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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the WWW Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Tom McGee’s Back on the Chain Gang – Podcast #161

Published on November 30, 2021

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

Tom McGee wanted nothing more for Christmas than to be able to spend time caring for his hogs. The only catch was that he needed to commit a crime and hope that a judge would sentence him to time on one of Georgia’s infamous chain gangs.

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Kids Keep Santa From Getting a Ticket

Published on December 28, 2020

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Just what happens when Santa Claus is pulled over for speeding? This story from 1965 just may have the answer.

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Santa Stuck in Chimney

Published on December 27, 2020

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Everyone knows that Santa comes down the chimney to deliver his gifts. Sometimes he gets stuck...

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Gift of 4-Tons of Fertilizer

Published on December 24, 2020

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Back in 1945, Norval H. Milliken received a very unusual Christmas gift: 4-tons of manure. It took some detective work to figure out who sent it.

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A Grateful Mother – Podcast #143

Published on December 21, 2020

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

The heartwarming true story from the 1950s of a secret Santa and the generous Christmas gifts that he gave to Helen Arnold's family in Akron, Ohio.

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17-Year Christmas Card Mystery

Published on January 11, 2020

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Year after year, Mr. and Mrs. Leo M. Dooley of Akron, Ohio would receive a Christmas card but had no clue who was sending it. The mystery was finally solved...

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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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