Search Interviews

David and Timm talk about their artistic mentorship and friendship.

Musician and historian Stephen Wade talks with his friend Matt Brown about Stephen's musical beginnings, studying banjo with his mentor Fleming Brown in the 1970s, and his reflections on the Old Town School then and now. Since learning to play...

Katherine Noone Interviewing her 75 year old grandmother, Dolores Mirabelli

A conversation between friends, longtime musical collaborators, and fellow Old Town School teachers Jonas Friddle and Anna Jacobson. Jonas is a singer, songwriter and old-time banjo player whose songs have received The John Lennon Songwriting Award, First Place in the...

This interview, conducted in Lafayette, Colorado on the 20th of May 2019, Ryan Bishop interviews his dad Justin Bishop about his experiences in life. The interview discusses such things as Justin's experience as a guitarist trying to make it big,...

Lee Littlewood talks to Ann Littlewood about his mother, with their son Daniel facilitating the interview.

When a young Reggio "The Hoofer" McLaughlin first started tap dancing in Chicago, venues turned him away at the door, saying "we haven't booked a tap dancer since 1945!" In this conversation with his coworker Mareva Lindo, he talks about...

My mother shares the story if fishing at Belmont Harbor in Chicago for dinner during the Great Depression.

A conversation between Ron Cohen & Bob Riesman. This conversation was recorded at the school on May 8th, 2017. Go to www.oldtownschool.org/StoryCorps to hear selected excerpts from interviews collected as part of the StoryCorps-Old Town School partnership.

In this interview, conducted in November 2018 in Chicago, Illinois, Athena Johnson (16) interviews her grandma Barbra Johnson (71) about her childhood in the country and her adult life in the city. Mrs.Johnson shares stories about her Christian faith. She...

Don Anderson discusses his childhood growing up in Chicago, what he's grateful for, and what kind of legacy he will leave to his children and grandchildren.

In this interview, conducted in November 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, Holly Graham (17) interviews her mother Stephanie Graham (52) about her childhood years through her college years. Mrs. Graham talks a lot about her husband, their wedding and their honeymoon....

Seto You, age 92/93 or 97/98, is interviewed by his son, Ed You, age 26, about his early days in the USA. He arrived from China in 1916, worked as a cook in this country well into his 80's. He...

Andy and Sharon talked about what it was like growing up in Chicago in the 30/40/50s.

Alisa Baum and Krista Ortgiesen started taking classes and volunteering at the Old Town School in the early 2000s, and haven't left since. In this excerpt of a conversation recorded at the school on March 22nd, 2017, the longtime friends...

A conversation between Larry Rand & Skip Landt. This conversation was recorded at the school on July 26th, 2017. Go to www.oldtownschool.org/StoryCorps to hear selected excerpts from interviews collected as part of the StoryCorps-Old Town School partnership.

Saladeen Alamin has been teaching Latin Dance at the Old Town School for over two decades. In this conversation with his wife, Rosita Ragin-Alamin, they talk about his early years as an acrobatic mambo dancer, his reflections on teaching at...

Interview about meems responsibilities as a child and during her life

The story of my grandfather Richard Carlson.

A conversation between Alex White & Jimmy Tomasello. This conversation was recorded at the school on July 25th, 2017. Go to www.oldtownschool.org/StoryCorps to hear selected excerpts from interviews collected as part of the StoryCorps-Old Town School partnership.

Jack Duffy: Meeting with Tony Riggio

We talked about his childhood, his college days, and his career that he still continues to do each day. He talked about his ups and downs, and how he succeeds.

In this interview, conducted in November 17th , 2017, in Lincoln Park High School, Chicago, Illinois, Biljana Tanceva (16) interviews her Law teacher Miss Douglas (53) about her childhood and the beginning of her adulthood. Miss Douglas shares her story...

David Anderson (72) and Stef Leinwohl (73) discuss going to design school at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

Julian Ross has taken classes at the Old Town School for over 10 years. In this conversation with his son Christopher, Julian reflects on why this place has remained such a constant in his life, and Christopher shares some of...