If you grew up on the northwest side of Chicago in the forties, and street names such as Deming, George, Altgelt, Montana, Palmer and Diversey, Belmont, Belden or Cicero Avenues bring back memories, this is the book you will surely relate to. Maybe you will recognize yourself as you identify with one of the characters. Dan Glaubke’s (N 17) book, “Out of the Loop,” is a mix of memoir, fantasy, and fiction which takes place just as World War II is ending. The tale takes you out of the Loop, away from the Magnificent Mile, to a typical middleclass, blue-collar neighborhood. It’s a place where Italians, Polish, Germans, Irish, Swedes, and Greeks lived without malice or hostility.
Do you remember Hall Printing Company? Rasmussen’s Gas Station? Or the 20th Century Bowling Alley? Follow Ben Tepke and his friends, Lars, Harry, Ricky, Bob, and Mike, as they go through the awkward stage that puberty presents and mirror life-and-death happenings on their way to manhood. Meet their parents, a grandfather or two, and the many girls who weave in and out of their lives and hearts. There is adventure everywhere as the boys travel on sidewalks and in the streets, pedaling bikes, riding streetcars, trolley buses, and elevated trains. Falconer Grammar School, Foreman High School, Bruno’s Pizza, Gethsemane Lutheran Church all feature in the formation of their lives. Within a few short years, they learn to take responsibility as they take on jobs. Ben finds himself working in a large clothing store, where one day after servicing a customer he ends up being invited to lunch at the Pump Room in the Ambassador East Hotel on the near north side and learns what Pate and Escargot are on the menu. What did Ben do that made this customer so appreciative of his services? And even though he likes Betsy, how does Mitsie figure into the picture? Then learn how he cleverly covers up his story on a memorable evening spent with her, along with his father, grandfather, and his friends. Can he convince them that he had spent time with some other friends? And then his buddies begin to settle into vocations, marriage, enlistment—an insurance man, a carpenter’s contractor, the president of an electrical union, college…where does Ben fit in? What happens to him? Does he fall in love, marry, find a great job and settle in the suburbs to raise a family? I think you’ll be surprised.
Published by Six Corners Publishing in Huntley, Il. For more information or to purchase the book, contact Dan at 847-699-6283.
