Wednesday, October 6, 2010

An American Original: The Back Cow Root Beer Float

On August 18, 1893 Frank J. Wisner, owner of Cripple Creek Brewing, served the first root beer float in Cripple Creek, CO. Inspired by the moonlit view of snowcapped Cow Mountain, he added a scoop of ice cream to his Myers Avenue root beer and began serving it as “Black Cow Mountain”. Kids loved it; the name was shortened to “Black Cow”. Cripple Creek still sells beverages based on its original formulas.
In August, 2010 we speak with Mike Lynn of Cripple Creek Brewing of Naperville, Illinois about the Black Cow, its origins, its staying power, and its presence today this many years later.

At:http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=501

Old Fiddler’s Convention @ 75

The Old Fiddler’s Convention, one of the most prominent traditional music contests in the United States, has been held annually in Galax, Virginia since 1935. It has long attracted the best up-and-coming musicians in the bluegrass firmament.

We speak with Tom Jones about the event and just what it means to musicians, music lovers and the community.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=496

A World’s Fair of Money

The American Numismatic Association’s “World’s Fair of Money” gives visitors the chance to see some of the world’s most beautiful and valuable coins, interact with top numismatists.

Jay Beeton talks with us about this most unique world’s fair.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=494

Saturday, July 31, 2010

New York’s Last Original Beer Garden

Since 1910, Bohemian Hall has been a part of New York City history. It is the last original remaining Beer Garden in all of NYC. Bohemian Hall is run and managed by the Bohemian Citizens’ Benevolent Society of Astoria, a fraternal organization dedicated to education and preserving the Czech and Slovak communities in the area.

In this Journey into Beer, we speak with Debbie Van Cura from the Bohemian Hall Benevolent Society and a member of the Astoria (Queens) Historical Society about the historical role of beer gardens in New York and what Bohemian Hall’s legendary beer garden is all about today.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=487

Before Disney & Ray Kroc, there was Fred Harvey

The legendary life and entrepreneurial vision of Fred Harvey helped shape American culture and history for three generations—from the 1880s all the way through World War II—and still influence our lives today in surprising and fascinating ways.

Appetite for America is the real-life story of Fred Harvey—told in depth for the first time ever—as well as the story of this country’s expansion into the Wild West of Bat Masterson and Billy the Kid, of the great days of the railroad, of a time when a deal could still be made with a handshake and the United States was still uniting. As a young immigrant, Fred Harvey worked his way up from dishwasher to household name: He was Ray Kroc before McDonald’s, J. Willard Marriott before Marriott Hotels, Howard Schultz before Starbucks. He inspired Walt Disney. His eating houses and hotels along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad (including historic lodges still in use at the Grand Canyon) were patronized by princes, presidents, and countless ordinary travelers looking for the best cup of coffee in the country. Harvey’s staff of carefully screened single young women—the celebrated Harvey Girls—were the country’s first female workforce and became genuine Americana, even inspiring an MGM musical starring Judy Garland.

We speak with award-winning journalist Stephen Fried who has re-created the life of this unlikely American hero, the founding father of the nation’s service industry, whose remarkable family business civilized the West and introduced America to Americans.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=485

Rochester’s Subway

The Rochester Subway or Rochester Industrial and Rapid Transit Railway was an underground rapid transit line in the city of Rochester, NY from 1927 to 1956. It was a Depression generation project that rivaled the best of them. Its scope as a rapid transit system rivaled that of New York and Boston. But it did not last long. This is its story.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=483

A July Fourth Ping Pong Ball Drop Tradition

In Inet, NY in the midst of the Adirondacks, here’s how they spend July Fourth: A seaplane drops color-coded ping pong balls onto the field at Fern Park and hundreds of children race around to collect 3 balls each, which they then exchange for prizes. We speak with Mitch Lee about the Ping Pong Ball Drop and about life in Inlet which is pretty far off the beaten path.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=481

Boom Box Parade

One year in Connecticut there was no band for a parade. From that challenging situation was born what has become a July Fourth tradition – The Boom Box Parade. Folks march with their boom boxes without a band – the patriotic music is provided courtesy of a local radio station. But that’s just the start of it.

We speak with Wayne Norman about the Boom Box Parade – how it got started and what it has come to mean this many years later.

At:http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=479

Roadtrips to America’s Baseball Landmarks

To some baseball is more than a game, and to these folks of importance can be shrines.

Chris Epting is one of those persons. In Roadside Baseball, he has chronicled the locations of America’s baseball landmarks – some 500 in all.

