The Street Life of Chicago in the 1970s through these Fabulous Vintage Photos

In the early 1970s, life was good in Chicago city. Railways provided employment, churches influenced many people, the heavy industry remained in the city. The mid-1970s saw the first signs of gentrification in nearby neighborhoods due to the downtown office revival. The political turmoil following Daley’s death in 1976 took headlines away from the nascent downtown revival.

There used to be all kinds of small family-owned businesses along Diversey Parkway and Halsted Street. Besides bakeries, butcher shops, diners, liquor stores, and old-fashioned barber shops, only a few pharmacies.

Today, all those businesses have disappeared and have been replaced by trendy restaurants, upscale boutiques, wine stores, luxury furniture stores, and glassware stores. There are also spas in most of the buildings. Businesses there cater to the yuppies now living there.

These fascinating photos show the street life of Chicago in the 1970s.

#1 Randolph Street, Chicago, 1970s

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#2 Belmont and Sheffield, Chicago, circa 1970s

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#3 Chicago in a snowy day, 1970s

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#4 Roscoe and Halsted Streets, Chicago, 1970s

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#5 The Walgreens, Chicago, 1970s

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#6 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 1970

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#7 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 1970

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#8 Maxwell Street, Chicago, 1973

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#9 Chicago skyline viewed from 333 N. Michigan, 33rd Floor, 1974

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#10 Book store at 128 W. Lake Street, Chicago, 1970s

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#11 Chicago from above, circa 1970s

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#12 Chicago in a snowy day, 1970s

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#13 Chicago in a snowy day, 1970s

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#14 Chicago in a snowy day, 1970s

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#15 Chicago kids, circa 1970s

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#16 Chicago kids, circa 1970s

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#17 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

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#18 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

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#19 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

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#20 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

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#21 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

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#22 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

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#23 Michigan Ave., Chicago, 1970s

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#24 Michigan Avenue Bridge, Chicago, 1970s

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#25 North Clark Street, Chicago, 1970s

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#26 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, 1970s

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#27 Randolph and State Streets, Chicago, 1970s

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#28 Randolph Street, Chicago, 1970s

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#29 Randolph Street, Chicago, 1970s

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#30 Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago, 1970

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#31 Kinzie Street looking west from State Street, Chicago, 1970

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#32 Michigan and Washington, Chicago, 1970

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#33 Wabash and Randolph Streets, Chicago, 1970

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#34 Fulton fish market, Chicago, 1972

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#35 Maxwell Street, Chicago, 1973

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#36 Seed seller at Randolph and State, Chicago, 1973

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#37 Chicago in a snowy day, 1970s

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#38 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

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#39 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

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#40 Diversey and Broadway, Chicago, 1970s

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#41 Fulton Market, Chicago, 1970s

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#42 Maxwell Street Market, Chicago, 1970s

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#43 On the right beneath the Playdium Parking Bowl sign, was originally the entrance to the Covent Theatre.

The Covent Hotel is still standing today, Chicago, 1970s

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#44 Randolph Street, Chicago, 1970s

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#45 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, 1970s

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#46 South east bound Lincoln on the left and Racine on the right at Diversey, Chicago, 1970s

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