Oh, Malort!

By Solid Listen

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 explo... more

4.6

2222 ratings

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FAQs about Oh, Malort!:

How many episodes does Oh, Malort! have?

The podcast currently has 172 episodes available.

Oh, Malort! episodes:

May 18, 20261972 Election Fraud: Signifying Nothing
Alyssa tells John about voter fraud in the 1972 Chicago Primary. Which you never heard about because it didn't matter but it does involve a Pulitzer.
Also, Alyssa got a cat and sprained her wrist this week so the show notes are only the articles referenced in the episode.
Show Notes:
Chicago Tribune: Tribune expose wins a Pulitzer: Chicago vote fraud disclosures earn top local reporting award Pulitzer Prize won by Tribune

Time: The Inside Man

Time: The Hanrahan Indictment

New York Times: Defeat of Hanrahan for Prosecutor Is a Stunning Blow to Daley's Organization

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40min
May 11, 2026The Riverwalk: Twists and Turns
Alyssa tells Hugh about visions for the Riverwalk.

Socials: BlueSky, Instagram
Show Notes:
Chicago Sun-Times: Gondolas to give city a touch of Venice

Chicago Reader: Do we really need the Great Chicago Fire Festival?

HuffPo: Chicago Riverwalk Expansion: Rahm Emanuel Has Big Plans For

River Walk (PHOTOS)

Ross Barney Architects: Chicago Riverwalk

Loop North News: Building the Chicago Riverwalk – photos and key dates

Choose Chicago: Chicago Riverwalk

Chicago Tribune: DALEY ENVISIONS RIVERWALK PROJECT

Chicago Sun-Times: New riverfront era charted - Daley guidelines call for trees, cafes, night life - even waterfall

Chicago Sun-Times: City, suburbs go for the green - Landscaping back in vogue, thanks to laws, sales pressure

Chicago Sun-Times: Greening of the city - a vision in bloom - Series: - LOST HORIZONS

Chicago Sun-Times: Catch-and-Release Derby Coming Soon

Chicago Sun-Times: Council Panel Endorses Water Taxi Proposal

Chicago Sun-Times: City floats riverwalk plan - Path would link Loop area, Chinatown

Chicago Sun-Times: Riverwalk could lead to new stadium

Chicago Sun-Times: Daley unveils plan for riverwalk cafes

Chicago Sun-Times: City's cafe experiment a commuter bellyache

Chicago Sun-Times: River `jewel' planned - Kennedys seek huge complex

Chicago Sun-Times: Trump making no small plans here - World's tallest building may stand by river

Chicago Sun-Times: Daley lauds Trump plan - Other reviews less positive, and some question viability

Chicago Sun-Times: Revised Trump tower picks up civic support

Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago riverbank walkway remains just an idea // City Hall unable to find right developer, will re-launch search

Chicago Sun-Times: WHAT EVER'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH

Chicago Sun-Times: Riverwalk moving at a crawl: Temporary cafes, farmers market to open this summer

Chicago Sun-Times: First step for city riverwalk: City hopes to open no-frills path in June, with plans for improvements

Chicago Sun-Times: Why San Francisco looks to Chicago: The City by the Bay finds inspiration in our beauty and vitality

Chicago Sun-Times: Riverwalk is reborn - City touts new restaurants, floats hopes for future

Chicago Sun-Times: Bridging riverwalk gaps - City to spend $10 Mil. on walkways beneath Michigan and Wabash, connect path for 'second lakefront'

Chicago Sun-Times: $100 million loan for riverfront

Chicago Sun-Times: The Rahmwalk? Emanuel strengthens case to have Riverwalk named after him

City of Chicago: Site History

My San Antonio: Chicago official calls San Antonio River Walk 'cheap and crappy-looking'

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1h 11min
May 04, 2026Jean Crones: Souper Anarchist
Alyssa tells Jack Gill from Hardy Focused about Jean Crones an anarchist who tried to kill then ArchBishop Mundelein.
Socials:
Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram
Show Notes:
Mundelein High School:Musical Works Premiered at MHS Chosen for Publication

Chicago Tribune: Chum of cook soup suspect, held by police

Catholic New Archive: Issue Article CRONES INDICTED

New Year Times: CHICAGO ANARCHISTS HELD IN POISON PLOT; Two Friends of Missing Cook Seized as Arsenic Is Found in Soup. TRAIL LEADS TO NEW YORK Report That Crones Was Once a German Spy--Priests Return, Tell of Being Stricken.