They range from some of the obvious ones like the site of th old Polo Grounds, Ebbets Field and Yankee Stadium to Doubleday Field in Cooperstown.

But there are many more – some quite obscure, but all interesting.

In this Journey into Baseball we speak with Chris Epting about his journeys and what he found.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=477

The House That Built Ruth

A Catholic school in Baltimore that traces its roots to Yankees slugger Babe Ruth recently closed, the victim of declining enrollment and tough economic times.

Ruth spent the better part of 12 years at St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys until 1914, when he left at age 19 to sign with the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. After he joined the Yankees in 1920, he took the St. Mary’s band to major league ballparks to raise money to replace the main school building destroyed in a fire.

St. Mary’s closed in 1950, and for 48 years it has been the site of the all-boys Cardinal Gibbons School. During the Spring, the Archdiocese of Baltimore said that Gibbons and 12 other schools would close in June because of falling enrollment, rising costs and financial problems exacerbated by the recession.

The school board has resisted the decision. There were protests. There was even a radio campaign to try to save the school and the adjacent field where the Babe played as a youth..

We speak with Michael L. Gibbons, the executive director of the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore about what happened and what a historical loss that the demise the school and its field would mean locally and to baseball fans worldwide.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=475

All Things Wiffle Ball

It’s old school and new school. It’ s unique and ubiquitous. It’ s yellow and white. It’ s red, white, and blue. It’s one of America s favorite brands: a classic for nearly 60 years and still a fad-proof fan favorite. The Wiffle Ball remains the great equalizer, befuddling batters of all ages. It curves, zips, and zooms with a mind of its own, turning anyone into a major league pitcher. It stands alone with its eight slots of perforated perfection, distinguished by its asymmetry and unpredictability. With millions of Wiffle bats and balls sold each year, its following is unparalleled with a devotion bordering on obsession. Just ask comedian Drew Carey s manager, Rick Messina, creator of Strawberry Field, one of the country s premier Wiffle venues. Turning his neighbor s adjoining house into a press box and locker room with stadium seats and lights, Mussina set the gold standard for the backyard Wiffle field.

In Wiffle Ball, author Michael Hermann, president of Wicked Cow Entertainment, and The Wiffle Ball Inc.’ s, brand managers, gives readers an inside look at this palatial Wiffle get-up and at the best Wiffle fields around, as well as the down-and-dirty on how in 1953 a down-on-his luck shoe polish salesman and his 13-year-old son concocted the first Wiffle Ball from spare perfume packaging, turning a plastic orb into an American icon.

In this Conversation on the Road we speak with Michael Hermann.

He explores with us The Science of Wiffle, and why a Wiffle Ball, well, wiffles.

He shows us all the how to s: how to build the best field; how to throw the best sinker ball; and how to best tape up a Wiffle Bat, and more.

At:http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=473

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Creating More $ for Your Community in a Time of Less through Your Community Narratives, Media & Economic Development

They're gathering in Oklahoma City for the annual Main Street conference from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Wish I could be there myself. It's a great event and a great place to exchange ideas.

To those at the conference, and those like myself who are there in spirit and virtually (how our world has changed!), here's another idea perhaps worthy of consideration and discussion.

At this time in which communities are being forced to do more with less, there are hidden assets to be tapped into. Your community has its community narrative and community stories, and these narratives can mean money.

In this media world, what distinguishes you, and provides for a sense of place can be leveraged as never before as a dymanic tool for economic development.

Your community has a smart community narrative.

These stories and narratives can be at once informative and entertaining. They can also provide an important catalyst to bring in needed monies - and what community wouldn't like that.

"Journeys into Hidden America" has been in the business of storytelling and smart community narratives for almost 25 years. These days these we can be found in places such as SIRIUS-XM Radio, http://www.hiddenamerica.com; http://conversationsontehroadf.com and http://www.journeysinto.com. As importantly, these narratives are used "smartly" in the form of "public-private partnerships" - where communities get to promote their narratives and create business through a unique "radio-based multi-media platform" - highlighted by regular features on SIRIUS-XM Radio complimented by blogs, podcats, social media and more.

We're soon to unveil an exciting podcast/powerpoint describing what we can do for you and your community. We hope you'll get a look at it when it's available at http://conversationsontheorad.com
(It's currently accessible as a podcast @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=448).

In the menatime, if you're interested in more on how we can help your community make the most of its storties, contact at Eric Model at (201) 694-5933 or modeltr@sprynet.com

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Podcast: Smart Community Narratives, Media & A Wise Economy

Eric Model and Della Rucker chat about how Community-based narratives can be a powerful tool to communities, businesses, media, and the public alike.

