Prairie Fire: Season 2 - Episode 2 - October 2024

Remember typewriters? People still use them, you know! We'll meet a young guy in Downer's Grove who is one of Illinois' only typewriter repair professionals. Tinisha Spain has a short doc about the barbershop as an epicenter of social and cultural exchange for Black men. And we'll take you to Leading Men Fiber Arts in Clinton, where the owners have perfected the art of hand-dyed yarn.

Be sure to watch Prairie Fire, the 3rd Thursday of each month, and every story and episode is available online at YouTube and the PBS App!

The Legacy of the Black Barbershop - Champaign, IL

What’s in a haircut? The (black) barbershop has long been a place for men to gather and speak freely out of the earshot of bosses, mothers or wives. A place to go where you leave looking and feeling better than you did when you came in. It’s more than a haircut. It’s culture, it’s community, and it’s often the liveliest place to be on a Saturday morning.

Lucas Dul: Typewriter Repair -  Chicago, IL

 Lucas Dul has been fascinated with buttons and switches since he was a small child.  At age 25, Lucas has his own business called Typewriter Chicago in Downers Grove repairing nearly any kind of typewriter for clients worldwide.

Leading Men Fiber Arts - Clinton, IL

Leading Men Fiber Arts isn’t just a business—it’s a love story woven with color, passion, and creativity. In Clinton, IL, Steve and Andy hand-dye yarn, hoping to spark joy in their clients, embrace community, and build a dream together. Dive into their colorful world.