Who's the artificial Christmas tree king? Meet Si Spiegel, a Jewish kid from New York with a remarkable, improbable Christmas story. Si's story was first brought to light by Laurie Gwen Shapiro in her 2021 New York Timesfeature, "He Bombed the Nazis, Outwitted the Soviets, and Modernized Christmas."

Laurie Gwen Shapiro kindly shared her extensive notes for this episode. Her next book, The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage That Made an American Icon, will be published by Viking in July 2025. Learn more at LaurieGwenShapiro.com.

ANOTHER VERY SPECIAL THANKS

Kevin C. Fitzpatrick is author of World War One New York and 7 other books tied to New York City history. Kevin's also a public historian and veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Learn more at FitzpatrickAuthor.com.

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VERY SPECIAL CREDITS 
Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Dave Roos
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington and Josh Fisher
Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Research and Fact Checking by Dave Roos and Austin Thompson
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English


Want to listen to other VSEs written by Dave Roos? Check out 'The Shot' (episode 16) and 'The Pledge' (episode 4). If you're enjoying the show and want to do something nice this holiday season, leave us a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform. You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. 

Who's the artificial Christmas tree king? Meet Si Spiegel, a Jewish kid from New York with a remarkable, improbable Christmas story. Si's story was first brought to light by Laurie Gwen Shapiro in her 2021 New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/17/nyregion/bomber-pilot-christmas-trees.html">feature</a>, "He Bombed the Nazis, Outwitted the Soviets, and Modernized Christmas."
Laurie Gwen Shapiro kindly shared her extensive notes for this episode. Her next book, The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage That Made an American Icon, will be published by Viking in July 2025. Learn more at <a href="LaurieGwenShapiro.com">LaurieGwenShapiro.com</a>. ANOTHER VERY SPECIAL THANKS
<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffitzpatrickauthor.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CJasonEnglish%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd96d1d791d784de5cc2808dd212d05ec%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638703199449515518%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Tp70ybxMQQ5yX4sroOZhhgsoUX2QIWkFeGnBiR3s%2F0k%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-outlook-id="9bb19f8e-3545-4514-a8dc-ab92c93a5085">Kevin C. Fitzpatrick</a>&nbsp;is author of <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffitzpatrickauthor.com%2Fbooks%2Fworld-war-i-new-york-a-guide-to-the-citys-enduring-ties-to-the-great-war%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CJasonEnglish%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd96d1d791d784de5cc2808dd212d05ec%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638703199449538539%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=jZgenGtHKYCHKLkIIaMK3Wwh3d0uBaf7fylr9WhqlrA%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-outlook-id="c00066fd-ed12-4e58-ab76-e09fc0fb2a60">World War One New York</a> and 7 other books tied to New York City history. Kevin's also a public historian and veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Learn more at <a href="FitzpatrickAuthor.com">FitzpatrickAuthor.com</a>.
*&nbsp;
VERY SPECIAL CREDITS&nbsp; Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Dave Roos Produced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington and Josh Fisher Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier Original Music by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.elisemccoy.com">Elise McCoy</a> Research and Fact Checking by Dave Roos and Austin Thompson Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English 
Want to listen to other VSEs written by Dave Roos? Check out 'The Shot' (episode 16) and 'The Pledge' (episode 4). If you're enjoying the show and want to do something nice this holiday season, leave us a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform. You can reach us at <a href="mailto:veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com">veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com</a>.&nbsp;

An Artificial Christmas

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7efa5787-3fcb-4c1a-ac5f-b24c0004da7b/transcript

Things come to a head in Hailey as Bruce Willis enlists the help of a rogue security force to chase unwanted visitors out of town. Soon, a life-altering event threatens to end the love affair between Willis and Hailey.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Things come to a head in Hailey as Bruce Willis enlists the help of a rogue security force to chase unwanted visitors out of town. Soon, a life-altering event threatens to end the love affair between Willis and Hailey. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Episode 8: Until Further Notice

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e4ff65bb-97d8-4c92-b7fe-ae39005148bf/transcript

Hailey, Idaho isn’t the only small town Bruce Willis wants to remake. He sets his sights on Penn's Grove, New Jersey, his actual hometown, and promises big things to come for the economically-strapped region. But red tape and negative press threaten to leave the town with a broken heart—and leave Hailey wondering if they’re still on Willis’ good side.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Hailey, Idaho isn’t the only small town Bruce Willis wants to remake. He sets his sights on Penn's Grove, New Jersey, his actual hometown, and promises big things to come for the economically-strapped region. But red tape and negative press threaten to leave the town with a broken heart—and leave Hailey wondering if they’re still on Willis’ good side. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Episode 7: Homecoming

