Prohibition and the Slovaks of Little Egypt
In this episode I tell the story of my maternal grandfather Jim Kalish and his American ancestors, alongside the story of Prohibition--one of the greatest mistakes the United States has ever made. This episode is part one of a two-part story.
This story is adapted from my essay The Resilient Jimmy Kalish where you can see photos of my grandfather and many other family members mentioned in this story--but the essay includes parts of the story yet to come in in the next episode, so keep that in mind before checking it out.
Below are the sources of information on which I built this story, remaining true to all essential facts, embellishing just a few things very slightly for the sake of clarity. Also for clarity, I use the Americanized names of many family members. For names prior to immigration, visit the Family History section at michaeldurbin.com (where you can also subscribe to be notified when I release new episodes).
Sources: Family History
Interviews
This story is adapted from my essay The Resilient Jimmy Kalish where you can see photos of my grandfather and many other family members mentioned in this story--but the essay includes parts of the story yet to come in in the next episode, so keep that in mind before checking it out.
Below are the sources of information on which I built this story, remaining true to all essential facts, embellishing just a few things very slightly for the sake of clarity. Also for clarity, I use the Americanized names of many family members. For names prior to immigration, visit the Family History section at michaeldurbin.com (where you can also subscribe to be notified when I release new episodes).
Sources: Family History
Interviews
- Durbin, Lorraine
- Kalish, Bernice
- Kalish, James L
- Kalish, James R
- Kalish, Lou
- Mahoney, Ann
- Mahoney, Jacqueline (Jackie)
- Volkmann, Beth
Family Resources
- Durbin, William P Jr : Random Notes on the Kalish Background (1996)
- Kalish, James L : Handwritten note with parent and grandparent birth dates and places (c1990)
- Kalish, Louis F : The Life of Louis M and Victoria Kalish (2001)
- Mahoney, Ann : Where we started, the stops along the way, and where we’re headed : For the descendants of Stefan and Kata Kalis (2012)
- Mahoney, Jacqueline : Letter to nephew Michael Durbin (1976)
- Mahoney, Ann : Krokvica Family History in America (2013)
- Mahoney, Ann : The Malec Family: You bet your dupa we’re Polish (2014)
- Prebezac, Earl: Interview of Frank Kavalier (1996)
- Walko, Ed : Memoir (2001)
More
- Death records for Kalish, Krokvica, Malec, and Walko family members
- East St. Louis City Directories, 1924 and 1926
- The East St. Louis Journal, via the fabulous Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library
- Franklin County Illinois Recorder of Deeds
- Immigration records for Stefan and Kata Kalis, Leonard Krokvica, Josephine Krokvica, Anna Krokvica, Maria Krokvica, Marie Krokvica
- Marriage records for Kalish, Krokvica, and Malec family members
- St. Clair County Illinois Recorder of Deeds
- US Archives: Military and pension records for William Gaul
- US Census rolls for 1910 and 1930
- US Social Security Applications and Claims Index
- US Army draft registration records for Louis Kalish, Mike Kalish (1917)
US and Illinois History
A Bloody Band of Bootleggers: The Shelton Brothers Gang by By Joel J. Hutchcroft, 2021
Booze, Blood And Bombs: Prohibition In Southern Illinois by Tara McClellan McAndrew, 2020
Legends of America: Cairo
Legends of America: Zeigler
Morality in an Era of Lawlessness: How the KKK and Organized Crime Attempted to Instill their Visions of America during the Prohibition Era by Tyler D'Ambrose, 2018
Books
A Knight of Another Sort: Prohibition Days and Charlie Birger by Gary DeNeal
Brothers Notorious: The Sheltons by Taylor Pensoneau
Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of America by Mae M. Ngai
Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent
A Bloody Band of Bootleggers: The Shelton Brothers Gang by By Joel J. Hutchcroft, 2021
Booze, Blood And Bombs: Prohibition In Southern Illinois by Tara McClellan McAndrew, 2020
Legends of America: Cairo
Legends of America: Zeigler
Morality in an Era of Lawlessness: How the KKK and Organized Crime Attempted to Instill their Visions of America during the Prohibition Era by Tyler D'Ambrose, 2018
Books
A Knight of Another Sort: Prohibition Days and Charlie Birger by Gary DeNeal
Brothers Notorious: The Sheltons by Taylor Pensoneau
Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of America by Mae M. Ngai
Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent
Music and Sound Effects
Sound effects were licensed from Pro Sound Effects, and these musical elements were licensed by way of NEOsounds.com:
Sound effects were licensed from Pro Sound Effects, and these musical elements were licensed by way of NEOsounds.com:
- Walking The Manifold (theme music) by Bjorn Lynne
- Behind the Screen by Alex Khaskin
- Chopin Preludes
- Chopin Waltz Op 69
- Criminal Obsession by Felipe Adorno Vassao
- Classical Passion Strings Etude 1 by Pawel Orlow
- Depression Song by Jonathan Geer
- Emotional Piano and Cello by Josh Kramer
- Few Moments by Adam Skorupa
- If I Had Known by David Flavin, Roland Rudzkis
- It Doesn't Matter by Francesco Giovannangelo
- Pay Day by Alex Khaskin
- Rising Sun by Bjorn Lynne
- Tomorrow's Reveries by Bjorn Lynne
- Too Blue by Zelimir Panic
