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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

1949 – Boy Wishes for Stone for Mother’s Grave (Footnote)

Published on December 20, 2022

Posted in: Death and Murder, Footnotes to History, Holidays & Celebrations

All 11-year-old Bobby Lovell wanted for Christmas was a stone for his mother's grave. Would his wish come true?

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1947 – Gift Wrapper Raps in Vain (Footnote)

Published on December 19, 2022

Posted in: Escape and Survival, Footnotes to History, Holidays & Celebrations

Joe Gibson was so focused on his job of wrapping gifts that he lost track of time and was locked in a warehouse. With some rags, string, and wire, he worked toward escaping...

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1920 – Christmas Cactus Theft Epidemic (Footnote)

Published on December 18, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

Was there really a Christmas cactus theft epidemic hitting Santa Ana, California back in 1920?

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1915 – Bank Accounts of 41,000 Schoolchildren Saved (Footnote)

Published on December 18, 2022

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Money & Financial, Tidbits

When the Pittsburgh Bank for Savings abruptly closed its doors three days before Christmas, the deposits of 41,000 students were thought lost. One banker saved the accounts.

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Bad Apples #5 – The Bishop’s Wife – Podcast #186

Published on December 15, 2022

Posted in: Bad Apples Movie Review, Podcast

A review of the 1947 classic Christmas movie "The Bishop’s Wife," starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. Is it as good as “It’s a Wonderful Life?”

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200 Years of Twas the Night – Podcast #185

Published on December 5, 2022

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

Author Pamela McColl discusses the origins of the poem, the debate over who truly wrote it, and how it has gone on to be the most published and most often recited poem in the library of English literature.

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The Cryptanalyst (Part 3) – Podcast #184

Published on November 18, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Podcast

In this final installment, Marvin Lautzenhesier discusses leaving the FBI, his patents, and the giant theater organ that he installed in his house.

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The Cryptanalyst (Part 2) – Podcast #183

Published on November 3, 2022

Posted in: Fraud & Deception, Law & Order, Podcast

In this second installment, 93-year-old Marvin Lautzenheiser discusses his time as an FBI field agent, how his team finally deciphered the hollow nickel message, and offers up his opinion on the Steven Spielberg movie Bridge of Spies.

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The Cryptanalyst (Part 1) – Podcast #182

Published on October 21, 2022

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Podcast

An interview with 93-year-old Marvin Lautzenheiser, who was the lead cryptanalyst for the FBI team that deciphered the microfilm message contained in the Hollow Nickel (Podcast #168).

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The Great Los Angeles Air Raid – Podcast #181

Published on October 7, 2022

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast

The long-forgotten story of a battle that took place over Los Angeles just a few months after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. The US used all its might to shoot down the enemy planes detected overhead.

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YesterCast #1 – November 22, 1963 – Podcast #180

Published on September 22, 2022

Posted in: Podcast, Yestercast

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy was a tragic day. But what else was happening that day? This episode of the podcast discusses the offbeat, quirky, and bizarre stories of November 22, 1963.

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Bad Apples #4 – Gaslight – Podcast #179

Published on September 7, 2022

Posted in: Bad Apples Movie Review, Podcast

A review of the 1944 psychological thriller "Gaslight," starring Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, and Joseph Cotton. It is from this movie that the term "gaslighting" is derived.

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1961 – A Stewed Duck Is Too Saucy to Suit Cops (Footnote)

Published on August 29, 2022

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

Two policemen set out to capture a drunk duck. It wasn't as easy as they had hoped...

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1954 – Roscoe Goes to Calaboose to Escape TV at Home (Footnote)

Published on August 25, 2022

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History

Roscoe Tard was so sick of his wife watching television that he opted to spend five days in jail.

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1948 – New Pill Bans That Fear of Trip to Dentist (Footnote)

Published on August 22, 2022

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Science, Technology & Medicine

Drs. Milton Levine and Robert Hoyt introduced a pill that would take the fear out of going to the dentist. It probably wasn't as safe as they originally thought.

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