Oh, Malort!

Anyone who watched Law and Order know it isn't a good idea to let a defendant take the stand; yet, that happened last week in the never-ending Mike Madigan corruption trial.

Alyssa texted John and told him to ignore all media so they can discuss it. She also explains the history of the recurring character of "The Old Post Office."

We learn more about his upbringing and Lisa's dad.

Show Notes:

Niagara Foundation

Chicago Sun-Times: Madigan’s testimony changes ‘rules of the game,’ and jurors may now hear his famous ‘bandits’ comment

Chicago Sun-Times: Madigan’s son got $43,000 under deal feds call part of criminal enterprise: ‘Give Andrew somethin

Chicago Sun-Times: Where Illinois lawmakers traveled around the world

Chicago Sun-Times: Mike Madigan tells of father's alcoholism, Lisa’s pain from her biological father — and a 'toxic’ political relationship

Chicago Sun-Times: USA v. Michael Madigan

Chicago Tribune: Madigan testifies he ‘would not be involved in a quid pro quo’

Chicago Tribune: ‘Did you ever trade your public office for private gain?’: Ex-Speaker Madigan takes stand in own defense at landmark corruption trial

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa is joined by Hugh Yemon to discuss the history of Improv and Theatre Games.

SHOW NOTES: 

NYT: Viola Spolin, 88, a Teacher Who Inspired Improv Theater

The Difference between Spolin Games and Popular Improv

HuffPost: Why Ayn Rand Does Not Matter (and Viola Spolin Does)

NPR Illinois: From Hull House to Second City: How Chicago immigrants helped change theater

Kitty Wants a Corner

Spolin Games Online

Chicago Tribune Archive

The Second City: Backstage at the World's Greatest Comedy Theater

A Theater of Our Own: A History and a Memoir of 1,001 Nights in Chicago

Improv Nation: How We Made a Great American Art

National Women's History Museum: Jane Adams

WTTW: Inventing Improv

Viola Spolin Quotes About Improvisation

Into the Unknown with Viola Spolin

A Profile of Viola Spolin

Viola Spolin Bio

BACKSTAGE: What Is the Viola Spolin Method?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa and Pat journey to 1908 Chicago passed the first ordinance regarding Pasteurized milk. Then some drama ensued. History rhymes like a Dr. Suess book. 

SHOW NOTES:

PASTEURIZED MILK LAUDED BY EVANS: Health Commissioner Denies It Is Death Dealing, Producing Weak Children. FOWLER MAKES THREAT. Former Alderman Declares He Will Show Up Conspiracy on Part of Big Dairymen. Threat Is Made by Fowler. Dr. Evans Explains Situation. Farmer Is Spared Dilemma.

VICTORY SURE FOR PASTEURIZED MILK: Hey Ordinance, if Passed by the Council, Will Be Vetoed by Mayor Busse. COMMITTEE MAY KILL IT. Health Commissioner Confident of Winning Battle for the City's Welfare. Victory in Sixth Round. Commissioner Evans Confident. Foreman Commends Health Chief. Letters Hint at Bribe Offer.

Chicago Tribune: VOTE TO PROHIBIT PASTEURIZED MILK: Minority of Council Committee Takes Action in Defiance of Health Commissioner. DENOUNCED BY DR. EVANS Amended Measure, He Declares, Would Cause a Famine in Lacteal Fluid in the City. May Increase Price of Milk. Dr. Evans and Ald. Hey Clash. Warning Given to Committee. Calls It Class Legislation. Amused by Bacteria Exhibits. Quotes Words of Physicians. Views of Hygienic Experts.

PASTEURIZED MILK.

Chicago Tribune: BORDEN EMPLOYE IS MILK EXPERT: Condemns Pasteurization Plan as Mere Makeshift and a False Safeguard. EVANS SHOWS IDENTITY. Health Commissioner Cross Examines Witness Offered by Dairymen Opposing Law.

Chicago Tribune: MILK ORDINANCE FOES MAKE COUP: Council Health Committee Votes to Abandon Pasteurization Requirement. PROTEST BY ALD. TAYLOR Strong Fight Will Follow to Retain Regulation Advocated by Dr. Evans.

Chicago Tribune: LIE PASSED AT MILK HEARING: Dr. Evans Accuses Aid. Hey of Making False Statement;AND NO CASUALTIES FOLLOW;Council Committee Hears More on the Merits of Pasteurization;Dr. Evans Denies Statement;Defends Milk Department;Calls Pasteurization Harmful

Chicago Tribune: PASTEURIZED MILK LAUDED BY EVANS: Health Commissioner Denies It Is Death Dealing, Producing Weak Children. FOWLER MAKES THREAT. Former Alderman Declares He Will Show Up Conspiracy on Part of Big Dairymen. Threat Is Made by Fowler. Dr. Evans Explains Situation. Farmer Is Spared Dilemma.

