Tuesday, November 18, 2008

"Kenya" #6


Scan10968, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

While showing Medinah Temple in Chicago early the next year the herd is marching from the Armory seen in the background, where they were stabled at night.
Elephants are "Anna May", "Jean", "Millie", "Opal" and "Kae" with "Kenya" and "Stella" alongside.

Posted by Buckles at 11/18/2008 06:09:00 AM

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I recall walking along with the herd up Chicago Ave. on a chilly day in March. Didn't Stella have a "snow suit" for such weather?

18 November, 2008 11:19
Anonymous said...

Buckles, the buildings in the background are not the Chicago Avenue Armory. On the left is the Water Tower and on the right, across Michigan Avenue, is the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station. These were the only public buildings in the area to survive the Chicago Fire of 1871. Designed in 1869 using large limestone blocks, they are constructed in a gothic style that's somewhat reminiscent of medieval castles. The tower is now functionally obsolete but the pumping station is still used.

The elephants and other lead stock participating in the annual Medinah Temple Shrine circus were housed one bloc to the east in the basement of the Chicago Avenue Armory and marched each day down Chicago Avenue to Medinah Temple. The armory, built in 1907 used by the Illinois National Guard and for several was home to Cavalry units and hosted international indoor polo tournaments. The castle-style building was torn down in 1991 to make room for The Museum of Contemporary Art.

Medinah Temple, a colorful Islamic-looking building replete with pointed domes, was built by the Shriners in 1912, The building originally housed an ornate auditorium seating approximately 4,200 on three levels. The stage floor extended a considerable distance into the auditorium and the seating was arranged in a U-shape around it. ). Among the many events that took place in this venue was the annual Shrine Circus. Beginning in late 2000 the exterior of the building was restored and the interior gutted and reconstructed for use as retail space. It is currently occupied by Bloomingdale's Home and Furniture Store which opened in 2003.

19 November, 2008 10:21

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