Oh, Malort!

By Solid ListenSociety & Culture News News Commentary History Places & Travel

Oh, Malort! episodes

January 12Mr. Springer Goes to City Hall: Politcal Theatre
In 1999, under pressure from an activist priest, the City of Chicago Police and Fire Committee invited talk show host Jerry Springer to a hearing regarding violence on his show. Spoiler, it didn’t go well for Burke and the gang. Come for the government inefficiency stay for the schadenfreude.
Alyssa is joined by her college roomate Pam to mock this circus.

Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.
Show Notes:
CBS: That one time when Chicago City Council became 'The Jerry Springer Show'

WBEZ: How Jerry Springer delighted and infuriated Chicago
Chicago Tribune: SPRINGMASTER JER, COVER BOY BURKE WRESTLE WITH ENNUI

New York Post:SPRINGER ADMITS HE FAKES IT SOMETIMES

South Coast Today: Live at City Hall -- it's Jerry Springer

Footage: Jerry Springer Testifies (1999)

Tampa Bay Times: Springer goes live, and verbal punches fly

Media Burn: [Jerry Springer Chicago City Council hearing]

New York Daily News: SPRINGER SEZ SHOW MOCKS VIOLENCE

CBS: Springer Hedges On Violence

Chicago Reader: Political Atrocities of 1999

Chicago Magazine: 20 Very Bad Chicago Media Gaffes

Chicago Tribune: FINAL WORD ON SPRINGER’S CITY HALL GIG: SARCASM

Chicago Sun-Times: How Jerry Springer delighted, infuriated Chicago

Chicago Tribune: A DAY AT THE CIRCUS: WHICH ONE’S THE CLOWN?

Footage: Jerry Springer Reaction (1999)

Chicago Reader: The Fox and the Hounds

New York Times: Live, at Chicago's City Hall: It's the 'Jerry Springer Show'

Chicago Tribune:`SPRINGER SHOW’ PLAYS CITY HALL

Chicago Tribune: FINAL WORD ON SPRINGER’S CITY HALL GIG: SARCASM

Chicago Tribune: SPRINGMASTER JER, COVER BOY BURKE WRESTLE WITH ENNUI

Chicago Tribune: IT’S A FREE-FOR-ALL AS SPRINGER FACES COUNCIL

Chicago Tribune: NEXT IN CITY HALL: TALK SHOW HOST WITH EXPLAINING TO DO

Chicago Magazine: Father Courage: Michael Pfleger Takes on Jerry Springer

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 11 min
January 06Van der Rohe V Farnsworth: Petty
Morgan joins Alyssa to talk about Van der Rohe V Fansworth which is case of contract law.

Show Notes:
Chicago Magazine: Remembering the Farnsworth House Feud

WTTW: Mies van der Rohe

Architectural Record: A Second Look at Edith Farnsworth and Her Mies van der Rohe–Designed Retreat

Architect Magazine: The Farnsworth House on Trial

New York Times: When Mies van der Rohe Went on Trial

WBEZ: Who was the mystery woman behind one of the Chicago area’s modernist marvels?

Tucker Carlson on Modern Architecture and Why it Sucks

Mies van der Rohe: A Critical Biography, New and Revised Edition

Oh Malort! Meis van der Rohe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2 hr
January 01 What is happening at The Kennedy Center?
To celebrate NYE, Alyssa and John combined their knowledge of performing arts venue management and recorded an impromptu episode to discuss the dumpster fire that is the Kennedy Center. These people are incompetent and seemingly hate the arts.
Grenell

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr
December 29, 2025Y2K: Fear and Grifting in Chicago
In this episode Alyssa tells Risen about Y2K Chicago Style. This episode takes some surprising twists and turns and 2025 makes more sense.
Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.
Show Notes:
Chicago Tribune: PRACTICAL ADVICE ON Y2K PREPAREDNESS

CNN: Chicago, retailers pushing for Y2K readiness

NPR: Y2K seems like a joke now, but in 1999 people were really freaking out

AP: Nearly 20 years ago, doomsayers admitted they were wrong about Y2K

Chicago Tribune: Y2K EXPO PREPARED TO PROVIDE FOR WORST

WBEZ: The panic of New Year's Eve 1999

Chicago Tribune: CITY SAYS IT’S READY FOR A SMOOTH Y2K ROLLOVER

Chicago Tribune: A HAPPY DAY: NO ONE GETS Y2KO’D

Chicago Tribune: FOR MANY CHICAGOANS, COVERAGE OF Y2K IS A BIT TOO MUCH

Chicago Tribune: Y2K NO CAUSE FOR PANIC

Chicago Tribune: WITH Y2K, HOARDING LIKELY TO BE BIGGEST BUG

Twin Cities Pioneer Press: Stockpilers prepare quietly for Y2K arrival

Chicago Sun-Times: Year 2000 computer fears bring out survival instinct

Chicago Sun-Times: Worriers are wasting time, money, one researcher says

Chicago Sun-Times: Shortage of caviar threatens festivities

Chicago Sun-Times: Buddy, can you spare an Official Barter Unit?

