Jul 24, 2009 12:58 pm US/Central
Second City Offers Tours Of Old Town Neighborhood
Tours Promise Both History Lessons And Laughs
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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A residential block in the Old Town neighborhood.
CBS
The Second City improve comedy group is breaking out of its confines at Piper's Alley to take you on a guided tour of the Old Town neighborhood.
"Second City's Neighborhood Tour" is described as a "humorous and historic" walking tour of Old Town. It began last weekend, and will continue every Sunday and Wednesday through Oct. 4.
The tour highlights the architecture, history and development of the neighborhood, as well as the venues where Second City alumni used to while away their hours.
Among the highlights are St. Michael's Church, 1633 N. Cleveland Ave.; the Old Town Ale House, 219 W. North Ave., and the Pipers Alley complex and North Avenue and Wells Street where Second City's main and e.t.c. stages are located, the New City newspaper reported.
After winding its way through the neighborhood, the tour ends back at Second City, 1616 N. Wells St., where patrons can view photos displaying 50 years of comedy.
"It's architectural, historical and has a lot of great anecdotes about Chicago personalities," Second City said on its Web site.
Margaret Hicks is the primary guide and writer for the tour. Second City had offered a similar tour sometime back, and Hicks wanted to revive it, Second City managing director Jenna Altobelli told the New City.
Originally, Second City was thinking of staging a tour of the entire city, but later decided to stick to Old Town because of the history and landmarks, Altobelli told the New City.
Second City has been in Old Town throughout all of its 50 years. First organized by a group of University of Chicago students, Second City opened on Dec. 16, 1959, at 1842 N. Wells St., a few blocks north of their current home.
In the 1960s, Old Town was the epicenter of Chicago's hippie and countercultural movement. Head shops and curiosities such as a wax museum and a Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum lined Wells Street.
The Earl of Old Town and other clubs brought folk musicians such as John Prine, Bob Gibson and Steve Goodman, and even visits from Bob Dylan.
In later years, the neighborhood became seedy and businesses left. But new businesses revived the neighborhood to the bustling boutique district that it is today, with some of the priciest real estate in town.
Some of famous old spots still remain, including the Zanies comedy club, the Up Down Tobacco Shop, the Bijou adult theater, and of course, Second City. Some of famous old spots still remain, including the Zanies comedy club, the Up Down Tobacco Shop, the Bijou adult theater, and of course, Second City.
"Second City's Neighborhood Tour" begins at 4 p.m. on Sundays and Wednesdays through Oct. 4. Tickets are $15, and are available by calling (312) 337-3992 or online at
secondcity.com.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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