Today in Chicago History: ‘Spider' Dan Goodwin scales the Sears Tower, then the world's tallest building
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 25, according to the Tribune's archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
1950: A Chicago Transit Authority Green Hornet streetcar slammed into a gas truck on State Street near 62nd Street in what remains the worst traffic accident in Chicago history and the worst streetcar accident in the United States. The streetcar's doors did not have emergency pulls to open them, which are now required on all CTA vehicles, so 33 passengers died trapped inside. The gas truck driver also died. The streetcar's motorman was blamed for failing to slow down to negotiate a switch.
5 things you might not know about Chicago native Ted Kaczynski — the 'Unabomber'1978: 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski left his first known bomb in a parking lot at the University of Illinois Chicago.
A passerby picked it up and returned it to the person Kaczynski listed on the return address as the sender. That person, a Northwestern University professor, was suspicious about the package and turned it over to security there. A public safety officer at Northwestern suffered minor injuries when he opened the package and it exploded.
1979: At the start of Memorial Day weekend, 271 people aboard American Airlines Flight 191 died after the DC-10 aircraft they boarded crashed just 31 seconds after takeoff from O'Hare International Airport. Two more people on the ground also died in the crash that impacted an open field about 4,600 feet northwest of the departure end of the runway.
It's still the deadliest passenger airline accident on U.S. soil.
1981: 'Spider Dan' Goodwin scaled the Sears Tower, which was then the world's tallest building.
At least 200 people showed up to watch the 25-year-old Goodwin, clad in a blue-and-orange suit, scale the west side of the building using suction cups and a 'home-welded claw,' the Tribune reported.
'Spider Dan' wowed Chicagoans with his scaling of skyscrapersGoodwin finished a little before 10:30 a.m. and was promptly taken into police custody. He and partner in crime James Hackett were charged with disorderly conduct and bonded out the next day, with Goodwin walking out of the downtown jail still in his superhero suit. Hours later, Goodwin was holding court and dining on trout at the Ambassador East Hotel in the Pump Room's famed Booth One.
Two weeks later, Goodwin and Hackett appeared in court. Goodwin pleaded guilty and was fined $35. Hackett had his charge dismissed.
Goodwin went on to scale the John Hancock Center in November 1981.
1982: Fergie Jenkins became the seventh MLB pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters in the Chicago Cubs' 2-1 loss at San Diego. Jenkins reached the milestone by striking out Garry Templeton in the third inning.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: Oprah Winfrey — 10 moments from her Chicago years2011: The final episode of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' which was filmed in Chicago, aired.
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Chicago Tribune
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Today in Chicago History: Great apes enjoy new habitat — with no bars — at Lincoln Park Zoo
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 7, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) 1917: Lions International was founded at the LaSalle Hotel. Members of 42 business clubs assembled there at the invitation of Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago salesman. Jones sought to create an international association dedicated to service — beyond what the individual organizations were doing locally in their communities. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the Association of Lions Clubs. Jones approved of the name since it stood for 'fidelity through the ages; he has only one mate.' Within three years, Lions became an international organization. 1942: Stanley Johnston was an Australian American journalist who, as a correspondent during World War II, wrote a story for the Tribune that inadvertently revealed the extent of American code-breaking activities against the Imperial Japanese Navy, or IJN. The story resulted in efforts by the United States government to prosecute Johnston and other Tribune journalists, an effort what remains the only time the Espionage Act was used against journalists in the United States. 1976: Five people were injured — two seriously — after bombs planted by the FALN (a Spanish acronym for the Armed Forces of National Liberation) went off about 11 p.m. at Chicago police headquarters at 11th and State streets, the First National Bank at Dearborn and Madison streets, the John Hancock Center and a bank across from City Hall. The victims had just emerged from 'Sherlock Holmes' at the Shubert Theater. Further injuries were avoided during a shift change at the police station, the Tribune reported, through the actions of an officer who noticed a suspicious package after hearing reports of the other blasts and helped clear the area. A history of bomb attacksOver the next four years, the FALN carried out 16 more bombings, including at a Holiday Inn, the Merchandise Mart, two armed forces recruiting offices, the County Building and the Great Lakes Naval training base outside North Chicago. Nobody was injured in any of those overnight attacks. Also in 1976: The Great Ape House, which included six indoor habitats and a nursery plus an outdoor habitat, opened at Lincoln Park Zoo. The biggest improvement: no bars between animals and people. Just large, glass windows. And, it 'rained' at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to replicate the apes' natural environment and keep foliage in the habitat watered. The moving of animals from the old Primate House to the new Great Ape House was recorded by filmmaker Dugan Rosalini, who compiled the footage into the one-hour documentary 'Otto: Zoo Gorilla'. This project and the zoo's hospital were part of the zoo's $20 million building project, which was completed in 1982. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.
