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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the WWW Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

1949 – Boy Wishes for Stone for Mother’s Grave (Footnote)

Published on December 20, 2022

Posted in: Death and Murder, Footnotes to History, Holidays & Celebrations

All 11-year-old Bobby Lovell wanted for Christmas was a stone for his mother's grave. Would his wish come true?

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1947 – Gift Wrapper Raps in Vain (Footnote)

Published on December 19, 2022

Posted in: Escape and Survival, Footnotes to History, Holidays & Celebrations

Joe Gibson was so focused on his job of wrapping gifts that he lost track of time and was locked in a warehouse. With some rags, string, and wire, he worked toward escaping...

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1920 – Christmas Cactus Theft Epidemic (Footnote)

Published on December 18, 2022

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

Was there really a Christmas cactus theft epidemic hitting Santa Ana, California back in 1920?

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1915 – Bank Accounts of 41,000 Schoolchildren Saved (Footnote)

Published on December 18, 2022

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Money & Financial, Tidbits

When the Pittsburgh Bank for Savings abruptly closed its doors three days before Christmas, the deposits of 41,000 students were thought lost. One banker saved the accounts.

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200 Years of Twas the Night – Podcast #185

Published on December 5, 2022

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

Author Pamela McColl discusses the origins of the poem, the debate over who truly wrote it, and how it has gone on to be the most published and most often recited poem in the library of English literature.

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Arbor Day Turns 150! – Podcast #171

Published on April 28, 2022

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

Arbor Day is 150 years old! Learn the origins of the day, plus how one small upstate New York town continues the annual celebration.

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Footnote – 1958: Christmases Have Merry Christmas

Published on December 24, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

The Christmases got together in 1958 to celebrate Christmas. They had to deal with prank calls from people making fun of their last name.

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Footnote – 1953: Absent-Minded Santa Claus

Published on December 23, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Sometimes Santa needs to be more focused on the job that he has chosen to do...

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How To Fill A Giant Christmas Stocking?

Published on December 22, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

In 1965, radio station WDGY held a contest for the largest Christmas stocking. They were not prepared for what was submitted.

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Footnote – 1949: Ontario Boy Given Snake by Museum

Published on December 21, 2021

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

A couple from Ontario drove 125 miles so that their son could purchase a snake, only to find out that the museum had none for sale. Would his heart be broken for Christmas?

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Reindeer Nips Boy’s Finger

Published on December 20, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

In 1954, 2-year-old Richard Ferris decided to let a reindeer take a lick from his lollipop. That was a mistake...

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Footnote – 1948: Early Greeting Might Be Said in Bad Taste

Published on December 19, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Imagine arriving home to find your bathtub filled with gelatin. That happened to Mr. & Mrs. Jack Halstead.

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A Very Unusual Christmas Tree

Published on December 17, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Back in 1900, students in the University of Pennsylvania’s biology department presented their professors with an unusually decorated Christmas tree.

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Retrocast #6 – Podcast #162

Published on December 15, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast, Retrocasts

A reindeer that bit a boy’s finger, a lawsuit over the world’s largest Christmas stocking, an absent-minded Santa Claus, a Santa caught with his pants down, the first Christmas film ever made, and much more!

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Footnote – 1937: Santa Claus Has Trouble Getting Down This Chimney

Published on December 14, 2021

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

It was every child's fear: Santa Claus got stuck in a San Antonio, TX chimney. Would he be able to deliver his gifts?

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