A WIN! WIN! Day at the 2012 Chicago Pride Parade for Pride & Cubs! (c) J.Pritikin

Cubs Pride Brigade at the 2012 Pride Parade. (c) J.Pritikin

Two brothers and Cub's Sticker uppers! (c) J. Pritikin

Part owner of the Chicago Cubs and GLBT Activist Laura Ricketts and the rainbow movement moment . (c) J Pritikin

Responding to my beany! (c) J.Pritikin

WIN !WIN! Gay Pride/Cubs/ (c) J. Pritikin

If you ask, you will receive according to the old adage. I must admit that I have a good batting average for making things happen, especially when it concerns The Cubs, Gay Pride and the "Bleacher Preacher" side of the Triple Play. I have witnessed many Pride Parades, early in San Francisco and now in my hometown of Chicago. I really never marched in them, however on the sidelines I found many "photoglyphic moments". This year, I sent an email asking the Cubs if I could ride on their Trolley for the Pride Parade. Last year they had a float and Cubs legendary old time Cub Great Ernie Banks gracing the gay Chicago Event of the Year.

I did not plan any signs or notify any media what I was doing. Starting Saturday, at the Halsted Street- pre parade party I managed to get some timely images... to add to my collections of yesteryear's gay events and early gay pride parades. My request was granted. No pre-made signs and just my trade mark RAINBOW Interstellar Propeller beany cap. I had a couple extra in case I ran into Mayor Emanuel or famed Chicagoans. I arrived early, however the Cubs Trolley had a late start. Took a few shots along the Montrose St. staging area. The music was extremely loud, making any attempt for conversation a lost cause. Once the Cubs White and Blue Trolley Car took our place in the Parades Route line... I met some very lovable Cubs Pride Workers. The Trolley was not designed for Parades with seats on the inside facing each other instead of OUT at the crowd. Many in our brigade marched in front of the Trolley with Rainbow Flags and the Old faithful "W" Flag. Usually seen after a Cubs home- win flying from the Center-field scoreboard. The Trolley kept playing Steve Goodman's Hey! Chicago, What do you say? At first, I lipped sync and after a short distance was singing OUT LOUD, something that I do not even do in the shower! I hammed it up for the photographers that lined the paraderoute.

I had the opportunity to talk with Laura Ricketts, one of the Cubs owners and great spokesperson for the GLBT community. In late August, the Cubs will celebrate another "Out in the Ball Park" Game, however this year it's in the bleachers. Several times when Harry Caray broadcasted from the Bleachers... I appeared on his 10th Inning show. Once Harry introduced me as John, Q. Public- The Fan!

Bill Gubrud is the promoter for the OUT @ the Ballpark,and I asked him to get me involved. Yesterday I had a great time from beginning to the end of the parade. I loved the interactive play along the route with so many people having very good times. I managed to take some photos from before we started and then there after. I LOVED IT... It felt like a Jodi Davis Homer to knock the Mets out of the 1984 pennant chase.

Chicago 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith with HoF Inductee Jerry Pritikin


Jerry Pritikin with Brother Allen




CHICAGO: June 2nd,2012



About a month ago, I received a call from Chicago's 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith's Office. It was from her administrated assistant, Emma Rosenberg asking me if I would mind if Alderman Smith nominated me for this year's Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. I hesitated for a brief moment, and replied I would be honored. There has been some friction between myself and Alderman Smith since finding out that my precinct will be relocated into the 27th Ward, due to the Chicago's new Ward boundaries.

Yesterday, the Award ceremony took place at the Sheraton Chicago's Grand Ballroom. To get ready, I had a haircut, and was donning a suit for the first time in the 21st Century. I even left my trade mark "Rainbow" colored Interstellar Propeller Beany at home. There were over 1,000 people invited for the luncheon. Awards were given several categories, beside those given representing 26 of the 50 City Wards. Before the program started, Alderman Smith came to shake hands and we established a truce. We posed for a few photos. The affair lasted for several hours and I enjoyed meeting some of the other nominees, and a few other Chicago Aldermen and politicians. My brother Allen,and his girl friend Joanne, and a couple of my friends from the Maple Point Senior Apartments enjoyed the event. I was honored, especially being the only nominee listed as an activist from Chicago's LGTB Community. (June is also Gay Pride Month)

