Today in Chicago History: ‘Princess Di arrived in Chi and the town went gaga'
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 5, according to the Tribune's archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
High temperature: 97 degrees (1971)
Low temperature: 37 degrees (1945)
Precipitation: 1 inches (1932)
Snowfall: Trace (1955)
1854: The Rock Island Railroad connected Chicago to Lockport and the Mississippi River.
1913: The first in a series of auto-polo matches took place at Comiskey Park. Chicago lost to New York 9-8. But Chicago won the night match 10-8.
'No competitor was injured, which was the most remarkable feature of the contest,' the Tribune reported.
1946: A fire at the LaSalle Hotel, on the northwest corner of LaSalle and Madison streets, killed 61 people and injured more than 200, making it the worst hotel fire in the city's history. The building was demolished in the 1970s.
1989: The Chicago White Sox drafted Auburn first baseman Frank Thomas seventh in the first round of baseball's amateur draft.
The 'Big Hurt' played for the White Sox from 1990 to 2005 as part of a 19-season career. The two-time AL MVP hit 521 home runs, including 448 for the Sox. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2014.
Michael Jordan: Top moments and stats in the life and career of the Chicago Bulls and NBA legend
1991: NBC play-by-play man Marv Albert announced 'Oh! A spectacular move by Michael Jordan!' after the Chicago Bulls star rose for a right-handed layup, encountered the long-armed Sam Perkins, then switched to his left hand and kissed the ball into the basket off the glass on the other side of the rim.
1996: Princess Diana hit the ground running on her first — and only — visit to Chicago. Her priority was clear — to raise money and awareness for the plight of cancer victims. In just 46 hours, she helped raise more than $1 million for cancer charities here and in London.
On her first day, Princess Diana spoke at a breast cancer symposium at Northwestern University in the morning, toured Cook County Hospital's trauma unit, children's emergency room and pediatric intensive care unit in the afternoon, then attended a black-tie fundraising dinner with dancing — her first dance with talk show host Phil Donahue — at the Field Museum. The epic affair rivaled the Bulls' first game in the NBA Finals against the Seattle SuperSonics at the United Center.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: Princess Diana's visit to Chicago in 1996
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.
Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
16 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Warriors Trade Idea Lands 2-Time All-Star in Massive Offseason Move
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Golden State Warriors put up a fight in the NBA Playoffs, but came up short in the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Stephen Curry on the sideline due to a hamstring injury, the team simply didn't have enough firepower. Despite losing to the Timberwolves, the Warriors were able to knock off the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets in the first round. Golden State is a piece or two away from being an NBA Finals contender once again. With Curry's career slowly winding down, the Warriors could be ultra-aggressive this offseason. One position of need will be finding a legitimate starting center upgrade. Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on February 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on February 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. Photo byKeeping that in mind, a new trade suggestion has been made for Golden State. It's a trade that would bring in a two-time All-Star at the center position. Read more: Shaquille O'Neal Shares Harsh Criticism for Thunder After NBA Finals Loss Bleacher Report analyst Andy Bailey has suggested a major move between the Warriors and Chicago Bulls. The trade would bring Nikola Vucevic to the Warriors. Bailey's trade proposal sees Vucevic, the No. 45 overall pick, and a 2028 second-round pick heading to Golden State in exchange for Moses Moody and Buddy Hield. In this trade idea, the Warriors would be given up quality back-court depth. Both Moody and Hield played key roles for Golden State during the 2024-25 NBA season. However, the move to acquire a huge center upgrade in Vucevic might be worth it. During the 2024-25 NBA season with the Bulls, Vucevic played in 73 games for Chicago. He averaged 18.5 points per game to go along with 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while shooting 53 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from three-point range. Vucevic is not a good defensive presence, which is something the Warriors need as well. But, his scoring ability, especially with his three-point shooting, would fit Golden State's offense perfectly. He would also bring top-tier rebounding to the court. Read more: Knicks Encouraged to Trade Superstar Straight Up for Kevin Durant Moody averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game this season. Hield, on the other hand, scored 11.1 points per game to go along with 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists. This is just an idea at this point. There is no guarantee that the Warriors will have any interest in a trade for Vucevic. He would be an upgrade at center, but would not check every box Golden State needs. Expect to see the Warriors mentioned heavily in the NBA rumor mill this offseason. They will likely be aggressive as they search to pursue another ring with Curry still leading the way. For more on the Golden State Warriors and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.


Business Upturn
17 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Dakota Johnson is serving Princess Diana and we love it!
