@doodr that's why I make my daughter read books that have reading comprehension test. She picks out books that are on a list that's quite large. Also, I make her do math because she's horrible at it but has improved immensely. She's not really into video games.
I introduced my father to this incredible channel months ago. We live a few hours apart but when we get together we talk about your videos every single time. You do an amazing job on them and there are so many great videos, I imagine we'll have plenty more discussions in the future. We've never been closer and I thank you for being a part of that.
Thank you for sharing this precious comment with us! This is what yt-comments are really for. All the best for you two and keep enjoying the videos. Cheers from Germany :-)
I am from Chicago have a picture of my grand father with his Chicago Yellow Cab in the late 20s. This story hits home for me big time! Thanks History Guy!
Wow, just wow. I'm from Chicago, and incredibly shocked that I've never heard of any of this before. Thank you Mr. History Guy for keeping this most interesting period of history from being forgotten.
I drove for both Yellow and Checker in Chgo during the early 70's, soon after returning from Nam. Financially, it was easier then, drivers got 40% of the meter and the company paid all expenses. Hacks have it tough now, gotta drive long hours just to make the lease/medallion payments and they're on the hook for gas, insurance, repairs, etc.. I'm in WV now. How bout a lesson on the Battle of Blair Mountain? I believe it was the only time in history that the US Army Air Force bombed American citizens (intentionally). Being an old Union Man, I joined other marchers a few years ago, trying to prevent it from being strip mined. So far, so good. Thanks for your great work, I'm gettin behind in my projects since I found your channel!
Mickey Janowski Not sure if you keep up with Chicago any more but just an FYI. Uber killed the value of taxi medallions. They are very cheep nowadays. As resent as 2010 they were six figures if I recall.
Yeah, Blair Mountain should be declared a national historical battlefield and there ought to be statues of Bill Battle and Sid Hatfield in front of the Mingo County courthouse. " Dad would fight at the drop of a hat and sometimes you didn't even need to drop the hat." Bill Battle Jr
Five minutes of watching this and then the realization hits me that that I'm riveted to screen, watching history like I'm watching a really good thriller.
When I first heard the name Hertz, I wondered if it was the Hertz Rent-A-Car Hertz, but didn't know how he would get there from the cab service. Very informative video. Thanks.
If you've noticed those Penske truck rentals, that used to be Hertz as well. Roger Penske bought into Hertz as they couldn't make much money at it, and now Penske rents about as many trucks as U-Haul.
Always such a pleasure to watch your videos. Your enthusiasm for history shows in each and every video. Your videos are never boring, and always educational. That's why this channel continues to gain new subscribers so rapidly. Thanks for all the work you put into each video. *:-)*
I appreciate how you often tie together various seemingly unrelated events; tonight's episode was another example of this and answered a long held idea of which I knew not the origin. Thank you!
Hey Stuart if you like that aspect, you might want to see if you can dig up James Burke's show Connections that was on PBS long ago, but the stories are still historically and scientifically valid. He starts with some bit of innovation centuries ago, then follows the progression of applications and improvements and branching discoveries up to modern day. Like how monks making beer in the middle ages progressed ultimately to rocket fuel, etc, with all the twists and turns between. One of the most enjoyable educational shows I've seen. Besides History Guy, of course :)
Very interesting, I recognized the name Hertz immediately. I didn't know the history of Hertz before the rental company. Once again, thanks for the very interesting history.
Jim M good job recognizing the name ‘Hertz.’ Really quick, do you recognize any of these other names- General Motors? Google? American Airlines? How about TH-cam? That’s a quaint little company you might of heard from. 🤦♂️
@ Dozer 1642. When making fun of others, it's best to minimize your own vulnerability. You must have been dozing in English class. It's 'might have', not 'might of'.
In my comments on this channel I've been predicting steady growth of subscribers for a long time now. 100K just around the corner, 1 million not too far away. Such quality content will not be denied!
The US project will always be a work in progress. Thanks History Guy. I always enjoy not just the stories but the enthusiasm by which it’s delivered. More grease to your elbow...
Dear Mr. History Guy THANK YOU for your most excellent videos. I also have always loved history and was really glad to find your channel. I used to be a huge fan of the History Channel but like too many history sources it would often get on kicks and only cover WAR history - which - I understand the importance of and even enjoy - but even the details have been covered enough and the REST of history gets ignored in the process sometimes so it was refreshing to see you featuring other events that as you rightly point out "needs to be remembered". As it turns out, I lived the first 4 decades of my life in the city of Chicago and was at one point a bike messenger for one of those decades. Bike messengers and taxi drivers are known to be mortal enemies (Hahaha) but my roommate was a cabbie so that helped ease the stress of what can certainly be a dangerous occupation. THIS again, is "history that needs to be remembered" and as with your other presentations, is clear, concise and well researched and again I THANK you!
I'm an ex Cabbie. Nothing changes except the date. I nearly got forced off the road twice by a rival cab driver. Didn't happen again after I walked into their office and told them if he did it again I'd tear him a new one. Another great history lesson though. Thanks.
