Hypnotic History

Learn how fish, WWII, and surplus of turkey led to the creation of the TV dinner Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Biakolo, Kovie, and Courtney Sexton. “A Brief History of the TV Dinner | Arts & Culture.” Smithsonian Magazine , https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/brief-history-tv-dinner-180976039/ . Debczak, Michele. “The History of TV Dinners.” Mental Flos...

The tie that binds together punk, disco, and country-western  Instagram and More:  https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: “Avram C. Freedberg - Entrepreneur.”  Avram C. Freedberg , 2003,  http://www.avramcfreedberg.com/business.html . “BeDazzler.”  As Seen On TV ,  https://www.asseenontvlive.com/product/bedazzler/ . Bizzarri, Amy. “The History of Nudie Suits | Arts & Culture.”  Smithsonian...

Ancient Celtic tradition or a way to keep kids from overturning your car? Maybe both. Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: “The Dark and Fascinating History Behind Trick-or-Treating.” Business Insider , 22 October 2019, https://www.businessinsider.com/trick-or-treating-halloween-history-2019-10 .  Eveleth, Rose. “The History of Trick-or-Treating Is Weirder Than You Though...

Why did the costume version of Darth Vader wear a shirt with his own picture on it? Believe it or not, there’s a reason. Join us as we dive into the plastic-molded world of Ben Cooper costumes! Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Canote, Terence Towles. “Ben Cooper Inc. & Its Competitors: The Folks Who Sold Halloween.” A Shroud of Thoughts , 24 October 2012, http://m...

Making bugs and shrunken heads on a hot plate Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Coopee, Todd. “Thingmaker from Mattel (1964).” Toy Tales , 6 September 2021, https://toytales.ca/thingmaker-from-mattel-1964/ . Edwards, Phil. “A brief and creepy history of Creepy Crawlers.” Trivia Happy , 23 July 2014, https://triviahappy.com/articles/a-brief-and-creepy-history-of-creepy-...

How a year-round treat became a Halloween staple Instagram and More:  https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Ballor, Claire. “The History of Candy Corn, America's Most Loathed Sweet.”  Allrecipes , 8 October 2020,  https://www.allrecipes.com/article/history-of-candy-corn/ .  Broek, Sara. “The History of Candy Corn: A Halloween Candy Favorite.”  Better Homes & Gardens ,  https://www.bhg...

Toy or spiritual conduit? Learn about the history of Ouija boards and how you’re supposed to use one safely. Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Debczak, Michele. “Ouija Board History: From Spiritualist Tool to Children's Toy.” Mental Floss , 29 October 2018, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/560433/how-ouija-boards-went-spiritualist-tool-childrens-toy .  Debczak,...

Listen in to learn some behind-the-scenes details about everyone’s favorite educational music videos.  Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Burke, Timothy, and Kevin Burke. Saturday Morning Fever: Growing Up with Cartoon Culture . St. Martin's Press, 1998. Internet Archive .  Frommer, Frederic J., et al. “'Schoolhouse Rock' premiered 50 years ago — and shaped...

Was pizza the first item ordered online, or does Pizza Hut sit on a throne of lies? We have the sauce on this and how pizza traveled from Italian kitchens to every home in America. Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Cass, Alexandra. “The Untold Truth Of McDonald's Pizza.” Mashed , 30 November 2020, https://www.mashed.com/253077/the-untold-truth-of-mcdonalds-pizza/ ....

This leather replacement is vegan friendly … or is it? SAVE THE NAUGA! Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Eschner, Kat. “How the Nauga and its Fictional Friends Helped Make Synthetic Fabric Cuddly.” Smithsonian Magazine , 12 September 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nauga-belgian-velcro-and-other-synthetic-creatures-180964811/ .  “History.” Naugahyde , h...

Learn how World War II led to the creation of a classic toy in this week’s episode. Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Fawcett, Kirstin. “15 Facts About Silly Putty.” Mental Floss , 15 September 2015, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/68467/15-facts-about-silly-putty .  Flatow, Ira. They All Laughed...: From Light Bulbs to Lasers: The Fascinating Stories Behind the Gr...

What were Green Stamps, and why did the Supreme Court care? This episode answers both questions plus any you might have about vintage crystal frogs. Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Erling, John. “The History of S&H Green Stamps and Allied Stamp Corp.” Voices of Oklahoma , https://voicesofoklahoma.com/interviews/willis-carl/ .  “FTC v. Sperry & Hutchinson Co....

Find out how fraternities were the beginning of Glamour Shots and why the company has ditched feather boas! Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: “About Us.” Glamour Shots , https://glamourshots.com/about-us/ . Marages, Kelly. “22 Glamorous Facts About Glamour Shots.” Mental Floss , 27 April 2016, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/78455/22-glamorous-facts-about-glamour-s...

