Podcasts about Peanuts

In this episode, we delve into the intricate world of the Chicago Outfit’s informants, featuring insights from my late friend, Cam Robinson, and Paul Whitcomb, a well-respected expert on the mob. This special compilation draws from past interviews and shorts that once highlighted various informants who operated during the notorious 1980s era of organized crime in Chicago. Through a series of concise segments, we explore the lives of key players who chose to turn against the Outfit, revealing the complex motivations and consequences of their decisions. We kick things off by revisiting the tale of Paul “Peanuts” Pansko, an influential figure leading the Polish faction of the Outfit. Pansko's criminal activities, including a racetrack heist, not only placed him in dangerous territory but also set into motion a chain of events that would later link to the infamous Family Secrets trial. It's during this journey that we outline how interconnected the informants’ narratives are, showcasing how Pansko’s actions inadvertently unraveled parts of the organization.   The discussion shifts to more dramatic stories, including Mario Rainone. Rainone's infamous decision to cooperate with the authorities opened the door to significant revelations about Lenny Patrick, one of the highest-ranking Outfit members to switch sides. Rainone's tapes ultimately led to the dismantling of major sections of the Outfit’s operations, including political connections that had long shielded them from legal repercussions.   We also explore the tale of Ken “Tokyo Joe” Eto, a Japanese mobster who thrived within the Outfit’s ranks. His attempts at self-preservation after surviving an assassination effort highlighted the stark realities faced by those who navigated the perilous landscape of organized crime. As he eventually became a witness for the prosecution, Eto’s insights illuminated the internal workings of one of Chicago’s most feared organizations. The episode further examines dramatic betrayals and deadly encounters that shaped the Outfit’s legacy. From the chilling events surrounding the murders of the Spilotro brothers, orchestrated by their own associates for reasons steeped in loyalty and betrayal, to the grim fate that met informants like Al Toco and the impact of domestic discord on organized crime, each tale is a window into the bleak realities faced by both mobsters and informants alike. As we round out the episode, we reflect on the cultural dynamics surrounding informants, particularly how personal relationships and family ties heavily influenced their decisions to cooperate. It becomes clear through the interviews that while fear of retribution often compels loyalty, the specter of betrayal looms large within the mob. This multifaceted examination blends personal stories with historical context, providing a deeper understanding of the Chicago Outfit’s complexity and its operatives. Join us in this retrospective journey through the shadows of organized crime as we pay homage to those who bravely shared their stories, revealing the inner workings of a criminal empire that continues to fascinate and terrify in equal measure. Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to “buy me a cup of coffee” Subscribe to the website for weekly notifications about updates and other Mob information. To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent ‘Brothers against Brothers’ or ‘Gangland Wire,’ the documentaries click here.  To purchase one of my books, click here. Transcript [0:00] Well, hey, guys, after listening to Bob Cooley, one of the more damaging sources and witness and informant to the Chicago Outfit outside of the Calabrese family, [0:13] Nick and his nephew, Frank Jr., I got the rest of the Chicago Outfit informants on tap here. No, not really. They’re not coming in. But I did do a story. I did a series of shorts a few years, or I don’t know, two or three years ago, maybe. [0:32] I interviewed my late friend, Cam Robinson, rest in peace, Cam. So you get to hear from him again. And Paul Whitcomb, who is a Chicago outfit expert, he’s been on this. They used to have some kind of a round table show up there. I don’t know if they still have it or not with the Seiferts. But anyhow, I got these guys to sit down with me and talk about all the different informants in Chicago during the, it was during the 80s. So this is just kind of a series of shorts that I put up before. They’re six or eight minutes long, I think, each one of them, that they talk about different informants. This kind of threw it together as another little bonus episode we’ve done. And I went to Chicago, if you notice, after Johnny Russo, which I apologize for in a way, I don’t know. I mean, the guy’s got some crazy-ass stories, doesn’t he? Who am I to say that he didn’t do it? But most people know that he didn’t do most of that stuff. Anyhow, so I threw up another Chicago right away about the guy that had the race wire that they killed, James Reagan. [1:38] Then i had this interview that i’d been doing during those last couple weeks with bob cooley who’s appeared uh out of nowhere and he’ll maybe see him on some other shows now he’s he’s wanting to do shows he tells me so after hearing bob cooley talk i thought well i’m doing do one more i want to just throw it up as an extra uh from some of my old chicago outfit stuff and that’ll finish me off on the Chicago outfit for a while. I hadn’t, I hadn’t been in Chicago, uh, doing shows about Chicago for quite a while. And, and I didn’t want to, uh, neglect you guys. You know, I get a lot of books written about New York and I’ve got all these authors that are wanting to do these books about New York. Uh, not so much about Chicago. So if you got anybody that, you know, wants to, got a book and wants to come on the show, uh, talking about the outfit, why steer them to me. So anyhow, just sit back and relax and enjoy. [2:37] My late, great friend, Cam Robinson. One more look at Cam, for those of you who remember him, and Paul Whitcomb. And we’re going to talk about famous snitches from Chicago. Thanks, guys. Well, let’s move along now to, this is kind of interesting, Paul Peanuts Panczko, who was the leader of the Polish branch of the outfield. Is that what you would call Peanuts Panczko, the leader of the Polish branch? If the Polish branch is the Panczko family, which you could easily say there were three brothers, then yeah, that wouldn’t be right. We haven’t really done a show on them. I don’t know a whole lot about them other than they were released at all. So we said non-Italian, Peckerwood, as we call them at Kansas City, professional criminals who did a lot of business with different outfit people. And he did a robbery of a racetrack. I think it’s the Balmoral Racetrack. It’s the name of it. James Duke Basile and then Panczko was in trouble for that and he convinced Basile to come in and they did some talking remember anything about that situation, you know in a lot of ways you. [3:50] Panczko could be considered one of the first dominoes that eventually led to the Family Secrets trial. Panczko, as you said, led to Dookie Bazile, who they had done robberies together. Bazile led them to Scarpelli, who was a much higher guy. I mean, there’s debate, but he was, because there was a making ceremony at this time, but Scarpelli was pretty highly ranked. I mean, he was a known killer, and he was up there. He was in the wild bunch. But Scarpelli then did tell them about a lot of the things that Frank Calabrese had done. [4:28] He wasn’t known as well as Scarpelli had brought him up to be. And a lot of those things dominoed into what would eventually lead to family secrets years later. [4:42] Scarpelli, I think, did not know so much about Nick, but he did know about Frank. And so a lot of that information sort of filled in the gaps. And even though Frank Calabrese Jr. Led them led them to Nick They A lot of seeds were planted And can be traced back to Pianus Pansico Um. [5:01] So it is kind of an interesting line. Basile, he wore a wire on Scarpelli and not even talking about a lot of these things. It’s not the FBI knew about that. They were in a car together. Right. If I remember right, he even talked about a mob graveyard. They went up there and they found two or three bodies. One of them was connected. It wasn’t anybody really important, but one of them was connected to Harry Aleman. So it was a pretty important wearing of a wire on Scarpelli, who then came at himself for a while. And that’s what led to the family secrets. He talked about Frank Calabrese. Is that what you’re saying? Yeah, that’s right. And some of those bodies in that graveyard were 10 years apart, which was interesting. I’ve got, it’s on the map that I created, but some of those bodies, there was years in between them. So it was something they were going back to and they believed that there were a lot of things there they did not find. Yeah, because they built a health care facility or something. They built some big building over where there would have been bodies. Right. Right. And the fascinating thing about this is Scarpelli, like, just like Cam said, this guy was a serious killer. He was a muscle builder. He was a terrifying guy. I mean, he had almost inhuman physical strength. Yeah. And when he flipped, he was completely debriefed by the FBI and the DOJ and then decided to try and change his mind. [6:27] But before he could do that He hung himself in the bathroom Of the Metropolitan Correctional Center With his hands behind his back And a bag over his head, Who was he in prison with? Who was he in MCC with, Paul? Was it anybody? He did happen to be in the MCC with the German at the time. He bound his hands behind his back and put a bag over his own head. He did. He did. And so the outfit continues to somehow persuade people to take their own lives rather than testify against them. [7:07] It’s a hell of a way to die by suicide it is by suicide at least they didn’t have arrows in his back, not as far as we know yeah it was terrible he cut his own head off I saw a cartoon once that the homicide guy liked to go ahead and maybe real suckle of suicide because then you could just walk away from it so there’s a dead body laying there with a bunch of arrows at his back and a homicide detective standing over him with a hand and pencil and says, hmm, suicide, huh? [7:44] Got the inside joke. It worked homicide. You see how those guys sometimes will try to make something into a suicide that probably is a homicide. On the other hand, we had one, we had a mob guy, he wasn’t really a mob associate, who had gone to Vegas. He lost a lot of money and they found his body in his car at the airport parking lot after coming back from Vegas and they found out later lost a lot of money and the car was parked up against the fence and he was shot in the head and there was no gun in the car you know found so just assume that somebody shot him in his head the car kept going and rolling up against the fence. [8:25] But this one detective, I remember Bob Pence is his name. He was dumb. And he started, he went back over and he dusted that car for prints again. And he got some more evidence out of it. And then he went back to the airport and he looked and started asking questions. And he found out later that somebody who had a pickup truck parked there had a week later, three or four days later, come back and got his truck. When he got home he found a pistol inside the bed of his truck and he called the airport or he called somebody turned it in Pinson found that pistol that was a pistol that that shot the guy so Pinson's theory was he was rolling along in his car he shot himself in the head and then he flipped that pistol out is with a reaction he flipped it out and went in the bed in that pickup and then it rolled on up against the fence and they ruled it a suicide wow damn that’s not that different than Scarpelli I mean the fbi to this day insists it was suicide yeah well, Oh, well, right. All right. Let’s move along to Mario. John, the arm. Rainone. [9:41] Is that correct, Cam? That yeah, that’s Rainone. Yeah. So tell us about that. I know we talked about this, you know, a little bit about this one. [9:50] This is kind of a funny one. He was he was sent to kill a building inspector. Raynaud was with the Grand Avenue crew and so he’s en route to kill this guy and this is one of those mob blunders and he sees a couple guys following him and it’s Rudy Fredo and Willie Messino and he recognizes him when he’s driving over there and it’s important to point out who these guys are, Cam, not to interrupt you Willie Messino, was the right hand man and bodyguard for Tony Accardo for 30 years I mean, he was serious, serious business. Rudy Frayto, you know, the chin, but Massino was serious news. If you saw Willie Massino, you knew he were in for trouble. Yeah, he wasn’t there as backup to do anything except clean up after Rainone, including Rainone. So Rainone saw the writing on the wall. He pulls up and he goes straight to the FBI. [10:54] And he informs, he talks to them and gives them his information. And later on, he sort of regrets doing so, denies that he ever did. Uh, there were, there were, uh, articles written about him. There’s a, there’s a Chicago Tribune writer, John Cass, and Ray Nolan had a back and forth with him writing letters. This is how these mob guys in Chicago operate, talking about, I’m, I ain’t no beefer. And, uh. Once he was out of prison in 2009, he was busted several more times. If you can believe it, he stayed in the criminal life. He was robbing a liquor store with another guy. And the guy he was robbing with, this is why I jump ahead a little bit, was a guy named Vincent Forliano. He claimed that he didn’t even know Fratto or Messino. These were guys he didn’t know, so he never would have informed against them. The guy he was robbing the liquor store with and he was committing other robberies with, Vincent Forliano, was Fredo’s son-in-law. [11:56] So he was committing robberies with a guy related to the guy, but he didn’t know who they were. And to say that somebody didn’t know, as Paul said, Willie Messino, is just ludicrous. Anybody in the criminal atmosphere, period, knew who Willie Messino was because you were probably paying money to it. to exist. And this is extremely important because Rainone, at the time this happened, Rainone cooperated long enough to record conversations with Lenny Patrick. That’s right. That’s right. And that set dominoes in place that would lead to the fall of the outfit. Even though he tried to take back his cooperation, to say he never cooperated, I’ve heard those tapes that were played in trials that I participated in, so I I know better. Uh, and that’s why they call him Mario flip flop Rainone because he, uh, would cooperate and uncooperate and then cooperate. But he is the one who got Lenny Patrick on the hook. Yeah. [13:00] Interesting, interesting. Let’s just continue on with this Lenny Patrick because we weren’t going to talk about him. That’s a good lead hand to talk about another, really one of the most important informants that year who testified. [13:13] Can you talk about the domino that led to the end? Rainone really, really flipped the domino that kicked over. Go ahead, Paul. Well, Lenny Patrick was the highest, and even to this day, remains the highest ranking member of the outfit to ever turn state’s evidence. The guy was a capo in all but name. He had been in charge of Rogers Park, the gambling. He was essentially the head of the Jewish arm of the mafia, kind of the Meyer Lansky figure of Chicago. And when the Lawndale neighborhood moved north to Rogers Park, he moved with them, and he had his own crew. He reported directly to Gus Alex, who was, of course, at the very top, and Sam Carlisi. And he was dealing with Marcello and Carlesi in a number of different outfit ventures, loan sharking. He personally had been staked by Carlesi with a quarter million in cash to put out on the street. And he was involved in extortions Bombings of theaters All these things directly at the command of Sam Carlisi Who was then the boss of bosses of the Chicago outfit So when Rainone got him on tape They set up what was the beginning of the end for the outfit And I think people need to understand who Gus Alex is also For people outside of Chicago Gus Alex was. [14:40] Basically, I guess you could call him the equivalent of maybe the consigliere in Chicago. When you look at Chicago, the triumvirate in the 70s, once a guy like Paul Ricca died and several major outfit leaders died in the early 70s. [14:58] Tony Accardo decided that the outfit would be led by himself, by Joy Iupa, and the political wing and all of the non-Italians and all of the grift and a lot of aspects would be led by Gus Alex. So he was essentially on the same level as Joey Iupa, and he was responsible for much more for things of greater import than Joey Iupa. I mean, controlling the political arm and all the payoffs and all of that is much, much more than the streets and the murders. So all the politics and all the anything that had to do was definitely fell under gus alex and he was part of a ruling triumvirate he was a non-italian part of a ruling triumvirate with iupa and uh acardo so he was the the leader top of the outfit and he had been for years going back to going back to the 30s and the 40s 40 he had come up under, the Murray the Camel Humphreys and had made those connections he was the most connected guy in the Chicago outfit, so for a guy like Lenny Patrick to be. [16:15] Rollover against is essentially the political leader, national political leader and political leader of Chicago. This was absolutely crippling to the outfit. That was he wiped out the entire political arm of the Chicago outfit. After Lenny Patrick brought down Gus Alex, this became a basically a street crime organization. It was that those political contacts. I mean, I think that’s a fair statement, right, Paul? Those political contacts and judges, I mean, that was all but eliminated with Gus Alex going away. You’re absolutely right, Cam. And he not only took out Gus Alex, but he took out the boss of the Italians, too. That’s right, yeah. Both of them at the same time. He wiped out the outfit, and you put it beautifully by saying it became a street crime organization. You think about the division of labor and it started with IUP and IUP and. [17:19] La Pietra, Jackie Cerone, they had all the gambling, a lot of the sports gambling, but they