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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the WWW Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

The Straw Hat Riots – Podcast #263

Published on September 23, 2026

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Fashion & Design, Podcast

Latest episode! It started as a harmless Wall Street tradition: smash the straw hats of any man foolish enough to wear one after September 15. Then teenagers took up the cause, and before long, New York City was in the grip of the bizarre—and sometimes deadly—Straw Hat Riots.

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Announcing Steve’s Toolbox on YouTube!

Published on September 22, 2026

Posted in: Miscellaneous

I am proud to announce the launch of my new YouTube channel, Steve's Toolbox! I've been filming since I retired from teaching back in 2020, so check out what the channel has to offer.

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Retrocast #44 – Podcast #262

Published on September 1, 2026

Posted in: Podcast, Tidbits

Kids suck subway tokens from turnstiles, two men claim to save a girl’s life, a woman marries a pet rock, a meatloaf made from dog food, & much more!

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Braless Fridays – Podcast #261

Published on August 4, 2026

Posted in: Law & Order, Podcast

In 1969, a casual coffee-break joke about going braless cost a woman her job, sparked nationwide headlines, inspired copycat events across the country, and eventually wound up in court. That's exactly what happened to Jane Andre—all because of an undergarment.

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Sucking Subway Tokens (1983)

Published on September 22, 2026

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Tidbits

Imagine dropping your subway token into a turnstile slot. As soon as you do that, someone places their lips over the coin slot and sucks your token out. It really did happen...

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The Unsung Saint (1961)

Published on September 15, 2026

Posted in: Fraud & Deception, Hoaxes, Tidbits

A California receptionist sold her paintings to help those in need. After winning French Academy of Arts $20,000 Victor Hugo award, her generosity came to a sudden halt.

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Who Really Caught the Baby? (1950)

Published on September 8, 2026

Posted in: Escape and Survival, Fraud & Deception, Tidbits

A young girl falls five stories from an open apartment building. One man catches her and is hailed as a hero. That is until witnesses claim another man is the one who caught her.

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You Can Call Me Al, Just Al (1966)

Published on July 21, 2026

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Tidbits

Al Capone, Jr. didn't like living in the shadow of his notorious father. He preferred to lead a clean life, so he took action to fix the problem.

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The 2½-Mile Miracle (1960)

Published on July 17, 2026

Posted in: Escape and Survival, Tidbits

9-year-old Virgil Swartwood slipped and fell into an Erie, PA sewer tunnel. The current carried him 2-1/2 miles underground before he was discharged into Lake Erie.

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Too Many Smiths (1957)

Published on July 14, 2026

Posted in: Law & Order, Tidbits

James Wilbur Smith applied to have his driver's license renewed, but the State of Ohio refused to do so because of a car accident. The problem was that he hadn't been in one.

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Retrocast #43 – Podcast #260

Published on July 9, 2026

Posted in: Podcast, Retrocasts

Al Capone’s son tries to avoid his notorious father’s past, a boy survives a 2-1/2 mile-long plunge in a tunnel, nudists fail to pay their laundry bill, and much more!

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The Battle of the Bangs – Podcast #259

Published on June 24, 2026

Posted in: Law & Order, Podcast, Schools & Education

In 1967, a 14-year-old boy was suspended from school for refusing to cut his long hair. Then a judge sending him to a juvenile detention home for psychiatric evaluation.

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Mothers Nurse the Wrong Babies (1954)

Published on June 16, 2026

Posted in: Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Two mothers gave birth to sons on the same date in the same hospital. Could their babies have been accidentally switched at birth? They wouldn't have conclusive proof until they had nursed their babies for five weeks.

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Burial Crypt Ready for the Future (1940)

Published on June 12, 2026

Posted in: Death and Murder, Tidbits

Bob Wright was one of those people who planned for his death. His crypt was no exception. He outfitted it with all of the comforts of home.

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House Cut in Half (1933)

Published on June 9, 2026

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Tidbits

Two sisters were unable to agree on the repair of a house that suffered fire damage. As a result, one sister arranged for the house to be cut in half and moved.

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Recent Podcast Episodes

Retrocast #44 – Podcast #262
September 1, 2026
Braless Fridays – Podcast #261
August 4, 2026
Retrocast #43 – Podcast #260
July 9, 2026
The Battle of the Bangs – Podcast #259
June 24, 2026
Retrocast #42 – Podcast #258
June 4, 2026
Leaping Leopards – Podcast #257
May 13, 2026
Retrocast #41 – Podcast #256
April 20, 2026
Aren’t We Devils? – Podcast #255
March 18, 2026
Retrocast #40 – Podcast #254
February 26, 2026
Lost in the Clouds – Podcast #253
February 4, 2026