Useless Information - Page 2 of 50 - Fascinating True Stories from the Flip Side of History

Useless Information

Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Footnote – 1947: Doctor Wins Bet but Client Dies After Paying Off

Published on June 24, 2022

Posted in: Death and Murder, Footnotes to History

Imagine losing a bet with a doctor and then dropping dead minutes after settling the bet. That happened to Allan Sharp.

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1952 – Akron Woman Loses Car

Published on June 22, 2022

Posted in: Humor, Tidbits

Mrs. Helen Block abandoned her car after it got stuck during a snowstorm. The problem was that she had no idea where she had left it.

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Almost Over the Hump – Podcast #174

Published on June 20, 2022

Posted in: Escape and Survival, Podcast

Just what happens when your airplane crashes high up in the Himalayan mountains and there is no chance that anyone will ever find you? This happened to two pilots during WW II as they attempted to pilot a cargo plane over “The Hump.”

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Footnote – 1937: Fall on Ice Starts Blaze in His Pants

Published on June 17, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Humor

Joseph Trainor fell on the ice and his pants caught on fire. Yet, he did not have a single match on him...

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1949 – Theater Popcorn Ban Proposed

Published on June 13, 2022

Posted in: Law & Order, Tidbits

A bill was introduced in the Oregon State Senate that called for the banning of popcorn and peanuts in movie theaters.

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Footnote – 1935: Cake Still Good After 35 Years

Published on June 10, 2022

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

Would you eat a 35-year-old piece of wedding cake? Frederika Weber did just that it was surprisingly still good.

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1943 – Sliced Bread Banned by the United States

Published on June 6, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Tidbits

The U.S. government banned bakeries from slicing bread during WWII. Let's just say that things did not go as planned...

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Footnote – 1927: Fly Swatter Used To Lose Weight

Published on June 3, 2022

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

Springfield, MA was experiencing a big run on fly swatters because women were using them to swat away their excess weight.

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Retrocast #10 – Podcast #173

Published on June 1, 2022

Posted in: Podcast, Retrocasts

Sliced bread is banned, popcorn in theaters may be banned, women using fly swatters to lose weight, and much more! Matt Breen of the Explorers Podcast cohosts.

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Henry Ford’s Peace Ship – Podcast #172

Published on May 16, 2022

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast

In 1915, Henry Ford sought to end WWI by chartering a ship and sailing with many of the prominent peace activists of the day to Europe. Find out what happened next...

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Footnote – 1950: Dog Saves Lives of 60 Men College Students

Published on May 10, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Death and Murder, Escape and Survival, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

The lives of 60 dormitory residents were endangered by carbon monoxide poisoning. A pooch named Piedmont was credited with saving their lives.

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Footnote – 1949: Nimrod Gives Bizarre Excuse

Published on May 6, 2022

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

Can you tell the difference between a deer and a groundhog? These two hunters in Maryland apparently could not.

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Footnote – 1935: Tarantula in Britches

Published on May 3, 2022

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

A Montgomery, AL officer had to deal with an erratic banana truck driver who had a tarantula in his pants!

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Footnote – 1934: Cat Becomes Flaming Torch

Published on April 29, 2022

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

Just how much damage can a flaming cat do to a home? Mrs. Victor Barbaglia of Vineland, NJ witnessed what could happen.

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Arbor Day Turns 150! – Podcast #171

Published on April 28, 2022

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

Arbor Day is 150 years old! Learn the origins of the day, plus how one small upstate New York town continues the annual celebration.

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