Useless Information

Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

1927 – Every Kiss Takes 3 Minutes From Lovers’ Life Span (Footnote)

Published on February 17, 2023

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Love & Marriage, Science, Technology & Medicine

Can kissing really shorten one's life? That's what students at Western State College concluded.

Click to Read More...

1962 – Come On, Baby, Don’t Do the Twist! (Footnote)

Published on February 9, 2023

Posted in: Entertainment, Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine

The American Medical Association warned that anyone who was over 40 should avoid doing the Twist, the latest dance craze.

Click to Read More...

1950 – Dentist Pulls Tooth, Patient Jumps Out Window (Footnote)

Published on January 31, 2023

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine

James Wheatley had his tooth pulled and had a strange reaction to the anesthesia: he jumped out the window!

Click to Read More...

1938 – Fishing Trip Accidents Send Family to Hospital (Footnote)

Published on January 21, 2023

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine

The Mowrar family should have never gone fishing. All went home with significant injuries to their right hands or arms.

Click to Read More...

1948 – New Pill Bans That Fear of Trip to Dentist (Footnote)

Published on August 22, 2022

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine

Drs. Milton Levine and Robert Hoyt introduced a pill that would take the fear out of going to the dentist. It probably wasn't as safe as they originally thought.

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1927: Fly Swatter Used To Lose Weight

Published on June 3, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Springfield, MA was experiencing a big run on fly swatters because women were using them to swat away their excess weight.

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1949: 14 Tonsils Taken In Family Surgery

Published on February 22, 2022

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Mr. & Mrs. Lester Backer decided to have the tonsils removed from all seven of their children at the same time...

Click to Read More...

Becomes Doctor after 45 Years

Published on January 7, 2022

Posted in: Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

They say it's never too late to pursue one's dreams. Find out why it took August S. Claus so long to get his medical degree.

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1947: Lazy Man Makes Tough Job Simple

Published on October 8, 2021

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Clarence E. Bleicher, president of the Chrysler Corp.'s De Soto division, told the US Senate's Labor Commission how he solves tough jobs at his plant.

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1914: Speaking English Deforms the Mouth

Published on September 18, 2021

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

In 1914, Lord Ashbourne described to an audience how the speaking of English deformed the human jaw.

Click to Read More...

5 Records for Admittance to Dance

Published on July 21, 2021

Posted in: Forgotten History, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

A dance being held at the Urban Room in the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh had an unusual admittance price: 5 phonograph records.

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1933: Surgeons Take Table Fork from Girl’s Stomach

Published on July 14, 2021

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

It seems nearly impossible but a girl in 1933 swallowed a full-size table fork. Surgery would be needed...

Click to Read More...

Footnote – 1928: Ford Car Mysteriously Receives Telegraph Signals

Published on July 10, 2021

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

In 1928, a Ford car was reported to have received telegraph signals. The engine of the car was off.

Click to Read More...

A Blind Eye – Helen Vasco – Podcast #151

Published on June 28, 2021

Posted in: Forgotten History, Law & Order, Love & Marriage, Podcast, Science, Technology & Medicine

In 1933, Helen Vasko was diagnosed with a malignant eye tumor that threatened her life. Her parents would not consent to surgery and the case ended up in court. Find out which side won this landmark case.

Click to Read More...

The St. Louis Diphtheria Tragedy – Podcast #147

Published on March 26, 2021

Posted in: Death and Murder, Podcast, Science, Technology & Medicine

The diphtheria vaccine saved many lives until children in St. Louis started dying from it back in 1901. One could say that it was all the fault of a horse named Jim.

Click to Read More...

Language

Follow the Podcast

Over 5.5 Million Downloads!

Recent Podcast Episodes

Retrocast 16 – Podcast #193
March 20, 2023
A Severed Relationship – Podcast #192
March 6, 2023
Retrocast #15 – Podcast #191
February 14, 2023
Marty, the Marijuana Mouse – Podcast #190
February 2, 2023
Retrocast #14 – Podcast #189
January 19, 2023
The Newburyport Anti-Inflation Plan – Podcast #188
January 9, 2023
Christmas Retrocast – Podcast #187
December 20, 2022
Bad Apples #5 – The Bishop’s Wife – Podcast #186
December 15, 2022
200 Years of Twas the Night – Podcast #185
December 5, 2022
The Cryptanalyst (Part 3) – Podcast #184
November 18, 2022