Backstory with Larry Potash

Latest Episodes:

The Chicago Movie Pioneer Who Revolutionized an Entire Industry Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

Hollywood is the global capital of making movies, but it might not have been if it wasn’t for a man in Chicago. Larry Potash gives us the backstory on one William Selig, a visionary who took the concept of silent films to a new level, and revolutionized an entire industry. Backstory airs Sunday nights at 6:30 & 11 on WGN, or stream it anytime on the WGN+ app on your smart TV with Amazon Fire, Roku, and Apple TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

THE "SECRET SIX" WHO HELPED BRING DOWN CAPONE Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

Elliott Ness and the Untouchables, along with Treasury agent Frank Wilson, were instrumental in taking down Al Capone.

However, there was another force working behind the scenes, a group of Chicago businessmen, the so-called “Secret Six.”

In this segment for Backstory, Larry Potash talked to a man who has a personal connection, as well as insights to the secrets. Backstory airs Sunday nights at 6:30 & 11 on WGN, or stream it anytime on the WGN+ app on your smart TV with Amazon Fire, Roku, and Apple TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

THE PIONEERING CUBS OWNER WHO LOST IT ALL Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

Eight seasons, four pennants, two World Series titles. Not bad for a Cubs owner. Charlies Murphy has been called “the George Steinbrenner” of the early 20th century. In this piece for Backstory, Larry Potash digs into the innovations he pioneered, how he became the most hated man in baseball, and the scandal that brought him down. Backstory airs Sunday nights at 6:30 & 11 on WGN, or stream it anytime on the WGN+ app on your smart TV with Amazon Fire, Roku, and Apple TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

THE MAN WHO TOOK ON LAKE MICHIGAN Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

In 1961 Chicagoan Ted Erikson is a 33 year-old chemist who swims as a hobby. What possessed him to attempt to become one of the first to swim across Lake Michigan? Larry Potash digs into this little-known story through the eyes of Ted’s widow. Backstory airs Sunday nights at 6:30 & 11 on WGN, or stream it anytime on the WGN+ app on your smart TV with Amazon Fire, Roku, and Apple TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

THE SMALL TOWN PASTOR WHO HELPED SAVE THE WORLD Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

How would World War II have turned out if the Nazis had successfully developed Nuclear weapons? And what does a small town in downstate Illinois have to do with preventing that from happening? Larry Potash digs deep into the crucial role a pastor from a small town in Illinois, and others, played in a long-lost World War II operation.

Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

THE BACKSTORY OF COMIC BOOKS & THEIR UNCERTAIN FUTURE Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

From their humble beginnings as simple newspaper strips, to their heyday in mid-20th century America, to their current status as movie franchise generator, the history of comic books is long and fascinating. Larry Potash looks at their glorious past, as well as their uncertain future in this Backstory segment.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AN ODE TO WIFFLE BALL Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

In this piece from Backstory, Larry Potash gives us an ode to that sport of backyards and schoolyards, wiffle ball, seen through the eyes of a Chicago family that’s been playing each other for 30 years.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

THE BREAKAWAY MORMON SECT LOST TO HISTORY Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

The Mormon religion was a movement that took its followers from east to west in the middle of the 19th century, including a strong presence in Illinois before ending up in the Utah territory. But a power vacuum caused a split, leaving two men leading two groups. One built his movement into a major force. The other has seemingly disappeared from history. Was its leader a holy man or a con artist? Larry Potash digs deep in this Backstory segment.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

RECORD-BREAKING: THE BACKSTORY OF VINYL’S COMEBACK Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

When it comes to technology, usually people want the latest and greatest. So why are vinyl records making a comeback? For some people, it never went away. Larry Potash goes deep into the modern revivial of wax tracks in this piece for Backstory.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

THE HEALTH HUSTLER OF THE OZARKS Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

People come from all over to the historic Crescent Hotel in Arkansas for its ghost tours, but the backstory of this national landmark is much scarier. Larry Potash traveled to the Ozarks to bring us a story of a macabre con man, and the legacy he left behind.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.