[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> CRANNIAN PRESIDENT MAKES A BID TO CONGRESS MEMBERS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN SENDS AID TO UKRAINE.

WE HEAR FROM THE CO-CHAIR OF THE UKRAINE CAUCUS MIKE QUIGLEY.

HOW ARE CHICAGO RESIDENTS HELPING UKRAINIANS?

AND JAM PRODUCTIONS CELEBRATES HALF A CENTURY OF STAGING CONCERTS IN CHICAGO AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND ONE NOTE BEFORE WE BEGIN, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN NEWS RELATED TO WTTW'S CONTRACT WITH THE TECHNICIANS WHO WORK ON THIS PROGRAM.

WE BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO BRING YOU THE REPORTING, CONTEXT AND ANALYSIS YOU HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM US AND WE INTEND TO DO THAT TONIGHT AND GOING FORWARD.

UP NEXT, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND NOW TO TOP STORY... ANOTHER CHICAGO ALDERMAN GETS PRISON TIME.

FORMER ALDERMAN RICARDO MUNOZ IS SENTENCED TO 13 MONTHS IN PRISON.

RICARDO MUNOZ PLEADED GUILTY TO WIRE FRAUD AND MONEY-LAUNDERING.

HE IS GUILTY OF SIPHONING $16,000 FROM THE BANK ACCOUNT OF CITY COUNCIL'S PROGRESSIVE REFORM CAUCUS TO PAY FOR A RELATIVE'S COLLEGE TUITION AMONG PERSONAL EXPENSES.

HE WILL SERVE 18 MONTHS OF SUPERVISED RELEASE AFTER A SLEW OF OTHER POLITICAL CORRUPTION CASES UNFOLDING INCLUDING THE INDICTMENT OF FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

>> A COUPLE HAS BEEN CHARGED FOR THE MURDER OF A 22-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO IS EXECUTED IN HER HOME LAST MONTH.

18-YEAR-OLD STRONG IS CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND MARATHON OWENS IS CHARGED FOR FELONY MURDER.

THE 22-YEAR-OLD WAS FATALLY SHOT.

SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS STRONG AND OWENS GOING INTO THE APARTMENT AND LEAVING TOGETHER FIVE MINUTES LATER.

SHE WAS FOUND DEAD INSIDE WITH A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD.

BOTH DEFENDANTS WERE DENIED BAIL BY EYE JUDGE TODAY.

OWE YENS AND STRONG AND OWE WESTERNS AND STRONG ARE DUE BACK IN COURT MAY THE 5.

>> A $650 MILLION CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT WAS APPROVED A YEAR AGO OVER THE SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT'S ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THE STATE'S BIOMETRIC PRIVACY LAW.

THE LAWSUIT AGAINST FACEBOOK WAS FILED MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS AGO.

ATTORNEYS WITH THE CASE SAY THE CHECKS SHOULD BE DELIVERED WITHIN 60 DAYS.

>> WHAT A DIFFERENCE A COUPLE WEEKS MAKE.

LABOR PEACE REINS IN BASEBALL AND THE WHITE SOX AND CUBS FACED OFF IN SPRING TRAINING TODAY TWICE THEY SPLIT THEIR SQUADS INTO TWO TO PLAY TWO GAMES.

THE SOX WON BOTH, 4-3 AND THE OTHER 5-2.

THE CUBS OPEN THEIR SEASON APRIL 7 AGAINST THE BREWERS AT WRIGLEY FIELD AND THE SOX OPEN A DAY LATER AGAINST THE TIGERS IN DETROIT.

AND LINCOLN PARK ZOO WELCOMES A NEW AFRICAN LYON CUB.

THE LITTLE ONE DOESN'T HAVE A NAME AND ITS SEX IS IS UNKNOWN.

THE CUB IS THE FIRST AFRICAN LION BORN IN THE ZOO FOR 20 YEARS.

SO CUTE.

AND THE PARENTS HAVE BEEN AT THE ZOO SINCE FALL 2021 WHEN THE PEPPER FAMILY WILDLIFE CENTER OPENED.