also had the skim from Las Vegas, and they ran all that stuff, while Gus Alex, along with Lenny Patrick, ran all that politics, and you can’t have a mob organization if you don’t have cover politically. That’s why even in Kansas City, we’re pretty clean here, but we still never had any real mob prosecutions. [17:47] And it certainly had very few, if any, little, if any mob prosecutions at Cook County. And you couldn’t even get convicted of a real crime, murder, assault, or something. It’s just a straight-out crime. You weren’t even trying to do a RICO, I think, on anybody. So it was, you know, they just operated with impunity. Well, you took out that whole gambling side. That was all the money coming in. And then shortly thereafter, you take out the political side, who then turns back and gets the new boss on the gambling side and loan sharking and all that. [18:23] I’ll tell you, by 1990, the outfit’s gone. It really is. It still exists to a degree, but Sam Carlisi was the last traditional old line boss of the outfit. you, that, in my opinion, that ever ruled. After that, it was never the same. Yeah, I think a guy like Gus Alex, you know, like you said, Gary, you had Aiuppa who was dealing with gambling, but I think that’s a lot of, there’s a lot of optics to that, you know, and you’ve got all these cities who have got characters who are not Italian, Gus Alex in Chicago, and, you know, as Paul said, Meyer Lansky, who was New York, and you had Mashie Rockman in Cleveland, and these characters not italians so they know when to step back and let and let the italians talk but that doesn’t mean that they’re not running things it’s just for the optics of city to city where the italians have to see that they’re dealing with italians they don’t walk in the room it doesn’t mean that behind the scenes they’re not pulling the levers they just because of of the uh uh criminal um. [19:34] The the criminal view of of non-italians in that world sort of sort of their own prejudices these guys don’t always walk in the room when they’re dealing with other cities gus alex is is sitting down with anybody in chicago but you go to kansas city you go to new york, you know meyer lansky would leave the room when they were when they were talking you know italian to Italian. And the same thing with Gus Alex or Mace Rockman or any of those other guys who are not Italian. It was just an optics city to city. It doesn’t mean that they weren’t pulling the levers. Is it Yehuda or Jehuda, Cam? Jehuda. I’ve always heard of Jehuda. Yeah, Jehuda. So he kind of dealed with the IRS that year. [20:23] He must have had some. The IRS was really strong working the mob in Chicago. I’ve noticed several references to IRS investigations. We did not have that in Kansas City, and the IRS did a little bit, but they were not as strong as they were up in Chicago. [20:38] Yeah, he met with an agent, Tom Moriarty, who’s been around and worked Chicago for a long time. He was a pretty well-known guy up here. But Bill Jehota worked under Ernest Rocco Infelice, who was a real powerhouse going back a long time. And out in Cicero, and his crew, a lot of these crews had their own little names, and they called the good shit Lollipop. He was a huge gambling enterprise, you know. And they bought a house up in Lake County, which is north of the city. It’s funny, this house they bought was actually the family that had lived in it. The son had murdered the family. It was a murder house before the outfit bought it. and uh they bought it used it as a as a gambling den and and after that moved out they used it for prostitution and they would park cars at a nearby motel that they ran and then then have a uh a, valet service that drove him to this this gambling house and there was also quite a few uh murders that uhJahoda witnessed i’m sure he took no part in it he just happened to be standing outside of the house when they when they these murders were committed there was a uh was it hal smith and um. [21:57] Oh i can’t remember the they killed somebody else in this home and they burnt these were guys who didn’t want to pay his tree tags, and they were gamblers who refused to give in. And he brought down this entire crew. I mean, Rocco and Felice was… There’s a famous picture of the day after the Spolatros were killed. And it was really the upper echelon of the up that you’ve got. You’ve got little Jimmy Marcello. You’ve got the boss, Sam Wings-Carlesi. You’ve got the street boss, Joe Ferriola. And you’ve got Rocco and Felice, who’s right there. These are the four top guys, basically, in the outfit as far as at this time, the Cicero crew had risen to the top. That was the powerhouse crew. And so he was involved in those discussions because he was such a powerhouse out there with Ferriola being the street boss. So he was, it really can’t be thatJahodatestimony that eventually brought down this crew was really, it really crippled that crew for a long time. Well, those people that went down in that trial have only in the last five years come out of prison. Yeah, we’ve actually had been talking to somebody. We’ve had the… [23:13] Opportunity to meet he brought down uh uh robert um to go beat um bellavia and another guy who doesn’t like to be mentioned who runs a pretty successful pizza pizza chain up in lake county and uh these guys went down for a long time the beat was down for 25 years and he just came out. [23:39] So and billJahoda have if you read his testimony it is kind of kind of odd that he was standing outside of the building and just looked in the window and they were committing a murder and he just he he places himself outside of the house witnessing a murder through the window which is convenient when you’re the one testifying against murderers it certainly is yeah. [24:03] So so that was he was involved in the gambling so that makes sense then the irs got him and millions of dollars millions of dollars a month they were bringing and he met uh, i don’t remember paul and you did he he contacted moriarty right or did moriarty reach out to him because he was under investigation i i thought Jahoda was was worried about himself so he reached out to them i can’t remember the details i think you’re right yeah i i think he was worried about his own his own safety gary and he reached out to moriarty and they met up at a hotel just outside the city on the uh up in the northwest and uh they talked about things i actually found the location and on the little map you can find where where they met each other but he they met each other in disgust and they would meet different locations and and jahuda wore a wire and some of those some of those wiretaps are they really make for that. [25:05] That those conversations come right out of the movie just i love what we’re doing out here and i love my job and and you actually where i’m going to make you trunk music i mean you really hear these things that that you see it right in the movies i mean you you can’t write the dialogue that these guys are actually using it’s it’s it’s you know it it comes straight out of a book i mean You’ve got, you’ve got, uh, this is the toughest dialogue you’ll ever hear. Interesting. How’d you buy it? Where’d you find that at? Is that, uh, it’s probably not the audio in probably anywhere. No book or something. Yeah. You can, if you look up, if you look up different, different, you know, you go on newspapers.com or you go in different, uh, I believe, uh, I’ve got, um, uh, mob textbook by, um, Howard Abedinsky. I’ve got a couple of copies of his, of his textbook, organized crime. And he’s got some clips of it. This guy who owns a pizza shop up north is talking about how he loves his job. He loves what he does. And it’s funny to hear he talk about smashing somebody and loving what you do. Really? I’ve heard a few conversations like that back at the station house. [26:25] I don’t care. It’s on both sides. Is that what you’re saying? When you live in that world. Those guys can go either direction. [26:37] Well, let’s talk about ex-Chicago cops. Speaking of cops, let’s talk about, Vince Rizza, his daughter actually appeared on that Chicago Mob Housewives, or they tried to do a show. And Frank Schweiss’ daughter was on it. And Pia Rizza, who has gotten some notoriety as a model or something, I can’t remember. And she really, she was tight. She would not talk about her dad at all. I read an interview of her. She would just talk about her dad at all. But he came in and he testified against Harry Aleman, of all people, and linked him to the murder of this bookie, Anthony Ritlinger. Remember that one? [27:22] Go ahead, Paul. No, that one I’m not very up on, Cam. I’m sorry. So, Ritlinger, I believe he didn’t want to pay his street tax, if I’m right, Gary. Yeah, you’re right. He had been warned. Rattlinger had been warned that he needs to pay, he needs to pay, and he was making a good deal of money. And Ratlinger was he was brought in just the normal course of action with the wild bunch because he was a wild bunch murder I’m a little rusty but here it comes so he was a wild bunch killing, he was brought in he was warned it was the typical Harry Ailerman and if I’m remembering correctly and people correct me if I’m not it was Butch Petruccelli they sat him down. [28:11] Usually it would be Butch and, um, uh, Borsellino who would do the talking, uh, Tony Borsellino, and they would do the talking. And then afterwards, Butch Petruccelli would just sit down and glare. So he was a pretty scary guy. And he had that, uh, uh, Malocchio, the, the evil eye, and he would just glare at people. And that would send the message and Rattlinger didn’t, didn’t listen. He was making too much money, he’s not going to pay any damn Degos, that kind of line. And so he, of course, fell victim to these guys. And I believe he may have been trunk music. I think I remember this one, Matt, but I can’t remember. Yeah, I got this one. He went to a restaurant. That’s right. That’s right. And he had already, his daughter lived with him. I’m not sure about the wife, but he had warned his family to take all kinds of extra cautious. He knew something was coming. And it was, you know, after reading that thing, it’s, It’s kind of like, well, we talked about Spilotro taking off their jewelry. Ken Eto did this similar kind of a thing and told his wife he may not be coming back. [29:22] I tell you, another guy that did the same thing was Sonny Black. That’s right. It came out about Joe Pistone, the Donnie Brasco story. He did the same thing. He went to a sit-down or a meeting, and he took off his jewelry, I believe left his billfold, when he went to the meeting. this. Ken Eto was the same way. Ken Eto, I think, thought he could talk his way out. I think all of them thought they could talk their way out of it. So Rettlinger went out by himself and sat in a prominent place in this local restaurant that was really well known up there in the north side. It’s north of downtown Chicago, and I can’t remember the name of it. [30:02] And he just sat there and pretty soon a car pulls up and two guys run in kind of like a Richard Cain kind of a deal and just start popping. And that was a Harry Aleman deal. That’s right. He did, I believe. There’s an old guy who married the girlfriend of Felix Adlericio, I believe. He and this woman are sitting out in front of their brownstone, and Aleman and some other dude pull out and get out when guys walk up to him and shoot him and kill him. [30:31] And so that was – Yeah, that was Petrocelli and Aleman walked up, And he had been, he had been dating, uh, uh, Aldericio’s, Alderico’s girlfriend. Now that’s the famous hit from beyond the grave. Because we’re going to go on the old Samuel’s just sitting in the lawn chair thinking he’d got it made. That’s right. You know, Gary, you and I did the show on the outfit, uh, a long time ago. No, I’m sorry. On the wild bunch, a long time ago. So a lot of those, and they did so much work back in the day. A lot of those run together, but yeah, you’re now, uh, now that you’re right, writing her was he was eating in a restaurant. I’m, Uh, I can’t remember the name. It may have been, been Luna’s, but he was, went out in public. He thought he’d be safe. And like you said, a lot of these guys have a six cents because they come up on the street and they know these things. And, uh, like a guy like Sammy and Reno knew it was coming. He was dodging them for a long time, but they, they know that their time is coming. Eventually they just, they stay ahead of it for a while and figure they can fight their way out or talk their way out. And yeah, they, he was blown away right in public. Like it was similar to the, I remember it being similar to the, to the Richard Cain murder. And this was in, it was right around the same time. It was, it was in the mid seventies, 75, 74, 75, 76. It might’ve been 75 that writing or happened right, right in the middle of the restaurant. [31:58] I’ve been a lot cheaper to pay the street tax, I reckon. You know, and it wasn’t, I don’t recall that they’re asking for so much, but once these murder started happening yeah i think it was it wasn’t like it was half or 75 i think they just wanted it was you know it might have been a quarter it might have just been a flat fee across the board but once that street tax was was instituted i mean we’ve talked about this before gary that was when the wild bunch was out there that was that was they really didn’t play around When Ferriola told these guys, get everybody in line, [32:31] they really cracked down and they weren’t playing at all. You pay or you die. And guys like Alem and Patrick Shelley, whether it was right in public or whatever, in the outfit in the 70s, Paul, you know this from Richard Cain and several others. They just write in public would just blow you away. and writing her was just was almost textbook just like the Richard Cain it was it was right in the right in the restaurant yeah I’ll tell you I’ll tell. [33:05] I was conflating him with Hal Smith. Okay. I’ll tell you something about those mob hits. When they kill somebody in public like that in a public way, more than likely it’s because whoever the victim is has been alerted, and they can’t get anybody to get close to them. They will already try to send somebody around to get them isolated, and when they can’t get them isolated, then they want them bad enough. They’ll just lay, as Frank Calabrese, I heard him say once, well, lay on them. And I thought, oh, that’s interesting. Well, lay on them. I read that somewhere else. They use that term when you’re following somebody and you’re trying to set them up, or yet they lay on them. Calabrese even said, you know, you’re like, get an empty refrigerator box and hide inside of it. I mean, it’s just like the kind of stuff we used to do at the intelligence unit to run surveillances on people. And so they’ll lay on them for a while until they can get you somewhat isolated. And if they can’t, then they’ll just take you out in public. It might be to send a message, but I don’t think so because it’s so risky to get somebody in public. You can have a young, all-fitty cop in there that you didn’t even notice, and he comes out blazing. And, you know, it’s just not worth it. Even if you take him out, he’s probably got to get you. [34:21] So it’s kind of a last resort. A desperation. Yeah, it’s desperation because they can’t get you isolated. [34:28] You look at some of these public murderers, guys like Richard Cain or Ridinger, like you said, who was on the watch. Sam Annarino, who was right on Cicero. [34:39] A guy like Chris Carty, who was years later. I mean, these are guys who would have been smart enough and street smart enough to be on the watch, to watch their step, to know what was going on. With the exception of a guy like Michael Cagnoni, who just happened to be difficult to get, and he probably might have had an idea that something was happening, but I think just he was a family guy, and so it was hard to isolate. They blew him up on the interstate, but I think that in general, that’s a good point, Gary. These guys, if they just run up and blow away, it’s just a last resort. That’s an excellent point. I have always been in that camp of, oh, that must be sending a message. But you, with your experience, I think you’re exactly right. One thing, guys, I think we’re mixing up Sambo Cesario with Sam Annarino. I was thinking when they – yeah, you’re right, Paul. I was thinking, though, when they blew away Sam Annarino in the parking lot with his family, though, they had been trying to get him for several months. And they finally just went after him in the parking lot, called in a robbery, and blew him away in the furniture store parking lot. That was what I meant. Yeah, Gary was referring to Sambo earlier. I just meant they had been trying to get Sam Annarino for a long time, and when they couldn’t, they just got him in the parking lot. [36:08] Well, interesting. You know, no matter how much terror these guys strike in the heart of their underlings, in the end, they still will turn once in a while. And I think people don’t really not turn because they’re afraid of getting killed so much if they don’t turn because they don’t want to have their family suffering the disgrace of them being a rat or a snitch. I think that’s more important to be a man and go out like a man in this subculture and believe me I’ve lived in a subculture where being a man and being a tough guy is more important than anything else, I think that’s the most important thing that keeps people from coming in you’re like a wimp you’re a puss, you can’t take it, can’t handle it you know what I mean you can’t handle five years I could do five years standing on my head or a tray like the dude told me so uh you know but even even with all that and still there’s a certain percentage that will end up coming in sure and usually there are people that either don’t care about their family like lenny patrick yeah or that don’t have close family so that they don’t have it so much of that pressure that you’re talking about gary because you make a really valid point that that that cultural value is so strong yeah yeah it’s it’s. [37:36] In a lot of these small towns, you see in Detroit where they’re all family tied in and everything, you don’t see informants. I think they’ve had one. Kansas City, as you said, Gary, you don’t see. But then you look at a place like Rochester where they’re all just lower tier mob guys. Everybody was informing on everybody because