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* Wut…
His legacy is synonymous with Rosemont, but it’s likely many of the visitors to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center didn’t know or even remember the man whose name is on the building.
Thanks to patented technology and a dose of artificial intelligence, you’ll soon be able to meet the Northwest suburban politician and power broker.
The Rosemont village board this week agreed to spend $176,265 to bring the town’s founding mayor back to life in the form of a walking, talking animatronic figure that will be designed by Jacksonville, Florida-based Sally Dark Rides.
The robotic mayor will be the centerpiece of a 4,300-square-foot local history museum being built out on the first floor of the new village hall at 9501 Technology Blvd., next to the Fashion Outlets of Chicago. […]
The robot will be motion activated to speak when visitors are nearby. What’s still to be decided is whether it will have a set of prerecorded lines, or interact with patrons in conversation.
* The Question: What historic Illinois figures would you like to see reincarnated as walking, talking AI robots? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 1:43 pm
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Paul Powell. He so embodied the essence of Springfield in the 20th Century:
Comment by Keyrock Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 1:49 pm
He’s still living, but I think any Illinois museum would benefit vastly from an animatronic Mike Madigan robot that only answers questions with cryptic short phrases, stares at visitors with an icy cold stare, and slices apples.
Comment by SpiDem Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 1:55 pm
Gary Forby - with subtitles.
Comment by Not Again Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 1:57 pm
===Gary Forby - with subtitles.===
Funniest thing I’ve read in a long time. So true.
Comment by JSI Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:00 pm
Blago - in prisoner garb and gray hair.
Comment by Siualum Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:07 pm
Maybe we can make a robot Richard J Daley, have a trial where we blame all of Chicago’s problems on him, and throw robot Hizzoner in prison.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:07 pm
Otto Kerner, Jr., was a trailblazer. He stated the trend of crooked Illinois Governors getting sent to prison.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:18 pm
Ev Dirksen. What a voice
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:18 pm
As long as they are coin operated.
Comment by What's in a name? Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:27 pm
Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, Lefty Williams, Chick Gandil, Hap Felch, Buck Weaver, Fred McMullin, Swede Risberg.
Celebrate the end of the lifetime bans by having them take the field at 35th and Shields. Have the whole thing paid for by Draft Kings/Fan Duel. Even if the robots are in on the fix, it can’t be any worse play than we’re seeing right now, could it?
Comment by Juice Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:31 pm
Francis Willard, just to see her reaction to distillery named after her.
Comment by ChrisB Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:33 pm
“Big Jim” Thompson or Sam “Billy Goat” Sianis
Comment by Ares Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:34 pm
I have two that I think would be neat:
- Jane Addams: I’d like it to be interactive just to understand how her times and experiences led to her thinking in ways we can hardly understand (especially as a male)
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee: if you can’t admire and be fascinated by her, then that’s a you problem. And maybe after talking to her, you can challenge her to a race 🙂
Comment by Lurker Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:36 pm
Kirk Dillard, because I need to never forget he worked with Barack Obama or something. Plus he was Chief of Staff for a Governor.
Comment by Steve Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:41 pm
Scott Bennett - I would love to hear his jokes and laugh again.
Comment by 52nd Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:41 pm
Ernie Banks and Walter Payton. or better yet Jack Brickhouse or Harry Carey
Comment by just because Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:41 pm
Bozo T. Clown — I saw him at a parade in 2018 or so and it brought back good memories and I was so excited for my child who was with me to see Bozo and hear about this clown show on tv that was such a big part of my childhood. Sounds crazy to explain in 2025 but it was the best.
Whoever made Maurice Lenell cookies — those were fire. Especially the pinwheels 😭
Comment by snave Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:46 pm
Bill Veeck. The Sox would at least be fun.
Comment by The Magnificent Purple Walnut Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:47 pm
1) Michael Jordan, and all the other answers are wrong.
2) In 1964, “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. It was the first animatronic humanoid, a collaboration between Walt Disney and the State of Illinois, and one of the most popular attractions at the fair. The planned tribute to Lincoln was announced in 1963 on the 100th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, and the figure was made with an impression taken from Lincoln’s own death mask. If you have been to Disney World, chances are you have seen the performance yourself.
3) Mayor Stephens was well-known for many things, but did you know he was an avid collector of Hummels? He donated his massive collection to the village, which is now the home to the largest public collection of Hummels in the world. https://rosemont.com/museum-of-hummels/
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 2:57 pm
Second question: What should he be programmed to say?
Comment by Save Ferris Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 3:01 pm
Vic Giannotti—a restauranteur in Chicago. His restaurants were filled with delicious Italian dishes and colorful characters of a certain generation.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 3:04 pm
George Blakemore is still alive, but when he either dies or stops attending Chicago City Council meetings, the city should make an animatronic of him and allow it to sign up for public comment. I think listening to his comments has been a character building experience for Chicago’s alderpeople, and I would like to see that continue.
Comment by Ed Burke Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 3:24 pm
An epically ranting Bill Black.
Comment by Northsider Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 3:43 pm
= Gary Forby - with subtitles. =
“I’m pro-life.”
-30-
Comment by Dirty Red Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 3:52 pm
John Peter Altgeld and the Haymarket Defendants–a critical point in Illinois and American history, regardling protest and labor and police misconduct especially in light of Jan 6th.
Comment by old guy Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 4:02 pm
C’mon Rickey Hendon. Hands down the best to be preserved for future generations.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 4:17 pm
Mayor Stephens continues to remind us of his legacy in strange ways. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19097891
Comment by A Rosemont By Any Other Name Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 4:47 pm
None, this is silly spending and if we don’t have enough money to pay the state’s bills this would be just another waste of funds.
Comment by Tim Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 5:24 pm
Robotto Kerner.
Comment by Somebody Somebody Sent Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 6:37 pm
1. Charlie Birger & a couple of the Shelton Brothers. They could talk about the Southern Illinois Klan war and bootlegging.
2. Richard Pryor
3. Marquette & Joliet
4. Black Hawk
Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, May 14, 25 @ 6:37 pm