Backstory with Larry Potash: Recent Episodes
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Explore the BACKSTORY behind some of the most intriguing tales in history, culture, religion and science from Chicago and beyond.
Caffeine is the most widely-used drug and for generations, people have consumed coffee to fuel creative ideas, and even revolutions. In this piece for Backstory, Larry Potash looks at how coffee starts, and how it’s evolved from muddy swill to gourmet beverage.
Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Before the 1972 Olympics, the U.S. Men’s basketball team was considered the favorite to win gold. Some say they did. Only thanks to one of the most controversial finishes in sports history, they came home without the gold. Larry Potash digs into “3 seconds in Munich” in this Backstory piece.
Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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The history of the Chicago mob is largely dominated by men. Imagine growing up in Chicago and one day finding out your grandmother was a key player for The Outfit. In this segment for Backstory, Larry Potash meets the Nitto family, who’s ancestor, the late Annette Nitto, was a crucial figure in the Capone-era and beyond.
Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Researching your family tree can help you understand where you’ve come from but it’s just a chart full of names. What about the faces that go along with those names? They can be hard to find. In this piece for Backstory, Larry Potash tells the story of one man’s mission to bring people closer to their ancestors.
Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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In 1921 the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma was the site of a nothing less than a race massacre. African-Americans were murdered, their homes and business burned down. Why was this tale largely lost to history for both Blacks and whites? Larry Potash traveled to Oklahoma to meet a small group of people searching for justice, a century later.
Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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For years, a reign of terror rips through a community of the Osage tribe, 50 miles north of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Native Americans died under suspicious circumstances. Larry Potash traveled to Oklahoma and uncovers the backstory of this tale of murder, greed, and oil Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Throughout the 20th century the FBI amassed a large trove of surveillance on Americans famous, forgotten, and everyone in between, resulting in numerous Americans having an “FBI file.” In this segment for Backstory, Larry Potash takes a peek at what’s in some famous Chicagoans FBI files, and the scrutiny the agency is facing regarding past intelligence collection efforts. Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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A pile of decaying pages of colorful language make up a manuscript about mobsters from long ago. There's no author, but some clues may lead to the writer's identity.
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Conspiracy theories have been spread around long before the internet made it easy. While some are harmless, there are those that have led to dangerous consequences. We look at how some people can believe these far-fetched ideas.
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Roller skating started out as a fad and eventually became a cultural movement. New skaters continue to be inspired even as more roller rinks disappear.
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Chicago artist Carrie McCluskey uses a long-lost photographic technique to bring home a message with a chilling warning.
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John Kettman made a discovery in a remote patch of farm field that ignited a mission to uncover a centuries-old mystery. This is the Backstory.
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How the donut changed Americans' perspective on the Salvation Army, while feeding soldiers on the front lines. This is the Backstory.
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Everyone has their own idea of what makes great barbecue. For one Chicago family, their mastery of “the pit” is as much about the stories behind the recipes, the beginnings of which date back to their ancestor’s enslavement. This is the Backstory.
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Bozo T. Clown... from its humble beginnings as a record company character, to its height as a cultural icon for generations of Chicagoans. This is the Backstory.
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When Confederate soldiers came to Chicago, they did so as prisoners. Camp Douglas housed thousands of Union Army prisoners of war... and the camp had its share of controversy. This is the Backstory.
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A hundred years ago, four brothers decided to rob a train car carrying millions in cash and bonds. It's considered one of the greatest train robberies of all time. This is the Backstory.
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After World War II, hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members were unwittingly subjected to radiation tests by their own government. Today, many of them are still fighting for health care, and a proper acknowledgment of their sacrifice. This is the Backstory.
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Race continues to be something that divides and disenfranchises people all over the world. Buy why? This is the Backstory.
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In the early days of basketball, women were treated much differently on the court. Doctors said ladies should only play half court, as opposed to the full court games men played. And there weren't very many opportunities for women to play basketball after high school. Then a league of barnstormers entered the scene, and everything changed. This is the Backstory.
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One street in a small western Illinois town has housed more U.S. service members than any other street in America. This is the Backstory.
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The freedom we feel on a bicycle is difficult to replicate. And the history of the bike goes deeper than you might think. This is the Backstory.
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How a Navy veteran fought for years to honor the thousands of marginalized men and women who served in the US Armed Forces. This is the Backstory.
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Few mediums wield the power of the political cartoon. But as newspapers shrink, so do the number of cartoonists working today. A half century ago, Chicago Sun Times Cartoonist Bill Mauldin spoke truth to power with his cartoons. This is the Backstory.
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Before Capone, there was another crime king of Chicago. Michael Cassius McDonald arrived in the city as a teenager, and scammed his way to becoming one of Chicago's most influential crime bosses. This is the Backstory.
