"Chicago is a sort of journalistic Yellowstone Park, offering haven to a last herd of fantastic bravos"

Ben Hecht's quote, "Chicago is a sort of journalistic Yellowstone Park, offering haven to a last herd of wonderful bravos", is a brilliant metaphor that juxtaposes the wild, untamed nature of Yellowstone Park with the busy, vibrant, and typically chaotic journalistic scene in Chicago. Hecht, a popular reporter and screenwriter, utilizes this imagery to talk about the unique and possibly unruly environment of Chicago's media landscape during his time.

The contrast to Yellowstone Park suggests that Chicago provided a protective space, similar to a national forest provides for its wildlife, for journalists who were bold, bold, and possibly eccentric-- the "great bravos". These reporters might reveal themselves easily and take part in courageous reporting, similar to how a safeguarded area permits wildlife to wander without fear of external dangers. In this sense, Chicago ends up being a sanctuary for journalistic innovation and audacity, a place where imagination and boldness are not just urged but needed to make it through and grow.

Additionally, the mention of a "last herd" implies a sense of fond memories or an approaching end to this special journalistic culture. Hecht may be assessing how the golden age of such courageous journalism might be fading, with these "bravos" representing the last of a passing away type. This might be a nod to the shifting dynamics in media throughout Hecht's period, where commercialization and altering societal norms started to influence the journalistic landscape.

In essence, Hecht's quote celebrates the raw, brave spirit of Chicago journalism, comparing it to a wild, untamed environment where bold reporters prospered. It acknowledges both the haven Chicago attended to such individuals and the potential fading of this dynamic culture, using a glamorized view of an age where journalism was as much about nerve and character as it had to do with reporting the news.