My mind goes to the song Anticipation by Carley Simon, watching the precious drops of Columbian brown drip from the stainless machine into my double-sided glass mug. The crema forms at the top per the recipe, and the ten ounces of bliss is ready. A hurried gulp brings to mind the clock. The setting is June 1st, 1924, and the location is Chicago. The duration is set for an hour. When the plunger is pulled, we find ourselves on the corner of Dearborn and Madison Streets in downtown Chicago. This is the headquarters of the Chicago Tribune newspaper.
We are in time for Col. Robert R. McCormick’s announcement that what would become one of the most widely heard radio stations in the U.S. and a widely seen television station was created when the Chicago Tribune newspaper purchased Chicago’s WDAP radio station and renamed it WGN, an abbreviation of the Tribune slogan, “World’s Greatest Newspaper.”
Since Col. McCormick is a man of few words, it does not take long for the announcement and our alarm to sound. The couch proved to be a soft landing place, and my text notice tells me Linda Hill has sent this week’s prompt. It reads:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “recipe.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit her post. Here is a link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/05/31/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-1-2024/
Recipe by John W. Howell © 2024.
“Sounds like a recipe for success.”
“What does?”
“Tribune buying a radio station.”
“I agree with you.”
“I remember watching Bozo’s Circus on WGN television.”
“That was a great show.”
“WGN became a so-called superstation.”
“So true.”
“Big audience nationwide.”
“Yup.”
“You sound like you already knew this stuff.”
“I thought everybody knew this stuff.”
“Okay, I was trying to have a conversation.”
“I think we should do that over a VooDoo Ranger.”
“I can’t believe you are the one making that suggestion. I already called Uber.”
“Let me guess. He’s over there.”
“Yes, he is.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Look at that.”
“What is it?”
“I’m not sure. But I think it is a 1967 Dodge Polara 500.”
“You lived through years of cars, so I’ll not bet against you.”
“Sweet ride. Let’s go.’
Fiction Favorites 
I thought Harry Caray started this ‘blowtorch’ station. Who was the guy that had the morning show for years? Great recipe for success is right. And still going strong. Love the ride.
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On radio it was Wally Phillips. Not sure on TV.
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Dear John
what a great car! We would love to have a ride in it. And thanks for the short history of the Chicago Tribune.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you so much. I wish y’all a super weekend as well F4oC. 😊
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Life is a recipe in action, but the results sometimes fail to impress… can we blame the cook?
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Petty risky to blame the cook. 🤣
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Don’t I know it, John… I think I am the only cook in our family…
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Me too
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How do you cope, when you’re not hungry? I sometimes want to chuck them a packet of biscuits…
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Nice thing about me is I am always hungry, but I get your feeling.
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💖
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😁
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Superstations, the start of something bigger than we imagined. Glad you made it back to the couch, John.
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Always a good thing to find a soft landing. Thanks, Dan.
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Never knew what WGN stood for. Thanks for the info.
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That was a surprise to me as well. 😊
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Wally Phillips, that was the guy. He was very entertaining. Thanks, John.
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I lived in the Chicago area on and off for eight years and enjoyed him as well.
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I remember WGN being on our TV as a kid and young adult. And Bozo. Haven’t had that channel available in a long time, but considering the variety of regular and streaming TV, I don’t miss it.
I would go for a spin in that car on a nice day. Beats some of your other questionable Uber rides.
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Yes this ride looks like it would be fun. Thanks, Mary.
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Great look into history, John, and it brings back memories of WGN TV and radio. That is definitely a sweet ride.
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Thank you, Tim. So glad you liked it. 😁
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I’m having a Thelma and Louise moment…what a car.
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I understand that feeling.
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We may have listened to WGN when we lived in Evanston! Thanks to Dan for the photo of that wonderful car – perfect day to drive it here with the top down.
