Chicago History Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 315 - Mysterious Death of Marshall Field Jr., The Aug 21, 2021

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He was the son of one of the wealthiest men in Chicago, and on one fateful night he was shot under mysterious circumstances. Was Marshall Field Jr.'s death an accident or something much darker that was covered up by powerful forces?
#Chicago #ChicagoHistory #MarshallField #DepartmentStoreHeirs #TrueCrime #MysteriousDeaths
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Sin In The Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul by Karen Abbott
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Sinister Chicago by Kali Joy Cramer
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Fortune Builders: Chicago's Famous Families by Edwin Darby
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Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
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Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
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Looking to get out and explore Chicago? Here are a few ideas:
16" Softball Hall of Fame
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Chicago Movie Tours
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Chicago Mahogany Tours by Dilla
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Chicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):
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Episode 314 - Beatles in Chicago: The Later Years with author John F. Lyons, The Aug 14, 2021

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Cicadas, the L, sirens, and a few pints - all part of the fun of recording guest John F. Lyons, author of the book Joy and Fear: The Beatles, Chicago and The 1960s out in the real world. Listen as I talk with John about The Beatles in Chicago: The Later Years.
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Check out If The Walls Could Talk, a podcast about the downfall of Edgewater Hospital in Chicago:
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Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):
Joy and Fear: The Beatles, Chicago and The 1960s by John F. Lyons
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Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
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Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
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Looking to get out and explore Chicago? Here are a few ideas:
16" Softball Hall of Fame
https://16inchsoftballhof.com/visit-us/
Chicago Movie Tours
chicagomovietours.com
Chicago Mahogany Tours by Dilla
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chicago-mahogany-tours-by-dilla-tickets-151328328103
Summertime Outdoor Movies? Here's the gear I use:
UUO 1080p Projector:
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120" Projector Screen
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Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks

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Episode 313 - Herbert Haupt, Chicago's World War II Nazi Spy Aug 07, 2021

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A German kid from Chicago's north side gets caught up in sabotage, submarines, explosives, treason, and more, but it wasn't a movie - it actually happened in 1942.
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Check out If The Walls Could Talk, a podcast about the downfall of Edgewater Hospital in Chicago:
https://ifthewallscouldtalkpodcast.com/
Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):
Saboteurs: The Nazi Raid on America by Michael Dobbs
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Spy Sites of New York City: A Guide To The Region's Secret History by H. Keith Melton
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In Time of War: Hitler's Terrorist Attack on America by Pierce O'Donnell and Anthony Lewis
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Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
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Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
https://amzn.to/3x6GgPh
Looking to get out and explore Chicago? Here are a few ideas:
16" Softball Hall of Fame
https://16inchsoftballhof.com/visit-us/
Chicago Movie Tours
chicagomovietours.com
Chicago Mahogany Tours by Dilla
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chicago-mahogany-tours-by-dilla-tickets-151328328103
Chicago Detours: Tours For Curious People
https://chicagodetours.com/
Summertime Outdoor Movies? Here's the gear I use:
UUO 1080p Projector:
https://amzn.to/3v6F25S
120" Projector Screen
https://amzn.to/3ozAuTf
Love the podcast? Leave us a review!
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Chicago History Podcast Clothing, Mugs, Totes, & More (your purchase helps support the podcast):
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Chicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod@gmail.com):
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Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks

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Episode 312 - Ku Klux Klan in Chicago, The Jul 31, 2021

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While many may think of the Ku Klux Klan as being primarily a Southern concern, in the first part of the 20th century larger cities to the north also had factions of the KKK, including Chicago, which grew to be one of the largest in the country.
Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!
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Check out If The Walls Could Talk, a podcast about the downfall of Edgewater Hospital in Chicago:
https://ifthewallscouldtalkpodcast.com/
Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):
The Ku Klux Klan in the City: 1915-1930 by Kenneth Jackson
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The Invisible Empire: Madge Oberholtzer And The Unmasking of Invisible Empire by Micky Neilson and Todd Warger
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The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Political Tradition by Linda Gordon
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Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
https://amzn.to/3g5n1js
Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
https://amzn.to/3x6GgPh
Looking to get out and explore Chicago? Here are a few ideas:
16" Softball Hall of Fame
https://16inchsoftballhof.com/visit-us/
Chicago Movie Tours
chicagomovietours.com
Chicago Mahogany Tours by Dilla
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chicago-mahogany-tours-by-dilla-tickets-151328328103
Chicago Detours: Tours For Curious People
https://chicagodetours.com/
Summertime Outdoor Movies? Here's the gear I use:
UUO 1080p Projector:
https://amzn.to/3v6F25S
120" Projector Screen
https://amzn.to/3ozAuTf
Love the podcast? Leave us a review!
https://lovethepodcast.com/chicagohistorypod
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):
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Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/

