Best The Oddity Archive Podcasts (2025)

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S2 Ep2: The Mary Celeste 1:12:52

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7d ago1:12:52

1:12:52

On December 4th 1872 The Mary Celeste was found afloat in the Atlantic with no crew aboard, and no signs of damage or a struggle. Theories have ranged from sea monsters to explosions, why do you think the crew abandoned their seaworthy ship?By The Oddity Archive

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Episode 814 - Pain Fireworks Company Explosion of 1914, The 35:02

2d ago35:02

35:02

Send us a text Chicago has had its share of bizarre incidents resulting in death, including the Pain Fireworks Company Explosion of 1914. Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohisto…

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Mysterious Death of Marshall Field Jr., The 22:51

17d ago22:51

22:51

Send us a text Here's one originally released in August 2021 that you may not have heard. Enjoy. He was the son of one of the wealthiest men in Chicago, and on one fateful night he was shot under mysterious circumstances. Was Marshall Field Jr.'s death an accident or something much darker that was covered up by powerful forces? Want to help support…

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S2 Ep1: Satoshi Nakamoto’s Wallet 1:03:29

22d ago1:03:29

1:03:29

One of the ten richest people in the world is a complete unknown, with a bitcoin wallet worth over $110 billion. Who could it be, and are they even still alive? Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/oddityarchivepodcast?igsh=MTZxZ2M3Zml5dDVydA==By The Oddity Archive

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Episode 813 - Lincoln Park's Statues, Sculptures, and Oddities 1:02:35

1M ago1:02:35

1:02:35

Send us a text If you're planning on walking through Lincoln Park anytime soon, you may be curious about all the statues you'll find. With the help of contributor Connie Fairbanks, we discuss the story behind many of the creations you'll see, and tell you about the ones that were once there but are no longer. You can purchase Chicago's West Loop: T…

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Bonus Episode 2 - The Secret Of Skinwalker Ranch 47:50

1M ago47:50

47:50

Watch The Secret Of Skinwalker Ranch Season 1 Episode 1 with us!By The Oddity Archive

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Episode 812 - Chicago's Uptown Theater with author Robert Loerzel 51:30

2M ago51:30

51:30

Send us a text In August of 1925, an opulent cinema opened on Broadway just north of Lawrence Avenue. Joining me today to discuss the history of that theater is Robert Loerzel, one of the authors of the recently released book The Uptown: Chicago's Endangered Movie Palace. https://www.robertloerzel.com/blog/ Show your love of this podcast for the co…

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Bonus Episode 1 - Expedition Unknown 47:26

2M ago47:26

47:26

Watch Expedition Unknown - Season 5 / Episode 5 with us!By The Oddity Archive

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Episode 811 - One on Every Corner: Four Moon Tavern, Roscoe Village, and the Pencil Factory Strike with writer Leigh Giangreco 34:43

2M ago34:43

34:43

Send us a text The return of One on Every Corner, where we discuss a neighborhood drinking establishment, the neighborhood around it, and more. Joining me for this episode is writer Leigh Giangreco and Four Moon Tavern owners Matt Kozlowski and Robbie Lane. @leighgiangreco.bsky.social Four Moon Tavern - @fourmoontavern on Insta Show your love of th…

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S1 Ep10: The Nazi Bell 1:24:31

2M ago1:24:31

1:24:31

Towards the end of the war, the Nazis became desperate for a wonder weapon to turn the tide in their favor. They poured enormous resources into their Wunderwaffe program. Could they have actually developed an anti-gravitational device or is that simply too far fetched?By The Oddity Archive

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Episode 810 - Chicago: The Loop & Beyond with photographer Nenad Spasojevic 27:07

2M ago27:07

27:07

Send us a text There is more to Chicago than the Bean, The Loop, and Navy Pier. Joining me in this episode to discuss his photography, what he loves most about Chicago, and the recently-released book "Chicago: The Loop & Beyond" is Nenad Spasojevic. Nenad Spasojevic - https://www.nenadspasojevic.com/ Insta: nenad.spasojevic Show your love of this p…

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S1 Ep9: The Mad Gasser of Mattoon 51:19

3M ago51:19

51:19

Over the course of two weeks in 1944, the town of Mattoon, Illinois came under attack from a mysterious gasser. He allegedly pumped an anesthetic gas into residents windows and then left without harming them further.By The Oddity Archive

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Baby Face Nelson and The Battle of Barrington 28:42

3M ago28:42

28:42

Send us a text In what was then primarily farmlands 39 miles outside of Chicago, a gun battle erupted between federal law enforcement agents and an outlaw on the run, resulting in chaos and death. This is the story of Baby Face Nelson and The Battle of Barrington. Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset produc…

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S1 Ep8: The Dover Demon 57:43

3M ago57:43

57:43

Over the course of 36 hours in 1977, a creature was seen on 3 separate occasions. 48 years later people are still talking about the Dover Demon. Was it an extraterrestrial, an inter dimensional creature, or did it have an earthly explanation?By The Oddity Archive

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Herrin Coal Massacre, The 26:57

3M ago26:57

26:57

Send us a text The 103th anniversary of one of the most violent labor battles in the U.S. is June 21-22, 2025. This is the story of the Herrin Coal Massacre of 1922. *Originally released as episode 508 in June 2022. Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagoh…

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S1 Ep7: Larry Bader 55:22

4M ago55:22

55:22

On May 15th, 1957, Larry Bader went missing after a fishing trip on Lake Erie. Four days later on May 19th, John “Fritz” Johnson walked into a bar in Omaha, Nebraska. But who was he really?By The Oddity Archive

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Episode 809 - Chicago's Fine Arts Building with author Keir Graff 49:32

4M ago49:32

49:32

Send us a text It is a Chicago Landmark called an “exemplification of the cultural, economic, social, and historical heritage of the City of Chicago.” With the help of author Keir Graff, today we’re discussing Chicago’s Fine Arts Building. Chicago's Fine Arts Building: Music, Magic, and Murder by Keir Graff https://amzn.to/4kNSjud Order a SIGNED CO…

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S1 Ep6: Remote Viewing 41:51

4M ago41:51

41:51

Join us while we take a stab at remote viewing. The pictures we attempted to remote viewers have been posted to our instagram account OddityArchivePodcast. Remote viewing is a skill some claim to use to see or experience things they could not possibly know about. The United States government has even employed remote viewers to spy on their adversar…

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Episode 808 - The Rise and Fall of Chicago’s Brickyards 1:05:43

4M ago1:05:43

1:05:43

Send us a text Chicago is known for industry – stockyards, steel mills, and more, but this city had another that thrived for nearly 150 years. Today we’re discussing the Rise and Fall of Chicago’s Brickyards. Get out and see the city with Will Quam on a Brick of Chicago tour! Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buym…

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S1 Ep5: John Titor 51:10

4M ago51:10

51:10

In the early 2000’s a man named John Titor began posting on an Internet forum. He claimed to be a time traveler from 2036 and gave detailed answers to the questions asked of him. Was he a product of the early internet, or could he have actually been from the future? Follow us @ https://www.instagram.com/oddityarchivepodcast?igsh=MTZxZ2M3Zml5dDVydA=…

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Episode 807 - Chicago's Buckingham Fountain and Queen Elizabeth II's 1959 Visit 31:19

5M ago31:19

31:19

Send us a text Chicago's Buckingham Fountain is being turned on for the season on Saturday, May 10, 2025, so this seems like the perfect time to discuss the history of how the fountain came to be in this enhanced and re-recorded version, with an all-new section about Queen Elizabeth II's historic 1959 visit to the city. Edward H. Bennett Digital Co…

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S1 Ep4: The Kelly Hopkinsville Goblins 1:01:35

5M ago1:01:35

1:01:35

In August of 1955, 11 residents of Kelly, Kentucky had an encounter with unknown beings. Were they extraterrestrials, owls, or was it simply a hoax? Let us know your thoughts, and follow us at https://www.instagram.com/oddityarchivepodcast?igsh=MTZxZ2M3Zml5dDVydA==By The Oddity Archive

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Episode 806 - Don't Go with authors Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan 40:50

5M ago40:50

40:50

Send us a text Discussing their book "Don't Go: Stories of Segregation and How To Disrupt It" are authors Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan. Folded Map Project: https://www.foldedmapproject.com/ Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Further reading (purchasing these items through th…

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S1 Ep3: The Jersey Devil 1:08:22

5M ago1:08:22

1:08:22

The Jersey Devil has tormented the Pine Barrens of New Jersey for nearly 300 years. Is it a supernatural being, or a cautionary tale? Let us know your opinion! And hear just how bad our geography is! Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/oddityarchivepodcast?igsh=MTZxZ2M3Zml5dDVydA==By The Oddity Archive

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Lincoln Park's High Bridge / Suicide Bridge 21:42

6M ago21:42

21:42

Send us a text ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN OCTOBER 2020. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Lincoln Park had a “High Bridge” which rose 75 feet over the south lagoon's water. As welcoming to sightseers as the big beautiful bridge was, it also had a dark appeal, quickly earning it the dubious name “Suicide Bridge.” Viking Ship at Good Templar Park in Gen…

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S1 Ep2: The Ariel School UFO Incident 44:38

6M ago44:38

44:38

On September 16th, 1994, 62 school children claim to have witnessed a craft land in their school yard and the nonhuman pilots began communicating with them shortly after. Would you believe their story?By The Oddity Archive

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Episode 805 - Five Pioneering Women of Chicago 39:05

6M ago39:05

39:05

Send us a text It is Women's History Month! Here's a look at five pioneering women in Chicago's history: Chicago founder Kitihawa du Sable, women's suffrage activist Grace Wilbur Trout, Vivian Gordon Harsh, Chicago's first Black librarian, Union activist Rev. Addie L. Wyatt, and Elisabeth A. Martini, Chicago's first woman architect. Show your love …

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S1 Ep1: The Dyatlov Pass Incident 1:15:35

6M ago1:15:35

1:15:35

The story of nine Russian hikers who disappear under mysterious circumstances. See TheOddityArchivePodcast on instagram for relevant pictures and info.By The Oddity Archive

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Police Chief Francis O'Neill, Chicago's Savior of Irish Music 22:28

7M ago22:28

22:28

Send us a text Just in time for St. Patrick's Day 2025, here's a little history about Chicago's connection to preserving Irish music, originally posted in March of 2022. He served as a Chicago policeman for more than 32 years and was Chicago’s chief of police for four, but Francis O’Neill is probably better known for his efforts in preserving the m…

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Episode 804 - Chicago Crime: The Automatic Trio and the Car Barn Murders 25:08

7M ago25:08

25:08

Send us a text Originally released in September of 2021, this episode has been enhanced with additional music and sound effects. Sixteen years before Al Capone came to Chicago and long before anyone could blame violence on video games, three boys just out of their teens became robbers and worse in Chicago with brazen acts of thievery and wanton kil…

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Episode 803 - Illinois' Underground Railroad 46:37

7M ago46:37

46:37

Send us a text For Black Americans seeking to escape enslavement in the first half of the 1800s, Chicago was often an important stop on their path to freedom. Today we’re discussing the Underground Railroad in Illinois. Network to Freedom Listings: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/undergroundrailroad/ntf-listings.htm Graceland Cemetery (Chicago) Underg…

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Episode 802 - Chicago Connections: The Jackson Five 49:30

8M ago49:30

49:30

Send us a text While not from here, their connection to this city is undeniable and Chicago’s influence most certainly contributed to their rise as one of the most successful musical acts of all time. Today we’re talking about the Jackson Five. Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Furt…

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Episode 801 - Unchecked Graft: Chicago Mayor William "Big Bill" Thompson 36:22

8M ago36:22

36:22

Send us a text This is a revised, expanded, and re-recorded version of an episode that was originally released in 2020. William "Big Bill" Thompson was a larger-than-life character who served as Chicago mayor for three terms and is viewed as one of the most corrupt politicians this great city has ever seen. Robert Loerzel's piece on Eugene Williams…

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Episode 725 - Chicago's Forgotten Towns, Neighborhoods, and Names, Part 2 34:14

10M ago34:14

34:14

Send us a text An area once called Dunkley’s Grove was considered for a new stadium for the Chicago White Sox, not in old-timey days – in 1986! Was Edison Park named for Thomas Edison? Dunton, Sagone, Hartford… and where was Cleaverville? Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Send me an…

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Episode 724 - Chicago Mob Stories - The Handshake Murder of Dean O'Banion 33:36

11M ago33:36

33:36

Send us a text Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Send me an email with whatever is on your mind: chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.chicagohistorypod.com Up your cocktail or Sodastream ga…

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Episode 723 - Chicago Horror: The Grimes Sisters Murders 37:37

11M ago37:37

37:37

Send us a text Their killings stand out as one of Chicago's most infamous unsolved crimes. Today we’re discussing the Grimes Sisters Murders. Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Send me an email with whatever is on your mind: chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com Leave me a voice message - j…

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Episode 722 - Chicago's Forgotten Towns, Neighborhoods, and Names 32:33

12M ago32:33

32:33

Send us a text Have you ever been to Grossdale? Praha? Maybe Swedetown? How about Gregg's Milk Station? I’m sure you’ve been to Hardscrabble, right? Today we’re discussing Chicago’s Forgotten Towns, Neighborhoods, and Names. Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Send me an email with wh…

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - The Great Chicago Fire - Ogden Mansion, The Barracks, and Newberry Library 19:59

12M ago19:59

19:59

Send us a text On this Great Chicago Fire-themed episode we discuss one home not destroyed by the fire – the Ogden mansion – and learn little more about the person who once owned it, what happened to that area immediately after the fire, and what is on that site now. Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset pro…

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Episode 721 - The Black Sox Scandal of 1919 with WTTW's Eddie Griffin 33:21

1y ago33:21

33:21

Send us a text WTTW's Eddie Griffin is back to discuss one of Chicago's darkest sports stories - the Black Sox Scandal of 1919. The new season of Chicago Stories begins September 20th. https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-stories Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice me…

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Episode 720 - Malört: A Truly Chicago Booze with author Josh Noel 31:42

1y ago31:42

31:42

Send us a text Anthony Bourdain tasted the wormwood-infused liquor Malört for his TV show “The Layover” and said, “its brash nature" created “a possibility that I could get all stabby and belligerent.” Today we're talking about Malört, the truly Chicago booze. Show your love of this podcast for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chi…

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Episode 719 - Mike Royko: The Toughest Man in Chicago with writer / actor Mitchell Bisschop 39:27

1y ago39:27

39:27

Send us a text This episode's guest is Mitchell Bisschop, who wrote and stars in the play "Royko: The Toughest Man in Chicago," which runs Sept. 5-29, 2024, at the Chopin Theatre. Mitchell and I discuss celebrated newspaper columnist Mike Royko, Chicago newspapers, growing up in Barrington, IL as a theatre nerd, and how this one-man play came toget…

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Episode 718 - Dr. Edward Holmes and the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary with Connie Fairbanks 29:27

1y ago29:27

29:27

Send us a text He arrived in Chicago from Boston in the mid-1800s and set up an Eye and Ear Infirmary to help those in need. Hear the story of Dr. Edward Lorenzo Holmes and his efforts to help the less fortunate in Chicago. West Loop: Then and Now by Connie Fairbanks Buy it from the author: https://www.conniefairbanks.com/shop-1 Show your support o…

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Mysterious Death of Montgomery Ward Thorne, The 26:50

1y ago26:50

26:50

Send us a text He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but when this Chicago-born department store heir died mysteriously at the age of 20, things really got weird. #ChicagoHistory #MontgomeryWard #MysteriousDeath #Wards #DepartmentStores #TrueCrime Want to help support the show? Buy Me A Coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Le…

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Episode 717 - Chicago's Little Saigon with author Erica Allen-Kim 48:34

1y ago48:34

48:34

Send us a text Chinese entrepreneurs in the 1970s as well as refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia transformed an area on the city’s north side by opening restaurants, bakeries, pharmacies, and social service agencies. Today we’re discussing Chicago’s Little Saigon with author Erica Allen-Kim. Building Little Saigon: Refugee Urbanism in American Citie…

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Navy Pier 25:36

1y ago25:36

25:36

Send us a text Planning to visit Navy Pier this summer? Here is the history of one of the most popular tourist destinations not only in Chicago but in all of Illinois. * Written and recorded before FlyOver Chicago was installed Show some love for the podcast for the cost of a cup of coffee and help offset production costs: https://www.buymeacoffee.…

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Earle T. Cook and the Airplane Bombing 24:17

1y ago24:17

24:17

Send us a text For you fans of true crime stories, here's an episode from January 2021. He was a manager at a Coca-Cola bottling plant, married, with two teenage sons living the good life in suburban Naperville, IL in 1967. When a bomb exploded aboard a plane on which his wife Jeanne was a passenger, Earle T. Cook quickly became the focus of the FB…

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Episode 716 - Chicago's Motor Speedways 38:22

1y ago38:22

38:22

Send us a text Long before NASCAR came to Chicago, this town had races, racers, and racetracks. Today we're talking about Chicago's Motor Speedways. Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the lower right corner here: https://www.c…

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Episode 715 - The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor with WTTW's Dan Andries 27:09

1+ y ago27:09

27:09

Send us a text Danny Sotomayor, a fiery, openly gay AIDS activist, was a man on a mission. Today we discuss Sotomayor with Dan Andries, the writer and producer of the WTTW documentary "The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor." The Outrage of Danny Sotomayor (WTTW) https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-stories/outrage-of-danny-sotomayor/video The Outrage of D…

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FROM THE ARCHIVES - Old Chicago Amusement Park 21:45

1+ y ago21:45

21:45

Send us a text It was an innovative idea in its day - a 200 store indoor shopping center 35 miles outside of Chicago with a 31-ride amusement park in the middle. Unfortunately, once you throw in costly delays, waning attendance, lackluster store selection, competition, and a trapeze death, that's when trouble starts. This is the story of Old Chicag…

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Episode 714 - Rondout Train Robbery of 1924, The 30:25

1+ y ago30:25

30:25

Send us a text It is the largest train robbery in U.S. history, and it occurred just 32 miles north of Chicago. Hear how the Rondout Train Robbery unfolded 100 years ago in June 1924. Show your support of the show for the cost of a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chicagohistory Leave me a voice message - just click on the microphone in the low…