Useless Information

Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Faked His Own Death

Published on November 17, 2015

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Death and Murder, Fraud & Deception, Tidbits

Albert L. Paglino faked his own death in 1955 by murdering another man. He may have gotten away with it, but made one big mistake on the day of his funeral.

Click to Read More...

He Liked to Hear the Glass Tinkle

Published on September 2, 2015

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Tidbits

A man called the police to let them know he was breaking the glass of store windows. Read this story to find out the bizarre reason why he did it.

Click to Read More...

Twins Switch Places

Published on August 5, 2015

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Tidbits

On Sunday, April 1, 1951, officer Carl Hamm pulled over a car in Milwaukee. The man identified himself as Elmer Urban, but he was clearly lying...

Click to Read More...

Lookout Falls from Tree

Published on July 22, 2015

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Tidbits

In 1959, four men decided to crack the safe at a Boston bank. John Storis was the lookout while the other three cracked the safe. He then fell from a tree.

Click to Read More...

Clarence Frechette – Michigan’s Flying Bandit – Podcast #83

Published on June 7, 2015

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Death and Murder, Podcast

Clarence Frechette made national news for a bizarre attack on the pilot of an airplane, possibly making him the world's first hijacker.

Click to Read More...

Cuts Off Mother-in-Law’s Nose

Published on June 3, 2015

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

Red Fork, OK resident Jack Van Zandt was arrested in 1931 after getting in an argument with his mother-in-law. He had cut off her nose...

Click to Read More...

Oops…Wrong Husband

Published on May 27, 2015

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

In 1945, Victor Sammarco was arrested for failure to pay alimony to his ex-wife. He claimed never to have seen her before.

Click to Read More...

Character Day Bank Holdup

Published on May 20, 2015

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

Six students from the Santa Rosa Junior College found themselves in hot water in 1960. They dressed up in roaring ‘20’s clothes and decided to rob a bank...

Click to Read More...

Murder in the Mail – Podcast #80

Published on March 6, 2015

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Death and Murder, Podcast

John Kmetz received a trial supply of herbal pills that would restore vitality to his 54-year-old body. Shortly after taking the pills, Kmetz was dead.

Click to Read More...

The Great Venus Swindle – Podcast #79

Published on January 21, 2015

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Fraud & Deception, Podcast, Unbelievable

In 1953, Harold Jesse Berney was chosen by the US government to be its main contact with Uccelles, a prince visiting our planet from Venus. A crazy, true story!

Click to Read More...

Stolen Coffee Truck

Published on December 26, 2014

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Tidbits

In 1958, thieves in NYC stole a tractor-trailer loaded with $22,000 worth of green coffee. They unloaded the truck and ripped a hole through the garage door.

Click to Read More...

Girls Free Santa Claus

Published on December 9, 2014

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

In 1933, two sisters hired a lawyer to get Santa out of jail. The judge later apologized to the girls and Christmas was saved.

Click to Read More...

William Cimillo – Busman’s Holiday – Podcast #70

Published on February 10, 2014

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Podcast, Unbelievable

Every day for 16 years, bus driver William Cimillo drove his passenger bus. One morning he took a left turn and just kept going. True story!

Click to Read More...

Tunnel Joe Holmes – Podcast #69

Published on January 4, 2014

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Escape and Survival, Podcast

Tunnel Joe Holmes was a career criminal serving a 20-year sentence for burglary. His great escape in 1951 elevated him to celebrity status overnight.

Click to Read More...

Ivory Soap Murders – Podcast #60

Published on February 19, 2013

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Death and Murder, Podcast

The Easter Sunday 1937 murder of Veronica Gedeon launched a nationwide hunt for the killer. Two bars of Ivory soap led the police to the killer.

Click to Read More...

Language

Follow the Podcast

Over 6 Million Downloads!

Recent Podcast Episodes

Retrocast #22 – Podcast #208
November 30, 2023
Slippery the Sea Lion – Podcast #207
November 14, 2023
Retrocast #21 – Podcast #206
October 23, 2023
The Naked Mustard Ladies – Podcast #205
October 9, 2023
Retrocast #20 – Podcast #204
September 20, 2023
Boxed for a Better Life – Podcast #203
September 11, 2023
Retrocast #19 – Podcast #202
August 15, 2023
Back Into the Woods – Podcast #201
August 2, 2023
Mississippi Bans Sesame Street – Podcast #200
July 17, 2023
Bonus Episode: I Am a Guest on the Off Exit 10 Podcast
July 5, 2023

╳