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For many years, American beer was boring, and rather bland. More recently, craft beer has exploded in popularity... bringing with it more flavor, rich storytelling, and more opportunity for diverse brewers. This is the Backstory.
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In the early days of the automotive industry, few independent automakers were able to compete with the Big Three. But that didn't stop Charles Nash from trying. This is the Backstory.
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A colorful and bustling prairie outside Chicago becomes the site of a manufacturing facility for ammunition during World War II. Then, on June 5, 1942 at 2:45 in the morning, tragedy strikes. This is the Backstory.
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The bond between man and dog has been written about for millenia. But one man's story is just a little bit different. When he lost his dog, he got a new one from Russia, by way of the White House. This is the Backstory.
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Illinois was a free state before the Civil War. But one man found a loophole that allowed him to own slaves. Then he started to kidnap freed slaves, and sell them back to people in slave states. A relic of this operation remains in Equality, Illinois. This is the Backstory.
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When he noticed that older Naval officers were out of shape, this U.S. President mandated new physical endurance tests. When folks in the Navy grumbled about the new directive, he decided to lead by example with an historic stunt. This is the Backstory.
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A hero of his era, he fought enemies at home and abroad. But those weren't his only achievements. This is the Backstory.
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They only used it for five years, but the people who built the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Chicago designed it like no other building in the world. This is the Backstory.
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Abraham Lincoln's personal history fueled his disdain for slavery. And his unlikely alliance with a group of immigrants helped propel him to the White House. This is the Backstory.
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Was he a good guy? Or a bad guy? Hiram C. Whitley was a man of dubious moral character. But that's what it took to infiltrate the KKK in the 1860's. This is the Backstory.
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A political assassination, domestic terror, and the women of murderess row. Three lost stories of Chicago history. This is the Backstory.
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He was a bootlegger. And at one point, he was bigger than Al Capone. Later, he was purportedly the inspiration for the title character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." But you probably don't know his name. This is the Backstory.
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In the era of social media, some people can't take a joke. Political correctness has made it so that many of today's comics won't perform at colleges. But are we missing the point? One of the original stand-ups shows us how we just might be. This is the Backstory.
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A building in El Paso, Texas is the site of a century old mystery. On the side of the building: a mural of a turtle. Was it a symbol? In the building's basement: walled off tunnels. Who were they for? Where did they go? This is the Backstory.
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The Negro Leagues turn 100 this year. While many of the players never reached Major League notoriety, several people are working to shine a light on their legacy. This is the Backstory.
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It was a big boxing match, and it ended in controversy. The referee was accused of cheating the true winner. Who was the ref? You probably know his name. This is the Backstory.
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A 19th century daredevil was obsessed with balloons. He wanted to travel far and away... But one stunt ended in tragedy. And the details are still shrouded in mystery. This is the Backstory.
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Advertisements painted on old brick buildings still linger in Chicago, but they're slowly disappearing. That's why Joe Marlin is documenting these fading ads of Chicago... This is the Backstory.
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A historian gets a rare look inside the Royal Archive to read King George's writings about the Revolutionary War, and Larry takes a trip to his hometown of Boston to walk in the footsteps of history. This is the Backstory.
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Ian Fleming worked in British intelligence before he created James Bond... so how much of the world's greatest fictional secret agent was Fleming himself? Find out, on Backstory.
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He's found several photographs from more than a century ago, and now Mark Hersch is painstakingly recreating these images, and giving them new life — one frame at a time. This is the Backstory.
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He was the man who helped the Feds nail Al Capone on tax evasion charges. But his legacy is greater than that. Find out how, on Backstory.
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Considered a useless byproduct by many, offal cuisine is gaining in popularity. Larry Potash gives us the past, present, and future of this culinary tradition through the eyes of some very talented local chefs. This is the Backstory.
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Lipizzans are some of the most beautiful horses in the world, but how did they become ensconced on Chicago’s North Shore? Find out, on Backstory...
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The first-ever successful lawsuit brought by a slave was filed by Henrietta Wood. Her ordeal would take her from Kentucky to Mississippi to Cincinnati where she would finally win her freedom and a $2,500 settlement. This is the backstory...
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In 1629, the Salem witch trials led to the execution of 20 people as witch hunt frenzy reached the U.S. That might sounds like ancient history, but only a few decades ago a case documented by the Catholic church inspired "The Exorcist." But what really happened? Get the Backstory on these iconic tales of witches and demons.
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How two sisters' stories of speaking to ghosts in the 19th century sparked a move towards mysticism in the U.S. — and profiting from it. Larry Potash returns to his hometown to explore its tales of spiritualism and abolitionism. And how a group of experts is offering real money for proof of the supernatural.
