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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the WWW Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Dick the Dog – Podcast #111

Published on April 30, 2018

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Podcast

Jacob Silverman made national headlines in 1922 for the crime of owning a dog named Dick. Pennsylvania's Alien Dog Law forbid unnaturalized residents from owning dogs and required the dogs be killed.

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Le Mars Trilogy: Part 2 – Farmers in Revolt – Podcast #104

Published on July 7, 2017

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Podcast

The Great Depression was an awful time for farmers in Iowa, culminating with the near-hanging of Judge Bradley in Le Mars over a farm owned by T.M. Zink.

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Waiter Drugs Non-Tipper

Published on June 30, 2017

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Tidbits

In 1964 waiter Herbert A. Talmud was accused of poisoning the food of customers at the Occidental Restaurant in Washington, DC.

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Permitted to Wear Van Dyke Beard

Published on June 26, 2017

Posted in: Law & Order, Tidbits

On July 24, 1955, the NY State Labor Department ruled that a man couldn't be fired from his job as a swimming pool attendant for having a Van Dyke beard.

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Eleuterio the Parrot

Published on February 15, 2017

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Forgotten History, Law & Order, Tidbits

Eleuterio the parrot was a national celebrity in Brazil. He was famous for his vulgarities and was nominated for city council.

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Vote Cacareco

Published on February 1, 2017

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Law & Order, Tidbits

In October of 1959, it was reported that a female rhinoceros named Cacareco had won the San Paolo municipal council election in a landslide.

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Millionaire for a Day – Podcast #99

Published on November 28, 2016

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Forgotten History, Law & Order, Podcast

What should a political party do if they do not want the winner of the primary on the ballot? Butch McDevitt was such a man back in 1911.

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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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Bars Glue in Ice Cream

Published on August 15, 2016

Posted in: Law & Order, Tidbits

The Board of Health in NYC banned the use of glue in the manufacture of ice cream in 1920.

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Topless Cellist

Published on July 12, 2016

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Entertainment, Law & Order, Tidbits

On May 9, 1967, NYC Judge Milton Shalleck handed down a ruling in the case of 28-year-old Charlotte Moorman who played her cello topless.

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Yonkers Anti-Shorts Law – Podcast #95

Published on July 12, 2016

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Podcast

Great story about a ban that the city of Yonkers put in place back in 1935 to prevent women from wearing shorts and halter tops.

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Car Wrecked Over Nudists

Published on June 30, 2016

Posted in: Law & Order, Tidbits

In 1936, Long Valley, NJ constable Will Searles staged a one-man war against a local nudist camp.

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Teacher Refuses Loyalty Oath

Published on March 20, 2016

Posted in: Law & Order, Schools & Education, Tidbits

A New York City teacher was fired in 1918 for refusing to sign a loyalty oath supporting the US during World War I.

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Women with Children Banned from Teaching

Published on March 13, 2016

Posted in: Law & Order, Schools & Education, Tidbits

In 1911, the New York City Board of Education banned women with small children from teaching in the classroom.

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Too Pretty to Teach

Published on March 6, 2016

Posted in: Law & Order, Schools & Education, Tidbits

Back in 1906, Genevieve McGraw was fired from her teaching position for being too popular and pretty.

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