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Track Chicago’s organized?crime legacy, Windy City film sites, pivotal industrial events, and unusual urban legends.
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Open Trip PlannerDuring the tumultuous landscape of Prohibition-era Chicago, few names inspired trepidation among rival gangsters quite like Hymie Weiss. This Polish American mobster and bootlegger solidified his legacy as one of the era’s most infamous figures. He garnered the rare distinction of being the sole gangster who commanded genuine fear from Al Capone himself. The Man…
So, Al Capone’s grave has had quite the journey. Initially, he was buried in a flashy spot that turned into a tourist hotspot, causing damage. Now, he’s resting in a simple grave at Mount Carmel Cemetery. It’s kind of funny how his flashy life ended with such a low-key marker. The cemetery’s open for visitors too!
The Ruby and Oswald Connection Ruby resided in apartments #207 & #206 at the renowned Marsala Place Apartments. This vibrant location perfectly encapsulated the spirit of its time. His association with Lee Harvey Oswald has ignited intense discussions among history enthusiasts. The mention of Jack Ruby and Lee Harvey Oswald invariably commands attention due to…
What if your child’s favorite toy harbored the soul of a serial killer? This nightmare scenario became reality for horror fans in 1988 when Child’s Play introduced the world to Chucky—a seemingly innocent Good Guy doll with a murderous secret. The film tapped into a primal fear that resonates with audiences decades later: the corruption of childhood…
When Police Uniforms Became Murder Disguises The location housed the S-M-C Cartage Company warehouse, which served as a garage where members of Bugs Moran’s (pictured) North Side Gang would hang out. On that fateful Valentine’s Day morning, Al Capone’s henchmen, disguised as police officers, lined up seven members and associates of the North Side Gang against…
The Man Behind the Monster H.H. Holmes, born Herman Webster Mudgett in 1861, stands as one of America’s first documented serial killers. He operated during the late 19th century, capitalizing on the chaos and crowds of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The Infamous Murder Castle Holmes constructed a sprawling hotel that became known as the “Murder Castle.” This sinister building…
A Community’s Worst Nightmare When the three friends failed to return that night in Chicago, their families’ concern quickly turned to panic. In an era when children routinely walked neighborhoods unaccompanied and parents felt secure in their communities, the disappearance of three boys simultaneously was unthinkable, raising fears of possible murder in Chicago. The search…
A True Legend Robert Reed, born in 1932, was a classically trained actor who studied at Northwestern and in London. He honed his craft with the utmost dedication. Throughout his career, he aspired to take on serious dramatic roles that mirrored the complexities of life. He yearned for depth rather than merely the lightheartedness of…
On December 1, 1958, one of the most devastating school fires in American history occurred at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School in Chicago. The fire claimed 92 children and 3 nuns. This tragedy not only shattered a close-knit community but also sparked nationwide changes in school safety. These changes continue to protect students…
The Disappearance That Changed Everything Robert Piest, a 15-year-old sophomore at Maine West High School, was working his final shift at Nisson Pharmacy on Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines on what should have been a night of family celebration. His mother Elizabeth Piest had arrived around 9 p.m. to pick him up for her 46th birthday dinner when Robert made a decision…
Gerald Norman “Jerry” Springer took one of the most unconventional paths to television fame in entertainment history. Born in London in 1944 to German-Jewish refugees fleeing the turmoil of World War II, he moved to the United States. There, he built a promising political career, serving on Cincinnati City Council and ultimately becoming mayor in…
On the night of July 13–14, 1966, Richard Speck committed one of the most horrifying mass murders in American history. Speck broke into a townhouse located at 2319 East 100th Street in Chicago, which housed student nurses from the South Chicago Community Hospital. Armed with a knife and a handgun, Speck methodically and brutally murdered…
