Studio Walls--8-28-24

 

A weekly update/preview of my latest podcasts, and a look back at some of my previous audio work from this week in history over the past 40+ years.

Here are a few from the archives...

August 25—Birthday of Gene Simmons

=Loverboy’s Doug Johnson told us a story about opening for KISS at their very first gig.  

August 25, 1994—Natural Born Killers released. 

=Duane Scott Cerny told us a story about his dealings with Oliver Stone during the making of that film.  

 

August 26, 1972—Summer Olympics begin in Munich

=Dwight Stones represented America and reminded us what it was like at that memorable Olympic games. 

August 26, 1817—University of Michigan founded.

=Chuck Swirsky was the broadcaster for their basketball games for a few years. It wasn't exactly a first-class operation at the time, which he told us all about in this episode.  

 

August 27--Dave Sinker birthday

=We had the comedian on the show a few years ago.  

 

August 28, 2015—“We are your friends” debuts

=Max Joseph was the director. He told us all about it. 

 

August 29—Michael Jackson birthday

=We've been told two great Michael Jackson stories. One by record producer/engineer Bill Schnee, and one by the one time teen idol Tony DeFranco. 

August 29--James Finn Garner birthday

=The NY Times Best Selling Author was on this episode of Minutia Men Celebrity Interview. 

August 29--Elliott Gould birthday

=My brush with Elliott was told in this episode. 

August 29--Mr. Blackwell birthday

=My brush with the famous clothing designer was told in this episode.  

August 29—Jerry Seinfeld birthday. 

=Kevin Matthews once invited Jerry to perform in his comedy jam. Jerry sniffed out the audience pretty quickly.  

August 30--Carmen Fanzone birthday

=We talked to the former Cubs player in this episode.  

 

August 31--Zack Ward birthday

=Who is Zack? He played the bully in Christmas Story (Scut Farkus). He also bullied us a bit. Only guest we ever called a dick live on the air. 

Publishing Portal--August 27, 2024

The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.

Happy birthday!

=Larry Rosenbaum is one of the famous brothers who owned the legendary Flip Side Records locations in Chicago. That's him on the right (brother Carl on the left). Why are we wishing him a happy birthday (August 25)? Let's say that there just might be an upcoming book in this man's future. Details will be coming soon!

Last Comiskey

=What a great night at the Arlington Heights Library this past week. Thank you to everyone who came out, including former White Sox pitcher Don Pall, filmmaker Ken Flesch, former White Sox organist Nancy Faust, and of course, author Ken Smoller.

=Ken Smoller is coming back to town in early September and has lined up a number of places you can see him, hear him, buy his book, and get it signed. For instance...

Thursday, Sept 5

 Crestwood Library 4pm

 

Thursday, Sept 5

 Riverside Library  - 7pm

 

Saturday, Sept 7 

Evergreen Park Library 10:30 am

 

Saturday, Sept 7 

Printer’s Row Lit Fest-- 3-6pm

Monday, Sept 9

ELA Area Public Library

Wednesday, September  11
Lake Villa library 

Doin' The Cruise

=This week in 2017, Mitch Michaels and Ken Churilla were all over the media promoting their book about Mitch's life, Doin' the Cruise. August 31st was a particularly busy one. It included a stop at WGN-TV...

=And a star-studded launch party. Among the luminaries who came out to the launch party...Bernie Tafoya, Barry Butler, Ray Stevens, Matt Bisbee, Leslie Harris, Stan Adams, Pat Cassidy, Catherine Johns, John Landecker and many more.

 

 

Surviving Sue

=Another Eckhartz Press author will be at Printer's Row Lit fest as well, Vicki Atkinson...

Cubsessions

=This week in 2019 (August 29), Cubsessions co-authors Randy Richardson and Becky Sarwate were featured by the Chicago Writers Association. Here's Becky. Here's Randy. Here's what they look like in the wild...

=One of the stars of the book, former Cubs ball girl Kathy Wolter Mondelli, is also celebrating a birthday this week (August 25). She came out to the Cubsessions launch party at Murphy's.

Joe Jackson vs. Chicago American League Baseball Club

=This week in 2023, David Fletcher was making the rounds talking about his new book Joe Jackson v. Chicago American League Baseball Club. The book is a trial transcript of the Shoeless Joe trial in Milwaukee from 1924. Amazing historical document. One of the shows he appeared on was the Baseball Talk podcast.