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Episode 311 - 16-Inch Softball in Chicago Jul 24, 2021

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No sport is more closely identified with Chicago than 16-inch softball. Enjoy the history of 16" softball along with some insights about the game from a few guys who know it best - the 16" Softball Hall of Fame co-founder Al Maag, Hall of Fame President Ron Kubicki, and Hall of Fame Vice President Ray Topps.
#Chicago #History #ChicagoHistory #ChicagoSports #16InchSoftball
16-Inch Hall of Fame:
https://www.16inchsoftballHoF.com
Order "The Greatest Game on Dirt" and help support the Hall of Fame:
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16-Inch Hall of Fame Documentary with Jack Brickhouse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVrKCsxB3ic
Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory
Check out If The Walls Could Talk, a podcast about the downfall of Edgewater Hospital in Chicago:
https://ifthewallscouldtalkpodcast.com/
Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):
Secret History Of Balls: The Stories Behind The Things We Love To Catch, Whack, Throw, Kick, Bounce, and Bat, The by Josh Chetwynd
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Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
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Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
https://amzn.to/3x6GgPh
Looking to get out and explore Chicago? Here are a few ideas:
16" Softball Hall of Fame
https://16inchsoftballhof.com/visit-us/
Chicago Movie Tours
chicagomovietours.com
Chicago Detours: Tours For Curious People
https://chicagodetours.com/
Summertime Outdoor Movies? Here's the gear I use:
UUO 1080p Projector:
https://amzn.to/3v6F25S
120" Projector Screen
https://amzn.to/3ozAuTf
Love the podcast? Leave us a review!
https://lovethepodcast.com/chicagohistorypod
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):
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https://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883
https://twitter.com/chicago_pod
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Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/

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Episode 310 - Bearded Bandit, The - Jeffrey and Jill Erickson Jul 17, 2021

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They seemed like a suburban couple living a normal life but in reality they were responsible for a string of car thefts and bank robberies in the Chicago area in the early 1990s that left two people dead. This is the story of The Bearded Bandit - Jeff Erickson - and his wife Jill Erickson.
#Chicago #History #ChicagoHistory #TrueCrime
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Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):
Protector: The Harry Belluomini Story by Matt Hader
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Normal Life (DVD)
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Normal Life (Amazon Video - Rent or Buy)
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Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
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Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
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Looking to get out and explore Chicago? Here are a few ideas:
Chicago Movie Tours
chicagomovietours.com
Chicago Detours: Tours For Curious People
https://chicagodetours.com/
Summertime Outdoor Movies? Here's the gear I use:
UUO 1080p Projector:
https://amzn.to/3v6F25S
120" Projector Screen
https://amzn.to/3ozAuTf
Love the podcast? Leave us a review!
https://lovethepodcast.com/chicagohistorypod
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):
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https://www.facebook.com/Chicago-History-Podcast-107482214277883
https://twitter.com/chicago_pod
https://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/
Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/
Gear used in the recording of this podcast:
Shure SM-58 Microphone: https://amzn.to/3uDmji9
Zoom H6 Recorder: https://amzn.to/3y0wWh0

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Episode 309 - Chicago Fire of 1874, The Jul 10, 2021

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It has been called the Second Chicago Fire, The Little Chicago Fire, and simply... the Chicago Fire of 1874. How did this fire compare to the one three years earlier? Let's find out.
Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory
Check out If The Walls Could Talk, a podcast about the downfall of Edgewater Hospital in Chicago:
https://ifthewallscouldtalkpodcast.com/
Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):
Great Chicago Fires: Historic Blazes That Shaped A City by David Cowan
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Chicago's Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City by Carl Smith
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Great Peshtigo Fire: An Eyewitness Account, The by Reverend Peter Pernin
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Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
https://amzn.to/3g5n1js
Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
https://amzn.to/3x6GgPh
Looking to get out and explore Chicago? Here are a few ideas:
Chicago Movie Tours
chicagomovietours.com
Chicago Detours: Tours For Curious People
https://chicagodetours.com/
Summertime Outdoor Movies? Here's the gear I use:
UUO 1080p Projector:
https://amzn.to/3v6F25S
120" Projector Screen
https://amzn.to/3ozAuTf
Love the podcast? Leave us a review!
https://lovethepodcast.com/chicagohistorypod
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
https://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/
Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/
Gear used in the recording of this podcast:
Shure SM-58 Microphone: https://amzn.to/3uDmji9
Zoom H6 Recorder: https://amzn.to/3y0wWh0

