
How Did Chicago Get Its Various Nicknames?
Clip: 10/30/2023 | 2m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
The history behind Chicago's most famous nicknames.
What's in a name? How about a nickname? Chicago has a lot of them. Where did they all come from? We take on that question in the latest from our digital series WTTW News Explains.
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Chicago Tonight is a local public television program presented by WTTW
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How Did Chicago Get Its Various Nicknames?
Clip: 10/30/2023 | 2m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
What's in a name? How about a nickname? Chicago has a lot of them. Where did they all come from? We take on that question in the latest from our digital series WTTW News Explains.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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WTTW News Explains
In this Emmy Award-winning series, WTTW News tackles your questions — big and small — about life in the Chicago area. Our video animations guide you through local government, city history, public utilities and everything in between.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> WHAT'S IN A NAME ABOUT A NICKNAME?
CHICAGO HAS A LOT OF THEM.
WERE THEY ALL COME FROM CHICAGO TONIGHT?
ERICA GUNDERSON TAKES ON THAT QUESTION IN THE LATEST FROM OUR DIGITAL SERIES W T TW NEWS EXPLAINS.
>> WHEN >> IT COMES TO NICKNAMES, CHICAGO SURE HAS GOTTEN STUCK WITH SOME STINKERS.
MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THE CITY'S ACTUAL NAME COMES FROM A SMELLY WILD OR MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OTHER CITIES LIKE TO DRAG OUR CITY THROUGH THE MUD.
IN FACT, ONE OF CHICAGO'S FIRST NICKNAMES WAS MUD ACCURATE.
IF NOT EXACTLY FLATTERING, THEN THERE'S CHICAGO'S BEST KNOWN NICKNAME, THE WINDY CITY.
>> SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT TO ANYONE'S CONDUCT BASEBALL.
A FROSTY LAKELAND IN JANUARY.
BUT CHICAGO IS ONLY THE 12TH WINDY, A CITY IN THE U.S. >> A LOT OF FOLKS THINK THE WINDY CITY MONIKER CAME FROM NEW YORK.
>> BRASH UPSTART CHICAGO WAS COMPETING TO HOST THE 18 93 WORLD'S THE NEW YORK SUN EDITORIALIZED.
OUR POLITICIANS AS QUOTE, FULL OF HOT BUT REFERENCES TO CHICAGO AS THE WINDY CITY LONG PREDATE THAT THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER USED IT 18.
76 HEADLINE TO REPORT ON A TORNADO THAT BLEW THROUGH CHICAGO, THOUGH.
HISTORIANS SAY THERE WAS LIKELY A DOUBLE MEANING AT PLAY THERE FAST FORWARD TO 1914, AND BEEFED UP CHICAGO AND IS PRONE CHICAGO.
CARL SANDBURG CHARACTERIZE THE GROWING CITY AS A YOUNG WORKING >> IN HIS WORDS, STORMIE HUSKY A LINE FROM THAT GAVE THE NICKNAME CITY OF BIG SHOULDERS MAKES SENSE ALL THAT HOT.
BUT STACKING INTO MAKING WILL REALLY THAT YOU DON'T PLACE.
>> CHICAGO'S MOST CONTENTIOUS NICKNAME MIGHT BE THE SECOND CITY.
SOME BELIEVE IT WAS SPARKED BY THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE OF 18.
71 WHEN THE CITY HAD BE BILL JING IS A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT CHICAGO.
BUT CHICAGO WAS AMERICA'S SECOND MOST POPULOUS CITY FOR NEARLY A CENTURY.
SO IS MORE LIKELY STARTED THERE AND ANNOYINGLY.
IT WAS A NEW YORKERS POISON PEN THAT NEED IT STICKS WHEN WRITER AGING NEED BE FOUND HIMSELF IN A ROOM IN CHICAGO FOR A FEW YEARS IN THE LATE 1940'S, IN A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS OUTLINING ALL THE WAYS HE FELT.
CHICAGO SHORT OF HIS HOMETOWN.
THE BOOK WAS TITLED CHICAGO, THE SECOND CITY.
BUT IN CLASSIC CHICAGO FASHION, WE EMBRACE TO ME MEANT TO RUN US DOWN AND USE IT TO LIFT UP INSTEAD BECAUSE >> YOU WEAR FROM CHICAGO.
>> BOTH EARNED SOMETHING NEW EVERY TIME I WATCH ONE OF THOSE.
THANK YOU, ERICA.
YOU CAN SEE THIS VIDEO AGAIN AND OUR WHOLE SERIES OF EXPLAINERS ON OUR WEBSITE.
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