Everything is a Primary Source

America at 250 Episode 19: "Just the Road I Grew Up On: A Route 66 oral history."

My guest, David, grew up on Route 66 and some of his fondest memories involve working at his family's service station in Litchfield, and I was so happy to have him share a few with me this summer.  David's youth happened to be during the transitional period of the 1960s, when the Interstate Highway came through town to rival the Mother Road.  This rivalry between post-World War I highways and the post-World War II versions still shows itself to this day in places like Litchfield and many other locations that see US Routes and Interstate Highways running side by side.

This is the nineteenth episode of a special season of the Everything is a Primary Source where, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, American pop culture is examined for historical value and for connection to the founding of the country in July of 1776. 

There is a point in the conversation that I make an assumption that the Meramec River in Missouri and the Merrimack River here in New England are related through etymology, at least, and perhaps even because of settlers from the East arriving in the Midwest.  My subsequent research has proven that this unlikely, but I'll still keep the monologue in the episode because it acts as a good compare/contrast between the regions.

everything-history.com/america250

#route66 #rt66 #popculture #history #oralhistory

America at 250 Episode 18: "Main Street of America: Route 66 as a local landmark."

Shawn is a radio host in Litchfield, IL, a line of work which keeps him on top of the doings along Route 66 which runs directly through the city.  The first of a miniseries of episodes about The Mother Road as it celebrates is 100th year, Shawn and I discuss its historic nature, deciding whether or not the legendary status Rt 66 has secured came before or after it was made defunct in the early 80s.

This is the eighteenth episode of a special season of the Everything is a Primary Source where, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, American pop culture is examined for historical value and for connection to the founding of the country in July of 1776.  Personally and as president, Thomas Jefferson envisioned the opening up of America's frontier; an "empire for liberty."  This goal manifested itself in several projects, from the Erie Canal to the Transcontinental Railroad, and in the 20th Century, the US Highway System and especially Route 66.  And just like its predecessors, Route 66 not only connected major cities, it established and grew many others, often acting as Main Street for towns across eight states. 

everything-history.com/america250

#route66 #rt66 #popculture #history

America at 250 Episode 17: "A Tale of Two Libraries: Litchfield, Illinois's two iterations of a public library as documents of their respective eras"

Sara is the director of the Litchfield, IL Public Library District and came to see me at the city's Route 66 Welcome Center to share about the institution's past, present, and future.  The newest version of the Litchfield Public Library arrived about ten years ago to take the place of a Carnegie Library, which was in the center of town.  Although the new building is on the outskirts, both structures act as the "soul" of Litchfield in their own ways.

This is the seventeenth episode of a special season of the Everything is a Primary Source where, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, American pop culture is examined for historical value and for connection to the founding of the country in July of 1776.  Thomas Jefferson felt so strongly of the importance of libraries that he, as president, made sure to approve of the building of the Library of Congress, which still acts as the central, national library to this day. 

Teaching resources and supplements available soon at everything-history.com/america250

America at 250 Episode 16: "An Opry of Our Own: Litchfield's pioneering 'Radio Karaoke' as a document of time and place."

After seeing karaoke performed for the first time in New York some years ago, John Michael Marty had an idea:  why not broadcast live amateur singing?  Introducing his idea to the Passport Lounge in his hometown of Litchfield, IL proved that his thought was a good one as it took right off in popularity.

I had a great time talking with John Michael and hearing all the amazing stories of what came from such an innovative concept.  Just like Nashville has its Grand Ole Opry, Litchfield, for a time, had their own version, attracting folks from all around or just passing through to stop by the source of so much fun.

This is the sixteenth episode of a special season of the Everything is a Primary Source where, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, American pop culture is examined for historical value and for connection to the founding of the country in July of 1776.  While karaoke and radio would each, individually, freak the founders out, John Michael's innovative thinking is exactly what Thomas Jefferson and company were envisioning when setting the country out on its own.  

Teaching resources and supplements available soon at everything-history.com/america250

#popculture #rt66 #illinois #radio #karaoke

America at 250 Episode 15: "Picking through the Past: The Briar Rose consignment shop as a crossroads for history"

The Briar Rose in Litchfield, IL is the kind of store everyone should want in their town.  Filled with a little bit of everything, old and new, and with a steady arrival of furniture, clothes, antiques, toys, and trinkets, it acts as a representation of many points in history and aspects of popular culture.  A perfect topic for this show.

Danell Fogle owns Briar Rose and I was happy that she took some time to talk with me this summer.  Just like the contents of her store (and this podcast), we go from one topic to the next, but with the throughline of preserving the past.  And, although we recorded this at the end of June, Danell's preview of Litchfield's Halloween activities comes at a perfect time!

