The Tom Gulley Show

Relive the incredible true story of Baby Jessica McClure, the 18-month-old toddler who fell into an abandoned 8-inch-wide well in Midland, Texas, on October 14, 1987. Trapped 22 feet underground for 58 hours without food or water, Jessica’s ordeal became a national media spectacle as rescuers worked around the clock to free her. On The Tom Gulley Show, we dive deep into this historic rescue that u...

On January 1, 1971, the final cigarette commercials aired on American television and radio. This episode of The Tom Gulley Show looks back at the last day of cigarette advertising in the United States — the landmark Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act signed by President Richard Nixon, the intense final push by tobacco companies during the New Year’s Day bowl games, and the iconic Virginia Slims c...

Dive into one of the most bizarre and enduring unsolved mysteries in television history — the Max Headroom broadcast signal interruption that rocked Chicago on November 22, 1987. On that Sunday night, an unidentified person wearing a Max Headroom mask and sunglasses hijacked the signals of two major Chicago stations within two hours. First, the pirate transmission interrupted WGN-TV’s Nine O’Clock...

Dive into the classic 1960s science fiction series The Invaders on this episode of The Tom Gulley Show! Starring Roy Thinnes as architect David Vincent, this Quinn Martin production aired on ABC from 1967 to 1968 and became a cult favorite for its tense alien-invasion storyline. After witnessing a UFO landing, Vincent discovers that extraterrestrials are secretly infiltrating Earth—disguising them...

Dive deep into the extraordinary life and career of Clint Eastwood, the iconic actor, director, and producer who became a true Hollywood legend. From his breakthrough as the Man with No Name in Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns to his unforgettable roles as Dirty Harry and his Oscar-winning masterpieces like Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby, Clint Eastwood has shaped cinema for over six decades....

In this episode of The Tom Gulley Show, we dive deep into the eternal pop culture debate that has divided Star Trek fans for decades: Captain James T. Kirk or Captain Jean-Luc Picard? We break down the legendary captains of the USS Enterprise across several crucial key categories, from leadership style and tactical brilliance to diplomatic finesse, scientific curiosity, and yes — their legendary p...

Dive into the stylish world of 77 Sunset Strip, the iconic Warner Bros. private detective series that defined cool in the late 1950s and early 1960s! On this episode of The Tom Gulley Show, we explore the hit ABC crime drama starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as suave former OSS agent Stu Bailey, Roger Smith as Jeff Spencer, and the unforgettable Edd Byrnes as hipster parking attendant-turned-detective...

On May 22, 1856, the United States Senate floor erupted in violence when South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks savagely beat Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner with a cane. This shocking attack followed Sumner’s fiery “Crime Against Kansas” speech condemning the expansion of slavery and personally criticizing Southern leaders. The caning of Charles Sumner became one of the most infamous i...

Dive into one of World War II’s most intriguing aerial mysteries on this episode of The Tom Gulley Show. Allied pilots across Europe and the Pacific reported strange glowing orbs and lights—later called “foo fighters”—that paced, followed, and sometimes seemed to play with their aircraft. Were these unexplained aerial phenomena advanced enemy technology, natural atmospheric effects, or something f...

Dive into the thrilling world of Thunderbirds, the iconic 1960s British science-fiction series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Filmed in revolutionary Supermarionation, this groundbreaking puppet adventure follows the Tracy family and their secret organization International Rescue as they race to save lives with the advanced Thunderbird vehicles from their base on Tracy Island. In this episo...

Discover the extraordinary life and lasting legacy of Julia Child — the towering American icon who brought authentic French cuisine into everyday American kitchens and changed the way we cook forever. In this episode of The Tom Gulley Show, we dive deep into the fascinating story of Julia Child: her early years, her work with the OSS during World War II, her life-changing move to Paris, her traini...

Who would you choose: glamorous movie star Ginger Grant or wholesome farm girl Mary Ann Summers? Join The Tom Gulley Show for a lively debate on one of television’s most enduring questions from the classic sitcom Gilligan’s Island. We dive into the cultural phenomenon that has sparked arguments for decades—comparing Tina Louise’s sophisticated Hollywood starlet Ginger with Dawn Wells’ sweet, pract...

Dive into the remarkable life and legacy of Paul Harvey, the iconic American radio broadcaster whose distinctive voice, staccato delivery, and unforgettable storytelling captivated up to 24 million listeners weekly. From his early days in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to national syndication on ABC Radio with Paul Harvey News and Comment and the beloved The Rest of the Story segments, this episode of The Tom G...

There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission… Join Tom Gulley for a deep dive into the groundbreaking classic science fiction anthology series The Outer Limits (1963–1965). Created by Leslie Stevens and produced by Joseph Stefano, this dark, atmospheric black-and-white series delivered thought-provoking stories of aliens, ad...

In November 1970, hikers discovered the burned body of an unidentified woman in Isdalen Valley near Bergen, Norway—a remote spot locals called “Death Valley.” Labels had been cut from her clothes, fingerprints sanded, and her belongings carefully stripped of identifying marks. Police soon uncovered a trail of at least eight fake identities, wigs, foreign currency, coded notebook entries tracking h...

Jump into the splurge-gun-filled world of Bugsy Malone, the unforgettable 1976 gangster musical comedy written and directed by Alan Parker in his feature debut. Featuring an all-child cast led by Scott Baio as the charming Bugsy Malone, a young Jodie Foster as the sultry Tallulah, Florrie Dugger as aspiring starlet Blousey Brown, John Cassisi as Fat Sam, and Martin Lev as rival Dandy Dan, this uni...

In the scorching summer of 1858, the River Thames turned into an open sewer so foul it nearly shut down the British government. Welcome to The Tom Gulley Show, where we dive into the Great Stink of 1858—the infamous crisis that choked Victorian London with the reek of untreated sewage, industrial waste, and human waste baking in record heat. London’s population had exploded past 2.5 million, outgr...

What if everything you thought you knew about the chastity belt was wrong? On this episode of The Tom Gulley Show, we dive deep into the fascinating (and often misunderstood) history of the chastity belt. From the popular medieval legend of crusading knights locking away their wives, to the surprising reality of 19th-century inventions, medical devices, and modern interpretations — we separate fac...

In this episode of The Tom Gulley Show, we dive deep into the most catastrophic box office bombs in movie history — the films that lost the most money after production and marketing costs. From Disney’s infamous John Carter and The Lone Ranger to The Marvels, Cutthroat Island, Mars Needs Moms, Strange World, and more, we break down the biggest net losses, what went wrong, and why these high-budget...

Dive into the vibrant world of comic books on this episode of The Tom Gulley Show. We explore the rich history of comics, from classic superhero origins to modern graphic novels, discussing iconic characters, legendary creators, and the lasting cultural impact of Marvel, DC, and independent titles. Whether you’re a lifelong collector, a casual reader, or new to sequential art, this conversation co...

Dive into the explosive world of The A-Team, the iconic 1980s action-adventure TV series that defined a generation! Join us as we explore the legendary crack commando unit wrongly accused of a crime they didn’t commit—still on the run and surviving as soldiers of fortune. Relive the unforgettable adventures of Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith (George Peppard), Lieutenant Templeton “Faceman” Peck (Dir...

Dive deep into one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries on this episode of The Tom Gulley Show! Explore the legendary Bermuda Triangle — the infamous region in the North Atlantic Ocean roughly bounded by Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico — where ships, planes, and people have vanished without a trace. From the dramatic disappearance of Flight 19 in 1945 and the USS Cyclops in 1918 to theories...

Discover the incredible true story of Chuck Yeager, the legendary American pilot who became the first person in history to break the sound barrier. In this episode, we explore Chuck Yeager’s journey from a young West Virginia farm boy to World War II fighter ace, elite test pilot, and the man who flew the Bell X-1 past Mach 1 on October 14, 1947. Learn how Yeager’s skill, courage, and cool under p...

Discover the most game-changing sports inventions in history on this episode of The Tom Gulley Show! From the humble beginnings of the baseball glove and catcher's chest protector to modern breakthroughs like the computerized ball and strike detector, we dive deep into the innovations that transformed baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, and more. Explore the stories behind the plexigla...

Dive deep into the mysterious world of Fantasy Island on this episode! Join host Tom Gulley as he explores the iconic 1970s–80s ABC anthology series that turned every guest’s deepest wish into reality—for a price—on a remote tropical paradise. Discover the behind-the-scenes stories of Ricardo Montalbán’s unforgettable Mr. Roarke, Hervé Villechaize’s Tattoo and his legendary “Da plane! Da plane!” c...