Chicago Sun-Times: Bridges to next millennium will work here, city claims

Chicago Sun-Times: Y2K brings back '50s-like fearsChicago Sun-Times:

City defends Y2K progress - Report of delays `totally false,' computer chief says

Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor getting tough on Y2K con artists

Chicago Sun-Times: City may be first with Y2K con man law

Chicago Sun-Times: Lack of interest bugs Y2K expo - `Survivalist' supplies shunned

Chicago Sun-Times: Weaver says Ruby Ridge standoff could have continued

Chicago Sun-Times: City `confident' about Y2K - $55 million, 3-yr. preparation all but done

Chicago Sun-Times: Consumers say `ho-hum' to Y2K

Chicago Sun-Times: Police asked to monitor extremist groups - FBI warns of Y2K violence

Chicago Sun-Times: Grocers, retailers prepared for Y2K

Chicago Sun-Times: Daley tries to nip Y2K fears - CTA won't let trains run near midnight

Chicago Sun-Times: Daley rips Hillard's Y2K staff memo

Chicago Sun-Times: Fire, theft top Y2K fears - Public's reaction also a big worry

Chicago Sun-Times: Apocalypse delayed - Prophets retreat from predictions

Chicago Sun-Times: Oh no! What will we worry about in 2000?

Chicago Sun-Times: Survivalist's wallet ends up $15K lighter

Chicago Sun-Times: Returning items may not be easy

Chicago Sun-Times: Consumers likely are stuck with extra Y2K provisions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 9 min
December 22, 2025Johann Hoch: Bigamist and Murderer
Alyssa and Molly McAleer from Mother May I Sleep with Podcast travel back to the late 1890's/ early 1900's to discuss Chicago's Bluebeard Johann Hoch, a bigamist and murder whose crimes would be too much for a Lifetime Movie plot.
Show Notes:
Second City Sinners

New York Times: JOHANN HOCH HANGED, PROTESTING INNOCENCE; Wife Murderer's Lawyers to Test Denial of Stay in Last Hour. PRISONER FORCED DELAY Refused to Leave Death Cell Until Full Time Allowed by Sentence Was Run.

Digital Library of Chicago History: John Schmidt, aka Johann Otto Hoch thought to have killed over 50 women.
American Heritage: The Lady-killer

CBS: Chicago Hauntings: The Sinister Men Who Were Executed At The Old Cook County Jail Gallows, And Sightings At The River North Firehouse Now In Its Place

Chicago Tribune: WIVES OF HOCK FOUND ALL OVER.: Four More Listed by the New York Police Make Total of 37 Deluded Widows. EAST ALSO HIS PARISH. Much Married Man May Be Put on Way to Chicago This Morning on Extradition. Several Months in Landing One. Gets Her $900 and Skips. Will Demand His Punishment. May Be Still Another. Hock Again Is Remanded. Hock Flirts in Courtroom.

Chicago Tribune: THIS HOCK WIFE OF HIS OWN KIND.: Mrs. Ranken, His Spouse in 1895, Said to Have Too Many Husbands. POLICE SEE THE RECORDS. Documents Indicate Bigamist Was Married Twice in Seven Months. Justice Shows Hock Marriages. Matrimonial Agent Is Accuser. O'Neill Informed of Warrant.

Chicago Tribune: HOCK GLORIES IN MARITAL RECORD.: Thinks It Is Great Joke to Be Suspected of Murder of Many Wives, and Has a Happy Time. "WIDOWS HARD TO KEEP." Man "Explains" Sudden Deaths, Says He Is "Affectionate," and Tells of His Career, Which Began Early. Mysterious Powder in His Room. "GOt to suffer for Deserters," Sweatbox to Calin Him Down. Connoisseur of German Widows. Married Only Twice, He Says. It Is a Great Joke with Him. Angered by Talk of Poison.. "Disappointed" in Last Widow. Widows Weak, Savs Hock. Sava Police Are "Away Off." Adventurer Since Immigration. Taking Way with Widows. Chicago Headquarters for Years. Marriage "Ads" His Bait. New Wives in Quick Succession. Hopes He Can Meet the Woman. Doen Not Deny This Wife. Likes to Marry Sisters. Another One He "Can't Place." Explains Death of One More. Admits the Last Wives. Woman Sees Hock Again. Tells of Hammond Marriage. Still Kind to Her Husband. Will Get Startling Evidence.