Hoosier State Chronicles: Banker Who Ate Poisoned Soup Died Monday in Chicago.

Rocky Mountain News: POISON SOUP SUSPECT HELD IN NEBRASKA JAIL

Chicago Tribune: A century ago today, an anarchist tried to kill Chicago’s archbishop with soup

New York Times: CRONES NOW GIVES 2 DAYS TO GET HIM; In Third Letter to The Times He Says He Will Leave New York in 48 Hours. STAMP "HUDSON TERMINAL" Poisoner' Favors Correspondence School for Police, "Espechely Officiells." GUARD HEADQUARTERS HERE Detectives on Fire Escapes at Ball of Knights of Columbus -- Churches Also Watched. CRONES NOW GIVES 2 DAYS TO GET HIM

Chicago Tribune: Does this taste funny to you? Chicago’s long, gross history of food poisoning

The Daily Gate City:

New York City: THIRD LETTER VERIFIED.; Club Manager Corroborates New Statements by Crones.

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1h 23min
May 01, 2026 Rewind: Haymarket: Things Ryhme

In honor of of May Day being the 3rd Aniversary of Oh Malort I am rereleasing this episode about the Haymarket Affair where Molly McAleer and I talk about the origin of the 8-hour work day.

Socials:
Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram
Show Notes:
Illinois Labor History Society: The Haymarket Affair
Encyclopedia of Chicago History: Haymarket and May Day
WTTW: HAYMARKET AFFAIR HANGINGS
Britannica: Haymarket Affair
WCCO: Good Question: How did we get the 8-hour work day?
Chicago Cop: HAYMARKET SQUARE RIOT
Chicago Sun-Times: Haymarket blast shook the world - 100 years later, Chicago remembered
Chicago Reader: Haymarket Revisited
Chicago Tribune: HAYMARKET RIOT REMEMBERED
PBS: The Anarchists and the Haymarket Square Incident
Second City Sinners
Chicago Tribune: STILL-HEARD VOICES: HAYMARKET MONUMENT GETS LANDMARK STATUS
CPD: Haymarket Statue Rededication Ceremony at Police Headquarters
The Haymarket Memorial
Chicago Tribune: SITE OF HAYMARKET RIOT PROPOSED FOR LABOR PARK

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2h 9min
April 27, 2026The Merle Reskin Theatre: Much Ado About Nothing
Alyssa and David muster all their theatre kid energy to talk about The Merle Reskin Theatre which was a hot topic in the news a few weeks ago and inspired silly outrage.

Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.

Show Notes:
WBEZ: Cash-strapped DePaul closes the curtain on Downtown’s historic Reskin Theatre

DePaul University Facility

Living New Deal: Merle Reskin (former Blackstone) Theater Renovation – Chicago IL

Block Club Chicago: DePaul Unveils $72 Million Theater School Building

WTTW: Cultural Connections DePaul Theatre School

TimeOut Chicago: Merle Reskin Theatre

Broadway World: Merle Reskin Theatre

Alyssa's review of "God of Hell"

Caryl Churhill

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1h 2min
April 20, 2026Ruth Hanna McCormick Part Two: History Rhymes
In this episode Alyssa and VanderRob finish their conversation about the absolutely fascinating life of heiress, suffragette, and politician. Ruth Hanna McCormick.
Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.
Show Notes:
Time: WOMEN: Widow

Time: THE CONGRESS: Bucking Female

Ruth Hanna McCormick: A Life in Politics, 1880-1944

US House History: MCCORMICK, Ruth Hanna

National Women's History Museum:Ruth Hanna McCormick

Theodore Roosevelt Center:Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms

Rockford Register Star: Women’s History Month: Who was Ruth Hanna McCormick?

Politico: Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms born in Cleveland, March 27, 1880

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1h 14min
April 13, 2026Ruth Hanna McCorkmick Part One: A Suffragette
In this episode Alyssa tells VanderRob about the absolutely fascinating life of heiress, suffragette, and politician. Ruth Hanna McCormick. Please note this is a two parter.

Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.

