As the town still smarts from news that Marshall Fields will disappear after Christmas, this month's Chicago magazine compiles a list of post-WWII era Chicago icons that still exist... for now.
The list -- "25 Treasures of Vanishing Chicago" -- shies away from the obvious picks, and instead includes entries such as Melrose Park's KiddieLand; Oak Lawn's Italo-American Accordion Company; the North side's Aragon Ballroom; the South- and west-side dance "steppin'"; Jo and Newton Minow (he, of course, the famous FCC chairman who called TV a "vast wasteland" in 1961); the Chicago Skyway toll bridge; two 52-year-old hangars at Midway Airport; and several Blues legends.
So what does this have to do with Los Angeles? Glad you asked. Let's compile a list of some of L.A.'s "Vanishing Treasures." Aging icons that we should appreciate now, while they're still around. (And I'm not just talking about endangered buildings, either.)
I suppose some obvious picks would include eateries like Langer's and buildings like... well, I can name a dozen in downtown alone. But thinking outside the usual, what are some other oldtime institutions we should be appreciative of? Here are some of my picks:
KTLA's Stan Chambers
The Arroyo Seco Parkway (a.k.a. the 110 freeway)
Los Feliz's Radio Walk stairway
San Pedro's Warner Grand Theatre
The Los Angeles aqueduct
See's Candies
That, of course, is just a start. Your nominations? Add 'em to the comments below.
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