RPTM Podcast Episode Seventy One: Bootleggers, Blackouts, and Baffling Architecture

Episode #071: Bootleggers, Blackouts, and Baffling Architecture

11/04/2024

From the defiant days of Prohibition, when Michigan boldly sneered at the ban on booze, to the roaring 1920s, when speakeasies thrived, and Canadian smugglers kept the gin flowing across the Detroit River, Michigan’s story is one of rebellion and resilience. The tale continues into the 1930s when Detroit’s once-pulsing factories fell silent in the Great Depression’s wake. Yet, Michigan’s spirit found a way to endure through community strength and unyielding resolve. Fast-forward to 1943, when Detroit’s simmering racial tensions erupted, forcing the city to confront deep-seated issues that would redefine it forever. And then came Gerald R. Ford—Michigan’s hometown hero from Grand Rapids, a steady, grounded leader whose unlikely path led him to the Oval Office, embodying his home state's unassuming yet determined character.

By 1977, Detroit had turned its gaze toward rebirth, with the gleaming Renaissance Center rising as both a symbol of hope and an emblem of ambition unfulfilled. With its towering skyscrapers and unique design, this architectural marvel stood as a testament to Michigan’s ability to dream big despite hardship. These colorful snapshots—each as messy as they are magnificent—trace Michigan’s journey through defiance, despair, reckoning, and resilience. Together, they create a roadmap of the state’s identity, where every twist, stumble, and triumphant moment is woven into the fabric of Michigan’s character. 

Main Topics:

• 1920 - Prohibition
• 1930 - Great Depression
• 1943 - Detroit Race Riots
• 1948 - Gerald R. Ford
• 1977 - Detroit Renaissance Center

SHOW NOTES

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Hosts:
Ryan Lancaster
ARCHIE
HILDY

Producer: Ryan Lancaster
Executive Producer: Ryan Lancaster
Sound Engineer: Ryan Lancaster
Editor: Ryan Lancaster
Theme Music Composer: Craig Riley
Artwork Design: Ryan Lancaster
Recorded at Ryan Lancaster Studios

Email:
ryan.g.lancaster@gmail.com

Social Media:
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Instagram: ryan.g.lancaster
Twitter: @MayorMcSweet
YouTube: RyanGLancaster
Website: www. ryanglancaster.com

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