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Oh, Malort! episodes

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

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1 hr 6 min
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

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1 hr 24 min
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 120 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

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54 min
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

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1 hr 21 min
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

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1 hr 53 min
June 30, 2025New Illinois: Everything Old
Alyssa tells Planko about Illinois Separation.

Show Notes:
New City: Postcard from Forgottonia: The land that time chose not to remember

Chicago Tribune: Meet the people working to kick Chicago out of Illinois

ABC 20: Group is looking to secede the state of Illinois from Chicago

WGLT: McLean County Libertarians Host Illinois Separation Founder

Chicago Magazine: Hands Off, Indiana

The Forgottonia Project

Peoria Star Journal: Gone but not Forgottonia

Forgottonia: A multi-media love letter to rural America

Fly North Musicals: Forgottonia A New Musical

Laude News: Review: Fly North Theatricals Presents 'Forgottonia' Original Musical Online

Capital City Now: Lincoln’s New Salem State to Receive 8 Million for Improvements

YouTube: Collin Cliburn

Washington Post: These Illinois Republicans are rallying around a bill to kick deep-blue Chicago out of the state

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1 hr 21 min
June 23, 2025Rewind: History of Pride in Chicago
In this episode Alyssa is joined by David Baxter to discuss the history of Pride in Chicago.

Show Notes:
Chicago Magazine: A Brief History of Chicago’s Pride Parade

WTTW: How Chicago’s Pride Parade Grew from a Small March to a Big Event
Out & Proud in Chicago

Windy City Times: From a March to a Parade: Chicago's Pride History

NPR: Gloria Gaynor: 'I Will Survive' Is 'The Core Of My Purpose'

Pink Triangles Rising

10 Historic LGBTQ Moments in Chicago

Curbed: 10 Historic LGBTQ Sites to Vistit

National Park Service: Chicago: Queer Histories at the Crossroads of America

Business Insider: I toured LGBTQ-friendly neighborhoods in 3 cities during Pride Month and found they all honor LGBTQ people in unique ways

NBC Chicago: 9 Things to Know About Pride Parade

NBC Chicago: New route, timing and more: What to know about the 2024 Chicago Pride Parade

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1 hr 2 min
June 16, 2025Mike Madigan's Sentencing: He Lied
While John was busy saving democracy Alyssa recaps Madigan's sentencing for Morgan with a few digressions including the writing styles of SCOTUS justices and is someone trying to kill R. Kelly.
Socials:
Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram
Show Notes:
Chicago Sun-Times: R. Kelly News

Chicago Sun-Times: USA V Michael Madigan

Chicago Tribune: An expert at rounding up support, ex-Speaker Michael Madigan leaning on letters at corruption sentencing

Chicago Tribune: Here’s who wrote a letter of support for former House Speaker Michael Madigan

Chicago Tribune: After six decades on Illinois’ public stage, Michael Madigan’s likely last act will be his sentencing in a courtroom Friday
Chicago Tribune: Ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison after judge excoriates him for lying on witness stand

Chicago Tribune: Madigan attorneys say feds’ call for 12.5-year sentence is ‘draconian’; prosecutors say he’s worth $40 million in new court filings

Politico: Meet the judge overseeing the Trump National Guard case: Justice Breyer’s brother

Chicago Tribune: Republicans, some Democrats and even ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich weigh in on ex-Speaker Michael Madigan’s sentence

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2 hr 35 min
June 09, 2025The Slick Boys: The Good Guys
After talking about Larry Hoover, Alyssa decided to read the book written by rapper cops ⁠The Slick Boys⁠ and tell Scoot all about it.

SHOW NOTES:
⁠The Slick Boys: A Ten Point Plan To Rescue Your Community By Three Chicago Cops Who Are Making⁠

⁠Medium: Hip Hop Cops⁠

⁠Chicago Tribune: GOOD COP, BAD COP⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Cops hip to gangs⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Seinfeld date rumor nothing to talk about⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: KUP ON SUNDAY⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Flashy nomination won't pay the bills⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Cops Stay on the Beat, Inspire Kids With Rap⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: Rapping Cops Win a Juicy $1,000 Grant⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: KUP'S COLUMN⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: KUP'S COLUMN⁠

⁠Chicago Sun-Times: A Slick Segue to Silver Screen⁠ ⁠Peace in the Hood?⁠

⁠WGN: Funding cuts threaten local nonprofits hoping to curb violence in Chicago⁠

⁠A Foot in Each World - Eric Davis, retired Chicago police officer, entrepreneur & executive director⁠

⁠WTTW: Firsthand Peacekeepers⁠

⁠CBS: Chicago youth Peacekeepers Program is making a difference with violence prevention⁠

⁠CBS: Northwestern study shows success of Peacekeepers Program in Chicago area⁠

⁠Chicago Contrarian: Chicago’s Peacekeepers: The Devil You Don’t Know⁠

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1 hr 22 min
June 02, 2025Larry Hoover: Who and what now?
Last week Trump commuted the sentence of Larry Hoover. In this episode Alyssa tells Jack Gill from Hardly Focused about the man and what happens now.
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Socials:
Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram
Larry Hoover has come up in the episodes about Cabrini Green:
Episode One

Episode Two

Episode Three
We also talked about his 2024 hearing in This episode.
Show Notes:
Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago drug kingpin Larry Hoover's path to a commutation ran through Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort

Slate: How Did Chicago Get So Violent?

CBS 2: Gangster Disciples leader Larry Hoover says he's paid his debt to society

New York Times: Larry Hoover, Former Chicago Gang Leader, Wins Commutation From Trump

New York Times: Trump Commutes Federal Life Sentences of Larry Hoover, Chicago Gang Leader

Kanye West’s full remarks in the Oval Office

USA Today: Trump commutes sentence of former Chicago gang leader Larry Hoover

Chicago Tribune: 21ST CENTURY VOTE GIVING GANGS TASTE OF REAL POWER

Chicago Sun-Times: Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover's quest for freedom faces key test this week

ThoughtCo: Maximum Security Federal Prison: ADX Supermax

Chicago Tribune: Larry Hoover ‘deserves to be in prison,’ Chicago FBI boss says of Gangster Disciples founder as lawyers praise Trump choice

Chicago Tribune: Ronald S. Safer: I prosecuted Larry Hoover. Here is why he should not have his sentences commuted.

Chicago Sun-Times: Larry Hoover, Robert Crimo III have Illinois prison sentences to serve — but where?

Kanye in the Oval

Chicago Tribune: FORCES BEHIND GANG PEACE SUMMIT SAY THAT YEAR-OLD TRUCE IS WORKING

Chicago Tribune: A GANG SUMMIT-OR JUST A CHARADE?

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1 hr 39 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…