Blue semi-circle with houses in center. Blue text with red heart on white background.

Blue Island is a South suburb of Chicago, Illinois, and is adjunct to the city in Cook County. It was established in 1835 as a way station for travelers on the Vincennes Trace, which was a cross-country trackway that passed through Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Blue Island has been a point of entry for immigrants since the 1840's. In the early 1900's, Blue Island incorporated as a city to avoid being annexed by Chicago. Again, in 1915, Blue Island residents rejected annexation while the nearby Morgan Park joined Chicago.

In 1985, Blue Island celebrated their 150th anniversary and held many events including a parade.

Devil with a pitchfork chasing a man with flames. Black text in the upper left with yellow block letters.

“The devil made me do it” is a phrase associated with Geraldine Jones, a character created by comedian and variety television show host Flip Wilson in the late 1960s. Born Clerow Wilson in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1933, Wilson was known by the nickname “Flip,” from “flip out.” He became one of the most popular African-American comedians in history and influenced later entertainers such as Arsenio Hall and Keenen Wayans.

Wilson got his start in the mid-1950s in San Francisco while working as a hotel bellhop. After performing in small clubs and theaters across the country, he went to New York where he appeared on the Tonight Show, the Ed Sullivan Show, and Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. He was given his own television show, the Flip Wilson Show, in 1970. Geraldine became one of his most popular stock characters and was known for phrases like “the devil made me do it” and “what you see is what you get” (the source for the commonly-used Internet acronym “wysiwyg”). Wilson retired from show business in 1974 to spend more time with his family. He died in 1998.

Yellow railroad tracks bisecting black text and yellow text on a split yellow and red background

Tinley Park is a village in Cook and Will County, Illinois that sits along the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad line. The village was incorporated in 1892 and named after the village's first railroad station agent, Samuel Tinley, Sr.

Have info on this button? Contact us here.

Couple dancing in center of yellow border circle with red text on top and bottom of off-white background

Oktoberfest in Dearborn, Michigan is now put on by the Sacred Heart church and is known as Sacred Heart Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is a festival in fall that centers around German food and drink. Frankenmuth, Michigan was the first city outside of Germany to host a sanctioned Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest spread to the town of Dearborn, Michigan soon after the Frankenmuth festival became a success.

Red eyeball with white text and black text on red background

The "Amazing Alfredo" was an attraction at Marriott's Great America, now Six Flags Great America, in Gurnee, Illinois. The attraction had two locations, "Amazing Alfredo" in the County Fair area and an "Amazing Alfredeux" in Orleans Place area. The booth consisted of a person, "Alfredo", who would venture to guess the age (within two years or month within two birth months) or weight (within three pounds) of a customer for a small fee. If Alfredo failed to guess correctly, the customer would win a prize. There are several promotional items including buttons, mugs, ashtrays, etc., that let the user claim, "I fooled Alfredo at Marriott's Great America,"

Marriott's Great America was opened in 1976 in Gurnee, Illinois. The Marriott brand decided not to pursue theme parks and sought buyers after 6 years of operation. The theme park was acquired by the Six Flags Corporation in 1984. Six Flags Great America consistently ranks among the top amusement parks in America for its attendance.

Kermit the Frog in an inner tube on waves with white text on blue background

Kermit the frog is a Muppet character created by Jim Henson. Kermit has been featured in several Muppet productions including Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. The character was voiced by Jim Henson until his death in 1990 and has continued under the direction of several other vocal artists. Kermit has been labeled as singer from several musical singles that have charted on Billboard and has been credited as an author of a book. Kermit, as a main protagonist for the Henson company, has been made into several forms of merchandise and promotional materials.

Hallmark card company, founded in 1910, is the oldest and largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In the 1970s and 80s, Hallmark had a partnership with Jim Henson to use Muppet characters in Hallmark merchandise. Following this, Hallmark partnered with Henson in the 1990s to form an television station with global broadcast, The Kermit Channel/Odyssey Network, which has now changed formats to become The Hallmark Channel after the partnership ended.

Giraffe wearing braces with brown text on white background

Orthodontic braces have been a source of stigma, staring, and discomfort over the years. The metal attached to teeth draws attention by changing the wearer's speech, appearance, and eating habits for a limited time. By promoting value or super features attributed to someone by wearing braces, orthodontists and dental professionals disavow negative remarks and feelings toward those who wear braces. This positive reinforcement helps wearers feel more comfortable and confident during their dental treatment time period.

Children and adults can receive braces for the correction of bite, smile, or injury. Braces are worn for a limited time. Traditional braces consist of metal or plastic brackets affixed to teeth, a wire that goes in between the brackets, and small rubberbands that hold the wire to the brackets. The teeth will move in the mouth as they are pulled closer to the path of the wire by the tension from the bracket and rubberband to correct a smile or bite.

Black text and key on orange background

Continental Assurance Company of North America was founded in Detroit, MI in 1897. The company merged with the Metropolitan Accident Company, changed its name, and moved to Chicago in 1900. In 1963, after more mergers were completed, the company changed its name again to Continental National American Group, taking the first word from each of the 3 newly merged companies.

"Key man" insurance is a policy where the proposer and the premium payer is the employer or the key person being insured. The key person can be any person with a special skillset vital to an organization and does not need to be limited to one key person per company.

Brown text and blue text on white background

CareFree Faucets is a brand of faucets.

Have info on this button? Contact us here.

Red rose with green foliage image in center on silver background. Black text around button.

The Rose Bowl Game is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 (New Year's Day) at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. The 1984 Rose Bowl football game was the 70th Rose Bowl. The UCLA Bruins defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini with a score of 45-9. The game was played on January 2, as New Year's Day fell on a Sunday, which was the common day of the week for a televised bowl game.