Milwaukee's Greatest Cultural Export

[HouWarrior]

This is really difficult topic, as it is defined. I am not going to research whether any of this or these people meet your criteria. Folks don't associate Spencer Tracy or Golda Meir with Milwaukee.

Not being in Milwaukee for a long time....I get to hear from outliers what they associate or credit Milwaukee with around the country, Here is what I've mostly heard.

What is Milwaukee known for around the country and the world?
Beer
Cheese
Sausage
Germans/pro German sentiment (yes..pre WWII)

Big machine shops, heavy manufacturing- Harley Davidson, Briggs & Stratton, Milwaukee Tool, Harnishfeger (sp?)

Happy Days/Laverne&Shirley /That 70s Show

George Speidel/Milwaukee  Zoo Set the stage for natural diorama animal presentation in zoos worldwide

Mitchell Domes Unique Urban effort at Horticultural study and presentation and Milorganite

Socialist Mayors--- yes socialism functioned successfully in the running of a US City

Summerfest-- yes its known fairly broadly

Architecture: The new art center, Annuciation Greek Orthodox church (FL Wright), and City Hall (see laverne and Shirley)

People?
In older days:
Houdini
Hildegard
Alfred Lund
Fighting Bob Lafollette/progressivism
Joe McCarthy/ McCarthyism
Generals Arthur MacArthur, Douglas MacArthur, Billy Mitchell (most outliers know of that because of airport name)

Teddy Roosevelt/Geo Wallace shootings , and yes Jeff Dahmer

The Brewers, Robin Yount, Bud Selig Bob Uecker

The Bucks, Lew Alcindor, Oscar Robertsons championship, Don Nelson, Sidney moncrief.etc

Marquette, BB, Al McGuire D. Wade

Your lists of the other uber famous sometimes comes up...or, respectfully, and more often I will point it out.

The general impression is:

Clean city, friendly people, lots of parks, River and Lakefront areas are nice. Cold winters Beautiful summers Lots of Bars Almost all have nice things to say.

To me that is the "influence" of the city...and its generally quite favorable  Kudos

[Eldon]

Fighting Pittsburgh for the title of the nation's best blue-collar city

[GGGG]

People?
In older days:
Houdini
Hildegard
Alfred Lund
Fighting Bob Lafollette/progressivism
Joe McCarthy/ McCarthyism
Generals Arthur MacArthur, Douglas MacArthur, Billy Mitchell (most outliers know of that because of airport name)
[/quote]

Houdini is from Appleton
Hildegard is from New Holstein, but did some time at Marquette
Bob LaFollette is from the Madison area
Arthur McArthur is from Milwaukee, but Doug really isn't
Joe McCarthy is also from Appleton, but of course graduated from Marquette
Alfred Lunt...yes.

[HouWarrior]

People?
In older days:
Houdini
Hildegard
Alfred Lund
Fighting Bob Lafollette/progressivism
Joe McCarthy/ McCarthyism
Generals Arthur MacArthur, Douglas MacArthur, Billy Mitchell (most outliers know of that because of airport name)


Houdini is from Appleton
Hildegard is from New Holstein, but did some time at Marquette
Bob LaFollette is from the Madison area
Arthur McArthur is from Milwaukee, but Doug really isn't
Joe McCarthy is also from Appleton, but of course graduated from Marquette
Alfred Lunt...yes.

Reading my post....I explained...up front... that I would make no effort to research the odd Milwaukee centric rule compliance . So...sorry there.

Les Paul is about as much Milwaukee as Orson Welles, though.

The person who qualifies best  on the Milwaukee raised criteria of most culturally influencing has been almost ignored (save one unresponded post) is Oprah.
Our culture especially for women has been impacted by Oprah way way more than any other person on the lists...and yes she was raised in Milwaukee.

[GooooMarquette]

Reading my post....I explained...up front... that I would make no effort to research the odd Milwaukee centric rule compliance . So...sorry there.

Les Paul is about as much Milwaukee as Orson Welles, though.

The person who qualifies best  on the Milwaukee raised criteria of most culturally influencing has been almost ignored (save one unresponded post) is Oprah.
Our culture especially for women has been impacted by Oprah way way more than any other person on the lists...and yes she was raised in Milwaukee.

How many years did Oprah actually live in Milwaukee?

Just by a quick search, it looks like she moved there from Mississippi when she was 6 (1960), and then moved to Nashville when she was 8 (1962).  Can't quite tell from Wiki exactly where she went next (maybe back to MKE for a bit??), but they talk a lot more about Nashville than Milwaukee.

[warriorchick]

The person who qualifies best  on the Milwaukee raised criteria of most culturally influencing has been almost ignored (save one unresponded post) is Oprah.
Our culture especially for women has been impacted by Oprah way way more than any other person on the lists...and yes she was raised in Milwaukee.

