Time To Celebrate Some Local Memorable Anniversaries

As it turns out, we are not alone in wanting to party a little this year. The Art Institute of Chicago, for instance, arrived to Michigan Avenue almost exactly a full century before we even started. The Chicago Bears make us look like rookies too. George Halas is never far from our thoughts during football season—his name graces the team’s headquarters—but by Super Bowl time, it will have been 100 years since he founded the Decatur Staleys, the franchise that became the Bears. Here’s hoping the current quarterback (No. 10 on the field, and No. 8 in this issue’s “25 Most Intriguing Chicagoans” feature) makes this a season worth celebrating.

OI’s stone bull’s head

American Ballet Theatre

Also reaching the century mark is the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. This extraordinary gem is more hidden than it should be: Its collection, 350,000 objects strong, is rivaled only by the British Museum and the Louvre. Another beloved cultural icon, American Ballet Theatre, not only turns 80 this year, but marks as many years at the Auditorium Theatre—which, as fate would have it, is about to launch its 130th season.

The Music Box

Mira Couture

The Music Box Theatre turned 90 in August—an anniversary that might not usually turn our head, but as a rule we’ll take any chance we have to showcase heroic independents. That’s partly why we’ve noted that Mira Couture, one of the city’s top providers of gala gowns and wedding dresses, kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration earlier this year.

And finally, let us mention the Joffrey Academy of Dance’s Choreographic Competition, now celebrating 10 years. Winners not only take home $5,000, but they also get to make their work on this extraordinary company.

CS December 1995

Pardon me if this sounds immodest, but we feel a connection to these institutions that goes beyond sharing an anniversary; over the past 25 years, we have been proud to cover them, helping spread the word about the wonderful people involved and the wonderful things they are doing. Forgive us, too, if we voice our hope that they, and we, will be around for 25 more.