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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 in the August 2019 Chicago Magazine:
https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/August-2019/Searching-for-Eugene-Williams/

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Further reading (purchasing these items through these links help support our efforts at no additional cost to you):

City of Scoundrels: The 12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth To Modern Chicago by Gary Krist
Paperback - https://amzn.to/42sfVya
Kindle - https://amzn.to/40KwjZh

Big Bill of Chicago by Lloyd Wendt and Herman Kogan
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Big Bill Thompson, Chicago, and The Politics of Image by Douglas Bukowski
Paperback - https://amzn.to/4hvIMG1

Al Capone's Beer Wars: A Complete History of Organized Crime in Chicago During Prohibition by John J. Binder
Hardcover - https://amzn.to/4aSKXB7

Chicago History Podcast (chicagohistorypod AT gmail.com):

Chicago History Podcast Art by John K. Schneider (angeleyesartjks AT gmail.com)

Academy Award® Nominee for Best Original Screenplay, SEPTEMBER 5 is now on Digital.

Based on true events at the 1972 Olympics and the hostage crisis that changed media coverage forever.

Starring Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, and Leonie Benesch. BUY OR RENT SEPTEMBER 5 on Fandango at Home NOW! Rated PG. From Paramount Pictures.

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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?

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Up your cocktail or Sodastream game with Portland craft syrups!
https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1k

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BOOKS:
Place Names of Illinois by Edward Callary
https://amzn.to/3U89rPX
Chicago Area Wall Map (30"x29" Laminated)
https://amzn.to/4h5g4w4

CHP Merch (Buy a T-Shirt, Help the Podcast):
https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcast

Academy Award® Nominee for Best Original Screenplay, SEPTEMBER 5 is now on Digital.

Based on true events at the 1972 Olympics and the hostage crisis that changed media coverage forever.

Starring Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, and Leonie Benesch. BUY OR RENT SEPTEMBER 5 on Fandango at Home NOW! Rated PG. From Paramount Pictures.

Support the show

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 game with Portland craft syrups!
https://portlandsyrups.com/collections/all?sca_ref=1270971.MO4APpJH1k

Affiliate Links (anything you buy through these links - not just this stuff - helps benefit the show at no additional cost to you):

BOOKS:

Guns and Roses: The Untold Story of Dean O'Banion, Chicago's Big Shot Before Al Capone by Troy Taylor
https://amzn.to/3O2COQ8 (Paperback)
https://amzn.to/3O56L2a (Kindle)

Al Capone's Beer Wars: A Complete History of Organized Crime in Chicago during Prohibition by John J. Binder
https://amzn.to/4hC5z3P (Hardcover)
https://amzn.to/3CqCEj1 (Paperback)
https://amzn.to/3YKB0QB (Kindle)

Want to read hundreds of books for FREE every month? Try Kindle Unlimited here: https://amzn.to/4dInhRb

Chicago's Unsolved Crimes and Mysteries by Bryan Alaspa
https://amzn.to/48olAWP

Chicago Area Wall Map (30"x29" Laminated)
https://amzn.to/4h5g4w4

CHP Merch (Buy a T-Shirt or a Mug & Help the Podcast):
https://www.teepublic.com/user/chicago-history-podcast

Academy Award® Nominee for Best Original Screenplay, SEPTEMBER 5 is now on Digital.

Based on true events at the 1972 Olympics and the hostage crisis that changed media coverage forever.

Starring Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, and Leonie Benesch. BUY OR RENT SEPTEMBER 5 on Fandango at Home NOW! Rated PG. From Paramount Pictures.

Support the show