Milwaukee’s colorful
past, more interesting than the history of many heartland cities, is
being examined in a series of profusely illustrated books from Arcadia
Publishing. Larry Widen, whose previous book examined Milwaukee
cinemas, contributes a look at the city’s flourishing cultural milieu
through the mid-20th century. During those years Houdini headlined in
Milwaukee at the Majestic Theatre, museums sprouted along Wisconsin
Avenue and Downtown was crowded with theaters, concert halls and
exhibition buildings, many of them architecturally fabulous. Frank
Alioto remembers Brady Street’s early ethnic history, its role as a
thriving business district and, in the 1960s, mecca for the local
counterculture. The pictures in both books are fascinating photo albums
of Milwaukee’s past.
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