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Episodes

Sept. 12, 2025

FROM THE ARCHIVES -

Send us a text Here's one originally released in August 2021 that you may not have heard. Enjoy. He was the son of one of the wealthiest men in Chicago, and on one fateful night he was shot under mysterious circumstances. Was Marshall Field Jr.'s death an accident or something much darker that was …
Aug. 29, 2025

Episode 813 - Lincoln Park's Statues, Sculptures, and Oddities

Send us a text If you're planning on walking through Lincoln Park anytime soon, you may be curious about all the statues you'll find. With the help of contributor Connie Fairbanks, we discuss the story behind many of the creations you'll see, and tell you about the ones that were once there but are…
Aug. 15, 2025

Episode 812 - Chicago's Uptown Theater with author Robert Loerzel

Send us a text In August of 1925, an opulent cinema opened on Broadway just north of Lawrence Avenue. Joining me today to discuss the history of that theater is Robert Loerzel, one of the authors of the recently released book The Uptown: Chicago's Endangered Movie Palace. https://www.robertloerzel.…
Aug. 9, 2025

Episode 811 - One on Every Corner: Four Moon Tavern, Roscoe Village, and the Pencil Factory Strike with writer Leigh Giangreco

Send us a text The return of One on Every Corner, where we discuss a neighborhood drinking establishment, the neighborhood around it, and more. Joining me for this episode is writer Leigh Giangreco and Four Moon Tavern owners Matt Kozlowski and Robbie Lane. @leighgiangreco.bsky.social‬ Four Moon Ta…
July 25, 2025

Episode 810 - Chicago: The Loop & Beyond with photographer Nenad Spasojevic

Send us a text There is more to Chicago than the Bean, The Loop, and Navy Pier. Joining me in this episode to discuss his photography, what he loves most about Chicago, and the recently-released book "Chicago: The Loop & Beyond" is Nenad Spasojevic. Nenad Spasojevic - https://www.nenadspasojevi…
July 4, 2025

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Baby Face Nelson and The Battle of Barrington

Send us a text In what was then primarily farmlands 39 miles outside of Chicago, a gun battle erupted between federal law enforcement agents and an outlaw on the run, resulting in chaos and death. This is the story of Baby Face Nelson and The Battle of Barrington. Show some love for the podcast for…
June 20, 2025

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Herrin Coal Massacre, The

Send us a text The 103th anniversary of the most violent labor battle in the U.S. is June 21-22, 2025. This is the story of the Herrin Coal Massacre of 1922. *Originally released as episode 508 in June 2022. Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production c…
June 6, 2025

Episode 809 - Chicago's Fine Arts Building with author Keir Graff

Send us a text It is a Chicago Landmark called an “exemplification of the cultural, economic, social, and historical heritage of the City of Chicago.” With the help of author Keir Graff, today we’re discussing Chicago’s Fine Arts Building. Chicago's Fine Arts Building: Music, Magic, and Murder by K…
May 23, 2025

Episode 808 - The Rise and Fall of Chicago’s Brickyards

Send us a text Chicago is known for industry – stockyards, steel mills, and more, but this city had another that thrived for nearly 150 years. Today we’re discussing the Rise and Fall of Chicago’s Brickyards. Get out and see the city with Will Quam on a Brick of Chicago tour! Show your love of this…
May 9, 2025

Episode 807 - Chicago's Buckingham Fountain and Queen Elizabeth II's 1959 Visit

Send us a text Chicago's Buckingham Fountain is being turned on for the season on Saturday, May 10, 2025, so this seems like the perfect time to discuss the history of how the fountain came to be in this enhanced and re-recorded version, with an all-new section about Queen Elizabeth II's historic 1…
May 2, 2025

Episode 806 - Don't Go with authors Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan

Send us a text Discussing their book "Don't Go: Stories of Segregation and How To Disrupt It" are authors Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan. Folded Map Project: https://www.foldedmapproject.com/ Show your love of this pod...
April 11, 2025

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Lincoln Park's High Bridge / Suicide Bridge

Send us a text ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN OCTOBER 2020. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Lincoln Park had a “High Bridge” which rose 75 feet over the south lagoon's water. As welcoming to sightseers as the big beautiful bridge ...
March 28, 2025

Episode 805 - Five Pioneering Women of Chicago

Send us a text It is Women's History Month! Here's a look at five pioneering women in Chicago's history: Chicago founder Kitihawa du Sable, women's suffrage activist Grace Wilbur Trout, Vivian Gordon Harsh, Chicago's first Bl...
March 14, 2025

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Police Chief Francis O'Neill, Chicago's Savior of Irish Music

Send us a text Just in time for St. Patrick's Day 2025, here's a little history about Chicago's connection to preserving Irish music, originally posted in March of 2022. He served as a Chicago policeman for more than 32 years...
March 1, 2025

Episode 804 - Chicago Crime: The Automatic Trio and the Car Barn Murders

Send us a text Originally released in September of 2021, this episode has been enhanced with additional music and sound effects. Sixteen years before Al Capone came to Chicago and long before anyone could blame violence on vi...
Feb. 22, 2025

Episode 803 - Illinois' Underground Railroad

Send us a text For Black Americans seeking to escape enslavement in the first half of the 1800s, Chicago was often an important stop on their path to freedom. Today we’re discussing the Underground Railroad in Illinois. Netwo...
Feb. 15, 2025

Episode 802 - Chicago Connections: The Jackson Five

Send us a text While not from here, their connection to this city is undeniable and Chicago’s influence most certainly contributed to their rise as one of the most successful musical acts of all time. Today we’re talking abou...
Feb. 8, 2025

Episode 801 - Unchecked Graft: Chicago Mayor William "Big Bill" Thompson

Send us a text This is a revised, expanded, and re-recorded version of an episode that was originally released in 2020. William "Big Bill" Thompson was a larger-than-life character who served as Chicago mayor for three terms ...
Nov. 30, 2024

Episode 725 - Chicago's Forgotten Towns, Neighborhoods, and Names, Part 2

Send us a text An area once called Dunkley’s Grove was considered for a new stadium for the Chicago White Sox, not in old-timey days – in 1986! Was Edison Park named for Thomas Edison? Dunton, Sagone, Hartford… and where was ...
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 - jus...
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.c...
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. ...
Oct. 5, 2024

FROM THE ARCHIVES - The Great Chicago Fire - Ogden Mansion, The Barracks, and Newberry Library

Send us a text On 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 aft...
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-sto...