First stop: Harpo Studios! Harpo was the home for Oprah for many years. I have heard a lot about this place and always imagined it, however this was my first time here. Was cool to be at a place that is so important in the television industry and the people of Chicago. Especially cool to walk past the "audience entrance" and know that so many people's lives were changed in this building. 

YOU GET A FLAT STANLEY, YOU GET A FLAT STANLEY. EVERYBODY GETS A FLAT STANLEY!

The next place I visited was at 322 S. Green Street, which is the home to CAN TV Chicago’s Public Access TV. The Chicago Access Corporation was made in 1983 to manage all the public access channels across Chicago!

Next, Mr. Farnsworth and I made our way to the Nielsen Building. Nielsen plays a big roll in the television industry, for it monitors and measures what consumers are viewing. Even though we may not always realize it, we personally play a role in this company's work.

Buckingham fountain! Mr. Farnsworth was channeling his inner Al Bundy during this visit.

The next place we visited was the Blackstone Hotel, which is located on Michigan Avenue. Here, the show Early Edition was filmed. This is a really interesting show that displays the life of a man who receives the daily newspaper everyday. The catch is that he gets the paper the day before it actually happens. So he reads about tragedy and tries to fix it before it actually happens.

The next place on our hunt led us to the Museum of Broadcast Communication! Located at 360 N State Street, this museum is right near House of Blues and many other late-night destinations. I've probably walked past this place a dozen times and never realized what it was! Me and Mr. Farnsworth got lucky because they day we went, they were offering free admission! Inside, we saw many pieces of television history. Our favorite was memorabilia from the famous Bozo's Circus. I have heard countless stories about this show from my parents and they even attended the show as children so it was neat to see a part of their history. 

Next up was the Newton Minow Way, located at 42 S. Dearborn. Newton Minow is a former of chair of the FCC. He went to Northwestern University and currently resides in Chicago. Neat to see someone who played such an important role in television history be honored in such a great city.

Lastly, Mr. Farnsworth and I ended our trip at the infamous Billy Goat Tavern. It is located on the lower level of 430 N. Michigan Avenue. This place is famous for the work done on SNL by Belushi and Ackroyd. Fun fact: the Belushi family was raised in Wheaton, IL, just like me! His childhood home is located about two blocks away from mine. Once we finished up this fascinating journey across Chicago, we couldn't help but order ourselves a nice cheezborger.

The Old Cook County Hospital

The last and final stop for Flat Sarnoff and I was at the Old Cook County Hospital at 1801West Harrison Street.  This historical beauty was used for the sitcom ER with George Clooney. The outside of the building was only used in the TV series.  Built in 1916 with 3,000 patient beds the hospital remained open until 2002.  Flat S. and I had a great adventure!!!

The Nielsen Building

Flat Sarnoff and I stopped by The Nielsen Building located at 200 W. Jackson Blvd.  Arthur C. Neilsen was known for creating methods of measuring the audience of radio and television programs. He founded A. C. Neilson in 1923.  His marketing company has grossed over $300 million.

Newton Minow Way @ 42 S. Dearborn

Ok so Flat Sarnoff and I had a hard time trying to find this historical landmark but we did.  Newton Minow was the chairman of Federal Communication Commission.  Many people know him because of his famous speech "The Vast Wasteland", challenging the networks to make shows that relate to more of what the public wants.  Very true speech that speaks to today's television.

Oprah's Harpo Studios

Ok, so if you live in Chicago, you have to know about the Oprah Winfrey Show.  Well, if you don't Flat Sarnoff and I stopped by here to give you some history.  It was a Chicago daytime talk show hosted by the one and only first African American woman, Oprah Winfrey.  Oprah would have different topics and guests on her show in front of a live studio audience.  The topics touches on everything issues like racism, betrayal, drugs abuse just to name a few.  I learned about this show from my mother watching it faithfully everyday when I was younger.  Once I was older I watched it faithfully everyday until I started working then I would watch the reruns at 11:00 on ABC network. The show aired for 20 years.  Amazing!! Hope you can see Flat Sarnoff and I. 

The Webster's House

OMG! It just gets better and better.....as Flat Sarnoff and I continue to walk... what did we see?  This beautiful house was where the television show Webster was produced.  I absolutely loved this show when I was growing up.  Emmanuel Lewis was so adorable to me.  I just loved his laugh!  I was amazed to see a show that didn’t care about the color of your skin, the love his parents had for him was pure and genuine. Say Cheese!

The Original Playboy Mansion

Flat Sarnoff and I took a stroll in the Gold Coast Area and stopped at a historical landmark @1340 North State Parkway.  This beautiful Mansion is where Playboy’s very own Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Penthouse variety show aired.  Hefner’s first nationally televised series Playboy’s Penthouse was produced at this location in 1959.  The show was a syndicated program released to a network of stations across the country that you had to sign up for.  The show had special guest such as Sammy Davis and Nat King Cole stop by Chicago at this address…..WOW!

Billy Goat Tavern

Today Flat Sarnoff and I took at trip down to the Bill Goat Tavern located at 430 N. Michigan Ave at the Lower Level.  Born and raised in Chicago I never had the opportunity to eat at this historical restaurant.  Founded in 1934 by Billy Sianis, a Greek immigrant the name became famous from Mike Royko, a well-known columnist of the Chicago Tribune.  Mike Royko hung out at the tavern every day after work telling his famous news room stories.  I think I'll grab a cheezeborger while I'm here.