Weather records <\/strong>(from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n 1903:<\/strong> \u201cBig Ben\u201d<\/a> escaped to Lake Michigan. The 600-pound male sea lion, who arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo from California a year earlier, scaled the 3-foot iron fence around his enclosure and headed 200 yards into the lake. Worried a hunter might shoot the animal, keeper Cyrus DeVry offered a $25 reward for Big Ben\u2019s safe return. The animal was spotted at many different locations<\/a>, including 2 miles off south Chicago, where he tried to board the dredge tug Mentor. The final sighting was April 25, 1904, when the sea lion\u2019s body was discovered<\/a> 15 miles south of St. Joseph, Michigan.<\/p>\n 1969:<\/strong> The Rolling Stones played the International Amphitheatre<\/a> as part of the band\u2019s first United States tour in three years (a day before the band played two shows at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign). Three weeks later, the tour would end in tragedy at the Altamont Speedway in California, with an audience member being stabbed and beaten to death by Hells Angels members who had been hired by the Stones to provide security.<\/p>\n The Rolling Stones in Chicago: A timeline of the band\u2019s 55-year fascination with the city\u2019s blues<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n But in Chicago, the Stones were in prime form, with their hero, Chuck Berry, as one of the opening acts. The band lineup for this tour included guitarist Mick Taylor for the first time, as a replacement for Brian Jones, who died a few months earlier.<\/p>\n 1981:<\/strong> Broadcaster Harry Caray<\/a>\u00a0brought his antics to the North Side after 11 years as the voice of the Chicago White Sox. Caray signed a two-year contract with WGN radio and television to announce Chicago Cubs games.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter several weeks of talking and negotiating, we made him an offer about two weeks ago,\u201d said Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf. \u201cThe money was acceptable to him, but he said he wanted to think about it. That was the first time we had any indication he was anything but anxious to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n Caray remained with the Cubs until his death<\/a> on Feb. 18, 1998.<\/p>\n 1990:<\/strong> Chicago Ald. William Henry<\/a> \u2014 known at City Hall as \u201cWild Bill\u201d \u2014 was indicted on charges he extorted cash and luxury cars from a car rental firm, took bribes from a West Side janitorial company and put \u201cghost workers\u201d on the city payroll in exchange for kickbacks.<\/p>\n The Dishonor Roll: Chicago officials<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The West Side politician pleaded not guilty<\/a> and told reporters that his indictment was a \u201dsmear campaign.\u201d Henry died<\/a>\u00a0in 1992, halting the case against him.<\/p>\n Also in 1990:<\/strong> \u201cHome Alone\u201d premiered. The Tribune gave the modern Christmas classic, which was shot in 62 days in the city and suburbs, three stars<\/a>.<\/p>\n Want to drive past the \u2018Home Alone\u2019 house? Or the church? A tour of 12 filming locations around Chicago.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The film was written and produced by\u00a0John Hughes<\/a>\u00a0(\u201cSixteen Candles,\u201d \u201cPlanes, Trains and Automobiles,\u201d \u201cThe Breakfast Club\u201d and more), who was by then deep into his oeuvre of\u00a0using Chicago-area sites<\/a>\u00a0to illuminate his scripts. This one arrived after \u201cUncle Buck\u201d (which was also shot here) and \u201cNational Lampoon\u2019s Christmas Vacation\u201d (which wasn\u2019t) but before \u201cDutch\u201d and \u201cCurly Sue.\u201d<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: Revisiting \u2018Home Alone\u2019 sites with the film\u2019s location manager<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\n
![\"Sea](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CTC-L-LINCOLN-PARK-ZOO-SEA-LIONS-1889-01_231577712.jpg\")
Sea lions arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo by train in July 1889. Nineteen of the 21 animals shipped to Chicago from Santa Barbara, California, survived. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Mick](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CTC-L-CTHIST-CTHIST-ACT-038-CT_F_226345169.jpg\")
Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, from left, Mick Taylor and Keith Richards on Nov. 16, 1969, at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago. Editors note: this historic print shows age damage. (Dave Nystrom\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Harry](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CTC-L-HIST-CT-BIZ-WGN-CUBS-A_CTMAIN-1107-SR_189524613.jpg\")
Harry Caray puts on a Chicago Cubs hat at a news conference on Nov. 16, 1981, after he signed a two-year contract to broadcast Cubs games. (Walter Kale\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Ald.](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CTC-L-HIST-Henry-CT0135836910.jpg\")
Ald. William Henry, 24th, with his car near Independence Square Fountain in Chicago on Aug. 18, 1988. (Chris Walker\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Travelers](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CTC-L-OHARE-CHRISTMAS-DECOR-CT0136331899.jpg\")
Travelers walk through a grandly decorated terminal at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Dec. 3, 2024, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
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