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PODCAST

Oh, Malort!

Alyssa Dyksterhouse, Chicago tour guide, history lover and research extraordinaire, walks her friends through her favorite well-known and lesser-known moments in Chicago’s quirky past while exploring each story"s parallels to current affairs.

history places & travel

All Episodes

62:07

Edward and Stephania Andrews : A Cold Case

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/09/29

Alyssa is joined by Max Winkler director of The Ed Gein Story to discuss Alyssa's Cameo in said upcoming Netflix series, Max's love of Chicago as well as a riveting cold case that led to divers finding cars in the Chicago River.Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, InstagramShow Notes:Chicago Tribune: With hidden evidence on their minds, unusual dive team takes to the Chicago RiverChicago Tribune: RELATIVES ARE HOPING 24-YEAR MYSTERY OVERChicago Sun-Times: NW Suburb Couple MissingChicago Sun-Times: Search Back

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70:07

Edward Vrdolyak Part Two: A Clown

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/09/22

Alyssa tells at Morgan about Fast Edde. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes: DOJ: INDICTED IN ALLEGED KICKBACKSCHEME INVOLVING GOLD COAST REAL ESTATE DEAL Chicago Sun-Times: The billionaire behind the scenes in White Sox' stadium plan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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57:25

Edward Vrdolyak Part One: Corruption Junction

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/09/15

Alyssa tells at Morgan about Fast Eddie. We take a digression into the 78. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes: DOJ: INDICTED IN ALLEGED KICKBACKSCHEME INVOLVING GOLD COAST REAL ESTATE DEAL Chicago Sun-Times: The billionaire behind the scenes in White Sox' stadium plan Ed Burke Episode 2: The Council Wars Betty Loren-Maltese: An Icon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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69:35

Bozo: The World's Greatest

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/09/08

In this episode, Alyssa tells John Zinn about the legacy of Bozo. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes: Chicago Reader: Our Town: Bozo the Clown Chicago Reader: The Bozo Chronicles BOZO AT THE CIRCUS - A Capitol Record-Reader (1946) Classic Chicago Magazine: Bozo, America’s Favorite Clown LA Times: Waiting for Bozo: In Chicago, they take a clown seriously. People: How David Arquette and Billy Corgan's Shared Love of Clowns Led to an Unlikely Partnership

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128:07

Haymarket: Things Rhyme

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/09/01

Happy Labor Day. In this episode Alyssa tells Molly McAleer about the Haymarket Affair and the origin of the 8-hour work day. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, InstagramShow Notes:Illinois Labor History Society: The Haymarket Affair Encyclopedia of Chicago History: Haymarket and May Day WTTW: HAYMARKET AFFAIR HANGINGSBritannica: Haymarket AffairWCCO: Good Question: How did we get the 8-hour work day?Chicago Cop: HAYMARKET SQUARE RIOTChicago Sun-Times: Haymarket blast shook the world - 100 years later,

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66:24

Riverside Park: Don't Stand up on Roller Coasters

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/08/25

Alyssa tells Ken Guy the history of Riverview ParkSubscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends. Socials: ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠BlueSky⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Email⁠ Show Notes: ⁠Chicago Tribune: Photos: Remembering Riverview Park⁠ ⁠Chicago Tribune: Remembering the Chicago amusement parks that filled summertime with thrills and spills and water⁠ ⁠Chicago Tribune: Remembering Riverview Park, 50 years later⁠ ⁠WTTW: “A Rite of Passage”: The History, Rides, and Legacy of Riverview

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81:36

WhistleSTOP: A Citizen Action

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/08/18

Alyssa is joined by Hugh Hugh Yeman to discuss the community policing effort known as WhistleSTOP. SHOW NOTES: Chicago Sun-Times: Ann Landers Chicago Sun-Times: Carson City Chicago Sun-Times: 5th Ward Chicago Sun-Times: Community Policing Chicago Sun-Times: Ann Landers 2 Chicago Sun-Times: For Protection on the Streets just whistle Chicago Sun-Times: Raising a Ruckus on Street Crime then Acting Against It Chicago Sun-Times: Organizers Give a Hoot about

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67:33

First Night Game at Wrigley Part Two: Western...

