エピソード

  • Harpo’s: Detroit’s Metal Church

    Harpo’s: Detroit’s Metal Church
    2026/06/17
    June 17, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes listeners to Detroit’s east side and inside the storied walls of Harpo’s Concert Theatre, a venue where decades of sound and history collide. Originally opened in 1939 as the Harper Theater, this sleek Art Moderne movie house once welcomed families seeking Hollywood escape beneath glowing lights and painted murals. But as the city evolved, so did the building—transforming in the 1970s into a high‑energy nightclub before finding its true identity as Detroit’s legendary “metal church.” Over the years, Harpo’s has hosted a powerful mix of artists, from Iron Maiden and Slayer to U2 and Snoop Dogg, each leaving their mark on its worn but resilient interior. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    8 分
  • Stars, Stripes, and Skyline: The Hudson’s Flag Day Tradition

    Stars, Stripes, and Skyline: The Hudson’s Flag Day Tradition
    2026/06/02
    June 2, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois brings listeners to the heart of downtown Detroit, where the long‑gone J.L. Hudson’s department store once transformed Woodward Avenue into a powerful stage for patriotism. Towering above the city, a massive American flag would unfurl from the building’s roof, cascading down its façade in a breathtaking display that brought traffic to a halt and drew crowds in awe. Over time, the flag became a symbol of civic pride, appearing only on significant national occasions such as the Fourth of July and, increasingly, June 14th as Flag Day gained recognition across the country. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    7 分
  • The Lost Legacy of Water Works Park

    The Lost Legacy of Water Works Park
    2026/05/26
    May 26, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois transports listeners to Detroit’s east side to uncover the forgotten legacy of Water Works Park. Once a sprawling 110‑acre civic treasure along Jefferson Avenue, the park featured lush landscapes, recreational amenities, and its iconic water tower—an early symbol of the city’s skyline and ambition. Livernois traces the park’s rise as a beloved gathering place, its layered history stretching back to early French settlers, and its eventual decline and closure in the mid‑20th century. The episode also highlights the remnants that remain today, offering a glimpse into a remarkable piece of Detroit’s past that still lingers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    9 分
  • Guardians of Washington Boulevard: The Story of the Book Tower

    Guardians of Washington Boulevard: The Story of the Book Tower
    2026/05/12
    May 12, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois looks up—way up—along Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit to reveal the storied past of the Book Tower. Opened in 1926 and once the tallest building in the city, the Italian Renaissance landmark embodied Detroit’s roaring‑twenties confidence, rising in limestone and terracotta as a bold declaration of ambition. The episode traces the Book Tower’s arc from skyline‑defining marvel to long‑neglected giant, reflecting Detroit’s own struggles and resilience, before exploring its recent revival as a vibrant, mixed‑use destination. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    8 分
  • The Vanity Ballroom: Detroit’s Lost Temple of Rhythm

    The Vanity Ballroom: Detroit’s Lost Temple of Rhythm
    2026/04/28
    April 28, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes us to Detroit’s east side to uncover the fading grandeur of the Vanity Ballroom, an Art Deco landmark along Jefferson Avenue whose quiet exterior still echoes with nearly a century of music and motion. Designed by renowned architect Charles N. Agree and opened in 1929, the Vanity rose as a beacon of optimism just before the Great Depression—its geometric façade and pastel details promising escape and celebration in uncertain times. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    6 分
  • The Quiet Mayor of Grand Circus Park

    The Quiet Mayor of Grand Circus Park
    2026/04/14
    April 14, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois turns our attention to a quiet figure seated in bronze near the heart of downtown Detroit—the statue of William Cotter Maybury in Grand Circus Park. Just steps from Comerica Park and surrounded by the energy of Woodward Avenue, the monument depicts a composed, almost contemplative mayor whose legacy is easy to overlook amid the city’s larger‑than‑life history. Unveiled in 1912 and intentionally modest in design, Maybury’s statue sits directly across from Pingree’s, the two former rivals facing one another in silent dialogue. Today, Maybury remains a symbol of steady leadership, measured governance, and the kind of civic patience that helped shape Detroit’s industrial future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    7 分
  • The Sacred Survivor of Greektown: Old St. Mary’s Church

    The Sacred Survivor of Greektown: Old St. Mary’s Church
    2026/03/31
    March 31, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois journeys into the enduring presence of Old St. Mary’s Church, a red‑brick landmark standing at the edge of Detroit’s Greektown, where Monroe Street meets the I‑375 Expressway. Amid neon lights, casinos, and bustling restaurants, the church remains a quiet spiritual anchor—one that has watched the city transform for nearly two centuries. Still hosting daily Mass today, Old St. Mary’s stands as a rare constant in a rapidly changing neighborhood—a sacred survivor, rich with history. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    5 分
  • Echoes from Engine House No. 18

    Echoes from Engine House No. 18
    2026/03/17
    March 17, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois steps into the long shadow of Engine House No. 18, a red‑brick sentinel on Mount Elliott Avenue whose arched doors and hose‑drying tower have watched Detroit evolve for more than 130 years. Listeners are carried back to the 1890s, when a rapidly expanding city of factories, streetcars, and wood‑framed homes faced a constant threat from fire—and when a single spark could erase an entire neighborhood. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    5 分