When I drove part time in a city of 100,000 we all looked out for one another despite the name on the door. If I figured competition was going to the same bar I would try to get there first though. We had v8 cars and competition had v6 cars. No replacement for displacement:)
When I was in high school, I had an history teacher who was as wide as she was tall ("Miss Square"). You remind me of her. She always kept a lesson short and was never ever boring. Keep up the fantastic work.
Jim F.....Actually, I have. I'm 66, a disabled Vet. but I was station in Great Lakes for a while. Why? Do I need to have been there to read a newspaper? To have had History in class?
Great segment. Love this channel. Live in the Chicago area and am disappointed to see all the hating in the comments. Make it into the city frequently - lots to do and see. Never feel threatened.
Mike "Naive" O'Dell ( Never feel Threatened ?? ) why would you in the Murder Capitol of America ? Born in Chi town 1944 , use to be great place to visit 50 yrs ago. Now they have polluted,corrupted and broke the whole state . :-(
Hertz, for whatever his shortcomings, certainly was an entrepreneur. He saw a need and filled it. My father drove a NYC cab for a few years in the 60's and 70's. He made good money doing it, back then you could. Things started to change in the 80's the money wasn't the same. I drove for private car (no meter, flat rate) services on and off for a time. And I made pretty good money at it. But like everything else, it changes. The H.G. once again brings interesting facts and history that deserves to be remembered to light. Thx H.G.
I just watched your episode on the L.A. Chinese massacre and the comments were closed, and I get that, but I wanted to say thank you for the story, and the care you took in telling it. Very moving and sad. I like this channel for is tact, and brutal honesty.
I am absolutely engrossed in this channel, I've watched many many videos and I have enjoyed every one of them. Your passion and vibrancy makes them pleasant viewing, history is one of my favourite subjects and this channel one of my all time favourites. Thank you and keep up the great work. If only every school had you as their history teacher... what a better place this world would be!
Brilliant HG. As a limey learning about the origins of the yellow cabs and Hertz was really interesting. However the rivalry between the cab companies and it seems the mobs typical of Chicago in those days influence was the icing on the cake . Thanks. I love your to the point snippets
My uncle was a major in the Army in WWII, stationed in Chicago. He told of riots on the south side where the Army set up .50 caliber machine guns in the streets. And used them. The newspaper people all agree to publish nothing of the incident. I haven't been able to find much printed about the incident.
While traveling around the country on my motorcycle with no set agenda I ended up in Chicago, where a former member of my platoon in RVN lived. He invited me to stay as long as I wanted. very nice. After a week I was at the house, my friend at work, when a middle aged couple showed up at the door. I answered, they introduced themselves as as Mr. and Mrs. Somebody, who just happened to be the block supervisors for the Democratic Party. They wanted to sign me up to vote, as they had seen me around in the neighborhood, and vote Democratic while I'm at it. I told them I was a wandering spirit and wouldn't be to long in town. They wished me luck, and said if I change my mind, they could help me with a job and introduce me to other veterans helping out the noble cause of the Democratic Party in the great City of Chicago...
When my father first moved to Chicago in the early 1920's people could still recall the horse drawn trolley's. One of those trolley lines was electrified and was later paved over with asphalt. When I was a kid in 1978, he took me to see the rails that had been exposed after the winter ( and usual lack of maintenance ) had worn away the old covering asphalt. Dad also talked about how much of the city has always changed till the great depression and the late 1970's. ( and now Chicago has changed a bunch since I was a kid, except my old neighborhood )
A suggestion for you to consider, the remarkable story of Douglas Bader, RAF Second World War fighter pilot who lost both legs in a flying accident before 1939 but managed to get taken back into the RAF, despite being classed as 100% disabled, he flew during the Battle of Britain and had an interesting and eventful War and post war also. Thanks for sharing this interesting and informative film, thumbs up 👍 as usual, and please keep up the great work you do keeping history alive and kicking for other generations to (hopefully) enjoy and pass on to others.
Those population statistics you gave were unbelievable and Hertz’s idea for the stagnant used cars was brilliant. I’m waiting at this time code 4:00 to see if the name Hertz is going where I suspect it’s headed as in Hertz car rental…I’m patient enough to wait and see! I’m certain if there’s a connection you definitely won’t fail to cover it. You’re always very accurate and thorough.H.G. I was aware of these taxi wars but had limited knowledge. I always thought there was much more loss of life and I was surprised the city council hadn’t intervened much earlier. I had no idea it had not been regulated sooner and the violence continued as late as 1928. History doesn’t just deserve to be remembered, I think it essential ! Sincerely, Doc
Great video as always. If you travel north of Chicago, you will end up in Milwaukee. Milwaukee had a conflict called "The Milwaukee Bridge War". Call me bias, as it is my hometown; but it may be a good video idea.
lol, smooth Segway; "if you travel north of Chicago, you will end up in Milwaukee". I agree though, this sounds interesting. I really wanna see an ep. on the Michigan/Ohio border war, but to be fair I'm from MI
Went to a Brewers-Cubs game here in MKE this past summer. Way more Cubs fans than Brewers fans. Of course they gouged you on parking because of all the Chicago traffic. Brewers won 1-0. Good game, no fights.
taxi's in chicago, or a world wide car rental company. Im thinking that he should thank those checker taxi thugs cause his new business got waaay bigger in the end so i still call that a win
How the hell did either one of these companies attract any customers when hailing a cab meant you were likely to find yourself in a running gun battle just trying to get home? Was Chicago really so bad back then that you ran pretty much the same risk even if you just walked?
