Recordings I hear in the men's room of the Dan Ryan's Chicago Grill in Taipei

[Koxinga]

OK, I've got a question for Straight Dope Chicago. You may know that there's a chain of restaurants in Asia called Dan Ryan's Chicago Grill. It has a lot of Chicago themed knick-knacks around, including a large portrait of Dan Ryan, who I understand was a Chicago politician.

Anyway, in the men's room of this restaurant, it plays recordings of vintage TV show themes interspersed with speeches by people I assume were notable Chicago community leaders.

Two in particular stand out to me, and run through my mind at odd times. They both sound like black politicians or church leaders. One of them seems to be a church-style oratory and callback type thing where an older fellow is railing against (I'm guessing) the Vietnam War. Something about how "young men refuse to fight" and sort of a sly, drawling "'Matter of fact it's safe to say . . . they'd rather switch . . . (whoops from the audience) . . . than fight!"

The other sounds like a civic leader addressing other civic people, talking about how is opponents were angry and complaining that he was "coming down to lecture us like we're little boys" and then he shouts "well, if that offends your manhood, then so be it!"

Any idea who these people were?

Also, what do you think about an Asian restaurant being named "Dan Ryan's?"

[Koxinga]

You know what, for the first example I think I conflated the source: It's not from Dan Ryan's but from Public Enemy. But I'm sure I heard the second one there. Anyway.

[kenobi 65]

It looks like the first speaker might be a guy named Thomas "TNT" Todd, a civil rights activist. He apparently made a speech in 1967, which made reference to the then-current ad slogan for Tareyton cigarettes: "Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch!"

[user_hostile]

Originally Posted by kenobi 65

It looks like the first speaker might be a guy named Thomas "TNT" Todd, a civil rights activist. He apparently made a speech in 1967, which made reference to the then-current ad slogan for Tareyton cigarettes: "Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch!"

Flashback! The male models posing would always have a "black" eye which always seemed be some sort of mascara.

[Cheryl44]

What do they serve at Dan Ryan's? Never mind, I just saw a menu.

I'll bet there are people here who would think they named the restaurants after a highway.

[Tim R. Mortiss]

Originally Posted by Cheryl44

I'll bet there are people here who would think they named the restaurants after a highway.

Well if they had named that damned highway after me, I would not take it as a compliment!

[Koxinga]

The food is pretty decent though limited, and definitely expensive. I usually go there for their Sunday brunch menu to partake of their pancakes and/or omelets, or whenever I get a craving for generic American food. Also a decent place to hang out at the bar, chat with the waitresses and read the International Herald Tribune.