Hidden in Plain Sight

June 2, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois brings listeners to the heart of downtown Detroit, where the long‑gone J.L. Hudson’s department store once transformed Woodward Avenue into a powerful stage for patriotism. Towering above the city, a massive American flag would unfurl from the building’s roof, cascading down its façade in a breathtaking display that brought traffic to a halt and drew crowds in awe. Over time, the flag became a symbol of civic pride, appearing only on significant national occasions such as the Fourth of July and, increasingly, June 14th as Flag Day gained recognition across the country. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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May 26, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois transports listeners to Detroit’s east side to uncover the forgotten legacy of Water Works Park. Once a sprawling 110‑acre civic treasure along Jefferson Avenue, the park featured lush landscapes, recreational amenities, and its iconic water tower—an early symbol of the city’s skyline and ambition. Livernois traces the park’s rise as a beloved gathering place, its layered history stretching back to early French settlers, and its eventual decline and closure in the mid‑20th century. The episode also highlights the remnants that remain today, offering a glimpse into a remarkable piece of Detroit’s past that still lingers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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May 12, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois looks up—way up—along Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit to reveal the storied past of the Book Tower. Opened in 1926 and once the tallest building in the city, the Italian Renaissance landmark embodied Detroit’s roaring‑twenties confidence, rising in limestone and terracotta as a bold declaration of ambition. The episode traces the Book Tower’s arc from skyline‑defining marvel to long‑neglected giant, reflecting Detroit’s own struggles and resilience, before exploring its recent revival as a vibrant, mixed‑use destination. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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April 28, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes us to Detroit’s east side to uncover the fading grandeur of the Vanity Ballroom, an Art Deco landmark along Jefferson Avenue whose quiet exterior still echoes with nearly a century of music and motion. Designed by renowned architect Charles N. Agree and opened in 1929, the Vanity rose as a beacon of optimism just before the Great Depression—its geometric façade and pastel details promising escape and celebration in uncertain times. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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April 14, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois turns our attention to a quiet figure seated in bronze near the heart of downtown Detroit—the statue of William Cotter Maybury in Grand Circus Park. Just steps from Comerica Park and surrounded by the energy of Woodward Avenue, the monument depicts a composed, almost contemplative mayor whose legacy is easy to overlook amid the city’s larger‑than‑life history. Unveiled in 1912 and intentionally modest in design, Maybury’s statue sits directly across from Pingree’s, the two former rivals facing one another in silent dialogue. Today, Maybury remains a symbol of steady leadership, measured governance, and the kind of civic patience that helped shape Detroit’s industrial future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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March 31, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois journeys into the enduring presence of Old St. Mary’s Church, a red‑brick landmark standing at the edge of Detroit’s Greektown, where Monroe Street meets the I‑375 Expressway. Amid neon lights, casinos, and bustling restaurants, the church remains a quiet spiritual anchor—one that has watched the city transform for nearly two centuries. Still hosting daily Mass today, Old St. Mary’s stands as a rare constant in a rapidly changing neighborhood—a sacred survivor, rich with history. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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March 17, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois steps into the long shadow of Engine House No. 18, a red‑brick sentinel on Mount Elliott Avenue whose arched doors and hose‑drying tower have watched Detroit evolve for more than 130 years. Listeners are carried back to the 1890s, when a rapidly expanding city of factories, streetcars, and wood‑framed homes faced a constant threat from fire—and when a single spark could erase an entire neighborhood. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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March 3, 2026 — In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois steps into the shadow of Detroit’s monumental Cadillac Place, a limestone giant on West Grand Boulevard whose walls have witnessed more than a century of ambition, innovation, and reinvention. Listeners will journey back to the 1910s, when General Motors—expanding at breakneck speed—chose this very block in the emerging New Center area to build a headquarters worthy of its growing empire. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Feb. 18, 2026 — In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois journeys back to a frosty morning on Belle Isle in 1896, where Charles Brady King quietly made history. Listeners will discover how King—an engineer, artist, and inventor—became the first person to drive an automobile in Detroit, guiding his handmade machine across the island’s empty roads while a curious onlooker named Henry Ford watched from the sidelines. It’s a story of imagination, grit, and the spark that ignited the Motor City long before assembly lines and mass production reshaped the world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Feb. 10, 2026 — This episode of Hidden in Plain Sight with Dr. Robert Livernois traces the rich history of Detroit’s United Sound Systems, exploring how the unassuming brick house on Second Avenue became a recording hub for artists from John Lee Hooker to Aretha Franklin. Listeners will hear how this landmark studio shaped generations of music and preserved Detroit’s creative spirit through decades of change. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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