A Chicago Tavern: A Goat, a Curse, and the American Dream

by Rick Kogan

In the summer of 1934, a baby goat fell off a truck, limped into a tavern owned by Greek immigrant William Sianis, and a Chicago icon was born. The Billy Goat Inn became a haven for newspaper reporters, policemen, politicians, and anyone else drawn to the hospitality and showmanship of hardworking “Billy Goat” Sianis and his often antic, uniquely comforting establishment. But did Billy jinx the Cubs? When he and one of his goats were barred from entering Wrigley Field during the 1945 World Series, the Cubs’ eventual loss to Detroit fueled a legend as enduring as their fans’ “Wait ’til next year” mantra. Today there are eight Billy Goat Taverns, including one in Washington, D.C., and Billy’s nephew, Sam Sianis—a celebrity in his own right—oversees what U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois called “a national institution.”

Rick Kogan’s affectionate tale plunks you down at a barstool next to some of the Billy Goat’s regulars, visitors, employees, and such luminaries as columnist Mike Royko, and those young stars—John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Don Novello—who immortalized Sam and the tavern in the Saturday Night Live Olympia Diner (“Cheezborger, Cheezborger! No fries . . . chips!”) skits.

"I remember . . . I miss . . . ,” someone will say, and names and faces begin to float through the tavern air. . .In these echoes and images Kogan reminds us why the American tavern is still the friendliest place in town and offers his toast to a Chicago original.

Author Rick Kogan is a Chicago newspaperman.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

115 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Simon Robs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrate the Goat!

[Sean O · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely little book about one of the most famous bars in America.

It is warm and heartfelt and delightful. The history of the Billy Goat taverns are entwined with the history of the Cubs and the history of Chicago's newspapers.

Recommended to all Chicagoans.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely memoir of Chicago's legendary Billy Goat Tavern, by one of its loyal denizens.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never really understood what the curse on the Cubs was all about except that it involved a goat. Now I understand it totally and I cannot believe that as years past and opportunities for the Cubs to win championships came about, the goat was still turned away from the stadium! An interesting book. Anyone that is familiar with Chicago would find this book very enjoyable!

[Reverenddave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greatest bar in the world.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is about The Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago. It tells about the people who ran it and the people who went to the tavern. It talks about the Billy Goat curse to the Chicago Cubs

[Matt Erion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think my Mom gave me this as a gift. I grew up around newspapers, but didn’t work in Chicago. I’ve been to the Goat many times. It was a pleasant, breezy read.

[Patrick Pilz · Rating 4 out of 5]

with the Cubs winning the world series in 2016, the curse is finally broken. Whether you believe in superstition, or just like good Cheezborger, this is the story of a legendary restaurant.

Americas 2nd City is a great place to it, but underneath Michigan Avenue, right next to the river on Hubbard Street you find this Tavern server great burgers, cheap beers, Chips no fries and no Pepsi, Coke.

This is a short an highly illustrated read, which you can probably digest on any plane ride into the windy city, barely making it a book. Still interesting to have a little background on the curse and the story of the Billy Goat.

[Mike Smolarek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only been to the Billy Goat Tavern a few times. Most of what I know is from the columns of Mike Royko. Rick Kogan paints a great picture of the Billy Goat and its owners, Billy Sianis and Sam Siani, regulars, including Royko and other newsmen, and the regular joes any neighborhood tavern needs to survive. It was hard not to head down to lower Michigan Avenue and head to the Goat when I finished the book. For anyone who has a favorite tavern, bar or watering hole, or anyone who wants to know the truth behind Cheezebourger, Cheezebourger, this is a good read.

[Marlena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I saw it on the Chicago adult summer reading list. I read this book very quickly. I found it to be very interesting. I learned some interesting facts about this very famous tavern. I will always remember my dad taking me to this place when I was a little kid. That was a really fun day. I loved the black and white photos in the book. This was definitely a fun Chicago read.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea of a book told in a folksy, have-a-story kind of way - but the entire thing was in present tense, which led to a lot of confusion for me when the author jumped back and forth in time from one paragraph to the next.

Still, taverns! Goats! The Cubs! Mike Royko! ♥ Chicago ♥

[Stan Bartkus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bar-flies view of social-psychology inside Chicago's loop over several decades.

The results parallel "The Seasons of a Man's Life" by Levinson. You get to understand how people you might recognize have changed over the last several decades.

I really enjoyed it on that wavelength and also 'History of Chicago' as I've only been here since 2005.

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read and fun for any fan of Chicago and the legendary Billy Goat Tavern. It will be enjoyed by those of us who like a little "fun" Chicago history.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is written factually, like a newspaper. Lots of pictures. Quick read.

[John Barnicle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read - nice brief history of yhe Billy Goat, the Cubs, the Curse, old newspaper writers, and Chicago in general.

[Peter Nickeas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and easy read. Lots of nostalgia. Good book. Not much has changed there, it seems.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little reminiscence of the Billy Goat's history. Interesting without being cheap or sentimental and informative without being dry or overly structured.