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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

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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79:46

The Berghoff: Weathering the Changes

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/05/19

In this episode Alyssa tells Vanessa from Reel Relationships about the legacy of The Berghoff. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes: CNN: Gloria Steinem, In Her Own Words Chicago Tribune: Historic Berghoff to closeNPR: The Berghoff, A Chicago Institution, to Close JStore: “No Unescorted Ladies Will Be Served” Chicago Tribune: Historic Berghoff to close Chicago Tribune: Berghoff, beer and Chicago The Berghoff

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65:11

Obama Presidential Center: Fact from Fiction

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/05/12

Earlier in the week, before the hot debate was does the Pope prefer the Cubs or the Sox, Trump took time in the Oval Office to talk about the Obama Presidential Center. After months of seeing weirdos on the internet spreading theories about what is happening with this project I thought I would tell Hugh about the history and dispel some...inaccuracies. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, InstagramSHOW NOTES:Politico: ‘It’s Been Hard Opposing

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80:31

Abraham Bolden: The Conspiracy Continues

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/05/05

Alyssa finishes telling Morgan Stringer about the plight of Abraham Bolden. Related topics include: the JFK assassination, possible weaponization of the government, people being sent to facilities with possibly no release date. Additionally, we're gonna discuss some recurring characters from the Fred Hampton trial.Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, InstagramShow Notes:New York Times: Edward Hanrahan, Prosecutor Tied to ’69 Panthers Raid, Dies

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93:34

Abraham Bolden Part One: They are Going to Kill us All

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/04/28

Alyssa tells Morgan Stringer about Abraham the first Black Secret Service Agent to serve in the White House. Related topics include: the JFK assassination, possible weaponization of the government, people being sent to facilities with possibly no release date. Additionally, we're gonna discuss some recurring characters from the Fred Hampton trial.Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends. Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, InstagramShow Notes:New York Times: Edward Hanrahan,

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75:44

Beer in Chicago: We are a Drinking City

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/04/21

Alyssa tells Ken Guy the history of breweries in Chicago. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends. Socials: Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Episodes mentioned: Block 37 1855 Lager Beer Riots. Show Notes: Serious Eats: A Brief History of Beer in Chicago Provi: Chicago Beer History: A Timeline The New Chicagoan: History: Old Style is Not Chicago's Beer and Other Chicago Beer Factoids University of Chicago: Beer in Chicago Chicago Public Library:Beer, 1900-2014:

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64:38

James Caesar Petrillo: An Idiot

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/04/14

In this episode Alyssa tells Pat about James Caesar Petrillo. He has a bandshell named after him in Grant Park but what do we really know about the man? Answer, he is an idiot. Listen to learn all the ways this becomes evident. We also talk about tube socks and Van Halen. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends. Socials: Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes: Lea Act New York Times: THE PETRILLO LAW DECISION New York Times: JAMES PETRILLO DEAD; LED MUSICIANS James

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87:59

The Musical Chicago: We have lost the plot.

Oh, Malort! ·

2025/04/07

Alyssa tells David Baxter the real life story behind the musical Chicago. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends. Socials: Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Check out Other Episodes: Grease: The OG Broadway Transfer William Hale "Big Bill" Thompson: Illinois Most Corrupt Politician Show Notes: Chicago Tribune: Silent 1927 'Chicago' to make a musical comeback Chicagology: Maurine Dallas Watkins Chicago Tribune: A Tribune reporter wrote the hit play ‘Chicago’ after covering

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145 results

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