Welcome to Saint Louis In Tune!

History Episodes

Uncover the fascinating history of St. Louis and beyond through engaging stories and interviews that bring the past to life.
July 15, 2022

One Step to Chicago-Featuring All Star Jazz Legends

Rivermont Records, a Virginia-based label that specializes in early jazz and ragtime, is proud to announce the premiere release of One Step to Chicago, a 14-track album that features an all-star lineup of jazz music legends. Recorded in 1992 and then laid aside until now, the album is the product of legendary producer George Avakian. Avakian brought three generations of jazz giants together in RCA’s New York studio to record the exciting music of Frank Teschemacher (a pioneering jazz clarinetist...
June 22, 2022

Amazing Webster Groves

What do Phyllis Diller, Charlotte Peters, Martha Mason, Harry Carey, Tennessee Williams, and Ulysses S. Grant have in common? Amazing Webster Groves! Award-winning author, journalist, former editor of the Webster-Kirkwood Times, St. Louis Media Hall of Fame Member, and Professor Emeritus at Webster University Don Corrigan highlights the who, what, when, where, why, and how in this book published by Reedy Press. This is Season 5! For more episodes, go to stlintune.com
June 22, 2022

Freedom's Home: The Freedom Suits Memorial

Not far from where Dred and Harriet Scott submitted the freedom suit which ultimately became a historic Supreme Court case, stands a new memorial commemorating all freedom suits filed by slaves in St. Louis between 1812 and 1865. Freedom's Home, the name given to the sculpture by the artist Preston Jackson, is the hard work of many specifically The Honorable Judge David C. Mason. Saint Louis In Tune discussed the upcoming unveiling of the sculpture with Judge Mason and sculptor Preston Jackson a...
May 18, 2022

Chauncey Spencer-Pioneer in Aviation and Civil Rights

After seeing the flight of an aircraft at an early age, Chauncey Spencer never looked back. He helped bring about the formation of the pilot group that would become the Tuskegee Airmen. In 1939, his father and another pilot, Dale White, were part of a pilot training program in Chicago. At that time, black pilots were denied the opportunity to fly for the military. Spencer and White flew on a 10-city tour intended to show Americans the skills of black pilots. They met with then-Senator Harry Trum...
April 19, 2022

The St Louis Cardinals -1964 World Series Champions

Reedy Press is pleased to announce the release of its new local interest book, ’64 Cardinals, by Robert Tiemann and Ron Jacober.
April 13, 2022

Is There an Off-Ramp for Putin for the War in Ukraine?

In this episode, we discuss an update with Valery Dzutsati, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Kansas. His research interests span civil and interstate conflict, democratization, collective action, religion and politics, and methods with an empirical focus on Eurasia and Eastern Europe. He updates us on recent developments in Ukraine and possible ramifications for Ukraine, Russia, and western countries. Here is the first interview if y...
April 13, 2022

Jonas Salk: A Life

Jonas Salk: A Life is a captivating biography of the virologist and researcher who was thrust into the limelight and shunned by the scientific community. Charlotte Jacobs does a magnificent job in describing his brilliance, how he pushed himself in research, and the impact it all had on his family and the rest of his life. Why is his work still important today? Why didn't he receive the Nobel Prize for his work? We discuss Salk and her book which was one of the 100 notable books of 2015 by edito...
April 13, 2022

Seven Gables Inn: An Oasis in the Midst of an Urban Jungle

Amy and Amrit Gill from Restoration St. Louis discuss their recently completed project at the Seven Gables Inn in Clayton, Missouri. [00:28] Background [02:00] Seven Gables Inn Style Historic Landmark Architect Restaurant (HIdden Trivia Alert!) [05:16] Restoration St. Louis The Grove Use of Original Art including Local Artist Fern Taylor at Seven Gables Inn [10:59] The Vibe of Seven Gables Inn Small, intimate, weekend getaways, weddings Food-St. Louis recipes from restaurants no long...
Feb. 27, 2022

