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Poll names Walt Disney the top entertainer in Illinois history

Posted September 04, 2018 1:00 am

Doug T. Graham

Walt Disney was born in Chicago.

Walt Disney was named the top entertainer in Illinois history in a new poll conducted by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, The (Springfield) State Journal-Register newspaper and the Illinois Bicentennial Commission.

Although he may be most strongly associated with Florida and California where his famous eponymous theme parks were built, Disney was born in Chicago and studied at what is now the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Disney came out just in front of comic performers Bob Newhart, who is from Oak Park, and Jack Benny, who was born in Chicago and grew up in Waukegan.

Peoria native Richard Pryor was fourth on the list, and Oprah Winfrey, who rose to atmospheric heights from her Chicago TV studio, was fifth.

Rounding out the Top 10 were musician Quincy Jones, filmmaker John Hughes, magazine mogul Hugh Hefner, baseball owner Bill Veeck and TV producer Shonda Rhimes.

The poll is part of the Top 200 project, which lets Illinoisans vote every two weeks on the state's most inspiring leaders, greatest inventions, top businesses and more. By the state's bicentennial on Dec. 3, voters will have chosen 10 favorites in 20 different categories - the Illinois Top 200.

Future categories include athletes, trailblazing women and unforgettable moments. The public is invited to suggest possible nominees in each category by using the hashtag #ILtop200 on social media.

Bob Newhart, who is from Oak Park, arrives at night one of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Associated Press/Sept. 10, 2016

Jack Benny was from Waukegan

Richard Pryor was from Peoria.

Oprah Winfrey poses in the press room with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Winfrey's Chicago-based talk show catapulted her to fame. Associated Press/Jan. 7, 2018

Chicago native Quincy Jones was inducted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Associated Press/2012

Filmmaker John Hughes lived in Northbrook during the later part of his childhood.

Hugh Hefner arrives at the 50th anniversary party for his Playboy magazine. Hefner was born and raised in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Associated Press/2003

Bill Veeck, new owner of the Chicago White Sox, clowns as he stands outside the White Sox ballpark holding the keys to the park on Dec. 16, 1975. Veeck was heard to say, "It's all mine." Associated Press

Television producer Shonda Rhimes arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif. Rimes was born in Chicago and grew up in the South suburbs. Associated Press/March 4, 2018

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