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Podcast & Video Highlights of Chicago Printers Row Lit Fest

Podcast & Video Highlights of Chicago Printers Row Lit Fest

We are happy to join forces with our sister channel AuthorsBroadcast.com to cover highlights of the 2019 Chicago Printers Row Lit Fest. In this podcast you can listen to authors give a brief synopsis of their books that include Chicago themes as well as romance, 

Contemporary Chicago Film History

Contemporary Chicago Film History

Here is an interesting video interview with Michael Corcoran from our Authors Showcase archive talking about contemporary or “modern” Chicago film history. Chicago tour guide Michael Corcoran co-author with Arnie Bernstein in the book “Hollywood on Lake Michigan” was recently interviewed by the Chicago Reader for 

Throwback Thursday Chicago Loop Street Scene Circa 1970

Throwback Thursday Chicago Loop Street Scene Circa 1970

This video of a dubbed 8mm film was posted on youtube as being Chicago 1960’s but judging by the warm weather clothing and the fact that “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” was released in June 1970 likely this was shot around that time.

This is a real throwback for many of us who had an opportunity to spend time in “The Loop” during this era.

For costume or fashion designers, it’s a great chance to observe what people were actually wearing on the street in the work-a-day world and how they were styling their hair.

The street is bustling with a number of “older” women who were obviously shopping but who were also the backbone workers of many of the area businesses.

There is an “L” ride in the first minute that includes passing by the Armitage Avenue stop but most of this is shot around the north end of State Street and along Randolph Street. Look for the Greyhound station, Tad’s Steakhouse and Shopper’s Corner, also a little boy takes a lick of a store window.

Interesting to see the men cautiously eyeing the posters of the X-rated movie houses then standing in line for tickets. Check out the guy with the “shades” counting money in the ticket booth.

Some good glimpses of cars, taxis, and buses, shoeshine boys and newspaper sellers.

Nothing particularly noteworthy but if you like to just watch people and see how much things have changed in the past 50 years this is an interesting moment in time.

THE MEMO Offers a Cautionary Message

THE MEMO Offers a Cautionary Message

The Organic Theater Company’s presentation of “The Memo” is an absurdist black comedy that might be described as Monty Python meets “Office Space” in the “Twilight Zone.” The show runs through June 16, 2019, at the Greenhouse Theater Center on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. “The 

Augie March is Free-Style Chaos

Augie March is Free-Style Chaos

I love the Court Theater in Hyde Park, the cast was outstanding as usual, and I really wanted to love this play. In spite of my tepid “somewhat recommend” I did not dislike “The Adventures of Augie March” playing through June 9, 2019. Basically, I 

Magic Penthouse Fantasy Date Night

Magic Penthouse Fantasy Date Night

Magic Penthouse” is perfect for those looking for an elegant post-dinner night-on-the-town with unique entertainment and a convivial atmosphere.

On their website “Magic Penthouse” encourages “elegant cocktail attire” providing a festive atmosphere with plenty of young ladies in pretty dresses and sparkly jewelry. The men were mostly in sport coats and suits with nary a sneaker to be found.

Listen to our exclusive podcast above or read the entire review at ChicagoTheaterandArts.com

Correction: Co-founder / magician Nick Roy was misread as Nick Ray. Sorry for the confusion.

Foster Avenue Beach the Place and the Song

Foster Avenue Beach the Place and the Song

We are very happy that pop composer Steve Solomon has allowed us to use FOSTER AVENUE BEACH as the theme song for our Chicago Broadcasting Network podcasts. It was important for us to have a unique song that referenced Chicago in a meaningful but subtle 

Raven Theatre Presents “Undeniably” Good Play

Raven Theatre Presents “Undeniably” Good Play

“THE UNDENIABLE SOUND OF RIGHT NOW” at the Raven Theatre really resonated with me. Maybe it was because of the business point-of-view representing an aging business owner reluctant to pass the baton to the younger generation or maybe because of the all to close-to-home conflicts 

Two Days in Court is an Entertaining Match of Two One Act Plays

Two Days in Court is an Entertaining Match of Two One Act Plays

City Lit in Edgewater is winding up their 39th theatrical season pitching  “Two Days in Court: A Double-Header of Classic One Acts.”

The two one-acts played back-to-back are “The Devil and Daniel Webster” a soulful drama by Stephen Vincent Benet, and a farcical operetta “Trial by Jury” by Gilbert & Sullivan

Listen to the entire podcast theater review above or read it at ChicagoTheaterandArts.com.

“Two Days in Court: A Double-Header of Classic One Acts” is at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Avene, Chicago, IL through May 26, 2019. Running time is approximately 90 minutes with one intermission.

For tickets and information, call (773)293-3682 or visit CityLit.org

Photos by Steve Graue
New Chicago Reggae Release FAMINE

New Chicago Reggae Release FAMINE

Chicago has had a long relationship with reggae music most notably at clubs like the Wild Hare (formerly the Wild Hare and Singing Armadillo in Wrigleyville) now resurrected with food and drink near Halsted and Diversey, about a block south of Guitar Center. This release 

“Anastasia” on Tour in Chicago is Pure Fantasy | Review

“Anastasia” on Tour in Chicago is Pure Fantasy | Review

There’s plenty to like about this Broadway in Chicago road tour theatrical extravaganza loosely based on the true-life story of a woman claiming to be the surviving daughter of Czar Nicholas II of Russia. Running now through April 7, 2019 at the Nederlander Theater on 

APOTHECARY’S CURSE | Book Reading by Chicago Author Barbara Barnett

APOTHECARY’S CURSE | Book Reading by Chicago Author Barbara Barnett


 

This episode of Authors Showcase features author Barbara Barnett speaking about and reading from her novel “Apothecary’s Curse” set partly on the Chicago area and partly n Victorian London.

Listen to the podcast above or watch the video recorded version below.

The Chicago version of Authors Showcase features authors based in Chicago or books about Chicago or Chicago related themes and is produced for ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com in conjunction with AuthorsBroadcast.com.