Chicago History Podcast

Send us a textHave you ever been to Grossdale? Praha? Maybe Swedetown? How about Gregg's Milk Station? I’m sure you’ve been to Hardscrabble, right? Today we’re discussing Chicago’s Forgotten Towns, Neighborhoods, and Names.Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistorySend me an email with whatever is on your mind: chicagohistorypod AT gmail.comLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://w...

Send us a textOn this Great Chicago Fire-themed episode we discuss one home not destroyed by the fire – the Ogden mansion – and learn little more about the person who once owned it, what happened to that area immediately after the fire, and what is on that site now.Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryUp your cocktail game for the holidays with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com...

Send us a textWTTW's Eddie Griffin is back to discuss one of Chicago's darkest sports stories - the Black Sox Scandal of 1919.The new season of Chicago Stories begins September 20th.https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-storiesShow your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland c...

Send us a textAnthony Bourdain tasted the wormwood-infused liquor Malört for his TV show “The Layover” and said, “its brash nature" created “a possibility that I could get all stabby and belligerent.” Today we're talking about Malört, the truly Chicago booze.Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail o...

Send us a textThis episode's guest is Mitchell Bisschop, who wrote and stars in the play "Royko: The Toughest Man in Chicago," which runs Sept. 5-29, 2024, at the Chopin Theatre. Mitchell and I discuss celebrated newspaper columnist Mike Royko, Chicago newspapers, growing up in Barrington, IL as a theatre nerd, and how this one-man play came together. Don't worry if you don't know much about Mike Royko - I include a (somewhat) brief bio before the interview.Tickets to Royko: The Toughest Man ...

Send us a textHe arrived in Chicago from Boston in the mid-1800s and set up an Eye and Ear Infirmary to help those in need. Hear the story of Dr. Edward Lorenzo Holmes and his efforts to help the less fortunate in Chicago.West Loop: Then and Now by Connie FairbanksBuy it from the author: https://www.conniefairbanks.com/shop-1Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower rig...

Send us a textHe was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but when this Chicago-born department store heir died mysteriously at the age of 20, things really got weird. #ChicagoHistory #MontgomeryWard #MysteriousDeath #Wards #DepartmentStores #TrueCrimeWant to help support the show? Buy Me A Coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream g...

Send us a textChinese entrepreneurs in the 1970s as well as refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia transformed an area on the city’s north side by opening restaurants, bakeries, pharmacies, and social service agencies. Today we’re discussing Chicago’s Little Saigon with author Erica Allen-Kim.Building Little Saigon: Refugee Urbanism in American Cities and Suburbs by Erica Allen-KimBuy it from the publisher: https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477329719/Show your support of the show for the cost of a c...

Send us a textPlanning to visit Navy Pier this summer? Here is the history of one of the most popular tourist destinations not only in Chicago but in all of Illinois.* Written and recorded before FlyOver Chicago was installedShow some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAmazon Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):BOOKS:Navy Pier: A Chica...

Send us a textFor you fans of true crime stories, here's an episode from January 2021.He was a manager at a Coca-Cola bottling plant, married, with two teenage sons living the good life in suburban Naperville, IL in 1967. When a bomb exploded aboard a plane on which his wife Jeanne was a passenger, Earle T. Cook quickly became the focus of the FBI investigation.#ChicagoHistory #ChicagoTrueCrime #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast#AirplaneBombings #NapervilleIL #MurderForHire #StandByYourManChicago H...

Send us a textLong before NASCAR came to Chicago, this town had races, racers, and racetracks. Today we're talking about Chicago's Motor Speedways.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1...

Send us a textDanny Sotomayor, a fiery, openly gay AIDS activist, was a man on a mission. Today we discuss Sotomayor with Dan Andries, the writer and producer of the WTTW documentary "The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor."The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor (WTTW)https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-stories/outrage-of-danny-sotomayor/videoThe Outrage of Danny Sotomayor (YouTube)https://youtu.be/UQUxHdWHeKs?si=lql4W2Eg9XAdb3lOGet out and explore Chicago this summer with Tours With Mike:https://tours...

