Episodes

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 forever. Today's episode is from Points North, part of Northern Michigan's Interlochen Public Radio. https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/podcast/points-north Need a healthful alternative to coffee? Check out noonbrew.co/TOMMYHENRY and save 15% off your first order. Show ...

A 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 of the s...

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 of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com Up your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups! https://portlandsyrups.com/colle...

With 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/chicagohistory Amazon Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just thi...

In 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/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com Up your cocktail game for the holiday...

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 lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com Up your cocktail game for the holidays with Portland craft syrups! https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1k Need music for YOUR projects? Audiio has got you covered. Try a free trial here: ht...

He 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. A Wonderful World at the Cadillac Palace Theatre - https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/...

This 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/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right cor...

It 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. Support the show for the cost of a cup of coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Additional Reading and Items Related to the Subjects Covered (your purchase may help support the podcast at no additional cost to you): Books: Civil War: A...

Producer Eddie Griffin and I are discussing the new season of Chicago Stories on WTTW. The new season of Chicago Stories begins September 22, 2023 at 8pm on WTTW. Watch online at wttw.com/chicagostories For the cost of a cup of coffee, you can help support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Up your cocktail game with Portland craft syrups! https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1k Amazon Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - ...

The 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. Show your support of the show...

This 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. Chicago's Taste of Polonia Fest (Sept. 1-4, 2023) https://topchicago.org/ 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 corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com Up your cocktail or Sodas...

Support the show

FROM 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 Goodwin: www.dangoo...

In 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/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner her...

It 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/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower ri...

An 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, Mugs, Tot...

I 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 Mlinaric https://amzn.to/3K7WJvo Secret Chicago: A Guide To The Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure by Jessica Mlinaric https://amzn.to/3pSrHRx Not For Tourists Guide To Chicago by Various https://amzn.to/44BVMDJ Chi...

The 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/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com Up your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups! https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1...

Chicago 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/chicagohistory Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show): 3D Wood Ferris Wheel Building Kit Puzzle https://amzn.to/3JPdgV3 Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis and Gilbert Ford (ages 5-9) https://amzn.to/43gKxz2 The...

With 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 island are still i...

A little more from the Archie's interview and GOOD NEWS for fans of vintage signs in Chicago. Archie's Bar: https://www.facebook.com/ArchiesBar 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 corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com Up your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups! https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1k...

A family-run corner bar in Humboldt Park celebrating 80 years of being in business? One location, yet so many stories. Guest host: Tyler Henry Archie's Bar: https://www.facebook.com/ArchiesBar 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 corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com Up your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups! https://portlandsyru...

Special 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/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com Up your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups! https://portl...