I would suspect that cabbies of either side with customers were left alone. Accidentally killing an innocent customer, especially a woman or child would have been considered absolutely beyond the pale by everyone back then, even by those cabbies otherwise shooting at each other. Even the gang warfare back then did not consist of killing women and children.
Given the size of the city I suspect that these incidents...as bad as they sound...were really only witnessed by a very small proportion of prospective cab riders...
Just had too. We had Yellow Cab in town until around 2010. Went out of business. Yellow cars with a black checkered band down the sides and the same Yellow Cab logo you saw in the video and were all (old and new) built like 1954 Chevy Bellaires.
You’re a better man than me, Gunga Din! I’ve stopped trying to explain things to folks, since these little bricks of misery we can hold in our hands (which I’m using to type this) are easy access to every bit of knowledge ever recorded. And so are libraries! Doesn’t anyone use them anymore?!
Ah, memories. In 73 I started driving a Yellow in Chicago. The fare, exactly as it was 60 years before. 30 cents to get in. It changed to 40 shortly after I started. We had our own little war, not as violent, although there were some fights and injuries. Our war was with the Evanston cabs. The dividing line between Chicago and Evanston was Howard street. North of Howard was Evanston. Howard was a bar street with lots of bars on both sides. Friday and Saturday night you would cruise down Howard and pick up fares. You didn't care what side they were on and neither did the Evanston drivers. Technically it was illegal for us to pick up on their side and the same for them but nobody cared. As you can imagine whenever economics are contested, struggle comes next. There were many fights and one Yellow was actually set on fire. Of course there was instant retaliation. They pushed an Evanston cab into the lake. For a while the drivers all took their breaks in the same restaurants, strength in numbers. I remember that this going on for most of the summer. Many drivers on both sides started staying away from Howard to avoid the problems. If someone damaged your cab, you were done for the night. I don't recall what ended this, maybe both sides just got tired of it.
Chicago was also low and swampy and this led to a Cholera epidemic in 1849. To elemate the problem in February 1856 the city decided to build a sewer system. To do this they had to elevate the city, in some places they had to jack up buildings as high as 10 feet so the sewers would have enough pitch to drain.
Need to do one on the Toledo War, it gave Michigan statehood and the UP. Its even led to the greatest sports rivalry in U of M and that team from the south for which I cannot name.
Mayor Ada Mercer in Seattle ran several "houses" (huge multistory apartment buildings) of prostitution, a major business of the seaport. Teddy Roosevelt built the first public hospital in Seattle to treat pandemic venereal disease among sailors.
Im addicted. One question. Ive read , awhile back, of incident that happened during WW II of the coast of England where prior to the invasion of Europe a number of solders lost their lives in an amphibious training exercise were a couple of Nazi submarines sank numerous troop ships that for some unknown reason did not have an escort. Thus numerous lives were lost. Havent seen it yet, maybe you've already done it. History that deserves to be remembered.
We had cab driver wars in Taipei, Taiwan, as well. The Taipei cabs used to be ran by various companies (they still are, but things have changed), and they would hire many ex-convicts for their cheap wages, low technical/academic skills, and their knowledge of the city. The driver quality was pretty bad, and, as school children, we were always told scary stories of gangster cabbies hiding a meat cleaver to chop up kids who misbehaved. Brutal knife fights would erupt regularly over disputes for routes, or along company/gang affiliations. One particular bridge overpass ended up being a particularly hot battleground (under Chonqing bridge [重慶橋]). The city government has since overhauled the chartering requirements for the cab companies, and now Taipei cabbies are super nice and courteous. It's getting tougher to haul a cab from the streets, but a cab is never more than a phone call (or an app click) away.
As always, interesting. Thats what im here for. The hertz yellow, that is an is interesting thing to know. So much history behind such a distinct shade of a simlple color. Thanks, History Guy ;-)
Nice video as always. Maybe a topic for another video : "the night of the long knives/Die Nacht der langen Messer" (1934) It is an aspect of the Nazis that isnt really covered enough. It was the time that the NSDAP removed every resistance in itself and therefore become the organisation that started WW2 in europe. This is a really interesting story and i think that you can cover it extremly good, mabye if you have time to look into that you can decided if you can make a video about it.
I agree it's an important event, but I don't think it's particularly "forgotten". What a lot of people really don't know about early Nazi Germany is the crackdown on LGBT people (of which some would argue Ernst Röhm's assassination was the finishing touch). I'd like to see a video about Magnus Hirschfeld and the burning of books from his Institute of Sexual Research.
just discovered you channel, great stuff. its nice to hear the true unpolished history of America. as a limey i don't hear it much. keep up the good work mate.
