The fascinating locations that we feature in this quick doc are mostly Windy City sites (The Chicago Cultural Center, Andersonville's Brown Elephant, The Essanay Building, The Ghost Church of Pilsen, and Wicker Park's Vitamin Vault) with one exception (the Traverse City Commons in Michigan).
Three narrators because why not?: Nancy Quint (history buff and my mother!), co-director Jack Syron, and writer-director Derek Quint.
This month's edition of Addovolt Explorations, "(re)Purposeful", is a little bit longer than the usual quick docs but there was a lot of ground to cover (literally). The video is HERE on YouTube. Still photos from this project are below.
The other Addovolt Explorations are HERE.
co-director and narrator Jack Syron (and some random customers in the background) focusing on health at the Vitamin Vault
most places that sell 8 different flavors of Doritos don't have ornate ceilings or skylights but the Vitamin Vault Walgreens--a former bank--isn't a typical drug store
old-school drugstore artifacts displayed within the Vitamin Vault
Jack checking the milligrams
view of Pilsen's Ghost Church from 19th Street
the peak of the steeple showing modern reinforcements
a protective shield covers the crucifix; the building is more of an historic brick shell than anything else by this point
still holds up: a view of the church from Peoria Street
The former Essanay movie studio is now a series of residences
terracotta embellishments framing the front entrance
historical plaque describing the building's history
a slot hatch on the side of the Essanay building (is this where silent movie actors would drop their headshots? probably not)
the original use of this address on Clark Street is clear from the words above the top window
chipped murals on the walls behind shelves selling used books
director Derek Quint, oblivious to his surroundings
performance art: ragged but still charming details within the main (former) auditorium space
Traverse City Commons was an expansive asylum that's been rehabbed for multiple current uses
one of the abandoned buildings in the back on the Traverse Commons complex tagged, appropriately, with "Cruel Summer" in pastel pink
American Gothic: some structures at the Commons are still on the to-do list when it comes to repairs
narrator Nancy Quint goes full-on Nancy Drew outside one of the abandoned houses at the Commons; the over-the-top "KEEP OUT" sign couldn't be more perfect
The Chicago Cultural Center used to be a (ridiculously lavish) library
intricate tilework on one of the main staircases
quotes from classic authors are in mosaics all over the building; this one reads: "A good book is the precious life blood of a master spirit embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life."--Milton
and last but not least: the ceiling of the Preston Bradley Hall inside the Chicago Cultural Center
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