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The Chicago Log Race with the Haunted House in the background
| The Old Chicago Fairgrounds had "31 great rides and attractions" beneath the dome. When it opened, Old Chicago charged $1.00 for admission to the ride area (50 cents for kids), and then charged a flat fee for unlimited rides. A spiral entrance ramp led from the mall level down to the park level, where the rides were arranged in a large circle. Trees, benches and streetlights provided a park-like atmosphere. |
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| rides Round-up Tilt-a-Whirl Chicago Bobs Scrambler Spider Merry-go-round Chicago Log Race (water ride) Monster Of The Midway Rotor Antique Cars Barnstormer Crash of '29 (bumper cars) Enterprise Trabant Ferris Wheel Chicago Cat (standard coaster) Chicago Loop (corkscrew coaster) Paratroopers Four Seasons (dark ride) Yo-Yo Toboggan Screamer Windy City Flyer
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other attractions kiddie rides carnival games guess-your-weight shooting gallery arcade games vaudeville theatre souvenir stands moon walk dunk tank handwriting analysis snack bars haunted house Fun Factory caricature artists circus 
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| The Fun Factory was a two-story children's play area added in 1977. This attraction charged a separate admission fee. |
The view from the entrance ramp, showing
the Chicago Loop roller coaster, Guess-Your-Weight booth
and Chicago Log Race (behind the balloons)
Front: kiddie rides, Merry-go-Round, Spider
Back: Chicago Cat roller coaster, Round-Up, Four Seasons
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nightlife & special events *Windy City Disco *Private parties *Teen disco nights *Radio station promotions *Rock concerts *The WLS Big 89 Countdown: -----broadcast live from Old Chicago -----on New Year's Eve 1979 *Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon: -----drive-up collection area in the parking -----lot, remote broadcasts inside *Fireworks on the Fourth of July *Pepsi Challenge *Miss Teenage Chicago Pageant *Scenes from the 1978 movie The Fury -----were filmed in both the ride area -----and shopping mall 
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 Many rock bands, musicians and other celebrities appeared at Old Chicago during its five-year history. Former employee Greg Eischen remembers.... "The entertainers would often go on a few rides and getting autographs while working was not allowed. In a lot of cases, employees were asked to become temporary roadies and help load and unload the equipment. I often volounteered to help roll the cases and pianos off the truck and to the stage area. They perfomed in an area called the Old Chicago Stage, which was added in 1978.. The stage was placed where the Paratrooper ride stood (next to the Haunted House).. The Paratrooper ride was not moved, but removed and sold off for some reason. On one of my first days working at Old C, 20 employees were asked to help hold the guy wires for Karl Wallenda, a 70 year old famous tight rope walker. I was one of those lucky 20. We had a two hour training class given by his sons on how to hold the wire and steady it as he approched our zone. In this class we actually got to meet Karl. With the wire crossing inside the building from one side to the other, he crossed the park successfully with no mishaps. It was an interesting sight to see him suspended over the log ride. Sadly, his next tight rope walk between two buildings in Michigan was not successful and he fell to his death." | partial list of performers Black Oak Arkansas Tommy James and the Shondells The Coasters Wild Cherry Willie Aimes Anson Williams Freddie ‘Boom Boom’ Cannon Chubby Checker Chuck Berry Peter Tork Jan and Dean Jerry Lee Lewis Little Richard Rip Taylor Sha-Na-Na The Ramones Rex Smith Gary ‘US’ Bonds The Shirelles Blood, Sweat and Tears The Hudson Brothers Gloria Gaynor The Guess Who Rick Nelson The Star Wars Robots (C3PO & R2D2) Karl Wellenda |
the circus
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During construction
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