The Loop Files

=This week in 2006, author Rick Kaempfer wrote about his time as Steve & Garry's producer for the first time ever. A few of these stories later made it into the book The Loop Files. 

=One of the contributors to The Loop Files is former Chet Coppock Executive Producer (and later a major sports talk personality himself) Dangerous Dan McNeil. Dan is celebrating a birthday this week (August 27). The cartoon version of Dan (bottom right corner, with red shirt and arms crossed) appeared on the Loop calendar in 1990...

=By the way, a little birdy told us that Dan may just have a big book coming out himself this fall. Stay tuned. You can guess who the publisher will be. 

Transatlantic Passage

=This week in 2021 (August 29), Paul Banks made an appearance at the Manchester United fan club meeting at Fado's in Chicago. Everyone watched the Man United game, and at halftime Paul spoke to them about his book Transatlantic Passage. It was the earliest Guinness that Eckhartz Press publishers Rick and Dave ever consumed (well before noon).

Selling Dead People's Things

=This week in 1994 (August 25), the Oliver Stone film Natural Born Killers (with Woody Harrelson) was released. Part of that movie was filmed in Chicago, and the director solicited the help of Selling Dead People's Things author Duane Scott Cerny to acquire a few real oddities. Duane tells that story in this podcast episode. 

EveryCubEver

=This week in 2019 (August 25), Rick Kaempfer appeared on Rick Kogan's WGN Radio show to talk about his book EveryCubEver. At the time, Roger Badesch was working as Kogan's newsman. It was during this show that Roger announced he too was working on a book for Eckhartz Press. That would later turn into The Unplanned Life. (Photo: Rick Kaempfer, Roger Badesch, Rick Kogan)

=This week in 2018, Rick and fellow Eckhartz Press author Bobby Skafish (We Have Company) were invited up to the Score Radio booth during a Cubs game. It was a thrill neither of them will forget.

Chili Dog MVP

=Every member of the 1972 White Sox is featured in the Eckhartz Press book Chili Dog MVP. One of them was born this week (August 27) in 1946, former catcher Ed Herrmann. Unfortunately Big Ed passed away in 2013.

Safe Inside

=This week in 2017, Lee Kingsmill's book Safe Inside was officially released by Eckhartz Press. We took that opportunity to do a Q&A with Lee. You can read that here. Lee's book later was named an honorable mention winner for the Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year. 

The Write City Review

=Eckhartz Press was asked to publish the literary journal of the Chicago Writers Association, and we  have done so four times now. This week in 2023 (August 29), the 4th volume of the book came out.

=One of the contributors to the first volume is celebrating a birthday this week. Happy birthday to NY Times Best Selling author James Finn Garner (August 29)

 

Ike & Me

=The release party for Rich King's book Ike & Me was one for the ages, not only because of it's location (Comiskey Park or whatever it is currently being called), but also because it drew a who's who of Chicago television. One of the luminaries who attended that day was retired WGN-TV news anchor Robert Jordan. He's celebrating a birthday this week (August 31). That's him in the center of the photo flanked on either side by Rich and Ike, and on the corners by Dan Roan and Ryan Baker.

Studio Walls--July 31, 2024

 

A weekly update/preview of my latest podcasts, and a look back at some of my previous audio work from this week in history over the past 40+ years.

Here are a few from the archives...

July 28, 1993—Robin Hood: Men in Tights debuts. 

=Listen to our interview with Little John, Eric Allan Kramer

 

July 29, 1981—Disney on Ice begins touring. 

=Little Tommy Kaempfer reviewed Toy Story on Ice. Will we play it this week?

July 29, 2021—Record setting belch. 

=One of the funniest bits in Minutia Men history. Listen here. 

 

July 30, 1966—England beats West Germany to win the World Cup. 

=Still comes up regularly when Rick and Adam discuss their favorite national teams on Free Kicks with Adam & Rick

 

July 31--Mark Cuban birthday

=The billionaire appeared on an early episode of Minutia Men Celebrity Interview.  

July 31, 2017—Anthony Scaramucci fired. 

=We interviewed the Mooch three times. Here's the first one. 

 

August 1, 2012—Rick's article about George Martin appears in Shore Magazine.

=It's also appeared in audio form in Minutia Men a few times. The altered Martin interview audio may re-emerge this week again.