they really weren’t as upper echelon sort of mob guys. So I think that, like you said, once you get that culture seeped in, you’ve got those families and all, there’s a lot of factors. But if it’s a deep-rooted mob town, you really don’t see a lot of real informants. [38:11] So, guys, now we’ve got one that I did a show on. I did a couple of shows on him. I talked to the FBI agent who brought him in and dealt with him for quite a while. Ken Tokiojo Eto. He survived a murder attempt. When that didn’t happen for him with the outfit, what happened after that? [38:32] I believe his attempted assassins got killed themselves. So tell me a little bit about Tokyo Joe Eto. There’s a photograph I have from the late 50s, early 60s And it shows Joe Ferriola And a couple of other heavyweights Hanging around with a young Ken Eto, And a lot of people didn’t know who Ken Eto was But he ran the Japanese game, Gambling, Bolita And lots of money Poured into the outfit through Tokyo Joe As they called him And there was a rumor that perhaps Tokyo Joe was going to turn under a little bit of pressure. And so Jasper Campisi put three slugs in the back of his head. [39:22] Miraculously, he survived three slugs at point blank range. And if he wasn’t going to turn state’s evidence before, he certainly had a powerful incentive to do so now. He seems to insist As I’ve heard that he was not His intention was not It’s hard to say at this point But he says he had no intention Of flipping and that he’s not sure What the evidence was against him But he was not going to flip until, It was Yeah. [39:55] I’m drawing a blank, Paul. Who was it that sent? It wasn’t the saint. It was Vincent Solano. He was kind of Vincent Solano, who was a union guy and a made guy up there. He kind of had which one. [40:11] He was a capo. And which crew was it? Do you remember? He was on the north side. North side crew. North side crew. And actually, Ken went to Vince Solano and had a talk with him. Said you know what i can do this he was looking at a tray i had a dude tell me what’s that pressure and tried to get him to talk and he said uh he said what am i gonna get out of this a tray he said man i can do a tray standing on my head and i threw him right then that’s right gotta talk to me so uh and that’s all he had to do but solano for some reason uh who knows what was in his head because uh ken Eto had made him a lot of money a lot of money and he was a tough little dude he had he had survived he had been put in the uh concentration camps if you will during the internment camps yeah internment camps and then came as a young man up chicago and been around for a long time by the time this all came down he’d been with him for a long time and made him a lot of money and all kinds of different gambling operations but particularly the bolita. [41:13] So uh it just didn’t make sense i heard one thing that these guys in chicago got the idea Yeah, to keep the noise down, they were loading their own rounds with lighter loads of powder. I don’t know. They had like a hit car up there. The guys in Chicago were pretty sophisticated or tried to be. And so they used these lighter loads. And when it went into his head, it just didn’t penetrate his skull. I remember I was at the hospital once, and there was a young guy who had gotten shot in the head. And they said that the bullet was not a good bullet because it went in under his skin and then went under his scalp, along his skull, and then lodged up on his forehead. [41:56] Wow. And so Eto was kind of the same way. Those bullets were probably lodged up underneath his scalp. He pulled himself to a neighboring, I believe it was a pharmacy that was right there, a corner store. And then that guy went to help him. I think he had to dial a call of 911 or whatever. 911 was in place then. He had to call for help for himself from a phone booth. You know, he saved his own life by being smart and playing dead. Yeah, that’s right. And you look at Chicago, it’s a city of neighborhoods, and you’ve got the Mexican town, and you’ve got the different towns, and you’ve got Chinatown where there’s so much money and so much gambling. And while Haneda was Japanese and there’s obviously division between Japanese and Chinese, it would be much easier for him to go in and then some of these outfit guys and because of different things going on back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. But he could go into neighborhoods and represent the outfit in ways in different communities that the outfit wouldn’t go into or a lot of these made guys. [43:12] And that gave him entry into a lot of communities. In the Asian community, there’s a lot of gambling that he was able to tap into. He was smart enough to see that as a route that maybe the Italian guys didn’t, just like Lenny Patrick, who we’ve talked about in other episodes, had that access into the Jewish communities and other Jewish gangsters. There’s a lot of gambling there. If you can get somebody who has an in to different communities, that’s really a way to go and that’s part of why he made so much money. A game like BolEto wouldn’t normally be and that’s huge in the Hispanic communities and huge with Asians also. You know in kansas city that’s interesting that you should point that out camp we had a um large vietnamese community moved in after the the boat peoples when it started and they moved in through the same church uh. [44:09] Sacred Heart Church and Don Bosco Center that the Italians moved in, the Sicilians moved into back in the turn of the century, the same neighborhoods. And Italians are getting successful and they’re moving out the suburbs and the Vietnamese are moving in and creating the Vietnamese restaurants and Vietnamese shops. And they brought, they have a love for gambling. Like you said, they have huge love for gambling. They don’t drink so much or do so many drugs, but they do love to gamble, it seemed to me like. [44:36] And so they had their own book. he was called the king a guy a friend of mine told me a story uh there’s a mob book he got on the periphery that neighborhood’s got a joint and he he was running a sports book and he had a lot of action going in and out of his joint so this one vietnamese guy had a big debt owed to the king so he goes down and talks to this guy’s name was Larry Strada, he ends up getting killed by some other uh mobsters in a deal they thought he was going to testify but i just needed to hear are there, this young, middle-aged Vietnamese guy goes down to the Caddyshack, Larry Strada’s bar. And he starts telling him about the king. He said, man, he said, the king, you take all your business. He said, he got all business down here. He take all your business. He said, you know, you need to do something about the king. He said, you know, we’re close to the river here. And then he made a motion across his throat like he was cutting his throat. So he was trying to get out of his gambling debt to convince this Italian, La Cosa Nostra bookie to go back and kill me yeah king piano. [45:42] You know i’ve heard a lot of stories and some of them are true some are not that one had to ring a truth to it it had a definite ring of truth that that got to do that playing them against each other yeah you bet and you know another thing about tokyo joe and you know he could testify But Ben Solano had Campizé and Gattuso killed right away. Found them in the trunk of their car, I think. Maybe at the airport, even. [46:09] Chicago trunk music, but they have some saying like that. And so Solano knew that they could testify against him, and they didn’t want to go down for attempted murder, more than likely, and he just didn’t take a chance. So he had them killed, and I can’t remember if he went down behind this or not. But another thing Tokyo Joe was able to do, I mean, he certainly could expose all the inner workings of what he knew about to the FBI, which gives you a lot of tips on where to go, who to work on, and maybe where to throw up microphones or some wiretaps. But he also traveled around he came to Kansas City during the skimming trial because they’re working on the Chicago hierarchy. So they just fly him into town. They show him that picture, the last separate picture where everybody’s in the picture. And they say, now, who’s that? Oh, that’s Aiuppa. Okay, then who’s that? Oh, that’s Vince Solano. Yeah, he reports to Aiuppa. You know, and who’s that guy? I can’t remember the other people at all. So the nation said that Joe is up hard. Oh, yeah, he reports to this guy. So to show the organization of the mob in Chicago and that it is an organization that gives orders to have other people carry it to make the RICO case, that he was a storyteller for that. And he didn’t know anything about the skim at all. But he was a storyteller on getting the mob name and the organization in front of a jury. That’s huge, as you know, Paul. [47:35] Absolutely. We had a similar arrangement during the Carlesi trial about how [47:40] the Carlesi crew operated and who was who, and to tell the story. Yeah. You have to make it a story. Let’s take a look at Betty Toco, which, uh, this is pretty interesting. There was a, um, I’m not sure. Albert Toco was your husband. Remind me what his position was at the outfit at that time. So Al Toco was, there’s sort of a division on who was the leadership of, who was the central leader of Chicago Heights. There’s Dominic Tuts Palermo and Al Toco, who was really a powerhouse in Chicago Heights. And Tuts Palermo was definitely highly connected and across the pond too, also in Italy. But uh Toco was involved in the in the chop shop wars really really heavily involved and he had a lot of connections in chicago too he was involved with lombardo and a lot of these chop shops throughout chicago he had a lot of partnerships and so this was a 30 million dollar a year racket stolen cars chop shops international car rings uh car rings throughout stolen car rings throughout the country. Toco was responsible for burying the Spolatro brothers. It was very sectioned off. Each crew had a part in their murder. And then Chicago Heights was responsible for the burial. [49:02] And they were down in Enos, Indiana. They got kind of turned around a little bit. They were down a farm road. They were burying them in a freshly tilled field. And the road where they’re on, there’s a little side road that you would drive down. There’s very little down there. I’ve, I’ve seen it, but a car happened to come down middle of night and they were in a, there’s a, there were a couple of feet off of a wooded area and they see this car coming down and they sort of all panicked and before they had a chance to cover the area or really do anything, it just looked like a freshly dug, it really just looked like freshly dug mound. And so they all fled and three of Toco’s guys went one way and he went the other. They had the car in both radios. [49:46] He’s wandering around barefoot, and he calls his wife finally. She shows up, and he’s screaming and yelling. And he runs to Florida, and he’s waiting for permission to come back from Joe Ferriola. He’s worried he’s going to get killed because they find the Spallachos immediately because the farmer sees his field all messed up, freshly tilled ground, and it looks really suspicious, like somebody had been poaching deer and burying the carcass. Uh but Toco was a tyrant to his wife he was he was horrible to her he was he was when you think of what a mob guy was that was Toco you know tipping the guy who mows his lawn the kid who mows his lawn hundred bucks and wandered around town everybody knows him but he’d come home and unlike a lot of these guys he was he was a real you know a real. [50:36] Real bastard to his wife you know and for years she put up with this sort of abuse and finally after this this happened and it was in the news and all he finally pushed her too far and she began informing on him and and he was arrested later on he was in his jail cell talking about all the murders he had committed and and this and that about his wife and uh his his uh uh A cellmate repeated everything that he said to try and lessen his sentence. So really, Toco got buried by his big mouth and his terrible behavior. He initially fled to Greece before he was arrested, and they extradited him back from Greece. So this is, I mean, Toco is like deep in mob behavior. [51:22] I mean, fleeing the country and all. I mean, it doesn’t get much more mafia than Al Toco. I hesitate to use that word with Chicago, but that was, Al Toco was running deep. and that Betty Tocco’s testimony eventually led to the trial of Al Tocco. And that was really a blow to the Chicago Heights crew that nowadays, I mean, they continued on and had a few rackets, but after the eventual trial that stemmed from that, it really wasn’t, there’s not much activity now. I’m in that area and there’s just, there’s really nothing here. [51:59] Interesting. Now, so Tony and Michael Spilotro had been lured to somebody’s house on the promise that Michael was going to be made. It’s my understanding. I believe that’s what Frank Collada had reported. And some other people, not part of the Chicago Heights crew, killed him. How did that go down? And how did they pass off the body? You guys, is there anything out there about that? Wasn’t that the family secrets trial, maybe? It was. And, of course, it’s been popularly portrayed in the movie Casino. And it’s surprisingly accurate Except for the fact That where they were beaten But what happened was Little Jimmy Marcello called them. [52:41] And said Sam, meaning Sam Carlisi, the boss, wanted to see them. And they knew that that was ominous because of what was going on beyond the scope of this show. But they took off the jewelry. They left. They told their wives, if we’re not back by 930, it’s not good. They really did not suspect that it was to make Michael. That’s what Collada said. You’re absolutely right about that, Gary. But I don’t think that’s correct at all. They knew that it was bad. And they went. He took a pistol, which was against the rules. They hit him a pistol. Tony hit a pistol on his brother, which you do not do when you go to see the boss. And they were picked up by, by Marcello and taken to a house. I, uh, was it Bensonville? Yeah. Up in Bensonville. Uh, in, in the basement, they walked down the stairs and all of a sudden they looked into the eyes of Carlici and, uh, DeFranzo and everybody, the whole, all the couples were there to spread the, the, uh, liability around and they were beaten to death with, with fists and feet, uh, in, in that basement and then transported to that burial ground, which coincidentally was just maybe a couple hundred yards away from Joey Aupa’s farm. [54:00] Right. So I guess that they must have had, uh, Toco standing by, because I don’t believe he was in that basement. I like that. He must have had him standing by to go grab the bodies and take them out. Really interesting. He should have had the old Doug before he got there. You know, that’s what they always say. First you dig the hole then you go do the murder right and i don’t think he had it done before he got there yeah i don’t i really that’s a good that’s a good point gary i really don’t know and nobody’s ever come forward to say what the status of the hole was beforehand uh you know it was a deep it was a deep it was it was a pretty deep hole uh but they may have had a dug ahead of Tom, but, but, uh, cause they knew the location and it’s pretty obscure location. So they had clearly been there before. And, and, you know, everybody knew that that was, I, I hope was, I got it right. Farm. And, uh, So they may have had it dug, and they just did a shoddy job covering it up. [55:05] But I also haven’t heard the specific details about how they handed it off to Toco. I don’t recall seeing that in Calabrese’s testimony. Yeah, it was Nick Calabrese that testified about that. It brought up the light. He named the killer. So he may not have gone that far, probably having Toco and having his wife testify that he did do this. that she picked him up out there. It was just a piece of the entire prosecution on the spot, which it really never was a trial or anything on that. I don’t believe. Another odd thing is he, I believe he ranted and raved the entire car ride back. And from where he was, you would run up with, It’s now turns into Indianapolis. So it’s a good car ride from where they were to Chicago Heights. I believe he ranted and raved about the guys and his crew and the burial and everything, the entire car ride, which was not something most guys would do in front of their wives. But I really, especially when he treated like that. Right. And complained about how long it took her to get there and everything. So she was able to verify a lot of what Calabrese was saying from the final end of it. Interesting. A friend of mine was in the penitentiary, and he said, there’s a guy in there who called himself a verifier. He said, what do you mean? He said, I’m a professional verifier. What he was, he was an informant. That’s what he was, but he called himself a verifier. [56:33] A girl would come to him and say, well, I heard this, this, and this. Is that true or not? He’d say, well, that’s true. That’s not true. [56:40] I guess that’s a more preferable term. Yeah, she was a verifier. Well, that was great. I really appreciate having that on there and Paul. And I really, I still miss Cam. Every time I get ready to do a Chicago show, I think, oh, I want to get Cam or Rochester. [56:58] We did one about Rochester. We did one about Utica. I did several other shows about other families. And he was a good guy and a real great researcher and a real expert on the outfit and other mafia families. So rest in peace, Cam and Paul. I hope to talk to you again one of these days. Guys, don’t forget, I got stuff to sell out there. Just go to my website or just search on my name for Amazon. I can rent my movies about the skim in Las Vegas, about the big mob war between the Savella brothers and the Spiro brothers in Kansas City. Then one about the great 1946 ballot theft in which the mob… Rigged election, helped Harry Truman rig an election. It’s a little harder to find than mine. You need to put ballot theft and Gary Jenkins. I think you’ll find it then. The other two, Gangland Wire and Brothers Against Brothers, Sabella Spiro, were a little bit easier to find. Had to put it up a different way because Amazon changed the rules, but I got them up there. So thanks a lot, guys.