Dakota Johnson is out here giving us major Princess Diana vibes, and honestly, it's the kind of energy we love to see. While promoting her upcoming romantic film Materialists , Dakota stepped out in New York looking effortlessly stunning in a sheer black dress. And the timing? Let's just say, it couldn't be more iconic. This comes shortly after news broke that she and Coldplay's Chris Martin have ended their relationship after being together for a whopping eight years. Is Dakota Johnson pulling a Diana moment? Walking the streets of NYC on Thursday, Dakota looked like she meant business, but fashionably, of course. Her all-black outfit wasn't just a fashion choice, it felt symbolic. It instantly reminded fans of Princess Diana's famous 'revenge dress,' you know, the one she wore when Prince Charles' affair with Camilla came to light. Diana showed up in a jaw-dropping black number that basically said, 'Your loss, buddy.' Dakota seems to be channelling that same bold, beautiful energy, elegant, composed, and radiating 'I'm doing just fine, thanks' energy. She was all smiles as she waved at fans and paparazzi outside The Greenwich Hotel, dripping in confidence and designer threads before heading off for more press duties. This marks one of Dakota's first big public appearances since her split from Chris Martin. The two had been notoriously private about their romance, which allegedly included a secret engagement at some point. So when news of their breakup surfaced, it took fans by surprise, especially since they were seen looking totally in love at the Cannes Film Festival just a few weeks ago. They were cuddly, cute, and all over each other on the red carpet, not exactly the kind of behaviour you'd expect from a couple on the rocks. While neither Dakota nor Chris has shared the reason behind the split, a source reportedly told PEOPLE that 'this time feels final.' Despite the personal shake-up, Dakota is diving headfirst into work. She's currently promoting Materialists , a much-hyped romantic drama where she stars alongside heartthrobs Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. The film explores a love triangle, and judging by the buzz, fans are in for a wild, emotional ride. Breakups are tough, but if anyone knows how to walk through one with grace and a killer outfit, it's Dakota Johnson.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Beckham Drama? Inside Rumors That Brooklyn and Nicola Are Feuding With the Family
Brooklyn Beckham and his wife, Nicola Peltz, are reportedly feuding with the rest of the Beckham family. Tensions have risen so high that Brooklyn and Nicola were noticeably absent from family patriarch David Beckham's 50th birthday celebrations. Life & Style breaks down all the clues that have fueled the Beckham family drama rumors. Romeo Beckham began dating girlfriend Kim Turnbull in late 2024, despite her being Brooklyn's reported ex-girlfriend. The relationship caused a rift within the family after Brooklyn reportedly had an issue with Romeo dating Kim. On April 3, 2025, a source told TMZ that although Brooklyn didn't have lingering romantic feelings toward Kim, he didn't trust that her intentions with Romeo were pure. 'There's no ill will toward Romeo himself, Brooklyn just doesn't approve of Kim dating him,' according to the outlet. David's wife, Victoria Beckham, and kids Romeo, Cruz Beckham and Harper Beckham celebrated his 50th birthday early in March 2025. Romeo shared a group photo via Instagram of the evening on March 31, 2025, featuring Kim and Cruz's girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, in the snapshot. Romeo added fuel to the feud fire when he re-shared the photo on his Instagram Stories along with the message, 'Family is everything. Love you all.' The following month, Romeo and Cruz ignited rumors that there was a family feud when they seemingly mocked Nicola's Instagram comment to Romeo's ex-girlfriend, Mia Regan. 'So beautiful Mia,' the Transformers actress wrote under Mia's April 5, 2025, Instagram photo alongside a pink heart and sparkle emoji. Two days later, Romeo shared solo and couple photos with Kim, leading Cruz to comment, 'So beautiful Romeo,' with the same emojis that Nicola used on Mia's post. Reps for Cruz and Romeo did not immediately respond to Life & Style's request for comment. On May 3, 2025, David was showered with love at his official birthday party in London with his family, minus Brooklyn and Nicola, and fellow A-list friends. Romeo shared more photos of David's ongoing lavish birthday celebrations the following day, including family moments without Brooklyn. As fan theories about the family feud spewed online, a source told People that there were 'tensions between Brooklyn and Nicola and the family," but the bad blood was 'definitely not beyond repair.' 'They love and are always there for him. They're just hurt and disappointed that he's now playing no part in family life,' the insider told the outlet. Meanwhile, a separate source told Us Weekly that Brooklyn and Nicola ask for 'special treatment,' and Victoria and David are 'over it.' So much, that the professional athlete and former Spice Girl reportedly declined their eldest son and daughter-in-law's invitation to celebrate David's birthday with him – privately. 'David and Victoria just want to treat everyone the same and approach life like a family and the family does things a certain way,' the source explained. 'But Brooklyn isn't playing it like that, and everything is a drama.' The source added, 'They just tell the whole family there's a party, 'Here's the time, here's the date.' It's not that complicated. Everyone else seems OK with it.' Chatter that Nicola didn't mesh well with Brooklyn's family started in 2022, after they got married earlier that year. That August, Nicola addressed the rumors with Variety and shared that the gossip stemmed from her decision not to wear a Victoria Beckham-designed wedding dress, and instead wore a gown by Valentino. 'I was going to, and I really wanted to, and then a few months down the line, she realized that her atelier couldn't do it, so then I had to pick another dress. She didn't say you can't wear it; I didn't say I didn't want to wear it,' Nicola told the publication. 'That's where it started, and then they ran with that.'