#Chicago

Sam Darling

Jun 23, 20162 min read

Muse

Let’s talk about the muse and how they function in the life of the artist. We all have influences that kick our artistic butts into gear....

Sam Darling

Mar 14, 20161 min read

The weight of personal history

The trouble with having such a deep knowledge of my family history is I find I must bite my tongue when my kids speak casually of their...

Sam Darling

Nov 5, 20151 min read

Helene on the radio in 1959

I had a fair number of technical difficulties with this entry as the reel-to-reel from 1959 was damaged. You’ll hear some interference...

Sam Darling

May 7, 20151 min read

Our Sunday best

Chicago suburbs, 1950s, USA Maria Baroni with grandmother Elise & mother Helene. Just a little touch of glamor of you on this fine day....

Sam Darling

Apr 13, 20153 min read

Boys & genetic destiny

I grew up in a talented family that holds the idea that talent runs in a family as a form of destiny. My grandfather, Roger, was a cold...

Sam Darling

Nov 21, 20141 min read

Fifties Americana

No one is more American than an immigrant. I think of my family when the US immigration reform discussion crops up again because we are...

Sam Darling

May 5, 20141 min read

Glamour & Fiorello!

Some people say that we will never again see the level of glamour evident in post-world war America. It usually men who lament the...

Sam Darling

Oct 23, 20131 min read

Halloween past in suburban America

The Halloween costumes of my mother’s youth doubled down on her opera training. Here are three from her teenage years. They were living...

Sam Darling

Nov 1, 20122 min read

What is “operatic” material?

I’m a big reader and this week I enjoyed Nuiala O’Faolain’s The Story of Chicago May. [‘Chicago May, one of the few notorious women in...