>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON A SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION OF CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> HELLO.

>> BEEN SITTING THERE.

>> I'M STANDING AND A LONG TIME.

>> ACTRESS AND COMEDIAN LISA ANN WALTER ON ABBOTT ELEMENTARY ON HER UPCOMING COMEDY SET IN ROSEMONT.

TALKING TO THE QUEEN OF CHICAGO ROCK AND ROLL RADIO, TERRY HIM AS SHE MARKS 50 YEARS ON AIR.

A SPECTACULAR NATIVITY AT THE ART INSTITUTE BLENDS HEAVENLY DRAMA >> I CAME BACK FROM COLLEGE AND THIS WAS GOT TO BE KIDDING.

>> AND FROM ROOT BEER OCEANS TO LOLLYPOP FOREST, A LOCAL MAN CREATES THE CINNAMON BEARS MINIATURE WORLD OF MAYBE LAND.

>> AND UP NEXT, ONE ON ONE WITH ACTRESS LISA ANN.

WALTER.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> IT'S BEEN NEARLY 2 MONTHS SINCE THE SAG AFTER STRIKE ENDED AND ACTORS RETURN TO WORK AMONG THESE CREATIVES IS LISA ANN WALTER, WHO PLAYS MELISSA SCHUMAN TEA ON ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, OUR CORRESPONDENT IN TOLEDO SPOKE WITH HER ABOUT WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE SINCE GETTING BACK TO WORK AND ABOUT HER UPCOMING COMEDY SET IN ROSEMONT LATER THIS MONTH.

>> HOW'S THAT FIRST OFF, BEING BACK ON SIDE AND BEING WITH ABBOTT FAMILY AND JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, JUMPING RIGHT BACK AND LIKE NO TIME PASSED.

I THINK YOU NAILED IT.

IT'S THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE.

IT'S LIKE JUMPING RIGHT BACK INTO, YOU KNOW, A ROOM FULL OF YOUR COUSINS.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN EACH OTHER PER YEAR, BUT WHEN YOU ALL GET TOGETHER AGAIN, IT'S LIKE YOU KNOW WHO EVERYBODY IS AND YOU'RE MAKING THE SAME KINDS OF JOKES.

AND UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER IN THE RHYTHM AND POLICE SAY, NO, THIS IS THE BEST ENSEMBLE IT EVER WORK EVERYONE KNOWS, WE'RE NOT EXAGGERATING IT.

>> NOT A IN LOT.

WHEN I THOUGHT YOU WERE DOING THAT, THE SENATE ROSEMONT COMING UP LIKE, OH, MAYBE THIS IS JUST KIND OF LIKE A ONE-OFF THING THAT SHE'S DOING.

BUT I REALIZE THAT THIS IS REALLY YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER.

AND YOU ARE JUST I THINK THANK YOU.

I SORT OF STAND UP PRETTY SOON AFTER I MOVED TO NEW YORK TO BE AND 6 MONTHS AFTER I STARTED THE FIRST TIME ON STAGE EVER, I WAS DOING FEATURED GUEST SPOTS ON LIKE IT'S SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO.

AND I HAD NO FEAR, BUT IT IS TO SPLIT THEM.

NOTHING GOOD IS EVER COME FROM NERDS WHISPERING.

I WONDER WHAT DO YOU LOVE MORE BETWEEN ACTING AND JUST KIND OF LIKE TELLING JOKES?

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SUCH A RELIEF YOU CAN GET IN MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH AND YOU CAN DO NOT WHETHER YOU'RE BEING A STANDUP OR AN ACTRESS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WE HAVE AN INTERESTING SET UP ABBOTT BECAUSE IT'S A ENSEMBLES, BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH 3 CAMERAS ALL THE SAME TIME, SUITING ALL OF MY IS NOT LIKE THE OFFICE AND THOSE CHARACTERS OF OUR CAMERA CROW, THEY SORT OF BECOME A SECONDARY CHARACTERS IN OUR SHOW.

BUT YOU'RE MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH RIGHT THERE.

STAND UP.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE GOING INTO A ROOM AND ALL YOU HAVE IS YOUR IDEAS AND YOU WHAT YOU THINK FUNNY AND THEIR FACES RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU AND SEEING THE LAST SECOND OF THE JOY THAT YOU BRING, THE MATERIAL IS SET LIKE I HAVE OVER AN HOUR OF MATERIAL THAT I DO IT AND IT'S ABOUT EVERYTHING IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE 4 KIDS THAT I KNOW OF.

