Useless Information

Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the WWW Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

A White Lie – Podcast #246

Published on September 17, 2025

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast

Latest episode! He had the perfect life. A respected doctor. A stately home. A town that never asked questions—until the Navy did. After the publication of their story in Reader's Digest in 1947, the entire nation would learn their secret.

Click to Read More...

The First Jewish Couple Married on National TV – Podcast #121

Published on September 3, 2025

Posted in: Forgotten History, Love & Marriage, Podcast

Stan and Natalie Rubin were the first Jewish couple ever married on television in the United States, but it almost never happened because of their religion.

Click to Read More...

Winston Churchill Gets Run Over – Podcast #225

Published on September 18, 2024

Posted in: Forgotten History, Law & Order, Podcast

While Winston Churchill was crossing Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in 1931, he was hit by a car and thrown down to the pavement. Unable to move his fingers and toes, Churchill believed that he was paralyzed. Exactly what happened?

Click to Read More...

The Great Los Angeles Air Raid – Podcast #181

Published on October 7, 2022

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast

The long-forgotten story of a battle that took place over Los Angeles just a few months after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. The US used all its might to shoot down the enemy planes detected overhead.

Click to Read More...

Henry Ford’s Peace Ship – Podcast #172

Published on May 16, 2022

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast

In 1915, Henry Ford sought to end WWI by chartering a ship and sailing with many of the prominent peace activists of the day to Europe. Find out what happened next...

Click to Read More...

The Father of Voice Radio – Reginald Fessenden – Podcast #169

Published on March 31, 2022

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast

It’s hard to believe, but when the first words were spoken on radio, it was dismissed as a novelty. It seems as if everyone thought that Morse code was the future. Everyone except for Reginald Fessenden.

Click to Read More...

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...

Click to Read More...

Don’t Mess With Minerva Miller – Podcast #157

Published on September 29, 2021

Posted in: Forgotten History, Law & Order, Podcast

In 1911, Mrs. Minerva Miller went to The Paterson Show in Paterson, NJ to watch a movie. A standard ticket cost 5 cents, but Mrs. Miller was told that she would have to pay 25 cents because she was black. She decided to challenge the theater's racist policy.

Click to Read More...

Lost in the Mountains – Pamela Hollingworth – Podcast #155

Published on August 30, 2021

Posted in: Escape and Survival, Forgotten History, Podcast

Most Popular Podcast of 2021! In 1941, 5-year-old Pamela Hollingworth disappeared into the dense forest of New Hampshire's White Mountains. More than 1,500 men spent more than a week looking for her. Was she murdered, kidnapped, or something else? Find out what really happened to Pamela Hollingworth.

Click to Read More...

5 Records for Admittance to Dance

Published on July 21, 2021

Posted in: Forgotten History, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

A dance being held at the Urban Room in the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh had an unusual admittance price: 5 phonograph records.

Click to Read More...

A Blind Eye – Helen Vasco – Podcast #151

Published on June 28, 2021

Posted in: Forgotten History, Law & Order, Love & Marriage, Podcast, Science, Technology & Medicine

In 1933, Helen Vasko was diagnosed with a malignant eye tumor that threatened her life. Her parents would not consent to surgery and the case ended up in court. Find out which side won this landmark case.

Click to Read More...

The Price of a Kiss – Podcast #146

Published on March 2, 2021

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Forgotten History, Money & Financial, Podcast

In 1919, Dr. Justin L. Mitchell kissed nurse Mathilde Benkhardt without her consent. Her lawsuit may have ruined the rest of his life.

Click to Read More...

The Runaway Miss America – Podcast #142

Published on December 5, 2020

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast

Bette Cooper never dreamed of winning a beauty pageant and was shocked when she won the 1937 Miss America title. Within hours, Bette had disappeared. Where could she have gone?

Click to Read More...

The Flying Housewife – Podcast #140

Published on November 15, 2020

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast

In 1938, Richarda "Dikki" Morrow-Tait set off from London in an attempt to become the first woman to pilot an airplane around the world. She encountered setback after setback. Would she make it?

Click to Read More...

Horseless Age Is Not Far Away

Published on October 30, 2020

Posted in: Forgotten History, Tidbits

In 1912, Gleeson Murphy, vice-president of the General Motors Truck Company predicted that the age of the horseless city was not very far away.

Click to Read More...

Language

Follow the Podcast

Over 7 Million Downloads!

Goodpods Top 50 History Indie Podcasts Listen now!

Recent Podcast Episodes

The Straw Hat Riots – Podcast #263
September 23, 2026
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