The executive board decides

Building Service Employees International Union president David Sullivan had said he didn’t want the union to be in the real estate business. And on July 10, 1964, Marina Management Corporation, led by Charles Swibel, purchased from the international union and two affiliates full control of Marina City for $2,625,000 ($17.6 million in 2007 dollars). They made a down payment of $750,000 and would pay the balance over five years at three percent interest.

McFetridge’s Local 1 union would retain one-third interest in the project. Marina Management Corporation would get two-thirds. It would also get to make the payments on the $17.8 million mortgage.

And there was a refinancing by Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company that shook loose five million extra dollars to complete the office building, recreational facilities, and plaza.

In time, the entire union stake in Marina City would be purchased by Charles Swibel.

Howard Swibel, son of the developer, recalls that at the time, McFetridge “was being pushed out, and he wanted more money to be invested by the unions to save the project. The other unions said no, not only do we not want to invest more money, we want to get out.”

“My father gave me little bits of philosophy along the way, and one of them was that people who are older and in power often do not voluntarily relinquish their power. And Bill [McFetridge] was older, he wasn’t really vigorous, and instead of making room for younger people coming up in the union, he wanted it more.”

Howard says the stress was contagious. “I think my father was stressed because his friend was stressed out, and he was sad for his friend, and his friend wasn’t going to be able to stay in power.”

Swibel believes his father may have felt responsible because he had recruited the unions to make the investment in the first place. “So, it was stressful because he didn’t want them to get hurt. He wanted to make it all work.”

Charles Swibel (Left) Charles Swibel, circa 1964

Marina City stars in its first movies

Goldstein was Philip Kaufman’s first film and it included scenes at Marina City. Kaufman would go on to direct Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Right Stuff, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and Henry & June. He would also write for the Raiders of the Lost Ark films.

But in 1964, he made Goldstein, a low-budget, 85-minute black-and-white film about a prophetic old man that won the Prix de la Nouvelle Critique award at Cannes Film Festival.

The film starred Lou Gilbert as the old man, Ellen Madison, Ben Carruthers, Second City alumni Del Close, Severn Darden, Anthony Holland, and Jack Burns. Noted Chicago writer Nelson Algren also made an appearance, as himself. Scenes were filmed inside an apartment at Marina City.

Frames from Philip Kaufman’s 1964 film Goldstein, which includes scenes filmed at Marina City.

1. Base of east residential tower. 2. Balcony of east-facing apartment in east tower. 3. Hallway of what is probably a two-bedroom apartment. 4. Living room. 5. Central hallway.

Watch Marina City scene from Goldstein. Warning: Mature content.

The Marina City scenes were filmed in either late 1963 or early 1964. Around May 1964, scenes were filmed at Marina City for Mickey One, which was released the following year by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by Arthur Penn, whose work includes The Miracle Worker, Bonnie and Clyde, and Alice’s Restaurant.

The film starred Warren Beatty as a nightclub comic fleeing the Detroit Mob for Chicago.

Scenes were filmed inside a residential unit and corridor, at the skating rink, the west tower parking ramp, and on the Chicago River. For the scene at the skating rink, a large animated artwork was constructed and then destroyed by fire for the movie.

Frames from 1965 film Mickey One. (Top right) Exterior set constructed on skating rink. (Lower left) Warren Beatty in front of a Marina City apartment. (Lower right) Rare close-up view of large billboard near west tower for Seay & Thomas Inc., a Chicago real estate firm that would be hired 24 years later to sell the commercial property at Marina City.

 Exterior Marina City scene from Mickey One featuring Warren Beatty as Mickey, Alexandra Stewart as Jenny, noted Japanese actor Kamatari Fujiwara (1905-1985) as “The Artist,” and the Chicago Fire Department.

 Interior Marina City scene from Mickey One with Beatty and Hurd Hatfield (1917-1998) as Mr. Castle.

Marina City Promenade

31,000 invitations were mailed for “Marina City Promenade,” a benefit that took place on September 25, 1964. From 10 a.m. to four p.m., the public could tour the National Design Center, the commercial building at Marina City, observation deck, several private apartments, and the marina.

Special exhibits included a model of a nuclear power station, demonstration of television banking at Marina City Bank, boat hoisting and launching at the marina, and displays of home furnishings.

The benefit was for a scholarship fund and Midway Studios, the fine arts studios of the University of Chicago.