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

2121 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Oh, Malort!:

How many episodes does Oh, Malort! have?

The podcast currently has 128 episodes available.

Oh, Malort! episodes:

September 01, 2025Haymarket: Things Rhyme
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, 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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
2h 9min
August 25, 2025Riverside Park: Don't Stand up on Roller Coasters
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 Park⁠

⁠Chicago Tribune: RIVERVIEW`S ATTRACTIONS⁠

⁠Chicago Tribune: GOODMAN`S `RIVERVIEW` IS REALLY A STORY OF AMERICA⁠

⁠Chicago Reader: Exhilarating Highs, Crashing Lows⁠

⁠Seattle Weekly: God of Hell⁠⁠WTTW: Amusement Parks⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 7min
August 18, 2025WhistleSTOP: A Citizen Action
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 Stopping Assaults.

Chicago Maroon: Community Organization Revitalizes WhistleStop Program for Violence Prevention

Chicago Sun-Times: Police chief blows whistle on crime

Chicago Tribune: Lake View citizens' 'Whistlestop Day'

Chicago Tribune: Start Whistle Battle on Bandits

Chicago Tribune: Hyde Park Dwellers Hunt Solution to Crime Woes

Chicago Tribune: S. Side whistle campaign cuts crime

Chicago Tribune: Neighbors join to blow whistle on criminals

Chicago Tribune: Neighbors join to blow whistle on criminals
UofC Facebook

Chicago Sun-Times: Michigan Avenue, once a picture-perfect postcard, is now a depressing mess

Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs refuse Sox' stadium sharing plan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 22min
August 11, 2025First Night Game at Wrigley Part Two: Western Civilization DESTROYED
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: 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 Light: The Cubs' First Night Game at Wrigley

Illinois Supreme Court: Turning on the lights at Wrigley Field

DNA Info: A History Of Night Games At Wrigley Field, And Why Cubs Want More Of Them

Baseball Hall of Fame: AAGPBL shined a light at Wrigley Field in 1943

Chicago Sun-Times: Stadium plan has eye on 2 tenants: Sox, Bears

Chicago Sun-Times: Facts muddle sports scene for Chicago

Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs clearly want to stay - Survey suggests owners sincere on Wrigley Field

Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs to Busch? It's a dark day

Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor rips league on Cubs game shift

Chicago Sun-Times: NL's playoff plan for Cubs just a con job on city, fans

Chicago Sun-Times: When the Sox leave . . . - Bridgeport may be sadder but wiser post-Comiskey

Chicago Sun-Times: A hard night's rock at city's new nightclub

Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs may try 4: 30 start - Time shift to lure after-work crowds

Chicago Sun-Times: Are Cubs ready to light up? - Lights a must for 4: 30 starts, club exec says

Chicago Sun-Times: Channel 9 boss calls foul on Cubs' plan for late start

Chicago Sun-Times: City makes plans for night game traffic at Wrigley

Chicago Sun-Times: Senators OK postseason night games

Chicago Sun-Times: Wrigleyville: No, no, 18 times no!

Chicago Sun-Times: City aide suggests 5: 30 night games at Wrigley Field

Chicago Sun-Times: Sun never sets on Cub fans

Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs light foes aim postcards at mayor

Chicago Sun-Times: Wrigleyville issues congestion report

Chicago Sun-Times: Wrigley lights a winner - Foes blast survey - Cubs hail `mandate'

Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor to set terms for Cubs night ball
Chicago Sun-Times: `Dry' threat vs. Cub lights - Foes ready call for liquor ban

Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor OKs Cubs lights - Residents hit 18-game plan

Chicago Sun-Times: Sawyer backs Wrigley lights - action stalled

Chicago Sun-Times: A death blow to Wrigley Field lights denied

Chicago Sun-Times: Rush calls for more work on Cubs night-game plan

Chicago Sun-Times: Stadia Pursuit game is anything but trivial

portChicago Sun-Times: Lights out? - Irate over editorial, aldermen threaten Cubs night games

Chicago Sun-Times: Sawyer lobbies more aldermen for Cubs lights

Chicago Sun-Times: Panel lights up Cubs - 8 night games get '88 OK - Wrigleyville vows battle

