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Season 7

Nov. 10, 2024

Episode 724 - Chicago Mob Stories - The Handshake Murder of Dean O'Banion

Send us a text Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Send me an email with whatever is on your mind: chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com Leave me a voice message - ju…
Oct. 26, 2024

Episode 723 - Chicago Horror: The Grimes Sisters Murders

Send us a text Their killings stand out as one of Chicago's most infamous unsolved crimes. Today we’re discussing the Grimes Sisters Murders. Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.…
Oct. 12, 2024

Episode 722 - Chicago's Forgotten Towns, Neighborhoods, and Names

Send us a text Have 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.…
Sept. 15, 2024

Episode 721 - The Black Sox Scandal of 1919 with WTTW's Eddie Griffin

Send us a text WTTW'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-st…
Sept. 8, 2024

Episode 720 - Malört: A Truly Chicago Booze with author Josh Noel

Send us a text Anthony 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 ab…
Aug. 31, 2024

Mike Royko: The Toughest Man in Chicago with writer and actor Mitchell Bisschop

Send us a text This 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 …
Aug. 24, 2024

Episode 718 - Dr. Edward Holmes and the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary with Connie Fairbanks

Send us a Text Message. He 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 …
Aug. 10, 2024

Episode 717 - Chicago's Little Saigon with author Erica Allen-Kim

Send us a Text Message. Chinese 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.…
July 6, 2024

Episode 716 - Chicago's Motor Speedways

Send us a Text Message. Long 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://ww…
June 24, 2024

Episode 715 - The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor with WTTW's Dan Andries

Send us a Text Message. Danny 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…
June 8, 2024

Episode 714 - Rondout Train Robbery of 1924, The

It 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:…
May 25, 2024

Episode 713 - Chicago's World War II POW Camps

Captured 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 you…
May 18, 2024

Episode 712 - Wrigley Field: The Diamond on the Northside

It is one of the oldest original ballparks in the country, and with that lengthy run is an interesting history as well. Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leav…
May 11, 2024

Episode 711 - Chicago's Irish History: The Murder of Dr. Patrick Henry Cronin

His 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 …
April 6, 2024

Episode 710 - Chicago Mysteries with Geoffrey Baer

Friend 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/mysteries Show your support of t…
March 30, 2024

Episode 709 - Chicago's Parks - Five Named for Notable Women

Connie 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 …
March 16, 2024

Episode 708 - Forgotten Sisters author Cynthia Pelayo

Local 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 kille…
March 2, 2024

Episode 707 - Chicago History Minis: Chicago's First Murder, An Egyptian Museum Theft, and Spuds MacKenzie

Three! Three! Three episodes in one! Enjoy. Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corne…
Feb. 3, 2024

Episode 706 - Sergio Mayora and the Art of Weeds Tavern

Bartender, 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 …
Jan. 6, 2024

Episode 705 - Tragedy on the Tracks: Connecting Winnetka to Chicago

A 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.b…
Dec. 23, 2023

Episode 704 - Chicago's Stockyards Fire of 1910

Just days before Christmas in 1910, a fire broke out 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…
Dec. 16, 2023

Episode 703 - Points North: Mayor Daley, a Japanese Prince, and 18 Bluegills

In 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 fo…
Nov. 25, 2023

Episode 702 - Most Beautiful Places in Chicago, The with Geoffrey Baer

Geoffrey 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-chicago Show your support of the show for the cost o…
Oct. 28, 2023

Episode 701 - Chicago's Ghoulish Past, Part 3 - Women Who Poison

Women and poison. Chicago's history is thick with these killers. Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lowe…