Della has decades of experience in community planning and economic development. Eric has been chronicling the “offbeat, off the beaten path, overlooked and forgotten” for almost 25 years.

They have gotten together to help make the most of stories that tap into a sense of place and a sense of who we are. They are also narratives that can also provide a “customized branded-content opportunity” through a unique radio-based multi-media platform.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=448

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Podcast: A Day Celebrating Louie Louie

April 11 is International Louie Louie Day. It provides an annual opportunity to celebrate a song that has been called by some “the greatest part of song of all time”. It has been recorded more than any other song in rock history (by one estimate more than 2400 times), and was almost declared the state song of Washington.

In this Journey into Hidden America, we speak with Louie Louie enthusiast and entertainer Andy Martello about Louie Louie Day.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=442

Podcast: Baseball Americana

Baseball, the sport that helped reunify the country in the years after the Civil War, is still considered the National Pastime. The Library of Congress houses the world’s largest baseball collection, documenting the history of the game and providing a unique look at America since the late 1700s. Now Baseball Americana (Smithsonian Books, 2010) presents the best of the best from that treasure trove. From baseball’s biggest stars to street urchins, from its most newsworthy stories to sandlot and Little League games, the book examines baseball’s hardscrabble origins, rich cultural heritage, and uniquely American character.

The more than 350 illustrations—many never before published—featured first-generation, vintage photographic and chromolithographic baseball cards; photographs of famous players and ballparks; and newspaper clippings, cartoons, New Deal photographs, and baseball advertisements.

We speak with co-author Harry Katz about the book and how it came to be.

Katz is the former curator in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress and a lifelong Red Sox fan. He curated the Library’s website devoted to historical baseball cards as well as multiple graphic art exhibitions.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=440

Podcast: Recalling the John Wilkes Booth’s Escape

On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot and President Abraham Lincoln at the Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. Lincoln died soon thereafter.

A popular area tour just outside Washington is a 12 hour bus ride that takes riders over the route used by Abraham Lincoln’s assassin. We speak with Laurie Verge of the Surratt House Museum about John Wilkes Booth, Mary Surratt (the first woman executed in the United States) and the John Wilkes Booth Escape Route Tour.

For more info, see: http://www.surratt.org

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=436

Podcast: World Championship Pickled Qail-Egg Eating

They’ve been at it again in Grand Prairie, Texas in a one of a kind event.

It’s the world championship pickled quail-egg eating contest in which contestants devour as many of these gourmet delights as possible in the 60 second limit.

The eggs, about the size of an olive, are soaked in jalapeno.

This world-renowned Traders Village contest chomped in at #5 in the Travel Channels Top Ten all-time great eating contest in the world.

We speak with Alan Hughes of Trader’s Village about this unique event, its origins, and about the art of being a championship pickled quail-egg eater

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=434

Podcast: FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List Turns 60

March 14, 1950 was the date that the Federal Bureau of Investigation instituted the “10 Most Wanted Fugitives” list an effort to publicize particularly dangerous criminals who were at large. From 1950 to 2008, 491 fugitives have appeared on the list; 460 have been located. Generally, the only way to go off the list is die or be capture. The FBI has come to cooperate with the producers of T.V.’s “America’s Most Wanted” to further publicize those fugitives.

In this Journey in Hidden America we speak with Bradley Bryant, Chief of the Violent Crime Unit of the FBI, about the list, its history and just what it means to the bureau.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=430

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Podcast: A Day’s Outing for Spring

Journeys into Hidden America contributor Elizabeth Muse joins us to chat about some ways to spend a Day’s Outing now that the snow has melted and the winter chill has gone away.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=411

Podcast: Sorry Charlie Day

Back in the 1990’s Cathy Runyan-Svacina was going througha tough stretch. In response, she decided to create a day to recognize anyone who has been rejected and lived through it. That day became Sorry Charlie Day. We speak with Cathy about her inspiration and how it is celebrated. BTW, you can join the “Sorry Charlie, No-Fan-Club-For-You Club” by sending her your best rejection story (along with a SASE) (Her address: 7812 NW Hampton Rd, Kansas City, MO 64152

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=406

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Podcast: Betting on When The Ice Will Break on an Alaska River

Now that the Vancouver Winter Olympics are over, attention can turn to some other unique activities. How about this one: Alaskans have been betting on when the ice on the Tanana River in the town of Nenana will break each spring since 1917, placing their wagers in red cans in grocery stores, gas stations and other retailers around the state.