Show Notes:
Time: WOMEN: Widow

Time: THE CONGRESS: Bucking Female

Ruth Hanna McCormick: A Life in Politics, 1880-1944

US House History: MCCORMICK, Ruth Hanna

National Women's History Museum:Ruth Hanna McCormick

Theodore Roosevelt Center:Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms

Rockford Register Star: Women’s History Month: Who was Ruth Hanna McCormick?

Politico: Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms born in Cleveland, March 27, 1880

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48min
April 06, 2026Italo Balbo: Chicago's Fascist Fever Dream
In this episode Alyssa tells Risen about Italo Balbo and the time Chicago had a fascist fever dream.
Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.
Show Notes:
Chicago Reader: Street honoring fascist Balbo to remain after aldermen cave

Chicago Tribune: Chicago cheered as Italo Balbo led a squadron of 24 Italian aircraft that splashed down in Lake Michigan 90 years ago

Chicago Magazine: The (Failed) 1946 Fight to Remove a Fascist's Name from a Chicago Street

ABC 7: Debate ensues about removal of Balbo monument, renaming of street

Chicago Sun-Times: Italo Balbo, a complex and controversial figure, from Italy to Grant Park

WTTW: History or Hate? Chicago’s Controversial Monuments and Street NamesNBC Chicago: Tempest Brews Over Renaming of Balbo Drive

Encyclopedia of Chicago: "Who is Balbo?," 1933

Chicago Tribune: Future of Balbo monument, a gift from Mussolini, uncertain

New York Times: BALBO TALKS TO CHICAGO.; Speaking Over Radio From Rome, He Presents Column From Forum.

Chicago Reader: Balbo’s Last Stand

CBS Chicago: Aldermen Propose To Rename Balbo Drive

StreetsBlog Chicago: Blackshirts and Green Signs: Is It Time to Rename Balbo Drive, a Tribute to a Fascist?

TimeOut: Aldermen are considering removing the Balbo monument and renaming Balbo Drive

Encyclopedia of Chicago:Chief Blackhorn and Italo Balbo, 1933
AP: Protesters demand removal of monument to fascist Italo Balbo

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1h 4min
March 30, 2026Lois Weisberg: She Curated Chicago
Alyssa tells Vanessa from Reel Relationships about "den mother of the arts" Lois Weisberg.

Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.
Show Notes:
TimeOut: Life after Lois | Lois Weisberg

New York Times: Lois Weisberg, Chicago’s Cultural Connector, Dies at 90

Chicago Magazine: Remembering Lois Weisberg, the Woman Who Curated Chicago

The New Yorker: Six Degrees of Lois Weisberg

PBS: Chicago Stories Lois Weisberg

Governing: Lois Weisberg

Chicago Sun-Times: Lois Weisberg, ‘den mother of the arts’

Chicago Reader: Lois Weisberg: Rest in peace doesn’t cut it

Chicago Reader: The brothers Weisberg

Chicago Reader: The Shakman Variations

Chicago Reader: A Macarena for the Millenium

FT: Lois Weisberg, Chicago arts administrator, 1925-2016

Chicago Tribune: Chicago’s ‘Cows on Parade’ is back for July, celebrating 20-year anniversary with one last roundup

WBEZ: Lois Weisberg: “This is one of the worst things that ever has happened to the city.”

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1h 8min
March 23, 2026George Ryan Part Two: Forrest Gump of Illinois
Alyssa continues telling Morgan about the complicated history of disgraced former Illinois Governor George Ryan. This story is messy but also involves a lot of cameos by unexpected people.
Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.
Show Notes:
CNN: George Ryan Fast Facts

New York Times: George H. Ryan

WTTW: Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, Who Ended Death Penalty and Was Imprisoned for Corruption, Dies at 91

Chicago Tribune: Former Gov. George Ryan, who halted state’s death penalty but was imprisoned for corruption, dies at 91

Axios: George Ryan, former Illinois governor with a complicated legacy, dies at 91

DOJ: U.S. INDICTS FORMER ILLINOIS GOV. GEORGE RYAN FOR ALLEGED PUBLIC CORRUPTION DURING TERMS AS SECRETARY OF STATE AND GOVERNOR

Chicago Tribune: NEW HEAT ON RYAN IN FATAL ACCIDENT

Chicago Magazine: The New Face of the Law

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1h 38min

FAQs about Oh, Malort!:

How many episodes does Oh, Malort! have?

The podcast currently has 172 episodes available.

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