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Episode 308 - Chicago's Fresh Air Sanitariums for Sick Babies / Man-Made Lincoln Park Jul 03, 2021

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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 in use today.
Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory
Check out If The Walls Could Talk, a podcast about the downfall of Edgewater Hospital in Chicago:
https://ifthewallscouldtalkpodcast.com/
Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):
Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
https://amzn.to/3g5n1js
Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
https://amzn.to/3x6GgPh
Amazon Prime Video:
H.H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer directed by John Borowski
https://amzn.to/3gr8AF9
Looking to get out and explore Chicago? Here are a few ideas:
Chicago Movie Tours
chicagomovietours.com
Summertime Outdoor Movies? Here's the gear I use:
UUO 1080p Projector:
https://amzn.to/3v6F25S
120" Projector Screen
https://amzn.to/3ozAuTf
Love the podcast? Leave us a review!
https://lovethepodcast.com/chicagohistorypod
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
https://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/
Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/
Gear used in the recording of this podcast:
Shure SM-58 Microphone: https://amzn.to/3uDmji9
Zoom H6 Recorder: https://amzn.to/3y0wWh0

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Episode 307 - Renaming Streets, Places, and Other Things in Chicago Jun 26, 2021

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Damen Avenue was once called Robey Street. Garfield Park used to be Central Park. Streets, ballparks, buildings, and more have been renamed throughout Chicago's history. Here are the stories behind some of those old and new names.
Want to help support the show? Buy me a coffee!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory
Check out If The Walls Could Talk, a podcast about the downfall of Edgewater Hospital in Chicago:
https://ifthewallscouldtalkpodcast.com/
Affiliate Links (anything you buy - not just this stuff - through these links helps benefit the show):
Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
https://amzn.to/3g5n1js
Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
https://amzn.to/3x6GgPh
Amazon Prime Video:
H.H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer directed by John Borowski
https://amzn.to/3gr8AF9
Looking to get out and explore Chicago? Here are a few ideas:
Chicago Movie Tours
chicagomovietours.com
Chicago Detours: Tours For Curious People
https://chicagodetours.com/
Summertime Outdoor Movies? Here's the gear I use:
UUO 1080p Projector:
https://amzn.to/3v6F25S
120" Projector Screen
https://amzn.to/3ozAuTf
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
https://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/
Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/
Gear used in the recording of this podcast:
Shure SM-58 Microphone: https://amzn.to/3uDmji9
Zoom H6 Recorder: https://amzn.to/3y0wWh0

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Episode 306 - If The Walls Could Talk: The Edgewater Hospital Scandal with Todd M. Ganz and Stephani Young Jun 19, 2021

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The podcast series If The Walls Could Talk, created by Todd M. Ganz and Stephani Young, does a deep dive into Chicago's Edgewater Hospital and details a history involving Medicare fraud, unnecessary surgeries, mentally ill people being bussed in from other parts of the city, embezzlement, suicides, and worse.
I had the opportunity to speak with Stephani and Todd about their experience making this podcast and how it affected them. Enjoy this episode and then check out the If The Walls Could Talk podcast (https://ifthewallscouldtalkpodcast.com/).
YouTube Version of the interview:
https://youtu.be/6Fu9w21_fPM
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):
Woman In Charge, A by Carl Bernstein
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John Wayne Gacy - Hunting A Predator: The Pursuit, Arrest, and Confession by John Borowski
https://amzn.to/35NIFCZ
Second City Sinners: True Crime From Historic Chicago's Deadly Streets by Jon Seidel
https://amzn.to/3g5n1js
Unknown Chicago Tales by John R. Schmidt
https://amzn.to/3x6GgPh
Amazon Prime Video:
H.H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer directed by John Borowski
https://amzn.to/3gr8AF9
Looking to get out and explore Chicago? Here are a few ideas:
Chicago Movie Tours
chicagomovietours.com
Chicago Detours: Tours For Curious People
https://chicagodetours.com/
Summertime Outdoor Movies? Here's the gear I use:
UUO 1080p Projector:
https://amzn.to/3v6F25S
120" Projector Screen
https://amzn.to/3ozAuTf
Love the podcast? Leave us a review!
https://lovethepodcast.com/chicagohistorypod
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
https://www.instagram.com/chicagohistorypod/
Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks@gmail.com) and on https://www.instagram.com/angeleyesartjks/
Gear used in the recording of this podcast:
Shure SM-58 Microphone: https://amzn.to/3uDmji9
Zoom H6 Recorder: https://amzn.to/3y0wWh0

Support the show

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