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/08/11

I am joined by Vanessa from Reel Relationships to talk and the history leading up to the first Cubs Night Game. It is not as simple as turning on the lights. In this episode we name drop all the expected political players, talks about the idea of making Wrigleyville dry and discover the Block 37 of sportsball. Show Notes: Chicago Sun-Times: 100 years ago: The bombing of Chicago’s federal building History.Com: Why the Star-Spangled Banner is Played At Sporting Events CBS Chicago:

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91:41

Rewind - The Dave Matthews Band Incident: An Inside Poop

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/08/08

Twenty-one years ago a driver working the the Dave Mathews Band dropped 800lbs of poop which landed on a boat full of people enjoying an architecture tour. Alyssa tells ⁠Molly McAleer⁠ and Captain Scoot all the details. Show Notes: ⁠Chicago Tribune: Band’s driver denies drenching boat⁠ ⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Tour boat hit with raw sewage // 2 large buses on bridge blamed for discharge that sent 5 to hospital⁠ ⁠Chicago Sum-Times: Complaint links rock band to dumped sewage // Dave Matthews Band

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65:47

First Night Game at Wrigley Part One: Epic

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/08/04

I am joined by Vanessa from Reel Relationships to talk and the history leading up to the first Cubs Night Game. It is not as simple as turning on the lights. Chicago Sun-Times: 100 years ago: The bombing of Chicago’s federal building History.Com: Why the Star-Spangled Banner is Played At Sporting EventsCBS Chicago: On this day 36 years ago: Lights go on for Cubs at Wrigley Field for first time WGN : Why the Cubs’ first night game anniversary is a little different in 2023 WTTW: Let There Be

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87:43

Carter Henry Harrison III: The People's Mayor

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/07/28

After enlisting the assistance of Chat GPT to attempt to write a script--which was a fail-- Alyssa is joined by David Baxter to talk about Mayor Carter Henry Harrison III. Show Notes:Chicago Magazine: Has a Chicago Mayor Ever Been Assassinated?PBS: Carter Harrison (1825-1893)Chicago Sun-Times: This week in history: World’s Fair ends in tragedyChicago Reader: The mayor’s assassinClassic Chicago Magazine:Murder in the Kentucky ColonyChicago Public Library: Mayor Carter Henry Harrison III Inaugural

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57:50

Rewind - The Eastland Disaster: Too bad they were Poor

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/07/21

In this episode Alyssa tells David Baxter about a maritime tragedy worse than the Titanic which happened 205 years agoSHOW NOTES: ⁠Coast Guard⁠ ⁠Smithsonian: The Eastland Disaster Killed More Passengers Than the Titanic and the Lusitania. Why Has It Been Forgotten?⁠ ⁠Curbed: Demolition of the former Harpo Studios building closes a chapter of Chicago history⁠ ⁠History.Com: Hundreds Drown in Eastland Distaster⁠ ⁠Chicago Law Bulletin: 100 years later, the jury convenes in Eastland

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84:12

Alderman Burt Natarus: He Didn't Go to Jail

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/07/14

In this episode, Alyssa tells Pat about a man once dubbed "Chicago's Crazy Uncle."Show Notes: Chicago Reader: The ProfessionalChicago Tribune: Missing Natarus, his dwindling breedChicago Reader: Democracy’s Shining LampCBS: Local News New Rule: Carriage Drivers Must Clean Up Horse PeeWBEZ: Ald. Ed Bus: My dinner with Burton NatarusChicago Tribune: IN-LINE SKATER’S DEATH RAISES FEARS ABOUT A FREEWHEELING SPORTLA Times: Working With Chicago Requires a Disclosure on SlaveryDNA Info: It's OK To

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116:14

Broadway In Chicago: Not Dead Yet!