Read transcriptAttention, ace pilots and Peanuts enthusiasts! Buckle up your aviator goggles and prepare for some canine combat as Play Comics takes a nostalgic dive into Snoopy vs. The Red Baron, the PS2 and PSP action extravaganza where Charles M. Schulz's beloved dog finally got his chance to translate his doghouse fever dreams into actual gameplay. That's right, somewhere out there a development team sat down and thought “You know what the world needs? Snoopy piloting an actual Sopwith Camel and engaging in legitimate aerial dogfights with the Red Baron, the nemesis who has haunted a beagle's imagination since comic strips were still printed on actual paper.” This episode is guaranteed to be more unpredictable than Snoopy's victory dance moves and absolutely loaded with more nostalgia than Lucy's psychiatric booth could ever handle. Joining us for this World War I aviation adventure is the incomparable Phil Theobald from the Player One Podcast, a man who knows retro gaming inside and out and whose encyclopedic knowledge of everything from the Peanuts universe to PS2-era gameplay mechanics makes him the perfect co-pilot for this particular mission. Together, we'll soar through the skies, investigate how faithfully this game captured Snoopy's long-running fantasy sequences, and determine whether this particular adaptation is more “Happy Dance” and less “Charlie Brown Disappointment.” Will you discover that this game is a hidden gem that deserved more recognition, or will you find yourself grounded faster than a teenager who borrowed the car keys without permission? There's only one way to find out! Learn such things as: Why does the Red Baron make for a surprisingly compelling video game antagonist despite being a fictional nemesis? Did the PS2 version feel significantly different from its PSP handheld counterpart, or are they basically the same dog in different houses? Did we really just get an entire Peanuts experience without trombones? And so much more! If you were looking at the post on the website, you'd see the ad for that baseball game that never came out right here. But you're not, so you don't. But you could be, so maybe go look at that. You can find Phil on BlueSky @whimsicalphil and of course the Player One Podcast. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you're interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicspodcast on Threads, @playcomics on YouTube, or the Play Comics website. If you want to hear Chris talk with Karrington Martin about the lessons we learned from children's media and how crazy it is that we're supposed to just forget about that now that we're adults, then Sugar, Spite, and Everything is Fine is probably something you should check out. A big thanks to Anime Field Guide and What's Shakin with Shaner for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who was definitely twitching in the bed but I have no idea why. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-89f00a for 40% off for 4 months, and support Play Comics.

