Dr. Ian Smith: New Years Resolutions to Live By and ‘The Total Transformation Challenge’

Chicago TV Legends Bill Kurtis & Walter Jacobson

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier is joined by his family, his wife Lori, and their children Josh, Emma and Alex, to share their favorite memories of Christmas and the traditions they love. Special guests include award winning television producer Lee Mendelson of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’, and Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, with his Christmas message of hope. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3442920/3442920_2017-12-22-135520.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3748.mp3

Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to reflect on the joy this Christmas Season of knowing that God is always with us.

Esmeralda Leon and Colin Reed fill in for Dave Plier on the morning of Christmas Eve. Topics range from Christmas traditions, classic holiday movies, and “This Is History”.

Pop culture historian Walter Podrazik joins Dave Plier to talk about ‘Those We Lost in 2017’ in TV, Movies, Music, Sports and other notable figures including Jerry Lewis, Mary Tyler Moore, Tom Petty, Hugh Hefner, Adam West, June Foray, Martin Landau, David Cassidy, Gregg Allman, Chuck Berry, Jerry Krause and more.  

Dave shares the story of Chicago holiday classic ‘Hardrock, Coco & Joe’ which first aired on WGN-TV’s Garfield Goose & Friends’ in 1956 and continues to air on ‘Bozo, Gary & Ray: WGN TV Classics’, along with Suzy Snowflake and Frosty the Snowman. A DVD of this holiday trilogy can be purchased at museum.tv. Do you remember ‘Hardrock, Coco & Joe’?

Dave Plier and Dave Schwan talk about ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ written in 1823, ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens is published in 1843, the 1st string of Christmas lights invented in 1882, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ premieres in 1946, ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ debuts, the 1st radio broadcast in space, Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson is quickest NBA coach to reach 500 wins.

Dave talks about his Drive-Thru experience at Starbucks this week and the family in front of him who bought his family drinks and snacks, and the ripple affect of goodness that inspires others to pay if forward.

Scott & Christy Peterson, owners of Oney’s Tree Farm in Woodstock join Dave to talk about 67 years of Christmas memories and traditions that have thrilled families for generations with over 60,000 trees and nine varieties to choose from, including a visit with Mrs. Claus. pay rides and more.  oneytreefarm.com