Yann Le Goff, journalist
Boris Vioche, film director, cameraman
Orléans, France
Three months ago, as we were working on a documentary about route 66 for a french TV, we stopped in Maxwell Street, Chicago, to begin our film.
For european people Chicago is symbolised by two things: industry and music. Everybody in Europe knows a few things about blues and a few names of bluesmen who are still coming in France during the summertime to play, and who are often based in Chicago.
We had the chance during our travel to see one of the most significant places of the blues in Chicago, which is Maxwell Street. Here was born the modern blues and by the same way his later son, the rock music which has been spread all around the world and is one of the most important cultural legacy that United States gave to the world.
Today our friends in Chicago tell us that Maxwell street is going to be destructed. It seems completely unbelievable. This historic place is unique, it's part of your history, of your life. What would American people say if tomorrow the French decides to destruct Montmartre or the Moulin Rouge, to build car-parks or appartments ?
America needs its roots to be saved as we, european, needs ours, and yours too because we live in the same world.
Maxwell street could become, for architectural and cultural reasons, one of the most well known places of Chicago, a kind of living museum if only a good decision is taken.
The UIC must grow, it's a fact, but knowledge must not dominate life and culture or it's going to be inhuman.
Maxwell street must not die, but be shown with proudness as one of the most important cultural places of USA, and of the world.
There is no Maxwell Street anywhere else on the planet, and there will never be...
Thank you very much for the two minutes you spent reading this letter.
Sincerely
Yann Le Goff
Boris Vioche
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Contact Us
TO REACH US VIA EMAIL:
Chuck Cowdery, President (cowdery@21stcentury.net)TO REACH US VIA THE USPS:
Steve Balkin, Vice President (mar@openair.org)
Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition
P.O. Box 6435
Evanston, IL 60204