Chef Cam Van shows us how to make a classic Vietnamese dish -- Vietnamese clay pot with tofu and peanuts -- which she prepares with Chef Mai Pham from Lemon Grass Restaurant. Ordained as a Buddhist monk in 2019, Nguyen Dzoan Cam Van has since focused on teaching vegetarian cooking. The Spice Garden is a cooking school in Củ Chi, a rural district of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam where Cam Van now teaches her cooking classes.  Watch the full series at: https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/southeast-asia

Sony Buys Peanuts, Last Samurai Standing Renewed, Assassin's Creed Casting, DC's New Braniac. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WBS: Happy 2026 Ya'll #342 -- The gang is at it again. Brimstone is joined by his wing-man Alex DaPonte, Meg Suss and Brim's wife Danielle as they chat about the guy who drove through a parade and how he just caught five years, the 75th Anniversary of Charles M. Schultz's Peanuts, the Empire State Building set to do something coinciding with Stranger Things for New Year's Eve, as well as Netflix taking away yet another perk from subscribers. They discuss the South Park writer who purchased trumpkennedycenter(dot)org, the no blanket and no mug rule, and they all give their holiday gifts. They discuss the Payless / Pallessi story, announce Brim and Danielle's daughter Samantha got engaged, and other fun stuff and things. Brim explains what gets Within Brim's Skin.

Happy New Year and welcome to all our new listeners! Here is a little intro to the show along with a look at one of our favorite strips of all time - July 11, 1954. Sample some of our early interviews in It's A Clip Show Charlie Brown - https://shorturl.at/kOX0f.  Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Harold Buchholz, and Liz Sumner. Produced and edited by Liz Sumner. Music by Michael Cohen. Additional voiceover by Aziza Shukralla Clark.  For more from the show follow @unpackpeanuts on Instagram and Threads, and @unpackingpeanuts on Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube. For more about Jimmy, Michael, and Harold, visit unpackingpeanuts.com.   Thanks for listening.

Welcome to Episode 253 of the Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast — and our first episode of 2026.After a short break from the news desk, Tom and Jon are back with a packed episode covering major industry headlines, park changes, Disney announcements, and a full Rumor Report segment where the fog rolls in and the fact-checking clocks out.In this episode, we discuss the passing of SeaWorld Orlando's killer whale Katina and former Disney Imagineer Eddie Sotto, major IP news as Sony acquires control of the Peanuts brand, attraction updates across Florida parks, Disney's newly released 2026 calendar, ticket deals, and a mountain of announcements from Walt Disney World.Plus, we dive headfirst into rumors, including potential changes coming to Busch Gardens Tampa, Universal Orlando rumors, and early speculation surrounding Halloween Horror Nights 2026, including rumored houses, scare zones, and live entertainment changes.Proceed with caution — this episode covers facts and speculation.

Predigt mit Titus 3,4-7 Ist es nicht merkwürdig, dass Weihnachten so wenige Konsequenzen hat? Millionen Menschen feiern das größte Wunder der Weltgeschichte und einen Tag später ist die Welt wieder so, als wäre nichts gewesen. Warum das an unserem begrenzten Verstand liegen könnte, warum es Linus von den Peanuts genauso ging und welches „Weihnachtserlebnis“ dich wirklich verändern kann, hörst du in dieser Predigt vom 1. Weihnachtstag. Predigt herunterladen 25. Dezember 2025 | 1. Weihnachtstag | Markusgemeinde Minden

March 2026 Solicitations (Image, DC, Others) Weekly Comic Reviews: DC DC K.O.: Harley Quinn vs. Zatanna by Leah Williams, Mirka Andolfo, Romulo Fajardo Jr Titans 30 by John Layman, Pete Woods, Bruno Abdias Marvel Black Panther: Intergalactic 1 by Victor LaValle, Stefano Nesi, Bryan Valenza Marvel Unlimited Strange Tales 1 by Preeti Chhibber, Bailie Rosenlund AWA AGGIE – Aggregated Human Experience Database 1 by Mark Russell, Aco, David Lorenzo, Ive Svorcina Dynamite ThunderCats Ho!(Liday) Special 2025 by Ed Brisson, Fabio Gallo, Emanuele Ercolani, Giona Zefiro Image Wrestle Heist 1 by Kyle Starks, Vladimir Popov Mad Cave New Space Age 1 by Kenny Porter, Mike Becker, Kevin Betou OGN Countdown: Black Heart Billy by Rick Remender, Kieron Dwyer Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski, Aleksandra Zielinska, Michael Dowling, Luis NCT Athanasia by Daniel Kraus, Dani, Brad Simpson Red and Blue Monster Hunters by Sara Soler Rodeo Hawkins and the Daughters of Mayhem by John Claude Bemis, Nicole Miles Dire Days of Willowweep Manor and the Nefarious Nights of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon Garrity, Christopher Baldwin Additional Reviews: Chutzpah The Dropout Knives Out 3 Sunny Side Down ep3 War Between the Land and the Sea finale David News: new Jessica Jones series, She-Ra leaving Netflix, more DC KO fighters, Oscars moving to YouTube, Netflix commits to theaters for WB movies, Tarzan to IDW, Sony buys Peanuts, Archie merging with Oni, new Archie titles announced, Woods and w0rldtr33 optioned for animated series, Paul Jenkins writing Sentry and Captain Marvel, Brainiac cast, Omninews Trailers: Disclosure Day, Odyssey, Muppet Show Comics Countdown (17 Dec 2025): Exquisite Corpses 8 by James Tynion IV, Pornsak Pichetshote, Michael Walsh, Adam Gorham, Jordie Bellaire Endeavour 2 by Stephanie Phillips, Marc Laming, Tony Shasteen, Lee Loughridge w0rldtr33 17 by James Tynion IV, Fernando Blanco, Jordie Bellaire DIE: Loaded 2 by Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans Everything Dead and Dying 4 by Tate Brombal, Jacob Phillips, Pip Martin Absolute Flash 10 by Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles, Adriano Lucas Sacrificers 18 by Rick Remender, Andre Lima Araujo, Dave McCaig Bat-Man: Second Knight 2 by Dan Jurgens, Mike Perkins, Mike Spicer Space Scouts 2 by Matt Kindt, David Rubin, Xulia Pison Wonder Woman 28 by Tom King, Daniel Sampere, Jorge Fornes, Tomeu Morey

Send us a textA whirlwind tour through Star Wars Minis, Strange New Worlds' finale reveals, DC's Absolute surge, and the business of legacy IP from Peanuts to Archie. We weigh box office milestones, a 007 delay, and what TMNT's toy shift means for collectors and kids.• Star Wars Minis launch as a kid-friendly gateway• Strange New Worlds adds Bones and Sulu in the finale• DC's Absolute Universe drives sales and awards momentum• Brainiac casting sets stakes for Man of Tomorrow• Disney crosses $6B worldwide with a tight slate• IO's 007 delay to May 2026 and editions overview• Sony boosts Peanuts ownership for global strategy• Archie teams with Oni for 2026 reimagining• TMNT toy license ends at Playmates, collectors implicationsWe're on BlueSky at multiversetom, Threads, Facebook, and Instagram at multiversetonight. If you've gotten some value out of the show and would like to pay it back, please head on over to multiversetonight.com, where you can find our Patreon and Ko-fi links, check our show notes, visit our TeePublic store, and so much more. Go ahead and hit that subscribe button, share it with others.Support the showThanks for listening! Come visit the podcast at https://www.multiversetonight.com/

Klaus Böllert mit dem Christfluencer Bruder Lukas, Silvesterandachten, Charlie Brown und Taizé in Paris.