Send us a textIt was an innovative idea in its day - a 200 store indoor shopping center 35 miles outside of Chicago with a 31-ride amusement park in the middle. Unfortunately, once you throw in costly delays, waning attendance, lackluster store selection, competition, and a trapeze death, that's when trouble starts.This is the story of Old Chicago, billed at the time as the "world's first enclosed combination theme park and shopping center," which in five years went from the next big thing to...

Send us a textIt is the largest train robbery in U.S. history, and it occurred just 32 miles north of Chicago. Hear how the Rondout Train Robbery unfolded 100 years ago in June 1924.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collec...

Send us a textIt was one of the defining moments for the United States during World War II - the capture of a German U-boat on the Atlantic Ocean. Hear the story and the event's many Chicago connections before the 80th anniversary of the event (June 4, 1944), and then see the submarine at the Museum of Science and Industry.#ChicagoHistory #USNavy #MuseumOfScienceandIndustry #U505Submarine #WorldWarIIU-505 Live Submarine Tour:https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/u-505-submari...

Send us a textCaptured World War II enemy combatants were often brought back to the United States to be housed in facilities across the country, including here in Illinois. Today we’re discussing Chicago’s World War II POW Camps.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland...

Send us a textIt is one of the oldest original ballparks in the country, and with that lengthy run is an interesting history as well. Hear all about the area before the ballpark was even built and much more.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://...

Send us a textHis funeral was the largest in Chicago since that of Abraham Lincoln. Who was Dr. Patrick Henry Cronin, and how did his connection to secret Irish organizations lead to his murder?Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrup...

Send us a textNo sport is more closely identified with Chicago than 16-inch softball. Enjoy the history of 16" softball along with some insights about the game from a few guys who know it best - the 16" Softball Hall of Fame co-founder Al Maag, Hall of Fame President Ron Kubicki, and Hall of Fame Vice President Ray Topps.#Chicago #History #ChicagoHistory #ChicagoSports #16InchSoftball16-Inch Hall of Fame:https://www.16inchsoftballHoF.comOrder "The Greatest Game on Dirt" and help support the H...

Send us a textWith all the talk of the Chicago Bears plans for a new stadium by the lake, it seemed like a good time to revisit this episode about the Bears' current home, Soldier Field.Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryUp your cocktail game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1kAnything purchased through the links below may generat...

Send us a textFriend of the podcast Geoffrey Baer is BACK with a new special on WTTW called "Chicago Mysteries." Listen as Geoffrey and I discuss a few of the stories from the program.https://www.wttw.com/mysteriesShow your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!h...

Send us a textNot long after The Beatles invaded America and kids everywhere picked up guitars and drumsticks and formed their own bands, enterprising individuals all over Chicago and the suburbs saw… opportunity. This is the story of Chicago's Teen Rock Clubs of the 1960’s.Additional Reading (anything purchased through these links - not just the items listed - may generate a small commission and help support the podcast at no additional cost to you):The Who: Concert File by Joe McMichael and...

Send us a textConnie Fairbanks, author of "Chicago's West Loop: Then and Now," joins me on this episode as co-writer and co-host as we discuss five Chicago parks named for women.Purchase Connie Fairbanks' book "Chicago's West Loop: Then and Now" from the author:https://www.conniefairbanks.com/Amazon link:https://amzn.to/3BzEPxtShow some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Anything purchased through ...

Send us a textShe grew up in a small town in Illinois in the late 1800s and became known worldwide as an activist, reformer, and winner of a Nobel Peace Prize. This is the story of Jane Addams and Hull House.Want to help support the show? Buy Me A Coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryArt for this episode courtesy of Rebecca Demos - https://www.instagram.com/bhillgie/Virtual Tours of Hull House:https://www.hullhousemuseum.org/Additional Reading and Items Related to the Subjects Co...

