Blackhawk Chicago

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Text on Button Blackhawk Chicago - Your host Harry "Woo Woo" Stevens
Image Description

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

Curl Text Parisian Novelty Co. Chicago
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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.

Sources

He plucked and sang his way to fame. (2007, July 6). Orange County Register. https://www.ocregister.com/2007/07/06/he-plucked-and-sang-his-way-to-fa…
 

Catalog ID CH0137

De Paul Blue Demons

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Text on Button De Paul - Blue Demons
Image Description

A red, white and blue button with a blue demon sitting on top of a basketball net. His tail trails down and appears to point to the words "Blue Demons" which is on bottom of the button, displayed across the net.

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De Paul's Blue Demons are one of seven teams in the Chicago area that are in NCAA Division 1.  Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, they play home games at the Allstate Arena.  

In 1907 when St. Vincent’s College became DePaul University, the sports teams wore red uniforms with large ‘D’s on the front. During a game, in the early 1900s, an announcer referred to the players as the “D-men”. This name stuck with the team and evolved into the Demon we have today. The ‘blue’ component is thought to have developed from the attempt to distinguish the players from DePaul University from those of the DePaul Academy (a high school a part of the University at the time). It was for this reason that the Academy took to wearing blue uniforms with red ‘D’s and the University adopted red uniforms with blue ‘D’s; thus solidifying their title as the Blue ‘D’-men or what we know them as today: The DePaul Blue Demons!

Catalog ID CH0025

Chicago Bears 1985 NFC Champions

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Text on Button CHICAGO BEARS - 1985 NFC CHAMPIONS
Image Description

Group shot of the '85 Bears on orange background (blue background on lower quarter) with white text. Text on lower third reads "1985 NFC Champions."

Curl Text © 1986 Licensed by Chicago Bears Creative Photo Crafts Sylvania OH 43560 (419) 882-2051
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The Chicago Bears 1985 season went 15-1 and ended in a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. Some of the notable players include: Walter Payton, William "The Fridge" Perry, Mike Singletary, Jim McMahon, Richard Dent, and Willie Gault. The only game the Bears lost was the unlucky 13th game against the Miami Dolphins. After the loss, much of the team went on to record "The Super Bowl Shuffle."

Catalog ID CH0038

Chicago Blackhawks

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Text on Button Chicago Blackhawks 1968 NHL Service
Image Description

Older Blackhawk logo on white background with black text and and back line around red curl

Curl Text Mfg. R.R. Windy?...not legible
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The Blackhawks are a Chicago-based professional NHL hockey team founded in 1926. The Blackhawks acquired their name from a World War I machine gun battalion, named after an Indian chief. The battalion commander was the team's first owner, Major Frederic McLaughlin. The logo was designed by his wife. The logo and uniforms have changed little over the years. From 1926 until 1986 the team was actually the Black Hawks. The Chicago Blackhawks have managed to escape criticism over the years for their use of a Native American representation as a mascot.

Catalog ID CH0049

Chicago Bears

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Text on Button CHICAGO BEARS
Image Description

Black text on orange band across middle of button on black background. 

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The Chicago Bears are a professional football team that were founded in the year 1920 as the Decatur Staleys. In 1921 the team changed their name to the Chicago Bears. They have won 9 championships, including Super Bowl XX in 1986. 27 Bears players are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the team has won over 700 games.

Catalog ID CH0045

Da Bears

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Text on Button DA BEARS
Image Description

Blue text with white outline on an orange background.

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"Da Bears" is Southside Chicago slang for "the Bears," as seen in a 1990's Saturday Night Live skit. The term is commonly associated with the 1985 Super Bowl winning team; however, the term did not originate until January of 1991, when a skit featuring a group of Chicago Bears "Superfans" began using the term. The term was then used in recurring episodes. 

This button was manufactured by the Busy Beaver Button Co.

Catalog ID CH0040

Grimes Chicago Cubs

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Text on Button Grimes - Chicago "Cubs" 26
Image Description

Illustration of Burleigh Grimes in profile wearing a blue cubs baseball hat, white shirt and white gloves with a band of yellow across the bottom with dark blue text on it and more blue text beneath it. The background is light green.

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Burleigh Grimes was the last pitcher allowed to throw a spitball. This hot-headed Hall of Famer played for many teams, Pittsburg, New York, Brooklyn, St. Louis, Boston and Chicago (1932-33).

This button is part of the Orbit Gum baseball series, a 54-player set issued by Orbit Gum Company of Chicago starting in 1932. Orbit had a brand of gum known as “Tattoo” which issued the baseball series buttons.

Read more about the History of Cubs Buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.

Sources

1932 Orbit Gum Pins. (n.d.). Professional Sports Authenticator.


S. I. Staff. (1967, July 31). THE INFAMOUS SPITTER. Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.Com. https://vault.si.com/vault/1967/07/31/the-infamous-spitter
 

Catalog ID CH0136

Carter H. Harrison For Mayor

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Text on Button Carter H. Harrison - For Mayor
Image Description

White text on blue background.

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Carter H. Harrison Sr. was a Democratic politician who served as mayor of Chicago for five terms, four of them consecutively. In 1891, he lost the mayoral election to Republican Hempstead Washburne. In 1893 he was assassinated by Eugene Patrick Prendergast. His son Carter H. Harrison Jr. also serve five terms as mayor of Chicago.

Catalog ID CH0004

Democratic Party Of Cook County

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Text on Button Democratic Party of Cook County
Image Description

Donkey at top with red stripes. Red, white and blue button.

Curl Text Jansco Inc. Chicago, IL 60630 and Union Bug
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The Democratic Party of Cook County represents 50 wards in the city of Chicago and 30 townships of Cook County. It has dominated politics in Chicago since the 1930s.

Like all political machines, it relies on a tight organizational structure of ward committeemen and precinct captains to elect candidates. Political and social scientists and historians interpreting the political history of Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois in terms of machine politics focus on the shifting power relationships between diverse ethnic constituencies, on the spoils system, the role of public office in the personal enrichment of participants, and on cooperation between participants on the election and re-election of sympathetic candidates.

Catalog ID CH0023

Here's Chicago

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Text on Button Here's Chicago!
Image Description

Red background (faded to pink) with white and black text. Exclamation point after "Chicago," white line below.

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"Here's Chicago" may refer to an event planning organization in Chicago.

Catalog ID CH0047