Looking for historic info on Chicago's "Little Hell"?

Question:

Looking for historic info on Chicago's "Little Hell"?

Before WWII, the area better known as the Cabrini-Green complexes was a "Little Sicily" Italian slum, dubbed "Little Hell." I'm trying to gather any lesser-known facts or tidbits on that area (stuff you won't find on Wikipedia, etc.). Any history buffs that can help me out?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Aside from the Obvious Suspect - - - Wikipedia and the fact that it is more commonly called Little Italy or Little Sicilly (in other words use those words to seek info the H logo is too extreme for certain folks) - - -
That said gonna resort to a few links and a book I think you might find amusing - - - -

http://www.modiomedia.com/projects/atctc...

fictional but you'll get a slant on things
http://www.murderoutthere.com/rev-cabrin...
""On
Cabrini Green
by Charles Shafer
CT Publishing 255 pages""

But History wise

http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=97807...
""Taylor Street:: Chicago's Little Italy (Images of America)
by Kathy Catrambone
About This Book
Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
Chicago's Near West Side was and is the city's most famous Italian enclave, earning it the title of "Little Italy." Italian immigrants came to Chicago as early as the 1850s, before the massive waves of immigration from 1874 to 1920. They settled in small pockets throughout the city, but ultimately the heaviest concentration was on or near Taylor Street, the main street of Chicago's Little Italy. At one point a third of all Chicago's Italian immigrants lived in the neighborhood. Some of their descendents remain, and although many have moved to the suburbs, their familial and emotional ties to the neighborhood cannot be broken. Taylor Street: Chicago's Little Italy is a pictorial history from the late 19th century and early 20th century, from when Jane Addams and Mother Cabrini guided the Italians on the road to Americanization, through the area's vibrant decades, and to its sad story of urban renewal in the 1960s and its rebirth 25 years later.
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About the Author
Kathy Catrambone, a journalist and second-generation Italian American, traces her roots to the West Side and Taylor Street starting in the early 1900s. She and some relatives still live there. Ellen Shubart is a historian and author. She loves Italian food and frequents Taylor Street often."""

And will end on a Musical Note
http://chicago.urban-history.org/ven/dhs...
""The management and patrons of Merry Garden also helped launch the career of pop singer Frankie Laine. Born to immigrant parents in Chicago's Little Italy in 1913, Laine showed promise as a singer at an early age as part of a church choir group. In 1930, the teenager caught his big break during a charity ball at the Merry Garden Ballroom. While giving dance lessons to a group of young dancers, Laine was asked to ascend the bandstand and sing a few tunes. "Soon I found myself on the main bandstand before this enormous crowd," Laine recalled. "I was really nervous but I started singing 'Beside an Open Fireplace,' a popular song of the day. It was a sentimental tune and the lyrics choked me up. When I got done, the tears were streaming down my cheeks and the ballroom became quiet. I was very nearsighted and couldn't see the audience. I thought that the people didn't like me." But the Merry Garden crowd went wild and the ballroom's manager quickly arranged to have Laine sing there on a regular basis.

The following year, with the help of the manager of Merry Garden Ballroom, Laine went to Baltimore to host, sing, and dance at a new series of East Coast dance marathons. In 1937, the young singer took over for Perry Como as part of a regional big band led by Freddy Carlone. Following the Second World War, Laine gained national stardom. His recording of "That's My Desire" was the first in a string of songs that made it into the Top Ten on the American music charts, topping out at number four in 1947. Other hits included "That Lucky Old Sun," "Mule Train," "The Cry of the Wild Goose," "Jezebel," "Hey, Good Lookin'," "High Noon," and "I Believe."

Peace...