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Today, all those businesses have disappeared and have been replaced by trendy restaurants, upscale boutiques, wine stores, luxury furniture stores, and glassware stores.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

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#2 Belmont and Sheffield, Chicago, circa 1970s

2 Points

Upvote Downvote

#3 Chicago in a snowy day, 1970s

2 Points

Upvote Downvote

#4 The Walgreens, Chicago, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#5 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 1970

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#6 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 1970

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#7 Maxwell Street, Chicago, 1973

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

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

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

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

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#10 Chicago from above, circa 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#11 Chicago in a snowy day, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#12 Chicago in a snowy day, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#13 Chicago in a snowy day, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#14 Chicago kids, circa 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#15 Chicago kids, circa 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#16 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#17 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#18 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#19 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#20 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#21 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#22 Michigan Ave., Chicago, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#23 Michigan Avenue Bridge, Chicago, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#24 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#25 Randolph and State Streets, Chicago, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#26 Randolph Street, Chicago, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#27 Roscoe and Halsted Streets, Chicago, 1970s

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#28 Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago, 1970

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

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

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30 Michigan and Washington, Chicago, 1970

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#31 Wabash and Randolph Streets, Chicago, 1970

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#32 Maxwell Street, Chicago, 1973

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

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

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#34 Chicago in a snowy day, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#35 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#36 Chicago street scenes, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#37 Diversey and Broadway, Chicago, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#38 Fulton Market, Chicago, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#39 Maxwell Street Market, Chicago, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#40 North Clark Street, Chicago, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#41 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

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#42 Randolph Street, Chicago, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#43 Randolph Street, Chicago, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#44 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, 1970s

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

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

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#46 Fulton fish market, Chicago, 1972

-1 Points

Upvote Downvote