
Chicago History Podcast
Stories from history of the Greatest City in the World - Chicago. The places, events, and the people behind it all.
Latest episodes

Feb 6, 2021 • 25min
Episode 215 - Marshall "Major" Taylor: The Black Cyclone
Send us a textHe has been called the first international African American sports superstar and in his time was the biggest star of any sport. Although he wasn’t born in Chicago, some of Marshall "Major" Taylor's most lasting accomplishments occurred here. Want to read more about "Major" Taylor? (Purchasing through the links below will help support the podcast!)The World's Fastest Man: The Extraordinary Life of Cyclist Major Taylor, America's First Black Sports Hero by Michael Kranishhttps://amzn.to/3pRAbmtMajor Taylor: The Inspiring Story of a Black Cyclist and the Men Who Helped Him Achieve Worldwide Fame by Conrad Kerberhttps://amzn.to/2YLUxlaFor young readers (6-10 years old):Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist by Lesa Cline-Ransomehttps://amzn.to/3oS5NqKParks of Chicago:The City in a Garden: A History of Chicago's Parks, Second Edition by Julia Bachrachhttps://amzn.to/2MT5v5UChicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcasthttps://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcastChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod@gmail.com):https://www.chicagohistorypod.comhttps://www.facebook.com/ChicagoHistoryPod/https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks AT gmail.com)Support the show

Jan 30, 2021 • 24min
Episode 214 - Roller Skating in Chicago
Send us a textFun 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 #RollerRinksLove the podcast? Leave us a review!https://lovethepodcast.com/chicagohistorypodChicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcasthttps://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcastChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod@gmail.com):https://www.chicagohistorypod.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and at https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/Support the show

Jan 23, 2021 • 28min
Episode 213 - U-505 German Submarine in Chicago, The
Send us a textIt 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 U-505 Live Submarine Tour:https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/u-505-submarine/Chicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcasthttps://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcastChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod@gmail.com):https://www.chicagohistorypod.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks AT gmail.com)Support the show

Jan 16, 2021 • 21min
Episode 212 - School By Radio: The 1937 Polio Outbreak in Chicago
Send us a textIn 1937, 83 years before the current pandemic forced kids to find ways to learn outside of the traditional classroom, Chicago school children took classes by radio while trying to stay safe from the threat of polio.Support the show for the cost of a cup of coffee.https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here:https://www.chicagohistorypod.comAffiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):A Paralyzing Fear: The Triumph Over Polio in America by Nina Seaveyhttps://amzn.to/3O5mONSThe Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Lisa Anchinhttps://amzn.to/3tYrvlINot a Kindle Unlimited member? Try it here: https://amzn.to/2WsP1GHChicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcasthttps://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcastChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod@gmail.com):https://www.chicagohistorypod.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and at https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/Support the show

Jan 9, 2021 • 24min
Episode 211 - Earle T. Cook and the Airplane Bombing
Send us a textHe 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.#ChicagoHistory #ChicagoTrueCrime #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast#AirplaneBombings #NapervilleIL #MurderForHire #StandByYourManChicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcasthttps://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcastChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com):https://www.chicagohistorypod.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks AT gmail.com)Music From This Episode Includes:Greazy Windowpane Dream by Brian Holtz MusicLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6997-greazy-windowpane-dreamLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseSupport the show

Jan 2, 2021 • 20min
Episode 210 - Dr. Bernard Fantus and The Blood Bank
Send us a textThere was a time when in order to receive blood at a hospital, it needed to be donated directly from a donor to the recipient. One man changed that with the invention of a way to store blood in a "blood bank." Along the way, that man spoke out against fake "cures" that did more harm than good and also tried to make children's medicine a little easier for kids to swallow. This is the story of Dr. Bernard Fantus and The Blood Bank.Thanks to listener Sara for the suggestion!#ChicagoHistory #ChicagoPodcasts #ChicagoMedicine#BernardFantus #BloodBanks #DonateBlood #OakPark #UniversityOfIllinoisCollegeOfMedicineChicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcasthttps://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcastChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod@gmail.com):https://www.chicagohistorypod.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and at https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/Support the show

Dec 25, 2020 • 23min
Episode 209 - Captain Santa and The Christmas Tree Ship
Send us a textIn the late 1800s and early 1900s, a familiar sight near the river and Clark Street was the Rouse Simmons, also known as The Christmas Tree Ship, and its captain Herman Schuenemann, who became known to families as Captain Santa.During a trip from upper Michigan to Chicago in November of 1912, all of that changed.Thanks to listener Liz for the suggestion!#ChicagoHistory #ChicagoPodcasts #ChicagoHolidays#RouseSimmons #CaptainSanta #ChristmasTreeShipChicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcasthttps://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcastChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com):https://www.chicagohistorypod.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks AT gmail.com) and at https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/Support the show

Dec 18, 2020 • 19min
Episode 208 - Chicago History Podcast At The Movies - Home Alone (1990)
Send us a textIn November of 1990, a film about a young boy accidentally left at home at Christmas who defends his house against burglars became a worldwide sensation. This is the story of Home Alone.#HomeAlone #JohnHughes #JohnCandy #MacauleyCulkin #HolidayMoviesShow your support of the show for the cost of a coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistoryLeave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.comUp your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1kAffiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show at no additional cost to you):Home Alone / Home Alone 2: Lost in new York Double Feature (Blu-Ray)https://amzn.to/3GBdE7B Lego McCallister's Househttps://amzn.to/3RjJjz5Chicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcasthttps://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcastChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com):https://www.chicagohistorypod.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks AT gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/Music in this episode includes:Holiday Weasel by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/5517-holiday-weaselLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseWe Three Celtic Kings by Alexander NakaradaLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/4773-we-three-celtic-kingsLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseSupport the show

Dec 12, 2020 • 30min
Episode 207 - Spider-Dan Goodwin Climbs The Sears Tower
Send us a textOn 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 us interview him for this episode.Dan Goodwin:www.dangoodwin.cowww.tripleblack.com"Chemo Crazy" the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chemo-crazy-lessons-from-a-stage-four-cancer-survivor/id1481134448"Chemo Crazy" the book: https://amzn.to/3XcwLfiLove the podcast? Leave us a review!https://lovethepodcast.com/chicagohistorypodChicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcasthttps://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcastChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod@gmail.com):https://www.chicagohistorypod.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/Music From This Episode Includes:Degenerate Blues by Alexander NakaradaLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/4781-degenerate-bluesLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burnLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Nile's Blues by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/4134-nile-s-bluesLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Cold Sober by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/3523-cold-soberLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show

Dec 5, 2020 • 25min
Episode 206 - Chicago's Christmas Good Fellows & Holiday Fun with Chicago Detours' Amanda Scotese
Send us a textA Chicago story of a holiday charity from 1909 that created a nationwide effort and resulted in a 1911 movie from Essanay Studios.Also in this episode, a special guest - Amanda Scotese, founder of Chicago Detours. Chicago Detours has entertained and educated tens of thousands of tourists and locals with in-person and virtual Chicago history tours.The YouTube version of this episode is available at:https://youtu.be/w_LlnaZIjvMChicago Detours:https://www.chicagodetours.com/Love the podcast? Leave us a review!https://lovethepodcast.com/chicagohistorypodChicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcasthttps://teespring.com/stores/chicago-history-podcastChicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod@gmail.com):https://www.chicagohistorypod.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883https://twitter.com/chicago_podhttps://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/Support the show