Chicago Sun-Times: Electrifying! - 29-19 vote OKs Cub night games

Chicago Tribune: How aldermen voted

Chicago Sun-Times: Sawyer firmly for Cubs lights despite vote against them

Chicago Sun-Times: Cub lights make big splash

Chicago Sun-Times: The big washout - Rainout delays debut of Cub lights era

Chicago Tribune: Share this obituary: Daniel Levin

History Channel: Lights go on at Wrigley

MLB: Banned from the World Series? It almost happened ... to Wrigley Field

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 8min
August 08, 2025 Rewind - The Dave Matthews Band Incident: An Inside Poop
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 denies involvement in tour boat defilement⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Daley: Go tough on Dave Matthews driver // Mayor still likes group despite alleged sewage dumping⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Band's attitude reeks⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Bus' waste dumping leads alderman to call for crackdown⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Matthews Band in harmony with clean-river efforts // $100,000 gift to begin 'healing process' after bus dumps sewage⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Boat tour guest sues Matthews band⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Dave Matthews driver to face criminal charges⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Matthews band driver charged in river dumping // Band faces $70,000 suit for summer's Kinzie bridge incident⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Tour boat owners sue Dave Matthews Band⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Bus driver pleads guilty to dumping raw sewage // Dave Matthews Band cuts ties to employee who sloshed boaters⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Matthews band dumps cash into settlement⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: $200,000 apology ends waste-dumping suit // Dave Matthews Band also donated to Park District, river group⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Dave Matthews 'couldn't be more sorry' for bus-dumping⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Nevada family, Matthews Band settle suit over dumped waste⁠
⁠Chicago Sun-Times: City's surveillance cameras are making Chicago safer⁠
⁠Case Text: Mercury Skyline Yacht Charters v. the Dave Matthews Band⁠
⁠Block Club Chicago: Dave Matthews Tour Bus Dumped 800 Pounds Of Poop On People Taking A Chicago River Cruise 19 Years Ago Today⁠
⁠Mercury Lawsuit⁠
⁠Fox 32 Chicago: Dave Matthews Band tour bus feces incident remembered 19 years later with plaque dedication

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 32min
August 04, 2025 First Night Game at Wrigley Part One: Epic
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 Events
CBS 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 Light: The Cubs' First Night Game at Wrigley
Illinois Supreme Court: Turning on the lights at Wrigley Field
DNA Info: A History Of Night Games At Wrigley Field, And Why Cubs Want More Of Them
Baseball Hall of Fame: AAGPBL shined a light at Wrigley Field in 1943
Chicago Sun-Times: Stadium plan has eye on 2 tenants: Sox, Bears
Chicago Sun-Times: Facts muddle sports scene for Chicago
Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs clearly want to stay - Survey suggests owners sincere on Wrigley Field
Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs to Busch? It's a dark day
Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor rips league on Cubs game shift
Chicago Sun-Times: NL's playoff plan for Cubs just a con job on city, fans
Chicago Sun-Times: When the Sox leave . . . - Bridgeport may be sadder but wiser post-Comiskey
Chicago Sun-Times: A hard night's rock at city's new nightclub
Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs may try 4: 30 start - Time shift to lure after-work crowds
Chicago Sun-Times: Are Cubs ready to light up? - Lights a must for 4: 30 starts, club exec says
Chicago Sun-Times: Channel 9 boss calls foul on Cubs' plan for late start
Chicago Sun-Times: City makes plans for night game traffic at Wrigley
Chicago Sun-Times: Senators OK postseason night games
Chicago Sun-Times: Wrigleyville: No, no, 18 times no!
Chicago Sun-Times: City aide suggests 5: 30 night games at Wrigley Field
Chicago Sun-Times: Sun never sets on Cub fans
Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs light foes aim postcards at mayor
Chicago Sun-Times: Wrigleyville issues congestion report
Chicago Sun-Times: Wrigley lights a winner - Foes blast survey - Cubs hail `mandate'
Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor to set terms for Cubs night ball
Chicago Sun-Times: `Dry' threat vs. Cub lights - Foes ready call for liquor ban
Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor OKs Cubs lights - Residents hit 18-game plan
Chicago Sun-Times: Sawyer backs Wrigley lights - action stalled
Chicago Sun-Times: A death blow to Wrigley Field lights denied
Chicago Sun-Times: Rush calls for more work on Cubs night-game plan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 6min
July 28, 2025 Carter Henry Harrison III: The People's Mayor
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 tragedy
Chicago Reader: The mayor’s assassin
Classic Chicago Magazine:Murder in the Kentucky Colony
Chicago Public Library: Mayor Carter Henry Harrison III Inaugural Address, 1879
Chicago Public Library: Mayor Carter Henry Harrison III Biography
Encyclopedia of Chicago: Assassination of Carter Harrison
Chicago Sun-Times: This week in history: Mayor Carter Harrison shot in mansion
Chicago Public Library: Mayor Carter Henry Harrison III Inaugural Address, 1893
Second City Sinners
WBEZ: From banning the sale of rancid meat to vetoing a snap curfew, Chicago mayors have long flexed political muscle over proposed laws
WGN: Three Chicago tales of betrayal, jealousy and murder

