Grand Ol' Time

Roaring Twenties
When World War I ended in 1918, the nation’s economy entered a prosperous period despite Prohibition. Dancing became one of the most popular activities during the Roaring Twenties, energizing the construction of many dance pavilions at the resorts. There were many entertainment venues constructed in the area during the 1920s and into the 1930s.

There was a concentration of entertainment activities on the Nippersink Lake shoreline. The activities extended the full length of Nippersink Boulevard starting at Oak Street in an area called the “Midway.” The Nippersink Lake boat landing and the train station provided the public with easy access to Roaring Twenties-style entertainment. The area offered an assortment of resorts, movies, shooting galleries, photo booths, food stands, dance halls, ice cream parlors, and gambling spots.

One of the most popular establishments was called the Colonial (later called “Casino”), which through the years was the site of athletic contests such as swimming, foot races and a tug-of-war events. It was located in the vicinity of Fox Lake’s current Lakefront Park.

In keeping with the dance craze, many big-name dance bands played at the Midway establishments. Ben Pollack, the “Original Dixie Land Jazz Band,” Benny Goodman, Guy Lombardo and other nationally famous musicians were known to have played in the Midway and at other resort dance pavilions around the lakes.

Fox Lake’s downtown area also had its share of entertainment activities. Ptomaine Pete’s was once the weekend home base for a black singer named Hattie McDaniels, who later went to Hollywood and was cast as the mammy in “Gone With The Wind” and eventually became “Beulah” of radio fame.

One of the first regular movie shows was in a building in the Midway. Movies were also run from time to time in the Township Hall at Ingleside. Later, movies were occasionally shown outdoors at the brickyard in the center of town and at the Red Top Inn parking lot. In 1950 the Towne Theater opened on Grand Avenue and was operated for many years by Joseph Armondo. On the evening of March 16, 1977 the theater building was bombed in what was believed to have been “union problems.”

Fox Lake’s partying reputation continued until the Great Depression, which took a huge toll on recreational spending.