Send us a textLocal author Cynthia Pelayo's new book masterfully blends dark Chicago history and fairy-tale horrors. Listen as the author and I discuss her life growing up in Chicago and her exciting new book about two sisters and a killer dumping men into the Chicago River.cinapelayo.comYouTube version: https://youtu.be/r32m2jwrxHcShow some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryForgotten Sisters: A No...

Send us a textHer last name is well known around the city, but do you know the story behind Chicago's Saint, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini? Listen and learn, Chicago history fans!Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1kAnything purchased through the links belo...

Send us a textThree! Three! Three episodes in one! Enjoy.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1kAffiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links may help su...

Send us a textJack Johnson not only became the first Black American heavyweight championship boxer but who also lived (and loved) in Chicago and opened the wildly popular Café de Champion before tragedy and the government forced its closure.Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=127...

Send us a textHe has been called the first international African American sports superstar and in his time was the biggest star of any sport. Although he wasn’t born in Chicago, some of Marshall "Major" Taylor's most lasting accomplishments occurred here.Want to read more about "Major" Taylor? (purchasing through the links below may help support the podcast at no additional cost to you)The World's Fastest Man: The Extraordinary Life of Cyclist Major Taylor, America's First Black Sports Hero b...

Send us a textBartender, poet, musician, artist, and more. Sergio Mayora and the art of Weeds Tavern.In the Weeds: How Bartender, Poet, Musician and Artist Sergio Mayora Cultivated One of the Most Important Taverns in Chicago History by Dave Hoekstra (New City, November 2022)https://www.newcity.com/2022/11/01/in-the-weeds-how-bartender-poet-musician-and-artist-sergio-mayora-cultivated-one-of-the-most-important-taverns-in-chicago-history/Trope Publishing: https://trope.com/Show your support of...

Send us a textEnjoy this episode originally posted in January 2021.In 1937, 87 years before the current pandemic forced kids to find ways to learn outside of the traditional classroom, Chicago school children took classes by radio while trying to stay safe from the threat of polio.Support the show for the cost of a cup of coffee.https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comAff...

Send us a textEnjoy this story from July 2020.Six years after the closing of the World's Fair of 1893, on 10 acres near the University of Chicago, a new outdoor entertainment venue opened called Sans Souci. Sans Souci and Midway Gardens, although all but forgotten, paved the way for outdoor entertainment for generations to come.Support the show for the cost of a cup of coffee.https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right ...

Send us a textA series of tragedies prompted one Chicago suburb to change the way trains travel through their city. This is the story of Connecting Winnetka to Chicago.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_...

Send us a textJust days before Christmas in 1910, a fire broke out at the stockyards in Chicago that resulted in the highest loss of life of firefighters due to a building collapse, a grim claim held for nearly 91 years before being surpassed on 9/11.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastr...

Send us a textIn October 1960, Prince Akihito of Japan visited Chicago for 21 hours. Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley presented the prince with a diplomatic gift: 18 bluegill. What happened next would change the underwater world of Japan forever.Today's episode is from Points North, part of Northern Michigan's Interlochen Public Radio.https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/podcast/points-northNeed a healthful alternative to coffee? Check out noonbrew.co/TOMMYHENRY and save 15% off your first or...

Send us a textA holiday-themed episode from 2020.In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a familiar sight near the river at Clark Street was the Rouse Simmons, also known as The Christmas Tree Ship, and its captain Herman Schuenemann, who became known to families in Chicago as Captain Santa.During a trip from upper Michigan to Chicago in November of 1912, all of that changed.Need a healthful alternative to coffee? Check out noonbrew.co/TOMMYHENRY and save 15% off your first order.Show your support...