This is the fifteenth episode of a special season of the Everything is a Primary Source where, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, American pop culture is examined for historical value and for connection to the founding of the country in July of 1776.  While this episode doesn't directly mention the Declaration of Independence, the nearby Illinois town of Bunker Hill does come up.  Curious to see if my theory that the town was named after the Bunker Hill in Charlestown, MA which was the site of a Revolutionary War battle, I checked the town's website for clues.  It turns out that some of the town's founders were from New England--which adds credibility to my idea--with one of them coming from Salisbury, NH.  That small town is  is just a stone's throw away from Warner, where I recorded the first set of oral histories for this project.

Teaching resources and supplements available soon at everything-history.com/america250

#podcast #popculture #rt66 #illinois 

America at 250 Episode 14: "Welcome to Litchfield: Analyzing the Illinois town as a Primary Source."

Carol Sneed is the President of the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in southwestern Illinois, and was the first to record with me after I rolled into town along the Mother Road.  She was happy to set the scene for a day of podcasting by explaining the history of the town of Litchfield.

Although Litchfield became a proud Route 66 town a hundred years ago, its origin was with the railroads in the mid 19th century.  Our conversation about this town, which has so many stories, past and present, reminds us that everywhere has a storied past, regardless if an iconic highway passes through it or not.

This is the fourteenth episode of a special season of the Everything is a Primary Source where, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, American pop culture is examined for historical value and for connection to the founding of the country in July of 1776.

Teaching resources and supplements available soon at everything-history.com/america250

#podcast #popculture #rt66 #illinois 

America at 250 Episode 13: "Making F*R*I*E*N*D*S All Around the World: American TV and movies as cultural ambassadors."

Maya met with me as the last guest of my day podcasting in Chicago this summer.  She works at the Museum of Broadcast Communication, a position helped along by her extensive experience teaching English all over the world.  She learned very quickly through her students just how much of a cultural impact American TV shows and feature films have made all around the globe.

Maya and I discuss the How and Why of certain media resonating with audiences around the globe, be it Seventh Heaven, Breaking Bad, Forrest Gump, Shawshank Redemption, or Family Guy.  We also look into how these shows can create a certain image of our country in the minds of people who have never been to the USA, contributing to what one of her friends from Italy once said, "America is like a movie."

This is the thirteenth episode of a special season of the Everything is a Primary Source where, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, American pop culture is examined for historical value and for connection to the founding of the country in July of 1776.

Teaching resources and supplements available soon at everything-history.com/america250

#podcast #popculture #TV #movies #globalization

America at 250 Episode 12: "We the Viewers:  How TV advertising is a reflection of different eras and places."

Brent is a volunteer docent at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, which is a perfect spot for him as he has spent most of his life connected to television production in one way or another.  As an ad man on Michigan Avenue--Chicago's answer to Madison Avenue-- Brent witnessed and took part in the evolution of marketing that responded to TV programming and viewing practices.

Although I'm releasing these episodes in the order I recorded them, this one lands well for Constitution Day.  Much of this conversation involves examples from the history of American commerce, something that would have looked very different had it not been for the structure of the US Constitution, particularly Article I, section 8.

This is the twelfth episode of a special season of the Everything is a Primary Source where, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, American pop culture is examined for historical value and for connection to the founding of the country in July of 1776.

Teaching resources and supplements available soon at everything-history.com/america250

#podcast #popculture #TV #TVadvertising #constitution

America at 250 Episode 11: "Voice of the People: the democratization of media and its reflection of time and place."

Having spent fifteen years working as a reporter and news anchor for different news affiliates around the country, Shawn Patrick Floss knows a thing or two about the power of cameras and microphones when placed in reach of ordinary people.   We met at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago and had an enlightening conversation about how people on the outside of the media world have had their say.

Shawn was happy to share insights on what inspired him to pursue a career in TV news, and how rewarding his job was when he could give a "voice to the voiceless."  We also discuss the many ways people of all ages can share their thoughts and ideas in a constantly evolving and democratizing media landscape.

This is the eleventh episode of a special season of the Everything is a Primary Source where, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, American pop culture is examined for historical value and for connection to the founding of the country in July of 1776.

Teaching resources and supplements available soon at everything-history.com/america250


#podcast #popculture #TV #localaffiliate #tvnews

America at 250 Episode 10: "Staying in the Loop: Chicago's WLUP radio as an example of terrestrial radio's role in civic life."

The Museum of Broadcast Communications has a special exhibit dedicated to its hometown Rock n roll radio station, 97.7 FM, WLUP.  Starting in 1977, "The Loop" immediately secured its place in the everyday life of Chicagoans like my guest, Luke, who grew up listening to its lineup of boundary-pushing DJs through the 80s and 90s.

Our conversation highlights the role of radio stations-- of all formats --and their role in supporting strong civics in the range of their signal, something that has declined over the last 30 years due to corporate take over of local stations, satellite radio, and rise (ironically) of on-demand audio.

This is the tenth episode of a special season of the Everything is a Primary Source where, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, American pop culture is examined for historical value and for connection to the founding of the country in July of 1776.

Teaching resources and supplements available soon at everything-history.com/america250

This episode is brought to you by iCivics and their new educational game, Investigation Declaration.

#podcast #popculture #chicago #TheLoop #radio