In this episode we pick up with dry plates in the modern era of photography and then discuss George Eastman's developmental years through his entrance into the world of photography. We explore Eastman's company that will become Kodak, the development of photographic film, the Kodak camera and how the "you press the button, we do the rest" process made photography easier for everyone. Then we dive into the Brownie itself and learn how it worked and how its promotion, advertising, and unique sales tactics made it a huge success. Along the way, we reflect on how the world was changed into a picture taking society obsessed with snapshots and perfect moments. Also, we learn about the Kodak Girl and the delightful Brownies that gave the Brownie camera its name.

In this episode we explore the foundations of photography that lead to the creation of George Eastman's Kodak Brownie. By exploring the progression through the camera obscura, Heliography, Calotypes and wet plates we see how the original desire to capture light eventually leads to dry plate negatives and the world of modern photography - a world that becomes the foundation for a culture obsessed with picture taking that will later be created by Kodak and its Brownie camera.

Brownie Series Preview

Doctors and cartoon characters smoking cigarettes on TV? Welcome to 20th century America. We look at how the U.S. government providing cigarettes as part of wartime rations coupled with advertising kick off what will become a smoking epidemic in the U.S., culminating with 42% of adults being smokers by 1965. We also review early 1900's anti-smoking sentiment and Greg gets all preachy about how advertising can make you do things without thinking. Julia reflects on feminism and smoking and reminisces about people breaking airplane bathroom smoke detectors.

Explorers, Colonies and Pirates!  Oh, and a viral pamphlet on the wonders of tobacco. We look at why people use tobacco.  Greg relays his personal relationship with tobacco then leads us through an overview of man’s history with the plant (from the Americas through Europe and ending with its beginning as a crop in an English colony).  Then we learn about the beginning of U.S. Big Tobacco in the early 1900s.   Julia tells us about her shocking “criminal” past.  

This is a short preview of episode 6.

In this episode Julia explains how 20th century car manufacturing plants become the unwitting production centers for the man-made stone Fordite, while Greg goes on some detours about Japan black, Gilsonite andhis miniature clone army.  Also, old-timey radio guy makes his debut.

Lift a city?  Dig a 2-mile tunnel under Lake Michigan?  Reverse a river?  In this episode we discuss the amazing attempts to clean up the waste caused by the rapid growth of Chicago at the end of the 19th century.

This is a short clip taken from our series on the Chicago River.

In this episode we look at Chicago and the Chicago River, starting with European exploration of the area through the founding and explosive growth of Chicago as it becomes the transportation hub of the U.S. Finally, we discuss the completion of the I&M canal which creates an all water route from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico.