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Videos

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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July 6, 2021

Heilig-Meyers Chicago Commercial - Thanksgiving Day 1996

Digging through a box of old VHS tapes, I came across one from 1996 with some Chicago commercials that aired on NBC Thanksgiving Day, including this one from Heilig-Meyers furniture store. Enjoy. If you're curious about the history of Heilig-Meyers: http://www.heilig-meyers.com/heilig-meyers-furniture-company/ #Chicago #ChicagoHistory #ChicagoRetail #Heilig-Meyers #DepartmentStores

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July 6, 2021

Sears Chicago Commercial - Thanksgiving Day 1996

Digging through a box of old VHS tapes, I came across one from 1996 with some Chicago commercials that aired on NBC Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy. #Chicago #ChicagoHistory #ChicagoRetail #Sears #DepartmentStores

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July 3, 2021

Chicago's U.S. Steel South Works and Steelworker's Park

Chicago's U.S. Steel South Works manufactured steel for some of the most well-known buildings in Chicago and beyond before shutting down in 1992. Here is a look at the site then and now. For the full-length podcast version of the story, including the Memorial Day Massacre of 1937 (during which…

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June 18, 2021

If The Walls Could Talk: Chicago's Edgewater Hospital Scandal with Todd M. Ganz and Stephani Young

The podcast series If The Walls Could Talk, created by Todd M. Ganz and Stephani Young, does a deep dive into all aspects of Chicago's Edgewater Hospital, from its beginnings in 1929 when it was run like a five-star hotel to when it shuttered in 2001. The storied history of…

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May 21, 2021

Backdraft 30th Anniversary Interview with screenwriter Gregory Widen (2021)

Kelli, the founder of Chicago Movie Tours (www.chicagomovietours.com) and I sat down with Gregory Widen (Backdraft, Highlander, The Prophecy) to discuss the 30th anniversary of Backdraft, shot here in Chicago in 1990 and released on May 24, 1991. Enjoy! Chicago Movies Tours on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMrDUXoJ-bIn4EnNkx-TxeQ -----CONTENTS OF THE VIDEO-------------------- 00:00…

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Feb. 27, 2021

Physicist Leona Woods Libby / Women's History Month with Chicago Detours' Amanda Scotese

She graduated high school in La Grange, IL at 14 and received her BS from the University of Chicago at 18. She then became a key figure in the development of atomic energy. In this episode we look at physicist Leona Woods Libby, and then catch up with Chicago Detours…

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Feb. 19, 2021

Chicago History Podcast - The Beatles in Chicago with author John F. Lyons

The Beatles were one of the biggest bands of the 1960s and a HUUUUGE presence here in Chicago. Author John F, Lyons joins me to talk about his new book Joy and Fear: The Beatles, Chicago, and the 1960s, coming March 2, 2021. Pre-Order John Lyons book here (the sale…

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Jan. 30, 2021

Chicago History Podcast - Roller Skating in Chicago (Audio-Only Version)

Fun and physical exercise with wheels on your feet! Chicago's connection to roller skating runs deeps, from the late 1800's and the first roller rinks in the city to one of the most prominent skate manufacturers in the country. Be sure to check out craigslostchicago.com ! #ChicagoHistory #ChicagoPodcasts #RollerSkating #RollerRinks…

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Jan. 25, 2021

Chicago History Podcast - Chicago's Ghoulish Past (Audio-Only Version)

Here is an episode about Chicago's ghoulish past, including tales of forgotten cemeteries, grave robbers, mob graveyards, and more. #ChicagoHistory #ChicagoGhouls #GraveRobbers #MichaelTodd #ChicagoCemeteries Hidden Truths: https://hiddentruths.northwestern.edu/ Chicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast): https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcast https://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcast Chicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod@gmail.com): https://www.chicagohistorypod.com https://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883 https://twitter.com/chicago_pod…

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Jan. 24, 2021

Chicago History Podcast - U-505 German Submarine in Chicago, The (Audio-Only Version)

It 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. #ChicagoHistory #USNavy #MuseumOfScienceandIndustry #U505Submarine #WorldWarII More Chicago History Podcasts can be found wherever you enjoy…

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Jan. 16, 2021

Chicago History Podcast - Earle T. Cook and the Airplane Bombing (Audio-Only Version)

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.…

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