Hypnotic History

We have railroads to thank for our modern New Year’s celebrations. Sources: “A Brief History of New Year's Eve Celebrations in the US - Rock Hill Coca-Cola.”  Rock Hill Coca-Cola Bottling Company , 26 December 2023,  https://rockhillcoke.com/history/a-brief-history-of-new-years-eve-celebrations-in-the-us/ . “Five things you didn't know about American New Year's celebrations.”  Southern...

Your Tamagotchi didn’t really go back to its home planet. Don’t listen unless you think you can handle the truth! Sources: Delgado, Michelle. “A Brief History of Tamagotchi.”  Smithsonian Magazine , 22 December 2021,  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/keeping-tamagotchi-alive-180979264/ .  “History | Official Tamagotchi Site.”  Tamagotchi ,  https://tamagotchi-official.com/gb/history/ .  R...

Because kids adore playing with bags of corn syrup. Sources: Buenz, Will. “What Ever Happened to 'Stretch Armstrong'? New 'Stretchs' in the Works.”  Remind Magazine , 23 May 2023,  https://www.remindmagazine.com/article/2793/what-ever-happened-to-stretch-armstrong/ . Coopee, Todd. “Stretch Armstrong: The Next Chapter – Global Toy News.”  Global Toy News , 22 April 2023,  https://gl...

What don’t they do? There’s one thing in particular. Sources: Coopee, Todd. “Weebles from Hasbro/Romper Room (1971).”  Toy Tales , 25 April 2022,  https://toytales.ca/weebles-from-hasbro-romper-room-1971/ .  Gurley, R. J. “Weebles Wobble But They Don't...”  Medium , 9 July 2023,  https://medium.com/bouncin-and-behavin-blogs/weebles-wobble-but-they-dont-2c16ca031df8 . Hall, Sara. “Strongin Made...

Ever wonder what’s inside the Rubik’s Cube? We’ve got the lowdown as well as how to crack it open and where beginners should start when solving one. Sources: “History‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Speedcubing‌ ‌Community‌ ‌&‌ ‌WCA‌.”  World Cube Association ,  https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/speedcubing-history .  “The Official Rubik's Cube | History.”  Rubik's Cube ,  https://www.rubiks.com/histo...

100 years of high kicks! Sources: “History of the Radio City Rockettes | The Rockettes.” Radio City Rockettes , https://www.rockettes.com/history/ . “The History of the Rockettes.” American Dance , https://www.danceadts.com/Rockettes%20Micro%20Site/Rockette_12_30/rockette_history.htm . “Radio City Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular History.” Headout , 17 October 2023, https://www.headout.com/blog/ra...

How a barn in Hollywood became the place where servicemen rubbed elbows with movie stars Sources: “Curtains for the Hollywood Canteen.”  The National WWII Museum , 22 November 2020,  https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/hollywood-canteen-ends-1945 . “Hollywood Hospitality at the Hollywood Canteen.”  The National WWII Museum , 19 September 2017,  https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/arti...

It’s not the one you were born in, and it cost a pretty penny! Sources: Bizzarri, Amy. “The History of Nudie Suits.” Smithsonian Magazine , 17 May 2023, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-rhinestone-cowboy-from-ukraine-left-his-mark-on-music-world-180982138/ . Olenberger, Fritz. “History of Nudie Cohn and his Nudie Suits.” The Carriage and Western Art Museum , https://carriagemuseum.o...

What cooking an egg has to do with this trippy piece of decor and why its inventor raised some eyebrows Sources: Craven Walker, Christine. “Early Days of the Astro Lava Lamp.” Mathmos , 9 March 2020, https://mathmos.com/mathmos-in-poole/ . “Edward Walker | Lemelson.” Lemelson-MIT , https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/edward-walker Gutoskey, Ellen. “What Is Inside a Lava Lamp?” Mental Floss , 3 Janu...

We interrupt this podcast to bring you news of your impending doom. Sources: Falk, Ben. “The Best Alien Invasion Movie You Probably Haven't Seen.”  The Companion , 27 May 2023,  https://www.thecompanion.app/without-warning-1994/ .  “Without Warning.”  Halloween Wiki ,  https://halloween.fandom.com/wiki/Without_Warning . “Without Warning (1994).”  Moria ,  https://www.moriareviews.com/sciencefi...

Were people in 1938 just more gullible, or was there more at play in convincing the country that aliens had invaded? Sources: Henderson, Amy. “Orson Welles and the 70th anniversary of War of the Worlds.”  facetoface , Smithsonian Institute,  https://npg.si.edu/blog/orson-welles-and-70th-anniversary-war-worlds . HISTORY.com  Editors. “Orson Welles’s ‘War of the Worlds’ radio play is broadcast.”  Hi...

How well do you know your superstitions? Play along with this full-episode true or false session to find out! Sources: Fribush, Abby. “15 Southern Superstitions We Dare Not Dispute.”  Southern Living , 26 May 2024,  https://www.southernliving.com/southern-superstitions-8643283 . Onion, Rebecca.  Lists gathering the lost superstitions of early-20th-century America. , 1 June 2016,  https://slate.com...

Where vampires and congress collide! Sources: “Night Trap – Frights, Camera, Action! – Games From The Black Hole.” Games From The Black Hole , 24 January 2021, https://gamesfromtheblackhole.wordpress.com/2021/01/24/nighttrap/ “Night Trap.” Sega Wiki , https://sega.fandom.com/wiki/Night_Trap . Rojas, Fred. “Night Trap: 25th Anniversary Edition Analysis.” Gaming History 101 , 17 August 2017, https:/...

