On a special edition of the program, Mike Stephen explores the history of tied houses/bars in Chicago.  Joining him at Toons Bar and Grill and at the Happy Village bar is local historian Liz Garibay. The two chat about the history of tied houses over a pint. Then Mike heads to Lakeview to talk to Mike Schuba, operator of Schuba’s Tavern, about the special history of that building.  And to round out the show, Mike and Producer Collin try to figure out how to tie OTL to a Chicago bar with some help from Hampshire High School industrial technology teacher Mike Jakubowski. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged

It’s a historic day for Mike Stephen as he chats with Craig Pfannkuche of the Chicago and North Western Historical Society about the ambitions of Chicago’s first mayor, author Daniel Kay Hertz about his book The Battle of Lincoln Park, and pays a visit to Steve Krakow (aka Plastic Crimewave) to learn about the Secret History of prog-rockers Mugicians. Local music this week is powered by Aurora L’Orealis. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged

OTL: Episode #576- Inside Space Oddities, The Secret History of Aliotta, Haynes, Jeremiah, Underneath Read-Dunning Park

Mike Stephen exchanges tasty words with with:   Sarah Luczko, owner of Chicago Space Oddities;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about 70’s rockers Aliotta, Haynes, Jeremiah for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and,   Craig Pfannkuche, former president of the Chicago Genealogical Society about the mass grave in Dunning.    This week’s local music is provided by 13 Angels. Mike Stephen and Craig Pfannkuche discuss the mass grave at Read Dunning Memorial Park. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.  

Posted 7 years ago Tagged

OTL: Episode #502- Draining Chicago, Turning Asian carp into pet food, The Secret History of The Bare Facts

Mike Stephen talks with:   Richard Lanyon, former executive director of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, about the history of Chicago’s sewer system as detailed in the second book in his four-book series Draining Chicago: The Early City and the North Area;   BareItAll Petfoods co-founders Logan Honeycutt and Michael Cody about saving the environment by turning invasive Asian carp into dog treats; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about 1960s Indiana-based horn rockers The Bare Facts for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we how the CTA is renting parking spaces under the Brown Line.   This week’s local music is provided music provided by Walcot.   Future OTL producer Andy Hermann and host Mike Stephen cruise the Chicago River post-flow reversal and pre-Asian carp threat. [circa September 2005]   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 8 years ago Tagged