Great video. Quite interestng. Suggestion: I was told about one winter's epic snowfall so heavy they ran out of places to pile it up & finally started filling freight cars & running them south until the load melted so the boxcars could be returned & refilled. This was sometime between 1945-1970. My in-laws' house had 3 storeys; public works filled their side yard as tall as the house before the railcars were drafted.
Wasn't there also a Checker Automobile ? Is it the same as the cab company or related in anyway? I know they were virtually indestructible cars. Not only cabs but many cities used them for radio cars also. I remember someone telling me they would last a million miles.
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered The funeral home where I worked while in college had a Checker. I loved to drive it because it felt so solid. Got good gas mileage, too. Think I’ll check (pun) eBay Motors.
Your videos should be required viewing in our schools today. I’ve never been more educated in the span of time in which I watch your videos.
Doug Sullivan Try Extra History, too.
Good luck, try getting most kids interested in this video...it takes a certain person from a young age to seek out information from life.
@doodr that's why I make my daughter read books that have reading comprehension test. She picks out books that are on a list that's quite large. Also, I make her do math because she's horrible at it but has improved immensely. She's not really into video games.
@@sostrucking congratulations on raising kids correctly, and I'm not, joking that is....
The amount or research he puts into these stories is phenomenal really. Very smart man and a very good narrator
One of the best channels on line, thanks for your contribution
I introduced my father to this incredible channel months ago. We live a few hours apart but when we get together we talk about your videos every single time. You do an amazing job on them and there are so many great videos, I imagine we'll have plenty more discussions in the future. We've never been closer and I thank you for being a part of that.
I love this! 🤗
Gosh, that's great! My dad and I shared a penchant for history. He would have very much enjoyed these programs.
Thank you for sharing this precious comment with us! This is what yt-comments are really for. All the best for you two and keep enjoying the videos. Cheers from Germany :-)
This is a great comment. I wish you and your dad well.
My dad and I do the same!
I am from Chicago have a picture of my grand father with his Chicago Yellow Cab in the late 20s. This story hits home for me big time! Thanks History Guy!
Historyguy is the best thing since Paul Harvey. Well done.
I could not have said it any better than what you just said
"And now you know -- the rest of the story." ~Paul Harvey
@ŇøHă Ģ. Hello Americans, standby for news....
Now that you mention it! 🤔👍
Hell of a lot better that Harvey buy yeah.
This took 12 minutes to tell, I'm an old man and didn't know about it. Thank you History Guy !!
i consider myself a history buff but have never heard of most of the events you talk about so I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CHANNEL
As a veteran NYC cabbie, who also has a History degree, I appreciate this. I’m planning to write a book on the history of the taxicab in NYC
Wow, just wow. I'm from Chicago, and incredibly shocked that I've never heard of any of this before. Thank you Mr. History Guy for keeping this most interesting period of history from being forgotten.
I drove for both Yellow and Checker in Chgo during the early 70's, soon after returning from Nam. Financially, it was easier then, drivers got 40% of the meter and the company paid all expenses. Hacks have it tough now, gotta drive long hours just to make the lease/medallion payments and they're on the hook for gas, insurance, repairs, etc.. I'm in WV now. How bout a lesson on the Battle of Blair Mountain? I believe it was the only time in history that the US Army Air Force bombed American citizens (intentionally). Being an old Union Man, I joined other marchers a few years ago, trying to prevent it from being strip mined. So far, so good. Thanks for your great work, I'm gettin behind in my projects since I found your channel!
Mickey Janowski Not sure if you keep up with Chicago any more but just an FYI. Uber killed the value of taxi medallions. They are very cheep nowadays. As resent as 2010 they were six figures if I recall.
Me, 68-70 summers.
When I drove the flag pull was 40 cents.
Yeah, Blair Mountain should be declared a national historical battlefield and there ought to be statues of Bill Battle and Sid Hatfield in front of the Mingo County courthouse.
" Dad would fight at the drop of a hat and sometimes you didn't even need to drop the hat."
Bill Battle Jr
If I recall the American Experience episode correctly, it was a private plane that bombed the miners.
Five minutes of watching this and then the realization hits me that that I'm riveted to screen, watching history like I'm watching a really good thriller.
When I first heard the name Hertz, I wondered if it was the Hertz Rent-A-Car Hertz, but didn't know how he would get there from the cab service. Very informative video. Thanks.
If you've noticed those Penske truck rentals, that used to be Hertz as well. Roger Penske bought into Hertz as they couldn't make much money at it, and now Penske rents about as many trucks as U-Haul.
That was a very nice conclusion to the story!!!
I thought of 'Dick'
Always such a pleasure to watch your videos. Your enthusiasm for history shows in each and every video. Your videos are never boring, and always educational. That's why this channel continues to gain new subscribers so rapidly. Thanks for all the work you put into each video. *:-)*
I appreciate how you often tie together various seemingly unrelated events; tonight's episode was another example of this and answered a long held idea of which I knew not the origin. Thank you!
Hey Stuart if you like that aspect, you might want to see if you can dig up James Burke's show Connections that was on PBS long ago, but the stories are still historically and scientifically valid. He starts with some bit of innovation centuries ago, then follows the progression of applications and improvements and branching discoveries up to modern day. Like how monks making beer in the middle ages progressed ultimately to rocket fuel, etc, with all the twists and turns between. One of the most enjoyable educational shows I've seen. Besides History Guy, of course :)
@@ltr4300 I saw those back then!
Very interesting, I recognized the name Hertz immediately. I didn't know the history of Hertz before the rental company. Once again, thanks for the very interesting history.
Jim M good job recognizing the name ‘Hertz.’
Really quick, do you recognize any of these other names-
General Motors?
Google?
American Airlines?
How about TH-cam?
That’s a quaint little company you might of heard from.
🤦♂️
@@dozer1642 Companies have to start somewhere don't they?
@@dozer1642 take a hike with that sullen attitude.
When the video started and Hertz came up I thought it was a coincidence, not realising what an innovator he was.
@ Dozer 1642. When making fun of others, it's best to minimize your own vulnerability. You must have been dozing in English class. It's 'might have', not 'might of'.
In my comments on this channel I've been predicting steady growth of subscribers for a long time now. 100K just around the corner, 1 million not too far away. Such quality content will not be denied!
Born and raised here ,still here did not know that, ..grew up around both of them cab companies, nice video clips!
The US project will always be a work in progress. Thanks History Guy. I always enjoy not just the stories but the enthusiasm by which it’s delivered. More grease to your elbow...
Dear Mr. History Guy
THANK YOU for your most excellent videos. I also have always loved history and was really glad to find your channel. I used to be a huge fan of the History Channel but like too many history sources it would often get on kicks and only cover WAR history - which - I understand the importance of and even enjoy - but even the details have been covered enough and the REST of history gets ignored in the process sometimes so it was refreshing to see you featuring other events that as you rightly point out "needs to be remembered".
As it turns out, I lived the first 4 decades of my life in the city of Chicago and was at one point a bike messenger for one of those decades. Bike messengers and taxi drivers are known to be mortal enemies (Hahaha) but my roommate was a cabbie so that helped ease the stress of what can certainly be a dangerous occupation.
THIS again, is "history that needs to be remembered" and as with your other presentations, is clear, concise and well researched and again I THANK you!
You keep cranking out great videos like this so quickly you're gonna run out of history!
NorthernChev the topic list grows faster than I can make videos
How long till Uber and Lyft will be doing pistols at dawn?
How sweet a thought
Black Lotus I suppose that we might be in store for a corporate cyber war instead.
There'll be an app for that.
A lot of drivers work for both, so it would be an interesting fight.
Oh there's a war alright, taxi drivers put nails in the uber zones in Las Vegas...I got punched by a cabbie...uber needs to be regulated.
I'm an ex Cabbie. Nothing changes except the date. I nearly got forced off the road twice by a rival cab driver. Didn't happen again after I walked into their office and told them if he did it again I'd tear him a new one.
Another great history lesson though. Thanks.
Taxi driving is serious business, huh?
When I drove part time in a city of 100,000 we all looked out for one another despite the name on the door. If I figured competition was going to the same bar I would try to get there first though. We had v8 cars and competition had v6 cars. No replacement for displacement:)
@@juliogonzo2718 Vics?
@@buckberthod5007 yeah. Last year I worked there they changed to priuses:(
@@juliogonzo2718 All old P71s probably. Reliable, built like a tank, got some get up and go. Why you'd change to a prius beats the crud out of me.
When I was in high school, I had an history teacher who was as wide as she was tall ("Miss Square"). You remind me of her. She always kept a lesson short and was never ever boring. Keep up the fantastic work.
I'd never heard of this. Really interesting and wonderfully well explained. You are correct, this deserves to be remembered.
Wow. Always amazed at the iconic businesses that got their start in Chicago. Thanks History Guy! :)
Well, Chicago hasn't changed much. Just the names.
HOW SAD BUT VERY VERY TRUE.
Same thought.
Jim F.....Actually, I have. I'm 66, a disabled Vet. but I was station in Great Lakes for a while. Why? Do I need to have been there to read a newspaper? To have had History in class?
Jim F My extended family escaped that shithole
Jim F i have, i just dropped a huge shit into a white chicago
Boy, Chicago in the 20s sure was an interesting place. Thanks again. Your vids are very entertaining yet informative.
Check out the Star Trek Original Series episode "a piece of the action." You might like it.
David Horgan I remember that. It was a great episode.
Once again, a piece of history I was totally unaware of. Hats off to you, sir!
I continue to be amazed at how you find these stories and the details that make them interesting.
Great segment. Love this channel. Live in the Chicago area and am disappointed to see all the hating in the comments. Make it into the city frequently - lots to do and see. Never feel threatened.
Mike "Naive" O'Dell ( Never feel Threatened ?? ) why would you in the Murder Capitol of America ?
