Double Your Money by Boiling It

• Published on March 10, 2021

• Posted in: Money & Financial, Tidbits

In 1917, Long Island resident Mike Botrinski attempted to double his money by boiling it. Could this crazy idea actually work?

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The Price of a Kiss – Podcast #146

• Published on March 2, 2021

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Forgotten History, Money & Financial, Podcast

In 1919, Dr. Justin L. Mitchell kissed nurse Mathilde Benkhardt without her consent. Her lawsuit may have ruined the rest of his life.

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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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Woke Up Beside a Dead Man

• Published on April 7, 2020

• Posted in: Death and Murder, Money & Financial, Tidbits

On New Year's Eve of 1899, Henry Meyer came home to find his boss in his bed. The next morning, he awoke to find his boss had been shot dead.

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An Inside Job – Podcast #131

• Published on January 25, 2020

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Money & Financial, Podcast

The incredible story of how James Rufus Landis stole $160,000 in $20 bills from the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing on New Year's Eve of 1953.

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Soul Searching – Podcast #129

• Published on November 22, 2019

• Posted in: Death and Murder, Money & Financial, Podcast

Miner James Kidd made an incredibly unusual request in his will that would take more than 21 years for the courts to resolve.

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50,000 Books Given Away

• Published on October 5, 2019

• Posted in: Miscellaneous, Money & Financial, Tidbits

When the Brattle Book Shop was forced to move in 1964, it had to give away 50,000 books for free.

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Milk Bottle Shortage

• Published on September 21, 2019

• Posted in: Forgotten History, Money & Financial, Tidbits

On November 14, 1946, it was reported that there was a shortage of milk bottles in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

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The Coal Mountain Casanova – Podcast #120

• Published on March 19, 2019

• Posted in: Love & Marriage, Money & Financial, Podcast

In 1952, Jesse Garrett had recently divorced and was in search of a new wife. He seemed like a catch and hundreds of women contacted him to let them know that they were interested. In the end, Jesse Garrett was financially ruined.

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6-Year-Old Goes on a Buying Spree

• Published on September 21, 2018

• Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Money & Financial, Tidbits

In 1933, 6-year-old Bertha Deshefy of Yonkers % % went on a spending spree. In 4 hours, Bertha used her dad's bankroll to purchase $110 worth of candy and toys.

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Pennies Hoarded for Gold

• Published on August 14, 2018

• Posted in: Money & Financial, Tidbits

Residents of Amityville, NY hoarded pennies in 1902 so that they could melt them down to get the gold out of the coins.

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Self-Service Gasoline

• Published on July 26, 2018

• Posted in: Money & Financial, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Opposition to self-service gasoline stations was very high in the 1940s and '50s. Today, only New Jersey has a total ban on them.

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Le Mars Trilogy: Part 1 – T.M. Zink’s Library – Podcast #103

• Published on June 10, 2017

• Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Death and Murder, Money & Financial, Podcast

TM Zink left his entire fortune for the establishment of a Womanless library. Find out the details of what really happened and who inherited his estate.

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Twilight Zone Chooses to Keep Rod Serling

• Published on May 21, 2017

• Posted in: Entertainment, Money & Financial, Tidbits

Can you imagine The Twilight Zone television series with Orson Welles as the host? It almost happened...

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Where There’s a Wilby, There’s a Way – Podcast #101

• Published on March 27, 2017

• Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Fraud & Deception, Money & Financial, Podcast

The story of Ralph M. Wilby is one of international intrigue, deception, financial trickery, and the obligatory beautiful woman...

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