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Videos

Jan. 5, 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.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone…

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Dec. 22, 2023

Episode 704 - Chicago's Deadly Stockyards Fire of 1910

Just 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…

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Dec. 15, 2023

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

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.…

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Nov. 24, 2023

The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago 2 with WTTW's 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 of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower…

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Sept. 15, 2023

Chicago Stories - Season Three with WTTW's Eddie Griffin

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 The entire catalog of Chicago History Podcast episodes can be found at www.chicagohistorypod.com or wherever you enjoy…

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Aug. 4, 2023

"The Fugitive" in Chicago - 30th Anniversary

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 (https://www.youtube.com/@ChicagoMovieTours) 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…

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June 15, 2023

Chicago's Pride Events History with Tours with Mike's Mike McMains Audio Only

Special guest Mike McMains (Chicago's Tours with Mike) helps me break down the history of Chicago LGBTQ Pride Events. Enjoy! See Chicago 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…

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March 2, 2023

Most Beautiful Places in Chicago, The with Geoffrey Baer

Geoffrey Baer is back with a new special for WTTW. Hear about some of the stories behind the special. 0:00 - Intro 0:48 - Trailer for "The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago" 1:48 - Geoffrey Baer Welcome 2:11 - Baer as a Teacher / Docent 6:50 - Architecture of Chicago…

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July 27, 2022

Chicago's Secret Mermaid & Urban Beachcombing with Christine Solorio

Today 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/chicagohistory https://www.beachcombingmagazine.com/ Amazon Affiliate Links…

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May 1, 2022

Navy Pier Chicago, IL

Some Navy Pier footage to go along with episode 425 of the podcast. Episode 425 - Navy Pier Listen here (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1022374/10485126-episode-425-navy-pier) or wherever you enjoy podcasts! 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…

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March 25, 2022

Chicago Stories: Mayor Jane Byrne with Rachel Pikelny and Dan Protess (Audio Only)

She worked on John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, was guided through Chicago politics by "Boss" Mayor Richard J. Daley, and became the first female mayor of Chicago. Today we’re discussing Jane Byrne, whose story is part of the upcoming season of Chicago Stories on WTTW. With me to discuss Byrne…

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March 21, 2022

Mysterious Death of Marshall Field Jr.

A short promo for episode 315 of the podcast about the mysterious death of Marshall Field Jr. Listen here of wherever you enjoy podcasts: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1022374/8990978-episode-315-mysterious-death-of-marshall-field-jr-the #Chicago #ChicagoHistory #MarshallField #MysteriousDeaths #DroneFootage

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Jan. 28, 2022

Chicago to Appomattox: The 39th Illinois Infantry in the Civil War with author Jason Baker

It started out as a search for info about his ancestors and turned into a book detailing one Illinois infantry’s involvement in the war that pit the United States of America against the Confederate States of America. This is my discussion with Jason B. Baker, author of Chicago to Appomattox:…

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Dec. 24, 2021

"Lakefront" with authors Joseph D Kearney and Thomas W Merrill

It is without a doubt one of the most amazing urban-built waterfronts anywhere, and it is right here in Chicago. In their book Lakefront: Public Trust and Private Rights in Chicago, authors Joseph D. Kearney and Thomas W. Merrill do a deep dive into how this wonderful area along Lake…

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Dec. 10, 2021

"Mother Chicago" - An Interview with author Martin Billheimer

"Mother Chicago: Truant Dreams and Specters Over the Gilded Age" has been called by Chicago Tribune writer Rick Kogan “one of the most revelatory, provocative, frightening books I've ever read about Chicago." Enjoy my interview with the book's author, Martin Billheimer. "Mother Chicago: Truant Dreams and Specters Over The Gilded…

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Nov. 26, 2021

"Beyond Chicago From The Air" with Geoffrey Baer and Eddie Griffin

Geoffrey Baer and Eddie Griffin are back to discuss "Beyond Chicago From The Air," their latest project for WTTW. This new project, a follow-up to last year's "Chicago From The Air," offers fun facts and fascinating history as exhilarating drone photography captures towns, parks, railroads, waterways, monuments, and more in…

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Oct. 15, 2021

"Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter" with director Rebecca Halpern

Charlie Trotter was one of Chicago's first culinary bad boys, paving the way for the celebrity chefs like Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay. Today I'm talking with Rebecca Halpern, the director of Love, Charlie, the documentary about chef Charlie Trotter that the Chicago Sun-Times’ film critic Richard Roeper calls “one…

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Aug. 3, 2021

CBS 2 Chicago Sports Year Wrap Up - 1999

The box of old VHS tapes brought us this from Christmas Eve 1999. Chris Boden (with Katherine Bliss) discuss the Year In Sports on channel 2 - WBBM-TV Chicago. #Ditka #NancyKerrigan

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Aug. 3, 2021

CBS 2 News Crew (WBBM-TV Chicago) - December 1999

Old VHS stuff yielded this from December 24, 1999 - the CBS News Crew - Lester Holt, Linda MacLennan, Steve Baskerville, and the late great Tim Weigel.

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Aug. 3, 2021

Nutcracker - Joffrey Ballet (Chicago) Commercial - December 24 1999

From the box of my grandfather's old VHS tapes, here's a commercial for the Nutcracker performed by the Joffrey Ballet at the Auditorium Theater Chicago - December 24 1999.

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Aug. 3, 2021

Trinity United Church of Christ Chicago - "An American Christmas" December 24, 1999

From the box of Grandpa's Les' old VHS tapes. This was part of the Christmas Eve 1999 broadcast of "An American Christmas" starring Joe Morton and Hayden Panattierre. Jeffrey Radford, music director of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, leads an exuberant, 250-member choral ensemble that combines classical European…

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July 8, 2021

NBC 5 News Commercial - Committed To Chicago - Lisa Parker 1996

From an old box of VHS tapes, here is a commercial that ran on NBC Chicago's Thanksgiving Day broadcast of "Home Alone." This one features a quick glimpse of Ron Magers and Carol Marin and a lot of Lisa Parker, who had just joined NBC 5 as a consumer investigative…

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July 7, 2021

Illinois Lottery Big Game Commercial - Thanksgiving Day 1996

Another commercial from my departed grandfather's boxes of old VHS tapes. Here is one from NBC Chicago's Thanksgiving Day broadcast - a commercial for the Illinois Lottery (featuring shots of Chicago) that ran during "Home Alone." Enjoy. #Chicago #ChicagoHistory #ChicagoLottery

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July 7, 2021

Saturn Automobile Chicago Commercial - Suchar Family Thanksgiving Day 1996

My grandfather left behind a few boxes of old VHS tapes, some home movies and some useless stuff that I look at as analog time capsules. Here is one from NBC Chicago's Thanksgiving Day broadcast - a commercial for the defunct car company Saturn that ran during "Home Alone." Enjoy.…

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