Illustrious
The common two-tiered gym isn’t exactly as interesting as some of Illinois’ best high school gyms, but it’s s step up from most stale rectangles If you’re having a hard time picturing what a two-tiered gym looks like, just think … Continued
As shocking as it is that the newest Pope is American born and raised, it’s was even more surprising that he was from Illinois and grew up on the far-South Side of Chicago. Robert Prevost, now to forever know as … Continued
While Illinois is not as well known for tornadoes as Texas, Oklahoma, or Kansas, it tops all other Midwestern states for the annual number of twisters a year. So, it’s no surprise that at least 7 different high schools in … Continued
If you’ve been around enough old gyms you’ve probably noticed this Medieval-torture-like apparatus and wondered just what was it for. The apparatus goes by several name; gymnastic wall bars, Swedish ladder, stall bars, Swedish wall, and gymnastic ladder. Invented in … Continued
It’s already hard enough to squeeze photos of over 100 of the state’s most interesting gyms into one book and give them the space they need. That means somewhere along the way some of my favorite stand alone photos will … Continued
Oak Park inspired Frank Lloyd Wright, Ernest Hemingway, and now me. On the afternoon of January 7th of 2012, I was getting ready to photograph a varsity girls basketball game for the Oak Leaves newspaper, in what would be my … Continued
The Amazing Drapes of Chicago Public League Gyms A little joke I like to make is, “I’m willing to bet there is a line item on CPS’ budget sheet for draperies.” If you’ve spent enough time going to games at … Continued
Tucked in a small area on the mid-south side, Fuller Park’s field house sports a pair of basketball court gems. In a little change of venue from my normal foray into documenting some of Illinois’ best high school gyms, I … Continued
The last game ever at New Trier High SChool’s Gates Gymnasium, on Dec. 16, 2021.
How the idea and the book project about the best high school basketball gyms in Illinois came about.