1960s Archives

Author Charlene Wexler Earns Apex Award for Farewell to South Shore

July 26, 2025July 26, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Author Charlene Wexler Earns Apex Award for Farewell to South Shore Author Charlene Wexler recently won a 2025 Communications Concepts Award of Excellence for her book Farewell to South Shore, published by Speaking Volumes. “Farewell to South Shore taps into and articulates a woman’s emotions related to dealing with a changing society, particularly its expectations of…

Books & Films, Chicago, Entertainment, Features, News, NewsWire

Newly released novel by author Charlene Wexler explores Chicago’s South Shore in the 50s and 60s

May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Newly released novel by author Charlene Wexler explores Chicago’s South Shore in the 50s and 60s “Farewell to South Shore” by award winningauthor Charlene Wexler takes readers on a nostalgic trip through Chicago’s South Shore and beyond — A Perfect Summer Beach Read This summer, readers can transport themselves to mid-century Chicago, where Sherrie Paul…

Books & Films, Chicago, Culture, Editors Pick, Features, News, NewsWire, Orland Park

Watching the solar eclipse during a different era as a child

April 3, 2024April 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Watching the solar eclipse during a different era as a child The first time I saw a Solar Eclipse was at O’Hare Airport in July 1963, in an era of science fiction, nuclear bombs and outer space aliens. I’m not sure the excitement is the same as today as then. By Ray Hanania Free/General/Tuesday April…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Environment, Opinion, rayhanania

I was raised by TV moms and dads in the 50s

January 2, 2024January 2, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

I was raised by TV moms and dads in the 50s Television in the 1950s and 1960s was far more positive in helping families to raise their children in a moral and respectful manner. But as society’s parental structure deteriorates television has deteriorated with it and probably today contributes to the growing turmoil plaguing our…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Humor, Opinion, rayhanania

Is Thanksgiving and Christmas about celebration, or just about the money?

December 1, 2023December 1, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Is Thanksgiving and Christmas about celebration, or just about the money? Thanksgiving and Christmas have been forcibly morphed from family holidays into commercial focused profit generation and greed. It’s no longer about families, enjoyment or religion but rather about spending money. By Ray Hanania When I was growing up, a phrase I am sure younger…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Culture, Features, Opinion, rayhanania, Seniors

Geffen/UMe set to release new Mamas and Pappas vinyl album

December 4, 2020December 4, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Geffen/UMe set to release new Mamas and Papas vinyl album The Mamas & The Papas’ Chart-Topping Debut Album Set For Black And Color Vinyl Via Geffen/UMe On January 29, 2021. An Instant Classic, ‘If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears’ Features “Monday, Monday” and “California Dreamin’” On January 29, Geffen/UMe is set to release The…

Entertainment, Features, news release, Releases

Midnight Flight: Online book on Race in Chicago

June 1, 2017March 3, 2024 Ray Hanania 5 Comments

Midnight Flight, the online book on race in Chicago An online book that explores the memories of a challenging time in Chicago when race was the dominating factor driving and influencing people’s lives. 1968 and 1969 were difficult times in Chicago and my book “Midnight Flight” offers one perspective on what that experience was like,…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Books & Films, Chicago, Commentary, Features, News, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 13 — Notes from Readers

January 29, 2016November 22, 2021 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Midnight Flight: Chapter 13 — Notes from Readers One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania (C) 1990-2022 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved Send us your comments, letters and memories and I will post them here. Email me by clicking here. You must let…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Books & Films, Chicago, Commentary, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 12 — Looking Back

January 29, 2016July 14, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Midnight Flight: Chapter 12 — Looking Back One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2020 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved The families that moved out of South Shore Valley were the real losers. We were the victims, too, the people…

Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 11 — Friends Left Behind

January 29, 2016August 6, 2019 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Midnight Flight: Chapter 11 — Friends Left Behind One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved Rely on memory for inspiration, but always check it for perfection and accuracy. Memory is human. So, it is…

Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 10 — The Sub-Urban Life

January 29, 2016September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Midnight Flight: Chapter 10 — The Sub-Urban Life One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “Wash your whiskey in your water, sugar in your tea …” “Wuz all this crazy questions you askin’ me …”…

Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 9 — Midnight Flight

January 29, 2016February 25, 2018 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Midnight Flight: Chapter 9 — Midnight Flight One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “I’m gonna leave the city, got to get away. “I’m gonna leave the city, got to get away. “All this fussing…

Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 8 — In the Eye of the Storm

January 29, 2016September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Midnight Flight: Chapter 8 — In the Eye of the Storm One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “I can fly like a bird in the sky. “I can buy anything that money can buy….

Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 7 — Bowen High School

January 29, 2016September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Midnight Flight: Chapter 7 — Bowen High School One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “Give me a head with Hair, long beautiful Hair, “Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen, “Give me down to there, Hair!…

Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 6 — Alone in the Playground

January 29, 2016September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Midnight Flight: Chapter 6 — Alone in the Playground One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “There she was just a walking down the street, “singing do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do “Snapping her…

Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 5 — Black is Bad

January 29, 2016September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Midnight Flight: Chapter 5 — Black is Bad One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2018 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “I’m from Milwaukee, and I ought to know. “It’s Blatz, Blatz, Blatz, Blatz, wherever you go. “Blatz is the…

Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 4 — Written Long Before

January 29, 2016August 6, 2019 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Midnight Flight: Chapter 4 — Written Long Before One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2019 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved Chicago’s borders, literally, marked the end of civilization as we knew it. Beyond the city’s borders was a vast wasteland…

Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland

Midnight Flight: Chapter 3 — A Beautiful, Idyllic Community

January 29, 2016July 14, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Midnight Flight: Chapter 3 — A Beautiful, Idyllic Community One family’s experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago’s South Side (an online novel) By Ray Hanania Midnight Flight, (C) 1990-2020 Ray Hanania, All Rights Reserved “You don’t know, what we can find. “Why don’t you come home with me little girl, “on…

Baby Boomers, Books & Films, Suburban Chicagoland