Detroit Strange

Detroit Strange

By Alex Suriano, Jessica CooperComedyTrue CrimeHistory
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Detroit Strange episodes

  • Ep. 50 - Revolution is Evolution

    Jess & Alex talk about their post-quarantine/still basically quarantine lives, pet scares, and the Oceans movie trilogy. Jess then tells Alex about the life of activist Grace Lee Boggs (1915-2015). What Marxists philosopher did Grace study in College that would forever change her path? What activist movements did she witness during her college/post-college years that would plant seeds in her head? How did her first dinner with a man named James turn into a 40 year long marriage? Tune in and find out!

    1 hr 2 min
  • Ep. 49 - The Wall
    On this week's episode, Alex and Jess talk about how hot it's been, wearing masks and plants before Alex tells Jess about the West Eight Mile community and the Birwood Wall. Who settled that part of Eight Mile and why? How did the new deal play out for the people there? And why was there a 6 foot tall concrete wall put up between two neighborhoods? All this and more on this week's episode #staystrange
    56 min
  • Ep. 48 - "Dirty Hippies"

    In this episode Jess & Alex catch up a little on what they're watching and doing in these strange times. Then Jess tells Alex all about the 1970 murders at Stonehead Manor near Wayne State University. Why did Sandra Garland's father break into the apartment she was staying in? Where did his wife Martha drive right after? What was the eventual sentence given for the heinous crime? Tune in and find out!

    57 min
  • Ep. 47 - Kick Out the Jams

    On this week's episode, Alex and Jess talk about Pop Punk, French Names, & what they're watching. Then Alex tells Jess about the legendary rock venue the Grande Ballroom. How did a jazz era ballroom become home to the Detroit punk scene? How did a middle school teacher make it happen? And why did it all end just as quickly as it started? All this and more on this week's episode. #staystrange

    *Recorded May 30th

    1 hr 1 min
  • Ep. 46 - S.T.R.E.S.S.
    In this episode Alex and Jess catch up a little, talk movies, recommendations and what they've been up to recently. Then Jess takes Alex on journey back to the early 70's when the Police Department implemented their S.T.R.E.S.S. unit (Stop The Robberies Enjoy Safe Streets) in which Police would go undercover in an attempt to become the "victim" of a crime in order to make an arrest (or in many cases a fatal shooting). You can imagine how well that went...What types of decoys did they use to go undercover? Were the police ever charged in any of the incidents they caused? One of the former officers admitted to planting a knife at the scene, what became of that?
    1 hr 27 min
  • Ep. 45 - The Gay Spot
    Jess and Alex catch up and talk about the heat, their favorite summer fruits, and dogs. Then Alex tells Jess about Ruth Ellis; a black, lesbian, 20th century female (we mean this quite literally - she lived from 1899-2000), activist whose work with black LGBT youths in the city helped to provide them with a safe space to gather. In addition a place to meet she often helped them with money for food, books, and education. How did Ruth figure out her sexuality in 1915? What was "the Gay Spot"? And what legacy did she leave behind? Tune in and find out! And as always "staystrange
    45 min
  • Ep. 44 - Some Alibi
    This week Jess tells Alex all about the Murder of Grace (Gladys) Loomis in 1927. Grace was found in her home bludgeoned to death in her home while her children slept and her husband Frank was supposedly out for a walk. However, police didn't believe Frank when he came in to the station to them with this story. What holes were in his story? What happened at the trial of Frank Loomis (or rather who)? What drastic measures did Frank take a year later? Tune in and find out! #staystrange
    44 min
  • Ep.43 - Let's Go On a River Cruise!
    On this week's episode Jess and Alex give more of their quarantine updates, playing line games to pass the time, and discuss their citrus based drinks. Alex goes on to tell Jess about Bois Blanc Island, or as most know it by; Boblo Island. What was the island originally used for? What happened to the beloved amusement park and the Boblo boats that used to carry Detroiters to the island? Also what did the island have to do with the Vietnam War? All this and more on this week's episode of Detroit Strange! #stayStrange
    50 min
  • Ep.42 - Dear Nancy

    In this episode Jess & Alex both sip on margaritas from their respective homes (jalapeno/frozen strawberry) while Jess tells Alex all about the mystery that was the writer of the Detroit News' Experience column from the late 1920's into the early 1940's. Her identity was kept secret as she went by the pen name "Nancy Brown." Her readers trusted her so much that they helped her raise money to construct a peace carillon on Belle Isle to be a home for a series of Sunrise Services. How was the construction? Who was the mysterious Nancy in real life? What kinds of advice did she give her readers? Tune in and find out!

    You can check out the rest of the Peace Carillon's song here - Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCxEAk1lgtc&t=33s

    48 min
  • Ep.41 - The Lyon's Share
    On this weeks episode, Alex and Jess talk outdoor activities and various hard seltzer brands before diving into the story of Sophie Lyons, Queen of the Underworld, and Theresa Lewis, one of Detroit's first female detectives, and their vicious rivalry. How did Sophie get her early start in crime? How did Theresa Lewis go from running a boarding house to undercover detective? And how far did their rivalry go? Learn this and more on this week's episode!
    1 hr 6 min

About Detroit Strange

From the publisher's feed

Jessica Cooper and Alex Suriano explore and celebrate the strange and unusual history of Detroit with a side of humor. They tell stories, share a cocktail, and have some laughs while discussing the…