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 24min
July 21, 2025 Rewind - The Eastland Disaster: Too bad they were Poor
In this episode Alyssa tells David Baxter about a maritime tragedy worse than the Titanic which happened 205 years ago

SHOW 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 Disaster⁠
⁠Eastland: An Original Musical Watch Party Montage⁠
⁠WTTW Eastland Disaster⁠

Socials:
⁠Alyssa's Twitter⁠
⁠Oh Malort! Twitter⁠
⁠Alyssa's IG⁠
⁠Oh Malort! IG⁠
⁠Oh Malort! TikTok⁠
⁠David's Socials

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
54min
July 14, 2025Alderman Burt Natarus: He Didn't Go to Jail
In this episode, Alyssa tells Pat about a man once dubbed "Chicago's Crazy Uncle."
Show Notes:
Chicago Reader: The Professional

Chicago Tribune: Missing Natarus, his dwindling breed

Chicago Reader: Democracy’s Shining Lamp

CBS: Local News New Rule: Carriage Drivers Must Clean Up Horse Pee

WBEZ: Ald. Ed Bus: My dinner with Burton Natarus

Chicago Tribune: IN-LINE SKATER’S DEATH RAISES FEARS ABOUT A FREEWHEELING SPORT

LA Times: Working With Chicago Requires a Disclosure on Slavery

DNA Info: It's OK To Dump Trump's Honorary Street Sign, Says Alderman Who Put It Up

NBC: Alderman Says Stop the Music!

Chicago Tribune: Restaurant experts extend to aldermen new feel on foie gras

Chicago Tribune: Burt Natarus: Nemesis of Noise, Hounder of Horses

Chicago Tribune: NATARUS PUTS HORSES ON NOTICE

WBEZ: Noble Horse Stables: Sh*t bags are 95% effective

Chicagoist: Farewell to Our Crazy Uncle

Chicago Tribune: Trim in store for Trump’s promotional kiosk signChicago Tribune: NATARUS WANTS OWNERS OF DOGS TO COME CLEANChicago Reader: Getting Off to a Crappy Start

Chicago Reader: Plane Talk/Natarus’s Pet ProjectChicago quote of the day – aldermen make bad witnesses

Chicago Reader: Heavy traffic: Don’t blame the messengers, it’s crazy out there!Chicago Reader: City Council Follies

Chicago Reader: City Council Follies September 13, 1995/Democracy’s Shining Lamp

Chicago Reader: City Council Follies October 2, 1995/Government Serving the PeopleChicago Reader: City Council Follies November 8, 1995/The Living Republic

Chicago Reader: City Council Follies December 13, 1995/Democracy’s Shining LampChicago Reader: City Council Follies January 18, 1996

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 21min
July 07, 2025Broadway In Chicago: Not Dead Yet!
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 glory⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times:`Broadway in Chicago'⁠

⁠Chicago Tribune: Goodbye Oriental, hello James M. Nederlander Theatre — the story behind the name change Feb. 8⁠

⁠Broadway World: Chicago Theatre District Honors Mayor Richard M. Daley This September⁠

⁠New York Times: Daley Takes Center Stage as Patron of the Arts⁠

⁠ABC7: Chicago production of 'Wicked' to close January 2009⁠

⁠Chicago Tribune: Shows could tell new profit story for city⁠

⁠The Times Herald: Tax credit luring pre-Broadway shows to Chicago⁠

⁠THE KITTEN BECOMES A TIGER⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Loop sees its population continue to grow during the pandemic, report find⁠

⁠City of Chicago Population Chart⁠

⁠Chicago Loop Alliance: Broadway In Chicago celebrates 25 years⁠

⁠Chicago Loop Alliance: Current:Loop economy boosted by theatre and investment during fall and winter 2022⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 53min

FAQs about Oh, Malort!:

How many episodes does Oh, Malort! have?

The podcast currently has 128 episodes available.