City - Chicago - Traffic jam on Dearborn St by Mike Savad

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Description Colorized photo from 1909, MayOriginal title: Traffic jam on Dearborn Street, Chicago, IllinoisPhotographer: Frank M. HallenbeckLocation: Dearborn and Randolph, Chicago, ILTraffic was a real nightmare in the past, no one directing traffic, no traffic lights, no stop signs etc, anyone could go at any time, dodging people, streetcars and wagons. How people didn't die every second is beyond me. This image became iconic to Chicago since the early 1900's. People associated it with how busy this city was and how hectic the streets were.There was only one problem, its fake, the entire scene was staged. It seems that the Chicago Commerce Dept, paid the cops to sit back for 5 minutes and let the traffic pile up so they can get a look at what would happen if there were no traffic cops directing traffic. It was later used in 1911 titled, 'For five minutes the police refrained from regulation of traffic at Randolph and Dearborn Streets'.There are different stories of how it happened, some said the photographer paid the cops not to do there job for 5 minute, for a photo op, but that doesn't seem likely. Nor does it look like 5 minutes passed, as there are a lot of people, and a lot of street cars. If we figure there is a new car every block to block and a half, they would have had to sit there for a while to accumulate like that. With all the noise and such, people noticed and went to the windows, people are posing and looking at the photographer even at a great distance. The street car towards us, would have already have left the scene since they aren't in the intersection. So I'm thinking this was closer to 20 or more minutes to set this up. They didn't mention how long it took to untangle the mess or how late people were.Staged or not, its still a fascinating image, showing what types of goods were moved about. The barrel wagon, another full of crates, or that one that is filled with 5 gallon glass jugs, imagine having to carry that up a flight of stairs with w

Mike Savad, Westfield, NJ
Member Since August 2009
Artist Statement My name is Mike Savad, I create one of a kind creations. Photo realistic is what people think of first. There are many themes, flowers, porches, and local Suburban Scenes, some city, some urban. I also have many Job inspired images that cover a quite a range. If your looking for a gift for your Pharmacist, Doctor, Dentist, Lawyer, Barber, Gardner, Fireman etc, there should be something there for you. These will look very nice hanging on your wall, or in a waiting room, even a hotel room. My art is inspired by Norman Rockwell and Paintings from the time of the Renaissance.