Chicago History Podcast

During her husband's trial for trying to kill her by blowing up the plane she was on, Jeanne Cook spent her time sitting in the corridor outside the courtroom knitting, telling anyone who stopped how much she loved her husband.

Earle T. Cook and the Airplane Bombing
https://bit.ly/4cJ6Ymm

Jeanne Cook said her husband checked two suitcases for her and that she was unaware of a third, the one thought to have contained the explosive device that failed to bring the plane down.

Earle T. Cook and the Airplane Bombing
https://bit.ly/4cJ6Ymm

The first confirmed case of airplane sabotage occurred on October 10, 1933, when a United Airlines Boeing 247, traveling from NY to Chicago, was destroyed by a bomb over Chesterton, Indiana.

Earle T. Cook and the Airplane Bombing
https://bit.ly/4cJ6Ymm

In November of 1967, an explosive device detonated aboard a plane flying from Chicago to San Diego. Did a Naperville man really try to bring down a plane carrying 75 passengers (including three infants) and six crew members just to kill his wife?

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Earle T. Cook and the Airplane Bombing
https://www.chicagohistorypod.com/

Mance Park Speedway opened in Hodgkins, IL near U.S. 45 & Rte. 66 (just south of La Grange) as a 1/5 mile, high banked dirt track. Called "Chicago’s Fastest Racetrack," it operated from 1953-1960, and featured midget car races, Crosley stock car races, wrestling, and more.

Raceway Park, at 130th & Ashland in Blue Island, opened in 1938 as a 1/4 mile dirt oval track (later clay). It operated until 2001, when it was demolished. On the site now is a large L-shaped strip mall called “Raceway Park Shopping Center.”

Episode 716 - Chicago's Motor Speedways
https://bit.ly/3LgnSMM

35 years ago today. July 8, 1989. Nirvana played Club Dreamerz on Milwaukee Avenue. Chad Channing (pre-Dave Grohl) was on drums, and Jason Everman, who also played with Soundgarden, toured with them as the fourth member.

Riverview Speedway was near present-day Addison and Rockwell by Lane Tech HS and operated from 1936-1942, at which time the government suspended racing during WWII. It never reopened.

Episode 716 - Chicago's Motor Speedways
https://bit.ly/3LgnSMM

The late 1940s and 1950s saw Soldier Field become the most popular venue for big-time stock car and midget car racing, bringing in crowds as large as 89,000.

Episode 716 - Chicago's Motor Speedways
https://bit.ly/3LgnSMM

Auto and motorcycle racing in the Chicagoland area was all the rage for decades. The latest episode looks at a few of the notable motor speedways around the area.

Episode 716 - Chicago's Motor Speedways
https://bit.ly/3LgnSMM

If you've ever wondered what the Cubby Bear Wrigleyville looked like 46 years ago, wonder no more. Picture taken 5/23/78 by Howard B. Anderson.

Comiskey Park opened on this day in 1910 with a 2–0 loss for the Sox to the St. Louis Browns. Here is an artist's rendering of the area from the Chicago Examiner - September 5, 1909.

Chicago White Sox

Chicago Stories: The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor tells the story of a young Chicago activist who took on the mayor and the city during the AIDS crisis. The episode airs tonight at 9:00 pm on WTTW - Chicago PBS or you can stream it any time here: to.wttw.com/4c1X4vz

After watching the episode, check out the latest Chicago History Podcast episode to hear my conversation with writer and producer Dan Andries.

AIDS protests in Chicago in April 1989 reached a fever pitch. At the center of it all was Danny Sotomayor.

Ep 715 - The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor with WTTW's Dan Andries
https://bit.ly/3VUiAN4

WTTW - Chicago PBS

In one of his most well-known and controversial cartoons, Danny Sotomayor called out then-U.S.-President George H.W. Bush for his lack of response to the AIDS crisis.

Ep 715 - The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor with WTTW's Dan Andries
https://bit.ly/3VUiAN4

WTTW - Chicago PBS

Danny Sotomayor took on Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago to make a difference in the lives of countless others. Have a listen to my talk with WTTW's Dan Andries, writer and producer of "The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor."

Episode 715 - The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor with WTTW's Dan Andries
https://bit.ly/3VUiAN4

Well, looky here - Block Club Chicago listed my event tomorrow with West Loop Connie at Bartelme Park as one of 15 Things to Do in Chicago this weekend (while sweating).

15 Things To Do In Chicago This Weekend: Pride Fest, Vegandale And A Bronzeville Bazaar There's also the Motorblot hot rod show, the inaugural Magnificent Mile Art Festival and the Andersonville Vintage Market.

Before the first year of operations concluded, a 56-year-old trapeze artist fell to his death in front of a crowd of 800 spectators. Not a good omen.

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Old Chicago Amusement Park https://bit.ly/3KRtgWp

Come for the West Loop farmers' market, stay for the history talk! Who is Mary Bartelme, and what was on the land before it became a park? We'll tell you all about it this Saturday.

Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council Green City Market

A lovers lane? Singing security guards? Fewer than 30 minutes from the Loop? What could go wrong?

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Old Chicago Amusement Park
https://bit.ly/3KRtgWp

In May, 1975, news stories showed 18-year-old Michelle Mauthe from Bolingbrook, IL tap dancing on top of the dome in a chorus girl’s outfit 16 stories up while a helicopter filmed her from above, part of an ad campaign introducing people to the new park.

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Old Chicago Amusement Park
https://bit.ly/3KRtgWp

Happy Father's Day to all who celebrate. Tell me - did you ever go with your dad / kids to Old Chicago Amusement Park in the late 70s?

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Old Chicago Amusement Park
https://bit.ly/3KRtgWp

Four brothers from Texas named Newton were among those convicted in the robbery. In 1998, a film directed by Texas-born Richard Linklater loosely based on their lives was released with Matthew McConaughey in the lead.

McConaughey is from Uvalde, TX, where the brothers spent their later years.

Ep. 714 - Rondout Train Robbery of 1924, The
https://bit.ly/4eh0ego

The Rondout Train Robbery of 1924 produced many false leads, including the idea the theft was pulled off by a gang in St. Louis called Egan's Rats.

Episode 714 - Rondout Train Robbery of 1924, The
bit.ly/4eh0ego

100 YEARS AGO TODAY: June 12, 1924. The Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul train 57 was robbed of 62 mail bags containing between $2 million and $3 million dollars in cash & valuables in the largest train robbery in U.S. history.

Episode 714 - Rondout Train Robbery of 1924, The https://bit.ly/4eh0ego

April 1921. Five men pull up in a car and start playing baseball in the empty field across from the Polk Street mail depot. The men were not there for a friendly game of catch.

After playing ball for more than four hours, the men watched as a mail car pulled up. Seeing their opportunity, they dropped their gear, drew guns, and robbed the workers of a 200-lb mailbag containing $50k (nearly $900,000 today) in cash and valuables.

Episode 714 - Rondout Train Robbery of 1924, The https://bit.ly/4eh0ego

Oct. 1923. The DeAutremont brothers attempted to rob a Southern Pacific Railroad train 13 in Oregon’s Siskiyou Mountains. That heist ended in disaster.

Episode 714 - Rondout Train Robbery of 1924, The https://bit.ly/4eh0ego

The biggest train robbery in U.S history happened 30+ miles north of Chicago on June 12, 1924.

Episode 714 - Rondout Train Robbery of 1924, The
https://bit.ly/4eh0ego