The Maxwell Street Market Home Page
(1871 to August 1994)
Virtual Jewish Chicago's mirror
of this website (a more spiffy version).
Background
Fish Crier by Carl Sandburg
I Am Chicago's Maxwell Street Market
by Charlie Joe Henderson
Nates Deli
Larry Callahan: A Memorial
VIDEO info
Postcards
Origins of Maxwell Street
Old-Old Maxwell Street Photo Gallery
History of Maxwell Street?
A Maxwell Street mystery
The Stranger
by Stewart Weiss - a Maxwell St. short story
Andy Cassel's 1990 article
LINKS
The market was one of the greatest outdoor urban bazaars ever.
There will never be another -- it was a unique part of Chicago's
history.
It was a 'neutral' spot, where Blacks, Whites, Asians and
Hispanics all felt comfortable mixing.
Learn about Maxwell Street Theology.
I know a Jew fish crier down on Maxwell Street with a voice
like a
north wind blowing over corn stubble in January
He dangles herring before prospective customers evincing a
joy
identical with that of Pavlova dancing
His face is that of a man terribly glad to be selling fish,
terribly
glad that God made fish, and customers to whom he may call
his wares from a pushcart
I am the Maxwell Street Market.
I am not a Flea Market.
I am a Social and Economic Institution.
I must survive to nurture future generations of Chicagoans.
I must not be relocated.
I must be declared a historical landmark.
I must not die.
I am Chicago!
(Note: The petition to designate the Maxwell Street Market
area a National Historic District was denied by vigorous efforts
of the City of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago)
Nates Deli 
(15k). A friendly place where everyone felt at home.
Quotes from a brief segment in "Remembering Chicago,
Part 2", a video about the history of Chicago featured on
Chicago's PBS Station - WTTW, December 10, 1995.
"Maxwell Street was the mecca for getting things cheap,
and you would get cheap things, you know."
"During the Depression ... I think everyone I knew was
going down there."
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From a review by Bill Dahl in the Chicago Tribune (12/15/95).
"Maxwell Street's gritty charm is vividly pictured..."
"Hucksters on the scam, preachers of every denomination,
even an old gent sporting a live chicken on his head..."
Images from the video box of "And This is Free".
For more images, click here.
(21k).....
(14k)
This legendary film of street life in Chicago is available
from Shanachie Entertainment
<shanach@haven.ios.com> 1-800-497-1043
In January 1996, OPENAIR-MARKET NET interviewed Gordon Quinn
who worked on the film. He still lives in Chicago and is a film
maker. "We went to Maxwell Street for 16 Sundays. People
got to know us. It helped to have Mike Bloomfield with us, a young
white kid who hung out with old Blues musicians. Here is where
I was taught how to shoot film. We would lay back and let it happen.
... It was real. These types of markets are cultural meeting places
-- very important to a city. Getting rid of the market was outrageous,
a big mistake. "
Maxwell Street 1940s -
with title "World's Greatest Outdoor Market". (77K)
Description from back of postcard: Ghetto Market. Roosevelt
Road and 14th street east, and west of Halsted Street. A section
given over to the Russian Jews. Merchandise stands are built in
the street and every conceivable article of food and wear is sold.
Always open Sundays.
from Europe:
from Mississippi - to be added
from Africa - to be added
from Mexico - to be added
Read 'Maxwell Street, Survival in a Bazaar', by Ira Berkow
-- available at your public library. This book contains many colorful
anecdotes, historical photographs, and fascinating personal portraits
of the people, both famous and little-known, who were touched
in some way by Maxwell Street. These people include Benny Goodman,
Jack Ruby, William Paley, and Hound Dog Taylor.
Read The Maxwell Street Blues, a book by Michael Raleigh.
Set against the backdrop of the Maxwell Street Market and Chicago's
unique neighborhoods, this novel contains many colorful descriptions
of the market and the people associated with it.
Preserve Maxwell Street-
see letters of support from all over the world
OPENAIR-MARKET NET - market meta site inspired
by Maxwell Street
The Maxwell Street Market Home Page.
(C) S.M. Balkin. mar@interaccess.com
, Created 12/8/95
(15k). A friendly place where everyone felt at home. 
(21k).....
(14k)
