A New Chapter: Sam Sianis

Aug 4, 2015 | Billy Goat Curse, Michigan Avenue, Sam Sianis

Around the time Billy Sianis opened the Billy Goat Inn, miles away his nephew, Sam Sianis, was born in a little village in Greece. He would grow to become a strong, dedicated, loyal, and hardworking adult. At 19 years old, he would take those attributes to pursue a life in America working with his Uncle at the Tavern. When Billy dies in October 1970, Sam would take over and become one of Chicago’s finest and a legend in his own right. Raised on goat’s milk….it must be in his blood.

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Billy Goat’s First Appearance in the Newspaper

Jun 19, 2015 | Billy Goat Curse, Madison, Michigan Avenue

The first time Billy Goat appears in print is on June 19, 1938, in the Tribune: “One great personality in Our Town is a goat.” It isn’t much, just a couple of paragraphs, the first item in a column called “Our Town.” It tells of the tavern and details Billy’s trouble getting a copy of his U.S. citizenship papers because the photo he sent to Washington no longer resembles the 22-year-old, whiskerless picture that has been on file since 1916. “Billy could solve it right away with a shave, but he just can’t bring himself to do it,” the anonymous columnist writes.

That the columnist has no byline is not unusual. That’s the way it is in these days, when bylines have to be earned, sometimes over years of writing stories. But the writer is well-acquainted with Billy and his tavern. That’s the way it is in these days, too. Newspapers and booze have been joined at the hip for at least a couple of centuries, and few places ever provided as comforting a home for the press as the Billy Goat.

A Chicago Tavern: A Goat, a Curse, and the American Dream – By Rick Kogan
https://www.billygoattavern.com/souvenirs/index.php/all-products/book-a-chicago-tavern.html

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