I I TALK ABOUT RAISING MY MY FAMILY AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO AND GETTING TOWARDS THE MEN DATING AGAIN KIND OF THE LIFE EXPERIENCE A LOT OF WOMEN.

BUT THEN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD AND MUSIC AND WHAT'S ON TV AND I MIGHT START TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND A LOT OF TIMES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, STAND OF NOT THAT IT'S INTERACTIVE LIKE A LOT OF TIMES.

PEOPLE ARE HECKLING LIKE GO TO THE HELPING.

THERE'S SOME COMMENTS THAT ARE LIKE YOU'RE REALLY NOT TAKE YOUR DRUNK IS WHAT YOU THEN BECAUSE IT'S NEW YEAR'S EVE.

BUT I WANT TO BE IN CHICAGO.

FULLY EXPECTING A LOT OF THAT.

SHOULD BE A FUN SHOW.

EITHER WAY.

WE SANDWELL HIS COMEDY SET IN ROSEMONT RUNS FROM DECEMBER.

29TH TO THE 31ST.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

>> AND SEASON 3 OF ABBOTT ELEMENTARY IS SET TO PREMIERE ON FEBRUARY 7TH ON ABC.

UP NEXT, SARAH SHATZ AND ROCK AND ROLL RADIO LEGEND TERRY HAMMERED IN A CONVERSATION RECORDED EARLIER.

>> SHE'S A QUEEN OF CHICAGO ROCK AND ROLL RADIO AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME THIS YEAR.

SHE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS SINCE SHE FIRST WALKED INTO THE DOORS AT WX RTE RADIO IN CHICAGO.

AND IN THAT TIME SHE'S BECOME CHICAGO'S MOST BELOVED DJ.

A PROFESSOR AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE AND THE COUNTRY'S FOREMOST, LA JUST STILL HOSTING HER BELOVED SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES RADIO BROADCAST.

WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO TONIGHT, RADIO LEGEND TERRY HEMMER TO CARRY HIM.

IT'S SO GREAT TO TALK TO YOU WE COULD TALK ALL DAY AND I WE ONLY HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME ABOUT MUSIC.

EXACTLY.

SO WHEN YOU WALKED IN THE ATTACKS, RT IN 1973, DID YOU SAY?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO BE HERE FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 50 YEARS DOING THIS.

I WAS HOPING FOR 2, HE REALLY IN EFFECT THAT WAS BACK IN THE DAY PART OF TO BE A WOMAN AND GET A JOB IN RADIO.

>> YOU ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD.

YOU START LOOKING FOR ANOTHER CAREERS.

I HAD THAT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND.

NO, I DID NOT GET 50 YEARS ANYWHERE.

AND YOU BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN MORNING.

WELL, THE ALL IMPORTANT DRIVE TIME MOST OF THAT MEAN A LOT TO, YOU MY LOVE OF ALL, I DON'T WANT REALLY IT WAS AN ACCIDENT ACTUALLY >> THEY NEEDED SOMEBODY FILL IN FOR 4 WEEKS AND FOR WEEKS TURN IN 8 MONTHS.

AND I WENT IN, I SAID YOU FOUND ANYBODY YET.

THEY SAID, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO 11 YEARS LATER, THEY BROUGHT LYNN BRAMMER INTO DO MORNINGS.

AND I TOLD LYNN THAT HE SAVED MY LIFE BECAUSE I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE STANDING BY BECAUSE IT'S SO STRESSFUL TO DO LAST THING TO CAUSE.

LYNN AND I WERE THE SAME IN THAT WE DIDN'T GO TO BED AT 7 O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING LIKE MOST MORNING DEEJAYS COURSE IS PROBABLY HORSE LIVE LIKE I'M STILL 50 AGO AND SHE USED THAT'S IT.

AND WE WANT LIVE THE LIFE THAT OUR LISTENERS LIVES.

SO WE READ ON LIKE 4, 5 HOURS OF SLEEP A LOT AND WE BOTH BECAME GREAT NOT TOGETHER AT ON STARTING RUMORS ABOUT THE ONE.

WE'VE WE'VE GOT REALLY NAPPING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO INTEGRATE THE LATE GREAT LEN TOLD THE STORY MANY TIMES IN 1965.

QUOTE >> YOU SEE A PICTURE IN THE LOCAL PAPER OVER DJ, INTERVIEWING RINGO STARR.

YOU LIKE?

I DO THAT, I CAN MEET THE BEATLES.

WELL, YEAH, ACTUALLY WAS A TEEN MAGAZINE.

ONE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT THE THE BEATLES LIKE, KEEP FOR BREAKFAST AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF FAR FROM JOURNALISM.

BUT NO, I I SAW A PICTURE OF JIM STAGG WHO WAS A DISC JOCKEY IN CLEVELAND THE TIME AND THEN HE CAME HERE TO CHICAGO TO WORK AT WCA THE TIME I WENT TO ELMHURST COLLEGE TO STUDY THEORETICALLY SPELL OVER THE CAMPUS RADIO STATION.

NO, I SAW A PICTURE OF JIM'S STEAK INTERVIEWING RINGO AND I THOUGHT WOW, YOU LISTEN THE RADIO.

I LIKE ONE OF THOSE KIDS HAVE THE TRANSISTOR RADIO AIRED.

GOOD TO MY EAR AND I KNEW ALL THE SONGS OF THEY'RE GOING UP AND DOWN THE CHARGE.

WHENEVER WE GO TO DAYTON, WHICH IS OUR MANHATTAN, YOU KNOW, FROM PICK WE WOULD GO TO AND THEY HAD THE WINDOW.

WE CAN LOOK SEE THE WING LIVELY GUYS.

AND I THOUGHT MY GOSH, I WAS LIKE A NIRVANA.

YOU WHO WANT TO DO THAT AND KIND OF IGNORED EVERYBODY WHEN THEY SAID I COULDN'T CAUSE THEY'RE WARNING WOMEN ON THE AIR.

SO I WANT THE OWNERS TO THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED HOW TO DO MY CRAFT AND ALSO MET THE GUY GAVE ME MY FIRST FULL-TIME AIRSHIPS A FEW YEARS LATER.

AND YOU ALSO DID NEED SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE BEATLES.

CAROL MARINE MY COLLEAGUE TOLD ME THE STORY THAT THERE WAS A CONCERT.

SHE WAS AT WRIGLEY.

THE PAUL MCCARTNEY WAS DOING AND MCCARTNEY COMES BACKSTAGE TO MEET THE GOVERNOR IS LIKE OKAY.

BEAT THE BEAR THAT HE SEES YOU WHEN THE LIGHTS UP AND GIVES YOU A HUGE HUG.

SO CLEARLY THIS RELATIONSHIP THAT DOESN'T GET YOU SOCIETY OVER ADMIRATION.

WELL, HE KNOWS ME, YOU KNOW, AND HE'S VERY SWEET.

>> HE'S A HE AND RINGO.

BOTH UNFORTUNATELY NEVER JOHN AND GEORGE.

THEY HAVE BEEN VERY GENEROUS AND THEIR KINDNESS AND CONNECTEDNESS.

IT'S NOT LIKE DOING IN THEIR VIEW ANYMORE.

CHECK WITH CHAD.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING WHEN YOU GET THEM TO OPEN UP WILL WE YOU KNOW, LIKE ONE TIME HE CALLED ME ON THE AIR AND THE SUN TIMES THAT THEY HAVE DONE A FEATURE ON HIS DAUGHTER STELLA WHO WAS JUST STARTING HER BIG DESIGNING COURIER.

SO I SAID, WELL, WE WERE GETTING A CALL FROM LONDON FROM STELLA MCCARTNEY'S FATHER PAUL, AND HE WAS BEEN INTRODUCED.

SO RIGHT AWAY IF YOU GET THEM OFF PUT.

AND SO I READ HIM SOME OF THE THINGS OVER THE AIR AND HOW MUCH SHE SAID HER SUCCESS.

BECAUSE OF HER PARENTS, THAT THEY REMARKABLE.

PARENTS HAD A GREAT FAMILY LIFE AND I'M READING DEPAUL AND HE'S MELTING ON THE OTHER.

SO WE JUST GO FROM THERE AND JUST TALK ABOUT.

THE VALUES HE HAD, YOU KNOW, LIKE HE WASN'T JUST YOUR TYPICAL ROCK STAR.

HIS FAMILY WAS NUMBER ONE FAN IS OBVIOUSLY VERY WE KNOW HOW MUCH HE LOVED HIS HIS LATE WIFE AND THEN ALL OF HIS WAYS.

YOU'VE INTERVIEWED SO MANY DIFFERENT ROCK AND SOUL STARS OVER THE YEARS.

ANY ANY OTHER INTERVIEWS REALLY STAND OUT TO ANYTIME I GET TO TALK TO MAVIS STAPLES.

I'M HAPPY PERSON.

>> ALL BECAUSE YEAH.

>> BECAUSE SHE IS JUST SIMPLY THE BEST.

SHE REALLY IS.

AND CHICAGO, SO LUCKY TO HAVE SHE STILL SHARE.

YEAH, HER WHOLE LIFE.

BRYAN HUGE ROXY MUSIC, RIGHT?

GERRI FAN AND HE ACTS LIKE WORLD FRIENDS.

EVEN THE SUNS ARE REALLY SWEET TRAVEL WITH HIM AND ALL THAT.

SO I'M ALWAYS AMAZED.

I WAS TOLD THAT YOU SHOULDN'T MEET HEROES BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DISAPPOINT YOU.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE THE WAY IT'S BEEN.

IN FACT, YOU TELL ME A STORY.

YOU WERE AVIS, STAPLES AND A FORMER.

>> A PERSON WHO USED A COURT, HER POPPED OLD MISTER BOB DYLAN.

MISTER ZIMMER BOB RIGHT?

RIGHT, RIGHT.

TELL ME.

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

WELL, SHE IS TOLD THIS STORY AND IT'S IN BOOKS AND STUFF.

SO IT'S PRETTY STANDARD.

BUT THE FACT BOB DYLAN WANTED TO MARY HER WENT BACK IN THE 60'S AND ACTUALLY SHE TOLD THE STORY TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME YEARS AGO.

WE WERE AT THE EX RT FREE 4TH OF JULY CONCERT.

SHE WAS I INVITED HER AND HER SISTER BECAUSE BOOKER T WAS THERE FROM BOOKER THE MGS IN THEIR THEIR OLD FRIEND.

SO BUDDY GUY WAS THE HEADLINER IN THE NUBA DEFECT.

BUT HE CALLED HER UP ON THE STAGE AND I GOT A SCORCHER OUT.

BUT BUT WE WERE SURROUNDED BY STAFF MEMBERS INTERNS.

AND I GOT TO GO AND I SAID, SO WHAT ABOUT YOU AND BOB DYLAN?

AND SHE SAID, WELL, WE WANT TO POP-IN SAID, I WANT TO MARRY YOUR DAUGHTER AND POP SAID WHY US?

GOOD ME.

ASK HER.

AND THEN SAID THAT HE WANT THEM TO OF FUNNY.

HER SISTER AND NEVADA SAID WANT TO MARRY YOUR SISTER.

WHY YOU ASK ME, ASK HER.

HE NEVER ASKED SO BUT THEN YEARS LATER, SHE TOLD ME THE STORY ABOUT HOW THEY WENT ON TOUR TOGETHER AND THEY HAD EACH OTHER IN DECADES HE WALKED INTO DRESSING ROOM TO SAY HELLO.

SHE SAID UP, YOU COULD HAVE HE WAS JUST TOO NERVOUS TO EVER ASK IS TO SHOW HE WAS SHOT.

MET WITH HER.

YEAH.

YOU GO JAZZ FEST IN NEW ORLEANS EVERY YEAR MY FAVORITE FESTIVAL AND I KNOW YOU HAD AN EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR.

THAT WAS PRETTY TRAUMATIC.

YOU DIDN'T GET TO GO BECAUSE YOU'RE A RESTAURANT.

>> WHERE A SHOOTING BROKE OUT.

YOU NARROWLY GETTING SHOT.

THANKFULLY FOR US HOW YOU'RE PROCESSING FRIEND OF MINE DID GET HIT AND SHE WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ME.

AND SHE GOT HIT IN THE BACK.

AND THE BULLET STILL THERE.

BUT WE JUST BOOKED A FLIGHT THE OTHER DAY TO GO DOWN NEXT APRIL.

SO YOU'RE GOING BACK TO JUST I'M GOING IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY PARTY.

28 OF MY BEST FRIENDS THERE, THE RESTAURANT I'VE GONE TO SINCE 85 WHEN IT FIRST ONE IT WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.

IT WAS JUST BECAUSE WE COULDN'T SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

WE WERE LIKE A MEZZANINE LEVEL.

SO THERE ARE NO WINDOWS THERE.

BUT BULLETS ARE FLYING IT WAS JUST A VERY TRAUMATIC AND TO SEE MY FRIEND FALL RIGHT AT MY FEET.

BUT SHE'S HANGING IN THERE IT WAS.

IT'S A MATTER OF INCHES AND THOSE THINGS.

BUT IT JUST REMIND YOU THAT THE YOU COULD GO ANY MINUTE, IT REALLY IS KIND OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

IT WAS KIND OF A SPIRITUAL MOMENT OF CALM THIS AT ONE POINT WHEN THEY THIS IS REALLY WEIRD WAY TO GO.

MY 75TH BIRTHDAY IN RESTAURANT SAUL CITY CHICAGO'S HOME ORLEANS AND MY SOUL CITY.

ONE OF FAVORITE EVENTS.

TO GO THAT WAY.

BUT I THOUGHT, WELL, THIS IS IT.

IT'S FUNNY.

I NEVER IF IT EVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

IT MIGHT BE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT REACTION.

THANKFULLY, YOU'RE YOU'RE STILL HERE TO DO MORE RADIO AFTER 50 YEARS ARE STILL DOING BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES TAPING AT THE OTHER DAY.

WHAT STILL EXCITES YOU ABOUT?

>> THE MEDIUM OF RADIO GETTING TO CONNECT WITH LISTENERS.

I LOVE RADIO BECAUSE I REMEMBER BEING ON THE OTHER END OF IT AND HOW IT IS AND HOW ENGAGED I FELT WITH IT.

YOU KNOW I'VE MET LISTENERS OVER THE YEARS OF CALLED ON ME DURING THEIR ROUGHEST TIMES.

YOU KNOW, AND SOMETIMES WELCOME YOU INTO THEIR LIVES LUCKILY, I SORT OF HAD SOME TRAINING CAUSE.

I REALLY DID WANT TO BE A PRIEST OR NUN OR SOMETHING NOT REALLY IN AN BUT PRECEPT MORE FUN.

I WANT TO BUT THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

THAT WAS EVEN WORSE THAN RADIO.

I MEAN, TRY GOING OVER THE BUT JUST GETTING TO KNOW THEM IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE I'VE MET OVER THE YEARS THAT IS THE MOST SATISFYING THING TO ME.

IT'S NOT A GREAT THING WHEN PEOPLE COME I LOVE YOUR VOICE.

LIKE RIGHT NOW MY VOICE IS TRASHED BECAUSE OF IN SICKLE WEEK.

WHEN THEY COME UP AND SAY YOU GOT ME FEEL ROUGH TIME YOU'RE THE REASON A BEATLE FAN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WHAT IT SHOWS YOU SOMETHING REALLY THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP THERE THAT I RESPECT.

NOT THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL OBVIOUSLY, AS A BEATLE, ALA JUST A.

>> WHAT WHAT DO YOU WHAT YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT THE BEATLES THAT THAT CAUSE YOU TO GO SO DEEP INTO EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM?

>> WELL, THEY WERE JUST IT'S IT'S LIKE A.

WHEN IT HAPPENED.

IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN LIKE THIS BECAUSE WE WERE ALL WATCHING THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW THAT NIGHT.

THE SAME TIME YOU COULDN'T.

>> THE VR ATTORENY.

THANK YOU KNOW YOU COULD GET THE VIDEO OR THE DVD YOU HAD TO BE THERE.

AND THAT WAS A SUNDAY EVENING AND MONDAY WE WENT TO SCHOOL.

THAT'S LIKE ALL WE TALKED ABOUT.

WE WERE JUST FREAKED OUT AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO LIKE ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T LIKE ALL THE HYPE AND OTHERS THAT BIG SO FAN AND I THOUGHT, OH, WE NEED FOR PAT BOONE'S LIKE WE NEED A COVER, AN R AND B SONGS FUNNY OR CUTS AND ALL THAT.

AND I WATCHED HIM AND I WAS WON OVER IMMEDIATELY.

THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THEM.

THE MUSIC WAS GREAT.

HAD ENERGY JOY IT THAT YOU DIDN'T OFTEN HERE AND STUFF THAT WAS ON THE TOP 40, THAT AND JUST THEY WERE REHEARSED.

YOU KNOW, THEY WERE DOING THE GUITARS LIKE THIS LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND SMILED LIKE THEY REHEARSED THAT IT WAS SPONTANEOUS AND EVERYBODY.

WELL, NOT EVERYBODY, BUT WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE.

WHAT OUT, BUT GUITARS AND DRUMS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE A BAND.

THEY WANT TO BE THAT THAT THERE'S THAT SENSE OF CAMARADERIE THAT THEY SHOWED US THAT WE HAD SEEN HIM SHOW BUSINESS BEFORE.

HOW MANY MUSICIANS, HOW MANY BANDS STARTED?

JUST BECAUSE OF THAT MOMENT?

YEAH.

MAKE PEOPLE GO RADIO AND NOT THE ONLY ONE.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

AND YOU TRANSLATE THAT LOVE TO SO MANY LISTENERS FOR SO MANY YEARS AND MANY MORE TO COME.

>> TERRY HEMMER, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WHAT ONE MORE THING, ONE MORE THAN THE KIDS.

THE YOUNG KIDS ARE STILL INTO THE BEATLES HOST FEST FOR BEATLES FANS AND WE GET TEENAGERS TO PUT THE BATTLE.

THE BEETLE BANDS.

THEY KNOW ALL THE WORDS.

I KNOW THE CORDS WELL, BECAUSE NEW SONGS NOW AND THEN WHICH I JUST LISTEN TO FIRST TIME A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, TALKING WEEK, I LIKE I SAID, WE COULD TALK MUSIC ALL DAY.

MANY WILL DO A PODCAST WHERE WE CAN TO THAT THERE WOULD BE FUN.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS SO MUCH AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> A >> SPECTACULAR NATIVITY DEBUTED AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO 10 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH.

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IS THE ONLY TIME TO SEE THE DRAMATIC WORK OF RELIGIOUS ART CALLED CRASH.

WE VISITED THE ART INSTITUTE IN 2015 TO SEE THAT RARE DISPLAY.

HERE'S PHIL PONCE WITH ANOTHER LOOK.

>> IT'S CALLED A CRASH.

IT'S A TRADITIONAL NATIVITY SCENE WITH THE INFANT JESUS, THE HOLY FAMILY AND THE 3 WISE MEN.

BUT THIS ONE HAS A CAST OF HUNDREDS.

>> A CRASH IS A SCENE THAT AT THE VERY CORE SHOWS THE SCENE OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

BUT THEN IN THE NEAPOLITAN TRADITION THAT WE'RE SHOWING HERE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT EXPANDS TO A WHOLE CAST OF CHARACTERS.

SO IT INCLUDES THE ARRIVAL OF THE 3 KINGS, THE MAGI.

IT ALSO INCLUDES THE ANNUNCIATION OF CHRIST'S BIRTH TO THE SHEPHERDS AND THEN A WHOLE TAVERN SCENE WHICH BRINGS IN POLLEN STREET LIFE OR CHARACTERS FROM DAILY LIFE IN NAPLES, IN THE 18TH AND EARLY 19TH CENTURY.

>> YES, THE SURROUNDING SETTING IS NAPLES, NOT BETHLEHEM COSTUMES REFLECT THE NEAPOLITAN FASHIONS OF THE LATE 18TH CENTURY.

IT'S A MIX OF THE CONTEMPORARY FOR THE ERA WITH THE ORIGIN STORY OF CHRIST.

THIS CRASH WAS MADE IN NAPLES BEGINNING IN THE MID 17.

100'S BY ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN COMMISSION BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ABILITY.

THEY REALLY WENT FOR BROKE.

>> THE MAKING OF THE CRUSH REALLY BECAME VERY PARTICULAR IN THE 18TH CENTURY.

IT SORT OF BECAME ASSEMBLY LINE PROCESS WHERE ONE ARTIST WITH SPECIALIZED IN MAKING THE TERRA COTTA HEADS OF THE FIGURES PAINTING THEM ANOTHER ARTIST WOULD MAKE THE ACTUAL WIRE ARMATURE OF THE BODY THAT CAN THEN BE MOLDED ARTICULATED.

AN ARTISTS WOULD MAKE THE COSTUME ARTISTS WOULD MAKE ON ANIMAL SPECIALIST ARTIST WITH MAKE THE ANIMALS THAT POPULATE THE SCENE.

AND ALSO THE SMALL STILL LIFE OBJECTS SO THAT THE SILVER TABLE SETTINGS WERE ACTUALLY MADE BY SILVERSMITHS AND THE MINISTER INSTRUMENTS WERE MADE BY LUKE MAKERS.

>> INSTALLED IN A 14 BY 15 FOOT CABINET.

THE PRESSURE IS A THEATRICAL SCENE FILLED TO THE CORNERS WITH INGENIOUSLY CRAFTED FIGURES.

THE FIGURES ARE MADE FROM MIX OF MATERIALS AND WE HAVE ON YOU IN THE GALLERY, AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE FIGURES ARE PUT TOGETHER.

SO THE BODY OF THE FIGURE IS A WIRE ARMATURE THAT'S COVERED IN A SORT OF HEMP LIKE >> STRONG, LIKE MATERIAL.

SO THE ARMS AND LEGS CAN BE BENT AND TO HELP WITH THE ASSEMBLY AT THE SCENE.

AND THEN IT HAS A TERRA COTTA HEAD THAT'S PAINTED AND MOST OF THE TIME, THE HANDS AND THE FEET ARE MADE OF WOOD OR OF TERRA COTTA AS WELL.

AND THEN A REAL SELKE COSTUME IS PUT ON TOP AND COVERS ALL OF THAT ARE MUCH THE SOUP COSTUMES OF THE REASON THE CRASH MUST REMAIN IN THE DARK FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR WERE ONLY ABLE TO EXHIBIT THE CRASH FOR ABOUT 6 WEEKS A YEAR OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE MATERIALS ARE VERY FRAGILE.

THE ORIGINAL SO COSTUMES ARE LIKELY TO FADE.

AND SO IT HAS REST IN THE DARKNESS FOR THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS A GREAT EXCUSE FOR US TO HAVE THE CELEBRATION AROUND EVERY YEAR AT CHRISTMASTIME.

>> THERE ARE BELIEVED TO BE ONLY A DOZEN CRASHES IN THE WORLD OF THIS QUALITY INN SCAM.

THE ART INSTITUTE ACQUIRED THERE'S FROM AN ITALIAN COLLECTOR IN 2013.

>> IT HAD BEEN ASSEMBLED AT FASHION OVER YEARS AND COMES FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES.

>> THOUGH IT'S ONLY ON VIEW ABOUT 40 DAYS A YEAR.

>> THE PRESSURE IS TOO BIG TO MOVE.

>> SO WHEN WE CLOSE ON THIS EXHIBITION EVERY YEAR WE ACTUALLY INSTALL A WALL IN FRONT OF IT IN THE GALLERY KEEP IT IN THE DARK FOR THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE WHEN YOU COME AND VISIT THE MUSEUM IN THE OFFSEASON, YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW THAT IT'S HIDING BEHIND A >> BY THE WAY, THE WORD CRASH COMES FROM THE OLD FRENCH FOR CRIB.

THE ART INSTITUTES CRASHES ON VIEW THROUGH JANUARY 8.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

CHICAGOANS WHO REMEMBER SHOPPING AT THE WE BOTH DEPARTMENT STORE MIGHT REMEMBER THEIR CHRISTMAS CHARACTER PATIO CINNAMON.

BETTER KNOWN AS THE CINNAMON BEAR, BUT THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT CINNAMON WAS ALSO THE STAR, THE 1930'S ERROR, RADIO SERIAL WHICH FOLLOWED HIS ADVENTURES THROUGH THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF MAYBE LAND THE SHOW CHARMED AUDIENCES FOR DECADES.

BUT ITS BIGGEST FAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN CHICAGO MAN ROUND KEY WHO CREATED MINIATURE VERSION OF THEIR ADVENTURES IN HIS PORTAGE PARK BASEMENT PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON TAKES US THROUGH THE LOLLIPOP FOREST AND ROOT BEER OCEANS OF MAYBE LAND.

>> IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE THESE LOLLIPOP ROOT BEER, OCEANS AND GLITTERING ICE CASTLES HAVE BEEN UNWRAPPED IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS.

>> IT IS ALL BASED ON E CHRISTMAS RADIO SHOW REAL PROGRAM WAS CALLED THE SON OF AIR.

