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  

Dave Plier and Dave Schawn talk about the first national Thanksgiving, Thomas Edison introduces the phonograph, The Bears beat the Lions int he first ever televised NFL game in 1934, Rudolph appears on the music charts in 1948, Air Force One is christened in 1954, ‘The Price is Right’ debuts in 1956, Ozzie Gullen named AL Rookie of the Year in 1985, the classic WKRP Thanksgiving episode debuts.  

Grammy Award winning crooner Johnny Mathis talks to Dave about his legendary career, his over 40 gold and platinum albums that have spanned generations, and his upcoming return to Chicago for his annual Christmas show. johnnymathis.com

Dave Plier and Roger Badesch discuss The Gettysburg Address, the first color Sunday comic, the Chicago Blackhawks play their first game in 1926, the premiere of NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ in 1947, JFK is assassinated, ‘Who Shot JR’ is revealed in 1980 and the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal sweeps the nation.