The Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 brought widespread destruction and many deaths, but some who survived found it thrilling.

Phone Messages

121 Panic Stricken San Francisco (Jason 5)

The National Autonomous University of Mexico became a UNESCO world heritage site in 2007.  A lesser known attraction, also located in Mexico City's Coyoacán borough, is the home of film director El Indio Fernández.

162 That Tone is Long (Ben 9)

The word "Man", was used as a form of greeting back in the 16th century, but in the contemporary U.S. it most likely comes from African American jazz musicians.  Willie Mays inspired a song by The Treniers and a generation to say "Hey" instead of "Hi".

165 Hey Man (James 21, 22)

Lynn Throckmorton was known for his research comparing the evolutionary speed
of fruit flies, but from 1986 until his death in 2009, his academic career
appears to be lost.

166 Has it really come to that (Bill)

Rod McKuen was one of the best selling poets of the late twentieth century and recorded hundreds of albums both singing and reading poetry. His also introduced Belgian singer Jacques Brel to a wider audience by translating many of his lyrics into English.

167 WIndmills of my Mind (Chris 26)

In 1988, Pussy Galore released a tape covering the entire Exile on Main Street.  Not long after that, the Minneapolis trio Zuzu's Petals performed their own cover of a Stones song at the 400 Club.

170 We didn't quite catch that (James 23)

Zen Buddhism became popular in post WWII San Francisco, especially among beat poets like Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and Tram Combs.  The influence of Zen extended into cookbooks, when Edward Espe Brown began baking at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center.

184 Ra Ra Ra (unknown)

The late eighties saw a burst of ads for 1-900 numbers that promised to relieve your feelings of loneliness.  But the phone sex business can be traced at least back to the 1970s.

186 Call Me I'm Always Here (Jason 7)

The 1980s was the last decade when most college students still relied on typewriters, but recently there has been a revived interest in vintage machines.

188 That Mumble (Julia 5)

Trixie Records was a Chicago based label that released eight records in
the early nineties, including by DragKing and Sabalon Glitz.

189 It's Robin (Robin)

The Chicago International Film Festival claims to be the longest running film festival in North America.  Three years before it began, The University of Chicago's Documentary Film Group put on its own festival.

190 Just Rambling (Julia 6)

In the 1990s, Chicago indy label bands like Dragking would sell their discs on consignment at Ajax Records, Dr. Wax, Wax Trax, Tower, and Reckless Records.  The last of these is the only one still in business.

192 Red 34 (mystery Ben)

Billy Joel's Piano Man was inspired by playing at a bar in Los Angeles.  Two classic piano bars from that era, Nye's Polonaise Room in Minneapolis and The Red Fox Room in San Diego continue to thrive after more than fifty years in business.

193 Piano Man (Chris 29)

The life of a pastor's wife in mid twentieth century midwest involved missionary work and potlucks but also social clubs to discuss books and hear lectures about graphonalysis.

194 You Know My Number is Changed (Grandma 8)

In the 1920s, JR Stewart was one of many companies that manufactured banjo ukuleles during the first uke boom.  Ukes became popular again in recent decades thanks in part thanks to Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.

195 Not Ready for Marriage (Chris 30)

Batteries Not Included in Lincoln Park, had a brief life in the 1980s showcasing scrappy young bands ready to surprise.  The 1980s club Gaspars in Lakeview, became Schubas and continues to host live music several days a week.

196 Santa Claus (Chris 31)

In the mid 1990s, a Destroy All Music Festival held at the Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center in Wicker Park featured bands like Carnival de Carnitas, Scissor Girls, Blowhole and DragKing.

197 Thank You For Your Attention (Ben 15)

In the summer of 1990, a series of murders spread fear across Gainesville Florida.  Nearly eighty years earlier, the collapse of a small bank led to tragedy on the lower east side of Manhattan.

198 Gainesville (Julia 7)

In the initial years of Television, Game shows were a popular part of networks' prime time schedule until a 1959 investigation revealed they were often scripted. During the 1970s and 80s, daytime TV broadcast shows like Password and 25,000 dollar Pyramid.  In 1999, Who Wants to be a Millionaire brought the genre back to network Prime Time.

199 We're On For Thursday (Chris 32)

In 1977, the Fonz jumped over a shark on the TV show Happy Days. Although the show went on to have six more successful seasons, it became a symbol of decline and something that everything from baseball teams to podcasts should avoid.

200 The Last Message (unknown)

This episode contains all the messages and interviews with Sikay Tang.

Special Sikay Episode

In this episode I explain the origins and purpose of the Phone Messages podcast. I realized later that I had recorded only on one channel--apologies!

1 The Explanation

This week I discuss my friend Jason Veitzer and our plans to see Sun Ra at the 1988 Chicago Jazz Festival.

11 Jason's First Message (Jason 1)

This week I discuss volunteering for Southend Musicworks, an organization led by Leo Krumpholz that brought alternative music to Chicago from 1987 to 1994.

18 Southend (outgoing 7)

The Canon Canonet was an affordable 35 mm rangefinder camera first released in 1961.  The Canonet G-III, released in 1972, sold over a million copies before being discontinued in 1982 and was used by the title character in the 1998 film Pecker.

51 Canonet (James 5)

In the late 80s, The Grey City Journal staff also produced The Chicago Literary Review, a quarterly supplement to the Chicago Maroon.

52 Tauneel Again (Tauneel 1)

Arthur Mann, whose class on American Social Movements was always packed, researched and practiced the ideals of urban order.

70 Wake Up (unknown 4)

For the AACM 20th anniversary celebration, Cecil Taylor performed at Mandel Hall with Roscoe Mitchell, Douglas Ewart, Malachi Favors and Steve McCall.  After the concert he recorded a station ID for WHPK.

79 I Am Sweating (outgoing 17)

Some historians claim the mass killing of cats in medieval Europe led to the Black Death.  These days, researchers have found domestic cats fail at urban rat control while harming billions of native birds.

81 That's My Kitty Kat (Joel 4)

In 1989, 1.4% of U.S. households had cell phones while 28% had an answering machine.  In 2020, there are 1.29 cell phones per person in the U.S. and only 40% of households still have a landline.

84 Five of Twelve (James 9)

In the 1960s, most soda pop was sold in reusable glass bottles, but in the 1970s these were replaced by cans and plastic.  The last Coca Cola plant to produce reusable bottles closed in 2012.

92 The Poet (Andy 1)

Michael Jordan began playing for the Chicago Bulls in 1984.  During the first several years of his career, one could see him play at Chicago Stadium for as little as three dollars and fifty cents.

98 I Played Pro Ball (Chris 19)

This podcast will play and discuss old phone answering machine messages.  In the late 1980s, while living in Chicago, I selected certain messages to be duplicated using a double cassette recorder.  Playing them back leads me to explore the intersection of personal history and the larger social and cultural context through the lens of an outdated technology.
New episodes will be posted Sundays.

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