Illinois To this day, Illinois has never been mentioned specifically by a character in such a way that eliminates the possibility of Odyssey residing there.

 

 

Chicago is mentioned countless times on Adventures in Odyssey. John Avery Whittaker travels to Chicago, and several other characters make trips to Chicago as well. However, the state of Illinois is never mentioned. Likewise, no evidence proves that Odyssey cannot be located in Illinois. In Connie, a voice on a speaker at the bus station calls out that a bus to Chicago will be leaving soon. This indicates that one can ride a bus to Chicago. Whit tells Connie and Eugene in Let This Mind Be In You that he is leaving Odyssey for a few days to attend board meetings at Universal Press in Chicago. A con artist named Phil Phillips from Chicago arrives in Odyssey to make a quick buck off the town's citizens in By Any Other Name. In One Bad Apple, a public relations employee at Edgebiter Chemical Company states that the company manufactures insecticide products in Chicago. In Train Ride, Whit and Eugene board an Amtrak train in Chicago and head home to Odyssey. No state is mentioned. In Where There's a Will... George Barclay mentions that his boss's boss is at a meeting in Chicago and he will arrive at the Barclays' house for dinner. It can be assumed that one can make a trip to or from Chicago in less than a day. The episode Waylaid in the Windy City sheds some light on Chicago's distance from Odyssey. Connie and Whit fly from Odyssey to Chicago's O'Hare Airport, so it can be assumed that Odyssey is at least a flight's distance away from Odyssey. Also, Connie admits that she has only ever seen Chicago from a bus window. In Unto Us a Child Is Born, Katrina Shanks Meltsner mentions that she will be making the drive to Chicago to be with her family during their Christmas Day brunch. The downside is that she has to leave early enough Christmas Day to be there on time for it. On the other hand, she lives close enough to Chicago that she can make the trip and be at her destination all on the same day. In other words, Odyssey isn't so far that you can't drive to Chicago in less than a day. In New Year's Eve Live!, Harlow Doyle accidentally gets on a bus headed to Chicago shortly before midnight. When he asks the bus driver what time they will arrive, the driver says "around 8:30 tomorrow morning."  Therefore, Odyssey has to be located somewhere that the trip to Chicago takes 8 1/2 hours or slightly longer by bus. Connie refers to Chicago in Plan B I - Missing in Action as being "up there." This would easily eliminate several states from being Odyssey's location (but we eliminate based on specific mentions of states by characters). Jack and Joanne often take business trips to Chicago, as revealed in Plan B II - Collision Course. In this case, they flew to Chicago. Jack arrives at his meeting with Arthur Dent, scheduled for 5:30 PM. Meanwhile, back in Odyssey, Connie meets AREM online at 5:45 PM and receives a report at 5:50 PM. Then, in Chicago, Arthur Dent arrives late at his 5:30 meeting with Jack Allen. It can be assumed, based on the unfolding events in this episode, that Odyssey is located in the same time zone as Chicago. In A Lamb's Tale, Mike Mulligan and Whit mention the Universal Press Foundation, which is based in Chicago. Also Mike states to Nick Mulligan that he graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in business. In All-Star Witness, Eugene travels to Chicago to witness a lawsuit case similar to that of Tom Riley in the events of the episode. In A Christmas Conundrum, Eugene says that his favorite Christmas memory took place when he and Katrina went to Chicago to visit Katrina's family. Jana Whittaker-Dowd calls Whit to break the news that his flight from Chicago to California has been delayed in Silent Night. This would be a good indicator that Odyssey is far enough away from Chicago that one would consider flying there as a travel option. Marvin and Tamika Washington call the Universal Press Foundation in Chicago to find clues about how much money Whit has, since they know about his position as Chairman of the Board at UPF. (Three O'Clock Call) In A Time for Action, Whit mentions that he has a friend in the Department of State in Chicago. Eugene and Whit travel to Chicago to find clues in the afternoon, and arrive later that day. Eugene mentions that Christmas gifts were sent to Chicago, in The Undeniable Truth. In Life, in the Third Person, Mr. Straussberg and his son, David, drive to Chicago to look for a house. In The Green Ring Conspiracy, Detective Polehaus finds some flight plans for the plane that crashed in Gower's field. It was originally intended for Chicago, but got switched to Atlanta, Georgia. It was a flight which left from Odyssey. This seems to suggest that Odyssey is not in Illinois. However, not enough evidence is included to guarantee that Odyssey is not in either state (we go by specific mentions of states). In The Green Ring Conspiracy, Dr. Graham informs Whit that she has contacted the local Secret Service office in Springfield. Because of the numerous times Chicago is mentioned throughout the show, it is possible that this is a reference to Springfield, Illinois. However, there is a Springfield, Ohio, and Springfield, Missouri, as well. Abraham Lincoln briefly mentions McClain County, Illinois in an Imagination Station adventure. However, not enough evidence is given to support whether Odyssey is or is not located in Illinois. (Lincoln) In Dead Ends, when Eugene goes up to Arlington Heights to visit his foster parents, he tells Katrina that he'll be home "before dark". An Arlington Heights exists as a Chicago suburb. But no evidence proves that this is the same Arlington Heights. It's probably a mere coincidence. If traveling by train, it is a day's journey from Chicago to Odyssey. (Train Ride) In Sergeant York II, Alvin York mentions that he attended a revival meeting in Illinois. Since this is merely stated during a Kids Radio production, not enough clues are given to prove that Odyssey is or is not located in Illinois.

...Where Odyssey Is Not