Motorola executive Martin Cooper was standing on Sixth Avenue just blocks from Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan on April 3, 1973 — 50 years ago today — when he dialed his Chicago-built cellphone prototype.

Kori Rumore brings her encyclopedic knowledge of all things Chicago to share the Windy City connections to this historic event and some of the inspirations behind Motorola's iconic "brick phone".

Subscribe to the Vintage Tribune and get Chicago history to your inbox every Thursday.

Motorola executive Martin Cooper was standing on Sixth Avenue just blocks from Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan on April 3, 1973 — 50 years ago today — when he dialed his Chicago-built cellphone prototype.
Kori Rumore brings her encyclopedic knowledge of all things Chicago to share the Windy City connections to this historic event and some of the inspirations behind Motorola's iconic "brick phone".
<a href="https://membership.chicagotribune.com/newsletters/subscribe/lid/2d8200fe-eefd-4f1d-bcaa-26a0ce79a461">Subscribe</a> to the Vintage Tribune and get Chicago history to your inbox every Thursday.

Steve Cochran rings the morning bell and gets your day started right. Featuring the best guests, the best interviews, and the best conversation, Steve Cochran is talking about what’s happening in your world. Smart, informative and (occasionally) funny, The Steve Cochran Show cuts through all the noise and brings you real talk radio every weekday from 5:30-9am on 890 WLS.

Steve Cochran rings the morning bell and gets your day started right. Featuring the best guests, the best interviews, and the best conversation, Steve Cochran is talking about what’s happening in your world. Smart, informative and (occasionally) funny, The Steve Cochran Show cuts through all the noise and brings you real talk radio every weekday from 5:30-9am on 890 WLS.

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Steve Cochran rings the morning bell and gets your day started right. Featuring the best guests, the best interviews, and the best conversation, Steve Cochran is talking about what&rsquo;s happening in your world. Smart, informative and (occasionally) funny, The Steve Cochran Show cuts through all the noise and brings you real talk radio every weekday from 5:30-9am on 890 WLS.