Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Oct. 26, according to the Tribune’s archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
High temperature: 84 degrees (1963)
Low temperature: 22 degrees (1942)
Precipitation: 2.18 inches (2019)
Snowfall: 1.9 inches (1957)
The Chicago Theatre opened as a movie house at 175 N. State St. on Oct. 26, 1921. (Chicago Tribune)
1921: Balaban & Katz’s Chicago Theatre opened. It was said to be the largest and finest of its kind in the world with seating for 5,000 people.
The first film shown was silent — “The Sign on the Door” starring Norma Talmadge.
“In early architectural renderings, the theater at 175 N. State St. had been labeled the Ambassador or the Capitol,” the Tribune’s Richard Christiansen wrote in 2001. “Fortunately, those were dropped. Chicago prevailed, and the six-story vertical sign that spells out the name has become one of the city’s enduring icons.”
The 19th new building, S.R. Crown Hall, to be constructed since the Illinois Institute of Technology launched its expansion program in 1943 was dedicated on April 30, 1956. At the ceremony were Irving, second from right, and John Crown, right, whose family contributed to the building. In the back are Jay Doblin, director of the Institute of design; from left, John T. Rettaliata, president of the school, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, head of the architecture department and designer of the building. Editors note: this historic print shows some crop marks and hand painting. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
1939: Armour Institute of Technology and Lewis Institute announced they would merge to form Illinois Institute of Technology.
Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan drives past Washington Bullets’ Dudley Bradley during NBA action at Chicago Stadium in Chicago on Oct. 26, 1984. (Fred Jewell/AP)
1984: Wearing a No. 23 Chicago Bulls jersey for the first time — in front of 13,913 fans at Chicago Stadium — Michael Jordan scored 16 points in his NBA debut, a 109-93 victory against the Washington Bullets. Also there — the San Diego Chicken.
An unused ticket from the game sold at auction in 2022 for $468,000.
Volponi, a 43-1 long shot ridden by jockey José Santos, is all alone as he wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic by 6 1/2 lengths on Oct. 26, 2002, at Arlington Park. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
2002: Arlington Park hosted a sold-out crowd of 46,118 for the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships — the first ever held in the Midwest.
The Chicago White Sox celebrate on the mound after their 1-0 win over the Houston Astros in game 4 to win the World Series at Minute Maid Field in Houston, Texas on Oct. 26, 2005. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)
2005: The Chicago White Sox won their first World Series since 1917.
2005 White Sox relive their World Series championship
“They completed their stunning run in a manner that mirrored their amazingly successful season, riding the pitching of Freddy Garcia and the bullpen to a 1-0 victory over Houston and completing a four-game sweep of the 2005 World Series,” Tribune reporter Mark Gonzales wrote.
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