Oh, Malort!

In this episode Alyssa tells Hugh Yemen about Second City and its lasting impact on improv. SHOW NOTES:  Chicago Tribune: More improvised exits at Second City in management shake-up Playbill: Hate Speech in the Audience Causes Chicago Cast Member to Call It Quits League of Chicago Theatres U of News: Improv Explained Chicago Tribune: When Abbie Hoffman took the Second City stage during Chicago Sev...

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: Niag...

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...

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....

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 Do...

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 al...

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'...

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 b...

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 $...

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 cr...

In this episode, Alyssa gets Morgan Stringer's takes on three upcoming Chicago lawsuits: Thompson V United States, The Hoover Case, and Hubbard Inn.  Directly related discussions include: a dead banker found in the master bedroom of a client, Demon Dogs, the band Chicago, Streets and Sanitation, SCOTUS, Real Housewives (SLC and OC), and Coffeezilla. It is a wild ride. SHOW NOTES:  Chicago Tribune:...

 In this episode Alyssa tells Ben Panko about the 1992 and 2021 versions of the movie Candyman and the urban legends which surround it.   Show Notes: Chicago Tribune: Cabrini-Green and a horror film that captured the fears of public housing Vox: How a tragic unsolved murder and a public housing crisis led to Candyman Chicago Reader: How a story about the horrors of housing projects became part of...

Alyssa updates John Zinn about the Madigan trial which organically invokes William Shakespeare, Steven Sondheim, and David Axelrod and others.   Stay for the Putin comparison. Show Notes: Chicago Sun-Times: David Axelrod deliberates on the case against Michael Madigan Chicago Sun-Times: The case against Mike Madigan, laid out in explosive court documents Chicago Sun-Times:Madigan judge has experie...

Alyssa is joined by Molly McAleer from Mother May I Sleep With Podcast and Trend Lightly to discuss "The Steve Bartman Incident" and some parallels to the 1986 Red Sox.   In case you don't know, on October 14th, 2003 during the NLCS the Cubs imploded and for years one man was blamed.   Show Notes: MLB YouTube: The Steve Bartman Incident Sports Illustrated: What happened to Steve Bartman? NYT: Stev...

In this episode I tell Jeff Tischauser from Southern Poverty Law Center about the time the Chicago Tribune created a LGBTQA Moral Panic in the 1970's and how it is alive and well in 2024.   We had some audio issues with this episode and are taking step to insure they never happen again but thought it is too good not to release and recording would not have had the same impact. Show Notes: Senate He...

In this episode I am joined by Captain Scoot and we discuss Block 37 which was nothing better than a land grab which inspired a book and a BBC Documentary. Show Notes: Chicago Magazine: A Brief History of Block 37 Chicago Tribune: A look at Block 37’s troubled past Chicago Magazine: The Block 37 Superstation: Chicago's Money Pit Chicago Tribune: Block 37 represents a painful missed opportunity Red...

In this episode we discuss Sears, Roebuck and Company. Show Notes: WTTW: The Rise and Fall of the Mail Order Giants (Article) WTTW: The Rise and Fall of the Mail Order Giants (Video) Smithsonian: The Rise and Fall of Sears CNN: Sears’ extraordinary history: A timeline History Channel: Sears Chicago Tribune: Sears timeline: Rise, fall and restructuring of a Chicago icon over 130 years Learn more ab...

This is not an episode about the history of Mike Royko. Instead, Alyssa is joined by writer and actor Mitchell Bisschop to discuss his one-man show Royko: The Toughest Man in Chicago and the journalist's contribution to the city.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa is joined by Risen Lady Heathen to discuss innovator Aaron Montgomery Ward and his contribution to retail and the Chicago Lakefront.   Other Topics: The Fire American Girl Hobbies and crafts during COVID Timezones Chicago School of Economics Layaway Pots and pans in the dishwasher Film cameras Why I started this podcast Show Notes:  Chicago History Museum: Montgomery Ward’s First Catalog WT...

I am joined by Vanessa to talk about Dan Proft. A man who hates Chicago.  Digressions include:  Veggie Tales Disqualifying resume items for Chicago pols Why is Chicago so Corrupt? What Russel Brand has been up to since he divorced Katy Perry Vanessa Googles Dan Proft’s hair in real time. Show Notes: Chicago Sun-Times: Through Liberty Principles PAC, Dan Proft spreads millions to GOP Chicago Magazi...

This week Mo Sting from Hot Dockets and I discuss the trial of the Chicago Seven. So much laughter. Show Notes: Conspiracy in the Streets The Extraordinary Trial of the Chicago Seven The Chicago Conspiracy Trial Time: ‘Violence Was Inevitable’: How 7 Key Players Remember the Chaos of 1968’s Democratic National Convention Protests Chicago History Museum:The Chicago 7 Trial Learn more about your ad...

Chicago will host the 2024 DNC convention but is is worth exploring the most tear-gassed convention in 1968. The parallels are amazing. History rhymes. SHOW NOTES: Bill Kurtis remembers the 1968 Democratic National Convention Part 1: 'The Whole World's Watching: 20 Years Later,' A 1988 CBS 2 Documentar Part 2: 'The Whole World's Watching: 20 Years Later,' A 1988 CBS 2 Documentary Part 3: 'The Whol...

This episode was released last summer but next week Chicago will host the DNC and given how crazy the last month has been it might be good to explore what happen then. This is a two part episode to belly up to bar and get ready. The Whole Word in Watching. Original Summary: Chicago will host the 2024 DNC convention but is is worth exploring the most tear-gassed convention in 1968. The parallels ar...

Twenty 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...