John Kitsco

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Back in 1971 I drove a 1967 Red Valiant to Chicago, took a room at the Bryn Mar Hotel. My intention was to be a writer. I remember the hotel had a murphy bed that tucked into the wall, a deep bath tub and there I was, a Canadian in an American City. 1971. Prior to the journey I had gotten married but my wife remained in Canada for awhile to complete her student teaching. Sure it was a little lonely but perhaps those were the times when I truly embraced my writing. The hot dog vendors were out on the street in Chicago with the Vienna Red Hots, many people walked along the lake area near Lakeshore Drive. I had never seen a newspaper with so many pages on the obituary section as in the Chicago Tribune. Or the large number of funeral parlors. The best beer shrimp was served at a restaurant called Mayors Row, which also had the walls covered with machine guns and a few gangster pictures (from the 20's). I even dined at both the Gaslight and Playboy Club, where Phyllis Diller was doing her comedy routine. The John Hancock Building was a popular tourist attraction with an elevator which took you up to the roof, the Art Gallery had a fantastic collection of work by
Picasso. Popular films were Little Big Man and Midnight Cowboy (with Dustin Hoffman). You could attend a Woody Herman big band gig and sit a few seats away from Woody.

I put a sticker on the old red Valiant that came from a popcorn box, the sticker read, International Detective. Perhaps that was the reason the car was never broken into. A guy at a gas station called me Ace. Pandhandlers were everywhere. And a few people slept rolled up in carpets in the alleys. Yes, this was Chicago and the year was l971.

But most of all I cannot forget the friendly and helpful folks of the city, the windy city as it is known. Sing on Frankie.  Chicago, Chicago....

Thinking back, I left my heart...in Chicago.
A young writer, a tough city with a big heart.
Hot, humid sometimes but a city well known for
many wonderful things, most of all the citizens themselves, who live in this great city...people who
showed much kindness to this young writer from Canada and therefore, a city I shall never forget....
Chicago, Chicago, that wonderful town.
Chicago, Chicago I'll show you around....