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NASA's revolutionary sales pitch worked to enlist the American public in the space race in the '60s, but that race also stoked Cold War fears, whose remnants are still hidden across Chicagoland.
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In 1978, Bill German turned 16 years old, and like many kids his age was a major Rolling Stones fan.
He didn’t want to be a rock star, or simply go to their concerts. German wanted to chronicle their careers, and make a living doing so.
How does an innocent, straight-A student from an orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn, New York, end up chasing the world’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll band around the world? It turns out his adventure had as many ups and downs as the Stones themselves.
In this piece from Backstory, Larry Potash tells us how Bill German’s excellent adventure played out.
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During Northern Ireland's "Troubles," a gang of masked people dragged Gene McConville away from her 10 kids.
"Watch the children until I come back," she yelled to her oldest son.
But they never saw her again, and were abandoned after her assumed death. Years later, McConville's body was found with a single gunshot wound to the head.
While the murder remains unsolved, an author says he used a secret archive to finally identify her killer.
Read or watch the full story online
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When pinball was illegal, he was called upon to prove it's more than a game of chance. That's when one shot changed it all. Watch this full story online.
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Jack Hersch said it was a tradition every Passover for his father, David, to tell his sons about how he escaped the Nazis.
"He would talk about the death march - put on a 34-mile march, he made it sound like he was going to get a cup of coffee around the corner," Jack Hersch said.
Then a mysterious photo led Jack to wonder if there was more the story — and go in search of answers.
Watch the full story online
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While many remember the DeLorean thanks to its appearance in “Back to the Future,” but the story of its iconic creator John DeLorean is just as interesting.
You can also watch Backstory online.
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How does a black detective go undercover to investigate the Ku Klux Klan? Ron Stallworth shares the amazing true story of how he accidentally used his own name, and talked his way into becoming a card-carrying Klan member.
Want to see the video? Watch this on "Backstory" online.
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Meet the man who accomplished the impossible: capturing a German sub at sea, helping to turn the tide of WWII.
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For decades, Phil Cresta was the best thief on the East Coast. He stole millions and nobody knew who did it. After fleeing the law and the mob, he was found living under a fake name as a Chicago toy store owner. Not even his wife knew of his past— until he confessed to it all.
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Secret societies are a common concern of conspiracy theories and Hollywood blockbusters, and at Ivy League schools, secret societies are the elite among the elite.
While the legends surrounding them often obscure the truth, a member of the Delphic Club at Harvard opens up about his unlikely recruitment, and how the myths surrounding such groups compare with the reality.
Larry Potash has the Backstory.
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The Chicago American Gears were the city's first basketball champions — until their trophy was taken away, and a team with the makings of a dynasty was forced to disband.
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Legendary G-Man Eliot Ness is remembered for taking down Al Capone in Chicago, but as pop culture grew the legend around him, it begs the question: what really happened?
In a historical society in Cleveland, meticulous scrapbooks Ness kept track his career as he took on the mob, jaywalkers, and a serial killer called the Torso Murderer.
Larry Potash digs into the Backstory on what parts of Ness' legend are invented by Hollywood, and what really happened.
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You've probably heard of how legendary mobster Al Capone's criminal empire was disrupted by investigator Eliot Ness and his group of "Untouchables." But what really happened in Chicago, and what was invented by Hollywood?
Max Allan Collins, author of the 2002 Chicago mob story "Road to Perdition," and A. Brad Schwartz, a Princeton historian, talked to relatives, re-examined evidence, and sifted through newly-released federal files to separate fact from fiction.
Just when you thought there was nothing new to say about Capone and Ness, what they found surprised them.
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Brothers Michael and Jeffrey Gentile say their childhood was a cross between The Wonder Years and The Sopranos. While he never got into a life of crime, their dad's friends included some of Chicago's most infamous mobsters.
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Mickey Mouse may be the biggest paradox in pop culture: people love him, but know nothing about him.
You may have heard Mickey was first drawn by Walt Disney 90 years ago as he rode a train, desperate to save his company and inspired by pet mice he had years ago. Well, that’s a myth.
This is the true Backstory of Mickey Mouse, and how a simple, whistling cartoon grew into a global icon.
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Recruited by an eccentric millionaire to search for hidden messages in Shakespeare’s works, Elizebeth Smith Friedman became a pioneering code breaker who took on the Nazis and the mob. Her story has been buried by secrecy and sexism for nearly a century - until now.
Watch this full story on the Backstory TV show.
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On the morning of Oct. 30, 1928, Elfrieda Knaak was discovered in the furnace room of Lake Bluff's Village Hall, naked and with her hands and feet burned to the bone. Her death was ruled a suicide, but how could a woman stick her own legs, arms and head in a furnace?
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