Oh, Malort!

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Oh, Malort! episodes

October 06, 2025Wingfoot Air Express: Why Chicago is not Blimpoplis
Alyssa is joined by Risen. We talk about the first blimp which fell out of the sky.
Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram
Show Notes:
Society For American Baseball Research:July 21, 1919: Horrified White Sox fans witness Wingfoot Express blimp disaster in Chicago

NYT: 11 KILLED, 27 HURT IN BLAZING BLIMP'S FALL IN CHICAGO

Chicago Sun-Times: This week in history: Goodyear blimp catches fire in Loop

Wingfoot Air Express

Chicagology: The Red July of 1919

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1 hr 9 min
September 29, 2025Edward and Stephania Andrews: A Cold Case
Alyssa is joined by Max Winkler director of Ryan Murphy's The Ed Gein Story to discuss Alyssa's Cameo in said upcoming Netflix series, Max's love of Chicago as well as a riveting cold case that led to divers finding cars in the Chicago River.

Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram
Show Notes:
Chicago Tribune: With hidden evidence on their minds, unusual dive team takes to the Chicago RiverChicago Tribune: RELATIVES ARE

HOPING 24-YEAR MYSTERY OVER

Chicago Sun-Times: NW Suburb Couple Missing

Chicago Sun-Times: Search Back On for Couple Missing 24 Years

Chicago Tribune: POLICE MAKE A NEW DIVE AT 1970S MYSTERY

MISSING COUPLE MAY BE IN POND IN LAKE COUNTY

Chicago Tribune: POND COMES UP DRY OF CLUES ABOUT MISSING COUPLE

Chicago Tribune: NEWS DREDGES UP MEMORIES OF GANG LAKE FOREST WOULD LIKE TO FORGET

Chicago Tribune: ROAD TALES RESURFACE FROM ABE TO `THE BLUES BROTHERS,' WACKER HAS LONG LEGACY

Chicago Tribune: Curtain of Mystery Cloaks Couple's Disappearance

New Nation: 140 cars found in Chicago River amid search for missing couple

Motor Biscuit: Divers enter Chicago River over a 1970 cold case and find not 1, but 97 cars

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1 hr 3 min
September 22, 2025Edward Vrdolyak Part Two: A Clown
Alyssa tells at Morgan about Fast Edde.
Socials:
Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram
Show Notes:
DOJ: INDICTED IN ALLEGED KICKBACK
SCHEME INVOLVING GOLD COAST REAL ESTATE DEAL

Chicago Sun-Times: The billionaire behind the scenes in White Sox' stadium plan

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1 hr 11 min
September 15, 2025Edward Vrdolyak Part One: Corruption Junction
Alyssa tells at Morgan about Fast Eddie. We take a digression into the 78.
Socials:
Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram
Show Notes:
DOJ: INDICTED IN ALLEGED KICKBACK
SCHEME INVOLVING GOLD COAST REAL ESTATE DEAL

Chicago Sun-Times: The billionaire behind the scenes in White Sox' stadium plan

Ed Burke Episode 2: The Council Wars

Betty Loren-Maltese: An Icon

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58 min
September 08, 2025Bozo: The World's Greatest
In this episode, Alyssa tells John Zinn about the legacy of Bozo.
Socials:
Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram
Show Notes:
Chicago Reader: Our Town: Bozo the Clown

Chicago Reader: The Bozo Chronicles

BOZO AT THE CIRCUS - A Capitol Record-Reader (1946)

Classic Chicago Magazine: Bozo, America’s Favorite Clown

LA Times: Waiting for Bozo: In Chicago, they take a clown seriously.

People: How David Arquette and Billy Corgan's Shared Love of Clowns Led to an Unlikely Partnership (Exclusive)

ABC: Battling Bozos

WGN: How WGN-TV’s Bozo The Clown came to be

LA Times: Bozo Has Left the Building

Chicago Tribune: Where’s Bozo?

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1 hr 10 min
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

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2 hr 9 min
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

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1 hr 7 min
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

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1 hr 22 min
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

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1 hr 8 min
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

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1 hr 32 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…