A look at how the creation of the Michael Jordan statue in Chicago led to other sports related statues.

A man digs for the truth behind a distant relative who turned out to be the first super spy in the world.

A woman creates a black market for children without breaking the law.

A look at the creation and legacy of the guitar.

A look at Billy Caldwell and his efforts in the Chicago area

A look at why people get tattoos and sometimes get them removed.

A look at how the fictional character Sherlock Holmes altered how real crimes are solved.

A look at what looking back in time gives us in the present.

A look at the history of shopping malls, and how their future could resemble their past.

A look at the influence of Scottish people in America

A look back at whiskey's role in U.S. history.

 For centuries, maps have shown us how to get from point A to point B. But they’re much more than that. They’re a record of what people care about. How do you preserve these stories when maps are no longer on paper? In this Backstory piece, Larry Potash introduces us to a Chicago family who have been in the map business for 5 generations. Backstory with Larry Potash airs Sunday nights at 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on WGN, or stream it anytime on the WGN+ app on your smart TV with Amazon Fire,...

Baseball pre-dates the other main sports in America. And while it’s often referred to as the American Pastime, its origins are steeped in myth. In this Backstory piece, Larry Potash introduces us to a group of people playing the game as it once was. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For thousands of years, the cannabis plant was a crucial crop in helping civilizations evolve, used for products from clothing to medicine. But then in the early 20th century, the American government demonized it. Is weed a wonder drug or dangerous habit? In this piece, Larry Potash explores the backstory of cannabis’ comeback. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Martin Scorsese. Leonardo DiCaprio. Nick White. You have probably heard of the first two, but the third has a fascinating story to tell. In this Backstory piece, Larry Potash introduces us to a man who creates vintage sound effects, and does it so well he talked his way into a major Hollywood film. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A man finds out his ancestor was a passenger on the Sultana steamboat and survives when the boat explodes.

There are several stories hidden within the making of the holiday classic, "It's a Wonderful Life."

How the silent movie industry grew in Chicago before heading west to Hollywood.

A man shares how his grandfather took on Al Capone as a member of The Secret Six

How former Cubs owner Charlie Murphy bought the team, achieved success, and had his legacy ruined.

A man with unathletic habits achieves what many thought was impossible.

A look at the history of comic books.

A priest and a scientist from rural Illinois take on the Nazis in two separate missions.

A religious movement is split into a major force on one side, while the other side disappears from history.