September 22, 1935 – In the six hours that the Chicago Tribune opened the doors of the
new home of its radio station, 4,368 people tour the facilities. Over 500 visitors fill out forms for a chance
to gain admission to the auditorium when future performances begin. The paper described the new digs in this way,
“The lighting effects, the sharp slant of the auditorium for purposes of better
vision, the richly covered, deep cushioned seats and the sound proofed walls
attracted appreciative comments.” [Chicago Daily Tribune, September 23, 1935] The building just to the north of Tribune
Tower was laid out or “squared off” with Polaris, the north star, as a sighting
point, an innovative approach that allowed a variance of about an eighth-inch
along the building’s frontage on Michigan Avenue. On October 5 the auditorium opened with two
orchestras entertaining all of the workers who had labored on the building,
along with their families. Colonel
Robert R. McCormick, editor and publisher of the paper, told them, “This
victory of peace has a sadness for me, for it means I must part from the men I
have watched at this building for the last year and a half . . . You have piled
stone on stone, color on color, and joined wire to wire. You have built here, forever, something that
your children will thank you for. You
leave me with emotion. God bless you and
be with you always.” [Chicago Daily Tribune, October 2, 1935]
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