Send us a textGeoffrey Baer is back on the podcast to discuss his latest program for WTTW - The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago 2.https://interactive.wttw.com/most-beautiful-places-in-chicagoYouTube version: https://youtu.be/9q4JKk0t3bA?si=VZJNeWARwdqSaXriShow your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or S...

Send us a textWith the recent crash of a Yellow Line L train into a snow removal machine (?), it seems like a good time to repost this episode.In the 1970s, one of the most horrifying transportation accidents in Chicago happened downtown at the height of rush hour. This is the story of the CTA Derailment of 1977.Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAmazon Affiliate Links (anything you buy - n...

Send us a textIn May of 1970, those driving past Wrigley Field were greeted with an unusual sight – a Native American teepee, surrounded by smaller tents and groups of people. This was just the beginning of the Native American protests in Chicago in the 1970s .Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail game for ...

Send us a textWomen and poison. Chicago's history is thick with these killers.Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail game for the holidays with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1kNeed music for YOUR projects? Audiio has got you covered. Try a free trial...

Send us a textHe was an African American performer who went from humble beginnings to become a huge movie star based on a single character, but soon his Hollywood standing, his personal fortunes, and his acceptance by fellow Blacks collapsed. Today we’re discussing Chicago Connections: Lincoln Perry, aka Stepin Fetchit.The interview with DeWitt Fleming Jr. (Lincoln Perry in A Wonderful World) starts around the 22:47 mark.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buyme...

Send us a textThis story of sibling rivalries, suicides, arson, missing heiresses, and murder was originally presented at a members-only event at the Chicago History Museum.Thanks to my co-writer and co-host for this episode, Anna Mason (@annadotmason). Anna's piece on the Medinah Temple for WBEZ's Curious City can be found here.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower...

Send us a textIt was a Civil War prison in Richmond, VA, housing thousands of Union soldiers captured during that war. After the war, someone thought the building would make a good tourist attraction in… Chicago. This is the story of the Libby Prison War Museum.Get tickets to the Cats in Action Bingo Benefit (October 2nd at 7pm in Chicago):tinyurl.com/CIABingoSupport the show for the cost of a cup of coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAdditional Reading and Items Related to the...

Send us a textProducer Eddie Griffin and I discuss the new season of Chicago Stories on WTTW. The reversal of the Chicago river, candy companies of the city, and more!Watch episodes of Chicago Stories on the PBS app or online at wttw.com/chicagostoriesYouTube version of this can be found here: https://youtu.be/rqL3GoBCCJ0Get tickets to the Cats in Action Bingo Benefit (October 2nd at 7pm in Chicago):tinyurl.com/CIABingoFor the cost of a cup of coffee, you can help support the show:https://www...

Send us a textThe true Chicago crime story that inspired the film "Call Northside 777."On a cold day in 1932, a Chicago cop named William Lundy was gunned down at a speakeasy in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Two men were sent to prison for the crime, but did prosecutors get the right men? 11 years later, a classified ad placed in the newspaper by the mother of one of the men blew this case wide open. The is the story of Joe Majczek, Tillie Majczek, and Ted Marcinkiewicz.Get tickets to t...

Send us a textThis really could have been a six or eight-part podcast experience as there is SO MUCH Polish history in Chicago. Here are more things of interest regarding this subject. Enjoy.Get tickets to the Cats in Action Bingo Benefit (October 2nd at 7pm in Chicago):tinyurl.com/CIABingoShow your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagoh...

Send us a textChicago's Polish history is far too extensive for one episode, but I'm hopeful this gives you a nice overview. Enjoy.Get tickets to the Cats in Action Bingo Benefit (October 2nd at 7pm in Chicago):tinyurl.com/CIABingo Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portl...

Send us a textFROM THE ARCHIVES from October, 2020:On Memorial Day, May 25th, 1981, a 25-year-old year old sport climber dressed as comic book hero Spider-Man used a system of suction cups and other climbing gear to scale the outside of the 110-story Sears Tower, which at that time was the tallest building in the world. He came back later that year to climb the John Hancock Center. This is the story of Spider-Dan Goodwin, who was kind enough to let me interview him for this episode.Dan Goodwi...

