Cascade of History

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel remembers former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro, who passed away March 20, 2025. In this archival interview from 2021, Munro recalls the Washington Centennial of 1889, the family origins of the centennial license plate, and agrees that he likely had more fun as Secretary of State (from 1981 to 2001) than any of his predecessors o...

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Jim Dever in a long and far-ranging conversation about his career, local broadcast media, and his recent decision to step down from EVENING Magazine after 34 years at KING 5 TV in Seattle. CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and streaming everywhere via space1...

Feliks Banel's guests on this special episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY – broadcast LIVE from the endangered Ryan House in Sumner, Washington – include dozens of Sumner residents who want the City of Sumner to give up their plans to demolish the historic and beloved structure. Guests who spoke include Nick Biermann, one of the organizers of the group Save Ryan House on the $500,000 challenge match gif...

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Chris Moore, executive director of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, about legislation currently on the move in Olympia - which, if enacted, could seriously compromise local historic preservation ordinances in many Evergreen State communities. The House version of the bill passed unanimously earlier this month, sur...

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel presents a short audio feature produced in 2013 to mark the 75th anniversary of the groundbreaking CBS News "roundup" of reports from European capitals as the continent teetered on the brink of war, and the Nazis moved into Austria. The March 13, 1938 international broadcast had two direct ties to the Pacific Northwest: CBS' Edward R. Murro...

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Mark Swenson, president of the Point Roberts Historical Society and author of the history book "Point Roberts Backstory," published in 2017. In this interview, Swenson describes the colorful history of the community, and discusses the impact of current events, too. Point Roberts, Washington was in the news during the pandemic bo...

Feliks Banel's guests on this "LOOKING FORWARD TO SUMMERTIME" encore episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY are Clare Manis Hatler, whose late husband Manny discovered the remains of an ancient mastodon on the couple's property near Sequim, Washington in the late 1970s; and Amber Casali, who in 2019 wrote “Hiking Washington’s Fire Lookouts,” a guide and how-to about visiting and camping at old fire lookout...

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Trevor Lenzmeier, features editor at The Seattle Times, about his story (published today) exploring the little-known but formative year spent in wartime Seattle by Kentucky Fried Chicken founder/symbol Colonel Sanders. Link to Trevor's story "Why did Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders cook in Seattle?" https://www.se...

Feliks Banel’s guest on this encore broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Liz Wood, Spokane-based historian and collector of all things Expo '74, the world's fair held in the Lilac City 51 years ago at what's now Riverfront Park. Ms. Wood shared recordings from her collection of Expo '74 songs and helped put together a countdown of rare and nearly forgotten recordings created to promote the fair, and...

On this BONUS BREAKING NEWS episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with noted Canadian historian and author Dr. Barry Gough from his home on Vancouver Island. Dr. Gough provides history and context regarding tariffs imposed on Canada earlier today by the United States, and the long relationship between British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE mos...

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with author David B. Williams about the release this week of the new edition of his book "Seattle Walks" from University of Washington Press. For more information about David B. Williams, the new edition of his book, his blog and other activities, you'll find links at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/casc...

Feliks Banel's guests on this special three-hour "FLAGSHIP FAREWELL" episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY – broadcast LIVE from the Burgermaster in University Village in Seattle as it prepares to close forever - include Eugenia Woo from Historic Seattle; former journalist and Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden; Cynthia Brothers of Vanishing Seattle; author Taha Ebrahimi; historian Kent Sullivan; SPAC...

On this bonus BREAKING NEWS episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with John Suscheck of Ozark Mountain Railcar about the old (and much missed!) Seattle Waterfront Streetcars, which are now being offered for sale by a private owner in Iowa via Suscheck's firm. For more information about the trolley cars now for sale: www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadc...

Feliks Banel's guest on this live broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY is author, historian and activist Frank Abe on the Day of Remembrance controversy at Pike Place Market, discussing history and context of Japanese American incarceration and the current political environment. We also listened to three different versions of "Battle of New Orleans" in a special "War of 1812 Pop Culture Smackdown" pitt...

Feliks Banel's guest on this live broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY is roving correspondent Ken Zick LIVE from the recently shuttered Ark Lodge Cinema in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood. We also listened to side one of the 1961 LP release "The Living Constitution," as well as an assortment of topical tunes from the past. This LIVE broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY was originally presented at 8pm...

Feliks Banel's guests on this live broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY include Chris Moore, executive director of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation on two bills before the Washington Legislature this week that would radically alter preservation ordinances in the Evergreen State; and Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, president of the Black Heritage Society of Washington on this year's observance...

Feliks Banel's guests on this live broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY include roving correspondent Ken Zick LIVE from the historic Rancho Super Car Wash (aka "Elephant Car Wash") in Rancho Mirage, California; railfan Dan Bolyard of Coulee City, Washington on tracking down a trackside photo of his younger self from more than 40 years ago; Cindy Staats, VP of Marketing for Shakey's USA on the history o...

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Dan Bolyard of Coulee City, Wash. about his decades-long quest to track down a photo he suspected might exist: of himself as a young boy, more than 40 years ago, watching trains in his hometown. To see the photo Dan recently found - with help from the man who snapped it in 1981, photographer Tom Carver - visit the CASCADE OF HIS...

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with King County Executive Dow Constantine about a lunch Executive Constantine had with the filmmaker and “Twin Peaks” co-creator David Lynch, and reflects on Lynch's legacy in Snoqualmie, North Bend, King County and the Pacific Northwest. Lynch passed away last week at age 78. CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights...

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Adrian Scott Fine, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Conservancy, the private, non-profit historic preservation group for all of Los Angeles County. Mr. Fine describes the work his group is doing in the wake of the devastating fires in and around Los Angeles over the past 10 days, and shares disaster-preparation lessons for his...

On this bonus episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Alex Jensen, third-generation CEO of Burgermaster, the Puget Sound area drive-in restaurant chain, about the news today that the original Burgermaster in Seattle's Laurelhurst neighborhood will be closing permanently in February 2025. The property has been sold and will be redeveloped; news of this potential closure was first sh...

Feliks Banel's guests on this very special live broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY are singer/songwriter Jon Pontrello and retired Seattle Times journalist (and maritime lyricist) Jack Broom. Jon performs several of his original songs of the sea on this episode, including a tribute to Peter Bevis, the late Seattle artist who brought home the old streamline ferry KALAKALA from Ketchikan in 1998. Jon a...

Feliks Banel's guests on this encore episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY from December 18, 2022 are Edmonds-Woodway music director (and holiday crooner) Jake Bergevin, live from Spokane where he just performed at the historic Fox Theatre; Nathalie Picard of Heritage BC with a preview of Heritage Week 2023 in British Columbia; and “Santa Bill,” a long-serving Seattle area jolly old elf and fixture at Sea...

Feliks Banel presents a special Christmas 2024 episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY, revisiting archival sounds from the 2010 Christmas broadcast of "Swing Years and Beyond" as produced and hosted by Amanda Wilde on KUOW 94.9 FM. "Swing Years" left the airwaves in 2017 and is still deeply missed, so it's very exciting to send out the voice of Ms. Wilde and her Christmas music selections over the FM airwa...

Feliks Banel's guests on this live broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY from Candy Cane Lane in Seattle include roving correspondent/field producer Ken Zick; Vincent "Mister Candy Cane Lane" Miller on the origins of the grassroots decoration project; Phil Edlund with an update on Parkland School, now open once again and serving as a community center; Dan Evans, Jr., son of Daniel J. Evans, three-term W...