Chicago Stories
Chicago Stories: Fall 2025 - Trailer
Preview: Season 5 | 1m 50sVideo has Closed Captions
Five iconic tales will be told in a new season of WTTW's acclaimed documentary series
Blizzards that brought the city to a standstill. A shocking murder case that remains unsolved. A governor's spectacular fall from power. Classic city foods that became world famous. And the magic of Marshall Field's legendary holiday windows. These are the iconic tales that will be told in a new season of WTTW's acclaimed documentary series, CHICAGO STORIES, beginning on September 26, 2025.
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Chicago Stories is a local public television program presented by WTTW
Lead support for CHICAGO STORIES is provided by The Negaunee Foundation. Major support is provided by the Abra Prentice Foundation, Inc. and the TAWANI Foundation.
Chicago Stories
Chicago Stories: Fall 2025 - Trailer
Preview: Season 5 | 1m 50sVideo has Closed Captions
Blizzards that brought the city to a standstill. A shocking murder case that remains unsolved. A governor's spectacular fall from power. Classic city foods that became world famous. And the magic of Marshall Field's legendary holiday windows. These are the iconic tales that will be told in a new season of WTTW's acclaimed documentary series, CHICAGO STORIES, beginning on September 26, 2025.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Chicago Stories
Chicago Stories is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Chicago Stories - New Season!
Blizzards that brought Chicago to a standstill. A shocking unsolved murder case. A governor's fall from power. Iconic local foods. And the magic of Marshall Field's legendary holiday windows.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(dramatic music) - Fire's responding to an address.
- 71st.
- It changed my family.
It changed my community.
It changed everybody.
- Something so banal (buttons clicking) as a medicine turned into a weapon of death.
- The same message code one for a man down.
The paramedics looked, they said it can't be.
He's dead.
Something's not right.
- No warnings.
No watches, no indication there was anything outta the ordinary happening.
(buttons clicking) - This is the city of Chicago.
It takes a lot to stop this city, but that blizzard stopped it.
- That blizzard changed the course of history.
- This is January 12th, 1979, the first stage of the snowstorm that will change the political complexion of Chicago.
- You ain't seen nothing yet.
(crowd cheering) - [Speaker] Rod Blagojevich is a tragedy.
He had it all.
- Rod.
- Rod, how you feeling?
- I regret getting into politics.
Looking back, I should have just been a lawyer.
- Pride goes before the fall and in Rod's case, the fall was pretty serious.
- When we talk about being in Chicago, it's about the food.
(buttons clicking) It's about avant garde food.
It's about neighborhood food.
- It's one of the great food cities in the world.
- Chicago style hotdog is my favorite.
It's a symphony on a bun.
There is no more exciting food city than Chicago.
- Marshall Field and Chicago those were synonymous things.
(buttons clicking) - It was a source of Chicago pride.
It wasn't just a department store, it was the department store.
- [Speaker] Marshall Field's always in our heart.
Marshall Field's is always Chicago.
- [Speaker] It was part of Chicagoans' identity as a major American city (dramatic music continues) because Chicago history is American history.
Now PlayingChicago Stories: Fall 2025 - Trailer
Video has Closed Captions
Five iconic tales will be told in a new season of WTTW's acclaimed documentary series (1m 50s)
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Meet the man who launched Chicago’s iconic department store. (7m 1s)
The Magic of Marshall Field’s Elaborate Displays
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Explore the magic of Marshall Field’s elaborate displays – especially at Christmas. (9m 27s)
The Last Days of Marshall Field's on State Street
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In 2006, Marshall Field’s State Street department store officially became Macy’s. (6m 15s)
The Customer Experience at Marshall Field's
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Marshall Field’s embodied customer service with the phrase "Give the lady what she wants." (6m 43s)
Architecture Gems: The Marshall Field and Company Building
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Tour some of the architectural gems of the Marshall Field and Company Building. (5m 2s)
A Symphony on a Bun: The Chicago-Style Hot Dog
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Immigrant influence created the Chicago-style hot dog. (6m 27s)
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During the Great Migration, African Americans brought their way of cooking to Chicago. (5m 20s)
The Origins of Deep Dish Pizza
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Deep dish is the style of pizza most associated with Chicago. (5m 29s)
The Crosstown Taste Test with Jeff Mauro and Omar Cadena
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Jeff Mauro and Omar Cadena embark on a blind test taste of three iconic Chicago foods. (12m 4s)
Chop Suey and Chicago’s Chinese Restaurants
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Chop suey became a popular dish at Chicago’s Chinese restaurants. (4m 40s)
Chicago’s Italian Beef Sandwich
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The hearty Italian beef sandwich was born in Chicago. (4m 17s)
Chicago’s Handheld Street Foods
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Affordable, handheld street food reigns supreme in Chicago. (6m 50s)
Wiretapping Governor Rod Blagojevich
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Authorities open a wiretap to investigate Blagojevich. (9m 2s)
Rod Blagojevich’s First Term as Governor
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Rod Blagojevich’s first term as governor began in 2003. (5m 31s)
Rod Blagojevich’s Early Life and Career
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Rod Blagojevich grew up in Chicago and began his political career in the city. (8m 52s)
The Political Downfall of Rod Blagojevich
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Rod Blagojevich is arrested, impeached, and removed from office. (3m 53s)
Extended Interview: Blagojevich on His Time in Prison
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Former Governor Rod Blagojevich examines his time in prison. (12m 42s)
Extended Interview: Blagojevich on His Record as Governor
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Former Governor Rod Blagojevich discusses his record as governor. (5m 43s)
Extended Interview: Blagojevich on His Commutation
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Blagojevich discusses his commutation and seeking a presidential pardon. (10m 20s)
Extended Interview: Blagojevich on His Chicago Childhood
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Former Governor Rod Blagojevich reflects on his Chicago childhood. (4m 36s)
A Second Look at the Tylenol Murders
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Authorities relaunch the Tylenol murder investigation. (11m 18s)
Searching for Tylenol Murder Suspects
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Authorities investigate a man named Roger Arnold. (6m 38s)
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Adam, Stanley, and Theresa Janus all took Tylenol from the same tainted bottle. (6m 41s)
Snowmageddon! Remembering the 2011 Groundhog Day Blizzard
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The epic snowstorm that slammed Chicago in 2011 was unforgettable. (2m 24s)
Dibs: A Uniquely Chicago Tradition
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Dibs is a Chicago tradition – though not all stand by the practice. (2m 11s)
Jane Byrne and the 1979 Blizzard
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The 1979 blizzard was an opportunity for Jane Byrne. (5m 12s)
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When the 1979 blizzard pummeled Chicago, it wasn’t prepared. (6m 15s)
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In 1967, the largest blizzard in city history hit Chicago. (9m 11s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Support for PBS provided by:
Chicago Stories is a local public television program presented by WTTW
Lead support for CHICAGO STORIES is provided by The Negaunee Foundation. Major support is provided by the Abra Prentice Foundation, Inc. and the TAWANI Foundation.