Send us a textIn the summer of 1980, two new large entertainment venues, one indoor and one outdoor, opened in the Chicago area at which those seeking amusement could see live music and more. Both of those and many others made for a busy summer of entertainment in the Greatest City in the World.Want to help support the show for a one-time donation of a few bucks? Buy Me A Coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower rig...

Send us a textIt is the 30th anniversary of one of the BEST action films shot in the Greatest City in the World, so today Kelli from Chicago Movie Tours and I are talking about all things "The Fugitive" in Chicago.The train derailment scene (North Carolina): https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-fugitive-train-wreck-sylva-north-carolina Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in...

Send us a textAn archive episode from way back in August 2020. Enjoy!There was a time you could sit in your car and watch a movie on a giant screen. Crazy, I know. Wait - what? Drive-ins still exist? In this episode we discuss drive-in movies and their history in the Chicagoland area.Additional Reading (your purchase using this link helps support the podcast):Drive-in Theaters: A History from Their Inception in 1933 by Kerry Seagrave (https://amzn.to/2EsQjbv)Chicago History Podcast Clothing, ...

Send us a textI had the pleasure of speaking with local author Jessica Mlinaric about her book Chicago Scavenger: The Ultimate Search for Chicago's Hidden Treasures. Have a listen, and get a copy of the book for yourself!Chicago Scavenger: The Ultimate Search for Chicago's Hidden Treasures by Jessica Mlinarichttps://amzn.to/3K7WJvoSecret Chicago: A Guide To The Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure by Jessica Mlinarichttps://amzn.to/3pSrHRxNot For Tourists Guide To Chicago by Varioushttps://amzn.to/4...

Send us a textThe Chicago area has seen many weather events that have resulted in catastrophic destruction and death. Today's we're discussing Chicago's Terrifying Tornadoes.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/al...

Send us a textChicago introduced the first ever Ferris Wheel at the World's Fair of 1893, but... whatever happened to it? Listen for the full story.Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAffiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):3D Wood Ferris Wheel Building Kit Puzzlehttps://amzn.to/3JPdgV3Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis and Gilbert Ford (ages 5-9)https://amzn.to/43g...

Send us a textWith Chicago air quality ranging from "Unhealthy" to "Very Unhealthy" to "Downright Unbreathable" most of this week, I thought I'd drag out this episode from the archives.During a time of tuberculosis and cholera taking a deadly toll on Chicago's children, "Fresh Air" sanitariums were built to help provide children and mothers relief from the heat, with access to food, milk, and health services. One of those buildings was built on a man-made island, and both the building and isl...

Send us a textA little more from the Archie's interview and GOOD NEWS for fans of vintage signs in Chicago.Archie's Bar: https://www.facebook.com/ArchiesBarShow your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.M...

Send us a textA family-run corner bar in Humboldt Park celebrating 80 years of being in business? One location, yet so many stories. Guest host: Tyler HenryArchie's Bar: https://www.facebook.com/ArchiesBarShow your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://por...

Send us a textSpecial guest Mike McMains (Tours with Mike) helps me break down the history of Chicago LGBTQ Pride Events. Enjoy!See the city in an all new way on a Tours with Mike tour!https://tourswithmike.com/Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!http...

Send us a textTwo murders. One paved the way for fingerprint use to determine the identity of a criminal. The other cut short the life of a farmer. Those responsible for the horrible deeds ended up in the same place.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups...

Send us a textOne from the archives for your Memorial Day weekend listening. Enjoy.It was an industry that at one time employed 700,000 workers, including 200,000 here in the Chicago area. Italians, Poles, Mexicans, African Americans, and others willing to put in a long and sometimes dangerous day’s work found good pay and a career working at the steel mills. Then gradually, it went away… but not before one fateful Memorial Day protest turned deadly.YouTube Short: Chicago's U.S. Steel South W...