>> UP NEXT, ONE-ON-ONE WITH CONGRESSMAN MIKE QUIGLEY IN A CONVERSATION RECORDED YESTERDAY.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> FER [♪♪♪] CONSIDER >> UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY ADDRESSED U.S. CONGRESS MEMBERS BRINGING UP MEMORIES OF PEARL HARBOR AND THE 9/11 ATTACKS IN AN APPEAL TO THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT TO HIS COUNTRY.

AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT ADDRESS, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED $800 MILLION IN MILITARY ASSISTANCE THAT WILL BE SENT TO UKRAINE.

THAT INCLUDES ANTIAIRCRAFT SYSTEMS, THE GRENADE LAUNCHERS AND AMMUNITION.

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE QUIGLEY JOINED US YESTERDAY FOR HIS REACTION TO THE ADDRESS AND WE INVITED THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION BUT NONE ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION.

WE ASKED CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY TO DESCRIBE THE REACTION TO ZELENSKYY IN THAT CAPITOL AUDITORIUM.

>> VERY SOMBER VERY POWERFUL MESSAGE.

I WILL SAY WHEN THEY SHOWED THE VIDEO OF THE HORRIFIC SCENES OF CHILDREN BEING KILLED, A MAN HOLDING THE HAND OF HIS DECEASED DAUGHTER AND SHE IS UNDER A TARP, YOU COULD HEAR SOBS AND PEOPLE CRYING.

SO YOU KNOW, IT'S WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HORRIFICALLY ON A DAILY BASIS ON THE NEWS.

BUT COUPLED WITH THE POWERFUL MESSAGE, I THINK IT REALLY GOT THROUGH TO THE CONGRESS.

>> AND TO THAT REQUEST OF A NO-FLY ZONE WE HEARD AGAIN IN THIS CLIP TODAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN NATO LEADERS HAVE CONTINUALLY REBUFFED THESE CALLS FEARING IT COULD LEAD TO A BROADER GLOBAL CONFLICT.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR DOING THIS WE DID IT IN BOSNIA, AND LIBYA TO PROTECT CIVILIANS.

I THINK IT CAN BE DONE TO PROTECT EVACUATION ROUTES ON A HUMANITARIAN BASIS.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO STOP DIFFERENTIATING THE FACT THEY ARE NOT A MEMBER OF NATO WHEN IT COMES TO AN ISSUE LIKE THIS AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THERE.

THE FACT IS NONE OF US CARE MORE OR LESS ABOUT ANYBODY BECAUSE THEY ARE A MEMBER OF NATO.

SO WE MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THIS, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION TRULY THE HORRORS THAT THEY ARE FACING AND IF WE DON'T DO IT YOU WILL SEE MORE CHILDREN DEAD UNDER THE RUBBLE.

>> AND THE WORRY FROM THE PRESIDENT IS THAT IT WOULD PUT U.S.

TROOPS OR NATO TROOPS IN THE POSITION OF PERHAPS HAVING TO SHOOT DOWN RUSSIAN PLANES WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE U.S.'S INVOLVEMENT IN THIS WAR.

IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO DO THIS?

>> SURE.

FIRST OF ALL, EVERYTHING WE HAVE ASKED OUR COUNTRY AND NATO TO DO WAS SEEN ASS KAER TO.

>> TO THINK WE WOULD BE SENDING LETHAL AID THAT IS VIEWED AS ESCALATING.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT PUTIN IS ESCALATING AND WE ARE JUST RISING TO MEET THAT CHALLENGE.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS.

THERE WAS AN ATTACK A SHELLING ON A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

CHERNOBYL HAD ONE UNIT THIS UNIT HAD SIX AND THE RUSSIANS REFUSED TO LET THE UKRAINIANS PUT OUT THE FIRE.

IF THIS HAD GONE TO THE CATASTROPHIC WORSE WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT MOST OF EUROPE BEING INVOLVED IN THAT CATASTROPHE.

THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT UKRAINE AND IT CANNOT BE FOCUSED ON WE DON'T WANT IT TO ESCALATE.

WE NEED TO MEET THE DEMAND.

ZELENSKYY SAID AT LEAST GIVE US THE PLANES OR ANTIAIRCRAFT MISSILES THAT WILL SHOOT THEM DOWN.

AND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO HELP THEM, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT U.S.

TROOPS ON THE GROUND.

>> AND THE PRESIDENT IS STILL AVOIDED SENDING THE MIG PLANES FROM POLAND.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE HESITATION IS?

>> I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE SECRETARY BLINKIN WAS ON I THINK MEET THE PRESS ABOUT A WEEK AGO SAYING THEY ARE LOOKING AT THIS VERY, VERY CLOSELY.

AND THEY SEEM TO BE CLOSE TO A DEAL WHERE THEY WOULD BACKFILL THE POLE -- POLISH GOVERNMENT FOR SENDING MIGS THE UKRAINIANS THAT IS THE ONLY PLANES THEY KNOW HOW TO FLY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

OK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THE NO-FLY ZONE GIVE THEM THE PLANES.

AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING ELSE IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

BUT WE CAN'T WATCH BECAUSE WHILE THE UKRAINIANS ARE FIGHTING SO HEROICALLY, I WILL TELL YOU THE RUSSIANS AREN'T LEAVING UNLESS THERE'S DIPLOMATIC SUCCESS.

AND THE HORRORS WILL CONTINUE.

>> AND HERE IS PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY TALKING ABOUT THE PACKAGE THE U.S. WILL SEND TO UKRAINE.

>> UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO SURGING WEAPONS OF ASSISTANCE TO THE UKRAINIANS AND MORE WILL BE COMING AS WE SOURCE ADDITIONAL STOCKS OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE READY TO TRANSFER.

NOW, I WANT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

THIS COULD BE A LONG AND DIFFICULT BATTLE.

BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL BE STEADFAST IN OUR SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE IN THE FACE OF PUTIN'S IMMORAL UNETHICAL ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN POPULATIONS.

>> WHAT IS UKRAINE GETTING FROM THE PACKAGE?

>> WELL, AMONG THE THINGS IS MORE AMMUNITION.

THEY ARE GETTING DRONES, THEY ARE GETTING SOME HELP TO DEAL WITH AIR, THEY ARE GETTING HELICOPTERS, AND OTHER LETHAL AID.

MY ARGUMENT IS WE ARE UPPING THE LETHAL AID STEP-BY-STEP.

BUT THE UKRAINIANS ARE IN A RACE FOR TIME.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SPELLED THAT OUT AND WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS.

THEY CAN'T HAVE THIS PING PONGING BACK AND FORTH IN THE DEBATE.

THEY NEED US TO HAVE DRAMATIC ACTION QUICKLY.

BECAUSE EVERYDAY MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.

THE RUSSIANS ARE NOT FAR UNFORTUNATELY FROM KYIV AND THEY HAVE DEVASTATED SO MANY OTHER CITIES.

IF WE'RE GOING TO SET THE LIMIT LET'S GET OUT THERE QUICKER BECAUSE YOU ARE SEEING THE DEVASTATION THAT IS TAKING PLACE WITHOUT MORE HELP.

>> AND THERE HAVE BEEN TALKS OF A POSSIBLE DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION THAT COULD INVOLVE UKRAINE AGREEING NOT TO JOIN NATO FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

IS THERE ANY REALISTIC DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION?

AND SECOND OF ALL IS THAT ACCEPTABLE GIVEN THE FACT THAT RUSSIA IS THE AGGRESSOR AND HAS DONE SO MUCH DAMAGE?

>> NO, YOU MAKE THE RIGHT POINT AND YOU DON'T WANT UKRAINE TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

AGAIN WHY THIS AID MATTERS SO MUCH.

YOU DON'T WANT PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY TO HAVE A MAKE A CHOICE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE SO MANY MORE UKRAINIANS.

