Are You Wondering?

Why the posts in this blog have to do with Chicago? Why they refer to the 1920's? Are you a bit curious as to why I think you need some kind of history lesson?

That's the tease. It has something to do with the book I'm working on. Oh it's nowhere near ready for publication, but I thought I'd give you some hints.

If you are looking for a few more you might try gum shoe, murders, investigation, family, hit, and any other thing you can think of that might fit in this category. You might think money, vengeance, mob, bootlegging, and words that go with those.

As time goes by, I will drop a few more hints, but this is the teaser for now.

WJ

Wow An Award

On August 5, 2012 Ramblings by Rebecka nominated me for a Liebster Award. I cannot tell you how humbling this is.

 What is the Liebster Blog Award? 

“The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The Meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.” Wow! What a mouthful! Thank you Awakenings for honoring me in this way!

As with all blog awards, there are 'rules' so I will proceed with the 11 questions Awakenings left for me to answer:

1) What is your biggest dream?

      Right now, to get my first novel published.

2) Do you have a plan for making it happen?

      Yes, I have ten days of intensive writing this month to get it started.

3) What keeps you going when you want to give up?

     I've never wanted to give up. Life is too short to worry about giving up.

4)Who are your favorite musicians and why?

        Hard to say. Depends on my mood. I have an eclectic taste in music from jazz, folk, rock, country, instrumental.....to classical and barroom. 

5) If you could invite anyone at all to dinner who would it be and why?

       Tough question. Probably someone who could give me tips on private investigation so I don't get it wrong when I write about it.

6) What's one thing you'd like to change about the world?

        There are too many things that need changing to pick just one.

7)What is one small thing you can change?

        I am in charge of how I treat others. So I treat them the way I'd want to be treated. Maybe everyone should do that.

8) Where do you see yourself in five years?

      On some island, sipping drinks, sitting in the sand and collecting royalties from my book series.

9) Who do you most admire and why?

       Going to ponder this and get back to you.

10) What one thing about yourself would you share?

         I'm unique. I'm one of a kind.

11) Which is more important making millions or making a change?

         Making a change is more important, but having millions would make change easier.

I'm going to have to do some blog hopping so I can find people to give this award to. 

WJ

Chicago and Crime

You can't talk about Chicago in the 1920's without mention of Al Capone AKA Scarface. He rose to infamy as one of America's most famous gangsters and leader the Chicago mafia during Prohibition.

Capone was a master of public relations. He saw to it the press was friendly toward him. He never missed an opportunity to play up his charitable donations. He was seen as the "hero" of Chicago saving them from the oppression of Bible thumpers.

The biggest thorn in his side was the North Side Gang run by Dion O'Banion and later by Bugs Moran. Moran became the leader when most of his associates were killed by Capone's South Side Gang (or outfit) AKA La Cosa Nostra. Capone had been from Brooklyn and relocated to Chicago's Little Italy.

Gangsters were popularized to folk hero status during this time. Chicago with it's close proximity to Canada became a major point of liquor distribution for the U.S. This impacted everyone because of the cash flow. Chicago had a major growth spurt between 1920 and 1931. This lead to the 1920's being the decadent era it was.

Other Crime
Many cons came out of this time. Couples would promote speculative schemes promising huge returns: such as buying swamp in Florida for development.

On the streets were crooked card and dice games, the shell game, and other flim-flam scams. They flourished.

Burlesque Theaters with their vices flourished as the last of the vaudvilleians were cast out in favor of motion pictures which were the new craze crossing the country.

Law
The Chicago Police Department was rife with corruption. Eitghty to ninety percent of the police officers were on someone's payroll. There was no law and order in Chicago.

Superstitions
Parlor games, seances, fortune telling and ouija boards were all part of a good dinner party. The wealthy enjoyed the company of psychics and astrologers. Carnivals and fairs featured these charlatans and books on tarot and witchcraft. Most cities had a rich oral tradition of urban legends and Chicago was no exception.

WJ