Lights, camera, action!

West Loopywood

08/01/2012 6:15 PM

By Bill Motchan

3 Comments - Add Your Comment


A "Chicago Fire" crew member wheels monitors out of 411 S. Sangamon.

A flurry of activity ensued today right outside our window. The NBC drama “Chicago Fire” was filming a scene in the building across the courtyard from our patio. When we lived in Michigan, we saw a pair of ducks out our window one time.

The scene being shot today will be in the second episode of the new series. It’s an interior scene using the penthouse apartment at 411 S. Sangamon. The building management got $10,000 for their trouble. Tonight, the production moves to Wacker and Madison. Tomorrow, they’ll be filming a car crash.

“Chicago Fire” is produced by Dick Wolf of “Law & Order” fame. It’s the tale of the stressful existence of Firehouse 51. It may not surprise you to learn that’s a fictitious location. There are 98 Chicago fire stations and the nearest actual one, numerically speaking, is 50, located at 5000 S. Union.

This isn’t the first time Hollywood has coming calling in Chicago for a firefighter story. “Backdraft,” the story of firefighters on the trail of a serial arsonist, was a successful 1991 film directed by Ron Howard.

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By Papi Chulo from Humboldt Park
Posted: 08/03/2012 0:33 AM

I've been meaning to make my way to that party penthouse. My homies tell me the owners are prominent Chicago swingers always looking for new 'merchandise'!



By Tanya
Posted: 08/02/2012 7:58 PM

I often observe the pool boy using my high powered binoculars



By The Pun from West Loop
Posted: 08/02/2012 6:10 PM

I heard the people that live in that penthouse have a really sweet tan pool boy who lives on the roof.