Chicago Tribune: DR. YOUNG SAYS PASTEURIZE MILK: Health Chief Wouldn't Remove This Safeguard Till Better One Is Found. TALKS WITH ALDERMEN. Hey Insists on His Ordinance to Make This Method a Misdemeanor.

Chicago Tribune: NEW MILK ORDINANCE LIKED: Dealers See Commercial Value in Certified Dairy Products. FEW PROTESTS HEARD NOW. Health Department Assured the Regulations Will Be Obeyed. New Butter Must Be Certified. Strict Rules in Other Cities.

Chicago Tribune: DIFFER ON SAFETY OF 'PASTEUR MILK': Dr Evans Argues with Opponents of the Rule Before Council Committee. CALLED LESS OF EVILS. Commissioner Admits It Is Not Ideal, but Thinks It Better than Fever. Federal Expert with Evans. Evans Sees Practical Side.

Chicago Tribune: Dr. Biehn Suspended Week Ago

Chicago Tribune: CHARGES STARTLE IN DR. BIEHN CASE: Is Bacteriologist Paid by Concern Which Sells Vaccine to the City? BIAS IN TESTS ALLEGED. Neglect of Duty and False Reports of Analyses Are Other Accusations. Statement of Dr. Biehn. Neglect of Tests Alleged. Bias in Analyses Intimated. Absent Often Without Leave.

Chicago Tribune: UNCLE SAM INDORSES CHICAGO'S MILK FIGHT.

Chicago Tribune: HEALTH SCHEME HELPS MILLIONS: Ideas of Dr. Evans of "The Tribune" Embodied in Scheme Urged as Model.; CONTROL MILK SUPPLY

“Pure Milk Is Better Than Purified Milk”

Illinois Supreme Court. Milk, Pasteurized. Chicago Ordinance Held Valid. Koy v. Chicago. February, 1914

Neatorama: The Fight for Safe Milk: Pasteurization

Chicago Tribune: BABIES WIN MILK FIGHT; VOTE 49 TO 9: Council at Special Session Passes Ordinance of Safeguard. MAYOR READY TO SIGN Citizens' Committee, Backed by Public Sentiment, Triumphs. HEALTH CHIEF IN CONTROL

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa and Captain Scoot from the maritime podcast ShipWrekt go back to the early 1900’s when schooners lined the main branch of the Chicago River selling Christmas trees and boating fatalities were the norm.

Show Notes:

National Archives: The Christmas Tree Ship

ABC 7: US Coast Guard 'Christmas Ship' makes annual tree delivery at Chicago's Navy Pier

Block Club Chicago: Chicago’s Christmas Ship Docks At Navy Pier With Over 1,200 Trees For Chicago Families

Christmas Tree Ship History

Wisconsin Shipwrecks: The Rouse Simmons

Trailer for The Christmas Schooner

National Marine Sanctuary“Captain Santa” and the story of the Christmas Tree Ship Foundation:

The Historic Christmas Tree Ship: A True Story of Faith, Hope And Love

PBS Wisconsin: The Christmas Tree Ship

Charles Hackley

Episodes Mentioned:

Oh Malort! Eastland Episode

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we living in the most debaucherous era? To figure it out Alyssa and Risen Lady Heathen travel back to early 1900’s Chicago to discuss a long forgotten degenerate tradition and pollical fundraiser known as the “First Ward Ball” AKA “the orgy.” Think “Eyes Wide Shut” meets “The Purge."

Show some love by hitting subscribe and leaving a five-star review like men trying to do a shoesies and tell all your friends like a shocked journalist covering the First Ward Ball. 

Show Notes: 

Chicagology: The First Ward Ball

Chicago Tribune: DECEMBER 15, 1908

Chicago Politics Ward By Ward

The Gangs of Chicago: An Informal History of the Chicago Underworld

Mayors, Madams, and Madmen

Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul

Chicago Magazine: The $12 Million Minute and Chicago’s Historic War on New Year’s Eve

Encyclopedia of Chicago:Era of "Hinky Dink" and "Bathhouse John" :

Episodes Referenced:

Oh Malort: Drunk Elephants: Or A Glimpse into Chicago Politicians

Oh Malort: The Everleigh Sisters: Best Lil Whorehouse in the World.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa updates John about the insanity that was Danny Solis' testimony. Words cannot express the plot twists. 

This is a stand alone episode in the saga that is USA V. Michael Madigan. 

Learn about briefcases of cash in China, prostitutes, pot, and more.

