Name: Ep. 86: 'D.B. Cooper 101' with 'Cooper Studies Professor' Eric Ulis by Cascade of History
Duration: 1 h

On the 53rd anniversary of the infamous skyjacking, Feliks Banel's guests on this encore episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY are Eric Ulis, D.B. Cooper expert, searcher and researcher with a lesson in 'D.B. Cooper 101,' and roving correspondent Ken Zick, who joined us live from the monument at rainy and windswept Alki Beach in West Seattle to mark the 172nd anniversary of the arrival of The Denny Party, considered the city's founders, on November 13, 1851. SPOILER ALERT: It was rainy and windswept back then, too.

This encore broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY was presented at 8pm Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, November 24, 2024 via SPACE 101.1 FM and streaming live via space101fm.org from studios at historic Magnuson Park – formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Ep. 86: 'D.B. Cooper 101' with 'Cooper Studies Professor' Eric Ulis

Feliks Banel’s guests on this SUMMER ENCORE EPISODE 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 of that pizza chain (whose Renton, WA location closed in January 2025); and now former King County Executive Dow Constantine with his remembrance of filmmaker/”Twin Peaks” co-creator David Lynch. We also listened to Paul Robeson’s 1952 Peace Arch concert recording of “Joe Hill.”

This encore broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY was presented at 8pm Pacific Time on Sunday, August 24, 2025 via SPACE 101.1 FM and streaming live via www.space101fm.org at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. The original live broadcast was presented on January 26, 2025.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.


SUMMER ENCORE EPISODE: Elephant Car Wash in California, Railfan Pic, Shakey's, Remembering David Lynch

On this BONUS of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel digs into the "field tape archives" for his 2017 conversation with the late Jerry Allison, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer for Buddy Holly and The Crickets, about the band's only visit to Seattle in October 1957.  Mr. Allison passed away in 2022 at age 82.

As Feliks says in the intro, "I confess, this is a bit of fan-boy interview, and the sound is on the somewhat sketchy side. The main goal was to gather Mr. Allison’s recollections of the Crickets’ one and only visit to Seattle in October 1957, but we also jumped around a bit, topically speaking. I like to think I’m a better interviewer now than I was in 2017. While that may or may not be true, I definitely have better recording gear."

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.

BONUS EPISODE: Hall of Fame Drummer Jerry Allison on Buddy Holly & The Crickets' 1957 Seattle Visit

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Northwest railroad historian and author Martin Hansen about the fire on Monday, August 25, 2025 that appears to have completely destroyed a large and historic wooden structure belonging to the Columbia & Cowlitz Railway in Longview, Washington. There were no injuries reported.

The nearly century-old structure housed a machine shop and other maintenance facilities for the railway, which was founded by Weyerhaeuser in 1925. Columbia & Cowlitz Railway is currently owned by Patriot Rail. CASCADE OF HISTORY reached out to Patriot Rail for comment, and received this written statement:

"On Monday, August 25, 2025, at approximately 4:00 p.m., a fire broke out at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company building in Longview, WA. The building housed Patriot Rail’s Columbia & Cowlitz Railway warehouse and locomotive shop. The Longview Fire Department and Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue responded promptly to the scene. No injuries were reported. The incident remains under investigation at this time."

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.

BONUS EPISODE: History of Columbia & Cowlitz Railway Structure Destroyed Mon, Aug 25 in Longview, WA

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Katelyn Scott, Water Protector with the non-profit Spokane Riverkeeper, about a stretch of the Spokane River in Eastern Washington which went completely dry a few days ago.

This is not a side channel that has gone dry - it's about one-half mile of the main channel of the Spokane River, which runs 111 miles between Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho and the Columbia River in Washington. The stretch of dry river is in Spokane Valley, Washington a suburb east of Spokane, Washington.

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.

BONUS EPISODE: Stretch of Spokane River Goes Completely Dry

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Paul Bannick, author and photographer of "Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers." The book will be published September 1, 2025 by the Braided River imprint of Mountaineers Books in Seattle, Washington.

Mr. Bannick is the author of several previous award-winning nature books. This new title is lushly illustrated with dozens of photos taken by Mr. Bannick. Meanwhile, the text elevates the fascinating story of woodpeckers to its rightful place at the center of any conversation – or any deep thinking – about how humans and wildlife share the earth.

For more information about this book, author/photographer Paul Bannick other titles, and his upcoming author events:
https://paulbannick.com/

Information from "Woodpecker" publisher Braided River:
https://www.braidedriver.org/woodpecker

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.

BONUS EPISODE: "Year In The Life of North American Woodpeckers" by Paul Bannick

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Jared Webley, spokesperson for the private utility company Avista, operators of the Post Falls Dam on the Spokane River.

This is a follow-up to yesterday's BONUS EPISODE about stretch of the river that dried out completely earlier this week. This is not a side channel that has gone dry - it's about one-half mile of the main channel of the Spokane River, which runs 111 miles between Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho and the Columbia River in Washington. The stretch of dry river is in Spokane Valley, Washington a suburb east of Spokane, Washington.

Earlier episode with more details about the Spokane River:
https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/bonus-episode-spokane-river

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.

BONUS EPISODE: Update on Spokane River from Post Falls Dam Operator Avista

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Justin McElroy, municipal affairs reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - the CBC - in Vancouver, British Columbia.

McElroy recently led a public process over the airwaves to identify a symbol that best represents the province of British Columbia. Through a bracket and more than 500,000 votes during several weeks in July and August 2025, the effort generated interest and debate from Vancouver Island to the BC interior, and a single "best symbol" ultimately emerged victorious.

CBC website with information about the symbol:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/orcas-british-columbia-best-symbol-1.7609551

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.


BONUS EPISODE: Thousands of British Columbians Help CBC Choose "Best Symbol" for the Province

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Steve Lentini, Principal Hydro Operations Engineer for Avista Utilities. Avista is the private company based in Spokane, Washington which operates the Post Falls Dam on the Spokane River.

This is a follow-up to earlier coverage of the half-mile stretch of the Spokane River in Spokane Valley, Washington - east of the city of Spokane - that dried out completely earlier this week.

For more information, please listen to this earlier episode featuring an interview with Katelyn Scott of the non-profit Spokane Riverkeeper:
https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/bonus-episode-spokane-river

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.


BONUS EPISODE: In-Depth with an Avista Utilities Hydrologist on the Dried Out Spokane River

On this END-OF-SUMMER BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, we present archival audio from the August 2023 live broadcast of The Wallingford Local, a summer series broadcast live each month from May 2023 to September 2023 from the Wallingford Farmers Market at Meridian Park in Seattle, Washington.

The Wallingford Local was produced by the CASCADE OF HISTORY team, and this episode was originally broadcast LIVE at 5:00 pm Pacific Time on SPACE 101.1 FM on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

Guests include Ben Chandler of the Seattle Farmers Market Association; Seattle City Council District 4 candidate Maritza Rivera; musical guests Unleashed (Russ Johnson, harmonica; Andrew DeNance, guitar/vocals; Leroy Henry, percussion/harmonies; Lisa Lusk, ukulele/harmonies); Annie Quinn from St. Benedict's Wurst Festival; Jack McLaughlin of Wallyhood.org with the Trivia Challenge; Sean Demirel of Neo Art; and "Vendor of the Week of the Month" Maddy Ruhoy of Purdy Good Pickles. The Wallingford Local was produced and hosted by Feliks Banel with production and technical assistance from Laura Scott and additional production support from Rhonda Bush and Sarah Martin of Historic Wallingford. 

CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.


BONUS EPISODE: "Wallingford Local" Farmers Market Show from August 2023

Feliks Banel’s guests on this SUMMER ENCORE EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY are a panel of expert local historians, researchers and authors who have been collaborating on a search for evidence of Peter Kirk's long-ago steel mill on Rose Hill, east of downtown Kirkland near the Costco. Matt McCauley, Kent Sullivan, Saundra Middleton (who is a descendant of Peter Kirk) and Michael Donnelly have been studying archives, maps, photos and other materials to paint a vivid picture of the partial construction of the mill in the 1890s, the specific whereabouts of various buildings and structures, as well as the ultimate fate of the site (and of Kirk's venture) in the early 20th century.

More information: http://www.kirklandhistory.org/

We also played some vintage audio from Tony Ventrella, the beloved local broadcaster who passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at age 80.

This encore broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY was presented at 8pm Pacific Time on Sunday, August 31, 2025 via SPACE 101.1 FM and streaming live via www.space101fm.org at historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. The original live broadcast was presented on October 20, 2024.

Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.


SUMMER ENCORE EPISODE: Ghosts of Peter Kirk's Steel Mill on Rose Hill in Kirkland

CASCADE OF HISTORY is the only LIVE radio show presenting news and stories about people doing cool things with and for history in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. We talk about people, artifacts, books, maps, photos, places, landmarks, public lands, state and national parks, trails, highways, and the historic events that can bring us all together.

The show is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time on SPACE 101.1 FM (and streaming via http://www.space101fm.org ) from studios located on the shores of Lake Washington in historic Magnuson Park in Seattle, former site of Sand Point Naval Air Station (though sometimes CASCADE OF HISTORY originates from remote locations around the region). The podcast feed consists of the weekly broadcast, plus frequent bonus episodes with timely and topical interviews, vintage local audio or other Pacific Northwest history-related content - and sometimes even BREAKING NEWS.

Producer and host Feliks Banel is an Emmy-winning and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning broadcaster, and former deputy director of Seattle's Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI).

Send your questions, comments, guest suggestions, news tips and other correspondence to cascadeofhistory@gmail.com.

Ep. 86: 'D.B. Cooper 101' with 'Cooper Studies Professor' Eric Ulis

Cascade of History

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