11/13/58 photo credit LIFE Magazine.

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11/13/58 photo & description credit LIFE Magazine. Courtesy of Chicagology.com

November 13, 1958
New State Street Illumination

Moment of Suspense There was a moment of suspense before President Eisenhower pushed a golden telegraph key 700 miles away in the White House, causing Vanguard’s signal to turn on the street’s new half million dollar lighting system, which is controlled by radio. Then, in a split second, the lights were ablaze.

A loud hurrah arose from the crowd of 250,000 jammed along the famous shopping center between Lake and Van Buren streets. It was 9:04 p. m. A band swung into the song “Chicago” and a new era of lighting began.

The system is the first in the world to utilize radio control. Radio signals from a control center will turn on all lights at dusk, turn off all off at dawn.