August 2, 1929—First suburb (Levittown, NY) founded. 

=We wrote a bit called Suburban Man that ran on the John Landecker show for several months. You just may hear the audio on a future Minutia Men episode.

August 2, 2017—Selling Dead People’s Things by Duane Scott Cerny released

=Duane appeared on Minutia Men Celebrity Interview to talk about it.  

August 2--Butch Patrick birthday

=Would you believe one of us had a personal brush with Eddie Munster while the planes were hitting the Twin Towers on 9/11? That story is in this episode. 

August 2^--Glenn Slater birthday

=We spoke to the lyricist for Alan Mencken and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber in this episode of Minutia Men Celebrity Interview.  

 

August 3—Molly Hagan birthday.

=The actress was a wonderful guest on this episode of Minutia Men Celebrity Interview. 

August 3, 2020—Rick and Dave appear on Reconcile the Aisle

=We don't often get asked to appear on other podcasts as Minutia Men, but it did happen on this one. 

August 3—Martha Stewart birthday

=Yes, of course I have written a Martha Stewart song. Landecker & the Legends recorded it in 1996. Will we play it this week? 

August 3—Maria Breese birthday

=The "Shameless" actress appeared on this episode of Minutia Men Celebrity Interview.  

Publishing Portal--July 30, 2024

The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.

Happy Birthday!

=Eckhartz Press co-founder and one of our most prolific authors, Rick Kaempfer, is celebrating a birthday this week (July 28). Rick has written Father Knows Nothing, $everance, Back in the DDR, The Loop Files, and EveryCubEver for us, and co-written The Living Wills, Records Truly Is My Middle Name and Grun Weiss Vor.

=On the tenth anniversary of $everance's release (August 1, 2017), Rick updated the "Who Owns What in the Media" section at the back of the book. Here's radio. Here's the rest of traditional media. Time for another update soon.

=This week in 2019 (August 2), Rick made a few appearances promoting EveryCubEver. First he did a morning show in Elgin, then in the evening he did an appearance at Club 400 in Lake in the Hills and met former Cubs reliever Pedro Strop.

 

Happy Birthday!

=Another Eckhartz author is celebrating a birthday this week (July 29). Happy birthday to Mob Adjacent co-author Mike Gentile. Mike is the older of the Gentile brothers, and the one who really sounds authentically Mob-Adjacent. Jeffrey is the more urbane of the brothers.

First Copy of the Book

One of the most rewarding days in publishing is the day the author gets his or her first copy of their book. To Nudge the World's Jim Slusher had that moment last week. So what did he do with his first copy? Naturally, he gave it to his mom. That's her in the photo below...

Surviving Sue

=Tonight's the night...

To The Men I've Loved

=Author Pat Motto is having the launch party for her brand new Eckhartz Press book To the Men I've Loved in just a few weeks. Mark your calendars. 

Last Comiskey

=Our book Last Comiskey is actually the companion piece to the documentary film Last Comiskey by Matt Flesch. Matt came to the book's launch party. In a few weeks (August 22) he'll be doing a mini-screening of the film at the Arlington Heights Public Library. (You can register here). It will also include a Q&A with former White Sox pitcher Don Pall. Get your books signed by Matt & Don, by ordering them from us before the event, and bringing them that night.

Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind

=Vicki Quade is the author of our book Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind, but she is even more well known as a playwright and stage performer. She has three big shows coming up this fall, and sent word that tickets are available. Great fun, especially for Catholics. The shows are called Late Nite Catechism, Holy Ghost Bingo (for Halloween) and Are You Smarter than Your Eighth Grade Nun. Here are the details...

* Madison Street Theater, 1010 Madison St., Oak Park

Late Nite Catechism, at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 8

Holy Ghost Bingo: God, Goblins, & Games!, at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 27

Christmas Bingo: It’s  Ho-Ho-Holy Night, at 3 p.m, Sunday, December 1.

Tickets are $35, available at https://madisonstreettheater.org/events/

* Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W 111th St, Chicago

Holy Ghost Bingo: God, Goblins, & Games!, 7:30 p.m, Friday, October 18.

