We at WindyBits are new kids on the block (NKOTB, for those in the know) and just growing a bit o’ peach fuzz. We thought we’d take a look into the depths of the Internet Archive to see how our older brothers and sisters looked when they came on the scene. And what we found… well, it wasn’t always pretty.

Chicago Tribune

The Trib’s been on the Intarweb since 1998. We couldn’t get a good view of the site back that far at archive.org, but we did find a fantastic note explaining the Trib’s first redesign. Back then, the online version wasn’t even called the Chicago Tribune; it was the Internet Tribune. And it was a site full of promise:

The first thing that greets you on the new Internet Tribune is a series of “splash screens” (at right) that will continue to rotate automatically until you decide exactly where you want to go on the site. These screens function as a three-dimensional front page, emphasizing top news, business and sports stories; special Internet-exclusive packages; features from our Marketplaces sites; and highlights from our Digital City Chicago and Digital City Communities sites.

A “series of ‘splash screens’?” Now that’s something I’d like to see make a comeback.

The Sun-Times

While we had to settle for a version of chicagotribune.com from 2000, we struck gold with the Sun-Times: 1996, baby. And let me tell you, yellow was “in.” The Internet Archive has plenty of gems from the early Sun-Times site, including this little nugget from Don Crabb’s January 12th, 1997 tech advice column:

Q. My company used to use networked Sun workstations, but now we have moved to Windows 95 machines. I liked being able to establish quick message sessions with others on our network using the UNIX “Talk” command. What is the Windows NT equivalent?

Still-converting Sun users will just have to click through to get the answer.

The Daily Herald

Simple, functional, and very small-time in 1998. The sports news of the day: Will Elway Be Back?

Chicago Reader

The 1998 version of the Reader’s online presence was, well, not half bad. Sure, it was basic, but it was also functional. Make sure to read Peter Margasak’s take on the Virgin Megastore at Michigan and Ohio.

CTA Tattler

In the beginning, the CTA Tattler was not ctatattler.com, it was kjo84.typepad.com. And it wasn’t called “CTA Tattler,” it was called “kjo’s catch-alls.”

No offense, Kevin, but we like where you’ve taken things since January 2004. Although we won’t mind if you report R. Kelly sightings on the Tattler.

CORRECTION: Kevin has set us straight. The original Tattler URL was not kjo84.typepad.com, but rather kjo84.typepad.com/cta_tattler/. An early look at the Tattler reveals some questionable color choices by our friend, Mr. O’Neil.

Chicagoist

Uh, looks pretty much the same today as it did two years ago. Time for you guys to spruce things up!

Gapers Block

GB was a pretty good looking site four years ago, sporting its wide-narrow-wide columnar design and some nice typography. It’s better today, but it was never bad.

Chicago magazine

You can say one thing about the site in ’99: they had the whitespace thang down pat.

Chicago Public Radio

In a not unsurprising move, Chicago Public Radio was partial to the <frameset> in its earlier days. But one thing they’ve known from the beginning: how to beat that Pledge Drive into your thick skull.

Crain’s Chicago Business

We located a gorgeous little snapshot of Crain’s in 1997. The Web designer limited himself (or herself) to 4 colors–no more–but it seems reasonably functional.

Any others?

Know another site with a sordid past? Drop a link in the comments.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 12th, 2007 at 2:24 am and is filed under Articles. Both comments and pings are currently closed.