Advertisements are everywhere...so are ghost ads. Ghost ads are only more difficult to notice than modern ads because they do not gain our attention in the same manipulative fashion. Their faded quality immediately tips us off to their obsolesence, and their simplicity passes under our radar. However, enough astute people notice them and chronicle them already that it would be redundant for us to do so as well. One of our goals for this site is to contribute original material to posterity - ghost ads are the beaten path.

That is not to say they aren't interesting. They're just covered already. Nicole Donohoe's survey is by far the definitive source for Chicago ads. She also includes links to other relevant ghost ad pages. She has most of the good ones I've noticed over the years, with some nominal omissions (Pago Pago on Wabash, Carnation on Madison).

Ads will be added to this page if they aren't already covered by Ms. Donohoe's site, or if they standout in some way. Also, we aspire to only include true ghost ads. There is a distinction between ghost ads and old ads. Consider the ad below right for Mrs. Smith's Groceries. The buisness in question almost certainly does not exist. This ad is a true ghost ad because it is an anachronism, advertising a non-existant buisness or product. The ad below this one is for Canfields beverages, a company alive and well. If the product or buisness still exists, the ad is not a ghost, its just old.

Early in 2007, the building that occupied this plot on Milwaukee near Fullerton was torn down. These two fine ghost ads were revealed, but only for a short window of time. As I am writing this in late April, a new (read: piece of shit) building has been constructed. I didn't check to see if these ads were whitewashed before construction, if not, they will be preserved for decades (or so) to come.

Right: Text-only ads in black and white are the oldest. This one could very well be pre-fire, although that is unverifiable. It is rare to find them in such good condition.

Left: When an ad is in such excellent condition, it is probably the result of a recent tear-down. This Marigold Margarine ad on north Lincoln, is no exception. It will soon be covered in some manner. A building has since been built beside it, covering it up. Take a look at the boy pointing at the name of the company. Why isn't he pointing at the product?

Right: This ad looms over two of Little Italy's top culinary tourist attractions, Mario's Lemonade and Al's Beef. Please, do not go to Al's. It is overpriced and frankly, the food sucks. I am puzzled to see it so busy when almost every other eatery in the area is better. Canfield's, as mentioned earlier, is still made, however, Nate's Drive-In is long gone. This ad is covered on Nicole Donohoe's site, but I live right by it and see it nearly every day. Actually, I wanted to rant about Al's Beef (don't go).

Left: I cannot find any information about Legion Ice Cream. Any old timers remember eating the stuff? A new building has since been constructed in the lot adjacent to this building.

Right: Canfields is a budget brand nowadays, which really does make it for everyone. I wonder if that meaning was intended when this ad was painted?

Apparently, American Family Soap was advertised as "The most popular soap in Chicago." Supposedly it worked well with hard water in the region. Or so the source says. My best estimate would be that it ceased production sometime in the 50s. The manufacturer, Kirk's, has a long history in Chicago. The company moved here in 1859 from Utica, NY, but has swapped its headquarters on and off between Chicago and Cincinnati. They still are in business.

A. Slawick, Tailor, on the other hand, was probably out of the yellow pages a long time ago.

Here are some that I took a while ago and almost forgot about. I found the ad at right in the rubble of a fire near 18th and Sangamon. I photographed the fire a week prior, and went back to the site to see if there was anything interesting. And...there was.

At right, an advertisement for the State Theatre, later to be named the Roseland. It stood to the right of where this picture was taken, in the empty lot next to Jansen's. See the entry in Cinema Treasures for more info.

Best in the Polish World? Is that shoe polish or Warsaw Polish? All what should beware? Too little of this sign is legible to discern a meaning. Its located on Halsted just north of 18th, for now.

Finding a metal ghost ad is like finding an Indian Head penny. They are exceptionally hard to stumble across but give you a great feeling when you do. However, in real-world terms they are nothing but near-worthless hunks of metal.

Got it? Get it? Actually, I cannot get any information about Bak Supply or their featured "Youngstown Kitchens." Atlas Praeger however, was a local brewery located on the site of what is now Benito Juarez High School.

Page authored 6 May 2007.
Last updated 2 December 2007.
Written by Serhii Chrucky.

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