This episode has everything. Cheese caves, cheese operas, cheese lagoons, and an explanation of ham salad. Sources: Blakemore, Erin. “How the US Ended Up With Warehouses Full of 'Government Cheese' | HISTORY.”  History.com , 26 July 2018,  https://www.history.com/articles/government-cheese-dairy-farmers-reagan .  DiModica, Callie. “Cheese Caves and Food Surpluses: Why the U.S. Government c...

For our 100th episode, let’s talk about our namesake: hypnosis! Sources: Ashing, Stuart. “History of the Stage Hypnotist and State Hypnosis Shows.”  thedreamweaver , 23 January 2015,  https://www.thedreamweaver.co.uk/history-stage-hypnotist-stage-hypnosis-shows/ . “History of Hypnosis.”  Oregon Society of Clinical Hypnosis ,  https://www.oregonhypnosis.org/History-of-Hypnosis . Rose, Jane. “Franz...

Hey, Vern, it’s the ad guy who became a Disney star! Knowhutimean? Sources: “Jim Varney - Death, Ernest & Facts.”  Biography , 25 May 2021,  https://www.biography.com/actor/jim-varney . Lind, J.R. “Worrell History: A Look at the Making of a Cult Classic With Nashville Ties.”  Nashville Scene , 2 June 2022,  https://www.nashvillescene.com/arts_culture/coverstory/worrell-history-a-look-at-the-ma...

How detecting enemy aircrafts led to reheating your leftovers. Sources: Ackerman, Evan. “A Brief History of the Microwave Oven.”  IEEE Spectrum , 30 September 2016,  https://spectrum.ieee.org/a-brief-history-of-the-microwave-oven . “For the Microwave Oven.”  Vintage Recipe Cards ,  https://vintagerecipecards.com/category/for-the-microwave-oven/ . “History of the Microwave Oven: Invention & Tim...

The Mandela effect for this one is blowing our minds. Sources: Faw, Larissa. “The Curious Case Of Ed McMahon And The Publishers Clearing House.”  Forbes , 21 November 2012,  https://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/11/21/the-curious-case-of-ed-mcmahon-and-the-publishers-clearing-house/ .  Lammle, Rob. “You May Already Be a Winner! The Story of Publishers Clearing House.”  Mental Floss , 21 Jun...

Wrapping up our NASA food episodes, we’ll let you know what a food stick is and–like Tang and freeze-dried ice cream–if the astronauts really ate it. Sources: Bruns, Natasha. “Space Food Sticks went to the moon too.”  General Mills , 18 July 2019,  https://www.generalmills.com/news/stories/space-food-sticks-went-to-the-moon-too . Lidsky, David. “On the Moon, the astronauts snacked on sweet Slim Ji...

Did astronauts actually drink Tang? Sources: “About Tang Drink.”  Tang ,  https://tang-drink.com/ . Barber, Casey. “Tang recipe ideas: Get inspired by the space-age orange drink powder.”  CNN , 1 May 2021,  https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/01/world/tang-space-age-scn-wellness/index.html . Blitz, Matt. “How NASA Made Tang Cool.”  Food & Wine , 18 May 2017,  https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/how-...

Do astronauts really get to eat ice cream in outer space? Sources: “THE 50 YEAR HISTORY OF ASTRONAUT ICE CREAM.”  Astronaut Foods , 24 June 2024,  https://astronautfoods.com/blogs/news/the-50-year-history-of-astronaut-ice-cream . “Astronaut Foods Celebrates 50 Years of Out-Of-This-World Treats.”  Astronaut Foods , 27 June 2024,  https://astronautfoods.com/blogs/news/astronaut-foods-celebrates-50-y...

We have cows to thank for the ice cream of the future. Sources: “Company History.”  Dippin' Dots ,  https://www.dippindots.com/about/company-history/ . Danley, Sam. “Dippin Dots’ technology expanding beyond ice cream | 2020-08-06.”  Food Business News , 6 August 2020,  https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/16578-dippin-dots-technology-expanding-beyond-ice-cream .  “Do you know the accident...

Find out which food was legally required to be pink. Sources: “A Brief History of Food Colors + How to Dye Easter Eggs with Natural Ingredients.” A Dollop of History , 18 April 2019, https://historydollop.com/2019/04/18/a-brief-history-of-food-colors-and-how-to-dye-easter-eggs-with-natural-ingredients/ . “Color Additives in Foods.” FDA , 6 July 2023, https://www.fda.gov/food/color-additives-inform...

America’s first federally-funded theatre, but was it spreading un-American ideas? Sources: Shapiro, James. “The theater project that sparked a congressional probe — and culture war.” The Washington Post , 26 May 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2024/05/26/federal-theatre-project-dies-committee/ . Tyson, Charlie. “Stealing the Show: Why conservatives killed America's federally funde...

Creative ways people avoided sun damage throughout history and why you won’t find sunblock in the U.S. today Sources: Drissi, Madeeha et al. “Sunscreen: a brief walk through history.” Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) vol. 35,1 121-123. 1 Sep. 2021, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8682817/ . Finklea, Gillian. “10 Pre-Sunscreen Methods for Dealing with the Sun.” Mental Floss...