14. Chicago Unsolved- Max Headroom Hacks WGN and WTTW

Join us for a limited series called Chicago Unsolved, where hosts Nick Sarantos (co-host of the DIBS Podcast) and Kerry Karic explore one of Chicago’s strangest true-life mysteries — the Max Headroom Incident.In 1987, during a Sunday night Bears broadcast, WGN’s signal was hijacked by a figure in a rubber Max Headroom mask. Two hours later, it happened again—this time on PBS affiliate WTTW during Doctor Who. What followed was a bizarre, 90-second pirate transmission filled with cryptic phrases, eerie laughter, and a fly swatter.No one was ever caught.Joining Nick and Kerry is Professor Paul Booth, DePaul University’s professor of media and pop culture, who helps unravel how this low-tech act of rebellion became one of the most infamous unsolved hacks in television history. Together, they revisit the analog world of 1980s Chicago, decode the cultural impact of Max Headroom, and explore what this moment reveals about media, technology, and the rise of counterculture in America’s third-largest city.In this episode:The night Chicago TV went dark: how two local stations were hijacked in real time.Why the Max Headroom Incident still fascinates tech historians and pop-culture fans nearly 40 years later.The eerie connection between the hacker’s message, media consolidation, and today’s digital echo chambers.What the analog age can still teach us about creativity, rebellion, and control.Chicago Unsolved is brought to you by Vision Construction and Consulting, Inc. and One Tale at a Time Animal Rescue.Be sure also to check out our sister show, DIBS, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow @Chicago_History on Instagram, Facebook, and X for more stories, behind-the-scenes content, and clips from both podcasts. Like, comment, and be a part of @Chicago_History.Nick's Instagram - @chiniko312Kerry's Instagram - @Kerryc9