Chicago Tribune: ROMANCE IN HOCK CASE.: BLUEBEARD CAUSES JEALOUS RIVAL TO WARN WIDOW. Romance in Story. Rival Suitor Suspicious. Suspicions Result in Arrest.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 54 min
December 15, 2025Sixteen Inch Softball: The Malort of Sports
Alyssa and Matt Drufke from the comedy show Still Not Friday talk about 16 inch softball.

Show Notes:
ABC-7: 'Chicago's game': 16-inch softball, created on Near South Side, celebrates 135th anniversary

Encyclopedia of Chicago:Softball, 16-Inch

Loop North News: The Home Front

Chicago History Museum: Indoor Baseball in Chicago:

Block Club Chicago: The Mangled History Of 16-Inch Softball Hands: Mallets, Swan Necks And Jersey Fingers

Chicago Tribune: Five facts about 16-inch softball

Chicago Reader: Searching for lovable losers? Sixteen-inch softball is the answer

Chicago Reader: Sticks and stones will break your bones, and so will 16-inch softball

Chicago Reader: Here’s the Pitch

Block Club Chicago: After 10 Years On The Bench, Park District Revives Co-Ed 16-Inch Softball: ‘We Got To Bring The Game Back’

New York Times: Gloveless Players Hold on to Softball Dreams

Block Club Chicago: Alderpeople Vs. Chicago Cops In 16-Inch Softball: ‘This Is The Best We’ve Gotten Along All Year

Axios: Kegger softball is a real thing

WGN: Jammed, broken, bent: Chicago’s own 16-inch softball comes with its own badge of honor

Chicago Sun-Times: Elena Kagan played Chicago-style 16-inch softball at U of Chicago

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 21 min
December 08, 2025The First Street Race: NASCAR was the Sequel
I am joined by Vanessa from Reel Relationships to talk about the first Motocycle (automobile) race in America which took place in Chicago.
Show Notes:
Smithsonian: Six Cars Raced to the Finish Line of the U.S.’s First Automobile Race—at Speeds of Seven Miles Per Hour

SI: Days of Blunder: The First U.S. Car Race Was Won 125 Years Ago ... at 7 mph

WGN: Second City Firsts

NBC Chicago: From the first auto race to NASCAR street racing: Chicago's racing history

NBC: Chicago hosted America's first auto race more than 100 years ago

Library of Illinois: America's First Automobile Race Occured in Chicago, Illinois, in 1895.

Chicago History Museum:H. H. Kohlsaat and the First Automotive Race in the US

NASCAR: Before the Chicago Street Race, there was the race that started it all

ABC-7: Aldermen meet with NASCAR over future of Chicago Street Race

Chicago Tribune: Chicago made a bit of money on NASCAR race in 2024

New York Times: NASCAR’s weather-plagued Chicago debut: On the Xfinity decision and what to expect for Cup

Block Club Chicago: Rain-Delayed NASCAR Chicago Street Race Wraps After Weather Cancels Morning Race And Concerts

Fortune: ‘Life-threatening’ floods bring Nascar race through downtown Chicago to screeching halt

Road & Track: NASCAR Needed Its Chicago Street Race to be a Success. Then Came the Flood.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 14 min
December 01, 2025 REWIND - The Christmas Tree Ship: A Forest on the Water
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
1 hr 27 min
November 24, 2025Brown's Chicken Massacre: DNA for the Win
I am joined by Steven Ray Morris to talk about the Brown's Chicken Massacre.
Show Notes:
Seattle Times: Browns Chicken Murders Changed Business Forever

Chicago Tribune: Judge tosses bid for new hearing in Brown’s Chicken massacre

Chicago Sun-Times: ‘Divine intervention’ helped solve Brown’s Chicken Massacre, investigator says

NBC Chicago: Former Girlfriend of Murder Suspect Testifies

New York Times: Illinois Mass Murderer Is Spared Execution

How to Catch a Criminal: Taking a Bite out of Crime

Something Big The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre, A Decade-Long Manhunt, and the Trials That Followed

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 20 min
November 21, 2025Midway Blitz Updates: The Lie
A lot happened today including two important written findings.

Show Notes:
U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes

Judge Sarah Ellis

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

About Oh, Malort!

From the publisher's feed

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…