Long before Saturday Night Live’s Stefon, disco clubs had pigs eating old magazines inside of abandoned churches. Come with us on this wild ride! Instagram and More:  https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Andriote, John-Manuel.  Hot stuff : a brief history of disco . HarperCollins, 2001.  Internet Archive . Heller, Jason. “Inventory: 11 Unexpected Disco Records.”  The A.V. Club , 21 May 2007,...

What is a "muscular" Christian, and what do they have to do with summer camp? Listen to find out! Instagram and More:  https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Crow, Sarah. “20 Crazy Summer Camps That Actually Exist — Best Life.”  Best Life , 8 May 2018,  https://bestlifeonline.com/crazy-summer-camps/ .  Gershon, Livia. “Summer Camp Has Always Been About Escaping Modern Life.” JSTOR Da...

If you didn’t grow up eating gooey cake heated by a light bulb, what were you even doing? Instagram and More:  https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: “A pop culture staple since its introduction in 1963 and one of Hasbro's top-selling items of today, EASY-BAKE brand ovens cont.” Hasbro,  https://www.hasbro.com/common/assets/image/Printables/dad261381c4311ddbd0b0800200c9a66/CDDF87D550569047...

We feel a little on edge talking about such a dangerous product, but if you’re going to use it you need to know how to protect yourself. Instagram and More:  https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: “Hai Karate Cologne & Aftershave c1967.” Cleopatra's Boudoir, 23 March 2014,  https://cleopatrasboudoir.blogspot.com/2014/03/hai-karate-cologne-aftershave.html . Ostrom, Lizzie. Perfume: A Ce...

We’re talking about how amusement parks are way older than you probably think (and just as dangerous and offensive as you’d probably guess)! Instagram and More:  https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Catron, Emerald. “30 Shocking Facts About Amusement Parks.” Best Life, 30 May 2018,  https://bestlifeonline.com/shocking-amusement-park-facts/ .  Jacobs, AJ. “4 Ways Amusement Parks of the Past W...

Take a load off and cool your heels while listening to this episode about the ways people tried to beat the heat in the 20th century. Instagram and More:  https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Ackermann, Marsha E. Cool Comfort: America's Romance with Air-Conditioning. Smithsonian, 2002. ASHRAE. The First Century of Air Conditioning. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-condi...

People in the early 1900s hated interacting with other people as much as we do! Enter: The Automat! Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: “Automats | Restaurant-ing through history.” Restauranting Through History, 8 September 2019, https://restaurant-ingthroughhistory.com/tag/automats/ .  DeMain, Bill. “Automatic for the People: Remembering the Automat Restaurants.” Mental...

“The Material of a Thousand Uses!” What is Bakelite, and where did it go? Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: “13 Things You Won't Believe Were Once Made From Bakelite.” Dusty Old Thing, https://dustyoldthing.com/13-things-bakelite/ . “Bakelite First Synthetic Plastic - National Historic Chemical Landmark.” American Chemical Society, https://www.acs.org/education/wha...

Today we are digging deep into the mid-century architectural phenomenon known as a conversation pit. Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: “A History Of The Conversation Pit.” Something Curated, 17 April 2020, https://somethingcurated.com/2020/04/17/a-history-of-the-conversation-pit/ .  Anna, Gragert. “The History of Conversation Pits.” Hunker, 15 February 2023, https://ww...

You are, like, totally going to love this episode about valley girls, for sure.  Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Black, Sue, et al. The totally awesome VAL guide. Price/Stern/Sloan, 1982. Internet Archive. Coolidge, Martha, director. Valley Girl. Performances by Nicolas Cage and Deborah Foreman, Atlantic Entertainment Group, 1983. Paramount+. “Frank Zappa - Valley Gi...

What’s in a catalog called “Whole Earth?” Who’s the hippie who started it, and why? Listen to find out! Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Brand, Stewart, editor. Whole Earth Catalog, Fall 1968. Internet Archive. Cadwalladr, Carole, and Walter Isaacson. “Stewart Brand and the Whole Earth Catalog, the book that changed the world.” The Guardian, 4 May 2013, http://theguar...

Come explore the history of this strange, beautiful, and sometimes disgusting gelatinous dessert! Instagram and More: https://linktr.ee/hypnotichistory Sources: Amazing Magical Jell-O Brand Desserts. General Foods Corporation, 1977. Internet Archive. Jell-O: The Dainty Dessert. Genesee Pure Food Company, 1905. Internet Archive. Wyman, Carolyn. JELL-O: A Biography. Harcourt, 2001. Internet Archive.