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/07/07

Alyssa and John Zinn bust out their coconuts and gallop down memory lane while discussing the history of Broadway In Chicago. SHOW NOTES:BROADWAY IN CHICAGO? WELL, NOT EXACTLY`Whorehouse' revival a shadow of its past gloryChicago Sun-Times:`Broadway in Chicago'Chicago Tribune: Goodbye Oriental, hello James M. Nederlander Theatre — the story behind the name change Feb. 8Broadway World: Chicago Theatre District Honors Mayor Richard M. Daley This SeptemberNew York Times: Daley Takes Center Stage as

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84:08

New Illinois: Everything Old

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/06/30

Alyssa tells Planko about Illinois Separation. Show Notes: New City: Postcard from Forgottonia: The land that time chose not to remember Chicago Tribune: Meet the people working to kick Chicago out of Illinois ABC 20: Group is looking to secede the state of Illinois from Chicago WGLT: McLean County Libertarians Host Illinois Separation Founder Chicago Magazine: Hands Off, Indiana The Forgottonia Project Peoria Star Journal: Gone but not Forgottonia

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65:43

Rewind: History of Pride in Chicago

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/06/23

In this episode Alyssa is joined by David Baxter to discuss the history of Pride in Chicago. Show Notes: Chicago Magazine: A Brief History of Chicago’s Pride Parade WTTW: How Chicago’s Pride Parade Grew from a Small March to a Big EventOut & Proud in Chicago Windy City Times: From a March to a Parade: Chicago's Pride History NPR: Gloria Gaynor: 'I Will Survive' Is 'The Core Of My Purpose' Pink Triangles Rising 10 Historic LGBTQ Moments in Chicago Curbed: 10

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158:35

Mike Madigan's Sentencing: He Lied

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/06/16

While John was busy saving democracy Alyssa recaps Madigan's sentencing for Morgan with a few digressions including the writing styles of SCOTUS justices and is someone trying to kill R. Kelly. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes: Chicago Sun-Times: R. Kelly News Chicago Sun-Times: USA V Michael Madigan Chicago Tribune: An expert at rounding up support, ex-Speaker Michael Madigan leaning on letters at corruption sentencing Chicago Tribune: Here’s who wrote a letter

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85:08

The Slick Boys: The Good Guys

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/06/09

After talking about Larry Hoover, Alyssa decided to read the book written by rapper cops ⁠The Slick Boys⁠ and tell Scoot all about it. SHOW NOTES: ⁠The Slick Boys: A Ten Point Plan To Rescue Your Community By Three Chicago Cops Who Are Making⁠ ⁠Medium: Hip Hop Cops⁠ ⁠Chicago Tribune: GOOD COP, BAD COP⁠ ⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Cops hip to gangs⁠ ⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Seinfeld date rumor nothing to talk about⁠ ⁠Chicago Sun-Times: KUP ON SUNDAY⁠ ⁠Chicago

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102:01

Larry Hoover: Who and what now?

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/06/02

Last week Trump commuted the sentence of Larry Hoover. In this episode Alyssa tells Jack Gill from Hardly Focused about the man and what happens now. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, InstagramLarry Hoover has come up in the episodes about Cabrini Green:Episode OneEpisode TwoEpisode ThreeWe also talked about his 2024 hearing in This episode.Show Notes:Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago drug kingpin Larry Hoover's path to a commutation ran through

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71:57

Spider Dan: All about the PR

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/05/26

Alyssa tells about a chap dubbed "Spider Dan" who, among other things, scaled the Sear Tower using suction cups on Memorial Day in 1981. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes: Chicago Tribune: ‘Spider Dan’ wowed Chicagoans with his scaling of skyscrapers WTTW: Spider Dan Climbs Chicago Chicago Fire Department:Chicago Fire Dept. Spider Dan Climbs the Hancock building ABC 7: 'Spider Dan' Goodwin scales Sears Tower, Hancock building - 1981 Dan Goodwin "Spiderman"

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