OTL: Episode #458- Chicago water tower paintings, A mobbed-up cop’s story, The Secret History of local Elvis impersonator Rick Saucedo

Mike Stephen talks with:   Artist Kevin Swallow about his This Must Be the Place Chicago cityscape show at Firecat Projects;   Writer Sam Reaves about co-authoring Fred Pascente’s story in Mob Cop: My Life of Crime in the Chicago Police Department;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about Elvis tribute artist and underground psychedelic musician Rick Saucedo for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   WGN Radio newsman Dave Schwan who files a report on the 100th anniversary of the Eastland Disaster in the Chicago River.   This week’s local music is provided by Doug James and the Pocket.   Artist Kevin Swallow tells OTL host Mike Stephen about his This Must Be the Place show at Firecat Projects in Bucktown.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #452- A visit to Rebecca Zemans Jewelry Studio, Previewing the Chicago Scots’ Highland Games, and the Secret History of Chicago’s 90s rockers Green

Mike Stephen talks with:   Rebecca Zemans, owner/designer at Rebecca Zemans: Sculptural Designs in Jewelry studio, in Ravenswood;   Gus Noble, president of Chicago Scots, about the 29th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games in Itasca; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about alt-poppy almost-buzz band Green for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   This week’s local music is provided by Antony + the Tramps.   Outside the Loop host Mike Stephen III and his son Mike Stephen IV are suited up in their Blackhawks gear ready for Game 5!   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #435- Exonerated after 21 years in prison, Busy Beaver Button Museum in Logan Square

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “busy beaver” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen visits the Busy Beaver Button Museum in Logan Square and then talks to Tyrone Hood, someone who was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent the last 21 years in prison.   Christen Carter– Owner of the Busy Beaver Button Co. and co-curator of the Busy Beaver Button Museum The world’s only museum dedicated to buttons calls Logan Square its home.  We go inside this small business and button museum that is celebrating its 20th year.  Joel and Christen Carter   Tyrone Hood– Recently released from 21 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit Karl Leonard– Attorney at Winston & Strawn and former student at The Exoneration Project We hear how Tyrone never gave up hope that he would be released from prison and that his name would be cleared.  OTL Host Mike Stephen, Tyrone Hood, and Karl Leonard in the WGN Radio Green Room   OTL Flashback- We hear a special Valentine’s Day clip from OTL #21 where Mike and Andy talk about true love with their better halves.  Mike and Andy in 2006.   OTL #435 local music provided by The Lawrence Peters Outfit…

OTL: Episode #432- Local teenage rockers, Examining Circuit Court of Cook County data, The Secret History of Chicago Music

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “court is now in session” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen learns about a project that examines Cook County Court data, discusses police staffing in Chicago, gets the lowdown on an old-school local Blues musician: Jazz Gillum, and talks to a high school student who happens to be part of the Chicago music scene.   Tracy Siska – Executive Director, Chicago Justice Project The CJP’s latest project, Convicted in Cook, examines data from the Cook County Circuit Court from 2005-2009 in order to shed light on how the local courts operate.  Tracy also discusses his recent op-ed about police staffing in Chicago.     The Secret History of Chicago Music– Local music historian and artist Plastic Crimewave (aka: Steve Krakow) profiles 20th century Blues musician Jazz Gillum in this week’s Chicago Reader.  He gives us the lowdown on his musical contribution to Chicago.     Jacob Gold– Member of the band Purple Door and a high school junior at Jones College Prep We get the perspective of the Chicago music scene from one of its youngest members.     Purple Door rocking hard     OTL #432 local music provided by Purple Door…