Category: Dust Cover Chutzpah Award Winner/2012 By: Jerry Pritikin

Every so often I go to Howard Brown's Brown Elephant Resale Store. It has a large assortment of used furniture, appliances, art, and clothing, and at the back of the shop, shelves laden with books. Many of the books are in excellent condition, and most hard covers sell for 1 or 2 bucks. Once in awhile I buy a book for a friend or for my brother, if I think they will enjoy the contents. A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a book for my brother, because the title caught my eye. He is in the mirror business. His company is now celebrating its 40^th anniversary and, like most companies has had to fight to stay in business over the last 5 years. He may get something useful out of the book. The title is, The Mirror Test: Is Your Business Really Breathing, by Jeffrey W. Hayzlett with Jim Eber. It was published in 2010 and once had a retail price of $24.95.

When I read the back of the book jacket and the inside covers, it reminded me of when I was a kid, and had to do book reports for my grammar school classes. I was never much of a book person so those areas were all I usually read to complete the assignments. Now, at 75, I resorted to my childhood habits. Just reading the dust jacket information made me realize that Hayzlett is eligible for my Chutzpah Award. His bio states: JEFFREY W. HAYZLETT is the chief marketing officer for Kodak. He has twenty-five-years of international marketing and management experience and has received numerous global awards and honors, including being named BtoB magazine's Marketer of the year.

About forty years ago, when I became a freelance photographer, Kodak was known as the Yellow God. Its competitors lagged far behind the company. It seems that the author of this book, in telling other businesses how to stay in business by using his award winning skills, forgot to tell his own company how to do it. Kodak recently stopped manufacturing Kodachrome film at the end of 2011. In January of this year it filed for bankruptcy and in February it stopped selling cameras after 112 years in the business.

Now that's Chutzpah!

A Day With Lee Balterman By Jerry Pritikin

I stopped by my good friend Lee Balterman's apartment yesterday, and as usual it was inspirational and time well spent. I was amazed how much progress he's made putting his photo files in order. He has over a quarter of a million negatives and slides covering over 50 years as a photographer for Time & Life,Sports Illustrated and Forbes Magazine. We spent time taling about the Cubs and their new President of operations... Theo Epstein, and hope for next years chances.
Lee invited me to spend Thanksgiving with him, and I accepted. He had a few new images on his wall, new for the wall that is. One was the mother of a GI that Lee had a spread in Life, as well as a cover during the Vietnam War. His assignments took him all over the world. I love his images of Chicago's known landmarks and unknown bars along skid row , and his true love, the ever changing shops and people along Milwaukee Avenue over many decades. It's always interesting that in the background, the price changes in beer,cigarettes and hot dogs as well as the latest styles of those times. I hope there will be another Daiter gallery showing in the near future. One of the attached images is a rock that Lee found on Omaha Beach. Lee was in France just after D-Day. The other a letter from former Mayor Richard Daley and of course my favorite model posing among his treasures.

Lee Balterman hits 91 at the Greek Islands Chicago

Lee wearing his Intersteller Propellar and crowned Chicago Propeller Head #1!
Lee opening one of the gifts and enjoying every moment.

With one of his care givers... Top Notched and very good for Lee.
Lee, blowingout a lot of candles... (c) J.Pritikin

Chicago July 6,2011... Lee Balterman had a bunch of friends at the Greek Islands in Chicago.

