Station of Tomorrow

In October 1964, there were five UHF television channels assigned to Chicago, and WFLD had one of them, channel 32. Field Communications, which owned the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Daily News, announced plans to construct a 1,000,000 watt tv station at Marina City. It was their second application – the first one, for channel 38, was withdrawn.

WFLD went on the air at 7:00 p.m. on January 4, 1966. Hosting the opening ceremonies was Sun-Times columnist Irv Kupcinet, who would spend 27 years in television and earn 15 local Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award.

They were still on the top floor of the Kemper Insurance Building at 20 North Wacker Drive (now Civic Opera Building) but would eventually move to Marina City. At the time, there were television sets in 2.5 million homes in Chicago, but only 823,00 could receive UHF. Still, in a 1966 Sun-Times article, WFLD was called the “Station of Tomorrow.”

Today, WFLD is a five million watt station owned by Fox Broadcasting Company. Its transmitter is located on John Hancock Center.

Marina City strikes deal for bowling alley

In December 1964, with 26,000 light bulbs decorating every balcony of both towers, it was announced downtown’s only major bowling facility would be built at Marina City. A 20-year lease, worth more than $1 million, was signed on December 18 with Spencer’s Marina City Bowl, which was owned by William A. Spencer.

His father, John C. Spencer, had built a bowling alley at Belmont and Cicero Avenues in Chicago, and he owned the Spencer Coals, a semi-pro baseball team. William Spencer had a 42-lane operation in St. Louis and two bowling facilities in Racine, Wisconsin.

Bowling had always been a part of the design of Marina City. Besides 38 lanes on the second floor of the office building – that Bertrand Goldberg Associates would design – the facility would have a restaurant, cocktail lounge, and an area for billiards.

The original design was for 54 lanes of bowling, according to BGA architect Ben Honda, from Dearborn Street to State Street. “But then when the National Design Center came in as a tenant they wanted a chunk of it to poke up through the bowling alley,” he said in a 1999 interview with Betty Blum. “So then the numbers of lanes were reduced.”

By the end of 1964, the complex housed a grocery store, pharmacy, florist, travel agency, skating rink, and restaurants. A boutique in the lobby sold perfumes, gifts, and liquor. A health club would soon be added, including a swimming pool at street level on the east side of the office building, where Crunch Fitness is located now.

Map Locations Map Locations
(Above) Map of Marina City, circa 1966, from a visitors guide. Bridge level (left) and street level (right). Click on image to view larger version.

Things to see and do at Marina City “Things to see and do at Marina City”

A page from a visitors guide, circa 1964, offers suggestions...

  • Model apartments

    Four furnished model apartments on the 48th floor of the West Tower are open to the public weekdays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5:00 p.m. Tickets for the tour can be purchased at the information desk in the residential lobby.

  • Observation deck

    The observation deck on the 61st floor of the East Tower at Marina City offers a 360° panorama view of Chicago in the open-air. It is a perfect place for photographing the city. Weather permitting, the observation deck is open May thru September from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

  • Skating rink

    A 110 x 50 foot ice skating rink at the State Street entrance of the residential towers is open to the public from October through April every day except Monday from noon to 10:00 p.m. The ice rink is complete with skate shop, warming room and professional skaters for private or class instruction.

  • Sculpture pavilion

    During the summer months, the ice skating rink features an outdoor art and sculpture exhibition. Some of the Midwest’s most outstanding sculptors have exhibited at Marina City. The hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Saturday and from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.

  • Bowling lanes

    On the fourth floor of the office building is a 38-lane bowling arena with a cocktail lounge. Spencer’s Marina City bowling offers the only open bowling in the Loop area.

  • National Design Center

    The newest in products for the home may be viewed at the National Design Center. It’s Chicago’s showcase of displays on textiles, furniture, accessories, art, building materials. Enter on the Dearborn Street side of the commercial building and gather armfuls of literature between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday or from 10:30 to 5:30 p.m. weekends. Free admission.

  • Parfumerie

    Within the drug and liquor store is a perfume boutique with an extensive collection of perfumes, colognes and toilet waters from the world’s finest houses. Experts are on hand to let you sample and choose the perfect scene for you or for gifts. The boutique is open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sundays and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. holidays.

    [’toilet water“ is more commonly referred to today as eau de toilette.]

  • Gourmet shop

    The gourmet shop in the lobby of the residential towers has everything from mussels to macadamia nuts. Here you can see a most unusual sampling of food items gathered from all over the world. Visit the gourmet shop to add an unusual touch to your next party menu. Shopping hours are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturdays and 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sundays.

  • Pier Too

    For something different, try the deep sea atmosphere of PIER TOO. Hearty food and spirits are served Monday thru Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.; Saturday 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Closed Sunday. The most vigorous captain will enjoy the Rathskeller buffet luncheon or a full steak dinner.

(Left) Marina City Management staff members Terry Paul (left) and Ann Miller (right) model new Marina City uniforms in mid-1964.

Worn by tour guides at Marina City, the uniforms were marine blue in color with gold insignia.

Property taxes in 1964

The property tax for Marina City in 1964 was $280,000 – the equivalent of $1.8 million in 2007. By 2007, property tax for the residential towers would of course be paid by individual owners of condominium units. Using the following estimates...

Configuration Number of units Estimated average property tax Estimated total property tax
Studio 256 (4 per floor x 32 floors x 2 towers) $1,300 $332,800
One bedroom 576 ((8 per floor x 32 floors) + (4 per floor x 8 floors)) x 2 towers $1,800 $1,036,800
Two bedroom 64 (4 per floor x 8 floors x 2 towers) $3,000 $192,000

...property taxes in 2007 for the residential property is approximately $1,561,600.