Born in Chi town 1944 , use to be great place to visit 50 yrs ago. Now they have polluted,corrupted and broke the whole state . :-(
Hertz, for whatever his shortcomings, certainly was an entrepreneur. He saw a need and filled it. My father drove a NYC cab for a few years in the 60's and 70's. He made good money doing it, back then you could. Things started to change in the 80's the money wasn't the same. I drove for private car (no meter, flat rate) services on and off for a time. And I made pretty good money at it. But like everything else, it changes. The H.G.
once again brings interesting facts and history that deserves to be remembered to light. Thx H.G.
Absolutely love your channel thank you for your hard work thumbs up stay Awsome.
i dont know where you get all these gems, but i am glad you do. thank you for taking the time to bring it to the public
$.30 for the first 1/2 mile or $7.72 today
$.10 for each 1/4 mile then after or $2.57 today
Cabs were expensive as hell even back then.
After Hertz saw how they did it in Europe the fares actually went down.
Sounds about the same as uber 🐀
@@James-hg5tk F____ Uber. They cost MORE than any "real" taxi where I live (Pittsburgh).
I learn more history from every video you have than I did in all of highschool and college
I just watched your episode on the L.A. Chinese massacre and the comments were closed, and I get that, but I wanted to say thank you for the story, and the care you took in telling it. Very moving and sad. I like this channel for is tact, and brutal honesty.
gimme a break thank you!
Fantastic report, especially how it ended!💕💛🧡👍🌸
Your TH-cam channel is my favorite by far.
I am absolutely engrossed in this channel, I've watched many many videos and I have enjoyed every one of them. Your passion and vibrancy makes them pleasant viewing, history is one of my favourite subjects and this channel one of my all time favourites. Thank you and keep up the great work. If only every school had you as their history teacher... what a better place this world would be!
This story is wild af! Just simply wow!
Great story. Thanks.
Now that is some kinda history! Thanks for another great ride down history lane, but this time in a very special Hertz rental car!
This story would make a great movie or mini series on Netflix. Thank you for telling the story.
Now that was something interesting. I never imagined Hertz was a company with that long of a history.
Really do like these videos....I love History....and had no idea Hertz was this old. I wondered if it was that Hertz
Everytime I watch, I am entertained and eductated. Thank you again.
Brilliant HG.
As a limey learning about the origins of the yellow cabs and Hertz was really interesting.
However the rivalry between the cab companies and it seems the mobs typical of Chicago in those days influence was the icing on the cake .
Thanks.
I love your to the point snippets
Thank you for this amazing knowledge you dish out free of charge.
My uncle was a major in the Army in WWII, stationed in Chicago. He told of riots on the south side where the Army set up .50 caliber machine guns in the streets. And used them. The newspaper people all agree to publish nothing of the incident. I haven't been able to find much printed about the incident.
Ah yes Chicago Corruption... that 'proud tradition'
"Vote early; vote often".
Scott Barber ...and sometimes get a ticket fixed for it.
"Sometimes" ???
Scott Barber ... sometimes it cash, or other favors
While traveling around the country on my motorcycle with no set agenda I ended up in Chicago, where a former member of my platoon in RVN lived. He invited me to stay as long as I wanted. very nice. After a week I was at the house, my friend at work, when a middle aged couple showed up at the door. I answered, they introduced themselves as as Mr. and Mrs. Somebody, who just happened to be the block supervisors for the Democratic Party. They wanted to sign me up to vote, as they had seen me around in the neighborhood, and vote Democratic while I'm at it. I told them I was a wandering spirit and wouldn't be to long in town. They wished me luck, and said if I change my mind, they could help me with a job and introduce me to other veterans helping out the noble cause of the Democratic Party in the great City of Chicago...
When my father first moved to Chicago in the early 1920's people could still recall the horse drawn trolley's. One of those trolley lines was electrified and was later paved over with asphalt. When I was a kid in 1978, he took me to see the rails that had been exposed after the winter ( and usual lack of maintenance ) had worn away the old covering asphalt. Dad also talked about how much of the city has always changed till the great depression and the late 1970's. ( and now Chicago has changed a bunch since I was a kid, except my old neighborhood )
Yet another fantastic Video.
Please for the love of all things knowledgeable keep it up.
A suggestion for you to consider, the remarkable story of Douglas Bader, RAF Second World War fighter pilot who lost both legs in a flying accident before 1939 but managed to get taken back into the RAF, despite being classed as 100% disabled, he flew during the Battle of Britain and had an interesting and eventful War and post war also.
Thanks for sharing this interesting and informative film, thumbs up 👍 as usual, and please keep up the great work you do keeping history alive and kicking for other generations to (hopefully) enjoy and pass on to others.
I just subscribed to you 10 minutes ago, and I already love this channel
OldJukebox welcome. I can’t get enough of this guy. I wish I had him as a prof in college.
As a Chicago resident the old pictures are priceless. I now have another fun story to relate next time im walking downtown and see a cab.😁
Oh yay! My video suggestion! Thanks!
Congrats!!!
The number one thing this channel has taught me? Things today, aren't that bad...
Great story, and great connection at the end!
