WJ_BobNewhartCelebration_090424 by Wednesday Journal

Bob Newhart’s Oak Park roots and Austin upbringing

Local historian Frank Lipo shares details from Newhart’s life

WBy ZOË TAKAKI Contributing Reporter

hether from Austin or Oak Park, the Greater West Side is happy to claim celebrated comedian Bob Newhart as their own. Newhart died in August just shy of his 95th birthday.

Famous for his one-sided phone call bit, Newhart received numerous awards over his 60-year career, including three Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

When asked by Wednesday Journal to research Newhart’s experience growing up on the West Side, Frank Lipo, executive director of the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest, knew he would have the resources.

“The historical society has been around for 50 plus years as an organization. So, before I even started working here 30

years ago, we had a file on Bob Newhart,” said Lipo.

Lipo said Newhart was born on Sept. 5, 1929 at West Suburban Hospital, then as now on the Austin Boulevard border between Austin and Oak Park. According to the census the following year, Newhart and his family lived at 59 N. Menard Ave., in Austin. By the 1940 census, the family had moved two blocks west to 26 N. Mason Ave.

Growing up Newhart spent time in both Austin and Oak Park.

In a 2002 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Newhart said, “We used to say we lived in Oak Park because it sounded more posh and Hemingway lived there. But actually we lived in Austin.”

He also had family spread across the West Side, with his grandparents, aunt and many others living close by.

“His story is about this extended family

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Todd Bannor

Frank Lipo, Executive Director of the Oak Park River Forest Museum, with a photo of Bob Newhart at the museum.

Todd Bannor

Newspaper clipping from 1951 with a photo of Bob Newhart, second from left, in Pygmalion at the Oak Park River Forest Museum.

and how he was really an Austinite, a Chicagoan, and had some Oak Park connections,” said Lipo.

Growing up, Newhart was surrounded by an Irish Catholic community.

“His family was very Catholic,” said Lipo. “One of his sisters became a nun.”

For high school, Newhart attended Saint Ignatius College Prep, a Jesuit school on the city’s near west side. His dad also attended Ignatius.

Through his research, Lipo found that Newhart’s father was very active in St. Lucy Parish on Lake Street in Austin. St. Lucy later merged with St. Catherine of Siena parish at Austin and Washington in Oak Park.

Newhart’s experience with theater began in the church, with him attending St Edmund Catholic Parish’s youth theater program called Edmund Players. Newhart also acted with the Oak Park Playhouse, a community theater that performed in the Lowell School, an Oak Park public school at the corner of Lake

and Forest. That site later became one of Oak Park’s first high rise apartment buildings. There, he performed in plays including “Pygmalion,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “First Lady.”

While he studied business and accounting at Loyola University, Newhart wanted to be a comedian. His breakout performance was at Mister Kelly’s, a landmark Chicago nightclub. Mister Kelly’s attracted all the big names of an era that spanned Ella Fitgerald to Steve Martin. A Newberry Library report quoted Newhart saying that being on the stage at Mister Kelly’s, “Newhart felt he had finally ‘made it in show business.”

“His mother and father couldn’t get into the show because it was such a sell out,” said Lipo.

When performing at the Chicago Theatre, Newhart told the Chicago Tribune “I used to take the streetcar down to the Chicago Theatre to see great bands. For me, to walk out on those boards is like something I never thought would happen.”

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Key Elements of Bob Newhart’s Decorating Style

• Furniture Choices: Bob Newhart’s retro style classic mid-century pieces, emphasize their timeless appeal and functionality.

• Color Palette: Rich earth tones, deep blues, and pops of bright colors are signature hues of the “Stratford Inn.”

• Textures and Materials: Luxurious fabrics like velvet and leather pair well with wool and ploy-cotton ﬁbers and topped off with polished wood & chrome accents.

Decor Details that Make a Difference

• Artwork and Wall Decor: Vintage posters, abstract art, and quirky wall hangings further deﬁne the trending retro style.

• Lighting: Light up your space with vintage-inspired lighting ﬁxtures, such as sputnik chandeliers and retro ﬂoor lamps.

• Accessories: Antique clocks, vintage telephones, and retro-themed knickknacks complete the look.

• Tips for Achieving Bob Newhart’s Retro Hotel Style

• Start Small: Start with key pieces or one room before expanding throughout the entire space.

• Personal Touch: Incorporating personal memorabilia and heirlooms to add a unique and personal ﬂair. If they’re YOUR memorabilia, they’re retro and have meaning.

• Balanced Mix: Balance retro elements with modern conveniences for comfort and functionality.

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Todd Bannor

The house on South Taylor Avenue Bob Newhart’s father George grew up

LOOKING GLASS

Who remembers Bob Newhart and from what era?

Local residents recall, or don’t, Newhart’s impact on comedy and television

By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing reporter

Bob Newhart, the witty and gentle comic famous for TV, nightclubs and movies, was born in Oak Park and grew up in Austin. We took to the streets in both neighborhoods to find out who remembers the gifted comedian and from what era they first knew him.

Was it the two TV sitcoms, standup at Mister Kelly’s, guest starring on The Big Bang Theory or as Papa Elf in the movie Elf?

“I didn’t know he was born in Oak Park. I only know him from Elf. I knew he was a TV personality and he has a distinctive way of speaking.”

Christopher Fillak

“I had no idea he grew up in the same community as I am in. He made it a long way for him to live up to 95 years old.”

Krystal Lewi

“I worked in the community he grew up in. He had the Bob Newhart Show that I grew up watching.”

Ken

“I watched him in the movie Elf. My parents grew up watching the Bob Newhart Show.”

Kim Martinez

“I don’t watch TV anymore. It’s really cool how he started off his career here in Austin.”

Daniella Meza

“I was a big fan of both of his shows in the early 70’s. I also saw him appear on the Big Bang Theory.”

Willy Davis

“I didn’t know he was from Illinois and

Oak Park specifically. I love watching him in the movie Elf.”

Anne Rezylan

“I’m not surprised he was from Oak Park as Chicago is a hotspot for comedy and The Second City and especially Saturday Night Live. I loved his skit in An Infinite Number of Monkeys.”

Rachel Hand

“I was watching him in the ‘70s. His comedy was a little dry humor. His one-liners made everyone laugh. I worked with Betty White as an intern at The Second City and I know she was on their show. Both Betty White and Bob Newhart are two of the most famous actors/comedians Oak Park has. Hopefully they have a dedication to him like they did with Betty White.”

Milo