It was a Saturday night in late June 1967. Robert Sang was on his balcony on the 59th floor, using a small barbecue grill, when a spark from the grill landed on a one-gallon can of starter fluid.

The can exploded, setting on fire several pieces of patio furniture. This attracted about 50 fire fighters to Marina City, but many of them had to climb 19 flights of stairs because frightened residents were using the elevators.

Fire fighters had trouble finding the fire because it had been erroneously reported on as many as four floors in addition to the 59th.

New Horizons in Sculpture

In July 1967, the North Shore Art League sponsored an exhibit at Marina City of Illinois artists. “New Horizons in Sculpture” featured works such as Detroit Garden, made of parking meters and automobile bumpers. The Door consisted of elaborate electrical machinery that opened a small door. In Emerging Form, a woman appears to have blended into a chaise lounge.

(Above) Undated photo from 1960s shows skating rink and restaurants on lower level in background. People can be seen on plaza level, looking down on rink. West residential tower in background at right. The Dearborn Street bridge house is visible in background at left. (Left) View of area in 2007.

Parking boss pleads the fifth

It was a simple question. On November 4, 1967, the Illinois Crime Investigating Commission asked parking company boss Kenneth S. Leonard if he had ever tried to take over the parking service at Marina City. They had other questions, too, about his mob connections, but Leonard on the advice of his attorney was not talking.

This was part of a scandal involving valet parking in the area of Rush Street. Police had noticed numerous violations of city parking regulations. Leonard operated a company called Attendant Service Corporation. One of his sales people was Ross Prio, reportedly a crime syndicate boss on the north side of Chicago.

Leonard was popular with investigators. At various times, he had been checked out by U.S. Department of The Treasury, Illinois Department of Revenue, IRS, FBI, Chicago police, and Illinois Crime Commission.