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Yes it is, Noelle. A perfect day. 😁
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All these years, I thought WGN meant WAGON. No wonder I didn’t understand the conversation. 😄 Fun one, John. Have a great weekend.
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I guess it could be wagon after all. Thanks, Gwen.
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John, thanks for the history lesson. Add me to those who didn’t know what superstation WGN’s initials stood for. And now, off for another coffee because you made yours sound so good…☕
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Yeah, coffee is the elixir of life. Thanks, Bruce.
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This uber looks worth the ride, John… fun I thought WGN was wagon too. lol🙀
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That’s funny. Maybe we should just change it to WAGON. Thanks, Cindy.
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Why not lol 😝
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😊
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I had no idea what WGN stood for. I recently discovered a Radio Classics station and have it on in my car constantly. The old radio shows are fantastic.
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They are. I lived in the Chicago area on and off for eight years and loved WGN
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I remember watching Bozo the Clown on television when I was little! The actual episode I remember was when he broke a rib after tripping over a rollerskate. He showed us his Xrays. I’m kinda thinking this may be a false memory. In any event, enjoy your stylish Uber ride!
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It could be a real memory, Liz. I’m sure a broken rib would be educational.
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The lesson I remember is “Don’t leave your toys lying on the floor, children!”
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Good lesson.
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Reinforced by my mother.
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Indeed
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The six months or so when I was 4 and we lived in Cincinnati, I watched Bozo everyday at 4pm. 😀
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Thanks for sharing, Kymber. Sounds like a great memory
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Whoa, Now That’s a Sweet ride!!
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I love that one, GP. It is sweet.
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Definitely a sweet Uber ride. Just in case no one tells you your coffee intro continues to be outstanding, I’m telling you.
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Aw. Thank you, Jennie. I think it is a love ode to my machine.
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You’re welcome, John. Yes, a love ode for sure. 🙂
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😊
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We saw a red car like that last week – turns out it was on its way to a car show right next to where we were headed!
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It must have been terrific to see it. Thanks for sharing.
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The couple driving the car looked like they were having fun!
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Now that is a cool ride! And yes, smart of a newspaper and radio station to be joined…
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I agree, Dale. Good business. 😁
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😁
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Now Imma have that song stuck in my head. And yanno, there are worse ways to go.
Same thing goes for that Uber!
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There are worse ways to go for sure Thanks Pilgrim.
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😉
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I think you have a special affinity for classic cars, John. Sounds like a recipe for a fun ride. 🙂
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Let’s see. Born and raised in Detroit. Street raced on Woodward avenue in my beefed up 1949 Ford club coupe in 1956, 57, 58 and 59. I think you may be right. 😁
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Ha ha ha. I knew it!
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Guilty. I’ve loved cars my whole life.
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Okay, recipe, neat word.
Backwards it’s epicer. Throw an accent acute over the e, and we’ve got a grocer.
Interesting how the etymology of these words tie in from a Latin root.
Then again Regnar Oodoov seems just plain Latin.
ÕẌ ÕẌ ÕẌ ÕẌ
(Latin letters)
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I like your renaming Regnar Oodoov . It seems to fit somehow. I also like your Latin ÕẌs. They look rather dignified. 🌮X 🌮X 🌮X 🌯X. Mine are Latina
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Great background info on a great station! Love the Über ride. Back from the days when cars had loads of muscle and showed it. That was some set of wheels.
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Yes those were the days for sure. Thanks, Monika. I used to wax cars like that and it took forever.
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No kidding. They had a whole lotta real estate to polish!
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Ha ha ha
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Great ride. We know from experience it could be worse.
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Yes indeed. We have had worse.
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I agree…a sweet ride! Fun historical trivia shared, John. Thanks!
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Thank you, Jan. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Sounds and looks like a fun ride, John! I enjoyed the background too, and my husband would love this car. 🙂
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Thank you, Lauren. I think most husbands would love the car. 😁
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Fair point, John! LOL
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😀
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