WTTW's "Chicago Stories" returns with 4 new documentaries

Why it matters: At a time when local media outlets are being asked to do more with less, "Chicago Stories" remains one of the few television programs devoting serious time and resources to digging into Chicago's past.

• And for history nerds like us, that's worth celebrating.

Between the lines: The series doesn't just revisit the greatest hits of this city's history. Its best episodes uncover overlooked stories, dig through archives and introduce viewers to Chicagoans whose impact on the city has largely faded from public memory.

What's happening: The four-episode season kicks off Friday with a look at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, exploring the enormous undertaking of building the fair, its lasting innovations and the infamous serial killer who operated on its outskirts.

What's next: The rest of the season is a wonderfully Chicago collection of subjects:

• Oct. 9: "Toy Town" explores Chicago's once-mighty toy industry, which gave the world Tinkertoys, Radio Flyer wagons and Beanie Babies.
• Oct. 16: "Skyscrapers" examines the architects, innovations and ambition behind our world-famous skyline.
• Oct. 23: "Home of the Irish" tells the story of Irish immigrants who faced poverty and prejudice before building neighborhoods, parishes and one of the city's most powerful political machines.

The bottom line: "Chicago Stories" has carved out a valuable niche by doing something increasingly rare in local television: slowing down and giving the city's history an hour to breathe.

How to watch: "Chicago Stories" airs Fridays at 8pm.