Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson

This week we're replaying some of our favorite monster-themed stories. In this episode from June 2020, a couple in Murphysboro, Illinois reports seeing a tall, hairy, extremely smelly creature that over time became known as The Big Muddy Monster. But what the heck was it? Plus: the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s final concert. And yes, there’s a historic marker on the site. Chasing Monsters: Big M...

For some people, watching football is the best part of Thanksgiving weekend. Today in 1950, there was a football game that had to be seen to be believed: the Snow Bowl. Plus: today is known in some circles as Dine Over Your Kitchen Sink Day. Snow Bowl - November 25, 1950 (Weather.gov) How A Blizzard Made The 1950 Michigan/Ohio State ‘Snow Bowl’ Most Unusual Read More: A Blizzard Made The 1950 Mich...

There aren't a lot of top-drawer Thanksgiving specials, but the "WKRP In Cincinnati" episode "Turkeys Away" may qualify. Here's some of the real life story that inspired the absolutely bonkers plot of the show.  Turkeys Away: An Oral History (Classic TV History) We give thanks today (and every day) for our Patreon backers, and for all our listeners and fans! 

Today in 1804, the birthday of President Franklin Pierce. He's not well known today, but in his time, people learned about the 14th president through a biography written by the acclaimed novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. Plus: today in 1999, the area around Cape Canaveral, Florida gets a very appropriate area code.  Franklin Pierce: NH's Forgotten President (NH Magazine) Nathaniel Hawthorne, Part...

This is maybe the most adorable scientific study of the year: researchers have been testing whether bumblebees like to play with toys… and they do! Plus: in Duluth, Minnesota, the famous Bentleyville Tour of Lights is underway. Bumblebees Like Playing With Toys, Study Finds (Treehugger) Bentleyville Tour of Lights   We all need to play, but thanks to our Patreon backers, working on this show...

The World Cup is getting underway in Qatar. The Cup's official ball has a colorful and busy design, perfect for HDTVs. Here's the story of how the classic black and white ball got its design. Plus: this time in 1938, some TV viewers in New York were watching... the BBC? The Footballs during the FIFA World Cup™ (FIFA) BBC Television received in New York - November 1938 (Archive.org) Our Patreon bac...

Today in 1923, the birthday of Alan Shepard. He was the first American in space, and the first person to ever play golf on the Moon. Plus: when night falls tonight in the northern Alaska town of Utqiaġvik, also known as Barrow, it’s going to linger. The Moon Club (USGA) America’s northern most town entered polar night Thursday (WHSV) Help us get to the green as a backer on Patreon

Today in 1858, the founding of the city of Denver, Colorado. The state capitol building in Denver features a kind of stone known as Colorado Rose Onyx, and so far it's the only one. Plus: for National Baklava Day, a look at the world's largest baklava.  Only in Denver: Rose Onyx at Colorado State Capitol (Denver.org) Largest baklava (Guinness) Our Patreon backers make each episode of this sho...

It's National Fast Food Day, and here's the story of an uncommon fast food restaurant: the Friendship 500, a floating McDonald's restaurant in the 80s nicknamed the "McBarge." Plus: in Germany, there's a fast food place with a paddle-thru lane for canoeists and kayakers.  The Creepiest McDonald’s In The World (LethbridgeNewsNow) The World’s Only Float-Through McDonald’s (Laughing Squid) Backi...

Today in 1938, a California woman took a stand in court for the right to wear slacks instead of a dress in court. Here's the story of Helen Hulick and her campaign against "anti-slackism." Plus: today in 1929, the release of the film "Atlantic," which was actually the same film made multiple times in multiple languages.  California Retrospective: In 1938, L.A. woman went to jail for wearing s...

Today in 1943, a US Navy ship almost caused a gigantic tragedy, by inadvertently launching a torpedo at the president of the United States. Plus: this month in 1932, the UK’s Home Office got a complaint about ancient drawing known as the Cerne Abbas Giant and his “impassioned obscenity.” This WWII Naval Ship Was So Unlucky, It Almost Killed FDR (Task and Purpose) To Whom It May Concern (Futility C...

For Veterans Day, the story of the Comanche Code Talkers, 17 veterans of the second World War who created an unbroken code in their native language that saved lives and helped the US military effort.  Comanche language helped win World War II (US Army) Comanche Code Talkers (Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center) 124th Signal Battalion (ArmyHistory.org)

Today in 1958, the Hope Diamond became property of the Smithsonian Institution. Legend has it the giant blue diamond carries with it a centuries-old curse... even though some of its owners have actually done just fine for themselves. Plus: a statue in Spain pays tribute to a heavy metal enthusiast known as the Rocker Grandma.  History of the Hope Diamond (Smithsonian Institution) The Secret H...

There's a new technique that could help people trying to fend off chronic nightmares - and it involves playing "neutral" piano chords at just the right times. Plus: an art museum in Germany discovers one of its Mondrian paintings has been on display upside down for decades! A piano chord helped reduce chronic nightmares, a study showed (Washington Post) Painting by Mondrian has been hanging upside...

It's National Tongue Twister Day, and among those who practice tongue twisters as part of their training are auctioneers. Here's a look at how they do their work. Plus: a visit to Montana's famous Ringing Rocks.  What it takes to be an art auctioneer at the largest auction house in the world (Insider) Auctioneer Practice Drills & Exercises (Western College of Auctioneering)   Ringing...

This day in 1916 was an important day in US Postal Service history - a rule change that came after the community of Vernal, Utah basically had a bank mailed to them, in installments of bricks. Plus: a developer in England tore down a pub that was considered a historic site, so they had to put the original pub back up in its original location with the original bricks. The Bank of Vernal: The "Parce...

Today in 1980, six counties in southern New Jersey voted on whether they should strike out on their own and become a separate state of South Jersey. And five of those counties actually voted yes! Plus: the Peace Tower on Canada's Parliament Hill has a giant clock that cannot ever be turned backwards. So how does it handle the end of Daylight Saving Time?  South Jersey voted to secede from NJ...

It's National Sandwich Day, and there are lots of great ones out there. The worst sandwich has a pretty clear champion - the Raines sandwich. Though to be fair, it wasn’t ever really intended to be eaten. Plus: back in 1984, the number one song on the Billboard pop chart was “Caribbean Queen” by Billy Ocean. He actually recorded different versions of the song featuring queens from different parts...

Around this time in 2001, eccentric Hollywood legend Marlon Brando held a 10-day seminar called “Lying For A Living" where he alternately taught acting and did very, very Marlon Brando things. Plus: this weekend in Florence, South Carolina, it’s the South Carolina Pecan Music and Food Festival. Marlon Brando’s Real Last Tango: The Never-Told Story of His Secret A-List Acting School (The Hollywood...

Today in 1800, President John Adams first moved into the president's house, which, despite rumors to the contrary, was always a White House. Here's how it gets repainted. Plus: for National Calzone Day, a visit to a place in West Virginia that serves a gigantic calzone challenge.  It takes a lot of work to keep the White House painted white! (White House Historical Association on Twitter) The...

Happy Halloween! Today we pay a visit to a house in Waxahachie, Texas that's a real-world replica of the home of TV's Munsters. Plus: today in 2002, a soccer record that probably won’t ever be equaled: a team from Madagascar scored 149 goals against itself.  Welcome to the ‘Munsters’ Mansion in Waxahachie (Texas Monthly) Mingle with monsters (and Marilyn) at the Munster Mansion, a perfect rep...

Today in 1883, a bizarre headline in the New York Times: “Actor Demoralized By Tomatoes.” Why have audiences thrown tomatoes and other foods at performers? Plus: this weekend in Yardley, Pennsylvania, it’s Canal-O-Ween, a special stroll through a waterway of lit pumpkins.  AN ACTOR DEMORALIZED BY TOMATOES. (The New York Times) HAS THERE EVER BEEN AN ACTUAL CASE OF SOMEONE BEING PELTED WITH TO...

If you have fields, you almost certainly have weeds. Pulling them can take a lot of time or money, but farmers now have a new way to make that part of the job a lot easier: a weed-zapping robot that uses lasers. Plus: this weekend in Hiawatha, Kansas, runners are set to take part in the Great Pumpkin Relay. This new farming robot uses lasers to kill 200,000 weeds per hour (Interesting Engineering)...

It's National Mule Day, so it's a great day to celebrate a mule who singlehandedly… showed up at some Major League Baseball games. Here's the story of the official mule mascot of the New York Mets. Plus: The Instagram account Les Facades de Paris focuses on the fabulous fronts of Paris’s shops, homes and other buildings. Double Bray: When the New York Mets Replaced Mr. Met With a Live Mule (Mental...

Today in 1944, the greatest concert in Carnegie Hall history, featuring a truly incomparable singer: the one and only Florence Foster Jenkins. Here's how the woman sometimes called the worst opera singer of all time ended up on one of the most famous stages of all time. Plus: today in 1912, the birthday of Grand Ole Opry comedian Minnie Pearl, who's celebrated in her hometown, Centerville, Tenness...