Send us a textWhat's the deal with those big Schlitz globes on the sides of buildings around the city? Have a listen and find out!Chicago History Trivia Night - Beer, Booze, and Bars-Themed Trivia for Illinois Craft Beer Week at Begyle Brewing - https://www.facebook.com/events/3385871768397584Spectacular Failures Podcast - Schlitz Goes Bad, Then Worsehttps://www.spectacularfailures.org/episode/2019/07/01/schlitz-beer-goes-bad-then-worseShow your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:ht...

Send us a textOne On Every Corner travels to Scofflaw, located on the southwest corner of Armitage and Kedzie. Joining me for this episode are Chalonda White (aka Afro.Beer.Chick) and Nik White, host of the Chicago Beer Pass podcast.Social Media:Chalonda (Afro.Beer.Chick) - https://twitter.com/afrobeerchick Nick (Chicago Beer Pass) - https://twitter.com/ChicagoBeerPassScofflaw - https://www.scofflawchicago.com/Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com...

Send us a textWhat do you do after you and some pals pull off a big robbery? Why, buy some planes, of course!Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1kNeed music for YOUR projects? Audiio has got y...

Send us a textSome EXTRAS from my conversation with Mark Guarino, author of "Country and Midwestern." If you haven't listened to the main episode yet, look for episode 612 from April 1, 2023 and give that a listen first.Buy the book from the University of Chicago Press.Anything purchased through the links below may generate a small commission for this podcast at no cost to you and will help offset production costs.BOOKS:Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country and the Folk Re...

Send us a textOne On Every Corner looks at the history of Chicago bars and the neighborhoods that surround them.This episode was recorded at Sidetrack in Northalsted with Mike McMains.Check out the in-person and virtual Tours with Mike - https://tourswithmike.com/Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cockta...

Send us a textAuthor Mark Guarino's book "Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country and the Folk Revival" tells the untold story of the vital role Chicago played in the rise of prewar country music, the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, and the contemporary offspring of those scenes. Recorded at Carol's Pub in Chicago.Buy the book from the University of Chicago Press.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a...

Send us a textShe was born in Chicago into a wealthy family in the late 1800s and would go on to change the way forensic investigators do their jobs. Today we’re discussing Frances Glessner Lee, The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Deaths, and Crime Scene Investigation.Glessner House - https://www.glessnerhouse.org/Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner h...

Send us a textGeoffrey Baer is back to discuss his latest WTTW special "The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago."WTTW Special - https://video.wttw.com/video/the-most-beautiful-places-in-chicago-hkr5he/Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsy...

Send us a textIn the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Communist Party in Chicago encouraged black women working in sweat shops to stand up for themselves and strike for better wages, better working conditions, and more. Today we’re talking about the Black Women’s Worker Strikes of the 1930s.Read more about author Melissa A. Ford here:https://melissafordphd.com/Special thanks to the Black Metropolis Research Consortium (https://bmrc.lib.uchicago.edu/), essential to the work of Melissa A. Ford.S...

Send us a textMany towns in the Chicago area were established to be all-white, keeping out blacks, Asians, Jews, Native Americans, and others, allowing minorities to work in those towns but not live there. Those individuals also needed to be gone by sundown.Find all things Ernest Crim III at ernestcrim.com. Signed copies of Mr. Crim's books “Black History Saved My Life: How My Viral Hate Crime Led to an Awakening” and “The ABC’s of Affirming Black Children" can be found at https://www.ernestc...

Send us a textToday's episode comes courtesy of Tony Thaxton, host of "Bizarre Albums," a podcast devoted to exploring music's weirder side. And let's be honest - the Chicago Bears dancing and rapping? Pretty weird. Support the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portl...

