[rating=4]If you love Chicago and learning about the entertainment contained within, a sort of History of Chicago and its entertainment, you will truly enjoy “Entertaining Chicago” written by Neal Samors and Bob Dauber. It is not just stage and theater, but sports, clubs and anything that one might find perfect for a “night on the town” or a “first date”.
The book is a compilation of stories and interviews relative to entertainment and our city. Filled with memories ( at least for me) of Rush Street, Riverview, Hyde park, the sports arenas and so much more. The book contains over 75 photographs where we see the glamour of Rush Street and Mister Kelly’s, The Happy Medium ( where I worked), down to Michigan Avenue and the glorious London House where jazz truly shined.There are interviews and stories from notable people such as Shelley Berman, Shecky Greene, Gary Sinese, Tom Dreesen, Tim Reid, my good buddy, Tim Kazurinsky, Joe Mantegna, Corky Siegal, Ronnie Rice, Bill Peterson, Judy Roberts and Bonnie Koloc ( and a host of others).
Chicago was a hub and as many of us know, we are truly the entertainment city of the United States, no matter what the people in New York or L.A. say! After all, what do they know? Much of what has happened, when it comes to entertainment, began here and we are still, in my opinion THE place to be. Based on the interviews in this wonderful book, it appears that the authors and those who spoke about their memories truly are on that page!
The book , if you were around during the 50’s and beyond, will bring back many memories. I know they did for me. Reading the interviews of sports people who I watched play was powerful. More powerful was reading the stories about the actors who started their careers here and even though they are major players now, still feel that Chicago is their home!
The stories about the Marienthal Brothers ( Oscar and George) are very close to my heart. In 1961 , I went to work for them at The Happy Medium club on Rush and Delaware. The show was “Medium Rare”, a Revue. In the cast , Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. They left to do other things, but they were fun to work with. Donna Mills ( who was Donna Miller, then) was one of the dancers. I lived in Northbrook and she in Palatine, so often when we had some days off, I would drive her from the city to the burbs. I told you, great memories!
Many of the mini interviews will give you insight into the people whom you have watched over the years. Chicago theater goers have witnessed Mike Nussbaum on almost every stage in town over the last 40 some years. In this book, you get an idea as to how he became who he is.
Again, this is theater, sports, music, (classical and jazz), comedy clubs, singers, and a great deal more.
The introduction by Gary T. Johnson, President of The Chicago History Museum truly sets the tone. We are going back in time. To a place where music was lively, jazz was everywhere, theater was starting to blossom and sports was plentiful. Hard working people needed to unwind, so clubs and taverns opened in every neighborhood. Based on the population, they offered different things. Clubs were everywhere and Chicago had “Night Clubs” where entertainment was served with dinner. Movie theaters like the Chicago Theatre, not only had first run films, but people like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis would go on their stage and do the types of shows one might see on The Ed Sullivan Show. Yes, TV as it was back then, in many ways replaced part of our social entertainment, but there were so many ways to be entertained, it wasn’t until years later that many of us realized this.
I truly feel that this is a book that deserves to be read by people who love the city and those who hunger for knowledge about the 20th Century and Chicago. I have a feeling that they are starting to compile info for the next volume. Meanwhile, “Entertaining Chicago”, published by Chicago’s Book Press is available at bookstores throughout Chicagoland and online at www.Amazon.com. Or thru www.chicagobookspress.com
About the Authors
Neal Samors, a Chicago native, is an award-winning author, co-author and independent publisher of twenty-six books about Chicago, life in its neighborhoods over the decades, downtown, Lake Shore Drive, North Michigan Avenue, Chicago River, the airports. His books have won three Independent Publisher Awards in History along with several Illinois State Historical Society awards. Bob Dauber, who grew up in Chicago, is a Creative Consultant who has worked in advertising and broadcast media throughout his career. He lived in Dallas, Texas for 33 years where he was preeminent in the film/video production industry and was awarded the Dallas Producer Association’s Film Pioneer Award in 2010 emblematic of lifetime achievement. With Neal Samors and Eric Bronsky, he co-authored the book “Chicago’s Classic Restaurants.” In addition to being an author, he produces and hosts a weekly radio show called “JAZZ LIVES!”
Bob Dauber is a creative consultant, who grew up in Chicago and has great memories of his youth. He co-authored “Chicago’s Classic Restaurants” with Samors and Eric Bronsky. In addition to his writing, he 
produces and hosts a weekly radio show called “Jazz Lives”.
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