Sat June 8 2pm: How Green Was My Valley

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Posted on June 5, 2013 by Administrator

How Green Was My Valley is a 1941 drama film directed by John Ford. The film, based on the 1939 Richard Llewellyn novel, was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and written by Philip Dunne. The film stars Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O’Hara, Anna Lee, Donald Crisp, and Roddy McDowall. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning five and beating out for Best Picture such other classics as Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon, Suspicion and Sergeant York.

The film tells the story of the Morgans, a close, hard-working Welsh family at the turn of the twentieth century in the South Wales coalfield at the heart of the South Wales Valleys. It chronicles a socio-economic way of life passing and the family unit disintegrating.

The studio wanted to shoot the movie in Wales in Technicolor, but events in Europe during World War II made this impossible. Instead, Ford built a replica of the mining town in California. The cast had only one Welsh actor – Rhys Williams, in a minor role.

John Ford — USA — 1941 — 118 minutes

As is the custom of the Curious Georgists, there will be light refreshments and discussion after. The event is free (contributions for expenses are welcome), 2:00 Saturday June 8, at 30 E Adams #1207. For information call 312 450 2906 or email Bob Matter

[poster and most text from Wikipedia]

Sat June 15: Economic Cycle Tour of the north loop/lakeshore

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Administrator

The “new east side” was a freight yard in the 1940′s (Library of Congress)

Join HGS instructor Bob Jene for a leisurely bicycle tour of recent developments near the mouth of the Chicago River, including the “new east side” along the south bank, developments on the north bank, and Trump Tower. If you haven’t had occasion to look around these areas in the past few years, now is your chance. The tour is free for everyone, but you’ll need to provide your own bicycle and sign a release.

Departs 30 E Adams at 2 PM on Saturday, June 15. If you have questions, or just want to let Bob know you’ll be coming, call 312 450 2906 or email him

June 19, Wed, 6 PM, PEBC continues with Wealth of Nations

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Administrator

Purpleslog’s Wordle of Wealth of Nations

Our Political Economy Book Club continues its discussion of Adam Smith’s An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. The June 19 session focuses on Book II, Chapters 4 and 5, with discussions of the nature and uses of capital, and interest.

The Wealth of Nations is available for free downloading at
http://archive.org/details/thewealthofnatio00smituoft. Free audio
recordings are available at http://librivox.org/the-wealth-of-nations-book-2-and-3/.

PEBC meets Wednesday, June 19, 6 PM at 30 E Adams #1207. Admission is absolutely free, although donations to help cover refreshments and expenses are appreciated. If you have questions, or to RSVP that you’ll be attending, call 312 450 2906 or email Bob Matter

Wed May 22 PEBC continues with Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations

Posted on May 3, 2013 by BobMatter

from Wikimedia

Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations is a landmark work that marks the start of economics as a science. Smith was arguing against the mercantilism of his day pointing out that laborers and the products of their labor were the real wealth of the nation. We are returning to this great work to consider Book II, Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock. On May 22 we will discuss the introduction through chapter 3 and on June 19 we will finish with chapters 4 & 5.

The Wealth of Nations is available for free downloading at archive.org.
Free audio recordings are available at librivox.

The Political Economy Book Club meets at 6 PM, at 30 E Jackson #1207. Everyone is welcome and there is no cost, altho donations to help pay the rent are welcomed. RSVP to Bob Matter or call 312-450-2906.

May 18 Sat: Economic Cycle Tour of South Loop/Lakeshore

Posted on May 3, 2013 by BobJene

image credit: em_____ via flickr (cc)

This tour looks at the lakefront areas just south of the Chicago loop, including the Central Station, Museum Campus, and Prairie Avenue districts. We’ll see how the natural and manmade amenities affect what sites are worth, and how this is (or is not) reflected in assessments.

This area has undergone numerous changes over the decades, from residential to commercial, railroad, industrial, institutional, and back to residential, but always the lakefront and close access to downtown have been important. The land has long been valuable, and we’ll talk about the factors which produce value and who benefits from it.

There is no charge for the tour (altho donations will be gratefully accepted). We leave from 30 E Adams at 2 PM. Bring your own bike. Optional RSVP to 312 450 2906, or email tour leader Bob Jene

May 11 Sat Movie: Salt of the Earth

Posted on April 2, 2013 by BobMatter

from Wikimedia

Salt of the Earth (1954) is an American drama film written by Michael Wilson, directed by Herbert J. Biberman, and produced by Paul Jarrico. All had been blacklisted by the Hollywood establishment due to their alleged involvement in communist politics.

