The man with the shoe shine kit had just finished shining the boots of the man on the right when the two let me take this shot. The day was August 31, 1974. I photographed the man on the left many times during my years of shooting in Uptown. Despite his missing teeth and ragged appearance, he seemed to be a kindly man. I don’t think he had a regular job. The shoe shine kit may have been a way to pick up some honest cash and avoid being arrested for vagrancy. Both men lived at 909 West Wilson in Chicago’s Uptown Neighborhood. This was taken on the southeast corner of Wilson and Sheridan where a Burger King used to sit. The Sheridan Plaza Hotel was behind me when I took this shot.So much has changed on this corner that little is recognizable. The Burger King is gone, however, the tall building in the background remains.
