History of the Lou - 97.1 FM Talk

One of the best ways to look at history is through the correspondence of the time. Christopher Alan Gordon, Director of Library and Collections for the Missouri Historical Society has gone through many of these to write the book, "Letters Home from WWII, St. Louis." It's an interesting look at the war and St. Louis at the time. Learn about the amazing 6888 Postal Battalion, the only all-Black Wome...

The Cathedral Basilica, also known as the New Cathedral in the Central West End has one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world. It is amazing. Local architect, historian, and author John Guenther stops by to talk with Sue about its history. Guenther has just written a book entitled, "The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis - An Illustrated Timeline". The mosaics, as you can imagine took DE...

The history of aviation in St. Louis goes back almost to the beginning of aviation in America. The namesake of our current airport took flying lessons from one of the Wright Brothers! Follow along as aviation historian Alan Hoffman takes Sue through it all...from Charles Lindbergh and his world-changing flight in The Spirit of St. Louis to TWA and Ozark Airlines to McDonnell Douglas and its role i...

This year is the 50th anniversary of St. Louis architectural firm Trivers, which has had a hand in resurrecting several historic buildings in St. Louis. Trivers Principals Joe Brinkmann and Amy Gilbertson drop by to talk about some of the projects with Sue. They cover everything from the old Cupples warehouse that became a fancy hotel, to the Old Post Office that has a courtroom in it!

The Chase has a lengthy (over 100 years) and intriguing history in St. Louis. It is woven into the fabric of the city. Learn about its quick construction and the endless stream of stars who performed and stayed there throughout the years...from Ella Fitzgerald to Elvis, and why the staff can't say who has been there recently! The Chase has many stories to tell. Join Sue and Matthew White and Amy R...

St. Louis was at one point in history second only to Detroit in automobile production, and it is an amazing story. Thomas Eyssell, co-author with Molly Butterworth of "They Will Run: The Golden Age of the Automobile in St. Louis" (Reedy Press) stopped by to talk about it. We had many different car manufacturers like Dorris Motor Corporation and Moon Motor Car...oh, and you won't want to miss the s...

The St. Nicholas Greek Festival is this weekend in St. Louis, (as it is every Labor Day weekend) and in honor of that, we have the history of the Greeks in this city. Local historian and member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Dr. Mike Tsichlis takes us back to the 1800's when the first Greeks came to this area. Learn how it went, and what businesses they started, and where Greektown used to...

The St. Louis Area Food Bank is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, so Sue sat down with Meredith Knopp, President and CEO to talk about its history. Learn why it began, and HOW it began with just an idea and a rented warehouse space. Through the generosity of St. Louis area people and companies, it really is amazing what it has become today. For more information, go to www.stlfoodbank.org...

This week, Dan O'Neill, longtime writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch joins Sue to talk about the history of the Blues. O'Neill wrote a book entitled, "When The Blues Go Marching In" that is full of great photos and the timeline of the franchise through its amazing Stanley Cup win in 2019. Find out what hockey teams St. Louis had before the Blues and how the Arena played a role in getting the fr...

The foresight of the city founders to include parks in St. Louis was impressive...we have some of the best in the country! Author and St. Louis expert Nini Harris joins Sue to talk about some of them, but also St. Louis County parks, and why they were late to the party. We also have some incredible state parks nearby. Nini's latest book is entitled, "St. Louis Parks" and she is a fount of informat...

There are FIVE buildings designed by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in Missouri, and one of them is in Kirkwood AND it is open to the public! This week Sharon Croissant, long-time docent at is what is sometimes referred to locally as "The Kraus House" joins Sue to talk about the house itself, and its designer and owners. You won't believe how far people have travelled from around the...

Well, it's summer, and we travel to Hermann, MO for a look at the town's interesting history. This week, Dea Hoover, author of "Hermann, Missouri, A Walk Through History" joins Sue and talks about the society in Philadelphia that sent out a scout to find a location that looked like Germany for a group of immigrants looking for land in the 1830's. Who knew? Dea also wrote a book entitled "STL Scave...