The film is one of the first pictures to advance the feminist social and political point of view. Its plot centers on a long and difficult strike, based on the 1951 strike against the Empire Zinc Company in Grant County, New Mexico. In the film, the company is identified as “Delaware Zinc,” and the setting is “Zinctown, New Mexico.” The film shows how the miners, the company, and the police react during the strike. In neorealist style, the producers and director used actual miners and their families as actors in the film. [Wikipedia]

Reportedly this “clear piece of communist propaganda (Pauline Kael)” was effectively banned in Chicago and elsewhere, shown only in New York and San Francisco. Bob Wake’s review tells us that director Biberman wrote a book about the experience, as much later did James J. Lorence.

Herbert Biberman — USA — 1954 — 94 min. At 30 E Adams #1207. Free, donations welcome.

If you have questions or would like to let us know you’ll be coming, call Bob Jene at 312 450 2906 or email Bob Matter

Apr 22 Mon 6 PM: How I made $1,000,000 in Chicago real estate: I $tole it from you

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Administrator

image credit: elycefeliz via flickr (cc)

What George Menninger did was completely legal. He stole over a million dollars. Many people do it, perhaps including some of your neighbors; if George hadn’t then someone else would have.

You and fellow Chicagoans have already paid George so he is far beyond the need to earn a living. Now he volunteers some of his time as an instructor at the Henry George School. At this presentation you’ll learn exactly what he stole, how he did it, and how the community could have prevented it. You’ll also learn the costs of continuing larceny, in terms of poverty, unemployment, violence, and high cost of living.

Tonight’s presentation is entirely free and without obligation. At the conclusion, if you choose, you may enroll in the Progress & Poverty course George teaches over the following four Wednesday evenings.

April 13 Sat 2 PM Movie: Dakota 38

Posted on March 31, 2013 by BobMatter

In the spring of 2005, Lakota Spiritual Leader Jim Miller had a dream where he rode 330 miles on horseback. He eventually came to a river bank in Mankato, Minnesota where he saw 38 of his own ancestors hanged. Jim soon discovered that he had dreamt of the largest mass hanging in United States history ordered by Abraham Lincoln in 1862. In December of 2008, Jim and many others retraced the route of his dream on horseback as a means of bringing healing and reconciliation to all. “DAKOTA 38″ is a feature length documentary film by Smooth Feather Productions which tells the story of this powerful 330 mile journey.

Four years later, embracing the message of the dream, Jim and a group of riders retrace the 330-mile route of his dream on horseback from Lower Brule, South Dakota to Mankato, Minnesota to arrive at the hanging site on the anniversary of the execution. “We can’t blame the wasichus anymore. We’re doing it to ourselves. We’re selling drugs. We’re killing our own people. That’s what this ride is about, is healing.” This is the story of their journey- the blizzards they endure, the Native and Non-Native communities that house and feed them along the way, and the dark history they are beginning to wipe away.

[The above is from the film's web site, where you can also watch a trailer.] This film was crowd-funded.

Silas Haggerty — USA — 2012– 78 minutes

2pm Saturday April 13, at 30 E Adams #1207. After the film, refreshments and discussion. Free, altho donations are welcome. Hosted by Bob Matter and Bob Jene. Questions or to let us know you’re coming: 312 450 2906 or email Bob Matter

Apr 15 Mon: Will the Real Fiscal Stimulus Please Stand Up

Posted on March 28, 2013 by BobJene

Image Credit: kenteegardin/senior living via flickr (cc)

Bob Jene compares the geoist fiscal reform to the TARP bailout, “Fair” Tax, Flat Tax, Bush tax cuts, and government money creation. Each proposed or attempted solution to the great recession will be given. Attendees will rank the proposed measures to get out of the recession on a scale of 1 to 10 based on eight criteria.

At the Henry George School, 30 E Adams #1207, 6PM on Monday April 15. Free and open to everybody, donations welcome.

Spring schedule is posted

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Administrator

image credit: Jael Herrera via flickr(cc)

Our spring term schedule, posted here, features two sections of Progress & Poverty, plus advanced courses. As previously posted, it’s now possible to get college credit for Henry George School classes.

We’ll also have films, discussions, talks and tours– the whole schedule will be posted over the coming days, or you can phone 312 450 2906 to have a paper copy mailed.