This is a preview of a premium episode from our Patreon feed, Paid Costly For Me! Head over to Patreon.com/PodCastyForMe to hear more for just $5 a month. Merry Christmas, everybody - here's the episode one day early just because we love ya. Not unlike a certain jolly old elf, Ian stopped by Jake's home for a quick visit a few weeks back, and the boys (plus FPG) ran a 10K race together that was, for some reason, in celebration of Bill Melendez's 1965 television special A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS. So we decided to discuss this classic short and Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, who like our usual subject was a Bay Area legend who loved golf and jazz. Plus we threw in a little bit of field audio from our fateful footrace. Enjoy and have a safe and happy holiday! As ever, thanks to Jetski for our music and to Jeremy Allison for our artwork. Follow Pod Casty For Me: https://www.podcastyforme.com/ https://twitter.com/podcastyforme https://www.instagram.com/podcastyforme/ https://www.youtube.com/@podcastyforme Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PodCastyForMe Artwork by Jeremy Allison: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyallisonart  

For 75 years, Charles Schultz's Peanuts gang has reflected our humor and hope, as well as our struggle to navigate some of life's everyday curveballs. How is it that the characters he created so poignantly reflect how we experience other people and the world around us? And why do a ragtag group of comic strip kids who debuted in newspapers in 1950 post-war America, still resonate with children and adults around the world? Andrew Blauner, author of “THE PEANUTS PAPERS: Writers and Cartoonists on Charlie Brown, Snoopy & the Gang, and the Meaning of Life,” sat down with USA TODAY's The Excerpt to discuss the 75th anniversary of the Peanuts gang and its enduring impact. (This episode originally aired on October 3, 2025.)Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode transcript available here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey! This is the 304th episode. This week we talk about Springsteen, Peanuts, and Sending Presents. Reach out: notgoodwithmatt@gmail.com

Today, Mark Larson fills in for the Sheriff to talk about the holidays and the shrinking of California. Jeannie Schulz joins later in the program, widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, to chat about the 60th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas and the start of Peanuts.

Star Trek has found its new Bones and Sulu, yet we have to wait a while before we actually see them. The video game industry lost a true legend, and we salute everything Vince Zampella brought us. Marvel goes back to what it knows for Doomsday, and Macauly decides what is and isn't a Christmas Movie. Plus we may have to wait a little longer for 007's video game return.

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, Kenneth Calvert, professor of history and director of the Oxford Program at Hillsdale College, joins Federalist Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to discuss the historical reasons for celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25 and explain the importance of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection.The Federalist Foundation is a nonprofit, and we depend entirely on our listeners and readers — not corporations. If you value fearless, independent journalism, please consider a tax-deductible gift today at TheFederalist.com/donate. Your support keeps us going.

On Episode 462 we discuss a couple of shocking deaths before covering the sale of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts and the dumping of a Blumhouse horror movie. We also go through a few trailers and take a look at the box office as the year comes to a close. What We're Watching: Train Dreams (Netflix) F1 (Apple TV) Santa's Slay Oh, Hi! (Netflix)

Sony paid a lot for Peanuts and what would a Home Alone sequel be like? We'll talk about it in today's #MikeJonesMinuteCon!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 740: Neal and Toby discuss Waymo cars stalling during a San Francisco blackout over the weekend. Then, why the new Avatar movie didn't impress at the box office and Blue Origin is making history. Next up the ‘Peanuts' franchise has a new home with Sony and everything you need to know about the week ahead.  Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Send us your questions for our special Mailbag episode!  Email: morningbrewdaily@morningbrew.com  IG: @MBDailyShow Visit public.com/morningbrew to learn more Paid endorsement. Brokerage services provided by Open to the Public Investing Inc, member FINRA & SIPC. Investing involves risk. Not investment advice. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool by Public Advisors. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. See disclosures at public.com/disclosures/ga. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and investment values may rise or fall. See terms of match program at https://public.com/disclosures/matchprogram. Matched funds must remain in your account for at least 5 years. Match rate and other terms are subject to change at any time. Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1969, Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz and his first wife Joyce built Snoopy's Home Ice in Santa Rosa. Since then, generations of locals — including KQED's Gabe Meline — have made it a tradition to visit the skating rink, especially during the holidays. This episode first aired on Dec. 18, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrate the season with the world's greatest detective as Jay and Shua unwrap a sleigh-full of Sherlockian fun. This week they explore the legacy, the films, and the lasting cultural footprint of the master of deduction. From Rankin/Bass favorites to Muppets, Peanuts, and claymation chaos, the guys share memories, laughs, and seasonal nostalgia. It's a cozy trip through TV history with jingling bells and warm fuzzies.   News Alexa users can now ask to play WSQK the Squawk and hear music straight from the show   The oft' forgotten RPG Toon has launched a second edition via BackerKit   A massive 12" Godzilla Popcorn Bucket is now available for preorder from Alamomart.com, with a Mechagodzilla version stomping in this March   According to the Ready Player One timeline, the Oasis officially opened for business   Buck Rogers star Gil Gerard, who passed away at age 82.   Check out our TeePublic store for some enjoyable swag and all the latest fashion trends What we're Enjoying Shua has fully entered his Taylor Momsen era, diving into the music of The Pretty Reckless and embracing loud, confident rock energy that feels just right for the season. Jay revisited The Shining on the big screen, proving once again that nothing says "happy holidays" quite like a stay at the Overlook Hotel. It's a chilling theatrical experience that somehow still fits perfectly into an unconventional seasonal watchlist.     Sci-Fi Saturdays -  This week on Sci-Fi Saturdays Jay spotlights two thoughtful science-fiction films in his latest articles: Self/Less and The Martian (2015). Both explore identity, survival, and humanity's future, making them perfect companions for reflective sci-fi viewing. Read his article on RetroZap.com. And make sure to play around with the interactive map on MCULocationScout.com. Plus, you can tune in to SHIELD: Case Files where Jay and Shua talk about great stuff in the MCU.   Enjoy Detecting!  This episode is a full-on nostalgia blast as Jay and Shua celebrate the holiday TV specials that once ruled the airwaves. They discuss what made these broadcasts feel so special, especially in an era when missing a single airing meant waiting an entire year for another chance.   From the classics of the 1960s through the 1990s, the conversation spans styles, musical moments, family traditions, and which specials left the biggest impressions.    And they wrap up with a fun gift-exchange segment that captures the warmth and camaraderie at the heart of Enjoy Stuff.   What did you get for Christmas? Let us know! First person that emails me with the subject line, "Happy holidays" will get a special mention on the show.  Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com 

Welcome to a special Holiday Edition of Pop Goes the Couch, a limited series that looks at some of the greatest Christmas TV Specials in history.   In this edition, Steve Riddle is joined by Jeremy Nichols as they live-watch the 1965 special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Join the pair as they discuss what was on TV that same night, Christmas memories, Jeremy's time working at Toys 'R' Us and its inner workings, Steve working at the movie theater during the holidays, ranking the 3 main Peanuts Holiday specials, Charlie Brown's Christmas dilemma, tropes in Peanuts shorts, Snoopy winning the lights and display contest, the lack of adults, real trees or fake trees, Linus explaining the true meaning of Christmas, and the iconic scene at the end.   So join Steve and Jeremy as they brave the snow with or without sugar and discuss arguably the greatest Christmas TV Special in history.

Joe Escalante's weekly penetration into the business end of showbiz... This week: the latest from the Box Office (Avatar Ash and Fire blew away the competition, earning $24 million). Surprisingly, the new Spongebob movie didn't crack the top 3! Also, the latest from the Netflix/Warner/Paramount saga. Joe discusses the possible impact that this mega-merger can have on the film and movie theater industries. Sony bought a controlling stake in Peanuts... who knew Snoopy was big in Japan??? And, in celebs behaving badly, Corey Feldman makes an appearance, and Joe fights with AI over the tragic death of Rob Reiner...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Bandwagon Nerds, the Nerds bring their coverage of The Witcher to a conclusion. Having already decided to abandon official coverage of Season 5, the Nerds give their final verdict on Season 4 as PC Tunney is all too glad to see this series go by the wayside. What went wrong for the series this 4th season? Is it Liam Hemsworth's fault....or is there a much deeper problem with this series? A visit to the Trailer Park looks at a teaser trailer for Digger, the first official trailer for Jimmy, and our first official look at Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day, triggering a deep conversation that provided a rare crossover between Bandwagon Nerds and Unidentified History. From there, James Gunn has found his Brainiac, Chris Evans is back as Steve Rogers, the guys brace for who knows what as Sony has acquired the rights to Snoopy and the Peanuts, and react to the news that the Oscars are headed to YouTube. All that plus the guys comment on the Rob Reiner tragedy and Rey Cash reveals the brackets for the Star Wars and Video Game brackets in the Battle Royal Madness tournament!@AttitudeAgg@WrestlngRealist@itsReyCash@PCTunney@itsmedpp@ViolentAesop@TheMindlessPod@therealcplatt@ChairshotMedia@BandwagonNerdsPROWRESTLINGTEES.COM/TheChairshot - Makes a GREAT GIFT!!!About Bandwagon NerdsJoin Patrick O'Dowd, David Ungar, PC Tunney, Rey Cash, and DPP as they keep everyone up on all things nerd and maybe add some new nerds along the way. It's the Bandwagon Nerds Podcast!About Chairshot Radio NetworkChairshot Radio NetworkLaunched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you'll find!MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)THURSDAY - POD is WARFRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling PodcastSUNDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / The Front and Center Sports PodcastCHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALSAttitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)http://TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & FriendsPatrick O'Dowd's 5X5Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/chairshot-radio-network/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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Die Politik wirft das Geld der Steuerzahler mit beiden Händen zum Fenster raus. Doch im Vergleich zur Corona-Zeit und einem gewissen Herrn Spahn sind das oft nur Peanuts. Um das Land zu retten, hat sein Kollege Lauterbach nun eine ganz tolle Idee… Darum geht es heute:Benjamin Gollme und Marcel Joppa, die Jungs von Basta Berlin, widmen sich heute ein paar alten Bekannten. Ihre politischen Entscheidungen haben das Land für immer verändert und ein Ende ist nicht in Sicht. Im Gegenteil: Das Sozialsystem wird mit Ansage vor die Wand gefahren und die Profiteure reiben sich die Hände…

