Listen to some great little tunes you'll never hear on the radio. Vintage and obscure Soul, Ska, Surf, PowerPop and Rock 'n Roll, selected for you by the Dorktones.
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Welcome to History Lessons for Misanthropes, with Dr. Mildred Strange and her buddy Lou. We talk about uncomfortable, weird, and tragic history, dispelling myths and unpacking truths.
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A circus history podcast deep diving into topics like, "How and WHY do Clowns paint their faces", "Who was the first ever Human Cannonball act", "What are common Circus Superstitions" and so much more! Join your host and circus expert (sorta) Callie B, as she shares various stories from circus history with her pal / co-host Mark. Complete with decoded circus lingo, fun circus facts, and circus stories from Callie B's own family. Theme song by The Cooties.
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The Mickey Mouse Club Circus at Disneyland
2:22:08
2:22:08
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We explore Disney's love affair with the circus and also uncover the history of the Mickey Mouse Club Circus . OH Yeah - thats right ...Walt Disney + Disneyland tried their hand at running their very own circus within the confines of the Disneyland park during its first year in business. It was very elaborate + VERY short lived. Hop on this wild ri…
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Le Pétomane: The Fartiste of the Moulin Rouge
1:45:56
1:45:56
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Today's episode is a rootin tootin ride as we transport back to the high brow performances of 19th century Paris and the world famous Moulin Rouge - strap your booties in ( are you getting the posterior references here...) We are discussing Joseph Pujol the most famous and most well paid "Fartiste" that had graced the stage. This episode is a gut b…
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Sideshow Secrets: Acts meant to Shock + Awe
2:41:56
2:41:56
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We do a deep dive (all the way down the gullet) exploring and dissecting sideshow performances meant to SHOCK and AWE. We chat about acts like the Human Blockhead, Sword Swallowing and more; get a glimpse on how these acts work, affect the human body and the sincere dangers involved. DISCLAIMER: DO NOT TRY THESE AT HOME! Check our Instagram @circus…
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Religion + Circus: The Traveling Circus Ministry
2:54:41
2:54:41
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What do you think of when I say Circus Church? Or Clown church service? Not many people associate religion with the circus folk - but you might be mistaken. How do religion and circus collide ? Enjoy our LENGTHY episode as we explore how religion infiltrated circus and the history and genesis behind it. This podcast contains explicit languange. Vis…
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The WHEEL of Death also known as the Space Wheel. We are barreling into the new year with a chonky episode that is equally as dangerous. Please enjoy the ins and outs of the daredevil performance - the Wheel of Death (seriously like how and why do people do this!) We discuss the early to current iterations, the mechanics, and the perils involved! W…
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A very spooky episode where we explore a few ghost stories, sightings, and alleged hauntings that surround the circus and circus folk from the past. Are these strange occurences the real deal or simply legend? Listen and find out .. IF YOU DARE! Support the Show. +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Revie…
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Hagenbeck - Wallace Circus Trainwreck of 1918
2:10:34
2:10:34
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We revisit the over 100 year old tragedy of the 1918 Hagenbeck Wallace circus trainwreck in Hammond Indiana. We uncover those presumably responsible for the incident, the subsequent causes, as well as the lore, conspiracies and ghost stories that still loom around the resting place of the deceased This podcast contains explicit languange. Visit our…
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Please join me on a journey back to the 1970's where things were ...well very 1970's. Mama B shares some radical travel stories from her time working concessions with Circus Vargas. HOT DOGS baby! Another rad Patreon episode unlocked! Support the Show. +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Review and Subsc…
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ANOTHER CLOWN EPISODE! Today's episode we deep dive into the experience of former Cole Bros Circus clown, Meatball. Join Callie B as she picks Meatball's clown brain for all the juicy details of how he got into clowning, how he got his first circus gig, how he pieced his clown persona together, what is was like to travel with one of the longest run…
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Iron jaw is an aerial act where the performer is quite literally hanging only by their teeth. Enjoy learning about this centuries old act, and trust me we leave no stone unturned. Get into this episode with some serious TEETH TALK! To hear the unedited interview with Iron Jaw performer Nikki, please join our Patreon - link found below Main Source f…
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Much like every office that partakes in a company sports team... the Circus, namely Ringling Bros, was no different. OH and they were like REALLY good. Enjoy this unlocked Patreon episode all about Circus Soccer teams. also who knew?? Support the Show. +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Review and Subsc…
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We explore the fascinating history of world renowned escape artist and magician Harry Houdini. Uncover some of his best kept secrets and how he performed his most famous feats. Discover details of his lavish lifestyle and of course, mine the cavernous mystery that haunts his early demise which fell on Halloween. Support the Show. +Follow Us on IG @…
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We unpack and analyze (maybe too much) a series of infamous sideshow attractions, the back stories that made them SOOO convincing, different iterations and of course... the secrets behind the illusions. Definitely check our IG for the visuals on this one! Support the Show. +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com R…
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In this episode we discuss the 1940s Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr. Born in Austria, she got her start in Germany cinema before fleeing ro the US during the war to escape her marriage. As well as an extensive filmography, Hedy was an inventor who designed military grade weapons solutions.
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Honk Honk! ANOTHER CLOWN EPISODE! Enjoy this delightful tale about the incredibly innovative master clown who paved the way for many a clown after him. Creator of the tiny clown car and so many more beloved clown gags! Master clown... more like Genius Clown. https://youtu.be/IZKT_2WonPI - Jacobs + PeeWee Support the Show. +Follow Us on IG @circus.s…
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In this episode we discuss the life of Mary Ann Shadd, a teacher, activist, and journalist in the mid-1800s. She was a freeborn black woman who was exposed to the abolitionist movement from a young age, which inspired her to spend her life fighting for the rights of black people in Canada and the United States. While one would think the abolitionis…
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The last episode of 2022! In this bawdy and often silly episode, we discuss the life of 19th century entertainer, Joseph Pujol, better known as le Petomane. Joseph's skill was that he had a masterful contron of his GI system, and could pass gas in myriad and entertaining ways. We're ending the year with an absurd and happy story. music by V►LH►LL v…
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In this episode, we look at the life and troubled career of Maila Nurmi, who created the Vampira character in 1954. Before creating her iconic glamour ghoul, Maila had a hard time breaking into show business both in Hollywood and Broadway. She struggled with a strict upbringing while not fitting into the expected life for young women. We discuss th…
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In this episode we discuss a possession in New France, when a young women named Barbe Hallay was tormented by demons. This is a story of colonization in the 17th century, a land that is trying to keep it's colonial population Catholic in the face of hardships, and a nun who desperately wants sainthood. Was Barbe really possessed? Was it her way of …
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JoJo + Lionel; The Dog Faced Boy & The Lion Faced Man
1:52:06
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We explore these two very famous faces from Barnum's illustrious sideshow and the condition the two share known as "werewolf syndrome" . JoJo the Dog Faced boy and Lionel the Lion Faced man were much more than performers and though often mistaken for the other, these two men lived and performed very differently. We discuss each of them separately, …
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This is the second part of the story of Kenneth Anger. The episode begins after Kenneth parts ways with Bobby Beausoleil, and decided to leave San Francisco. His time in England was spent wooing rock stars and socialites, and establishing himself as a man of mystery, magick, and LSD. All the while he was making films and chasing the fame he refused…
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In this first part of a 2-part series, we discuss the early life of Kenneth Anger. Born in Santa Monica, California in 1927, Kenneth was a queer film-maker who idolized Aleister Crowley. He was at the cutting edge of counter-culture, capturing the zeitgeist of gay culture, occulture, and hippie culture. He made films that would inspire film makers …
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Jules Leotard; Father of the Flying Trapeze...and the Leotard
2:01:50
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Would you believe one man is responsible for the innovation of both the Flying Trapeze AND the well known garment, the Leotard! Well its true! Listen to hear how this very well built dude dared to soar through the air before anyone else, creating the aerial art form we know as the Trapeze, and the famous outfit he dawned to do it, that really SHOWE…
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In this episode, Lou discusses the life, achievements (both good and bad) of German chemist Fritz Haber. Fritz Haber is a Nobel Laureate who devised a method to extract nitrogen from the air into a form that would be used in farming, feeding billions of people. However, his contributions to science also included warfare that would brand him as the …
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The 5 Brothers of Ringling; an Origin Story
2:49:37
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Join us on a wild journey as we track the very early beginnings of the 5 Ringling Brothers and their incredible rags to riches success story. An origin story that truly has everything. All the tenacity of the Little Rascals and the business sense of Barnum, without the humbug. For all things Ringling: https://www.ringling.org/ Support the Show. +Fo…
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In this episode we discuss the Affair of the Poisons, a brief period in late 17th century Paris where some of the top courtiers got a little bit murder-y. It's a fascinating look at how laws are different for the wealthy and beautiful, and how lower class men and women are prosecuted differently. The story is filled with jealousy, sacrilige, murder…
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This episode begins with sharing news about the end of a long fought border dispute between Canada and Denmark, known as the Whiskey War. The main subject of the episode is the work of Magnus Hirschfeld, the German doctor who established the first institue of sexual science in Berlin in 1918. The foundation of his medical practice was fighting for …
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Lillian Leitzel: The Queen of the Air
2:11:42
2:11:42
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A truly high flying episode all about incredible aerialist and circus hall of famer, Lillian Leitzel. A star from the jump, standing a mere 4'9", less than 100 lbs in weight, yet performing aerial feats of Herculean proportion. Leitzel WAS an international superstar, complete with a juicy love life, lavish traveling demands and a bit of a diva stre…
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In this episode we discuss the life of a reclusive artist and occultist, Austin Osman Spare. In his youth he was branded as a wunderkind, and had great expectations for a wildly successfuly career. Despite his natural talents, he resisted success and fame, and preferred to exist in his own world. music by V►LH►LL vlhll.bandcamp.com Visit us at hist…
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FINALLY am I right! We embark on a very thrilling episode as we dive head first (maybe on fire) into the past and uncover the history behind fallen amusement park CIRCUS WORLD, with plans that included a 19 story Elephant shaped hotel, just 10 miles down the road from Disney World. And the mouse perhaps was not into it. Support the Show. +Follow Us…
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We're just letting you know that we'll be moving to a once-a-month format for a while. We overestiamted our personal bandwith. Thanks for understanding!
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In this episode we discuss the early life of Evelyn Nesbit, who, at the turn of the 20th century became the first "it" girl, a celebrity famous solely for modeling. This fame won her the affections of many wealthy men, two of whom would become embroiled in a feud over her, ending in "the crime of the century" music by V►LH►LL vlhll.bandcamp.com Vis…
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Episode 2 of our two part series about Edgar Allan Poe! In the final years of the author's life he becomes embroiled in scandals, and futher proves himself the king of self-sabatoge, before mysteriously dying. We review some of the hyptheses regarding his death, some fanciful, some very plausible, making this episode part of the history mystery clu…
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Emmett Kelly: The World's Favorite Sad Clown
1:53:19
1:53:19
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Today's episode we explore all the origins and history behind the genius of famous "hobo clown" Emmett Kelly who created the world famous and beloved character clown Weary Willie. Support the Show. +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstoriespodcast@gmail.com Rate, Review and Subscribe where ever you Listen! Thanks for Listening + Chec…
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In our triumphant return after a brief hiatus, we begin with a story from Lou's Dino Hour, before launching into the early life of Edgar Allan Poe, a life that was beset with tragedy, depression, and self-sabotage. Despite Mildred's life-long love of the works of Poe, she concedes that he might not have been the best guy around. music by V►LH►LL vl…
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We speed into this episode and explore all that surrounds the Globe of Death; over a century old dare devil act known world wide. Join us as we discuss its history, inner workings, the wild affects this act has on its riders ( G- force!) and the physics that make it a reality. Support the Show. +Follow Us on IG @circus.stories +Email us: circusstor…
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Throwing pies as a form of political protest? What are the repercussions for pie crimes? We deep dive into pie politics and activist groups of past and present that utilize pies for public protest as well as the ramifications linked with these non consensual pie throwing. This is serious!!?? Rupert Murdoch pie : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY-d…
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Measuring a staggering 3.2 meters high at the shoulder, and weighing 6000 kgs; we explore this massively influential and incredible elephant Jumbo, the sordid history behind his life and what animal experts and researchers can learn from revisiting his remains. We dive deep into Jumbo's affect on advertising, creating a new word for "BIG" and the a…
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This will be our last episode until April so we decided to do a topic that keeps coming up in conversation. James Cook is famous for mapping a large portion of the South Pacific and for being the first European to visit New Zealand and Australia. But as we know, working on the side of colonialism never leads anywhere good, which resulted in his dea…
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The Hilton Sisters: From Sideshow to the Silverscreen
2:42:26
2:42:26
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The World Famous Hilton Sisters. Not those Hilton sisters, but Daisy and Violet Hilton, world famous conjoined twins starting in sideshow and soon become the biggest stars in Vaudeville but bogged down with the worst guardians EVER who try to enter them into some sort of "conservatorship" at age 19 - SOUND FAMILIAR? (*britney spears - cough cough*)…
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In this episode, we discuss the life of the Swedish artist and mystic, Hilma af Klint. She has been a relatively unknown artist for the past century despite experimenting with abstraction several years before Kandinsky. Her work was completed with the help of spirits who she communicated with, and despite a great interest in esoteric beliefs in the…
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In this bonus episode, we are joined by Dr. Sarah Bendall, author of "Shaping Femininity: Foundation Garments, the Body, and Women in Early Modern England". She graciously joined us from Australia to discuss her research, some highlights of her book, and the many interesting things about early modern underwear. music by V►LH►LL vlhll.bandcamp.com V…
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In this episode we discuss the career of possibly the most famous astrologist in all of history, Michel de Nostradame, aka Nostradamus. Join us as we discover how his Jewish family converted to Christianity in the 15th century, his attempt at becoming a self-education physician, his rise to fame among the numerous astrologers in France, and finally…
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In this episode we discuss the life, art, and cultural impact of Tom of Finland. Born Touko Laaksonen in a small Finnish town outside of Turku, Tom saw success and global fame as the creator of homoerotic art, that was inspired by 20th century masculine archetypes, such as soldiers, farmers, and the iconic leatherman. music by V►LH►LL vlhll.bandcam…
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Halloween Stories: The Legend of Edward Mordrake w/ Krysta Z
1:54:32
1:54:32
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In this incredibly spooky tale we explore the story and lore behind Edward Mordrake; an english noble man said to have been born with a second face on the back of his head; and this face was dubbed his "devil twin". Is this fact or fiction, or a little bit of both? We are joined by sideshow aficionado Krysta Z as we break down the bits and pieces o…
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Rockets are fun - Lou. This is part 2 of the Jack Parsons story. We begin with his early years as a disciple of Aleister Crowley, and his continued success in the development of rockets. Until heartache compelled him to try to invoke Babalon (We know it's not spelled right- take it up with Crowley), and he got lost in magick and obsession, while be…
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This episode is part 1 of a two part series about scientist and occultist, Jack Parsons. This episode focuses on his early life, and how his love of science fiction books fed into his love of rockets, eventually becoming his career. Albeit a career that was always short on funding because it was still considered science fiction. The episode ends wi…
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In this episode, we begin with a news story about archaeologists finding evidence of clothing from 120,000 years ago. We then get into the episode topic, wherein two actors, American Edwin Forrest and British William Macready, engaged in an absurd competition for stage supremacy. They each catered to a different class of audience, who supported the…
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In this episode we start with a news story that re-writes the history of pre-historic Asia. Getting into the episode topic, Mildred tells Lou about the Indian Rebellion of 1857, or the First Indian War of Independence. Basically a large portion of India did not want Britain to run their country. music by V►LH►LL vlhll.bandcamp.com Check out our web…
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The Art of Pie Throwing: A Sloppy History
1:26:02
1:26:02
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In our season 1 wrap up we explore the classic physical comedy gag commonly associated with circus and clowning, but this sticky slapstick act transcends circus and spread to mainstream by way of the silver screen. We discuss the differences between circus and "hollywood" pie throwing, some famous pie fights, and the integral rules in the art of pi…
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