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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

6-Year-Old Goes on a Buying Spree

Published on September 21, 2018

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Money & Financial, Tidbits

In 1933, 6-year-old Bertha Deshefy of Yonkers % % went on a spending spree. In 4 hours, Bertha used her dad's bankroll to purchase $110 worth of candy and toys.

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The Monster Crash at Crush – Podcast #115

Published on September 15, 2018

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Podcast

Back in 1896, two trains of the Katy railroad were purposely smashed together for entertainment purposes. Suddenly, one of the boilers blew up and debris began to rain down on the crowd.

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Kept Alive by Pumping Arms

Published on August 21, 2018

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

In 1927, 18-year old Walter L. Boothe was kept alive for sixteen days by his friends who constantly pumped his arms up and down.

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Baby Moses – Podcast #114

Published on August 8, 2018

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Fraud & Deception, Podcast

Effie Crawford made a startling discovery in 1936. Moving through the brush near her home she spotted a large dog carrying a bundle that contained a baby.

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Officer, I am Being Followed…

Published on July 29, 2018

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

In 1954, two officers in Vernon, CA pulled over a car driven by Virgil Grover Attebery. He claimed to have been followed for miles by another car.

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Both Children Born in a Yellow Cab

Published on July 19, 2018

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Tidbits

Chicago resident Rose Simon gave both to both of her children while riding to the hospital in a Yellow Cab.

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Cow Jumps Over the Moon

Published on June 16, 2018

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly on February 18, 1930 when a tri-motored Ford airplane flew her to a height of 5,000 feet.

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Woman Befriends Rats

Published on June 8, 2018

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Tidbits

A sanitary inspector in London visited the Platts Lane home of 80-year-old Rachel Willard after receiving numerous complaints from her neighbors. They had claimed that Mrs. Willard had not only been harboring rats in her garden but that she was also providing them with food.

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Don’t Drink Sunlight Dish Detergent

Published on February 19, 2018

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Hoaxes, Tidbits

On July 15, 1982 the Maryland Poison Control Center in Baltimore reported that 33 adults and 46 children had consumed a brand new lemon-scented dishwashing liquid named Sunlight.

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Glue Sniffing Fad

Published on February 12, 2018

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

On July 5, 1962, Arizona state authorities tried to calm the public by telling them that the latest craze of glue sniffing was just a fad.

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The Man Who Gave Away His Birthday – Podcast #108

Published on December 30, 2017

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

When Robert Louis Stevenson learned that Annie Ide disliked her Christmas birthday, he gave her his birthday. The story includes an interview with Heather Finn, the woman who inherited his birthday.

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Won Nose Job on TV

Published on October 30, 2017

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Tidbits

Terry Phillips won a nose job while a contestant on the TV show State Your Case in March of 1957.

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Placed Tooth in His Ear

Published on September 22, 2017

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Tidbits

On September 18, 1957, 8-yr-old Pedro Lozado was sitting in a Chicago classroom when he decided to yank a loose tooth out. He then placed it in his ear.

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Tried to Hide Her Report Card

Published on September 15, 2017

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Escape and Survival, Schools & Education, Tidbits

11-year-old Nellie Stevens of Indianapolis, Indiana was missing for six days because she was too afraid to show her report card to her foster parents.

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Teacher Punishes Students with an Electric Chair

Published on September 8, 2017

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Schools & Education, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Barnesville, Minnesota science teacher H.T. Upsahl was arrested on October 21, 1924, for using an electric chair to punish his students.

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