Asia-Pacific markets kick off the week on a strong footing - and beneath the surface, capital is quietly rotating, power is concentrating, and old franchises are finding new life. In today’s Market View, we unpack Keppel REIT’s move beyond offices into retail, and whether investors are warming to that diversification even as Singapore offices remain core. We look stateside as Wall Street ends the week mixed, with Bank of America flagging Estée Lauder, UBS, and Bruker as 2026 plays - from consumer brands to precision instruments. It’s UP or DOWN time with Oracle stepping deeper into TikTok’s US future, ByteDance eyeing a staggering US$50 billion profit year, and Elon Musk securing a record-breaking Tesla pay package - which gets a DOWN for governance optics. We also touch on Sony’s US$450 million bet on the Peanuts franchise, why Snoopy still matters at 75, and what ValueMax’s legal tussle means for investor sentiment. All that plus a holiday-shortened week ahead, the Straits Times Index check-in, and a cinematic Last Word from Pandora as Avatar: Fire and Ash hits the global box office - hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of THE GEEK BUDDIES LIVE, John Rocha and Shannon McClung talk the mixed reception to the Avengers: Doomsday trailer officially dropping in theaters, the leaked Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer which hints that Sadie Sink is playing Jean Grey, James Cameron saying he's going to do another Terminator movie, our Pluribus Ep 8 Review, a new Wolverine movie might be on the way, Sony Pictures buying the Peanuts franchise and the trailers for The Pitt S2, Young Sherlock Holmes and Digger. Remember to Like and Share this episode on your social media and to Subscribe to The John Rocha Channel below. #marvel #spiderman #avengers #MCU #CaptainAmerica #disney #jamescameron #wolverine #johnrocha #michaelvogel #thegeekbuddies ____________________________________________________________________________________ Chapters: 0:00 Intro and Rundown 10:33 SUPERGIRL Test Screening Reactions "Good But Not Great" 20:45 Avengers: Doomsday Steve Rogers Trailer Gets Mixed Reactions 33:35 Sam Wilson's Cap vs Steve Rogers's Cap Will Be an Issue 39:42 Is There a New Solo Wolverine Film Coming from the MCU? 49:10 Spider-Man 4 Trailer Leaks, Is Sadie Sink Officially Jean Grey Now? 54:42 James Cameron Working on New Terminator Movie 1:02:50 The Pitt S2, Young Sherlock, Digger Trailers Talk 1:15:05 PLURIBUS Ep 8 Spoiler Review 1:29:12 Streamlabs and Superchat Questions FOLLOW THE GEEK BUDDIES: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Geek_Buddies Follow John Rocha: https://twitter.com/TheRochaSays​​​​​ Follow Michael Vogel: https://twitter.com/mktoon Follow Shannon McClung: https://twitter.com/Shannon_McClung Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holidays don't just look a certain way—they sound a certain way. We dive into how a fragile cartoon tree, a swingy piano motif, and a handful of offbeat movie moments grew into the soundtrack of December. From the first Peanuts special to stop‑motion Santa to a green recluse in Whoville, we trace the songs, voices, and production choices that turned seasonal TV and film into enduring ritual.• Charlie Brown Christmas as a symbol of hope and the choice to use children's voices• Vince Guaraldi's jazz and the quick birth of Christmas Time Is Here• Rankin/Bass stop motion craft and Paul Frees' vocal range• Home Alone's John Williams score • Jim Carrey's Grinch, Faith Hill's hit, and Taylor Momsen's new version• Donny Hathaway's representation and the rise of This Christmas• Greg Lake's critique of commercialism across decades• Springsteen's rock‑forward holiday cuts • Oddities that stick: Feliz Navidad's 19 words and Sabbath's December chart statLearn Something New orRemember Something OldLike and follow our Facebook and Instagram pages and spread the word if you enjoy the podcast. Contact us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com with your own musical memories.Send us a one-way message. We can't answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!!

Six Flags Magic Mountain has delayed its highly anticipated “first-of-its-kind” coaster to 2027, citing the attraction's complexity and a commitment to quality. The project—reported to be a Vekoma Thrill Glider—was part of the company's broader $1 billion investment plan and would have been the park's first major coaster addition since 2022.At the same time, Six Flags confirmed a significant pivot toward family-focused IP with the announcement of Looney Tunes Land, a fully reimagined children's area opening in summer 2026 with upgraded storytelling, expanded green space, new theming, and refreshed dining.Taken together, these moves raise questions about where Six Flags is placing its near-term bets. Coasters are increasingly expensive and time-intensive to build, and ongoing tariff uncertainty may be influencing capital timelines. The decision to prioritize Looney Tunes—rather than Peanuts—could also signal a push toward IP diversification tied to Warner Bros., especially as broader questions remain about how Magic Mountain and Knott's Berry Farm will coexist and differentiate within the same Southern California market.We explore whether this reflects a temporary pause on thrill-heavy investments, a reorientation toward families and reliability, or simply a pragmatic sequencing of projects while the company navigates post-merger integration and external pressures. We also touch briefly on winter and holiday programming that caught our attention, including China's massive Ice-Snow World and Alton Towers' Santa Sleepover in the U.K., as operators worldwide look for ways to stabilize attendance across unpredictable seasons. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.

Send us a textMerry Christmas everyone!!!  This is a re-run but one of my most popular podcasts about the beloved Charlie Brown.  Who doesn't love the Charlie brown Christmas Tree?  I hope all of you are captured by the wonder of this season, surrounded by love and to remember what it is to love. God Bless all Look forward to everyone in the New Year.Michele McAloon We explore how Charles Schulz turned Peanuts into a cultural mirror for Cold War fear, public faith, and civil rights, and why that gentle, open style still disarms a polarized audience. Historian Blake Scott Ball joins us to trace the choices behind Linus's blanket, Franklin's debut, and a Christmas scripture that nearly didn't air.• Schulz's Midwestern roots, WWII service, and shy start in art• The syndicate's Peanuts title and Schulz's pushback• Vulnerability as cultural critique in the 1950s• Linus's security blanket as language for anxiety• Faith voiced through Linus and the Christmas pageant• The A Charlie Brown Christmas gamble with Luke 2• School prayer, God and country in public life• Franklin's integration and Schulz's ultimatum to editors• Media fragmentation and the changing “family audience”• Why Peanuts endures for new generations

- Ming-Chi Kuo on Apple and A.I. and a Foldable iPhone - Apple Opens iOS to Alternative App Stores in Japan - AltStore PAL Launches in Japan - Epic to Keep Fortnite Off iOS in Japan Over Commission Fees - Sony Buys Controlling Interest in "Peanuts" - Apple TV Announces Dramedy Series "Beat the Reaper" - Apple TV Promotes Thriller Series "Imperfect Women" - Docuseries "Born to be Wild" Hits Apple TV - Apple TV Dropping "Pluribus" Season Finale Early Next Week - Sponsored by CleanMyMac: Use code MACOSKEN20 for 20% off at clnmy.com/MACOSKEN - Catch Ken on Mastodon - @macosken@mastodon.social - Send Ken an email: info@macosken.com - Chat with us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. Support the show at Patreon.com/macosken

Plus: The European Union commits to a $105 billion loan to Ukraine, that doesn't include tapping frozen Russian assets. And, Sony continues to beef up its entertainment business by taking control of the ‘Peanuts' franchise. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ukraine's position has been strengthened by a €90bn loan agreed by the EU after failing to agree on using frozen Russian assets. But is it enough to keep the country going?In Sri Lanka, the International Monetary Fund has also approved a $206 million in emergency financing to help the country rebuild after a devastating cyclone. What will taking on more debt mean for the country's future debt sustainability?Elsewhere, the former Chair of the independent board of Ben & Jerry's ice cream independent board has told World Business Report she was forced out by the company's owners, Magnum Ice Cream, following years of tension over Ben & Jerry's outspoken social activism.Also, Sony has more than doubled its stake in Peanuts, bringing Snoopy and Charlie Brown under its corporate umbrella, while the creator's family keeps the remaining 20% share.(Photo: A serviceman of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade prepares to launch a Darts middle range strike unmanned aerial vehicle towards Russian troops. Credit: December 16, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova)

"Three Things You Need to Know"...Carshield is paying out...Christmas song...Christmas candies...texts...the future of the Peanuts franchise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should peanuts be banned from enclosed spaces? A listener got in touch with his experience at a gig last night.Joining Andrea to discuss this is Journalist Joe McNamee, Ruth Charles, Founder of the Irish Food Allergy Network, Aoife Quinn, Register Dietician and more.

Real Estate Rockstars! Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of James Faillettaz, a real estate powerhouse who transitioned from selling peanuts to building a thriving real estate empire. Discover how James leveraged creative financing and strategic team building to scale his business, and learn about the innovative strategies that have propelled him to success. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice to help you navigate the real estate landscape. Let's dive in! Links: Follow James Faillettaz on Instagram Follow Sara Denig on Instagram  Follow Christina Leavenworth on Instagram  Follow Aaron Amuchastegui on Instagram  Get Hundreds of FREE Real Estate Tools From the Toolbox  Join the 2026 Mastermind: Get your tickets HERE! 

Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.Send us a textSupport the showPlease subscribe, rate, and review! Thank you for listening! Hope you enjoy!Instagram: http://instagram.com/moviestheyreprettygoodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087938154530Twitter: https://twitter.com/moviesgoodpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8iGT7riyJ_K2DFLwfbTemg

Senses given by the Creator are given to judge, discern protect and enjoy God's Creation. Can you distinguish good and evil? What does science really know? Lucy and Linus logic. The Voice in the Wilderness does not endorse any link or other material found at buzzsprout.More at https://www.thevoiceinthewilderness.org/

TWS News 1: Angel Tree Clap Back – 00:26 Gift Inequity – 4:09 God’s Will vs Ego – 9:01 TWS News 2: $67 Plane Tickets – 12:33 Last Argument With Your Kids – 16:05 Peanuts’ Linus – 21:10 TMI – 24:20 Amateur First Responder: Roof Fall – 26:41 Good News Giddy Up – 29:39 Chopped – 31:35 Rock Report: 2025 Box Office Bombs – 34:40 HHBHTS – 38:04 Smaller or Taller Game – 40:12 You can join our Wally Show Poddies Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/WallyShowPoddies This podcast is crowd funded - that means that you help make it possible. If you like it and want to support it, give here.

President Luke Wood talks about his plans for the future of the university. We'll also hear from a Sac State student about their experiences at the college. Finally, an exhibit featuring Peanuts comics is on display in Sacramento through December.