Ukraine and Russia: David and Goliath

Valery Dzutsati, Ph.D. is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Kansas. His research interests span civil and interstate conflict, democratization, collective action, religion and politics, and methods with an empirical focus on Eurasia and Eastern Europe. He also is a fellow for the Jamestown Foundation. He discusses recent developments in Ukraine and possible ramifications for Ukraine, Russia, and western countries. This is Season 5! For mo...
Jan. 10, 2022

Our Precious Hope: St. Louis' Baby Jane Doe

On a winter afternoon in February 1983, two young men discovered the body of a girl who had been brutally murdered. She remains to this day unidentified and the topic of a documentary to find her killer. Shelby Sosa, Lee Barber, and Edrar 'Bird' Sosa set out to keep Baby Jane Doe's memory alive. Shelby and Lee join the discussion of the documentary movie, Our Precious Hope: St. Louis' Baby Jane Doe. [01:15] Background Edrar 'Bird' Sosa, director Shelby Sosa, cinematographer Lee Barber, assist...
Nov. 23, 2021

Alumination: A Documentary Film and Journey with the Airstream

For the past several years, Director Eric Bricker and Producer Lisa Hughes have delved into the world of the Airstream, its culture, and its followers. These native St. Louisians have brought a whole new understanding to the silver bullet that is seen traveling down the highway, parked as a food trailer, or used as a permanent residence. Alumination is a play on three words: aluminum, nation, and illumination. Find out more about this enlightening documentary at the St. Louis International Film ...
Nov. 15, 2021

Films About St. Louis: A View from the Director's Chair

Directors Damien D. Smith and Alana Marie provide background and attention to important events in their respective films "Target: St. Louis Vol. I" and "The Kinloch Doc." The films are a part of the St. Louis International Film Festival and can be seen online. "Target: St. Louis Vol I," tells the story of the U.S. government’s secret Cold War-era dispersal of aerosolized radioactive material in Pruitt-Igoe and other North City locations with majority Black populations to gauge their effects. "Th...
Sept. 15, 2021

9/11 Tribute: Relecting on Losing a Father on 9/11 by Kimberly Rex

On September 11, 2001, Kimberly Rex lost her father, Vincent Litto who was a senior vice-president at Cantor Fitzgerald. He worked on the 104th floor of Tower 1. Kimberly recently had two opinion pieces published: "When people say 'Never Forget' 9/11, this is what I hear" for CNN, and "My father was killed on 9/11. I still struggle to understand how he just disappeared" for the Washington Post. She graciously talked to Saint Louis In Tune and reflected on the loss and memories of her father and ...
Sept. 2, 2021

How the Arts Survive and Blossom Through Stressful Times

Stressful times in history have not hampered the arts but in many cases enhanced the production of literature, music, and art. Chris Mullen, host of Studio 111 gives her thoughts about our current situation and what it means for producers and consumers of the arts. This is Season 4! For more episodes, go to stlintune.com #covid19 #pandemicart
Sept. 2, 2021

Juneteenth and Civil Righteousness

Cliff Robinson, founder of Juneteenth.com discusses the history of Juneteenth and the website devoted to educating everyone about Juneteenth. Jonathan Thomas, President of Civil Righteousness and grandnephew of the late Civil Rights activist/music legend, Dr. Nina Simone provides background on an event happening in Ferguson, MO to unite the community called The Table. Civil Righteousness This is Season 4! For more episodes, go to stlintune.com #juneteenth #civilrighteousness #thetable #thetab...
Sept. 2, 2021

New Life for a Print Paper: The Webster-Kirkwood Times

The Webster-Kirkwood Times is such a beloved newspaper in the community, that when the pandemic hit and the paper faced a shutdown, community fervor and four individuals gave it new life. Publisher/Owner Randy Drilingas and Editor in Chief/Owner Jaime Mowers discuss how respect, relationships, and the role of the community played a part in this print paper's new life! This is Season 4! #newspaper #printmedia #printpaper #Webstergroves #Kirkwood #editor #publisher #community #media #journalism #...
Aug. 30, 2021

