Sometimes it seems like Uptown is like the Hotel California... you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. Yesterday a couple members of Team UU were having lunch at Portillo's in Evergreen Park, grabbed the first empty table they could find, sat down, and what was the photo on the wall? A pair of marathon dancers from Uptown's Rainbo Gardens. (Interestingly, all the other dancing couple photos on that wall were from "Merry Gardens" -- we checked.)
We're not sure when this was taken, but our guess is during the dance marathons of the 1930s or 1940s. The inscription reads:
"Worlds Championship Marathon, Rainbo Gardens. Best Wishes, Marie & George, #3. Chicago Studios, 5237 Clark." In the 1928 Polk Directory, 5237 Clark was the site of "Swedish Massage Baths," so that's all we know about it. Now it's the where the Women and Children First bookstore is.
Whoever Team #3, Marie & George were, we hope they did well.
My first landlord was Marie Lasser. Her late husband's name was George. She spent most of her time telling stories of she and George going from ballroom to ballroom, dancing to all of the best bands of the era, and entering contests. I know it's a long shot, but it would be cool if this was a pic of George and Marie Lasser. If anyone knows of them ...their Daughter is Gail Marie Lasser who worked for Time Life and moved to Richmond VA. in the late 1980's
ReplyDeleteThe picture is not that of Marie and George Lasser. Odd that you should ask about Gail Marie Lasser as she passed away this past Saturday, 11-5-11 after a battle with cancer. My sister was 62. Funeral services are planned for next week.
ReplyDeleteWe're sitting at the Portillo's in Moreno Valley, CA with this picture on the wall by our booth, wondering about the date for the photograph. Their shoes are fancy and our picture is very sharp, so we're tending to think late 30's or early 40's.
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