It was Lee's 91st Birthday. Paul from Daiter's broght a copy of an Italian Magazine with a 3 page spread on Lee. There were so many camera's you would think there was a Lady Ga-Ga sighting!

somewhere-under-the-rainbow-Chicago Pride-2011 (c) J Pritikin

#1, Gay Teachers of Chicagoland (c) J Pritikin

#2 Fellow Activist Natalie Kenvin Pride Parade 2011 (c) J Pritikin
#3, Somewhere Under the Rainbow... Chicago Gay Pride Parade (c) J Pritikin
#2, 1940s Bookie Joint

#1, Kevin on Halsted Street-2011 (c) J Pritikin

The Chicago's Pride Parade seemed almost endless. As usual for me, I photographed only a handful (figure of speech) of images. The music was loud, and creative floats were far and few in between. For me it seemed a review of many former Pride Day's. It was over crowded and a mixed bag of sideshows in and out of the parade. However, at least half of the crowd were non-gays, and the kids were having a good time. Here are a few reminders of the 2011 Chicago Gay Pride Parade. I have seen my fair share of Pride celebrations. I really never marched in them, and always liked the creativity in some of the marchers and organizations. This year, a great percentive of floats and flat bed trucks were vandelized, causing over $20,000. damage. The show went on. I really wanted to give Mayor Emanuel a Rainbow Intersteller Propeller Beany Cap, but he was not in my sight. I was invited by Alderman Michele Smith to march with her. I chosed to walk to the end of the parade route,and watch it from that vantage point. I had the usual "I like your hat!" comments, but not as many as I thought I might receive in such a large crowd. With New York now the 6th State to pass a Gay Marriage Law, and the large crowds at the various Pride Parades in America and over seas. I really get the feeling, that the tide of public opinion is changing, and for the good. If your not active in gay or human rights, this could be a good time to get involved. I 'm passing you the torch after 40 years.

The More things change, the more etc!

In recent weeks, I have had good reasons to go back into my closet... and under my bed! I recently posted the need for a writer, on CRAIGSLIST to help me write stories behind some of my of my images, for a possible coffee table book. I had only one responce and his name is Liam. I just noticed he signed on as a follower of this blog. Writing is not my forte, however I have not only a treasure trove of images in my photo collection, but also remember interesting facts and stories behind my images. I may ask Liam to help me on this blog,too. This past week, I also met with Andrew, who is a documentary maker. He spent 8 hours in 2 shoots... and together we dwelled on my stories pertaining to quite few of my photographs, and the history leading upto and after the events that I took them. Getting ready for Liam, and Andrew was not easy. I have boxes of non-organized tidbits and memorabilia from the 1960s and '70s. To give you some idea of things to come on this blog, as well as in Andrew's "doc", I posted the clipping in a San Francisco gay newspaper from 1979, about Gay Marriage. Ironically, it was not the reason I kept it, it was the backside of one of my sports columns. Gay Marriage has been in the news for the past few years... however, most people are unaware that it has been in the news for so many years. As I have discovered, many gay issues that we take for granted today, or are fighting for today... have been around for quite a long time. Besides the issues, I have clippings that show hypocrisy within the gay press,too. I like to brag that I have been a one man army, and not because I like to work alone... So in the weeks and months to come, I will be posting interesting, and provocative subjects from my past, along with clips and images. Of course, if you have any questions or comments about this blog, or its contents... please take the time to ask.

Marshall Field Clock and State Street (c) J Pritikin

The Marshall Field Clock is there in name only, now replaced by Macys. This recreation of the famous Saturday Evening Post Magazine Cover by Norman Rockwell, was from a few years ago. The image from beneath is to give you the feeling that your meeting someone there... that was a well known meeting place... under the Marshall Fields Clock at Randolph and State Street. I worked at Fields from May of 1955 to December of 1957. I have so many Fields Stories, that happened over 53 years ago.I have a few of my pay stubs... I was on straight 6% commission and often made $200. a day . I was going through a few photos and these popped up.

Aug 6th,2010 Millennium Pk... (c) J Pritikin

Chicago, Aug 6,2010... Millenium Park visitor/Free Events

the Bleacher Preacher (c) by Lee Balterman

Over the 25 years that I have known Lee Balterman, he has tageted me hundreds of times in the bleachers of the "Friendly Confines". Together with Carmella Hartigan... we were part of the lore of the fabled bleachers. Lee was there with his grandfather
for Gabby Hartnets "Homer in the Glomin"in 1938, and Carmella spent over 30 years since she retired at 70 years old from the Canteen Corporation. I was there on many historic occations, including Jackie Robinson's Chicago debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Back then it was truly our National pastime, because it was affordable, and enjoyable. I really do not miss going to Cubs games anymore... what I do missed is the comrade of the real fans... Today "real fans" are an endangered species!

