Cary, IL — January 23, 2026 — A Chicago-area high school librarian is using a new episode of his father–son podcast to explore the city’s beloved amusement parks — and to confront a disturbing piece of history that many have forgotten. Hersey High School librarian Bruce Janu has released Episode 17 of Songs in the Key of Dave, a storytelling and music podcast created from weekly conversations with his father, Dave, who grew up in Chicago. The episode centers on amusement parks – first Disney, of course, but then classic Chicago-area attractions such as Riverview Park, Kiddieland, and Santa’s Village — places that loomed large in mid-century childhood memories. As with previous episodes, the conversation begins with nostalgia: family outings to Disney World shortly after it opened, and Kiddieland, Santa’s Village and Riverview. The podcast explores the sense of wonder those parks created for generations of Chicagoans. But this episode takes a deeper turn when Bruce learns, during the re...

Cary, IL — December 1, 2025 —  A Chicago-area educator and filmmaker has teamed up with his father in Florida to create a growing podcast that blends family storytelling, history, and music in a uniquely intimate way. With the release of its tenth episode,  Songs in the Key of Dave  continues to deepen a creative exchange that spans 1,200 miles. Created by Hersey High School Librarian Bruce Janu and his father, Dave, who lives in Florida, the show emerged from an ordinary weekly tradition: every Tuesday night, the two pour a drink, get on a virtual call, and talk — about cars, childhood memories, family history, and the music that shaped their lives. Those conversations eventually became the backbone of a fully produced podcast. Dave grew up in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood before eventually moving to Mt. Prospect, where Bruce was raised, and many of the podcast’s stories focus on life in Old Town and the northwest suburbs.   Bruce’s professional work makes th...