When I was in Washington, DC, a few weeks ago, I stopped at the International Spy Museum before leaving. I could have stayed in there for hours, and it was incredible to see these gadgets and spy equipment that we normally only see in movies. But a set of pictures intrigued me. They were of both Union and Confederate soldiers using the topic of today’s episode to spy on one another.
Not only would they use this to observe the enemy, but they were also able to learn the terrain of the battlefield, take inventory, and even aim accordingly in the direction of the oncoming enemy. Oh, and this “spy vehicle” wasn’t concealed at all.
You’re listening to The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History of the Ordinary. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Balloons.
Grab your copy of The Story Behind Book! Are you a member of The Podcast Brunch Club? Find out how you can WIN a copy from them, plus meet other podcast listeners in your area! Check out Emily’s other podcast, Hate to Weight! Join The Story Behind Discussion Group on Facebook! Follow The Story Behind: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Website This episode was brought to you by The Story Behind Executive Producers Click here to become an Executive Producer and support this podcast on Patreon.Media:
Music for MakersSources:
Balloon - Etymonline.com This Party’s Blowin’ Up - Slate Frequently Asked Questions - The Balloon Council The Physics Of The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons - Wired Early Balloons Were Made From Animal Intestines - Mental Floss History of Toy Balloon - Who Invented the Rubber Balloon? - History of Balloons Why We Are Running Out of Helium And What We Can Do About It - Forbes That Dire Helium Shortage? Vastly Inflated - Wired We Discovered Helium 150 Years Ago. Are We Running Out? - National Geographic It's The Dixville Notch Chamber Pot Mystery: Who'll Be First To Vote In First Primary This Year? - Hartford Courant Explainer: Why Dixville Notch Votes at Midnight - WNYC Neil Tillotson, 102, First Presidential Voter - The New York Times Why Does Helium Change the Sound of Your Voice? - WonderopolisThe Printing Press | Gutenberg's Grand Idea and How It Left Him Poor (TSB127)
The Story Behind Book Update #2
Banned Books | A History of Putting Books on Blast (TSB126)
Hairspray | School Photo Horror, Big Hair Throughout the Decades, and the Real Story that Inspired the Musical (TSB125)
Matches | Alchemy, Phossy Jaw, and the Matchstick Girls Strike (TSB124)
The Teddy Bear | Conflicting Stories, Theodore Roosevelt, Steiff Bears (TSB123)
Roller Coasters | From Russian Ice Slides to Disneyland to the Psychology Behind Thrill Seekers (TSB122)
S'mores | The (Awkward) History of Graham Crackers, The Medicinal Marshmallows, and All About Milton Hershey (TSB121)
Roadside Attractions | A Road Trip with Josh Hallmark from Our Americana (TSB120)
Headphones | From Telephone Operators to the U.S. Navy to Your Ears Today (TSB119)
The Necktie | From Chinese Soldiers to European Dandies to Politicians (TSB118)
The Stethoscope | Thoroughly Modest Medicine (TSB117)
The Story Behind Book Update #1
Hamburgers | More Than Meats the Eye (TSB116)
Bingo | From the Italian Lottery to Popular Church Fundraising Game (TSB115)
Pong | Bleep, Bloop! Table-Tennis for your Television! (TSB114)
The Traffic Light | Stop Right Now, Thank You Very Much (TSB113)
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen | Freddie Mercury, The Music Video, Wayne's World (TSB1112)
Livestream for the Cure | Fundraising for Cancer Research with the Epic Film Guys (TSB111)
Emily Prokop | Meet Your Host and Learn About the Show (TSB110)
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