Joe Rosenberg
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Once they had their story, it was time to close the doors and say goodbye to the menagerie.
Once they had their story, it was time to close the doors and say goodbye to the menagerie.
There was one last hurdle. They had to write the story.
There was one last hurdle. They had to write the story.
Three months later, on January 5th, 1978, an article appeared on the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Three months later, on January 5th, 1978, an article appeared on the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times.
The article was a hit, and four days later, another article appeared, and then one the day after that, and the day after that. Zay and the team would end up writing a 25-part series.
The article was a hit, and four days later, another article appeared, and then one the day after that, and the day after that. Zay and the team would end up writing a 25-part series.
And it turns out, while the mayor and city council might be able to duck one bad article, a 25-part series is a little harder to gloss over. In the next election, the mayor was voted out of office, although Zay says it wasn't all thanks to the mirage.
And it turns out, while the mayor and city council might be able to duck one bad article, a 25-part series is a little harder to gloss over. In the next election, the mayor was voted out of office, although Zay says it wasn't all thanks to the mirage.
There's still a bar at 731 North Wells Street. They knocked on a wall, but the old back bar is still there, and there are pictures from its days as a sting operation.
There's still a bar at 731 North Wells Street. They knocked on a wall, but the old back bar is still there, and there are pictures from its days as a sting operation.
The night the Mirage closed, there was a wrap party. All the reporters went, the fake bartenders, the real bartender, the photographers who had been cooped up in the ceiling boards. And even some members of the menagerie showed up.
The night the Mirage closed, there was a wrap party. All the reporters went, the fake bartenders, the real bartender, the photographers who had been cooped up in the ceiling boards. And even some members of the menagerie showed up.