Tidbits Archives - Page 5 of 20 - Useless Information

Useless Information

Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

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Podcasting Since January 2008

Footnote – 1946: Shortage of Marriage Licenses

Published on July 23, 2021

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

It was reported in 1946 that there was a shortage of marriage license blanks in Hagerstown. Maryland due, in part, to men returning from the war.

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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.

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England’s Oldest Woman Seeks New Husband

Published on July 15, 2021

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

In 1924, 106-year-old Betsy Pennick of Tiptree, England was in search of a new husband. She was in her late teens when Victoria became Queen.

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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...

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Retrocast #1 – Podcast #152

Published on July 14, 2021

Posted in: Podcast, Retrocasts, Tidbits

A 106-year-old woman seeks a husband, 5 phonograph records is admission to a dance, Australia gives the US an albino kangaroo, Johnny Cash promoting the Home Equipment Co., A country could be 49th US state, and more!

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Footnote – 1914: Helps Indict Himself

Published on July 13, 2021

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Law & Order, Tidbits

On January 24, 1914, James Severn had to sit on a grand jury and deliberate over his own indictment. Is that really legal?

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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.

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Leaves Estate to “Dumb Animals”

Published on June 19, 2021

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Money & Financial, Tidbits

When Eunice A. White died in 1949, she left what little she had for the care of dumb animals. Two family members got $1 each.

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Penned Will on Ladder

Published on June 12, 2021

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Death and Murder, Law & Order, Money & Financial, Tidbits

Hermann Strathmann, of Los Angeles, wrote his will on a step-ladder shortly before he passed away. Eight other wills were found. Which would be the accepted one?

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Wrote Will on Petticoat

Published on June 5, 2021

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

In 1925, George W. Hazeltine was near death and wrote his will on the petticoat of one of his nurses. Would it hold up in court?

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Opted to Elope

Published on May 25, 2021

Posted in: Love & Marriage, Tidbits

In 1928, Mary Stier and William Harris opted to secretly wed in an effort to avoid all of the fuss of a church wedding.

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Secretly Married 12 Years

Published on May 13, 2021

Posted in: Love & Marriage, Tidbits

Dr. John C. Cotter was a bit of a celebrity in his home town of New Bedford. Somehow he kept his marriage a secret for twelve years.

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Married Teacher Forced to Resign

Published on May 6, 2021

Posted in: Love & Marriage, Schools & Education, Tidbits

In 1906, Miss Mana E. Hall was forced to resign from her teaching position after it was discovered that she was married.

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The Tapioca Time Bomb

Published on April 17, 2021

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Tidbits

It was reported on September 14, 1972 that firemen in Cardiff, Wales had spent several days putting out a fire on the 12,000-ton Swiss vessel Cassarate. Timbers stacked in the upper holds of the ship had caught fire 25 days earlier while at sea and the crew was able

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Birth Control Leases Barred

Published on April 10, 2021

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

On April 20, 1946, New York State Governor Thomas E. Dewey signed into law a measure that forbid “birth control” leases.

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