Every city has a story. Some stories date back centuries, while others are more relevant and newer. There are plenty of legends surrounding many European cities which date back to the Roman Empire or even Ancient Greece. These legends have survived to this day and people still recite them from time to time, some even act according to the legends.
Chicago, a city which doesn’t have a history as long as the European cities, still has its own urban myths and legends. Some of those myths are rather scary, while others are joyous and exciting. Today, it is time to get to know the scary myths.
The Candyman
This is based on a movie, based on a Clive Barker novella, whose events took place in Liverpool? Do you get it? Clive Barker was a horror writer, and most of his works are classics which to this day are read and turned into movies or video games, even. With that in mind, Clive Barker’s novella was adapted into a movie which took place in a housing complex called Cabrini-Green. The horror was released in 1922.
It is called Candyman, as that is the name of the monster which you can apparently summon by saying his name five times while looking in a mirror. The Candyman has a hook instead of a hand. By modern standards, that doesn’t sound as scary, but, after the movie’s release, there were reports of people living in fear of seeing the Candyman. Be careful when watching horror movies, they might give you nightmares.
Homey – The Clown from In Living Color
In Living Color is a TV show which was released in 1990 and which lasted until 1994. In that show, a clown called Homie was played by Damon Wayans (the show also starred Jim Carrery). In the 1990s, there were stories of a similarly dressed clown wandering the streets of Chicago in a van, luring children with candy and toys. While this story was officially dismissed, in 2008, parents got warnings from Chicago schools that a clown is active and luring children with candy into a van. Some horror stories live on in the shadows, and surface after some time.
A Haunted Building – Harpo
Harpo was a building, rather, a studio, which was thought to be haunted. As to why, in 1915, a shipwreck took place in the Great Lakes, the one with the largest death toll on a single ship. The SS Eastland turned to her side and a total of 840 passengers and crew died. Their bodies were brought to an armory building which was turned later into the Harpo studio.
People thought it was haunted, reportedly hearing voices and seeing something that they described as a Grey Lady. It is a rather scary story, but with the building now being a McDonald’s, you only need to worry about your weight there. You are safe there. Or are you?
These are some of Chicago’s scariest myths and stories. Be careful when walking at night or you might spot the Candyman or Homey, or even the Grey Lady.