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/003d65a3-9375-4d4e-a82e-ae390051714f/transcript

Willis announces he’s starring in and producing a major feature film - a Kurt Vonnegut adaptation - that will be shot in the state of Idaho. He even gives some local actors their big screen breaks. But in a bid to retain almost complete creative control, Willis upends both his career and the lives of his Idahoan neighbors.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Willis announces he’s starring in and producing a major feature film - a Kurt Vonnegut adaptation - that will be shot in the state of Idaho. He even gives some local actors their big screen breaks. But in a bid to retain almost complete creative control, Willis upends both his career and the lives of his Idahoan neighbors. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Episode 6: A Bruce Willis Production

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/968c7ec1-83f2-4f54-bf4a-ae3900514e54/transcript

Small town bureaucracy slows Willis’ ambitions, the police go after his inner circle and some Hailey residents are just saying no to Bruce. When lawsuits start popping up, Willis steps out of the shadows and flexes his political muscle. It turns into a statewide battle when the federal government proposes dumping nuclear waste 60 miles away from Hailey.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Small town bureaucracy slows Willis’ ambitions, the police go after his inner circle and some Hailey residents are just saying no to Bruce. When lawsuits start popping up, Willis steps out of the shadows and flexes his political muscle. It turns into a statewide battle when the federal government proposes dumping nuclear waste 60 miles away from Hailey. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Episode 5: Citizen Willis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/da20737e-70af-4449-ae1a-ae3900520a77/transcript

Bruce Willis opens his biggest investment in Hailey yet—the two-story Mint bar and nightclub. Major acts draw modest crowds, but the real attraction is Willis and his band, who show up unannounced and rock long into the night. But having a major nightlife hotspot in the sleepy town leads to some big city problems, problems that leave some wondering where did the real Hailey go?

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Bruce Willis opens his biggest investment in Hailey yet—the two-story Mint bar and nightclub. Major acts draw modest crowds, but the real attraction is Willis and his band, who show up unannounced and rock long into the night. But having a major nightlife hotspot in the sleepy town leads to some big city problems, problems that leave some wondering where did the real Hailey go? Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Episode 4: Mint Condition

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/030e32a4-9973-4ea8-a80e-ae390052662b/transcript

Willis ventured into big business with his gimmicky Planet Hollywood franchise, but after being a quiet Hailey resident for several years, Willis buys and renovates a restaurant and bar, and soon an old movie theater. When blockbuster Hollywood premieres start happening on Hailey's main street, residents soon realize that Willis' persona casts a big shadow.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Willis ventured into big business with his gimmicky Planet Hollywood franchise, but after being a quiet Hailey resident for several years, Willis buys and renovates a restaurant and bar, and soon an old movie theater. When blockbuster Hollywood premieres start happening on Hailey's main street, residents soon realize that Willis' persona casts a big shadow. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Episode 3: Planet Haileywood

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b0924094-1fd4-4778-99ac-ae3900522063/transcript

An incident involving an angry Willis and even angrier police officers prompts the star to rethink his life in the spotlight. Just when Willis has had enough, an accident opens the door to a different life in Hailey, Idaho.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

An incident involving an angry Willis and even angrier police officers prompts the star to rethink his life in the spotlight. Just when Willis has had enough, an accident opens the door to a different life in Hailey, Idaho. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Episode 2: Welcome to the Party, Pal

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/64bb350c-a958-49db-83e3-ae390052da9a/transcript

As one of the most famous movie stars in the world, there aren’t many places Bruce Willis can feel comfortable. He decides to exit Los Angeles and seek solace in a tiny Idaho town in the hopes he can blend in as a regular guy. But can anyone thirty feet tall on movie screens ever seem small?

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

As one of the most famous movie stars in the world, there aren’t many places Bruce Willis can feel comfortable. He decides to exit Los Angeles and seek solace in a tiny Idaho town in the hopes he can blend in as a regular guy. But can anyone thirty feet tall on movie screens ever seem small? Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Episode 1: His Own Private Idaho

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c22a0a10-5c34-458d-9c90-ae390053033d/transcript

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Introducing: Haileywood

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1cb864cd-0175-4685-8e45-ae39005319df/transcript

Onscreen, Bruce Willis dodged bullets and explosions in Die Hard and countless action films, making him the biggest movie star of the ‘90s. Offscreen, he dodged the tabloid press and became so determined to live a private life he moved to one of the smallest towns in Idaho. But he didn’t just want to live in Hailey — he wanted to transform it. Soon, this sleepy old mining town was home to a culture clash between Hollywood spectacle and small-town values, with real-life secret rooms, car chases, and betrayal worthy of a Willis thriller. Welcome to Haileywood. Host Dana Schwartz will be your guide.

Haileywood

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