Blackhawk Chicago

Black and white photograph of a man in a white suite with a black bow tie in front of a greyish background.

Harry "Woo Woo" Stevens was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. A noted banjo performer, he got his start in New York City at the age of 23, having traveled there to try out for the New York Yankees. A baseball career was not in the cards for him, but his life changed when Babe Ruth heard him playing the banjo in the Yankee's locker room. Recognizing his talent, Babe got Woo Woo to enter the Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour talent show. Woo Woo won, and that started his career as an entertainer. Performing from Broadway to Hawaii and everywhere in between, Woo Woo traveled the country performing for decades. Relocating to California in the 1960's, he remained there until his death on June 26th, 2013 at the age of 98.

The Blackhawk restaurant was a Chicago fixture for decades. Founded on December 27th, 1920, they became famous across the country for their live radio show called  "Live! From the Blackhawk!". The restaurant removed their dance floor and stopped hosting orchestras in 1952, and remained in business as strictly a restaurant until finally closing on August 31st, 1984.