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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

1904 – The Match Head Man: A Strange Tale of Addiction

Published on February 21, 2023

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Law & Order, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

A woman complains that her husband has been eating match heads since their honeymoon and wants to know what can be done about it.

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1934 – Wife Snores in Morse Code

Published on February 2, 2023

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

Lloyd Copley claimed that his wife Leila snored in Morse code as an attempt to signal a lover outside of their home.

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Marty, the Marijuana Mouse – Podcast #190

Published on February 2, 2023

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Humor, Podcast

The crazy true story of Marty, a mouse who was stealing marijuana and other drugs from the evidence room of the San Jose police department in 1974.

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1938 – Fishing Trip Accidents Send Family to Hospital (Footnote)

Published on January 21, 2023

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine

The Mowrar family should have never gone fishing. All went home with significant injuries to their right hands or arms.

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1960 – Christmas Cards Arrive 20 Years Late (Footnote)

Published on December 23, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Holidays & Celebrations

Things do get lost in the mail, but the US Postal Service was unable to explain why these Christmas cards were delivered 20 years late.

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1920 – Christmas Cactus Theft Epidemic (Footnote)

Published on December 18, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Was there really a Christmas cactus theft epidemic hitting Santa Ana, California back in 1920?

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The Cryptanalyst (Part 3) – Podcast #184

Published on November 18, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Podcast

In this final installment, Marvin Lautzenhesier discusses leaving the FBI, his patents, and the giant theater organ that he installed in his house.

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1961 – A Stewed Duck Is Too Saucy to Suit Cops (Footnote)

Published on August 29, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Humor

Two policemen set out to capture a drunk duck. It wasn't as easy as they had hoped...

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1964 – Unable to Find Affordable Housing, Student Sleeps in Air Vent

Published on August 19, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Schools & Education, Tidbits

Allan Kornfeld was unable to afford student housing at Yale. So, he decided to move into a ventilation shaft.

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1926 – Fire Company Called To Put Out a Sunset (Footnote)

Published on August 17, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Escape and Survival, Footnotes to History

Firemen in Tulsa, Oklahoma were called out on an emergency call. The supposed fire was really the sunset.

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1954 – Smog Turns Necktie a Bluish Purple

Published on August 11, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Tidbits

James Sharpless decided to wear a bright colored tie to his classes, only to find that the California smog had caused it to turn color.

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1885: The Cake Bewitched Him (Footnote)

Published on August 8, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History, Love & Marriage

A man elopes with another man's wife and is arrested. He blames it on her delicious cake!

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1922 – Dead Woman Sits Up in Coffin

Published on August 4, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Death and Murder, Tidbits

Everyone was certain that Rebacca Senst had died. That was until she sat up in her coffin...

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1950 – Dogs Shoot Owners (Footnote)

Published on July 29, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History

It's rare that a dog shoots its owner. Yet, it happened twice in one month in Olney, Texas.

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The Rise & Fall of the Celestial Comet – Podcast #176

Published on July 19, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Hoaxes, Podcast, Sports

In 1941, the Plainfield Teachers College football team was unstoppable. That was until a reporter exposed a shocking secret about the team and their storybook season was brought to a grinding halt.

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Recent Podcast Episodes

Retrocast 16 – Podcast #193
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