Oprah spent a significant amount of her childhood in Nashville-perhaps as much time (or more) as she she spent in Milwaukee.  I am pretty sure she considers Nashville her home town.

[warriorchick]

How many years did Oprah actually live in Milwaukee?

Just by a quick search, it looks like she moved there from Mississippi when she was 6 (1960), and then moved to Nashville when she was 8 (1962).  Can't quite tell from Wiki exactly where she went next (maybe back to MKE for a bit??), but they talk a lot more about Nashville than Milwaukee.

Jinx.  From what I can tell, Oprah does not look back on her time in Milwaukee very fondly.  She live in a very rough part of town, her mother did not provide a stable home.  She was sexually molested by relatives.  She went to Nicolet High School as part of Upward Bound, where she was mocked and bullied because of her poverty.  When she went back to live with her father in Nashville, she really blossomed.

[muwarrior69]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Milwaukee

Everyone and Anyone connected to Milwaukee

[jsglow]

There is no reason why either fish fries or brandy old fashioneds should have died off years ago.

Hasn't died with chick and I.  Anytime we find a supper club north of the cheddar curtain on Friday when we get an opportunity to return to God's country.

[Eldon]

Arguably the world's foremost economist, Raj Chetty, spent quite a bit of time in Milwaukee.  Not sure how we are defining "raised."  He was born in India, but I believe moved to Milwaukee as a kid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raj_Chetty

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/renowned-economist-chetty-draws-on-his-expiences-as-former-area-resident-b99135781z1-230742771.html

He has a LONG list of accomplishments (all while under 40), yet still lists University School of Milwaukee on his CV.

[Eldon]

Hasn't died with chick and I.  Anytime we find a supper club north of the cheddar curtain on Friday when we get an opportunity to return to God's country.

Love it!  The lookout tower of which, would be the Mars Cheese Castle, I suppose.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Beer, brats & bowling.

[keefe]

a supper club

Uniquely Wisconsin

[ChicosBailBonds]

Tony Romo

[Dr. Blackheart]

Hasn't died with chick and I.  Anytime we find a supper club north of the cheddar curtain on Friday when we get an opportunity to return to God's country.

List? 

Some of mine right over the Cheddar Curtain in SE Wisconsin.

Of course the one closest to MU is 5 O'Clock/Koerpers, Hob Nob in Racine, Stagecoach Inn near Ft. Atkinson.

[Sir Lawrence]

List? 

Are you familiar with the "holy land" area of Fond du Lac and Calumet counties?  So called because of the number of religious named towns?
(Calvary, Mt. Calvary, Marytown, St. Anna, St. Cloud)?  Loads of supper clubs:

http://www.travelcalumet.com/i/f/files/Supper%20Club%20Fish%20Fry%20Map%202013.pdf

I recommend Blanck's and Schwarz's.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Found this...great documentary listed.

http://www.wisconsinsupperclubs.net

[Goose]

Sir

You beat me to the punch. Brooks Stevens most definitely belongs on that list. He really was special and love looking at his work.

[Benny B]

Reading my post....I explained...up front... that I would make no effort to research the odd Milwaukee centric rule compliance . So...sorry there.

Les Paul is about as much Milwaukee as Orson Welles, though.

The person who qualifies best  on the Milwaukee raised criteria of most culturally influencing has been almost ignored (save one unresponded post) is Oprah.
Our culture especially for women has been impacted by Oprah way way more than any other person on the lists...and yes she was raised in Milwaukee.

I saw your disclaimer, but I think you're missing the point... It's not about spreading Milwaukee's influence or who/what is most associated with Milwaukee, but who/what - that originated in Milwaukee - went on to have the greatest cultural impact on society.  Part of the fun is that many people don't know these people, inventions, product, etc. are from Milwaukee.

As to Oprah, the response was simple... she was not predominantly raised in Milwaukee.  Moreover, as mentioned, I'm sure she wouldn't consider Milwaukee anything more than a transitional period in her life.

[HouWarrior]

I saw your disclaimer, but I think you're missing the point... It's not about spreading Milwaukee's influence or who/what is most associated with Milwaukee, but who/what - that originated in Milwaukee - went on to have the greatest cultural impact on society.  Part of the fun is that many people don't know these people, inventions, product, etc. are from Milwaukee.

As to Oprah, the response was simple... she was not predominantly raised in Milwaukee.  Moreover, as mentioned, I'm sure she wouldn't consider Milwaukee anything more than a transitional period in her life.

Oh My.
Well , you have patrolled and arbitrated the other responses as sole owner and ruler of the thread....all hail to your Threadness. I'll move on,sir