9/11 Tribute: Capturing a Privileged Moment by Henry Leutwyler

For over 40 years, Henry Leutwyler has been capturing the essence of people and objects. In this episode of Saint Louis In Tune, he discusses the romantic process of photography and how a still life is a portrait of an object. His portraits of 9/11 recovered objects in the September 2021 issue of National Geographic vibrate with honor and tribute. The photographs "Sacred Dust" can be seen at the Foley Gallery in New York City September 10-26. For more information on this story, visit natgeo.com...
Aug. 23, 2021

Haiti Needs Our HELP! Do you have a CARGO PLANE?

Since its founding over 200 years ago as the second republic in the Americas through a successful slave revolt, the country of Haiti has endured a cold shoulder from the international community, economic hardship, political instability, and natural disasters. In the last several years, the latter along with the recent assassination of President Jovenel Moïse has brought the country to utter turmoil. People need water, food, and shelter for survival. St. Louis In Tune talked to Joel Augustus, Exe...
Aug. 10, 2021

MISSOURI 2021 - The Bicentennial Celebration!

The state of Missouri is celebrating the bicentennial this year. MISSOURI 2021 is commemorating 200 years of history with a variety of events, activities, and projects. Beth Pike, Senior Strategic Communications Specialist for the State Historical Society of Missouri and In Charge of Strategic Communications for Missouri 2021 joins St. Louis In Tune to get a glimpse of things that have been happening across the state as well as upcoming events! This is Season 4! #mohistory #missouri #missouri20...
July 29, 2021

The Story of One of the Last POW's to Come Home

Director Tim Breitbach relates the harrowing true story of Sgt. Dan Hefel. The film follows one of the final 19 prisoners of war to come home from the Vietnam War. The film was included in the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase and received the Audience Choice Award for documentary feature. This is Season 4! #film #independentfilm #documentary #stlouis #vietnam #vietnamwar #pow #iowa #stlfilmmaking #virtualfestival #virtualfilmfestival
June 3, 2021

STL Scavenger - Searching for St. Louis's Hidden Treasures

Looking for a new way to explore the St. Louis region? Get out your magnifying glass or zoom in on your camera to find the buildings, businesses, statues, and architectural details on a fun, new search in the book STL Scavenger: The Ultimate Search for St. Louis's Hidden Treasures. Readers can turn their scavenger hunt into real treasure by entering their answers to the book's clues at www.stlscavenger.com for a chance to win a variety of local prizes and a grand prize of $500. ORDERING INFORMAT...
June 2, 2021

Lewis & Clark: First Renaissance Men of the Frontier

The Lewis and Clark Expedition was one of the most historic expeditions to take place in North America. Let's get an inside perspective from a veteran guide at the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site. What were some of the challenges they faced from their point of departure at Camp Dubois which sat at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and how did they deal with them? #lewisandclark #MississippiRiver #Missouri #MissouriRiver #Illinois #Confluence #MeriwetherLewis #WilliamClark ...
June 1, 2021

St. Louis Mercantile Library - Smithsonian Museum West

Founded in 1846, the St. Louis Mercantile Library is the oldest general library in continuous existence west of the Mississippi River. The Library celebrates its 175th anniversary as the oldest cultural institution in St. Louis and one of the first cultural institutions chartered by the state of Missouri. #Stlouis #Library #anniversary #history #mississippiriver #missouri #railroad #nativeamerican #inlandwaterways #river #music #art #literature #americana #smithsonian #museum #collections #cult...
May 31, 2021

The Looking Glass of the Tulsa Race Massacre - 100 Years Later

What do you do when you find out about events in history that you had no idea occurred? The Tulsa Race Massacre may be one of those events. DeNeen Brown, award-winning writer for the Washington Post and Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism discusses this horrific violence with Saint Louis In Tune while on Black Wall Street as she is reporting on the 100th anniversary of the massacre. #history #blackhistory #Tulsa #Massacre #TulsaMa...