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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

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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Death Threat Against the Bee Gees

Published on February 18, 2016

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

The last two posts offered early criticism of Elvis and The Beatles. It would be just too easy to pick on this next group: The Bee Gees.

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Early Criticism of The Beatles

Published on February 11, 2016

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

Not everyone loved The Beatles. Here are three early criticisms of their music from the newspapers of the time.

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Early Criticism of Elvis Presley

Published on February 3, 2016

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

Writer John Crosby hated Elvis and all of Rock 'n Roll music. He offered his theory as to why it was played on the radio in the 1950's.

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Good Samaritan Saves Christmas

Published on December 31, 2015

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Mrs. Pat Robinson helped saved Christmas for the Ball family of Long Beach after their car was wrecked and their gifts were scattered all over the road.

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Saves Mouse from Torturers

Published on December 25, 2015

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

In April 1946, Norbert "Butch" Lusardi was walking home from school when he encountered 3 boys that intended to kill a mouse. He saved its life.

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New Leg for Christmas

Published on December 20, 2015

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Earl Baker lost his leg in 1938. After a cruel hoax, the residents of Coatesville, PA chipped in to purchase an artificial limb for the boy.

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3-Year-Old Reckless Tricycle Driver

Published on December 14, 2015

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Law & Order, Tidbits

Back in 1961, three-year-old Eddie Jones was sued for $50,000 for driving his tricycle recklessly. Did he win the case?

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Girl Thought She Killed Boy

Published on December 7, 2015

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

On April 4, 1958, a Sacramento driver swerved to avoid hitting a girl. He hit a boy instead. The girl thought the boy had died and tried to kill herself.

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Poison Ivy Lawsuit

Published on November 25, 2015

Posted in: Law & Order, Tidbits

In 1948, a passenger on a bus fainted. The driver pulled to the side of the road and let the woman rest in the grass. She then sued for getting poison ivy.

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Faked His Own Death

Published on November 17, 2015

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Death and Murder, Fraud & Deception, Tidbits

Albert L. Paglino faked his own death in 1955 by murdering another man. He may have gotten away with it, but made one big mistake on the day of his funeral.

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He Wants His Alimony Back

Published on November 10, 2015

Posted in: Law & Order, Love & Marriage, Money & Financial, Tidbits

Howard Metz paid alimony for thirty years to a woman who would not divorce him. When she died, he claimed title to her estate. Did he get it?

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Death by Lipstick

Published on November 1, 2015

Posted in: Death and Murder, Fashion & Design, Tidbits

In 1930, Othelia Winger of Wisconsin died after applying lipstick to her lips from a promotional package of matchbook lipstick.

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U.S. Needs Spyglasses

Published on September 16, 2015

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

News story about how the United States Navy requested spyglasses from its citizens to help fight World War I.

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