This lottery began in 1917 when a group of surveyors working for the Alaska Railroad whiled the time they spent waiting for the river to open and boats with supplies to reach them by forming a betting pool. Interest in the pool continued and spread through Alaska. This lottery has paid out nearly $10 million in prize money with the winning pool in recent years being near $300,000. The 2009 total reached $283,723.

In this Journey into Hidden America, we speak with Sherry Fourness about what they do there for fun, and how you can get involved in it – if betting on when the ice will break sounds like fun to you.

Recorded: February 9, 2010

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=376

Podcast: Remembering A Notorious Valentine’s Day in Chicago

The Saint Valentine’s Day massacre is the name given to the murder of seven people as part of a Prohibtion era conflict between two powerful criminal gangs in Chicago in 1929: the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capome and the North Side Irish gang led by Bugs Moran. Former members of the Egan’s Rats gang were also suspected to have played a large role in the St. Valentine’s Day massacre, assisting Capone.

Chicago historian and supernaturalist Richard Crowe - is author “Blood, Roses & Valerntine” – The Haunted Story of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre – Author of a Tour about Chicago’s Super-Natural. He is alo host of a St. Valentine’s Dinner and tour of the notorious sites of the massacre.

We speak with about the events and his passion in realying them to others.

Recorded on February 16, 2010

Podcast: Buffalo Bills @ 50 Years

In this past football season, we got to see just what a difference a sports team can make to the community when the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl.

Another team that has meant a lot to its community is the Buffalo Bills.

This year marked the 50th season of the Bills. The Buffalo Historical Society marked the occasion with an exhibit. It chronicled the unique relationship between the team and the town.

The Bills are most remembered for the likes of Jack Kemp, O.J. Simpson, Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly, Doug Flutie, Lou Saban, Marv Levy, the old War Memorial Stadium, and one of their most dedicated fans, the late Tim Russert.

In this Journey into Hidden America, we speak with longtime Bills fan and memorabilia collector Greg Taunter about his collection, the exhibit and his love for the Buffalo Bills.

Greg grew up in Central New York (Elmira), and though he now lives near Boston, he remains a Bills fan and a source of Bills History. In fact, after he moved to Boston some 20 years ago, he retained his Bills season tickets and bought a condo in Buffalo so as to cut down on travel between Boston & Buffalo.

His contribution to the exhibit included more than 500 pieces of Bills memorabilia, ranging from game-worn jerseys bobbleheads to Flutie Flakes.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=366

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Wise Economies & Smart Community Narratives - Part I

We like to share these “Journeys into” stories with you. We find them unique and entertaining. Good stuff. We hope you agree.

At the same time, this “good stuff” can mean dollars – especially to communities. These stories and narratives can be “smart community stories and narratives” – specifically as much needed catalysts for economic development – whether in the from of travel and tourism, or Main Street quality of life.

Morerover, these smart narratives can be part of a broader contenporary approach to community and communties in the 21st century – part of a “Wise Economy”

In this Conversation, we speak with Della Rucker. Della has over 17 years’ professional experience in economic development, community planning, entrepreneurship development and public involvement. An area of expertise is the preparation of comprehensive plans, market analyses, economic development strategies, community participation initiativeand other project for dozens of communities.

She adeptly can help make these important principles understandable and something that communities can use ofr both immediate and long-term tangible results.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=357

Podcast: Navajo Code Talkers Remembered

Code Talkers is a term used to describe people who talk using a coded language. It is frequently used to describe Native Americans who served in the United States Marine Corps whose primary job was the transmission of secret tactical messages. Code talkers transmitted these messages over military telephone or radio communications nets using formal or informally developed codes built upon their native languages. Their service was very valuable because it enhanced the communications security of vital front line operations during World War II.

The name code talkers is strongly associated with bilingual Navajo speakers specially recruited during World War II by the Marines to serve in their standard communications units in the Pacific Theater. Code talking, however, was pioneered by Choctaw Indians serving in the U.S. Army during World War I. These soldiers are referred to as Choctaw Code Talkers.

Other Native American code talkers were used by the United States Army during World War II, using Cherokee, Choctaw and Comanche soldiers. Soldiers of Basque ancestry were used for code talking by the US Marines during World War II in areas where other Basque speakers were not expected to be operating.

In this Conversation on the Road, we speak with Jeremy Boucher and Zonnie Gorman from Gallup, New Mexico about the Talkers and about an exhibit at the Gallup Cultural Center that chronicled this unique and important part of our nation’s history.

At:http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=353