Useless Information - Page 4 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

Comic – 1960: Raise Allowance Petition

Published on March 24, 2022

Posted in: Comics

We're getting up a petition asking parents in the neighborhood to raise their sons' allowances."

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Retrograph – 1926: Miss America Gets a Permanent Wave

Published on March 23, 2022

Posted in: Retrographs

Colorized photo of Norma Smallwood, Miss America 1926, with her hair attached to electric permanent wave equipment.

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Footnote – 1959: Guinea Pigs Stolen

Published on March 22, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History

Just who would steal four guinea pigs? A very odd robbery, although these guinea pigs were highly valued.

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RetroRewind – 1952: First Today Show Episode

Published on March 21, 2022

Posted in: RetroRewind Videos

The first segment of the very first episode of NBC's Today show starring Dave Garroway.

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Footnote – 1952: Grab Pants, Said Sign

Published on March 18, 2022

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History

Bandits in Toronto took clothing store operator Abraham Goody for his word. The sign said grab pants and that is exactly what they did.

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Vintage Ad – 1908: Hall’s Hair Renewer

Published on March 17, 2022

Posted in: Beauty

Hall's Vegetable Sicilian Hair Renewer Ad, Cosmopolitan, October 1908, page 218.

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Retrograph – 1909: Women Bathing

Published on March 16, 2022

Posted in: Retrographs

Colorized photograph of women bathing on an unknown beach.

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The Case of the Hollow Nickel – Podcast #168

Published on March 15, 2022

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

In 1953, paperboy Jimmy Bozart was counting his subscription money. He dropped the coins and one nickel split open, revealing a piece of microfilm. This led to the arrest of a high-ranking Soviet spy.

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RetroRewind – 1950: DeSoto Automobile Ad

Published on March 14, 2022

Posted in: RetroRewind Videos, Transportation

Animated television advertisement for the 1950 DeSoto automobiles.

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Footnote – 1936: Coughs Up Roll

Published on March 11, 2022

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History

Doctors in Buffalo got an unusual surprise when Robert Ford coughed up a roll of money.

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Vintage Ad – 1945: Free Slide Rule

Published on March 10, 2022

Posted in: Invention & Technology

Free Slide Rule Ad, Crack Detective Stories, September 1945, page 93.

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Retrograph – 1964: African American Protester Arrested

Published on March 9, 2022

Posted in: Retrographs

Atlanta policeman drags African American high school student Taylor Washington to paddy wagon during demonstration against restaurant segregation.

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1936: A Human Target

Published on March 8, 2022

Posted in: Tidbits

Doreen Peterson Hamby took a job as the human target for a knife thrower. he accidentally hit her in the leg.

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RetroRewind – 1963: Bullwinkle on Hitchhiking

Published on March 7, 2022

Posted in: RetroRewind Videos

A hilarious Mr. Know-It-All clip of Bullwinkle explaining to Rocky how to hitchhike.

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Footnote – 1933: Bandit Steals Golden Smile

Published on March 4, 2022

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History

A robber was upset that he was only able to steal $5. Then he noticed that the service attendant had gold teeth...

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