>> THE 8 FOOT WIDE DIORAMA DEPICTS THE ADVENTURES OF THE CINNAMON AND SIBLINGS.

JUDY IN JAMIE BARTON THROUGH THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF MAYBE THEIR STORY WAS HAND CRAFTED.

INTRICATE MINIATURE CHICAGO HOBBYIST, RONALD CONNECTED WHO LISTEN TO THE RADIO SHOW AS A CHILD.

AND LATER WITH HIS OWN FAMILY IN PORTAGE PARK.

>> IT STARTED OUT IN THE 1930'S, BUT WE LISTEN TO IN THE 70'S ON A RAIL SHUTTLE AND IT WAS USUALLY 3 EPISODE TODAY.

SO USUALLY STARTED THE SATURDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.

AT A SATURDAY FOR CHRISTMAS.

AND WHAT HE DID WAS HE RECREATED EVERY EPISODE WHICH EACH ONE OF THESE DISPLACE.

>> MOST WINTERS MAYBE LAND REMAINS PACKED AWAY.

>> BUT THIS YEAR, CONNECT SON, TONY HAS BROUGHT IT BACK TO LIFE IN HOPES OF FINDING A NEW HOME FOR THE DISPLAY, TONY, CONNECT.

HE SAYS HIS FATHER WAS ALWAYS TINKERING WITH MINIATURES.

>> RUNNELS WHO DIED IN 2017, NEVER MET FOR HIS CREATIONS TO BE SEEN OUTSIDE THE FAMILY HOME.

>> HE'LL BE MAKING A MODEL'S AIRPLANES, TANKS, TIPS, FIGURES IN THE BASEMENT HIS SPARE TIME.

ONE CHRISTMAS.

BUILT A SMALLER VERSION OF THE 7 AND THEIR STORY FOR UNDERNEATH OUR CHRISTMAS TREE.

>> A SILVER STAR, A LITTLE STILL THE STAR.

LEBRON TRIED A QUICK CRAZY QUILT HANDED OVER GREAT FOR ME AND YOU CAN GO YOUR IN 1951.

A TV SERIES USING THE RADIO SHOWS AUDIO WAS CREATED USING HAND PUPPETS FOR THE CHARACTERS IN 1986 RADIO HOST CHUCK SHADED INTERVIEWED RONALD KENTUCKY ABOUT THAT FIRST DISPLAY FOR HIS CHICAGO NOSTALGIA SHOW.

>> DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR ALL THOSE FROM, OF COURSE, THE RADIO SHOW?

>> OF COURSE, CHUCK, JUST LIKE LISTEN HIS SHOW AFTER SCHOOL AND AND THE MAJOR NATIONS TOOK OVER.

>> AFTER TONY CONNECT, HE SAYS HIS DAD'S INVASIONS FOR BUILDING TINY MAY BE MAN'S GOT BIGGER.

CAME BACK FROM COLLEGE AND 80 >> AND THIS WAS >> THINK YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING.

BLOCKED THE ENTIRE.

WINDOWS.

WAS SO GREAT.

BECAUSE WHEN MAKING THIS, HE COULD GO DOWN A STORM FINE.

CRAZY CULT DRAGONS.

PIRATES MAGICIANS.

SO WE HAD TO BE CREATIVE THIS THAT FROM A MODEL THAT I ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER THE KIDS, DINOSAUR MODEL AND MY TOOK AND HAD A RABBIT FOR THE SCENE.

THE WINTERGREEN, WHICH WAS THE MAIN ENEMY IN THIS.

WAS ACTUALLY A GLOW IN THE DARK PRIZE FROM JACK CONNECT.

HE SAYS HE'S STILL NOT SURE WHY HIS FATHER WAS SO CAPTIVATED BY THE CINNAMON BEAR STORY.

>> BUT NOW HE'S HOPING THERE'S ANOTHER CINNAMON BEAR SUPER FAN OUT THERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE MAGIC OF MAYBE LAND HOME.

>> LIKE TO GO SOMEWHERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY IT.

LOOK AT MAYBE GO BACK TO AMERICA.

IT.

>> WE'RE CHICAGO TONIGHT.

THIS IS GUNDERSON.

THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

KEY TELLS US HE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO MIGHT HAVE A PLACE FOR THE BEARS ADVENTURES.

HIS CONTACT INFORMATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO.

TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL THAT IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ITS 20 ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE BEEN NAMED IN THE 2024