Tickets are $35.50, at https://ci.ovationtix.com/36129/production/1208998

* Christ the Servant Church, 8700 Havens Dr, Woodridge, IL 

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grade Nun?,  7 p.m., Friday, November 8, 2024,

Tickets: 630-910-0770, http://www.ctswoodridge.org/

A Reluctant Immigrant

=This week in 2013, we lost one of our authors, Felizitas Sudendorf. Her book about her courageous immigration to America was a big early hit for us. It was the only book we ever released on our imprint, Helgard Press. She combined war stories with old German recipes. It was a revelation. When she passed away, Rick wrote this tribute to her. We have since lost a few other authors including Chet Coppock, Joel Daly, Pat Colander, Dena Mendes, and Mark Gelinas. All of their books live on at Eckhartz Press.

 Protecting Children

 =This week in 2018 (August 3), Eckhartz Press released retired Judge Michael Ian Bender's book Protecting Children. It  provides unique insight into aiding children of divorce, custody, and parentage disputes so that they grow into healthy adults. 

Selling Dead People's Things

=Duane Scott Cerny owns one of Chicago's funkiest antique stores, and it inspired him to write the highly acclaimed Selling Dead People's Things. The book came out this week in 2017 (August 2). You can get a good feel for Duane's larger-than-life personality in this podcast interview. The man's an absolute stitch.

Best Seat in the House

=This week in 2014, Bruce Bohrer had a book signing in one of the most obvious places imaginable, Murphy's Bleachers. Several of his old Cub-usher colleagues showed up to say hello. So did at least one former Cub, Rick Sutcliffe.

Always a Pleasure

=One of the people featured in Chuck Swirsky's book Always a Pleasure is celebrating a birthday this week (July 28). Former Bulls coach and long-time basketball announcer Doug Collins is a Swirsky friend and confidant. Another famous basketballer is former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. It's his birthday this week too (July 31)

Your Dime My Dance Floor

=Two of the people Chet Coppock wrote about in Your Dime My Dance Floor have birthdays this week. Neither of them were really sports people, although the late Irv Kupcinet (July 31) did do color commentary on Chicago Bears games (with Jack Brickhouse) for many years. Would you believe that Chet also knew Arnold Schwarzenegger (July 30).

 

Nose Over Toes & I C U Copper

=This week in 2019, two Eckhartz Press authors, Deb Tokarz and Janet Sutherland, appeared on the same radio show, Playtime with Bill Turck...

  

Wicker Park Wishes

 =This week in 2021, Chicago media writer Robert Feder wrote about Eckhartz Press author Margaret Larkin in his Daily Herald column. Here is what he wrote...

Margaret Larkin, production assistant at Audacy all-news WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM, instructor at Columbia College and host of the long-running “Radiogirl Podcast,” can now add author to her credits. Chicago-based Eckhartz Press has published Wicker Park Wishes, Larkin’s debut novel. (Here is the link to order.) The story is set in 1994 in Chicago’s Wicker Park and Lincoln Park neighborhoods and downtown. Larkin will highlight the book at the 36th annual Printers Row Lit Fest September 11.

Transatlantic Passage

=This week in 2021, Paul M. Banks was making the rounds promoting his soccer book Transatlantic Passage. One of the stops was the Sports Beezer show (July 28). The following day (July 29) he appeared on WGN-TV News with Larry Hawley. 

Chili Dog MVP

=This week in 2022 (July 28), Dr. David Fletcher, the co-author of Chili Dog MVP gave a well-attended chat at Cantigny in Wheaton. It was a fun celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1972 White Sox. 

=Two of the 1972 White Sox are celebrating birthdays this week, Pat Kelly (July 30) and Tony Muser (August 1). Both are featured in Chili Dog MVP

 

Inside Melania

=This week in 2020 (July 29), Eckhartz Press author Lauren LoGiudice debuted as a podcast host on the Radio Misfits Podcast Network. Her show is called Reconcile the Aisle. She later did a show with Eckhartz Press publishers Rick Kaempfer and David Stern.

Cubsessions & We Have Company

=What on earth could tie these two books together? The answer is Steve Trout. The former Cubs pitcher appeared in the book Cubsessions, and We Have Company author Bobby Skafish came out to that massive book launch party. Here's a photo to prove it...

=Trout is celebrating a birthday this week (July 30). Three of the rock stars Bobby features in his book are also celebrating birthdays this week, Rat Scabies (July 30), Robert Cray (August 1), and Jim Capaldi (August 2)