Those population statistics you gave were unbelievable and Hertz’s idea for the stagnant used cars was brilliant. I’m waiting at this time code 4:00 to see if the name Hertz is going where I suspect it’s headed as in Hertz car rental…I’m patient enough to wait and see! I’m certain if there’s a connection you definitely won’t fail to cover it. You’re always very accurate and thorough.H.G.
I was aware of these taxi wars but had limited knowledge. I always thought there was much more loss of life and I was surprised the city council hadn’t intervened much earlier. I had no idea it had not been regulated sooner and the violence continued as late as 1928. History doesn’t just deserve to be remembered, I think it essential !
Sincerely,
Doc
Wait, what?! Chicago...corruption?! Never! ;-) Great series, enjoyable commentary.
If there was ever someone that could easily make the leap to television it'd be the #HistoryGuy. It might make TV worth watching again. 👍👍
Great work once again! Thank you.
I lived in Chicago for 13 years, during and after college. Very interesting story. Thank you.
Great video as always. If you travel north of Chicago, you will end up in Milwaukee. Milwaukee had a conflict called "The Milwaukee Bridge War". Call me bias, as it is my hometown; but it may be a good video idea.
lol, smooth Segway; "if you travel north of Chicago, you will end up in Milwaukee". I agree though, this sounds interesting. I really wanna see an ep. on the Michigan/Ohio border war, but to be fair I'm from MI
@@arachnonixon maybe a mega episode. "Wars in the midwest"
Could also cover the "wars" between drunk Cubs and Brewers fans. ;)
Went to a Brewers-Cubs game here in MKE this past summer. Way more Cubs fans than Brewers fans. Of course they gouged you on parking because of all the Chicago traffic. Brewers won 1-0. Good game, no fights.
This is simply unbelievable, and to think that I'd never have heard of this affair before subscribing to your channel. Bravo, sir
taxi's in chicago, or a world wide car rental company. Im thinking that he should thank those checker taxi thugs cause his new business got waaay bigger in the end so i still call that a win
Outstanding commentary! Your content is always captivating and interesting. Have a great weekend, history guy!
How the hell did either one of these companies attract any customers when hailing a cab meant you were likely to find yourself in a running gun battle just trying to get home? Was Chicago really so bad back then that you ran pretty much the same risk even if you just walked?
I would suspect that cabbies of either side with customers were left alone. Accidentally killing an innocent customer, especially a woman or child would have been considered absolutely beyond the pale by everyone back then, even by those cabbies otherwise shooting at each other. Even the gang warfare back then did not consist of killing women and children.
R. Blakehole: But it did happen though.
"Her name was Loretta Solino, kid. She was a real professional."
From "The Sting"
Given the size of the city I suspect that these incidents...as bad as they sound...were really only witnessed by a very small proportion of prospective cab riders...
Great history, and super little twist at the end!
Ah the Checker-ed past of my Illinois, though I won't call it Yellow journalism.
Jeff....Yuk Yuk Yuk..!!
Just had too. We had Yellow Cab in town until around 2010. Went out of business. Yellow cars with a black checkered band down the sides and the same Yellow Cab logo you saw in the video and were all (old and new) built like 1954 Chevy Bellaires.
Go to your room, and think about what you've done...
What? Make a Hack job of it?
I see what did!
You’re a better man than me, Gunga Din! I’ve stopped trying to explain things to folks, since these little bricks of misery we can hold in our hands (which I’m using to type this) are easy access to every bit of knowledge ever recorded.
And so are libraries! Doesn’t anyone use them anymore?!
man this is really really well researched history i love it
Great job! One tiny flaw...your b-roll of Chicago had NYC and LA footage as examples.
I find your videos very educational! Thanks!
Another excellent program! Thank you, most interesting.
Rent-seeking and violent intimidation by cab companies.
Shocking.
The original Chicago gangs! Taxis! Humans are the funniest living entities! God damn taxis! Thank you for this piece of history!
My housemate's from Chicago and he didn't know about this, and he's a history student.
Ah, memories. In 73 I started driving a Yellow in Chicago. The fare, exactly as it was 60 years before. 30 cents to get in. It changed to 40 shortly after I started. We had our own little war, not as violent, although there were some fights and injuries. Our war was with the Evanston cabs. The dividing line between Chicago and Evanston was Howard street. North of Howard was Evanston. Howard was a bar street with lots of bars on both sides. Friday and Saturday night you would cruise down Howard and pick up fares. You didn't care what side they were on and neither did the Evanston drivers. Technically it was illegal for us to pick up on their side and the same for them but nobody cared. As you can imagine whenever economics are contested, struggle comes next. There were many fights and one Yellow was actually set on fire. Of course there was instant retaliation. They pushed an Evanston cab into the lake. For a while the drivers all took their breaks in the same restaurants, strength in numbers. I remember that this going on for most of the summer. Many drivers on both sides started staying away from Howard to avoid the problems. If someone damaged your cab, you were done for the night. I don't recall what ended this, maybe both sides just got tired of it.
Great.. You are almost to 100,000 subscribers. Everyone let your friends know about The History Guy. Lets get him over the 100 K mark.
You learn something new every day, but with videos like this, I learn 5 new things every 10 minutes. Keep it up!
Wow, never heard any of this history before! Thanks so much for helping put things into perspective with your vids🙃
Chicago was also low and swampy and this led to a Cholera epidemic in 1849. To elemate the problem in February 1856 the city decided to build a sewer system. To do this they had to elevate the city, in some places they had to jack up buildings as high as 10 feet so the sewers would have enough pitch to drain.
at 80 yrs. old, I love your vids. You always have a gleem in your eye.
My god you could make a hysterical film out of this.
Lmao.... I just pictured a bunch of film crew workers running around screaming and throwing their gear to and fro
Everybody loves SLAPSTICK!
Make it a Romeo and Juliet remake.
Keystone Cops: Chicago Style
GaldirEonai Yes! Romeo works for Yellow cab and Juliet for Checker can lol. Great idea lol
Another great story, well told. I thank you kind sir.
Need to do one on the Toledo War, it gave Michigan statehood and the UP. Its even led to the greatest sports rivalry in U of M and that team from the south for which I cannot name.
There are a couple of videos on TH-cam about that, just in case THG doesn't get to it. Here's one:
th-cam.com/video/MaFWWOdxqDw/w-d-xo.html
Brilliant yet again, really dont know how to such a constantly high standard . Thank you!!
"Chicago ain't no sissy town." -- 1st Ward Alderman and Saloon keeper Hinky Dink Kenna
That's why Liberace, 'Lee', was from up the road in Milwaukee. "Me and my brother George...".
Mayor Ada Mercer in Seattle ran several "houses" (huge multistory apartment buildings) of prostitution, a major business of the seaport. Teddy Roosevelt built the first public hospital in Seattle to treat pandemic venereal disease among sailors.
Im addicted. One question. Ive read , awhile back, of incident that happened during WW II of the coast of England where prior to the invasion of Europe a number of solders lost their lives in an amphibious training exercise were a couple of Nazi submarines sank numerous troop ships that for some unknown reason did not have an escort. Thus numerous lives were lost. Havent seen it yet, maybe you've already done it. History that deserves to be remembered.
Uber: Origins
As a cab driver, I can empathise with these men.
We had cab driver wars in Taipei, Taiwan, as well. The Taipei cabs used to be ran by various companies (they still are, but things have changed), and they would hire many ex-convicts for their cheap wages, low technical/academic skills, and their knowledge of the city. The driver quality was pretty bad, and, as school children, we were always told scary stories of gangster cabbies hiding a meat cleaver to chop up kids who misbehaved. Brutal knife fights would erupt regularly over disputes for routes, or along company/gang affiliations. One particular bridge overpass ended up being a particularly hot battleground (under Chonqing bridge [重慶橋]). The city government has since overhauled the chartering requirements for the cab companies, and now Taipei cabbies are super nice and courteous. It's getting tougher to haul a cab from the streets, but a cab is never more than a phone call (or an app click) away.
Always so well done.
As always, interesting. Thats what im here for. The hertz yellow, that is an is interesting thing to know. So much history behind such a distinct shade of a simlple color. Thanks, History Guy ;-)
Nice video as always.
Maybe a topic for another video : "the night of the long knives/Die Nacht der langen Messer" (1934) It is an aspect of the Nazis that isnt really covered enough. It was the time that the NSDAP removed every resistance in itself and therefore become the organisation that started WW2 in europe.
This is a really interesting story and i think that you can cover it extremly good, mabye if you have time to look into that you can decided if you can make a video about it.
I agree it's an important event, but I don't think it's particularly "forgotten". What a lot of people really don't know about early Nazi Germany is the crackdown on LGBT people (of which some would argue Ernst Röhm's assassination was the finishing touch). I'd like to see a video about Magnus Hirschfeld and the burning of books from his Institute of Sexual Research.
just discovered you channel, great stuff. its nice to hear the true unpolished history of America. as a limey i don't hear it much. keep up the good work mate.
Congratulations to Mr. 100K Good job THG.
Great video. Quite interestng. Suggestion: I was told about one winter's epic snowfall so heavy they ran out of places to pile it up & finally started filling freight cars & running them south until the load melted so the boxcars could be returned & refilled. This was sometime between 1945-1970. My in-laws' house had 3 storeys; public works filled their side yard as tall as the house before the railcars were drafted.
Wasn't there also a Checker Automobile ? Is it the same as the cab company or related in anyway? I know they were virtually indestructible cars. Not only cabs but many cities used them for radio cars also. I remember someone telling me they would last a million miles.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checker_Taxi
Yes, both Checker cab and Yellow Cab manufactured and sold Taxis.
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered The funeral home where I worked while in college had a Checker. I loved to drive it because it felt so solid. Got good gas mileage, too. Think I’ll check (pun) eBay Motors.
Wow. That was excellent. I live in Chicago and didn’t even know all of this. Thanks!
I have a lot of respect for Hertz now.
Bravo well done.. As soon as you mentioned Hertz I was thinking I bet it's the rent a car guy! Yellow and Checker who knew,apparently you! Thanks