Chicago Auto Show Throwback

If you’re wondering why the Chicago weather is so sucky it’s because it’s that time of year again … Chicago Auto Show time!

We know it’s not happening, in February, this year but, in the “before time,” the Chicago Auto Show was traditionally held in early February and, unusual as it may have seemed to some, many couples included it as a part of their Valentines Day activities.

For whatever cosmic reason, Valentines Day usually coincided with some of the worst of Chicago’s Winter weather that would make getting to the Auto Show for some of our radio and TV broadcasts, as Bob Collins use to say, a “character builder.”

In the late 80’s Johnnie oversaw WGN radio‘s in-house Traffic department, did traffic (and lots of other stuff) on the Bob Collins show and co-hosted a few hours of the overnight show with Steve leading into Bob. To help throw herself, even more, into the mission, Johnnie found this top with toy cars front and back and down the sleeves plus traffic sign earrings was … just perfect!

Johnnie wearing her traffic top.

In case you’re wondering, after 30 plus years, Johnnie’s traffic top is still with us. Here it is in living color.

Does this look like the Kennedy expressway “spaghetti bowl?”

This is the back but, we think, these may be the frontage roads.

This is one of those things you just don’t throw in the donation bin. It was originally found hanging up high in a display at Carson’s. Johnnie asked where she could find it and was told there was only one “thank goodness.” Of course, Johnnie said, “I’ll take it.”

Whenever little kids were around Johnnie was like the Pied Piper with the kids trailing her to get a closer look.

There were a lot of fun broadcasts and still are a lot of good memories tied up in this silly top!