I enjoyed this short series by "The American Experience" but feel that it was very poorly named. "City of the Century" really says little about Chicago other than, perhaps, the 19th century was a huge boom time for the town. A better title might have been "The Evolution of the Labor Movement in 19th Century Chicago" or perhaps "The Liberalization of Chicago During the Course of the Century". That's because I thought the show would be a celebration of the great city--discussing the various ethnic neighborhoods, its citizens, traditions, etc.--but that wasn't at all the focus of the three shows. It was enlightening--but probably could have been done in less than three episodes.
Part three deals with various Progressive topics such as ward politics, Jane Addams and her social programs, art institute and other civic creations, the Columbian Exhibition, the Pullman strike, the liberalizing of Chicago politics and attitudes by century's end. Well worth seeing but very narrow in scope.
Part three deals with various Progressive topics such as ward politics, Jane Addams and her social programs, art institute and other civic creations, the Columbian Exhibition, the Pullman strike, the liberalizing of Chicago politics and attitudes by century's end. Well worth seeing but very narrow in scope.
