In the early 1980s, the Old Town School came the closest it ever has to shutting its doors. How did they manage to stay open? Escucha la historia en la segunda parte de la serie La Peña. In this episode we hear stories--en inglés y español--from Juan Díes, Jim Hirsch, Michael Miles and Roberto Arce, alongside música latina from the archives.

Original recordings featured in this episode (in order of occurrence):- Interview with Juan Díes & Luis Jahn at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 909 W Armitage Ave, 06/14/2019- StoryCorps conversation between Jim Hirsch & Skip Landt, 7/6/2017 at the StoryCorps booth in the Chicago Cultural Center- “Adiós la Mio Vaca Pinta” performed by Llan de Cubel, live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 9/22/1999- StoryCorps conversation between Michael Miles & Skip Landt, 10/20/2017 at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N Lincoln Ave- Phone interview with Roberto Arce, 6/7/19 (tape sync courtesy of Adrian Alcantar)- “Pajarillo” performed by Tribus Futuras, live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, 3/20/2002

This podcast series on La Peña was supported by a grant from the Illinois Digital Archive. Access more audio and video recordings from the La Peña concert series at: http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll9/search/Website: www.oldtownschool.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/OTSArchivesInstagram: @archivespodcast