Independent Black cinema got its start on Chicago’s South Side
William Foster was the first Black director to make a film with an all-Black cast. But most people have never heard of him. This is his story.
Listen — 22:00
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Curious City
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WBEZ’s Curious City series is an ongoing news experiment at WBEZ, online and on the radio dial around Chicago at 91.5 FM. Its mission is to include the public in editorial decision-making, make journalism more transparent and strengthen multimedia coverage about Chicago, the surrounding region and its people (past or present).
Curious City airs on Thursdays during All Things Considered on WBEZ
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The Lotería doors in Pilsen speak to the neighborhood’s past and present
Different artists have painted a series of murals on doors along 18th Street, inspired by the classic Lotería game.
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Listen — 38:13These buildings made it through the fire but didn’t survive Chicago’s development
A mansion, a bohemian club and a commercial building in the Loop all survived the Great Chicago Fire, but were ultimately torn down.
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Listen — 18:12The Complicated History Of Religious Exemptions To Vaccines
While resistance to vaccine mandates goes back 200 years, state laws allowing for religious exemptions were rare until the 1960s.
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Listen — 21:19Why Are Cicadas So Loud?
Cicadas are known for their loud, shrill noises that never seem to stop. But are they louder than usual this year?
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Listen — 16:11No, The Chicago Bears Weren’t The First Monsters Of The Midway
The nickname is on flags at Soldier Field and official team gear, but it first belonged to another Chicago football team.
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Listen — 15:31A Chicago Historian Tackles 5 Questions About The City
Dominic Pacyga shares his encyclopedic knowledge of Chicago history and answers questions about everything from “gin joints” to slaughterhouses.
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Listen — 18:06Beavers And Pigeons And Geese, Oh My! A Guide To Chicago Animal Life
Are there beavers in Chicago? Yes. Have I ever seen a baby pigeon? Also (probably) yes! Your questions about Chicago’s critters, answered.
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Chicago’s Best Stargazing Spots
Chicago’s notorious light pollution hides the stars, but here’s where you have a fighting chance to peek at the heavens.
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Listen — 18:46What Are Those Giant Structures Out In Lake Michigan?
There are six water cribs remaining in Chicago, but only two are still in use. So what might happen to them in the future?
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Listen — 4:36