Chicago Photographer Lee Balterman hits 90!

Chicago photographer Lee Balterman, hit 90 years old on July 6, at his cousin Betty Sherman's home in Wilmette. The big surprize of the night, was a repeat showing of Lee's interview for Chicago Tonight on PBS station WTTW, that was arranged by Daiter Gallery's Paul Berlanga. Paul also presented Lee with a letter from Chicago's Mayor, Richard J. Daley. Lee, the former Life/ Time magazine photo recalled "Shooting" Daley's father at the 1968 Democratic Convention. It was a fun filled party, and Lee was in great form... telling stories about his parents, and some of his favorite assignments, including Astronauts and their wives for Life Magazine. On last night's Chicago Tonight's program... the intoduction segment with Balterman, called Lee one of the masters of the Chicago school of street photography and photo-journalism. Lee also told a few jokes and bosted once again...
that he could of been a Major League Ball player, except for one thing...talent!

David in Chicago Flag Day 6/14/10 (c) J Pritikin

This is one of those "Best made plans of Mice and Men"... except there were no plans, and the results could not of been better, if we had. I was at the Gallery, to meet with the President of Roosevelt University. It was he who helped to make my exhibit at the Gage Gallery happened. He was unable to come to the Opening on the 3rd, so I offered him a tour of my exhibit when he was available. It turned out to be on June 14th, Flag Day. I arrived a little early... and while waiting for him, into the Gallery came a tourist named David. I found out that when I asked him how he had heard of the exhibit. David, said he picked up a Gage Gallery
postcard at the Chicago Cultural Center... a few blocks north on Michigan Avenue. I have to admit when I recommended that the Gallery put cards there... I told him I expected someone, and if he would like... I would give him a quick downtown tour of Chicago when I was finished. When Charles Middleton arrived, I excused myself for the next 45 minutes. David and I began making like a tourist. We covered a lot of ground... and I talked him into taking a Brown line "el" to the end of the line and back. We wound up at my place, then we walked over to the lake front... it was cool and overcast... but it made for some interesting images. We walked up to North Avenue Beach. We then went to a pizzia place, and enjoyed a thin pizza. He returned to my place... to interview me for a school project. we watched the sun come out of the fog, before it turned dark. This day made me feel like a day out of my past in San Francisco. Many of times, I manged to have memorable moments... without any plans... and this was my latest... and the first in many years.

Opening at the Gage/Jerry Pritikin's "SAN FRANCISCO IN THE 1970s"

If Waldo wore an Interseller Propeller Beany Cap, he would stand OUT in any crowd. I have been wearing mine since 1981.
I am sure my propeller has turned over a million or more spins since then. In the close up from the back of my head... That is Lee Balterman,the former TIME-LIFE photographer, his show at Daiter's Openens on the 11th, next Friday. In the background is Videogapher Edgar Lenze, and the bearded guy owns a "Rick Shaw" service around the "Friendly Confines".He used to make my friend Carmella Hartigan feel like a Queen, as she blew kisses and waved her hand at the pre game crowd... about the turn of the last century.These images are from Bullet Bob...

32 years later, I admit I shot him,and had the pics to prove it!

I enjoyed the other night's Opening at Roosevelt University's Gage Gallery. At least 150 people came to the Exhibit. It's alway good to hear nice things, and it went that way for 3 hours. However, for me the highlight of the evening,happened when a nice looking young man, pulled out a couple of photographs, and said I shot him 32 years ago! I admit I did not recognize him, but once he told me his name... I instantly recreate a couple of well spent weeks, that started in Chicago and ended 2 weeks later in San Francisco.It was in 1978. That was a magic year for me.

I enjoyed meeting someone OUT of my past... that is still alive! There were 2 other guys at the Opening, that I thought were dead, showed up for the Opening. Here are the images that "Mike" gave to me... The shot with all the buildings in the background was taken from "Pritikin's Peak", however on the map it is called "Corona Heights". The other is taken under the Golden Gate Bridge. He promises to show more images that I took soon. Now that's a switch... Someone showing me, my pictures!