First this week, Angela Rhone, President of the St. Louis Chapter of Jack and Jill of America comes by to talk about the history of that organization...focusing on its award-winning St. Louis Chapter. It has launched some impressive kids over the years. Next, Mark Sundlov, Managing Director of Soldier's Memorial talks about the latest exhibit there, "Tuskegee Airmen: America's Freedom Flyers" and...

Kerry Patch was the name of an Irish neighborhood that sprang up in the 1840s in St. Louis. A listener whose grandparents had grown up there requested this episode, so Sue called on Patrick Murphy, author of "The Irish in St. Louis...from Shanty to Lace Curtain" to talk about it. Murphy's grandparents were also residents, and he's got some great stories to tell! Kerry Patch was around until after...

St. Louis has the second-oldest symphony orchestra in the country, and it is world-renowned. Its physical home is Powell Hall, which has been undergoing a major renovation, addition, and facelift for the last 2 years. SLSO President and CEO, Marie-Helene Bernard and Director of Facilities Cynthia Schon join Sue to talk not only about the history of the orchestra and the building, but give us an id...

Did you know that the Hubble Telescope was named after a man from a small town in Missouri? Or that sliced bread was invented in a small Missouri town? Yep! This week, Caitlin Yager joins Sue Thomas to talk about her new book, "Small Town Missouri...Legends, Lore, and Attractions in the Show-Me State". It is fascinating, and a lot of these 50 towns have an incredible history and are just a day tri...

The South Broadway Athletic Club was formed in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis in 1899 and is still around today! Find out how that happened, and how the club changed with the times, but remains the same in some ways...including bi-monthly MMWA wrestling events. Miriam Moynihan and Ryan Buckley, current club members and authors of a new book entitled, "South Broadway Athletic Club, St. Louis...

On May 16, 2025, an EF-3 tornado touched down in the St. Louis area, causing 5 deaths and over a billion dollars in damage. How often have tornadoes hit the St Louis area? Amanda Clark, Public Historian for the Missouri Historical Society talks about it. She also covers the really interesting story of General Lafayette's Farewell Tour which included St. Louis. It covered 6000 miles and St. Louis w...

This week local historian Jackie Dana joins Sue to tell her the story of the mining that was done in St. Louis in the 1800's...everything from coal to clay to silica. Some of the mines were in neighborhoods like Tower Grove South, Bevo, and The Hill. One of the first mines were started by the Russell family on their land near Tower Grove South. How was Tower Grove Park spared? Also, what happened...

St. Louis author and historian Joe Sonderman is back this week, and he and Sue talk about everything from the history of some downtown buildings to the Great St. Louis Bank Robbery to the origin of some of the street names in St. Louis. Hall of Famer Fred Bodimer also makes an appearance. Joe's latest book is "This Day in St. Louis History".

This week, local sports historian and author Ed Wheatley is in to talk about his latest book, "From St. Louis to Cooperstown: Legends Born and Made in the Gateway City." You won't believe some of the connections that Hall-of-Famers have to St. Louis...including the Browns and the Negro League players. Ed has some great stories.

Did you know that the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis is part of the Gateway Arch National Park? It is! Built in the 1800s, it has been the site of several important cases, including Dred Scott. The Old Courthouse has undergone a major renovation, and will reopen to the public to great fanfare on May 3. Join Sue, Jeremy Sweat, Superintendent of Gateway Arch National Park, and Ryan McClure, Ex...

This week, we hear the amazing story of Elizabeth Keckley. She was born in Virginia as an enslaved person and endured an incredible amount of hardship, but was able to buy her freedom in St. Louis, and went on to become a friend of and seamstress for none other than Mary Todd Lincoln when her husband was President of the United States. Cicely Hunter, Public Historian from the African American Hist...

Have you ever heard of the Skouras brothers? They were 3 brothers from Greece who settled in St. Louis, worked as busboys, saved money, and became movie and theater magnates in New York and California. It's an incredible rags-to-riches story, and Dr. Mike Tsichlis joins Sue to tell their story.