Jesse White: An Illinois Institution

In this episode Pam and Alyssa discuss the Spike Lee Movie Chi-Raq and Chicago's official response.  Show Notes:Washington Post: Chicago alderman refuses permit for block party celebrating Spike Lee’s movie ‘Chiraq’ because he dislikes the film’s titleChicagoist: Aldermen Pressure Spike Lee To Change 'Chiraq' Movie TitleNBC: Man Uses Trademark Claim to Try to Stop Spike Lee From Using Word “Chiraq”Chicagoist: Chicago Man Challenges Spike Lee Over Trademark To 'Chiraq'Spike Lee film struck with trademark claimABC7: Despite 'Chiraq' label, data show Chicago not even close to IraqThe Hollywood Reporter:Spike Lee Defends ‘Chiraq’ Film: “Let’s Not Put the Loss of Property and Profit Over Human Life” Chicago Reader: A Chicago street film calls out Chi-Raq over its portrayal of local hip-hop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa and John Zinn discuss Chicago specific slang.Check out Adirondack Chair CircleListen to:DibsTamale GuyShow Notes:Time Out: 36 Chicago slang words that only real Chicagoans knowDNAinfo: The Word 'Jagoff' Finally Makes Oxford English DictionaryChicago Tribune: ‘The Chicago way’ (and other wayward words)Chicago Journal: Glossary of Chicago TermsLumpen: Field Guide to JagoffsReddit: Gym ShoesChicago Sun-Times: Human Bean? Mysterious group says there's a grown man living inside Cloud Gate, aka 'the Bean'WGN: Chicago slang: 11 terms you should knowChicago Tribune: 23 Phrases Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about Chicago Nicknames Show Notes:`Reader's Digest: The Surprising Reason Why Chicago Is Called the “Windy City”Chicagology: Origin of the “Windy City”Pequods Pizza: Why Is Chicago Called the Windy City?WTTW: Revisiting the Biting Articles That Branded Chicago the "Second City"WTTW: WTTW News Explains: From Mud City to Second City, Where Did Chicago’s Nicknames Come From?Britannica: Why Is Chicago Called the “Second City”?Chicago Tribune: The Evolution of ‘Chiraq’Chicago Tribune: The Problem With ‘Chiraq’CBS: Meet The Man Who Coined The Word 'Chiberia' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa tels Vanessa all about these shady dudes who were recently shown in a videoringinf in the New Yea with Ken Paxton. Show Notes: Block Club Chicago: The Flashy Fugitives: Ex-Loretto Leader And Pal Accused Of Stealing Millions Are Living Large In DubaiChicago Sun-Times: Loretto Hospital's indicted former CFO back in Chicago, will remain in federal custody for nowABC-7: Loretto Hospital CEO under scrutiny for vaccinating 200 at Oak Forest churchBlock Club Chicago: Loretto Hospital Executive At Center Of COVID Scandal Charged With $15 Million In FraudBlock Club Chicago: Chicago Hospital Executive Bragged About Vaccinating Eric Trump On Day His Hospital Vaccinated Workers At Trump TowerABC-7: Judge questions US Attorney's Office as charges are dropped in Loretto Hospital fraud caseWTTW: The Loretto Hospital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa and Risen discuss her new kitty then Leo Burnett ad agency.Show Notes:LeoBurnett.ComCreative Hall of Fame: Leo BurnettWTTW: Ten Advertising Campaigns That Were Born in Chicago Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa updates John on the news about The Tylenol Murders and Mike Madigan then tells him about the time Samuel Insull took over The Studebaker Theatre to appease his wife.  Show Notes: News Nation: Tylenol murders linked to newly solved Idaho cyanide deathABC 7 Chicago: Cross-country cold case leads detectives to Chicago-area Tylenol murdersWGN: ‘Brilliant’ man ID’d in 1982 Idaho cold case had links to Chicago prior to Tylenol murdersWGN: ‘There’s no evidence’: Prosecutor doubts Idaho cold case link to Chicago Tylenol murdersOxygen: Idaho’s “Unknown Wanderer” Identified After 44 Years: Could He Be Linked to the Tylenol Murders?People: Mystery Man Died by Cyanide in 1982 and Went Unidentified for 40 Years. Was He Behind the Tylenol Murders?New City: Fine Arts Building Interlude: Footnote in the Footlights, Samuel Insull and Gladys WallisWTTW: Who Committed the Tylenol Murders? After More Than 40 Years, the Case Remains Unsolved.Chicago Sun-Times: Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear his corruption caseNew York Times: An Idaho Cold Case Revisits the Unsolved Tylenol Killings in 1982New York Post: Metro Tylenol Murderer mystery gets bombshell new update as California wanderer ID’d as potential suspect: officials Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa is joined by David Baxter to discuss a play called "The Front Page" written by two reporters who covered Cook County Courts in the 1920's adding to the genre of crime reporter to Broadway Playwright.  We discuss the real life inspirations.  Show Notes:New York Times: CHICAGO SHERIFF FREED.; Hoffman and Other Officials Acquitted of Favoring Beer-Runners.Chicago Sun-Times: Review: 'The Front Page' centers two things Chicagoans really love — great ensembles and local historyRoger Ebert: Billy Wilder on “The Front Page”Time: Hearst's HoweyBritannica: Yellow JournalismNew York Time: Hildy is Dead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is different.  Alyssa is talks to Maren Robinson resident dramaturg at TimeLine Theatre Company about the Chicago connections to The Pill.  Show Notes:TimeLine TheatreChicago Reader: The Birth of the Pill blends fact and fancyHistory Channel: FDA approves “the pill”Chicago Tribune: How the Birth Control Pill HappenedChicago Health Magazine: Chicago and The PillChicago Public Library: 55th Anniversary of the PillNational Geographic: Delivering "The Pill" Wasn't EasyJonathan Eig: The Birth of the Pill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa tells Vanessa from Reel Relationships about Illinois Institution beloved former Secretary of State Jesse White. Show Notes:Chicago Tribune: IT WAS WRIGLEY, NOT SOME GOAT, WHO CURSED CUBSJesse White Tumbling TeamChicago Tribune: Jesse WhiteNew York Times: Once Told to Move to the Back of the Bus, Jesse White Became an Illinois InstitutionWBEZ: Retiring Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White reveals the racism that shaped his legacyNBC: White Defends Pritzker After Ad Shows Gov. in 2008 Calling Him ‘Least-Offensive' Black Senate CandidateABC7: Sec. of State : I cannot co-sign Blago document Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Labor Day, sitting in the epicenter of the labor movement Alyssa tells Pat Westmacott about the 1910 Garment Workers Strike and the long lasting implications it has in America.  Show Notes: National Park Services: Women of the 1910 Chicago Garment Workers' Strike History: Labor Day 2026 WTTW: Key Moments in Chicago Labor History NYT: On Language; Greenhorn Chicago Tribune: And the women shall lead: Female laborers at forefront of Chicago's massive garment workers strike of 1910 Oh Malort: Haymarket Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices