Before he voiced Darth Vader and Mufasa, James Earl Jones played Lear, Claudius, and Othello. Jones graduated from the University of Michigan in 1955 and began his extensive acting career in theater, frequently performing in Shakespearean works such as The Merchant of Venice (1962), Coriolanus (1965), Othello (1964–65), and Hamlet (1972). For Shakespeare’s birthday, listen More
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans voiced their demand for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. In Chicago, thousands gathered in Civic Center Plaza (now the Richard J. Daley Center) and colleges, universities, and schools held demonstrations, protests, and talks opposing the deterioration of More
While there may be a curfew on liquor sales now, history has taught us not to get between Chicago and its booze. On this day in 1855, the Lager Beer Riot ensued after mayor Levi Boone renewed enforcement of an old local ordinance mandating that taverns be closed on Sundays, which was seen as targeting More
Nicknamed the “The King of Fashion,” Paul Poiret was known for turning nineteenth-century couture tradition on its head and ushering in the modern era of garment design. Born on this day in 1879 in Paris, he is notable for using Asian, Eastern European, and North African design elements, emphasizing draping rather than tailoring, and moving More
Today marks Easter for Eastern Orthodox Christians—those who adhere to the liturgies and customs of the ancient Byzantine church, including using the Julian calendar, which places Easter at a later date. In Chicago, Greek, Russian, and Serbian believers were among the first to establish permanent Eastern Orthodox churches. One example is the Holy Trinity Orthodox More