Laughter is a universal language and today we celebrate humor through the ages by exploring three historic pranks. The first involves Anthemius of Tralles, one of the main architects involved in building the Hagia Sophia and a genius who really knew how to hold a grudge. Then we skip ahead several handfuls of centuries to uncover the Great Moon Hoax of 1835 when a newspaper editor for The Sun ignited a hoax that had everyone looking to the moon for bipedal beavers, bat-like humanoids, and even a unicorn. After that we head to the 1950s near Atlanta, Georgia where three guys, a $10 bet, a fake UFO sighting, and one unfortunate "Monkey from Mars" show us just how quickly a prank can go too far.
The Real Scorpion King
The Disappearance of Glen and Bessie Hyde
Escape from the Amazon
A Victorian Murder Most Foul
Shackleton in 30 Minutes(ish)
Stealing the Mona Lisa
The Shark Attacks of 1916
Bessie Coleman: A Legend in Flight
Historical Oddities Part 2: The Incredible Afterlife of Outlaw Elmer McCurdy and the London Bridge of Arizona
Historical Oddities Part 1: Frank Hayes, the Unsinkable Violet Jessop, and Jack the Incredible Baboon
The History of Ghosts at Christmas
Stealing and Stealing Back the Stone of Destiny
Clever Hans: The Horse That Outsmarted Everyone
Once Dead, Twice Buried Part 2: A Short History on Being Buried Alive
Once Dead, Twice Buried Part 1: A History of Death Tests and Safety Coffins
A Strange Experiment: Dr. William Beaumont and the 'Guinea Pig' of Mackinac Island.
Leadbelly Part 5: Death of a Legend
Leadbelly Part 4: Angola, John Lomax, and a Song for the Governor
Leadbelly Part 3: Music and Murder
Leadbelly Part 2: Fugitive King of the 12 Sting Guitar
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
History Obscura
Historycal: Words that Shaped the World
The Rest Is History
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra