South Fellini Presents Legends of Philadelphia

You may have heard this common urban legend that pops up every few years, some celebrity got caught shoving a gerbil up his butt. Or maybe you’ve seen it joked about in a movie or on an episode of South Park. It’s such an outlandish claim that you might’ve even spread this rumor yourself, whether you believed it or not. But where did this disturbing idea come from? Today we explore the philadelphi...

Holmesburg Prison, nicknamed "The Terrordome," was a prison operated by the city of Philadelphia from 1896 to 1995. It was always a tough place but most controversially it was the site of a decades-long dermatological, pharmaceutical, and biochemical weapons research project tested on inmates. For over 20 years, Dr. Albert Kligman profited from experiments on incarcerated men at Holmesbu...

The drama surrounding Larry Mendte and Alycia Lane was a mix of personal vendettas, professional rivalries, and legal issues that led to both losing their jobs at KYW-TV and tarnished their careers. The scandal became infamous as an example of how behind-the-scenes conflicts and personal disputes can go public. And what can happen when the media becomes the story. Subscribe to South Fellini on You...

Gary Michael Heidnik kidnapped, tortured, and raped six women, murdering two of them, while holding them captive in his philadelphia basement. His heinous crimes were so infamous that Heidnik has gone on to provide inspiration for several hollywood serial killers including the "Buffalo Bill" character from Silence of the Lambs. In this case truth is stranger than fiction. Subscribe to So...

The mummers is a new years parade tradition featuring the crossdressing antics of blue collar drunkards with a reputation for being debaucherous and crude. But no one could imagine that hidden inside of the modest 2nd street clubhouses was an eyes-wide-shut free-for-all orgy where dozens of men ate, drank, and had sex with prostitutes in full view of their ostrich feathered bandmates. Subscribe to...

In January of 2014 complaints started to pour into police from the Mayfair section of Philadelphia. Over the course of several weeks, dozens of women had been sexually harassed by an unidentified man. He would drive up to the victims and ask if they'd like to be paid to watch him rub the cheese on his genitals. He would then place the cheese on his exposed crotch. One of his victims, snapped a pho...

Welcome to Dungeons & Dickheads, a game of swords and sorcery. Allow me to transport you to a fantasy world where the modern and medieval merge. Behold, The kingdom of Fable-delphia, a 21st century city populated by goblins, orks, dragons, and druids. You may recognize some of the names and places but this is a strange land and anything you can imagine might exist... depending on the roll of a...

Welcome to Dungeons & Dickheads, a game of swords and sorcery. Allow me to transport you to a fantasy world where the modern and medieval merge. Behold, The kingdom of Fable-delphia, a 21st century city populated by goblins, orks, dragons, and druids. You may recognize some of the names and places but this is a strange land and anything you can imagine might exist... depending on the roll of a...

Greeting, fair travelers! Allow me to transport you to a fantasy world where the modern and medieval merge. Behold, The kingdom of Fable-delphia, a 21st century city populated by goblins, orks, dragons, and druids. You may recognize some of the names and places but this is a strange land and anything you can imagine might exist... depending on the roll of a dice. This is a free-bee release from ou...

We are doing things a lil differently this week. This is our last free episode of 2024 so we’re taking a break from the regular format. One of the most fun things about doing Legends of Philadelphia are all the great comments, emails, and DMs we get on the social medias. Listeners clued us in when we were wrong and shared new stuff that we didn’t know before. So, today we’re going to dig through t...

Nepo Babies have been a popular topic of discussion in the last few years. It’s no surprise that having wealthy, famous, or connected parents will set you ahead of the competition. But not every Don Johnson does a Dakota Joshnon make. What if your mom or dad were ONLY famous in philadelphia? Does that help or hurt your chances at success? Today we want to take a look at three Hollywood celebrities...

The Philadelphia Bible Riots were a series of deadly conflicts that took place between May and July, 1844. Anti-Catholic mobs, angered by the growing population of Irish immigrants, attacked churches in Kensington and Southwark. The Nativist violence did not solve their problems and instead gave rise to the Gangs of Philadelphia. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; apparel for the Philade...

The Berenstain Bears is a children's literature franchise created by Phillly natives Stan and Jan Berenstain. Many people incorrectly remember the name of the series as the "Berenstein Bears". The controversy surrounding The Berenstain Bears’ name has been regularly cited as an example of the “Mandela Effect,” named after the idea that many people specifically remember South African President Nels...

Tony Trov and Johnny Zito, from South Fellini, discuss cherish childhood summer time memories that turned out to be traumatic. This episode includes directions to the hidden public pools on 9th street and instructions on opening the fire hydrant, to play under the plug. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; apparel for the Philadelphia lifestyle. Subscribe to South Fellini on YouTube.com/So...

The Mütter Museum is America’s finest collection of preserved anatomical models, biological specimens, and medical instruments. Visitors to the 19th-century style “cabinet museum” are invited to explore the mysteries and adaptability of the human body. So Dust off your bone saw and join us as we explore the antique medicine of the mutter museum. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; apparel...

Tony Trov and Johnny Zito, from South Fellini, discuss higher education at Temple University. This episode includes the secrets to the best food trucks, weirdest buildings, and how to have the worst orientation. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; apparel for the Philadelphia lifestyle. Subscribe to South Fellini on YouTube.com/SouthFellini CONNECT Shop: http://southfellini.com Instagram:...

Philly is known for its unique slang, simple words and phrases that contain a multitude of deeper meanings. For example; “Gotta tap MAC” is a common refrain among Philadelphians looking to grab some quick cash. But what is a MAC machine? and where did they all go? Today we want to withdraw some knowledge on Philadelphia’s iconic ATM. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; apparel for the Phi...

Tony Trov and Johnny Zito, from South Fellini, recount the early days of Philadelphia Wizard World; an annual comic book convention. Strap on your cape and take off for adventure with Stan Lee, Ernie Hudson, and Batman. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; apparel for the Philadelphia lifestyle. Subscribe to South Fellini on YouTube.com/SouthFellini CONNECT Shop: http://southfellini.com In...

In the distant past, Philadelphia streets were packed with hundreds of shops each serving a very specific purpose. But at the dawn of the 1980s someone had the brilliant idea to jam all of those stores into one, slightly inconvenient location. These malls became iconic to American culture replete with rainforest atriums, asymmetrical fountains, and endless tracts of kiosks. Unfortunately this reta...

Tony Trov and Johnny Zito, from South Fellini, discuss their personal experiences on Philadelphia transit as life long SEPTA riders. All aboard for inconvenient service, weird passengers, and a unidentifiable smells. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; apparel for the Philadelphia lifestyle. Subscribe to South Fellini on YouTube.com/SouthFellini CONNECT Shop: http://southfellini.com Insta...

The Liberty Bell has taken some hits over the years. She's gotten pretty banged up since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Join the South Fellini squad as they go down the list of indignities the grand ol' bell has had to endure, including the unsanctioned April 6, 2001 hammering that made touching the Liberty Bell illegal. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; apparel for the...

Tony Trov and Johnny Zito, from South Fellini, wax nostalgically about the notorious Philly multiplex, United Artist's River View Theater. Sticky floors, busted projectors, and violent audiences; this is peak kino. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; apparel for the Philadelphia lifestyle. Subscribe to South Fellini on YouTube.com/SouthFellini CONNECT Shop: http://southfellini.com Instagr...

In 1995, the New Jersey State Commission on Investigation issued a report saying that Jerry Blavat, the self-proclaimed geator with a heater, once asked mobsters to kill his friend and rival DJ; Hy Lit. The revelations rocked the Philadelphia broadcast community, dividing loyalties, and forcing industry professionals to choose sides. Listen to the South Fellini squad discuss the lurid scandal that...

Tony Trov and Johnny Zito, from South Fellini, share their memories of working at City Hall in Philly. They dish on Milton Street, Richie Sambora, and the X Games. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; apparel for the Philadelphia lifestyle. Subscribe to South Fellini on YouTube.com/SouthFellini CONNECT Shop: http://southfellini.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/southfellini Spotify: http...

Walter Jackson Freeman II was a Philadelphia physician who wanted to simplify lobotomies and make them accessible to everyone. Freeman invented a transorbital lobotomy procedure, otherwise known as the ice-pick technique, and took his show on the road. Freeman traveled across the country, performing brain surgery door-to-door in his lobotomy-mobile. Check out SouthFellini.com to grab our gear; app...