Useless Information Podcast

Akron, Ohio citizen Larry Bader and Omaha, Nebraska sportscaster Fritz Johnson were complete opposites of each other.  Yet, they were dead ringers for each other.  Find out what happened when one was thought to be the other.  Also learn about Robert Recorde's contribution to mathematics, a girl shot dead by a military gunner, boys that found gold in the sewer, and the guy who thought his house was stolen.  Retrosponsor: ENNDS Chlorophyll Tablets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in 1943, 53 women were fired by Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft for wearing sweaters to work.  Listen to this story to find out the details and how it was ultimately resolved.  Also learn about the first native Australian act to have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, the man who kissed his wife, the holiday wedding that completed a family circle, and a couple that married twenty years after they were first engaged.  Retrosponsor: Jello Gelatin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long forgotten story about a poor woman named Helen McCarthy who was able to live a fairytale life for 24 hours.  Sadly, she did not live happily ever after.  Also find out about the first transuranium element created, two brothers that were reunited after seventeen years, the Elvis Presley sideburn ultimatum, and a color-changing baby.  Retrosponsor: Charles Schwartz & Sons.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazing true story of a small town doctor who was loved by all.  When he was arrested for committing a crime that could have endangered fellow community members, they didn't abandon their faith in him.  Also learn about the origin of the famous N-Y logo of the New York Yankees, a 10-year-old girl that sued a 14-year-old boy, the little girl that purchased seven pedigree puppies for her friends, and the boy that had his babysitter arrested.  Retrosponsor: Cashmere Bouquet Talcum Powder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viginia O'Hare underwent tummy tuck surgery and then sued her doctor for $1.5 million dollars.  Why?  Because her belly button was supposedly 2" off-center.  Also, learn about the first compact disc ever available for sale to the public, the discovery of an Acme bank robbery kit, John Lennon discussing how fame is fleeting, and a man that carved his false teeth from billiard balls and used wood screws for the molars.  Retrosponsor: Alka Setzer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Florence Foster Jenkins is considered to be the forerunner of today’s talentless celebrities. Her operatic recordings are considered among the worst of all time. Yet, she managed to do something that even some of the best can’t do – she sold out Carnegie Hall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An odd true story about a San Diego robber dubbed "Jack the Stripper" by the press in the early 1960's.  Listen to this episode to learn about his unusual motus operandi.  Also find out about the fine levied on NASA when Skylab fell back to Earth, the guy that forgot his wife at the filling station, an absent-minded barber, and the $40,000 cab ride.  Retrosponsor: U.S. Savings Bonds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tinker the toad was found buried under a 6-inch thick concrete floor.  The slab had been poured nine years earlier.  Find out if and how Tinker survived this long entombment.  Also learn about the best-selling coffee in the United States, a judge named Valentine that divorced the Valentines on Valentine's Day, Hedda Hopper's stinky Valentine's Day gift, and a Valentine that was just a hunk of slate sent through the mail.  Retrosponsor: Maxwell House coffee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Incredible true story of Count Karl von Cosel and the girl of his dreams.  It was discovered that they slept together in the same bed every night - nine years after she had died.  Also learn about the first millionaire in the United States, the Thanksgiving soda ash mess, the lollipop fight, and the Boston Tar Party.  Retrosponsor: Signal Gasoline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story of Amala and Kamala, two girls in India that were claimed to have been raised by wolves. Find out the facts of this unusual story. Also learn the original name of the Hawaii 5-O television series, as well as the details of a singing telegram in a courtroom, a man who had no clue that he had stolen a car, and a husband that wanted to be arrested to get away from his nagging wife. Retrosponsor: Owl Rexall Drugs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first director of the US Geological Survey, Clarence King, was a famed scientist, explorer, and author. This allowed him to move among the elite of American society in the late 19th century. Yet, few people knew that he spent the last thirteen years leading a secret double life. Also learn what Martin Cooper was the first person to ever do, a New Zealand explosion hoax, a man killed by his false teeth, and Thomas Blod's silent concert. Retrosponsor: Fletcher's Castoria. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The death of an elderly man in Chicago in 1941 went initially unnoticed. Then it was learned that he was a French nobleman that gave it all away for the chance to love the woman of his dreams. Find out if he ever got the girl... Also learn about the only man ever to be the governor of two different US states, Adolph Hitler being drafted, a bug juice mystery, and a good use for rubber finger sheaths. Retrosponsor: Sinatra singing for Kennedy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After giving birth to a stillborn, Grady the Cow just bolted from sight. But there was nowhere for her to go in the small room that she was in. It was then that her owner realized she had somehow gotten her large body through the tiny door to the concrete silo. Tips poured in from all over the world suggesting ways to get her out of there. Find out how they did it. Also learn how many years the oldest cow lived for, a man that advertised for a homely wife, two mineralogists that came up with a unique way to meet women, and a husband that was forced to return his mail-order bride home. Retrosponsor: Anchor Hocking Glass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six men died in a Chicago woman's home over a three-year period.  Further investigation showed that 47-year-old Margaret Summers had been married six times and all were dead.  She had taken out nineteen life insurance policies, all naming her as the sole beneficiary.  She claimed innocence, the police thought otherwise.  Also find out when the first permanent photograph was taken and three different stories of lost cyanide.  Retrosponsor:  Tintex fabric dye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On August 21, 1933, Jack Loreen was dug up after spending the previous 64 days buried in a coffin. That was just the start of a crazy competition to survive the longest at six feet under. Also find out which breakfast cereal is the most popular, where a New Jersey woman found her stolen watch, why Brownie the cow was not producing enough milk, and the unique way a hit-and-run driver was caught. Retrosponsor: Fleischmann's Fresh Yeast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices