Once we left Woodstock, we headed straight for the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, Illinois where we began what would become a pilgrimage; a pilgrimage to “Save Ferris”. Ferris Bueller that is. After a 43-mile drive, we arrived at Glenbrook North High School; which served as Ferris’ high school in the movie ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’.
This first Ferris Bueller scene proved to be very difficult to capture as Vicki took over 50 photos to satisfy her perfectionist husband. But finally, success; as Tom posed where Ed Rooney stood as he watched Sloane Peterson get into the 1961 Ferrari with her “dad”.
“So that’s how it is in their family.”
While Tom’s ride wasn’t exactly a Ferrari, the Dodge Avenger proved to be a good substitute.
“I guess that’s my dad.” “Do you have a kiss for daddy?”
The water tower, located behind the Cedarbrook Public Library in Northbrook, seemed to be missing some very famous words.
Yes, those are the words that will live in infamy from the movie.
Located roughly 25 miles north of Chicago was Glencoe Beach on Lake Michigan. It was there that Cameron Frye was consoled by Sloane after he freaked out over the Ferrari’s mileage.
“This may very well be for real. I think Cameron may have blown a microchip or two. He’s always been a little keyed up; all I wanted to do was give him a good day.”
Cameron Frye’s home in Highland Park, but we couldn’t go onto the property as it was a private residence and the owners were out in the yard.
“He’ll keep calling me; he’ll keep calling me until I come over. He’ll make me feel guilty. This is ridiculous, okay I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go…(shoot), I’ll go.”
Around 4:00pm we had arrived at our destination where we would “live” for three days and nights while we stayed in the Windy City. Our apartment was called ‘The Flats’ and it was located a mile or so north of Wrigley Field. Although the room was small, it was very nice and was exactly what we needed during our stay in Chicago. And not to mention, the price was right!
For two of the three trips into downtown Chicago, I tagged along in my camera bag; just in case we ran into an unexpected Presidential site or two. After all, President Barack Obama called Chicago home; although his house was located on Chicago’s South Side and I wasn’t overly anxious to take a chance on getting shot. The only day that I was left alone at the apartment was the first day when Tom and Vicki went to the Cubs game at Wrigley Field on Sunday July 13, 2014.
While we continued our hunt for movie sites from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, we did visit some of the other famous places that Chicago had to offer as well. First, I will share the movie sites; mainly because those are the most fun and Ferris Bueller is my hero. Once the movie site portion is finished, I will share a few other pictures that were captured in the Windy City by my photographer.
“Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?”
On Sunday July 13, 2014, the Chicago Cubs played host to the Atlanta Braves. Wrigley Field turned 100 years old on April 23rd and it was cool being at the stadium during its centennial season.
Wrigley Field on the day when Ferris, Cameron and Sloane attended the game where the Cubs were hosting, ironically enough, the Atlanta Braves.
Like Ferris, Tom managed to get a baseball at the game as well. Although his ball was actually used in the game, Tom didn’t snag the foul fly or homerun. He bought the ball for $30 from the team.
From their seats down the left field line at Wrigley, Ferris and Cameron celebrate after Bueller caught the foul ball.
Tom admires the lion in Bears’ country outside of the Art Institute of Chicago. Photography was not allowed of the priceless works of art, so Tom and Vicki did not venture past the gift shop.
Ferris and his friends arrive at the Art Institute of Chicago where they admired priceless works of art.
Although the larger-than-life orange sculpture resembled a giant praying mantis, the huge piece of art was called ‘Flamingo’.
“I don’t know what I’m gonna do.” “College?” “Yeah, but to do what?” “What are you interested in?” “Nothin’!” “Me neither!”
Doing his best to set a bad example for the youngster alongside him, Tom stood on the rail and put his head against the window of Willis Tower – he just had to be like Ferris.
“The city looks so peaceful from up here.” “Anything is peaceful from 1,353 feet.”
“Relax. You fellas have nothing to worry about, I’m a professional.”
“A professional what?”
