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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Runaway Boy Couldn’t Learn Latin

Published on August 20, 2021

Posted in: Schools & Education, Tidbits

In 1916, 15-year-old Rolla Bostwick ran away from home because he was unable to master Latin.

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Retrocast #2 – Podcast #154

Published on August 15, 2021

Posted in: Podcast, Retrocasts, Tidbits

Boy runs away because he can't master Latin, a mother who loaned her son to a stranger, a man who survived a Nazi firing squad, cows killed by lightning, man's leg broken three times, 200 hog call records stolen, a helicopter melon thief, & more!

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Footnote – 1952: Parrot In Tree Cries ‘I Like Ike’

Published on August 10, 2021

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

In 1952, a parrot escaped from a London apartment and took to a tree outside of Parliament. It had been taught to say "I Like Ike."

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Footnote – 1949: Farmer Joe Solves Vacation Milking by Taking Cow Along

Published on August 7, 2021

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

Farmer Joe Trevethan was unable to take a vacation of twenty years because he needed to milk his cow. So, he took the cow with him.

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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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