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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the WWW Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Aren’t We Devils? – Podcast #255

Published on March 18, 2026

Posted in: Hoaxes, Humor, Podcast

A running gag on the 1944 Truth or Consequences radio show was for host Ralph Edwards to ask, “Is there a Mr. Wickel in the house?” He never expected an answer...

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A Playful Feud with the Cable Company (1977)

Published on July 22, 2025

Posted in: Humor, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

A man in Vacaville, California preferred to pay his monthly cable bills quarterly. He didn't like the constant reminders that the company kept sending him for his unpaid bills, which started a friendly feud with them.

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Do Men or Women Get the Last Laugh? (1977)

Published on July 17, 2025

Posted in: Humor, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

A 1977 University of Wisconsin study took a look at whether jokes that made fun of men or women were funnier.

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Marty, the Marijuana Mouse – Podcast #190

Published on February 2, 2023

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Humor, Podcast

The crazy true story of Marty, a mouse who was stealing marijuana and other drugs from the evidence room of the San Jose police department in 1974.

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1955 – Wife Teed Off At Husband (Footnote)

Published on December 26, 2022

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Holidays & Celebrations, Humor, Love & Marriage

Lew Luquire made the mistake of not getting home in time after playing a round of golf. His wife decided to get even.

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1961 – A Stewed Duck Is Too Saucy to Suit Cops (Footnote)

Published on August 29, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Humor

Two policemen set out to capture a drunk duck. It wasn't as easy as they had hoped...

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1949 – Little Boy Finds Toilet Seat Not Quite His Size (Footnote)

Published on July 25, 2022

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Humor

Phillip Burrows decided to try his junior toilet seat on for size. He slipped his head through the opening and then got stuck.

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1952 – Akron Woman Loses Car

Published on June 22, 2022

Posted in: Humor, Tidbits

Mrs. Helen Block abandoned her car after it got stuck during a snowstorm. The problem was that she had no idea where she had left it.

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Footnote – 1937: Fall on Ice Starts Blaze in His Pants

Published on June 17, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Humor

Joseph Trainor fell on the ice and his pants caught on fire. Yet, he did not have a single match on him...

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Footnote – 1952: Dammed Missouri Valley Book Disappears in Flood

Published on October 12, 2021

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Humor, Tidbits

A patron was unable to return the book The Dammed Missouri Valley to his local library because the river had taken it away in a flood.

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Footnote – 1952: 200 Hog Calling Records Stolen

Published on September 7, 2021

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History, Humor

Just what would anyone do with 200 stolen hog calling phonograph records?

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Footnote – 1949: Just Tell It Like It Is

Published on September 7, 2021

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Humor

A company in London decided to do away with desk trays labeled Incoming and Outgoing. Instead, they came up with trays with more realistic labels.

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Giraffes Can’t Speak

Published on March 24, 2021

Posted in: Hoaxes, Humor, Tidbits

What did the giraffe say when the elephant stepped on his toe? To find out the answer, kids had to dial long-distance to find out the answer.

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Woman Swallows a Live Mouse

Published on July 18, 2019

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Humor, Tidbits

It's really true! Florence Hill of Denver, Colorado swallowed a live mouse back in 1959.

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Toothless Dog Charged in Biting

Published on February 20, 2019

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Humor, Tidbits

Morris Epstein sued Ben Stillman on September 13, 1930 because his police dog had bitten him. The problem was that his dog was toothless.

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