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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the WWW Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Boy Hires Abbott and Costello for 70 Cents (1942)

Published on August 26, 2025

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

A 12-year-old boy asked Abbott and Costello to perform at a vaudeville show that he was putting on in his widowed mother's backyard. They reluctantly agreed to do it, but would they show up?

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Publishers Reject Best-Selling Book (1979)

Published on November 22, 2024

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

As an experiment, the manuscript for the award-winning book Steps by Jerzy Kosinski was submitted to a number of publishing houses. Would any of them show interest in publishing it?

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Pet Rocks – Podcast #228

Published on November 7, 2024

Posted in: Entertainment, Podcast

Something different in this podcast: I let podcast hosts Art Quinn and Cynthia Coleman tell one of my stories! It’s all about the 1975 Pet Rock fad and how it all happened.

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Leading Lady, Hidden Gent – Hollywood Switcheroo (1944)

Published on December 6, 2023

Posted in: Entertainment, Hoaxes, Tidbits

In 1943, Tanis Chandler was desperate to act in movies. With WWII going on, she came up with a unique solution. It backfired on her.

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Male Go-Go Dancers Need to Wear Bras (1975)

Published on August 22, 2023

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

Male dancers at the Merritt House in Dundalk, Maryland were told that they would need to cover their bare chests. Brassieres were suggested.

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Mississippi Bans Sesame Street – Podcast #200

Published on July 17, 2023

Posted in: Entertainment, Podcast

Sesame Street soared to fame, captivating viewers nationwide—except in Mississippi. Allegedly banned due to concerns over a diverse cast, this episode uncovers the truth behind the ban.

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1962: Come On, Baby, Don’t Do the Twist! (Footnote)

Published on February 9, 2023

Posted in: Entertainment, Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine

The American Medical Association warned that anyone who was over 40 should avoid doing the Twist, the latest dance craze.

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The Eddie Cantor Peace Prize – Podcast #166

Published on February 15, 2022

Posted in: Entertainment, Forgotten History, Fraud & Deception, Podcast

In 1936, superstar Eddie Cantor asked his radio listeners to write an essay describing how the United States could avoid war. The prize was a full college scholarship. With no set rules, something was certain to go wrong. And it did...

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The Glass House Girl – Podcast #164

Published on January 13, 2022

Posted in: Entertainment, Podcast

Edna Kirby spent more than a decade in Hollywood appearing in silent movies for Paramount Studios. While she never became a movie star, Edna drew large crowds in nearly every town that she visited. That’s because Edna Kirby lived in a glass house.

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Girls Crash Circus

Published on March 17, 2021

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus turned down Bri Murphy and Kay Mitchell's desire to work as clowns. They found another solution.

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Rock Group Heart Should Have a Heart Attack

Published on January 10, 2019

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

An April 6, 1976 review of the rock group Heart by Ian Haysom was titled “Call them Vancouver superflops." He ripped the group to shreds.

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The Carpenters are the Disney Version of Music

Published on January 5, 2019

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

James D. Dilts offered up a review of a Carpenters concert in the August 3, 1972 issue of the Baltimore Sun comparing their music to that of Disney.

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Carole King Can Barely Sing

Published on December 28, 2018

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

A November 4, 1970 review of the album titled “Writer: Carole King” just tore into her singing ability.

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Twilight Zone Chooses to Keep Rod Serling

Published on May 21, 2017

Posted in: Entertainment, Money & Financial, Tidbits

Can you imagine The Twilight Zone television series with Orson Welles as the host? It almost happened...

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Topless Cellist

Published on July 12, 2016

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

On May 9, 1967, NYC Judge Milton Shalleck handed down a ruling in the case of 28-year-old Charlotte Moorman who played her cello topless.

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