DOOMED
The hottest ticket around, 1959’s Winter Dance Party, could not beat the brutal cold on its ill-fated tour through Wisconsin.

As the small caravan of vehicles departed the Iron County maintenance garage in Hurley, the sheriff’s deputies leading the rescue must have wondered if they would find any survivors at all.... Continued
 

Heroes & Villains: Wisconsin Crime     John McCaffrey's Body — The death of John McCaffrey is unearthed, and why it matters 150 years later. Frozen Summer — On August 17, 1993, a college coed who was loved and admired by all who knew her was found murdered in a Stevens Point hotel room. The Story of the Snow Queen — On a cold March day in 1993, a Wisconsin Rapids man stood alone on County Road W in Portage County. He wore nothing but his socks. The Snow Queen had struck again. Valley of the Molls — In John Dillinger's heyday, the mere mention of his name could incite widespread panic, sometimes with comical results. That's exactly what happened in Madison, Wisconsin. Valley of the Molls - Part I Valley of the Molls - Part II

The Wayside
Dear Indy: Give 'em the Meat Hook — A recent online poll showed Wisconsin football fans were evenly split between the Bears and the Colts. This is deeply disturbing.

Swallow This — Classic Wisconsin’s exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the world brat-eating contest in Sheboygan.

The Kentucky Derby of Cooties — Hundreds of contestants gathered at the Oxbo Resort along the beautiful Flambeau River. Some brought Ziploc bags, others had matchboxes, each carried the hopes and dreams of owning the fastest tick in all of cootie sports. 

 Holding Grudges — Lawrence and Ripon have kept it going for more than a century. Classic Wisconsin takes the oldest college football rivalry in the state.

The Lost Art of Spitting —  These folks are not spittin’ mad, they’re spittin’ happy.

Booyah Not —  Curly's Pub, Lambeau Field. Lambeau Field is a mall now, complete with a food court.

Dazed and Amused —  Make contact with UFO abductees in the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Bibles, Bottles and the Swingin' Senator — The Boscobel Hotel is alive and well, and so are the legends “conceived” in this vintage Wisconsin River gathering spot.

Ice Ice Baby — For more than a half-century the Washington Island ferry, the C.G. Richter, battled the Inland Sea in true underdog fashion.

Visit Door County — Lighthouses, Despair, Suicide.

Everybody In This Town Is Drunk — Super heroes, talking pigs, and the criminally sweaty. Milwaukee's Summerfest is a proletarian bash of epic proportions.

Hayward Family Values — If it involves logs, you'll find it at the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin.

No Boloney: Butch's Last Bash — Butch's Bash, the UW Athletic Department's annual spring fundraiser, is calling it quits after more than 30 years.

The Trojan Cow — You know its summer when a giant cow roams your street – and the chips are being dried in Sauk City. Read story.  

This Date in Wisconsin History June 11, 1913 — What the hell is going on out there? August 24, 1970 — Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty. October 14, 1912 — John Schrank left New York City and boarded a train for destinations unknown.

Up Close & Personal
Endless Winter — If there is a rock-n-roll heaven, Wisconsin just might be purgatory. Buddy Holly, Ottis Redding, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Wendy O’Williams and Elvis in America's Dairyland.

Headless Henry Mead —
Boo. Scared yet? No? Check out the true story of Henry Mead, the Waupaca banker who, er, lost his head and didn’t get it back for a hundred years. By the way, who’s that standing behind you with a shotgun? Scared ya.

The Last Bunger — It’s the end of an era at Huber Brewing in Monroe. Who but Classic Wisconsin takes you on an in- depth look at bungholes? Who? Who?

Joe's Bones — Joe McCarthy lives. He's buried in Appleton.

Field Trip:  Meet Your Legislator — Hey kids, can’t find your representative in the Capitol building? Did you check under the nearest bar? With the legislature in session -- look over there, another field sobriety test -- it’s time for a Classic Wisconsin tour of our state’s seat of power.

The (usually) Untold Story of Dan Devine's Dog — They say if you want a friend, you better have a dog. Former Green Bay Packers head coach Dan Devine had a dog. Then it was shot...

Gift of the Magi Halfback — Gather ‘round, kids. Santa has his toddy warmed up, and it’s time for Classic Wisconsin’s beloved holiday story.

Letters From Greta — Fox News' Greta Van Susteren hosts the highest-rated cable news program in its time slot. Not bad for an Appleton girl who fondly recalls  cruising College Avenue and meeting Paul Hornung at Conkey’s Bookstore.

Vanessa Unwrapped! — With brains, beauty and Saran Wrap, Vanessa Marie Semrow of Rhinelander became only the second Wisconsin woman to earn a national pageant title in 30 years.

Declaration of Independents — Aneb Jah Rasta, Independent candidate for governor. Need we say more?