Elmhurst panel looks back to the '70s
Music, culture, baseball and radio all collided in a perfect storm on July 12, 1979, at Chicago's Comiskey Park on an evening that has become known as Disco Demolition Night.
What really happened that night, and what set the tone for an event that was innocently billed as Teen Night and ended up going down in Chicago sports and radio history as the night that disco died?
The Elmhurst History Museum presents a panel discussion on "Chicago in the 1970s: Music, Sports and Radio" at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 23, at the museum's Education Center, 120 E. Park Ave. The program will be moderated by Dave Hoekstra, author, journalist and WGN-AM Chicago weekend host, and writer of the museum's current exhibit "Disco Demolition: The Night Disco Died."
The panel discussion brings together some key players from Chicago's cultural, sports and media scene who will offer their perspectives on what went on during this historic event and during the 1970s. Panel participants are:
• Bob Chicoine, former Comiskey Park vendor;
• Mitch Michaels, former WLUP program manager and rock DJ since 1971;
• Jim Rittenberg, general manager Faces disco club;
• Jeff Schwartz, former WLUP general sales manager,
• Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune baseball writer;
• and Mike Veeck, former White Sox promotions manager and minor league team owner.
Hoekstra will lead the discussion, which will include an audience question-and-answer session with the panelists. The cost is $10 for Elmhurst Heritage Foundation members and $15 for nonmembers. Registration is limited and required, and can be made online at www.elmhursthistory.org in the Adult Programs section or on Brown Paper Tickets at http://bpt.me/2934453.
This program is presented in conjunction with the exhibit, "Disco Demolition: The Night Disco Died," which is on display at the museum through Oct. 8.
The exhibit was inspired by a book with the same title by Steve Dahl with Dave Hoekstra and photos by Paul Natkin. Exhibition hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. General admission is free, and limited free parking is available.
For the latest exhibit and program information, visit www.elmhursthistory.org or call (630) 833-1457.