"THE BIG ONION is a co-production of WBEZ/CHICAGO and the CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO. This series is broadcast as a radio course for college credit (Geography 115) through the City Colleges, and is also aired during WBEZ prime-time for its general audience. The objective of THE BIG ONION is to provide the necessary information for a college level Geography of Chicago course, and to also inform and entertain general WBEZ listeners. 'ONIONS ARE FOREVER' (entry) is the first program from the series and highlights the concepts developed for use throughout the radio-course. Time Capsules, Historic Interviews, Time Witness News, and Interviews With Today's Experts, are all segments that are demonstrated on this entry. These segments enabled THE BIG ONION the freedom to go back in time and 'witness' events and geographic conditions important to Chicago's evolution, as well as interviews with 'leaders' throughout Chicago's history. Leading experts on today's Chicago were then intercut to provide a total picture of Chicago's development. Each registered City College student receives a study guide (enclosed) and may contact Dr. James Piety (City College) for testing and further instruction. WBEZ listeners receive BIG ONION information via the WBEZ monthly Radio Guide.(enclosed) The program you are about to hear, 'ONIONS ARE FOREVER', displays the production techniques, research, and voices used to make the series not only an effective geography course, but informative and entertaining to all that hear it. "(BIG ONION was so named after the Indian interpretation for Chicago - WILD ONION)"--1979 Peabody Awards entry form.
