April 19, 2014 – The nine-foot-tall bronze statue of Chicago personality Irv Kupcinet, seen here on Wacker Drive in 2011, is visiting Forest Park for a few months. (Click on image to view larger version.)

The statue near Wabash Avenue turned up missing this week, leading some to suspect foul play. The Chicago Police Department was investigating the disappearance until they learned city employees removed it on April 12.

Damage to the stone pedestal needs to be repaired and while they do that, the statue that stands on top of it will be washed and waxed at The Conservation of Sculpture & Objects Studio, a private company specializing in art restoration and conservation.

Kupcinet (1912-2003) was a columnist for Chicago Sun-Times, a television talk show host, and a radio personality. His statue was dedicated in July 2006.