters/AvoidCongestion.jpg
I am a total sucker for elephants and monkeys!
http://www.chicago-l.org/ads/1920sPosters/posters/FieldMuseum-elephant.j...
oh! and the penguins! I cannot forget those adorable penguins!!!
Washington Park, gorgeous work.
Why are these no longer used?
I wonder if they have any up at the Quincy stop. You would think so.
My favorite: Avoid Street Congestion.
I'm in love with the Wacker Drive poster. I love the monochromatic color scheme. The color alone caught my eye and appealed to me more than any other one.
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