In the often disturbing world of true crime, some stories stand out not just for their brutality, but for the shocking betrayal at their core. One such case is that of Patricia Columbo, a seemingly ordinary young woman from suburban Illinois who orchestrated one of the most cold-blooded familial murders in the state’s history. Nearly…
Beulah AnnanLong before Chicago dazzled Broadway and Hollywood with jazz hands and courtroom theatrics, there was a real woman at the center of it all—Beulah Annan, the original femme fatale behind the glitz and headlines. Her story had everything: love, betrayal, booze, and a courtroom full of spectacle. But unlike the musical, her life didn’t…
The summer of 1946 in Chicago was one of fear and fascination. Three brutal murders, a cryptic message scrawled in lipstick, and the arrest of a seemingly ordinary 17-year-old college student captured the attention of a city—and the nation. That young man was William Heirens, later dubbed the “Lipstick Killer”—a name etched into the annals…
On the night of June 29, 1984, Abdelkrim Belachheb, then 39 years old, had an argument with a woman at Ianni’s Restaurant and Club. After being insulted, he left, retrieved a Smith & Wesson 459 handgun from his car, and returned to the bar. He shot and killed six people, including the woman he had…
On a cloudy morning rush hour in Chicago on October 30, 1972, the city experienced its worst train crash to date. The collision occurred between Illinois Central Gulf Train 416, comprised of newly bought Highliners, and the express Train 720 on what is now the Metra Electric Line. Train 416 overshot the 27th Street station…
Gacy met McCoy at a bus terminal in Chicago while McCoy was returning home after a Christmas celebration with friends in Michigan. His body was discovered along with many other victims of Gacy in December 1978 after the police executed a search warrant for Gacy’s house as part of the investigation into the whereabouts of Robert Piest,…
On May 25, 1950, a tragic event known as the 1950 CTA Streetcar Crash, or the Green Hornet Streetcar Disaster, occurred in Chicago, Illinois. A Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) streetcar collided with a gasoline truck at the intersection of 63rd and State Streets, resulting in a devastating explosion. The crash claimed the lives of 34…
On December 28, 1956, sisters Barbara and Patricia Grimes, two of Joseph Cornelius and Lorretta Marcela’s seven children, decided to watch Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender at a Brighton Park theater. Barbara, 15, and Patricia, 12, were not only close sisters but also diligent students at Thomas Kelly High School and St. Maurice’s Catholic School,…
Bobby Franks was a 14-year-old boy from Chicago who was tragically and brutally murdered in 1924. He was kidnapped and killed by two wealthy University of Chicago students, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, in what became known as the infamous Leopold and Loeb case. The motive for the murder was said to be a want…
The 1919 World Series was a highly significant event in the history of Major League Baseball. It featured a championship matchup between the American League (AL) champion Chicago White Sox and the National League (NL) champion Cincinnati Reds. Regrettably, this particular World Series became infamous due to the subsequent revelation of the “Black Sox Scandal,”…
Emmett Till was a 14-year-old African American boy who tragically became a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. In August 1955, Till, a native of Chicago, was visiting family in Money, Mississippi, when he was accused of whistling at or making inappropriate remarks to a white woman named Carolyn Bryant, who…
Married with Children is a popular American sitcom that aired from 1987 to 1997. It was created by Michael G. Moye and Ron Leavitt and followed the dysfunctional Bundy family living in Chicago. The main characters included Al Bundy (played by Ed O’Neill), a misanthropic shoe salesman; Peggy Bundy (played by Katey Sagal), Al’s lazy…
John Dillinger was an infamous American criminal and bank robber during the early 1930s. He was born on June 22, 1903, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dillinger grew up in a lower-middle-class family and became involved in petty crimes in his youth. He was first arrested in 1924 for robbery but was eventually released on parole. Dillinger’s…
The Eastland disaster of 1915 is etched in history as one of the most devastating maritime accidents in America. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of safety measures and the profound impact a single moment can have on countless lives. Let’s delve into the details of the Eastland disaster, from its causes…
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