Hidden in Plain Sight

00:04:42

Montcalm Street: A Link to Detroit's French Past

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/10/06

Oct. 6, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois uncovers the fascinating history behind Montcalm Street, a familiar downtown Detroit roadway that many pass on their way to Comerica Park without ever considering its origins. What appears to be just another street sign actually connects Detroit to the dramatic struggle between France and Great Britain for control of North America more than 250 years ago. Named for Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, the famed French military

en

00:03:56

Midnight: Detroit’s Gateway to Freedom

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/09/22

Sept. 22, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes listeners to Detroit’s riverfront and the Gateway to Freedom International Memorial, a powerful tribute to those who journeyed along the Underground Railroad in search of freedom. Standing at the foot of Woodward Avenue near Hart Plaza, the memorial commemorates “Midnight,” the code name for the final stop before freedom across the Detroit River in Canada. Through the striking bronze sculptures created by renowned

en

00:04:05

Avenue of Fashion, Avenue of Jazz: The Baker’s Story

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/09/08

Sept. 8, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes listeners to Detroit’s west side and the legendary Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, a historic jazz club located on Livernois Avenue at the gateway to the Avenue of Fashion. Originally opened as a neighborhood restaurant in the 1930s, Baker’s evolved into one of the nation’s most celebrated jazz venues, earning a reputation as a must-play stage for some of music’s greatest performers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz

en

00:06:23

Motown Sound

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/08/25

Aug. 25, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes listeners to Detroit’s legendary Motown Studios, better known as Hitsville U.S.A., the modest West Grand Boulevard house where Barry Gordy Jr. launched Motown Records in 1959. What began as a small independent label grew into a cultural phenomenon that transformed American popular music, introducing the world to iconic artists including Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the

en

00:04:34

The Schvitz: An Oasis on Oakland Avenue

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/08/11

Aug. 11, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois visits The Schvitz, Detroit’s historic bathhouse tucked away on the city’s near west side. Founded in 1910 by Jewish immigrants who brought the bathhouse traditions of Eastern Europe to a rapidly growing Detroit, The Schvitz has served for more than a century as a place of relaxation, connection, and community. Once a men’s-only gathering place, The Schvitz has evolved with the city while preserving its distinct character

en

00:05:44

Detroit’s Rathskeller: A Hidden Legacy on John R

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/07/28

July 28, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes listeners to Detroit’s Dakota Inn Rathskeller, a beloved German restaurant and tavern that has been fostering community and tradition since 1933. Founded by German immigrant Karl Kurz in a former Chinese hand laundry on John R Street, the Dakota Inn grew from a small neighborhood gathering place into one of Detroit’s longest-running cultural institutions. With its dark wood interiors, Bavarian-inspired décor,

en

00:07:15

Second Baptist: Detroit's Freedom Church

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/07/14

July 14, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes listeners to Detroit’s Greektown, where a modest brick church on a busy downtown corner holds an extraordinary story. At first glance, Second Baptist Church appears to be an unassuming neighborhood landmark, but behind its simple façade lies a powerful legacy as the oldest Black-founded church in the Midwest and one of the most important stops on the Underground Railroad. Today, the church remains a lasting reminder

en

00:07:30

Harpo’s: Detroit’s Metal Church

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

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

en

00:06:34

Stars, Stripes, and Skyline: The Hudson’s Flag Day...

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

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,

en

00:08:31

The Lost Legacy of Water Works Park

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

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,

en

00:07:45

Guardians of Washington Boulevard: The Story of the...

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

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

en

00:06:10

The Vanity Ballroom: Detroit’s Lost Temple of Rhythm

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

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

en

00:06:38

The Quiet Mayor of Grand Circus Park

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

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,

en

00:05:00

The Sacred Survivor of Greektown: Old St. Mary’s Church

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

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

en

00:05:20

Echoes from Engine House No. 18

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

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,

en

00:05:54

The Cadillac Chronicles: Uncovering the History of...

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/03/03

March 3, 2026 — In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois steps into the shadow of Detroit’s monumental Cadillac Place, a limestone giant on West Grand Boulevard whose walls have witnessed more than a century of ambition, innovation, and reinvention. Listeners will journey back to the 1910s, when General Motors—expanding at breakneck speed—chose this very block in the emerging New Center area to build a headquarters worthy of its growing empire. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz

en

00:05:12

The First Drive: Charles Brady King and Detroit’s...

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/02/18

Feb. 18, 2026 — In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois journeys back to a frosty morning on Belle Isle in 1896, where Charles Brady King quietly made history. Listeners will discover how King—an engineer, artist, and inventor—became the first person to drive an automobile in Detroit, guiding his handmade machine across the island’s empty roads while a curious onlooker named Henry Ford watched from the sidelines. It’s a story of imagination, grit, and the spark that ignited

en

00:07:05

The Legacy Behind Detroit’s United Sound Systems

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/02/10

Feb. 10, 2026 — This episode of Hidden in Plain Sight with Dr. Robert Livernois traces the rich history of Detroit’s United Sound Systems, exploring how the unassuming brick house on Second Avenue became a recording hub for artists from John Lee Hooker to Aretha Franklin. Listeners will hear how this landmark studio shaped generations of music and preserved Detroit’s creative spirit through decades of change. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about

en

00:04:54

Edgewater Park: Detroit’s Lost Playground

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/02/03

Feb. 3, 2026 ~ Step back in time to a forgotten playground of Detroit’s West Side. In this episode, we uncover the magic of Edgewater Park, the 23‑acre amusement park that once brought joy, music, and escape to Seven Mile Road. From its roaring‑’20s debut and Depression‑era dime rides to the thunder of the Wild Beast roller coaster and Motown legends lighting up the stage, Edgewater was where Detroit came to play. Though the rides are gone and the gates long closed, the laughter, screams, and soul

en

00:04:31

Tommy’s: Corktown’s Hidden Past

Hidden in Plain Sight ·

2026/01/27

Jan. 27, 2026 ~ What do a scarred wooden bar, a maze of hidden tunnels, and Detroit’s most notorious mobsters have in common? A whole lot more than you’d ever guess. In this episode, we head into Corktown’s legendary Tommy’s Bar & Grill—an unassuming neighborhood joint that has quietly witnessed the city’s most turbulent eras. From whispers of Underground Railroad escape routes weaving beneath its floorboards to Prohibition‑era smuggling schemes run by the infamous Purple Gang (with Al Capone

en

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

pplpod

pplpod

Today In History with The Retrospectors

The Retrospectors

This Day in Disney History

ATIS Products

Hour of Power

Mechanical Music Radio

The Old Front Line

Paul Reed