THE BIOGRAPHY OF CHICAGO’S MARINA CITY
Written by Steven Dahlman

This is Marina City “Marina City is more than a structure. It is a strong influence on the architecture of tomorrow and a realistic approach to urban planning.”

1965 construction film: This Is Marina City

The Portland Cement Association of Skokie, Illinois produced this film in 1965. “Portland” is a type of cement. According to its website, PCA “represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.”

Narrated by former WGN Chicago radio announcer Walt Newton, the 19-minute film describes how Marina City was planned, constructed, and utilized.

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Images from the film...

(Left) View from the State Street Bridge, looking northwest. The building in center frame with Dutch-influenced architecture is the current location of Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse.

(Left) A man climbs a television mast that added 437 feet to the height of the west tower.

(Below) More images from the 1965 film, This is Marina City, produced by Portland Cement Association of Skokie, Illinois.

(Left) This view from the east tower, looking east, shows Wrigley Building (left) and 401 North Michigan Avenue (center), which is still under construction.

Entrance to National Design Center, a tenant of the office building at Marina City. Hotel Sax currently occupies the commercial space shown here.

Elevator lobby of residential tower. This is probably in the west tower. The doors in foreground have since been replaced with automatic sliding doors.

Skating rink and current location of Smith & Wollensky restaurant.

Restaurant located below the skating rank. Current location of Wollensky’s Grill.

Grocery store at Marina City.

Part of a sculpture garden that surrounded the sunken skating rink.

Gift shop in lobby of commercial block.

Exhibit area somewhere in the office building, probably at National Design Center.

Portland Cement Association Portland Cement Association

Three views of the west side of Marina City from Dearborn Street – in 1962 (above left), 1964 (above right) and 2009 (right).

In November 2010, the film was re-digitized by Peter Bernotas and International Historic Films, Inc. According to Bernotas, it is 16mm IB Technicolor film, “about as good as it gets.” Just the film stock alone cost PCA $350 in 1965, which would be $2,400 today. Bernotas estimates the print that he re-digitized had been shown on a projector only about 20 times.

 Photo by Steven Dahlman

Last updated 17-Nov-10