Formerly: The Palmolive Building Formerly: The Playboy Building Formerly: The Palmolive Building Built: 1927-1929 Designed by: Holabird & Root Type: Skyscraper Stories: 37 Maximum Height: 565 feet / 172 meters Location: 919 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, United States
Building Rating 90% of readers like the 919 North Michigan Avenue.
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T he former Palmolive and Playboy building is an Art Moderne triumph. A flat blade of a building rising into the air with dignity, power, and presence that once put it on par with New York’s Empire State Building. The building is similar to the LaSalle-Wacker building, but more streamlined with vertical channels running up the façade, reinforcing its height. This was unnecessary for most of the tower’s early life. At the time it was completed, it was well outside the skyscraper forest sprouting in The Loop. Erected in the then-tranquil Gold Coast neighborhood, the Palmolive Building far exceeded any of its neighbors in height. And at the summit of this mass of steel and stone was an illuminated beacon. This was a more common feature on Chicago skyscrapers in the early 20th century than it is now. It is debated whether this was intended to aid air or sea traffic, though some say it was known as the “Lindbergh Beacon,” and named after famed aviator Charles Lindbergh. The light, estimated to be 2,000,000,000 candlepower, was extinguished as neighboring buildings grew taller, much to the relief of people who live in them.
»August, 1930 – The beacon at the top of the building is turned on. It was donated to the City of Chicago by Elmer Sperry. He is better known as the inventor of the gyroscope.
»1942 – The beacon is turned off for fear that it might be used for navigation by invading forces during the Second World War.
»1944 – The beacon is turned on again.
»1967 – The building is renamed the Playboy Building.
»1968 – Metal shields are erected to keep the beacon from lighting up apartments in the neighboring Hancock Center at night.
»1981 – The beacon at the top of this building is turned off.
»1989 – The building is renamed 919 North Michigan Avenue.
»1990 – The beacon is replaced by a globe with a soft glow. The original beacon was donated to the Experimental Aircraft Association museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
tom kuebler
Saturday, January 8th, 2011 @ 11:22pm
Rating: Four stars. my grandfather was a painter in Chicago. i remember as a chils seeing a photo of him painting the top of the building prior to the beacon being added. it was a photo with several other painters looking out the rooftop door as he painted the dome . i sure wish i had that photo now or would at least like to see a copy that someone might have.
Karl Kropp
Monday, November 26th, 2007 @ 9:57am
Rating: Five stars. My grandfather installed the terracotta at the top while working for Cold Spring Granit in the '20's. I walked past this building never knowing it until recently reading my dad's notes. Now to see if there are any pictures of the original construction that my grandfather may have taken.
kirby cruz
Thursday, December 7th, 2006 @ 8:33pm
Rating: Five stars. I love the Palmolive Building, very art deco!! I was born in 1989, so I was never able to see the Lindberg Beacon. I hope someday it will be turned back on!
lloyd pearcey
Thursday, May 11th, 2006 @ 11:09pm
Rating: One star. is there anyone out there that can accurately identify the artist responsible for the art deco icons that run up the recessed panels of this grand old building when playboy gutted the first two stories of this building in the early 70's i was exiting a cab in front of the building and saved a phenomenal piece of art deco iron that was being cast into a dumpster. I beleive it was the work of hugh erris but cannot get any answers from anyone at draper kramer, palmolive or anyone affiliated with the recent restoration. i beleive i have one of the cornerstone cast iron colonettes that adorned the entrance of the building. the restoration effort has not addressed the missing nickle plated 2 ft X 2ftart deco icons, i have begun casting stone reproductions of this icon and would reward anyone who can produce any photos of the buildings 1st two floors that show the original artwork as it was on the cornerstones of this building the icons that run up the building every other floor are a generic version of the more detailed deco piece of iron that i have i beleive they are terra cotta.someone claim the reward so i can add providence to my fabulous piece of deco artwork that no one else can claim to have.
mike margolis
Sunday, February 12th, 2006 @ 2:18am
Rating: Five stars. from 1950-1970 my family and I lived 15miles sw of downtown. many nights, when the weather permitted, my dad and I would sit outside and watch the Lindberg Beacon. brings back good memories for me.
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tom kuebler
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