Send us a text One On Every Corner looks at the history of Chicago bars and the neighborhoods that surround them.This episode was recorded at Simon's on Clark Street in Andersonville with Robert Loerzel.Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://...

Send us a textThe workers were on Lake Michigan, a mile and a half from shore, when the fire started. Today we’re talking about the 71st Street Crib Disaster of 1909.Support the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4A...

Send us a textEach accused of unrelated murders, two real-life Chicago women in the 1920s use the media to garner support for themselves in order to avoid prison. Their stories inspired one of the longest-running musicals of all time.Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland cra...

Send us a textCome check out GMan Tavern for yourself!https://gmantavern.com/Chicago The Musical at the CIBC Theatre:https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/tickets/order-tickets/Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comAffiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):Chicago (Blu...

Send us a textChicago has seen some terrible winter weather over the years, with some of those icy storms bringing the city that works to a screeching halt.Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1...

Send us a textAuthor Connie Fairbanks joins me to discuss her book "Chicago's West Loop: Then and Now."Purchase the book from the author:https://www.conniefairbanks.com/Amazon link:https://amzn.to/3BzEPxtWant to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyru...

Send us a textThere had never been a murder in Kenilworth, just north of Chicago, until September 18, 1966, when 21-year-old Valerie Percy, the daughter of Chicago politician and businessman Charles Percy, was slain.If you have information about this crime, please contact the Kenilworth Police Department at 847-251-2141.Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner her...

Send us a textVampires? A Devil-Child? Mobsters coming back from the dead?Only in Chicago.Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail game for the holidays with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1kNeed music for YOUR projects? Audiio has got you covered. Try ...

Send us a textWhile I'm busy researching the last two episodes of the current season, I didn't want to leave you hanging, so please enjoy episode one of "If The Walls Could Talk," about the tangled history and the true crimes that brought down Chicago’s Edgewater Hospital.https://ifthewallscouldtalkpodcast.com/Special thanks to Todd, Stephani, and Teresita Basa.You can binge all of the episodes from this amazing series which are available now wherever you enjoy podcasts.Show some love for the...

Send us a textMore stories from Chicago's Seedy Motel Row. If you haven't listened to the original episode, please do so now.Help support the show for the cost of a cup of coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comSupport the show

Send us a textThe rise of motels along Chicago’s landscape brought many things – convenience, freedom, less expensive lodging than fancy hotels downtown – but in some areas, it also brought crime. Today we’re talking about Chicago’s Seedy Motel Row.Long Haul Productions audio interview with area motel residents in 2000:https://soundcloud.com/longhaulpro/lincoln_ave_motelsWant to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just c...

Send us a textToday I’ve got three Chicago History Mini episodes for you, including the Hoosier Slide, Clara Peller, and G.V. Black Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comAffiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):Michigan City Beach Communities by Barbara Stodolahtt...

Send us a textStructures get torn down in Chicago all the time, but what about the buildings that just... become something else?Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comAffiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):Fodor's Chicago (Full-Color Travel Guide)https://amzn.to/...

Send us a textExtras from episode 513 - Chicago's Mass Transit Decoy Squad of the 1970s. A little more on the 1960s TUF Squad, Jimmy Davern and the Decoy Squad, "Too Pretty To Be A Cop" Virginia Cronk, and two listener calls from relatives of Dr. Julius Spiro.Want to leave me a voice message? Go to www.chicagohistorypod.com and click on the microphone in the lower right corner. Your message may be used on a future episode.Show some love for the podcast for a one-time cost of a cup of coffee a...

Send us a textIn the second half of the 1960s, a series of explosive devices began showing up on the south side of Chicago, some of them with lethal outcomes. Were these from a series of unrelated pranks or were they the work of a serial bomber? Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comAffiliate Links (anything you buy - not j...

Send us a textRough and tumble doesn't begin to describe Chicago in the 1850s and 1860s.Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comRead Bygone Days in Chicago; Recollections of the "Garden city" of the Sixties by Frederick Francis Cook - Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet ArchiveAffiliate Links (anything you b...

