Oh, Malort!

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...

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 P...

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 EventOut & 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...

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 lean...

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...

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.  Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends.  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 e...

Alyssa tells about a chap dubbed "Spider Dan" who, among other things, scaled the Sear Tower using suction cups on Memorial Day in 1981.  Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes:  Chicago Tribune: ‘Spider Dan’ wowed Chicagoans with his scaling of skyscrapers WTTW: Spider Dan Climbs Chicago Chicago Fire Department:Chicago Fire Dept. Spider Dan Climbs the Hancock building ABC 7: 'Spider Dan'...

In this episode Alyssa tells Vanessa from Reel Relationships about the legacy of  The Berghoff.   Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends.  Socials:Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes: CNN: Gloria Steinem, In Her Own Words Chicago Tribune: Historic Berghoff to closeNPR: The Berghoff, A Chicago Institution, to Close JStore: “No Unescorted Ladies Will Be Served” Chicago Tri...

Earlier in the week, before the hot debate was does the Pope prefer the Cubs or the Sox, Trump took time in the Oval Office to talk about the Obama Presidential Center.  After months of seeing weirdos on the internet spreading theories about what is happening with this project I thought I would tell Hugh about the history and dispel some...inaccuracies.  Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and te...

Alyssa finishes telling  Morgan Stringer about the plight of Abraham Bolden. Related topics include: the JFK assassination, possible weaponization of the government, people being sent to facilities with possibly no release date. Additionally, we're gonna discuss some recurring characters from the Fred Hampton trial. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends.  Socials:Twitter, ...

Alyssa tells  Morgan Stringer about Abraham the first Black Secret Service Agent to serve in the White House.  Related topics include: the JFK assassination, possible weaponization of the government, people being sent to facilities with possibly no release date. Additionally, we're gonna discuss some recurring characters from the Fred Hampton trial. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell al...

Alyssa tells Ken Guy the history of breweries in Chicago.   Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends.  Socials: Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Episodes mentioned:  Block 37 1855 Lager Beer Riots. Show Notes:  Serious Eats: A Brief History of Beer in Chicago Provi: Chicago Beer History: A Timeline The New Chicagoan: History: Old Style is Not Chicago's Beer and Other Chicago Beer...

In this episode Alyssa tells Pat about James Caesar Petrillo. He has a bandshell named after him in Grant Park but what do we really know about the man?  Answer, he is an idiot.  Listen to learn all the ways this becomes evident.   We also talk about tube socks and Van Halen. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends.  Socials: Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes:  Lea Act...

Alyssa tells David Baxter the real life story behind the musical Chicago.   Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends.  Socials: Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Check out Other Episodes: Grease: The OG Broadway Transfer William Hale "Big Bill" Thompson: Illinois Most Corrupt Politician Show Notes: Chicago Tribune: Silent 1927 'Chicago' to make a musical comeback Chicagology: Mauri...

After they reminisce about workplace email hijinks, Alyssa gives John an update on the Mike Madigan trial, the closing of the Hard Rock Cafe, and the takeover of the Kennedy Center then they take a trip to Zion, Illinois which was founded as a theocracy.  Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends.  Socials: Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram   Show Notes: AP: The Earth is Flat Cracke...

Alyssa tells Pat all about the time Oak Park, a Chicago suburb, was torn apart after discovering an ACTUAL Nazi was a part of their community.  Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and tell all your friends.  Socials: Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram  Check out Other Episodes: It's Okay to Punch a Nazi Fascism Frenzy KKK in Chikago: It's a Okay to Dox a Racist Show Notes: Chicago Magazine: The Nazi of...

Alyssa is joined by Risen to tell her the history of St. Patrick' Day celebrations in Chicago.  Socials: Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram Show Notes: WTTW: Labor of Love: A St. Patrick’s Day Special Chicago Tribune: Vintage Chicago Tribune: The city’s St. Patrick’s Day traditions Smithsonian: The Origins of Chicago’s Green River, Shamrock Shakes and Other Surprising Trivia About St. Patrick’s Day TimeO...

Alyssa tells Vannesa from Reel Relationships about Chicago's crazy and chaotic relationship with Daylight Saving Time.   We also dispel a few widely believed myths on the subject.   SHOW NOTES: Country Living: The History of Daylight Saving Time—and 11 Weird Facts to Know About It The History Channel: 8 Things You May Not Know About Daylight Saving Time Washington Post: Why people hated permanent...

In this episode, Alyssa and Scoot talk about how fascism became a bit of a fad in the 1930's. Show Notes: WTTW: The American Nazi-Sympathizing Group That Drew Tens of Thousands of Members Before World War II WTTW: Fascism in Chicago Chicago Reader: In 1939 Nazis rallied in Chicago to make Germany great again NYU: Home-Grown Nazis- John C. Metcalfe and James J. Metcalfe - Chicago Daily Times Time:...

 Alyssa tells Molly McAleer about the STILL ONGOING Jussie Smollett saga.   Show Notes: Northwestern: Breaking Down Kim Foxx’s Win in the 2020 Primary Ballotpedia: Kim Foxx WTTW: Former Top Cop Was Drunk When Officers Allowed Him to Drive Home: Watchdog Chicago Tribune: Ex-FOP leader, suspecting politics at play, gets 3-year suspension from Chicago police union for use of camera in rival’s office...

This week Alyssa dropped everything to tell John all about the verdict and the subsequent reactions. It truly is Shakespearean.  We also have some hot takes on opportunities for Blago.    SHOW NOTE:  Chicago Tribune: ‘Wow, we were part of something really big’: Madigan jurors on how they reached their verdict WTTW: Michael Madigan Found Guilty of Bribery Conspiracy, Other Charges as Jury Deadlocke...

In this informal episode, Alyssa updates John on the Madigan trial. We also talk about Burke, Blago, and Trump's vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture. SHOW NOTES: Chicago Tribune: A disappearing witness, an odd choice of hold music and the Fighting Irish: 5 strange things you might not know about the Madigan trial Chicago Sun-Times: USA v. Michael Madigan Chicago Tribune: On 8th day of deli...

In this episode Alyssa tells Ben Panko about a guy found crucified in Chicago which led her into the crazy story about a guy named Dr. Emil Bronner.  It is a wild ride. San Diego Reader: Dr. Bronner invented the peppermint oil soap for soiled diapers Emanuel Bronner Label Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox Digital Research Library of Illinois History: The Shocking Story of Chicago's first and only Crucif...

Alyssa tells Morgan all about the Fred Hampton Trial. 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 C...

Alyssa tell Morgan Stringer about the legal aftermath of the Fred Hampton murder 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 Ha...