Hospitals on the South Side of Chicago

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CHICAGO is called the "City of Neighborhoods." And while that phrase could loosely apply to any city in the world, it is easy to see why it was coined for Chicago. There is such a richness of diversity from one area of the city to the next, as to constitute almost a different city altogether. A traveler to the city's west-side, could not fail to notice the difference between, say, Austin and Oak Park; or on the South-side, between Bronzeville and Hyde Park; or going north, the distinction of Uptown from Lincoln Park. Each of these areas has a wealth of history that includes architecture from Sullivan to Frank Lloyd Wright; and habitats and haunts of musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Quincy Jones, Ramsey Lewis, Buddy Guy, and Maurice White of "The Elements," (that's EWF, to the uninitiated). History aside, it's important to know the places of importance, in a given neighborhood. Obviously, if you were in need of medical attention, the location of the nearest hospital(s) would be of great interest to you. For that reason, this week's post is a guide to the hospitals in the area in which I live. I sincerely hope you never need to make use of this guide, but it is far better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it!

The Incomparable Nicholas Brothers

 Musicals - In the early days of film, musicals were all the rage. The matinee idols who worked steadily, were the most versatile. All the way back to the days of "Vaudeville," the song and dance man was coveted.

Blacks In Film - Early on, actors like Stepin Fetchitt and Hattie McDaniels, could only get roles as subservient butlers, maids, etc. Then came the era, ushered in by movies like "Stormy Weather," and suddenly, there was a market for actors who could sing and dance, as well as act. This was the time when stars like Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, came to the fore. Here, we see perhaps the greatest dance team of all time, the "Incomparable" Nicholas Brothers, in what was probably their most memorable movie appearance. There were a number of good, even great , white dancers and dance teams, such as Gene Kelly, and Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. But watch this, and you will probably believe, like me, that these are the greatest dancers of all time.

The "Stormy Weather" Dance Scene - This movie highlighted the talents of the greatest black acts that were in Hollywood, at the time. Fred Astaire, reportedly called this scene, featuring the Nicholas Brother's, the greatest of all time. High praise, from one of filmdom's greatest dancers.