Useless Information Podcast

On May 20, 1961, then US Vice President Lyndon Johnson was on a goodwill tour of Asia. While pressing the flesh in Karachi, Pakistan, Johnson had a casual conversation with a camel driver named Bashir Ahmad. The next thing you know, Bashir was on his way to the United States in the feel-good news story of 1961. Also find out what everyday product Hyman Lipman invented, the Florida councilman frightened by a snake, the NY Aquarium's April Fool problem, and Smell-o-vision. Retrosponsor: Squibb Dental Creme. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank Laiken skipped town to avoid paying alimony in 1928 and was never to be seen again. His ex-wife Rose learned of a man named Noach (Noah) Goldberg that had died in Vienna. She was certain that Noah was her husband's alias. His wooden leg was all that was needed to make the connection. Also learn about which Crayola crayon color was changed in 1962, a fake mutiny, the drunken elephant rampage, and a sad death by a falling flower pot. Retrosponsor: Hallmark Greeting Cards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conrad Cantzen died in 1945 and is long forgotten, but his shoe fund still lives on. Listen to the story of this bizarre provision in this down-on-his-luck actor's handwritten will. Also learn which celebrity has earned a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in all five of its categories, the US Postal Service's 1908 Valentine problem, Andrew de Stefano's surprise telegram, and pretty Patsy Puckett's Jaguar mystery. Retrosponsor: Colgate Tooth Powder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A premature baby born prior to the 1940s had little chance of survival unless the baby was lucky enough to be part of a popular sideshow exhibit at Coney Island. Also, learn how the real Jack Daniel died, a man fined one-cent for shooting a cow, a color-changing necktie, and a flea map of the United Kingdom nearly 60 years in the making. Retrosponsor: Camel Cigarettes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Albany jeweler Samuel Resnick retired to Phoenix, Arizona, but something went wrong. He ended up paying to have himself murdered. Check out this podcast to find out all the details in this oddball story. Also learn the original purpose of Formica brand plastic laminate, who owns the air above your head, the details of a costly Halloween egg toss, and a boy that had a seed sprout in his eye. Retrosponsor: Philco Radio Tubes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1869 discovery of this fossilized giant provided the first definitive proof that giants once did inhabit the Earth. Listen to find out the real facts in the story. Also find out which serial killer the Texas House of Representatives honored, a storage building destroyed by popping corn, a Denver woman that swallowed a mouse, and burglars that robbed an anchorman's house. Retrosponsor: Shell Gasoline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Dennison was sent to prison for stealing $5.00 worth of chocolates back in 1926. He never committed another crime, yet he was still there in 1960. Listen to find out why this happened and how Steve ultimately gained his release. Also find out which US President was once a male model, the urban parking problem of 1925, two German women that attempted to mail themselves to their boyfriends in the US, and that Richard Nixon was once the nation's best-dressed man. Retrosponsor: Post Toasties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Slavomir Rawich's escape from a Siberian prison camp is among the greatest stories of survival ever. So great that it seems totally unbelievable at times. Also learn which classic TV show began the title of each episode with "The Big", a motorist killed in a freak accident by a horse's hoof, a jet fuel cap that fell from the sky, and the day that the US Secretary of Labor ate his hat. Retrosponsor: The Granite Furniture Company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For a while, it seemed like Dumpy the Dog could survive just about anything, but a puppyhood illness came back to haunt him. Be sure to check out this incredible true story. Also learn about a common kitchen product invented by Thomas Edison, a woman who was knocked unconscious while her hair was chopped off, a bargain marriage deal in Fitzgerald, Georgia, and a woman who taught her class in her birthday suit. Retrosponsor: Aunt Jemima. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

William Kogut decided to end his life using a deck of ordinary playing cards. Learn how he managed to do so in this fascinating true story. Also find out which popular hair style was started by a woman named Barbara Terry, a doctor that dropped dead during surgery, the parking meter mystery, and why you should never request the personalized "NO PLATE" license plate. Retrosponsor: Energine Shoe White. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ida Mayfield Wood lived as a recluse in the Herald Square Hotel in NYC for 24 years. When she died, 1,103 people claimed to be the heir to her fortune. Eight years later not a single one of them got a penny. Listen to this great story to find out who did. Also find out where the geographic center of the United States is located, the guy that married his mother-in-law, the 200 bees that brought the post office to a halt, and a lucky goldfish that survived an earthquake. Retrosponsor: Teel Liquid Dentifice.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wealthy Ann Cooper Hewitt was sterilized at age 20 by her mother and two doctors, yet had no knowledge that the procedure was being done.  Find out how they tricked her into the surgery.  Also find out about the ten letter word that your QWERTY keyboard intentionally spells, the guy that blasted his left cheek... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Phantom Sniper terrorized women of the Los Angeles area in the early 1950's. He was captured because of one minor mistake that most people would have easily overlooked. Also find out the number of minutes spent playing football in an NFL football game, the fantastic world of Venus, the FBI diaper problem, and J. Paul Getty's pay phone. Retrosponsor: Duz Laundry Soap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long forgotten story about the strange kidnapping of Milly McGill back in 1945. It is what happened after Milly was returned back to her parents that is the oddest part of this true story. Also learn what a Blue Moon really is, how a wooden leg saved a man's life, a boy that could not pronounce the letter F, and a boy who drove to pickup his sweetie in his dad's car. Retrosponsor: Postum Coffee Substitute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Christmas Eve celebration for the children of Calumet, Michigan turned into a death trap. Listen to find out the details of this tragic story. Also learn about Mary Anderson's invention, a Christmas watermelon miracle, Chinese Christmas cards, and IBM computer punch card wreaths. Retrosponsor: Ex-Lax. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices