Synopsis
Explore the BACKSTORY behind some of the most intriguing tales in history, culture, religion and science from Chicago and beyond.
Episodes
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M.I.A./P.O.W. MOVEMENT
04/04/2022 Duration: 11minSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Lustron Homes
04/04/2022 Duration: 07minSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Mysterious Manuscript
29/11/2021 Duration: 10minA pile of decaying pages of colorful language make up a manuscript about mobsters from long ago. There's no author, but some clues may lead to the writer's identity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Conspiracy Theories
29/11/2021 Duration: 10minConspiracy theories have been spread around long before the internet made it easy. While some are harmless, there are those that have led to dangerous consequences. We look at how some people can believe these far-fetched ideas.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Roller Skating
22/11/2021 Duration: 08minRoller skating started out as a fad and eventually became a cultural movement. New skaters continue to be inspired even as more roller rinks disappear.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Glass Plate Photographer
22/11/2021 Duration: 07minChicago artist Carrie McCluskey uses a long-lost photographic technique to bring home a message with a chilling warning.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Hidden Cemetery
15/11/2021 Duration: 13minJohn Kettman made a discovery in a remote patch of farm field that ignited a mission to uncover a centuries-old mystery. This is the Backstory.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Donut Day
15/11/2021 Duration: 09minHow the donut changed Americans' perspective on the Salvation Army, while feeding soldiers on the front lines. This is the Backstory.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Evolution of Bozo
08/11/2021 Duration: 15minBozo T. Clown... from its humble beginnings as a record company character, to its height as a cultural icon for generations of Chicagoans. This is the Backstory.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Barbecue Stories
08/11/2021 Duration: 06minEveryone has their own idea of what makes great barbecue. For one Chicago family, their mastery of “the pit” is as much about the stories behind the recipes, the beginnings of which date back to their ancestor’s enslavement. This is the Backstory.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Great Train Robbery
26/04/2021 Duration: 09minA hundred years ago, four brothers decided to rob a train car carrying millions in cash and bonds. It's considered one of the greatest train robberies of all time. This is the Backstory.
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Hidden History
26/04/2021 Duration: 08minWhen Confederate soldiers came to Chicago, they did so as prisoners. Camp Douglas housed thousands of Union Army prisoners of war... and the camp had its share of controversy. This is the Backstory.
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The Myth of Race
19/04/2021 Duration: 10minRace continues to be something that divides and disenfranchises people all over the world. Buy why? This is the Backstory.
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Human Guinea Pigs
19/04/2021 Duration: 11minAfter World War II, hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members were unwittingly subjected to radiation tests by their own government. Today, many of them are still fighting for health care, and a proper acknowledgment of their sacrifice. This is the Backstory.
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Texas Cowgirls
12/04/2021 Duration: 10minIn the early days of basketball, women were treated much differently on the court. Doctors said ladies should only play half court, as opposed to the full court games men played. And there weren't very many opportunities for women to play basketball after high school. Then a league of barnstormers entered the scene, and everything changed. This is the Backstory.
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Hero Street
12/04/2021 Duration: 08minOne street in a small western Illinois town has housed more U.S. service members than any other street in America. This is the Backstory.
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Wind and Wheels
05/04/2021 Duration: 11minThe freedom we feel on a bicycle is difficult to replicate. And the history of the bike goes deeper than you might think. This is the Backstory.
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Silent Enemy
05/04/2021 Duration: 08minHow a Navy veteran fought for years to honor the thousands of marginalized men and women who served in the US Armed Forces. This is the Backstory.
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Chicago's First Crime King
29/03/2021 Duration: 07minBefore Capone, there was another crime king of Chicago. Michael Cassius McDonald arrived in the city as a teenager, and scammed his way to becoming one of Chicago's most influential crime bosses. This is the Backstory.
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Power of the Pen
29/03/2021 Duration: 11minFew mediums wield the power of the political cartoon. But as newspapers shrink, so do the number of cartoonists working today. A half century ago, Chicago Sun Times Cartoonist Bill Mauldin spoke truth to power with his cartoons. This is the Backstory.