The Daily Shower Thoughts podcast is produced by Klassic Studios. [Promo] Check out the Daily Dad Jokes podcast here: https://dailydadjokespodcast.com/ [Promo] Like the soothing background music and Amalia's smooth calming voice? Then check out "Terra Vitae: A Daily Guided Meditation Podcast" here at our show page [Promo] The Daily Facts Podcast. Get smarter in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Facts website. [Promo] The Daily Life Pro Tips Podcast. Improve your life in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Life Pro Tips website. [Promo] Check out the Get Happy Headlines podcast by my friends, Stella and Mickey. It's a podcast dedicated to bringing you family friendly uplifting stories from around the world. Give it a listen, I know you will like it. Pod links here Get Happy Headlines website. Shower thoughts are sourced from reddit.com/r/showerthoughts Shower Thought credits: hearsdemons, Lost-Semicolon, dont_you_love_me, malama2, K-88, Brink_Da_Great, kotimaantieteilija, AtomicMonkeyDept, SeverianOfNewUrth, No-Interaction4446, metalvendetta, ScopedFlipFlop, , TwelveSilverPennies, AxialGem, OnTheDL93, ErrorWalking, AtlasShrunked, Big_Education_745, , whippet66, Novel_Swimmer_8284, hearsdemons, mouthygoddess, MaybeTheDoctor, fuzzycuffs Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZNciemLzVXc60uwnTRx2e Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-shower-thoughts/id1634359309 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/daily-dad-jokes/daily-shower-thoughts iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/99340139/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a5a434e9-da18-46a7-a434-0437ec49e1d2/daily-shower-thoughts Website: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/dailyshowerthoughts Social media links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyShowerPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailyshowerthoughtspod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Profile This, TV Time with Ted and Headlines!

With the holidays in full swing, Krispy Kreme is commemorating the holidays with a collab with the Peanuts cartoon and specially designed donuts. Carmen may be marking down January 1 as the day she goes back to being "sugar-free".  An Advent devotional is a great way to mark the Christmas season and Louie Giglio's "Waiting Here For You" has been a great addition for us.  Carmen recently had the chance to speak with a group and share her testimony, marking her faith journey.  Jules...

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The holiday season is a big deal in the Peanuts universe. Sure, there's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and that's great, BUT did you know that in the 1960s, Charles Schulz drew not one but TWO original Christmas stories - "Charlie Brown's Christmas Stocking" and "The Christmas Story" which appeared in the December 1963 "Good Housekeeping Magazine" and December 1968 "Woman's Day Magazine" respectively? Me neither! In 148, we take a look at those stories and, of course, the magazines they appeared in. We also have a Random Strip of the Month, This Month in Peanuts History, the latest news, and a look at another episode of "Snoopy in Space".  This Christmas stocking of a podcast episode is nearly bursting at the seams. Enjoy! As always, any coprighted material belongs to the respective copyright holder and is included here for entertainment purposes only.  Thanks to Kevin McLeod at Incompetech.com for creative commons use of his songs "Hidden Agenda", "Mining by Moolight" and "Bass Walker".  Thanks to Sean Courtney for the "This Month in Peanuts History" theme and the Random Strip generator. Thanks to Nick Jones for the use of his song "25% Off". Thanks to Henry Pope for the use of his "Linus & Lucy" Remix. patreon.com Carnival of Glee Creations

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Top Stories for December 9th Publish Date: December 9th PRE-ROLL: DTL HOLIDAY From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, December 9th and Happy Birthday to John Malkovich I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. Neighborhood Christmas Train Experience rolls into holidays to help benefit Norcross Co-op North Gwinnett Co-op in need of donations for annual Santa Shop Toy Drive Gwinnett's budget hearing draws few speakers, but feedback still accepted All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: Kia Mall of Georgia - Villa Rica Wonderland Train STORY 1: Neighborhood Christmas Train Experience rolls into holidays to help benefit Norcross Co-op The fourth annual Neighborhood Christmas Train Experience isn’t just about trains—it’s about giving back. Held at 3135 Repps Miller Road in Norcross, this massive holiday display supports Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, a nonprofit helping families in crisis. “Last year, we raised $11,000,” said organizer Jonathan Galucki. “This year, we’re aiming for $15,000—and we’ve got a matching grant lined up.” The event runs Dec. 13, 14, 20, and 21, with tickets starting at $8. Expect nearly a dozen trains, a LEGO Christmas City, and an interactive Engineer Training Center where kids can run their own trains. Live music, festive vibes, and even a Buffalo Bills watch party? It’s all here. Visit neighborhoodchristmastrain.com for details. STORY 2: North Gwinnett Co-op in need of donations for annual Santa Shop Toy Drive The North Gwinnett Co-Op pulled off a miracle earlier this year, keeping families fed during the food-stamp crisis caused by the federal shutdown. But that effort came at a cost—plans for their annual Kristen Mullen Santa Shop had to take a back seat. “We fed families twice in November and gave out over 600 holiday meals,” said Executive Director Kim Phillips in a heartfelt Facebook video. “But now, we’re behind on toys for the Santa Shop.” The shop, which lets parents choose gifts for their kids with dignity, needs unwrapped toys by Dec. 12—especially sensory toys and gifts for teens. Visit ngcoop.org to help. STORY 3: Gwinnett's budget hearing draws few speakers, but feedback still accepted The public hearing for Gwinnett County’s proposed $2.6 billion 2026 budget? Quiet. Not a single taxpayer showed up to speak. Instead, community leaders—library board, health board, Mosaic Georgia—took the mic to thank commissioners for their expected funding. But here’s the gist: the budget is $66 million leaner than 2025’s, with Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson applauding department heads for trimming costs. “They worked hard to find efficiencies,” she said. Where’s the money going? Public safety and public works dominate—new police HQ, fire station relocations, 911 upgrades, road repaving, and even drones for mall patrols. Want to weigh in? Submit comments online by Dec. 31. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: Ingles Markets - Sugar Hill Holiday STORY 4: 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' coming to Red Clay Music Foundry Dec. 13 Even after all these years, Jeffrey Bützer still loves playing *A Charlie Brown Christmas*. Listening to the record? Not so much. “I don’t really enjoy listening to it anymore,” he admits. “But playing it? That’s different. It’s jazz—you don’t play it the same way twice. T.T. (Mahony) takes different solos every night, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. It keeps me on my toes, and people love it. It’s a tradition for so many, and honestly, I love that.” Bützer, Mahony, bassist Francisco Lora, and vocalists Kelly Winn and Audrey Gamez will bring the Peanuts magic to Eddie Owens Presents at Red Clay in Duluth on Dec. 13. Since the original album is only 35 minutes, the group adds some surprises—like songs from the *Phil Spector Christmas Album*—and even clips from the TV special. “We never announce it; we just do it,” Bützer says. “No one’s ever left early, so I guess it works.” And the fans? They keep coming back. “We’ve got ‘Snoopy Groupies,’” Bützer laughs. “One woman came every year, moved away, and now flies back for the show. It’s wild.” For tickets, visit eddieowenspresents.com. STORY 5: Primerica collects nearly 82,000 food items for Can-A-Thon Christmas is about giving, right? Helping those in need? Primerica hosted its annual canned food drive last week at its Duluth headquarters, collecting a jaw-dropping 81,846 cans for the Salvation Army’s Can-A-Thon. But this year, they ditched the Santa hats for bell-bottoms and tie-dye. The theme? “Can You Dig It.” Employees went all-in on the 60s and 70s vibe—think hippie costumes, peace signs, and even a nod to the Mystery Machine from *Scooby-Doo*. Groovy, right? We’ll be right back. Break 3: Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink STORY 6: Families of crime victims remember loved ones at annual vigil As the names of Gwinnett County crime victims appeared on the screen at last weeks Crime Victims Candlelight Vigil, Deborah Free leaned into Renee Haygood’s shoulder, her tears unstoppable. Deborah’s daughter, Rachel, was killed in a domestic violence murder-suicide just two months ago. This will be the family’s first Christmas without her. Held at 12Stone Church in Duluth, the vigil—organized by the Gwinnett DA’s Office—offered grieving families a space to honor their loved ones. Three Christmas trees stood adorned with ornaments for victims, while a bell rang for each name read aloud. For Venetia and Jeffrey Coleman, who lost their son Bradley to a carjacking three years ago, the vigil was a chance to share hope. For the Free family, it was their first vigil—but not their last. “We’ll be back every year,” said Rachel’s sister, Jenn. “Her story doesn’t end here.” STORY 7: Grayson LB Tyler Atkinson Named Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year Gwinnett County’s got another star in the books—Grayson senior linebacker Tyler Atkinson just snagged the Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year award for 2025-26. That makes him the fifth-ever winner from Gwinnett, and the first since Mill Creek’s Caleb Downs in 2022. Atkinson’s season? Unreal. The 6’3”, 221-pound Texas Longhorns commit racked up 96 tackles, 26 for loss, nine sacks, and 22 QB hurries, leading Grayson to the state quarterfinals. Oh, and he’s a five-star recruit ranked No. 14 nationally for 2026. Off the field? He’s hosting youth football clinics, mentoring at church, and rocking a 3.48 GPA. Atkinson’s also in the running for Gatorade’s National Player of the Year. Big things ahead. We’ll have closing comments after this Break 4: GCPS Hiring Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 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Chris Llewellyn from Irish folk worship band Rend Collective joins us to talk about the band's new album 'Christmas in Belfast,' the surprising Irish traditions behind it and what it's like navigating life between Ireland and Nashville.We also break down the biggest stories in faith and culture, including NF's record-setting Billboard debut, the wild rise of AI-generated music, and Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson's faith-forward breakout. Plus, the crew swaps celebrity-encounter stories and brings Chris into a special holiday round of “One Has to Go.”CHAPTERS:02:00 – Jesse spots an SNL cast member at the airport06:30 – Marty's celebrity encounters at LAX08:30 – Cameron's wild Kanye West airport story09:40 – RELEVANT Buzz 09:55 – NF's massive Billboard debut12:00 – AI music platform Suno is creating 7 million songs a day14:20 – Is AI killing creativity? The crew debates19:10 – Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson's record-breaking game & public faith24:10 – Chris Llewellyn of Rend Collective24:40 – The story behind Christmas in Belfast26:40 – Irish Christmas traditions & late-night candlelit services27:50 – Gaelic football, Welsh kickers & Jesse's confusion29:55 – Chris on moving from Ireland to Nashville31:00 – How Irish political history shaped his view of division32:15 – Holiday Edition of “One Has to Go” with Chris35:35 – Marty's trauma with board games36:10 – Brunch vs. naps: the debate38:00 – Emily vs. “crisp evenings”39:00 – Snoopy, Peanuts, and Christmas ornament chaos40:45 – Group prayer handholding horrors43:30 – Emily's tiny tabletop Christmas tree revelationAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy