Celebrating 20 Years!

Celebrating 20 Years!


The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Bradley University (OLLI) is a group of more than 1,000 individuals, age 50 and over, who learn together through three distinct programs: OLLI Classes, OLLI Learning Trips, and OLLI Study Groups.

Here, members can discuss what they learned, what they enjoyed, and offer suggestions to enhance future program offerings.

Take a look at the photos we're taking, and the discussions we're having as OLLI members.

Whether we're in class, in town, or out of town ... we're on the go, having fun, and constantly learning.


We look forward to reading your comments!

While you're online, be sure to visit our website www.bradley.edu/continue/olli to register for our programs.

Don't forget -- OLLI has its own YouTube Channel, where you can see video clips of Learning Trips, Classes, and Study Groups!

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Friday, March 6, 2009

Chicago Gangster Tour -- March 4, 2009



Nearly 90 people headed for Chicago at 6:30 a.m. on March 4 for the largest learning trip in OLLI history!

Upon arrival in the Windy City, each charter coach (we had two!) was boarded by an Untouchable Tour step-on guide dressed in Prohibition-era clothes and carrying a concealed "shotgun." The tour guides, "Big Julie" and "Matches," delighted our group with a two-hour tour of Chicago, giving us the inside scoop on 1920s politics, gangster feuds, and the exploits of some of the city's famous mobsters.

As we drove past landmarks such as Holy Name Cathederal, Big Julie and Matches told stories about the Northsiders (Deanie O'Bannion, Hymie Weiss, and Bugs Moran) and Southsiders (Johnny Torrio, Big Jim Colosimo, and Al Capone), as well as the worst mafia murder in Chicago history, the St. Valentine's Day massacre.

After the tour, the OLLI group headed to Tommy Gun's Garage, a speakeasy dinner theater, for lunch and a show. Our host, Vito, led a musical comedy revue that featured gangsters, flappers, and OLLI members on stage. We were even "raided" by the cops ... and some of our members were taken on stage for an interactive "sobriety test" and radio show.

OLLI headed back home to Peoria around 4 p.m., our bellies full of delicious prime rib, and our heads full of gangster lore.

For more information about Untouchable Tours and Tommy Gun's Garage, please visit www.gangstertour.com and www.tommygunsgarage.com.
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1 comment:

  1. Ray KApril 24, 2009 at 9:19 AM

    'twould be nice to be able to slow down the slideshow a bit. my old eyes can't see the pic & read the caption b4 they change.

    R

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