Chicago Radio Spotlight: Roy Leonard

I just posted my latest interview. This week I talked to WGN radio legend, Roy Leonard. We talked about his incredibly interesting 30-year run in Chicago radio.

You can read it here.

DeWyze-a-palooza

I may be hard to reach today, because I'm going to check out DeWyze-a-palooza this afternoon. The motorcade/parade will be just a few blocks away from my house. Mt. Prospect hasn't seen this kind of excitement since Bruce Boxleitner starred in the Scarecrow and Mrs. King. That's right, baby, we've got Boxleitner too...suck on that (insert your suburb's name here). It's an embarrassment of riches here in Dave Kingman's hometown.

Oh snap! Did you see that? I just dropped another name.

Now this is a Cubs fan...

Remember Derick Lehman? We featured him as our JOBC fan of the week back in 2008, when he gave us a tour of his Cubstiva...



Well today he sent me a video of his basement, and let me just say that I'm extremely jealous, even though I know my wife would never consent to letting me do this...

Pet Sounds

It came out on this day in 1966. It's the only Beach Boys album that I can listen to from start to finish. There are a few real gems on that album, including this one...

Dirt

He was a key part of the bullpen in the late 70s for the Chicago Cubs, and his teammates called him Dirt.

Dick Tidrow is 63 today.

Stevie Wonder

He is 60 years old today, and he's been a mega-star since he was a pre-teen. Here he is in 1964 at the age of 14, performing his first hit, "Fingertips." Now that's a child prodigy...

6th grade Gaga

I'm guessing you've seen this, considering that a dozen or so of you sent me the link, but this is a 6th grader doing a performance of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi." I have a sixth grader living in my house. He plays the piano too, but...sheesh, this kid makes my son sound like...well, a sixth grader.

Jimmy Archer

One of my all-time favorite Cubs, Jimmy Archer, was born on this day in 1883.

I like to call him: The Bionic Cub.

Ernie's 500th homer

It happened exactly 40 years ago today. Hey Hey!

Listen to it here.

(Sadly, I was listening to it then, too.)

A no-no

On this day in 1955, Sam "Toothpick" Jones threw a no-hitter for the Cubs. He was the first African American in history to accomplish the feat.

Listen to the last out here.

The Former Playboy Mansion

One of the luxury condo units in the old Playboy mansion on State Street is for sale. You can check out the listing here.

Bridget and I used to live in the building directly behind the mansion. (You can see our old white building in the picture of the patio). I used to look at the old mansion from our rooftop and try to imagine what it was like twenty years earlier (now forty years).

Rolling Stones biographer Robert Greenfield described it this way in his book: "The couches pulse with women. In the nights to come, the Stones will have their own man on the door, selecting talent, but tonight the gathering is official...mostly bunnies, ex-Playmates, future Playmates, glossy four-color ladies with polished faces and made-up eyes. None of your New York city darkness here, no clean puritan New England faces or spaced-out California smiles; these ladies are the real thing: products of the heartland..."

That doesn't come with the condo, as I understand it. You'd think it does based on the asking price.

Mr. Tamborine Man

The Byrds made their television debut this week 45 years ago. I found the video of it on YouTube. Check out some of the other music stars on the show with them (all are mentioned in the intro--some of whom I've never heard of--some of whom ended up being even bigger stars)...

Salvador Dali

He was born on this day in 1904. Dali was always odd, but even he must have felt like the day he appeared on the game show "What's My Line" was one of the strangest days of his life. One might even call it a surreal experience...

Charlie Grimm

Charlie Grimm retired as a player (he was still the manager) on this day in 1935. He came out of retirement the following year, and gave himself a little more than a hundred at bats, before officially calling it quits for good after the 1936 season.

Charlie's managerial reign with the Cubs is among the most interesting in Cubs history.

He was almost fired on his first day.

He was traded for the radio broadcaster on his last day.

He also led the team to two NL pennants, including their last one.

Billy Jurges

He was born on this day in 1908 and grew up to become the starting shortstop on several pennant winning Cubs teams.

Oh, and he was also shot by a crazy fan.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted a new Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This week's is called "Mother's Day" and features an audio presentation from the boys.

Check it out here.