Tom waited for the Ferrari to go flying out of the parking garage.
“See what a finski can do to a guy’s attitude?”
Once we finished our visit at the parking garage where Ferris parked the Ferrari, we were done with movie sites for that trip. What else did we see in Chicago? Please take a look.
Located in Daley Plaza and dedicated on August 15, 1967, this is the Chicago Picasso.
Another view of Chicago’s Picasso as it silently saluted the half-staffed American flag.
Originally known as the Municipal Pier, the 3,300-foot-long Navy Pier opened on July 15, 1916.
A picturesque sailboat slowly moved past the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse as it made its way out into Lake Michigan.
The John Hancock Center opened in 1969 and is 1,128-feet tall.
Opened in 1973 as Sears Tower, the 1,450-foot-tall Willis Tower was the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere until it was surpassed by One World Trade Center in 2014.
Tom stepped out onto Willis Tower’s ‘The Ledge’, which was over four-feet out from the building’s edge and 1,353-feet above the street below. Vicki refused to join him, even though she didn’t know that the glass floor had broken with visitors inside just six weeks earlier.
Tiny automobiles can be seen 1,353-feet beneath Tom’s shoe. The hefty photographer gave the glass floor of The Ledge a very good stress test.
The orange ‘Flamingo’ is framed by Chicago’s buildings as seen from the Skydeck of Willis Tower.
Tom proudly displays his ticket stub for the July 13, 2014 game at Wrigley Field. The scowl on his face was likely caused by the numerous people that crossed paths with him on Chicago’s famed L train.
The painted 353-foot marker on the outfield wall is framed by Wrigley Field’s famous ivy.
And finally, our home away from home in Chicago – The Flats; which was located about a mile north of Wrigley Field.
Early in the morning on Wednesday July 16, 2014 we left The Flats and drove along Lake Shore Drive as we headed south through Chicago. Even though I hadn’t seen a Presidential site since we left Springfield, I still enjoyed seeing the film locations of Groundhog Day and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
We arrived home in mid-afternoon following the 337-mile ride from the Windy City. My first order of business was to have my pony tail surgically re-attached to my head. Although Elmer’s Tack and Stick was used to re-attach my head the previous year following the Garfield close encounter; that clay-like, sticky substance would not be strong enough to secure the ponytail to my head. That job was left to Gorilla Glue; which after a day of curing seemed to work well.
There was not much time to put my hair through any type of strength test – less than two days after our return from Chicago, I was on the road again. Although there was no rest for the weary, I was extremely pumped for that trip. Would that next adventure provide many Presidential sites for me?
My name is Thomas Watson and I've been a U.S. history fanatic since I was 9 years old. In 2013, I decided to take my passion to the next level when I purchased a Thomas Jefferson bobble head with the sole intention of photographing that bobble head at Presidential sites. From that first day on July 10, 2013 at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, this journey has taken on a life of its own. Now, nearly 40,000 miles later, I thought it was time to share the experiences, stories, and photos of Jefferson's travels. Keep in mind, this entire venture has been done with the deepest respect for the men who held the office as our President; no matter what their political affiliations, personal ambitions, or public scandals may have been. This blog is intended to be a true tribute to the Presidents of the United States and this story will be told Through the Eyes of Jefferson. I hope you enjoy the ride!
2 thoughts on “22: “SAVE FERRIS” ON JEFFERSON’S DAY OFF”
Great job, Tom and Vicki! The current day photos with the movie photo comparison was really cool! I hope to visit some of these locations when I am in Illinois! How did you find the bench from the movie?
There was a website that gave the addresses to the Ferris movie locations that made it easy to find the spots. I had photos from the movie with me to help fine tune the shot.
Great job, Tom and Vicki! The current day photos with the movie photo comparison was really cool! I hope to visit some of these locations when I am in Illinois! How did you find the bench from the movie?
There was a website that gave the addresses to the Ferris movie locations that made it easy to find the spots. I had photos from the movie with me to help fine tune the shot.