Corruption Guest Stars Include:

(In no particular order)

Operation Greylord, Roberto Caldero, Juan Gaytan, Martin Sandoval, Luis Arroyo, Chicago's Former Main Post Office, Dan Burke, Patty Solis Doyle, Brian Hynes, Ed Burke, Lunch Pale Pete, and Hillary Clinton

Show Notes:

Chicago Tribune: City aids Solis brother’s firm

Chicago Sun-Times: Political operative Roberto Caldero sentenced to nearly 5 years for bribery scheme

Chicago Tribune: ‘Sir, you’ve been with prostitutes right?: FBI mole Daniel Solis on hot seat in Madigan corruption trial

Chicago Tribune: Out-of-the-blue request from Madigan sparked new direction in corruption probe, ex-Ald. Solis testifies

WBEZ: Timeline: Key moments in the Michael Madigan federal corruption trial

Chicago Sun-Times: Jurors hear Madigan ally McClain puzzling over political squabble hobbling Chinatown project: ‘There’s something fishy here’

Chicago Sun-Times: USA v. Michael Madigan (All Articles)

Chicago Tribune: Ex-Ald. Daniel Solis, a historic FBI mole, exits stage alone after testimony in Madigan corruption trial

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we talk about Fred Hampton who is perhaps the most important Civil Rights Activist you have never learned about in school.

Show Notes:

History Channel: The 1969 Raid That Killed Black Panther Leader Fred Hampton

Biography: Fred Hampton

Chicago Tribune: In 1969, charismatic Black Panthers leader Fred Hampton was killed in a hail of gunfire. 50 years later, the fight against police brutality continue

Southside Weekly: Fifty Years of Fred Hampton’s Rainbow Coalition

Chicago Reader: The Neutralization of Fred Hampton

BuzzFeed: You Can't Kill A Revolution: The FBI's Assassination Of Fred Hampton Proves America's Obsession With Dismantling Black Leaders

Chicago Sun-Times: Teach the real legacy of Fred Hampton and the Black Panthers to inspire our youth

New York Times: Chicago Journal; Seeking New Harmony, But Finding a Racial Rift

Chicago Tribune: SOME HAVE 2ND THOUGHTS ON MAKING PANTHER`S DAY

Chicago Tribune: Fred Hampton Way?

Chicago Magazine: How Fred Hampton Gave Way to Obama

Vox: Why the US government murdered Fred Hampton

The Murder of Fred Hampton

The Assassination of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two geeky gals discuss an exhibit at the Chicago History Museum with some fun digressions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa is joined by David Baxter (Thank You Five, Friends of the Countess, The Twelve Months of Christmas) to discuss the history of Grease.  

NWI Times: Grease has deep, dark Chica routes

Telegraph: Grease at 50: ‘The Pink Ladies? They’d kill you if you looked at them wrong’

Chicago Tribune: Bring back our own, original R-rated 'Grease'

Yahoo: Everything you didn't know about 'Grease,' from the $171 stage version to the original name of the T-Birds

WTTW: Grease Premiere at Kingston Mines

Chicago Tribune: ‘Grease’ gets its grit back

Chicago Reader: The Original Pink Ladies

Time Out: Writer/composer Jim Jacobs shares his favorite Chicago memories

The Independent: Donna Mills

Playbill: Restored and Raunchy, The Original Grease Begins Performances in Chicago, Where It All Began

Chicago Tribune: The original ‘Grease’ was born in Chicago, wild, funny and new in 1971

The Independent: INTERVIEW / Did you get very far? Aha, aha . . .: Jim Jacobs was happy writing ads and taking bribes. Until Grease. Tell me more, tell me more, pleads Sabine Durrant

Chicago Reader: Exactly how bad are the bad kids of The Original Grease?

Chicago Tribune: `GREASE’ IS HIS WORD

NYT: Think 'Grease' Is the Word? A Lawsuit Says It's 'Piracy'

A Theater of Our Own: A History and a Memoir of 1,001 Nights in Chicago

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am joined by The Pat Whelan from BestEveningEver! to discuss Peter Schivarelli best known as the manager for the band Chicago and owner of now defunct hot dog stand Demon Dogs; however there is so much more. His story involves Streets and Sanitation, No-Show jobs, the Blizzard of 1977, dead bodies, and lawsuits. It is so Chicago it hurts! 

We also have some fun digressions. 

I laughed until I cried.

Show Notes:

Chicago Sun-Times: 43rd Ward aide under fire // TV catches sanitation chief doing errands on city tim

Chicago Tribune: SCHIVARELLI TO RETIRE AMID JOB CONTROVERSY

Chicago Reader: Schivarelli’s Beef

Chicago Tribune: CTA carryout order: Demon Dogs to go

SCHIVARELLI v. CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (2005)

SCHIVARELLI v. CBS INC WBBM (2002)

Chicago Tribune: EX-SNOW CHIEF SHOOTS INTRUDER

Chicagoist: The Bill Comes Due For Demon Dogs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices