Parachute Drops Christmas Gifts

• Published on January 4, 2020

• Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

For Christmas 1944, Pfc. Wesley De Quinn was overseas fighting in the war. His gifts to his family were delivered in the most unusual way.

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Sacramental Wine for Jewish Families to Be Doubled

• Published on December 27, 2019

• Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

The question arose in 1932, during Prohibition, whether or not the quota of sacramental wine for Jewish families should be increased.

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A Christmas Eve Kidnapping – Podcast #130

• Published on December 20, 2019

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

On Christmas Eve of 1937, a man in Centerville, Indiana kidnapped a young boy and his babysitter. Minutes later, the boy's mother and the local grocer were taken prisoner by a second thug. A shootout between the bandit and the boy's father then followed.

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No Locks at Denny’s

• Published on December 25, 2018

• Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

In December of 1988, the restaurant chain Denny’s decided to close all of its 1,221 stores for the Christmas holiday. That's when they found out that many of their restaurants lacked door locks.

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Empty Christmas Envelopes

• Published on December 24, 2018

• Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

A true story about 50 empty envelopes that were mailed from the Spokane, Washington post office.

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Santa Breaks Girl’s Heart

• Published on December 23, 2018

• Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

When Tillie Oakley was told by an older student that Santa did not exist, she became very ill. No one could do anything to help her.

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Christmas Time in Santa Heim – Podcast #118

• Published on December 21, 2018

• Posted in: Forgotten History, Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

Fun story from the 1940's about a man named Harry H. Heim who converted a defunct mill town into the ultimate Christmas wonderland.

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Safety Buttons Proven Unsafe

• Published on January 21, 2018

• Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

In 1974 the Consumer Product Safety Commission had to recall 80,000 of their own "Think Toy Safety" buttons because they were unsafe.

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Only Santa Fits Down Chimneys

• Published on January 14, 2018

• Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Shortly after Christmas in 1960, 8-year-old London resident Alan Smith decided to emulate Santa by going down the chimney. He got stuck...

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Got Just What He Asked For

• Published on January 7, 2018

• Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

In 1958, Warren David of Racine, Wisconsin received exactly what he wanted for Christmas: A living doll.

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The Man Who Gave Away His Birthday – Podcast #108

• Published on December 30, 2017

• Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

When Robert Louis Stevenson learned that Annie Ide disliked her Christmas birthday, he gave her his birthday. The story includes an interview with Heather Finn, the woman who inherited his birthday.

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Found Out Who Her Husband Really Was…

• Published on October 28, 2016

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Holidays & Celebrations, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

Halloween 1936: Howard Law of Chicago purchased a box of candy for his wife. He was soon arrested for being an escaped prisoner.

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Dressed Like a Man for Halloween

• Published on October 24, 2016

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

Back in 1921, New York City resident Etta Caulfield decided to dress up as a man for Halloween. Soon she was arrested for doing so.

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The Trick-or-Treat Dentist – Podcast #98

• Published on October 19, 2016

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Holidays & Celebrations, Law & Order, Podcast

Back in 1959 dentist William V. Shyne was charged with giving laxative pills to trick-or-treaters. Find out what happened next...

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Good Samaritan Saves Christmas

• Published on December 31, 2015

• Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Mrs. Pat Robinson helped saved Christmas for the Ball family of Long Beach after their car was wrecked and their gifts were scattered all over the road.

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