Comedian April Richardson joins Dave and Gareth to dive into historical newspapers, exploring odd events like a banded dove release. They discuss social dynamics, political campaigns, quirky bathing practices, fatal diseases, humorous predictions, mistaken ghost sightings, and the quirky value of human bodies.
Baths historically faced skepticism, mirroring present-day perceptions, especially among young boys.
Introduction of the first US bathtub in 1842 sparked the tradition of Saturday night baths.
Taxation and bans on bathing in history reveal societal views on cleanliness, influenced by foreign practices.
Deep dives
Bath Paranoia
Baths were initially viewed with suspicion upon their introduction, much like how they still are by young boys today.
First Bathtub
The first bathtub in the United States was introduced in 1842 and christened on Christmas Day, leading to the establishment of the tradition of the Saturday night bath.
Bath Restrictions
In the past, baths were often heavily taxed, and there were even proposed ordinances to prohibit bathing during certain months in city councils like in Philadelphia, possibly due to Russian bathing practices being seen as less frequent.
Bonus Content
The podcast episode delved into amusing historical anecdotes about bathing practices, including the humor around the first ever bathtub and the taxation and restrictions placed on bathing during earlier times.
Drastic Human Body Value Devaluation
A chemistry department head reports a drastic drop of over 30% in the chemical value of the human body in the past five years, with the per pound value decreasing from six cents in 1928 to four cents currently. Using beefsteak, large sugar, and mineral salts as equivalents, a 150-pound man was valued at about $9 in 1928, but is now estimated to be worth only $6, highlighting a notable devaluation of the human body.
Female Superiority in Football Conversations
Christie Walsh, head of the All-American Radio Football Show, asserts that women demonstrate superior aptitude for football strategy and often ask the best questions at games. Walsh challenges the traditional notion of male superiority in football knowledge, suggesting that women who attend games without men often pose insightful inquiries that surpass those of their male counterparts, challenging the entrenched belief of male football dominance.
