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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the WWW Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Myron Grombacher Got A Wig Instead (1970)

Published on December 12, 2025

Posted in: Fraud & Deception, Schools & Education, Tidbits

Drummer Myron Grombacher came up with a very unique solution to his high school's ban on long hair. It allowed him to keep his long hair yet be permitted to attend school.

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Ice Nickels (1938)

Published on May 27, 2025

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Fraud & Deception, Money & Financial, Tidbits

Students at Stanford University came up with a unique way to avoid paying for phone calls. Ingenious? Yes. Legal? Probably not.

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Miss USA for a Day – Podcast #227

Published on October 23, 2024

Posted in: Fraud & Deception, Love & Marriage, Podcast

Back in 1957, Leona Gage had beauty, charm, and a crown—until scandal snatched it away. Just what had she done wrong? Discover the whirlwind rise and dramatic fall of the beauty queen who became an overnight sensation.

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Lies in the Fast Lane – Podcast #223

Published on August 13, 2024

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Death and Murder, Fraud & Deception, Law & Order, Podcast

Truck driver Eugene Wood hid a big secret from his friends and family. No one suspected anything. That was until he was killed in a traffic accident and a judge in Troy, NY uncovered the truth.

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The Cryptanalyst (Part 2) – Podcast #183

Published on November 3, 2022

Posted in: Fraud & Deception, Law & Order, Podcast

In this second installment, 93-year-old Marvin Lautzenheiser discusses his time as an FBI field agent, how his team finally deciphered the hollow nickel message, and offers up his opinion on the Steven Spielberg movie Bridge of Spies.

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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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Man Steals Railway

Published on November 13, 2020

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Fraud & Deception, Tidbits

Just how does one steal a railroad? Very simple: do it one piece at a time. At least that is what Joseph Gemma attempted to do in 1938.

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She Won’t Get Fooled Again

Published on March 10, 2020

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Fraud & Deception, Tidbits

After being tricked into paying for a package that was delivered, Jane Waters was not about to be tricked twice.

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Not Dead Yet…

Published on November 6, 2019

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

Sometimes the person that died isn't who he really is. The dead person may still be alive...

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The Adventure of a Lifetime – Podcast #117

Published on December 1, 2018

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Fraud & Deception, Podcast

The unbelievable true story of Joseph Schmitz, Leslie Cohen, & Joseph Murano set out on the adventure of a lifetime in 1957, but nothing was at it seemed.

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The Walking Murphys – Podcast #116

Published on October 25, 2018

Posted in: Forgotten History, Fraud & Deception, Podcast

Long-forgotten story of Robert Murphy and his family as they were walking through Pennsylvania. A great story of how a community came together to help others in need.

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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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The Case of the Phantom Vegetable Oil – Podcast #109

Published on January 30, 2018

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Fraud & Deception, Podcast

Tino De Angelis was the salad oil king in the early 1960's until his house of cards came crashing down. A fascinating true story of fraud and deception.

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Pretended to be an Astronaut

Published on December 15, 2017

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Fraud & Deception, Tidbits

On June 13, 1963, Milton Berle acknowledged the astronaut Jerry Clayton was in the audience. So were four additional astronauts that said he was a fake.

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Where There’s a Wilby, There’s a Way – Podcast #101

Published on March 27, 2017

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

The story of Ralph M. Wilby is one of international intrigue, deception, financial trickery, and the obligatory beautiful woman...

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