GIVING THEM THE STRENGTH GIVES THEM A BETTER STRENGTH AT THE BARGAINING TABLE.

AND YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE PUTIN WHAT HE WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE WHICH IS CRIMEA AND THE TERRITORIES IN THE EAST.

AND DEMILITARIZATION OF UKRAINE.

WHAT PUTIN WANTS TO DO IS WEAKEN HIS FUTURE PREY BECAUSE HIS LONG-TERM GOALS WILL NOT CHANGE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WIN EVERYTHING HERE.

>> CONGRESSMAN I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON UKRAINE BUT YOUR NAME HAS FLOATED AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF CHICAGO.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING JUMPING INTO THAT RACE?

>> I'VE SORT OF PUT AN EMBARGO ON TALKING ON ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE BUT UKRAINE OUT OF RESPECT.

TO THAT END, I WAS AT THE UKRAINIAN RALLY SUNDAY WITH SENATOR DURBIN.

I DID NOT CHOOSE TO MARCH IN THE PARADES.

AS A CO-CHAIR OF THE UKRAINIAN CAUCUS I HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT ALL THOSE OTHER ISSUES WILL BE DISCUSSED LATER ON.

RIGHT NOW THIS IS THE GREATEST FOREIGN POLICY CRISIS WE'VE FACED SINCE 9/11 AND THE GREATEST WAR WE'VE FACED IN EUROPE SINCE 1945.

>> IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU ARE SHUTTING THE DOOR ON THE MAYORAL THING.

IS THERE A TIMELINE WHERE YOU MIGHT DECIDE?

>> THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAKING A DECISION ON THAT OR TALKING ABOUT MAKING A DECISION AND NOT TALKING ABOUT IT AT ALL BECAUSE I WANT TO FOCUS ON UKRAINE.

I WANT TO FOCUS ON UKRAINE.

>> CONGRESSMAN WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OUR THANKS TO CONGRESSMAN MIKE QUIGLEY.

[♪♪♪] >> AS WE HEARD, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY ADDRESSED U.S. CONGRESS MEMBERS TODAY CALLING FOR MORE PROTECTION AS HIS COUNTRY FIGHTS AGAINST THE RUSSIAN INVASION.

MILLIONS HAVE FLED THEIR HOME TO SEEK REFUGE LEAVING MANY WONDERING WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP.

KRISTEN JOINS US WITH DETAILS.

YOU HAVE COMPILED A LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WARNED OF SCAMS.

SO FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP WHAT SHOULD THEY BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

BEFORE YOU DONATE DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

FIND OUT IF THEY ARE PROVIDING AID IN THE REGION OR RAISING MONEY FOR OTHER GROUPS AND DO NOT PAY IN CASH.

ASK HOW YOUR DONATION WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AND PROOF THAT YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

>> A LOT OF THINGS FOLKS HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR.

TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU'VE COMPILED HERE?

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE RAISING FUNDS FOR PEOPLE IN UKRAINE.

ONE OF THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IS A ST. JOSEPH UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE TO WOUNDED UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS AND SUPPORT CHAPLINS IN BATTLE ZONES AND THE SELF RELIANT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION AND THEY CREATED A RELIEF FUND AND WAIVING WIRE TRANSFER FEES TO UKRAINE AT THIS TIME.

>> WE VISITED BOTH ORGANIZATIONS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ KRISTEN'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

[♪♪♪] >> JAM PRODUCTIONS OF CHICAGO PRODUCED THE FIRST SHOW THAT CONCERT WAS THE BAND WAR AT A SMALL CLUB IN LINCOLN PARK.

SINCE THEN THEY HAVE PRODUCED MORE THAN 37,000 HISTORIC CONCERTS IN CHICAGO AND ALL 50 STATES WITH EVERY ACT FROM THE TEMPTATIONS TO THE ROLLING STONES TO ADELE.

AND JOINING US IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS, JERRY MICHAELSON WHO COFOUNDED JAM IN MARCH OF 1972.

JERRY GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

IN 1972, THE LIVE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS BOOMING LIKE THE WILD WEST.

HOW DID YOU AND AROUND ANY STAKE YOUR CLAIM?

>> IT WASN'T EASY.

THERE WERE TWO LARGE PROMOTERS WHO HAD ALL THE RELATIONSHIPS.

AND SO WE JUST HAD TO BE PERSISTENT AND KEEP CALLING AGENTS AND SITTING IN THEIR OFFICES AND WAITING FOR OUR TURN TO COME UP.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND YOU STARTED AS A SECURITY GUARD COMPANY AND THAT IS HOW YOU LEARNED THE BUSINESS?

>> WE DID.

WE COULDN'T -- WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET ANY SHOWS IN CHICAGO OR PRODUCE ANY BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD SELL TO US.

WE THOUGHT WE'D LEARN THE BUSINESS BY PERFORMING SECURITY SERVICES OF.

AND THAT SECURITY COMPANY STILL EXISTS TODAY.

>> WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT CLASSIC POSTERS FROM JAM'S HISTORY.

YOU'RE KNOWN FOR BRINGING SHOWS TO SOME UNDERUSED, OLD CLASSIC CHICAGO PALACES LIKE THE RIVIERA AND THE ARGONNE.

WHAT WAS YOUR PHILOSOPHY WHERE TO STAGE THE SHOWS?

>> WE WERE ALWAYS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTRIC.

AND THERE WERE CLASSIC, BEAUTIFUL THEATERS IN THOSE PARTS OF TOWN AND SO WE JUST JUMPED ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN THESE GREAT VENUES THAT HADN'T BEEN USED FOR CONCERTS.

WE LIKE TO BE THE FIRST TO DO SOMETHING.

WE LIKE TO BLAZE TRAIL.

>> YOU USED A FARM SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY THE ARTISTS THAT YOU FELT WERE UP-AND-COMING.

START THEM AT A SMALL VENUE AND GRADUATE THEM TO BIGGER VENUES.

TELL US ABOUT THAT PHILOSOPHY?

>> THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE CREATED NO ONE WAS REALLY DOING IT AT THE TIME.

AND THE IDEA WAS TO BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BAND BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE BY TAKING THEM IN A CLUB.

AND WORKING WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREERS AS THEY GREW AS YOU HELPED THEM GROW, THEY WOULD THEN GO FROM THE SMALL CLUB TO THE THEATRE TO THE ARENA AND THEN AT TIMES TO THE STADIUM.

>> AND WE HAVE PHOTOS WITH YOU AND FOLKS LIKE VAN HALEN, THE STONES, HERBIE HANCOCK, THERE YOU ARE WITH EDDIE AND THE GANG THERE AND THERE'S YOU AND MICK JAGGER.

ANY STORIES THAT STAND OUT TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THESE GIGS?

>> THE ONES I CAN TELL?

>> THE ONES YOU REMEMBER AND CAN TELL.

>> I REMEMBER ALL OF THEM.

THE STONES WAS UNIQUE BECAUSE THAT WAS THE SEMINOLE MOMENT FOR OUR COMPANY WHEN THEY CHOSE US TO WORK WITH US AND PRODUCE THEIR SHOW AT SOLDIER FIELD IN 1978 THAT THAT VALIDATED ALL THE THINGS WE HAD BEEN DOING FROM 1972 ON.

THAT WAS AN AMAZING MOMENT THAT WE WERE PROUD OF.

>> WE KNOW THE LAST COUPLE YEARS BECAUSE OF COVID HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR LIVE MUSIC.

WHAT DOES 2022 HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU AND THE SCENE IN GENERAL?

AND BEYOND 2022?

>> WELL, WE WERE SHUTDOWN FOR OVER 18 MONTHS.

THE WHOLE BUSINESS WAS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.

SO NOT ONLY WERE THE VENUES CLOSED AND THE PROMOTERS COULD NOT PRODUCE A SHOW YOU HAD THE BANDS OFF THE ROAD.

SO THEY ARE COMING OUT IN DROVES.

THEY NEED TO -- THEY WANT TO PLAY IN FRONT OF THEIR FANS AND THIS IS HOW THEY EARN THEIR LIVING BY TOURING.

THE NEXT THREE YEARS WILL BE EXTREMELY BUSY WITH MORE CONTENT, MORE TALENT OUT THAN YOU'VE EVER SEEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

>> PENT UP DEMAND AND PENT UP NEED TO WORK.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ARE WORKING ON IS THE UPTOWN THEATRE WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT GOD, WHAT A PALACE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL FANS ABOUT WHEN THAT THEATRE MIGHT REOPEN?

>> SO I'M GETTING CLOSER HOPEFULLY EVERYDAY.

WITH RAISING NECESSARY FUNDING TO RESTORE THAT THEATRE TO THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BACK.

IT IS THE MOST AMAZING MOVIE PALACE BUILT.

THE ART PROTECT SAID NOT FOR TODAY BUT FOR ALL TIME BECAUSE IT WAS SO MAGNIFICENT.

I'M HOPING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, SIX MONTHS, THAT I'LL HAVE THE FUNDING LINED UP AND WE CAN GET GOING WITH CONSTRUCTION.

>> INCREDIBLE CLUSTER OF VENUES WHEN YOU INCLUDE THE ARGONNE AND THE RIVIERA.

WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE PROGRAMMING?

ROCK SHOWS?

A VARIETY?

>> IT WILL BE ALL KINDS OF ROCK MUSIC OR JUST GENERAL GOOD CONCERTS.

BUT DON'T FORGET IN ' 75-81 THERE WERE PLENTY OF NIGHTS THAT WE HAD THE RIV AND THE UPTOWN AND THE ARGONNE GOING BECAUSE WE HAD THE LEASES AT ALL THREE.

WE WERE BUSY ON SOME NIGHTS WITH ALL THREE VENUES BEING OPEN AT THE SAME TIME.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND THE LAST CONCERT THE TOWNSHIP UPTOWN WAS THE J. GEILS BAND IN 81.

THERE WERE TWO BIG PROMOTERS AND THE INDUSTRY HAS CONSOLIDATED INTO THE GIANT CORPORATIONS LIKE LIVE NATION CONTROLLING EVERYTHING.

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR PIECE OF TURF GIVEN THE PRESSURES IN THE INDUSTRY?

>> I'D SAY WE HAVE THE BEST STAFF, THAT KNOWS MUSIC BETTER THAN ANYBODY AT ANY OTHER COMPANY.

AND WE HAVE THE BEST VENUES.

BUT I GOT TO GIVE KUDOS TO OUR STAFF WHO HAVE THE BEST YEARS AROUND ABOUT PICKING NEW TALENT AND ONES THAT WILL DEVELOP INTO SUPERSTARS.

>> AND YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING FROM THE SMALL CLUBS UP TO SOLDIER FIELD AND WRIGLEY FIELD AND OLD COMMISS SKY PARK.

IS IT DIFFICULT TO PUT ON THE BIG CONCERTS AT SOLDIER FIELD, THE ROLLING STONES A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND THE GIANT STADIUM CONCERTS?

>> WELL, NO, NOT FOR US.

FOR US, IT'S JUST STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE WHEN WE ARE DOING AN OUTDOOR SHOW WHETHER IT'S AT WRIGLEY OR SOLDIER OR WHEREVER IT MAY BE.

IT IS A LOT OF PREPARATION.

IT IS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND IT TAKES A GREAT TEAM AND WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF.

SO IT'S EASIER FOR US THAN PROBABLY MANY OTHERS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON 50 YEARS.

HERE IS THE TO THE NEXT 50 AND OUR THANKS TO JERRY MICHAELSON.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

AND COMING UP NEXT ON WTTW, "JAY'S CHICAGO" FEATURING FIVE CHICAGOANS AND THE JOBS THEY LOVE RANGING FROM A PROFESSIONAL DRONE RACER TO A PIONEERING BLACK FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]