Send us a textToday we are circling back for another look at the renaming of Chicago!Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comAffiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):Streetwise Chicago: A History of Chicago Street Names by Don Haynerhttps://amzn.to/3ckFOIyStreetwise...

Send us a textTo create a new paradise on Earth, all you have to do is eliminate everyone and start again. This is the story of R.I.S.E. - The Plot To Poison Chicago's Water Supply.Show some love for the podcast for a one-time cost of a cup of coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAnything purchased through the links below may generate a small commission for this podcast at no cost to you and help offset production costs.Books:History Lover's Guide To Chicago, A by Greg Borzohttps...

Send us a text1996 was a crazy year. Hurricanes, plane explosions, Olympic bombings - maybe that's why the story of a gorilla saving a child near Chicago was so popular.Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryWant to leave me a voice message? Click on the microphone at the bottom of the page at this link:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comAmazon Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this st...

Send us a textThere was a LIVE Chicago History Podcast Trivia Night on August 2, 2022, and I have edited a handful of questions and answers from that event for your enjoyment. Keep track in your head how many questions you get right.Looking for Chicago-themed gift ideas AND a way to help the show?https://www.podpage.com/chicago-history-podcast/support/Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryPodc...

Send us a textToday we’re talking about the Secret Mermaid of the Lakeshore, and later we’ll be talking to Christine Solorio, an urban beach comber based here in Chicago.Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAmazon Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):BOOKS:Beachcombing at Miramar: The Quest for an Authentic Life by Richard Bodeh...

Send us a textOne man was robbed more than 190 times, knocked unconscious at least four times, and had an eardrum burst aboard Chicago’s L, each time with Chicago cops nearby watching, all in the name of public transportation safety.This is the story of Chicago’s Mass Transit Decoy Squad of the 1970’s.Show some love for the podcast for a one-time cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAnything purchased through the links below may g...

Send us a textIt is one of the most-consumed food items in the Windy City - today we're talking Chicago hot dogs.Jack McBrayer and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog at the Wiener's Circlehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33zPlnhymCUShow some love for the podcast for a one-time cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAnything purchased through the links below may generate a small commission for this podcast at no cost to you and help offset ...

Send us a textAfter two amazing World's Fairs in the city's history, why not try for a third? This is the story of Chicago's World's Fair of 1992. Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAnything purchased through the links below may generate a small commission for this podcast at no cost to you and help offset production costs.Books:1893 Chicago's Columbian Exposition: Arts & Culture from t...

Send us a textA man-made island that hosted a World’s Fair and was the site of a controversial move by former mayor Richard M. Daley in 2003 before becoming a city park? In this episode we’re discussing Chicago’s Northerly Island and Meigs Field.Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLakefront: Public Trust and Private Rights in Chicago by Joseph D. Kearney and Thomas W. Merrillhttps://amzn.to/...

Send us a textThere wasn’t a more effective police officer on the force during his tenure, and if anyone back then didn’t believe it, they could just ask him. Today we’re discussing Clifton R. Wooldridge, Chicago’s Real-Life Sherlock Holmes.Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLooking for gift ideas for the history nerd in your life AND a way to help the show?https://www.podpage.com/chicago-h...

Send us a textThe 100th anniversary of the most violent labor battle in the U.S. is June 22, 2022. This is the story of the Herrin Coal Massacre of 1922.Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLooking for gift ideas for the history nerd in your life AND a way to help the show?https://www.podpage.com/chicago-history-podcast/support/Amazon Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - ...

Send us a textIt isn’t the oldest one or the largest one in America, but the awesome one here in Chicago does have a fascinating history. Today we’re discussing the Lincoln Park Zoo.Looking for gift ideas for dads and grads AND a way to help the show?https://www.podpage.com/chicago-history-podcast/support/Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryAmazon Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just...