How do you save a historic theater, keep legendary artists coming back — and build a life around "music and meatballs"?
Ron Onesti, President & CEO of Onesti Entertainment, joins Hogpod as the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Ron tells the story of driving out to the Arcada 25 years ago, finding a dumpster out front and discovering the theater was being gutted for offices. He had no money, started making what he calls "stupid offers," and somehow began a journey that would transform the Arcada into one of Chicagoland's most distinctive live music venues.
Then he did it again — helping bring the condemned, fire-damaged Des Plaines Theatre back to life.
But this episode is about more than buildings.
Ron explains why relationships can matter more than money when booking artists, why George Thorogood calls the Arcada "home," what really goes into an artist rider, and why one performer told him coming there was "like going to my aunt's house for dinner."
And yes, there are meatballs.
We also get into Neil Sedaka's six pairs of black socks, Paul Anka rewriting "My Way" for Ron's birthday, Brian Wilson's years in St. Charles, the growing competition for touring acts, aging rock legends, tribute bands, and what it takes to keep live music alive.
The timing couldn't be better: the Arcada Theatre turns 100 on September 6, 2026, with a centennial celebration featuring Priscilla Presley, Chubby Checker, a Ferris Bueller's Day Off parade recreation, thousands of people doing the Twist, and a History of Rock 'n' Roll show.
🎶 NEW MUSIC
"Ron Onesti's Meatballs" — our Dean Martin-style tribute to Ron's favorite combination: music and meatballs.
https://open.spotify.com/album/2821lRz13s1pVxUpxf5AAV
🎧 MORE HOGPOD MUSIC ON SPOTIFY
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2QtmZydAIuDFTsbgOxqr7f
🎯 KEY MOMENTS
00:00 Music & meatballs
02:00 Meet Ron Onesti
02:42 A dumpster outside the Arcada changes everything
04:14 The condemned Des Plaines Theatre
05:38 Rebuilding during COVID
09:18 Meatballs, Taylor Street & Sunday gravy
12:20 George Thorogood: "I'll always come back here"
13:34 Neil Sedaka's six pairs of black socks
14:43 "It's like going to my aunt's house for dinner"
15:46 "You set the bar"
17:14 "My life is all about music and meatballs"
20:40 Celebrating the Arcada's centennial
21:34 September 6: the 100th anniversary parade
22:34 The History of Rock 'n' Roll
26:32 The challenge of booking aging legends
28:44 "The music has become bigger than the people"
35:04 "It's 150% relationship based"
40:17 The artists Ron still gets excited to book
41:04 "Uncle Paul" Anka rewrites "My Way"
42:12 Brian Wilson in St. Charles
49:48 The Onesti formula: make it feel like home
📍 TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE
Ron Onesti - Arcada Theatre - Arcada 100th Anniversary - Des Plaines Theatre - Chicago music - Chicagoland music scene - live music - concert promotion - George Thorogood - Priscilla Presley - Chubby Checker - Brian Wilson - Paul Anka - Neil Sedaka - music and meatballs
🎤 FEATURED LINKS
Arcada Theatre 100th Anniversary + Events
https://www.arcadalive.com/events
Des Plaines Theatre
https://desplainestheatre.com
Onesti Entertainment
https://oshows.com
Backstage with Ron Onesti
https://www.arcadalive.com/blog/category/backstage-with-ron-onesti
Regina Karma — Sunday Music with Regina Karma
Sundays at 5 PM at Capri of Willow Springs
Mike Dermont + FRICTION
Friction Fest — October 24 at The Broken Oar
❤️ SUPPORT HOGPOD
https://www.patreon.com/hogpod
🎙️ Hosted by Pete Jansons with Mike Dermont and Regina Karma
📞 BOOKING
booking@hogpod.org
#Hogpod #ChicagoPodcast #MusicPodcast #RonOnesti #ArcadaTheatre #Arcada100 #DesPlainesTheatre #ChicagoMusic #ChicagolandMusic #MusicAndMeatballs
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